Insulating Vessel

Abstract

A self-contained insulated vessel having a storage area defined by an inner wall and an outer wall which are spaced apart and dosed off to define a cavity therebetween. An insulating substance is contained within at least part of the cavity in order to maintain a stored item at a predetermined temperature for an extended period of time or cool a stored item with a temperature higher than the predetermined temperature of the insulating substance. The insulating vessel can include a user engagement interface for shielding a user from at least part of an exterior surface of said vessel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A self-contained insulated vessel comprising:
 a storage area defined by an inner wall and an outer wall, wherein said walls are spatially related to each other and closed off to define a cavity therebetween;   an insulating substance contained within at least part of said cavity; and   a user engagement interface for shielding a user from at least part of an exterior surface of said vessel.   
     
     
         2 . The vessel of  claim 1  wherein said user engagement interface comprises an engagement wall exteriorly adjacent to said outer wall; wherein said engagement wall and said outer wall are radially separated and closed off to define an outer cavity. 
     
     
         3 . The vessel of  claim 1  wherein said user engagement interface comprises a shielding material superficially integrated to at least part of said outer surface. 
     
     
         4 . The vessel of  claim 3  wherein said shielding material is substantially comprised of elastomer. 
     
     
         5 . The vessel of  claim 2  wherein said user engagement interface comprises a substantially horizontal band of material superficial to an an exterior surface of said vessel. 
     
     
         6 . The vessel of  claim 1  wherein said vessel is adapted to engage with a lid. 
     
     
         7 . The vessel of  claim 1  wherein said container is a beverage vessel. 
     
     
         8 . The vessel of  claim 1  wherein said container is a bowl. 
     
     
         9 . A method of insulating an item over an extended storage period in said self-contained insulated vessel according to  claim 1 , said method comprising:
 lowering said insulating substance temperature to attain a first insulating temperature of at most ambient, so as to attain a first storage area temperature of said storage area; and   placing said item in said storage area, said item having a predetermined temperature lower than said first insulating temperature.   
     
     
         10 . A method of cooling an item stored in said self-contained insulated vessel according to  claim 1 , said method comprising:
 lowering said insulating substance temperature to attain a first insulating temperature lower than ambient, so as to attain a first storage temperature of said storage area; and   placing said item in said storage area, said item having a predetermined temperature higher than said first insulating temperature.   
     
     
         11 . A self-contained insulated vessel comprising:
 an inner wall;   an outer wall having an upper edge;   wherein said wall are spaced apart from each other;   a lip radially protruding from a substantially horizontal exterior surface of said inner wall;   wherein said upper edge of said outer wall tangentially engages along said lip to define a cavity between said walls; and   an insulating substance contained in said cavity.   
     
     
         12 . The vessel of  claim 11  further compromising a user engagement interface for shielding a user from at least of an exterior surface of said outer wall. 
     
     
         13 . The vessel of  claim 12  wherein said user engagement interface comprises an engagement wall exteriorly adjacent to said outer wall; wherein said engagement wall and said outer wall are radially separated and closed off to define an outer cavity. 
     
     
         14 . The vessel of  claim 12  wherein said user engagement interface comprises a shielding material superficially integrated to at least part of said outer surface. 
     
     
         15 . The vessel of  claim 14  wherein said shielding material is substantially comprised of elastomer. 
     
     
         16 . The vessel of  claim 12  wherein said user engagement interface comprises a substantially horizontal band of material superficial to an an exterior surface of said vessel. 
     
     
         17 . The vessel of  claim 11  wherein said vessel is adapted to engage with a lid. 
     
     
         18 . The vessel of  claim 11  wherein said container is a beverage vessel. 
     
     
         19 . The vessel of  claim 11  wherein said container is a bowl. 
     
     
         20 . A method of insulating a self-contained for an extended period of time; said vessel having an inner wall and an outer wall, said walls being spaced apart from each other; said method comprising:
 integrating a lip protruding seamlessly from a substantially horizontal exterior surface of said inner wall;   engaging an upper edge of said outer wall along said lip to define a cavity; and   storing an insulating substance in said cavity.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  further comprising:
 integrating a user engagement interface in to an external surface of said vessel. 
 
     
     
         22 . A portable container comprising:
 a storage area comprised of an inner wall and a lip radially protruding from a substantially horizontal outer surface of said inner wall; and   an outer surface comprised of a base portion to stabilized said container upon a horizontal surface and an outer wall having an upper edge;   wherein said outer wall upper edge tangentially engages along said lip creating a cavity between said inner wall and said outer wall;   an insulating substance contained within at least part of said cavity; and   a shielding material superficial to at least part of an exterior surface of said container.   
     
     
         23 . The container of  claim 22  wherein said shielding material is substantially comprised of elastomer.