APPARATUS FOR THE ENCAPSULATION OF A SOLID WITHIN A FROZEN LIQUID

Abstract

A liquid holding device with a recess for the encapsulation of a solid-object that can be used for the cooling of a beverage with limited and predetermined amounts of dilution to the beverage. Each recess configured to a stand-off feature for creating a space between a solid object placed within a recess and a surface of that recess allowing for a poured liquid to fill that space and when frozen, encapsulate the solid object in the frozen liquid.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 62/083,307, entitled "COMBINED LIQUID AND SOLID COOLING METHOD" filed on Nov. 24, 2014, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention pertains in general to the encapsulation of a solid within a frozen liquid typically for the purpose of cooling a beverage without the addition of excess liquid.

BACKGROUND

[0003] The cooling of beverages has become common practice across all forms of beverages regardless of content or make-up of the beverage. The traditional strategy surrounding the cooling of a beverage uses frozen liquids, typically water, into a beverage. The problem, however, is the beverage dilutes as the ice melts. This gradual dilution of certain beverage produces a drink that is "watered-down", which can refer to not only the volumetric composition of the beverage but may also refer to the taste and experience surrounding the drink. Watered-down drinks are more problematic with drinks that are enjoyed over a longer time and drinks that take longer to drink. This is often the case with beverages having been distilled, aged, artisanal and/or have high value. Beverages that are imbibed in smaller amounts or limited in volume are particularly susceptible to being watered-down.

[0004] For individuals who seek to cool their beverage but prevent dilution of the beverage, one solution is to encapsulate water in a device consisting of a water-tight envelope such as plastic. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,325,230 to Driscoll, et al. (Driscoll) describes a device encapsulating water in plastic to allow the cooling effect of ice without diluting the beverage. Such forms can be unsightly and the plastic contacting distilled beverages may retain odor or taste of a beverage in which it is used. Moreover, the plastic of the device may impart these odors and/or tastes to subsequent beverages in which the device used. Furthermore, plastic related chemicals may seep into beverages in which the device is placed.

[0005] Another solution to cool a beverage without diluting the beverage uses a solid or liquid filled solid that is a metallic or mineral composition, such as granite or soapstone as presented by U.S. Pat. No. 6,935,134 to Lahti, et al. (Lahti) incorporated herein by reference.

[0006] Some individuals prefer their spirit, such as whisky, with a small amount of added water. Adding a few drops of water allows the individual to perceive more subtle flavors in the beverage compared to a beverage drank without a small amount of dilution. Thus, Driscoll and Lahti fail to address allowing a small, predetermined amount of water to be added to the beverage to allow one to perceive the more subtle flavors.

[0007] Other solutions use a singular large uniform ice-cube exhibiting a cubic or spherical form that has a smaller surface area to frozen mass ratio. An ice cube with a smaller surface area to frozen mass ratio melts more slowly than a traditional ice cube. However, this does not provide a controlled or finite amount of dilution. Rather, as an ice cube melts and becomes smaller, the surface area to mass ratio increases, and so too does the melting rate. With a higher melting rate and smaller amount of beverage, the rate of dilution increases.

[0008] Some solutions aim to freeze an object within a volume of fluid for the purposes of cooling a drink such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,334,941 to Linden (Linden), incorporated herein by reference, and U.S. Patent Application 2013/0232992 to Bisceglie (Bisceglie), also incorporated herein by reference. Bisceglie describes a method of freezing fruits within frozen liquids for the aesthetic and flavor enhancement of a beverage. Linden describes a method freezing liquid of non-buoyant objects within a volume of frozen liquid to cause an ice-cube to sink to the bottom of a beverage. Neither Bisceglie nor Linden support predictable or consistent results regarding the placement, orientation or spacing of an object frozen within a frozen volume and do not provide a finite or predetermined volume of frozen liquid.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] In certain embodiments described in the present disclosure specifies embodiments for a liquid holding device that encapsulates a solid object in a frozen liquid. Encapsulating a solid object to cool a beverage provides cooling to a volume of liquid while providing a controlled amount of dilution to the volume of liquid.

