Cooling pack, beverage container including the same, and corresponding method of cooling bottled beverages

Abstract

A cooling pack ( 1 ) for use with a plurality of bottled beverages ( 3 ). The cooling pack ( 1 ) includes a main body ( 5 ) having opposite upper and lower surfaces ( 5 a, 5 b ). The cooling pack ( 1 ) also includes at least one through-hole ( 7 ) extending between the upper and lower surfaces of the main body ( 5 ), each through-hole ( 7 ) being positioned, shaped and sized for receiving an upper portion ( 3 a ) of a corresponding bottled beverage ( 3 ) to be cooled, each through-hole ( 7 ) being further positioned, shaped and sized for abutting against a remaining lower portion ( 3 b ) of the bottled beverage ( 3 ) to be cooled. The cooling pack ( 1 ) also includes at least one opening ( 9 ) operatively connected to the at least one through-hole ( 7 ), and being configured to define along with the at least one through-hole ( 7 ) a combined passageway ( 11 ) through which a selected bottled beverage ( 3 ) from the plurality of bottled beverages ( 3 ) can be individually removed from the cooling pack ( 1 ) across the main body ( 5 ) of said cooling pack ( 1 ).

1 . A cooling pack ( 1 ) for use with a plurality of bottled beverages ( 3 ), the cooling pack ( 1 ) comprising:
 a main body ( 5 ) having opposite upper and lower surfaces ( 5   a , 5   b );   at least one through-hole ( 7 ) extending between the upper and lower surfaces of the main body ( 5 ), each through-hole ( 7 ) being positioned, shaped and sized for receiving therein an upper portion ( 3   a ) of a corresponding bottled beverage ( 3 ) to be cooled, each through-hole ( 7 ) being further positioned, shaped and sized for abutting against a remaining lower portion ( 3   b ) of said bottled beverage ( 3 ) to be cooled; and   at least one opening ( 9 ) operatively connected to said at least one through-hole ( 7 ), and being configured to define along with said at least one through-hole ( 7 ) a combined passageway ( 11 ) through which a selected bottled beverage ( 3 ) from the plurality of bottled beverages ( 3 ) can be individually removed from the cooling pack ( 1 ) across the main body ( 5 ) of said cooling pack ( 1 ).   
     
     
         2 . A cooling pack ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one opening ( 9 ) includes at least one slit ( 13 ). 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . A cooling pack ( 1 ) according to any one of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one opening ( 9 ) includes at least one outer slit ( 130 ) extending from the at least one though-hole ( 7 ) to a corresponding side border of the main body ( 5 ) of the cooling pack ( 1 ). 
     
     
         5 . A cooling pack ( 1 ) according to  claim 4 , wherein the at least one outer slit ( 130 ) is a corner slit ( 13   c ). 
     
     
         6 . A cooling pack ( 1 ) according to  claim 4 , wherein the at least one outer slit ( 130 ) is a side slit ( 13   s ). 
     
     
         7 . A cooling pack ( 1 ) according to  claim 2 , wherein the at least one slit ( 13 ) includes at least one transversal slit ( 13 ) extending entirely across the main body ( 5 ) of the cooling pack ( 1 ), between the upper and lower surfaces of said main body ( 5 ). 
     
     
         8 .- 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A cooling pack ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one opening ( 9 ) is separate from the at least one though-hole ( 7 ). 
     
     
         12 . A cooling pack ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one opening ( 9 ) and the at least one though-hole ( 7 ) form a unique channel ( 19 ) through which the selected bottled beverage ( 3 ) is allowed to pass when removed from the plurality of remaining bottled beverages ( 3 ) through the combined passageway ( 11 ) of the main body ( 5 ) of the cooling pack ( 1 ). 
     
     
         13 . A cooling pack ( 1 ) according to  claim 12 , wherein the unique channel ( 19 ) is configured to have an effective cross-sectional area which adjustably varies in size as the selected bottled beverage ( 3 ) passes through said unique channel ( 19 ). 
     
     
         14 . A cooling pack ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the cooling pack ( 1 ) comprises at least six through-holes ( 7 ), at least four corner slits ( 13   c ), and at least two side slits ( 13   s ). 
     
     
         15 .- 24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . A cooling pack ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein each through-hole ( 7 ) has a longitudinal profile provided with at least one inner wall ( 23 ). 
     
     
         26 .- 27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . A cooling pack ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein a taper of each through-hole ( 7 ) is complementary to a taper of a bottle neck of a corresponding bottled beverage to be inserted into said through-hole ( 7 ). 
     
     
         29 .- 33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . A cooling pack ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the cooling pack ( 1 ) comprises a seamless main body ( 5 ) made by blow-molding. 
     
     
         35 . A cooling pack ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the main body ( 5 ) of the cooling pack ( 1 ) comprises an inlet port ( 33   a ) for receiving cooling liquid ( 35 ) for the cooling pack ( 1 ). 
     
     
         36 .- 42 . (canceled) 
     
     
         43 . A cooling pack ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the cooling pack ( 1 ) comprises at least one bulging member ( 49 ) protruding downwardly from the lower surface ( 5   b ) of the main body ( 5 ) and being positioned, shaped and sized for abutting against a portion of a bottled beverage ( 3 ) to be cooled. 
     
     
         44 .- 54 . (canceled) 
     
     
         55 . A cooling pack ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the main body ( 5 ) of the cooling pack ( 1 ) comprises a given number of through-holes ( 7 ) configured for receiving a corresponding number of bottled beverages ( 3 ), the given number of through-holes ( 7 ) being selected from the group consisting of 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 15, 18, 24 and 28 through-holes ( 7 ). 
     
     
         56 . (canceled) 
     
     
         57 . A cooling pack ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the main body ( 5 ) of the cooling pack ( 1 ) comprises an outer shell ( 57 ), and is filled with a substance capable of cooling the bottled beverages ( 3 ). 
     
     
         58 .- 59 . (canceled) 
     
     
         60 . A cooling pack ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the main body ( 5 ) of the cooling pack ( 1 ) comprises an outer shell ( 57 ), and is filled with a substance capable of cooling the bottled beverages ( 3 ), and wherein the substance is introduced into the main body ( 5 ), and contained therein via at least one sealed port ( 33 ) and a corresponding cap ( 59 ). 
     
     
         61 .- 63 . (canceled) 
     
     
         64 . A cooling pack ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein a given surface of the main body ( 5 ) comprises a display area ( 61 ) for displaying information selected from the group consisting of promotional information, marketing information, educational information, warning information and disclaimer information. 
     
     
         65 . A cooling pack ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the cooling pack ( 1 ) is provided with a material indicative of temperature. 
     
     
         66 .- 71 . (canceled)