Apparatus for maintaining a beverage at an appropriate consumption temperature

Abstract

One embodiment includes an apparatus for maintaining a beverage at an appropriate consumption temperature, the apparatus comprising a phase change material and a shell. The phase change material transitions between two modes: a cooling mode, when the beverage temperature is greater than the effective phase change temperature, wherein the phase change material absorbs and stores thermal energy from the beverage to cool the beverage; and a warming mode, wherein the phase change material releases thermal energy into the beverage to maintain the beverage at the appropriate consumption temperature. The shell includes a first segment and a second segment that are joined to substantially define a sealed cavity, wherein the phase change material is encased within the cavity, wherein the first segment further defines a recess. The first segment outwardly deforms substantially along the recess to accommodate an increased pressure in the cavity substantially before a rupture of the sealed cavity.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for maintaining a beverage at an appropriate consumption temperature, over a period of time, when substantially immersed in the beverage, the apparatus comprising:
 a phase change material with an effective solid-liquid phase change temperature substantially similar to the appropriate consumption temperature of the beverage, wherein the phase change material transitions between two modes:
 a cooling mode, when the beverage temperature is greater than the effective phase change temperature, wherein the phase change material absorbs and stores thermal energy from the beverage to cool the beverage, 
 a warming mode, wherein the phase change material releases thermal energy into the beverage to maintain the beverage at the appropriate consumption temperature; 
   a shell including a first segment and a second segment that are joined to substantially define a sealed cavity, wherein the phase change material is encased within the cavity, wherein the first segment further defines a recess, and wherein the first and second segments are substantially of a metal that conducts thermal energy between the beverage and the phase change material; and   wherein the first segment of the shell outwardly deforms substantially along the recess to accommodate an increased pressure in the cavity substantially before a rupture of the sealed cavity.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the beverage has an appropriate consumption temperature between 125° and 155° Fahrenheit and wherein the phase change material has an effective phase change temperature between 125° and 155° Fahrenheit. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the phase change material has an effective phase change temperature of approximately 140° Fahrenheit. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the beverage is a coffee-based beverage. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first segment of the shell defines the recess that is a valley substantially U-shaped in profile and substantially curvilinear in path. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of Claim  5 , wherein the first segment defines the valley substantially along a major axis of the first segment. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the first segment of the shell deforms substantially along the valley, such that the U-shaped profile of the valley widens, to accommodate expanding phase change material when the temperature of the phase change material rises substantially above the effective phase change temperature. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second segments are die-formed from stainless steel sheet approximately 0.025″ in thickness. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the first and second segments are joined with a continuous braze joint to substantially define the sealed cavity. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the first and second segments are joined with a continuous weld joint to substantially define the sealed cavity. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the shell and the phase change material is a blend of stearic and palmitic acids. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second segments are stainless steel. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the shell, filled with a volume of the phase change material, is of a substantially elongated geometry that reduces mean heat path length between sub-volumes of the phase change material and the beverage, relative to a spherical shell of the same volume and wall thickness. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the phase change material transitions from a solid phase to a liquid phase substantially uniformly throughout the volume of phase change material. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the shell defines the cavity of specific internal volume to contain a specified mass of phase change material, wherein the specified mass of phase change material absorbs thermal energy from a specific volume of the beverage to cool the specific volume of the beverage from substantially too high a temperature to the appropriate consumption temperature such that the mass of phase change material substantially completely melts and the temperature of the phase change material does not substantially increase above the effective phase change temperature. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the mass of the phase change material absorbs thermal energy from the beverage that is four fluid ounces in volume to cool the beverage from a serving temperature to the appropriate consumption temperature of the beverage. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the beverage is a coffee-based beverage served between 160° and 185° Fahrenheit, and wherein the beverage has an appropriate consumption temperature of approximately 140° Fahrenheit. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the shell defines a substantially large surface area that substantially reduces the overall thermal resistance of the shell, relative to a spherical shell of the same volume, to improve the rate of thermal energy conduction from the beverage to the phase change material. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the volume of phase change material is in the range of 0.5 to 3.0 cubic inches and the surface area of the shell is in the range of 2.0 to 20.0 square inches. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the of volume phase change material is approximately 1.1 cubic inches and the surface area of the shell is approximately 7.1 square inches. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the shell and phase change material define a microwave-safe apparatus. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the shell reflects microwave energy to substantially prevent microwaves from reaching the phase change material. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the shell defines a continuous surface without any sharp edges or corners. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the phase change material is transparent to microwave energy. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the shell is of a geometry that fits through a mouth of at least one of a coffee cup, a coffee mug, a tea cup, a thermos, a travel mug, a coffee pot, a chafer, a decanter, a baby bottle, and a Japanese vacuum bottle that contains the beverage. 
     
     
         26 . A beverage accessory kit comprising a plurality of apparatuses of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         27 . An apparatus for maintaining a hot beverage at an appropriate consumption temperature between 125° and 155° Fahrenheit, over a period of time, when substantially immersed in the beverage, the apparatus comprising:
 a phase change material with an effective solid-liquid phase change temperature substantially similar to the appropriate consumption temperature of the beverage, wherein the phase change material absorbs and stores thermal energy from the hot beverage to cool the beverage to the appropriate consumption temperature and then releases the stored thermal energy back into the beverage to maintain the beverage at the appropriate consumption temperature; 
 a shell including a first segment and a second segment that are joined to substantially define a sealed cavity, wherein the phase change material substantially fills the cavity, wherein the first segment further defines a valley substantially along its length, and wherein the first and second segments are of substantially thin stainless steel sheet that conducts thermal energy between the beverage and the phase change material; and 
 wherein the first segment of the shell outwardly deforms substantially along the valley to accommodate an increase in pressure in the cavity substantially before a rupture of the sealed cavity. 
 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein the beverage is a coffee-based beverage with an appropriate consumption temperature between 125° and 155° Fahrenheit, and wherein the phase change material has an effective phase change temperature of approximately 140° Fahrenheit. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein the first and second segments are die-formed from stainless steel sheet approximately 0.025″ in thickness. 
     
     
         30 . A beverage accessory kit comprising a plurality of apparatuses of  claim 27 .