[0010] Certain embodiments of the present invention are directed to a liquid holding device that encapsulates a solid object, such as a stone intended for use in beverages, in a frozen liquid, such as water, to cool a beverage. One of the many benefits with this strategy is the ability to control beverage dilution to a finite amount. Certain embodiments of the present invention surround the cooling of beverages with a finite amount of dilution of the beverage.

[0011] It will be appreciated to those skilled in the art that a liquid holding device that encapsulates a solid object within a liquid may comprise a material composition including but not limited to metallic, polymeric, organic, inorganic, mineral, ceramic and/or composite in nature. A liquid holding device for the encapsulation of a solid object may be a rigid or flexible construct.

[0012] It will be appreciated to those skilled in the art that a solid object for the cooling of a beverage may take a variety of forms. These forms include but are not limited to a cubic, cylindrical, spherical, polyhedral or amorphous shape. It will be appreciated that the concept as described herein may also be extended to the encapsulation of a frozen liquid within a solid object. Such a solid object may include apertures, recesses, thru holes or exhibit a hollow form allowing encapsulation of a frozen liquid within the solid object.

[0013] It will be further appreciated that a solid object may comprise a material composition including but not limited to metallic, polymeric, organic, inorganic, mineral, ceramic and/or composite in nature. It will also be appreciated that a solid object may be a non-homogenous material composition having differing materials and/or differing phase composition, such as a solid external envelope encompassing a liquid inner volume.

[0014] Certain embodiments of the present invention comprise a liquid holding device having at least one recess configured to hold a solid object. The recess further comprises a bottom and sides configured to contain a fluid. A solid object disposed in the recess is offset from a surface of the recess using a stand-off feature. When fluid is added to the recess, the stand-off feature extending from the bottom and/or side provides a space between the solid object and the surfaces of the recess, allowing the fluid to solidify or freeze around the solid object. Certain embodiments of the invention comprise a liquid holding device having a plurality of recesses.

[0015] Certain embodiments of the present invention comprise a liquid holding device having at least one recess, a solid object placed within the recess. The recess further comprises a bottom and sides that contain a fluid. The solid object disposed in the recess is offset from a surface of the recess using a stand-off feature. The stand-off feature extending from the bottom and/or side provides a space between the solid object and the surfaces of the recess, allowing the fluid to solidify or freeze around the solid object. Certain embodiments of the invention comprise a liquid holding device having a plurality of recesses.

[0016] Certain embodiments of the present invention comprise a liquid holding device having at least one recess, a bottom, and sides for the containment of a fluid. The solid object is offset from multiple surfaces of the recess using stand-off features. The bottom and at least one side have at least one stand-off feature. It may be desired for each surface of a recess to have at least one stand-off feature. When fluid is added to the recess, the stand-off features extending from the bottom and one or more sides, provides spacing between the solid object and surfaces of the recess, allowing the fluid to solidify or freeze around the solid object. Certain embodiments of the invention comprise a liquid holding device having a plurality of recesses.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

[0017] FIG. 1--A perspective view of an embodiment of a liquid holding device having a recess with a stand-off feature

[0018] FIG. 2--Perspective views of potential solid object form shapes

[0019] FIG. 3--A perspective view of a recess with a plurality of stand-off features

[0020] FIG. 4--A section view of solid object held within a recess having stand-off features and liquid

[0021] FIG. 5--A perspective view of a solid object encapsulated within a frozen liquid used to cool a beverage

[0022] FIG. 6A--A perspective view of an embodiment having two recesses

[0023] FIG. 6B--A perspective view of an embodiment having five recesses

[0024] FIG. 7A--A perspective view of an embodiment having four recesses in an array configuration

[0025] FIG. 7B--A perspective view of an embodiment having six recesses in an array configuration

[0026] FIG. 7C--A perspective view of an embodiment having nine recesses in an array configuration

[0027] FIG. 8--Side views of potential stand-off feature form shapes

[0028] FIG. 9--A perspective of an embodiment of a liquid holding device

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS

[0029] Embodiments of the present disclosure describe a liquid holding device comprising at least one recess with at least a portion of the volume of the recess able to retain liquids so as to retain a fluid with a solid displaced therein. It will be appreciated to those skilled in the art that although the present disclosure describes the encapsulation of an object in a frozen fluid in the context of cooling a beverage, the present invention is not limited to such a use.

