Koozie for accommodating and thermally insulating various size beverage containers

Abstract

Disclosed is an insulated koozie for accommodating different size beverage containers therein. The koozie includes an insulated double walled vessel defining an interior cavity in which a sizing insert is located. The sizing insert defines a central passageway and includes flexible peripheral portions configured to engage portions of the periphery of the sidewall of a beverage container located within the central passageway. The double walled vessel includes a bottom portion configured to support the bottom of a long beverage container, and an inwardly directed shelf configured to cooperate with the sizing insert to support a short beverage container thereon.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A koozie for receiving and accommodating various size beverage containers therein to thermally insulate the contents of each beverage container, each of the beverage containers having a bottom portion and sidewall having an outside diameter, said koozie comprising:
 a) a vessel having an interior cavity having an open top end and a bottom portion; and   b) a sizing insert located and held within said interior cavity, said sizing insert including a sidewall defining a longitudinally extending passageway for receipt of any one of the various size beverage containers, said sizing insert being in communication with said open top end of said insulating vessel, said sidewall including a portion configured for location within said bottom portion of said thermally insulating vessel, said sidewall also including peripheral engagement portions that are directed inward and configured to engage portions of the sidewall of any one of the various size beverage containers disposed within said longitudinally extending passageway.   
     
     
         2 . The koozie of  claim 1 , wherein said peripheral engagement portions are configured to flex, if necessary, to engage portions of the periphery of the sidewall of any one of the various size beverage containers disposed within said longitudinally extending passageway. 
     
     
         3 . The koozie of  claim 2 , wherein said sizing insert includes an upper end portion and a lower end portion, and wherein one of said peripheral engagement portions is located at said upper end portion and another of said peripheral engagement portions is located at said lower end portion. 
     
     
         4 . The koozie of  claim 1 , wherein said vessel includes a shelf located adjacent a bottom portion of said vessel, said shelf extending inward, whereupon said interior cavity is of a lesser internal diameter at said shelf than above said shelf, and wherein said sizing insert includes a peripheral portion configured to be seated on said shelf, said peripheral portion and said shelf being configured to support the bottom portion of a short beverage container thereon. 
     
     
         5 . The koozie of  claim 4 , wherein said shelf slopes downward. 
     
     
         6 . The koozie of  claim 1 , wherein said vessel includes an inwardly directed annular flange defining said open top end of said interior cavity, and wherein said sizing insert includes a top edge portion configured to be located immediately below said inwardly directed annular flange and a bottom edge portion configured to be disposed adjacent said bottom portion of said thermally insulating vessel. 
     
     
         7 . The koozie of  claim 1 , wherein said vessel is a thermally insulating vessel that comprises an outer vessel and an inner vessel, said outer vessel having sidewall including an inner surface, said inner vessel having a sidewall including an outer surface and an inner surface, said inner vessel being disposed within said outer vessel with said outer surface of said inner vessel spaced from said inner surface of said outer vessel to form a hollow isolated interior space therebetween. 
     
     
         8 . The koozie of  claim 7 , wherein said outer vessel includes a bottom portion having a port in communication with said interior space and through which a vacuum can be drawn to create a vacuum in said hollow isolated interior space. 
     
     
         9 . The koozie of  claim 8 , wherein said bottom portion comprises a disk which is secured to a bottom portion of said sidewall of said outer vessel by a generally cup-shaped base. 
     
     
         10 . The koozie of  claim 9 , wherein said generally cup shaped base includes a bottom surface to which a resilient base member is secured. 
     
     
         11 . The koozie of  claim 7 , wherein said inner surface of said inner vessel defines said interior cavity. 
     
     
         12 . The koozie of  claim 1 , wherein said bottom portion of said vessel is configured to support the bottom of a long beverage container thereon. 
     
     
         13 . The koozie of  claim 12 , wherein said bottom portion of said thermally insulating vessel is convex. 
     
     
         14 . The koozie of  claim 7 , wherein said bottom portion of said thermally insulating vessel is configured to support the bottom of a long beverage container thereon. 
     
     
         15 . The koozie of  claim 7 , wherein said inner vessel includes a shelf located adjacent a bottom portion of said thermally insulating vessel, said shelf extending inward, whereupon said interior cavity is of a lesser internal diameter at said shelf than above said shelf, and wherein said sizing insert includes a peripheral portion configured to be seated on said shelf, said peripheral portion and said shelf being configured to support the bottom portion of a short beverage container thereon. 
     
     
         16 . The koozie of  claim 15 , wherein said shelf slopes downward. 
     
     
         17 . The koozie of  claim 7 , wherein said inner vessel includes an inwardly directed annular flange defining said open top end of said interior cavity, and wherein said sizing insert includes a top edge portion configured to be located immediately below said inwardly directed annular flange and a bottom edge portion configured to be disposed on said bottom portion of said thermally insulating vessel. 
     
     
         18 . The koozie of  claim 7 , wherein said inner vessel and said outer vessel are each formed of steel. 
     
     
         19 . The koozie of  claim 1 , wherein said sizing insert is formed of thermoplastic polyurethane. 
     
     
         20 . The koozie of  claim 10 , wherein said resilient base member is formed of a rubber-like material.