[0030] In certain embodiments, as shown in FIG. 1, a liquid holding device 100 comprises a recess 101, a bottom 103 and sides 102, for the retention of a liquid. The recess 101 further exhibits at least one stand-off feature 104. When a solid object is placed within the recess 101, the solid object does not fully contact the surfaces of the recess 101. The solid object instead is offset from the bottom 103 as it rests against the stand-off feature 104 and permits a layer of fluid between the solid object and the bottom of the recess.

[0031] A solid object for the cooling of a beverage may take a variety of forms which the form of the recess may be configured to engage specifically with a singular form and size of solid object or may be configured to engage with a plurality of sizes and forms of solid objects. These forms as shown in FIG. 2, can comprise a cubic form such as 401a or 401b having filleted edges, however the form is not limited to such forms. The shape of the solid object used to cooling a beverage may include a cylindrical 401c, spherical 401d, polyhedral 401e or amorphous shape. The present invention may be extended to the encapsulation of a frozen liquid within a solid object. Such a solid object may include apertures, recesses, thru holes or exhibit a hollow form allowing the encapsulation of a frozen liquid within the solid object. A solid object may be a mineral, metallic and/or polymeric material. Certain embodiments of the present invention encapsulate solid objects to cool beverages by surrounding solid objects less than 4 inches (10.16 cm) of major dimension and more preferably for those of 2 inches (5.08 cm) or smaller. Certain embodiments of the present invention have stand-off features to symmetrically encapsulate solid objects of cubic form symmetric form with length, width and height from 0.825 inches (2.10 cm) and 1.125 inches (2.86 cm).

[0032] In certain embodiments of the present invention, a liquid holding device 300, as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, have a recess 101 with a plurality of stand-off features 104. The plurality of stand-off features 104 constrains a solid object 401 placed within the recess laterally and vertically offset from the sides 102 and bottom 103. The offset maintains a space between sides of a solid object 401 and sides 102 and bottom 103 of the recess 101. Liquid 402 poured into the recess occupies the space between the solid object 401 and the sides 102 and bottom 103 of the recess 101. When the liquid 402 is frozen with the solid object 401 in the recess 101, the solid object 401 is encapsulated within the liquid 402 with the liquid 402 in a frozen state. Certain embodiments have a plurality of stand-off features on at least one side. An encapsulated solid object, as shown in FIG. 5, may then be displaced within a volume of liquid 507 to provide cooling while also providing finite dilution of a beverage.

[0033] Certain embodiments have multiple recesses. The multiple recesses allow the encapsulation of multiple solid objects within frozen liquid. FIG. 6A shows an embodiment with two-recesses 601 and stand-off features 104. FIG. 6B shows an embodiment with five recesses 602 and stand-off features 104. In certain embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 7A, 7B and 7C (701, 702, 703) a plurality of recesses with standoff features 104, in an array configuration, allow the placing of a solid object and liquid in each recess. The solid object becomes encapsulated when placed in an environment having a temperature at or below the freezing point of the liquid. Although the present invention may comprise any number of recesses, it may be desired to use a number of recesses that provide for array construction, such as an 4, 6, 8, 9 recesses.

[0034] Certain embodiments further comprise stand-off features having a similar material composition to the rest of the liquid holding device. In certain embodiments, the stand-off features are one continuous part, such as being formed of the same material in a casting process.

[0035] Certain embodiments comprise stand-off features to space a solid object within a liquid. The stand-off features can be of any form designed to provide an offset between a surface of a recess and a solid object disposed therein. Some stand-off features have a consistent or tapering profile extending axially away from the surface to which they are attached. FIG. 8 shows some different forms of stand-off features. A stand-off feature with a tapered form reduces in cross-sectional area parallel to the side of the recess to which they are attached. The reduction of cross-sectional area allows easy removal of a solid object encapsulated in a frozen liquid after a freezing process. Examples of tapered forms include, but are not limited to, hemispherical forms 801a, truncated hemispheres, tapering polyhedrons 801b, conical 801c and/or truncated conical 801g forms. A stand-off feature may also use a non-tapering form, such as a rounded cylindrical form 801d, cylindrical form 801e or non-tapering polyhedron 801f. Although a non-tapering stand-off feature may be used on any surface of a recess, they are generally used on the bottom surface of a recess.

[0036] Certain embodiments comprise a recess with at least one stand-off feature. In certain embodiments of the stand-off feature the distance that a stand-off feature extends away from a surface of the recess up to the center of the recess. In alternative embodiments, the stand-off feature extends less than 25% of the distance across the recess to the opposing surface. Furthermore, It may be desired in some embodiments for the stand-off feature to be less than or equal to 0.25 inches (0.635 cm) extension away from the surface to which the stand-off feature is attached.

[0037] Certain embodiments comprises a plurality of cubical recesses 101 arranged in array configuration as shown in FIGS. 7A, 7B and 7C. At least two sides 102 of the recesses 101 share a separating structure of adjacent recesses, seen 701, 702, 703.

[0038] In certain embodiments, each side of each recess further comprises two hemi-spherical stand-off features. At least one cylindrical stand-off feature is located centrally to the bottom. The use of multiple stand-off features on the sides increases constraint and can be used to encapsulate cubical solid objects, the solid objects ranging in size from 0.825 inches (2.10 cm) and 1.125 inches (2.86 cm) cubes. The liquid holding device may comprise a polymeric composition that is considered to those skilled in the art to be food-safe. Such food-safe materials may include, but are not limited to, polyethylene terephthalate ethylene, high-density polyethylene, low-density polyethylene, polypropylene, and/or silicone based materials.

[0039] Certain embodiments of the present invention comprise a cast silicone composition arranged as seen in FIG. 9. Certain embodiments further comprise an array of recesses 101, each having 4 sides 102 and a bottom 103 and are able to retain liquid in fluid form. Each side 102 exhibits a plurality of hemispherical stand-off features 104, more preferably two stand-off features 104 horizontally opposed from each other. The horizontal opposition increases rotational constraint of a solid object disposed therein. The bottom 103 further comprises at least one stand-off feature 104, which can be a centrally located cylindrical stand-off feature. Each side 102 and bottom 104 of the recesses can comprise a rectangular shape with length and width between 0.75 inches (1.91 cm) and 1.25 inches (3.175 cm)

[0040] In the foregoing specification, specific embodiments have been described. However, one of ordinary skill in the art appreciates that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims below. Accordingly, the specification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of present teachings. The descriptive labels associated with the numerical references in the figures are intended to merely illustrate embodiments of the invention, and are in no way intended to limit the invention to the scope of the descriptive labels.

Claims

1. A liquid holding device comprising: a first recess having at least one surface and an aperture; a first surface having a first stand-off feature; said first stand-off feature extending away from said first surface toward an interior region of said recess; wherein a first solid object within said recess is encapsulated when liquid added to said first recess is frozen.

2. The liquid holding device of claim 1, wherein said first recess further comprises: a second surface; said second surface further comprises at least one stand-off feature extending away from said second surface toward the interior of said first recess.

3. The liquid holding device of claim 1, wherein said first surface further comprises; a bottom of said first recess; said first recess further comprises a plurality of sides contiguous to said bottom and extending upward toward said aperture; and said plurality of sides each further comprising at least one stand-off feature extending away from each of said plurality of sides toward the interior of said first recess.

4. The liquid holding device of claim 3, wherein said plurality of sides each further comprises a plurality of stand-off features.

5. The liquid holding device of claim 4, wherein at least two of said plurality of stand-off features are horizontally spaced from each other.

6. The liquid holding device of claim 4 wherein said plurality of stand-off features further comprise a tapered form.

7. The liquid holding device of claim 4 wherein said plurality of stand-off features further comprise a hemispherical form.

8. The liquid holding device of claim 3, wherein said stand-off feature extending away from each of said plurality of sides provides offset between said bottom and said plurality of sides of said first recess and said first solid object placed within said recess through said first aperture

9. The liquid holding device of claim 1, wherein said liquid holding device comprises a plurality of recesses.

10. The liquid holding device of claim 1, wherein said liquid holding device comprises a food safe material composition.

11. The liquid holding device of claim 1, wherein said liquid holding device comprises silicone.

12. The liquid holding device of claim 1, wherein said stand-off feature provides offset between said first surface and a first solid placed within said recess through said first aperture.

13. A liquid holding device comprising: a plurality of recesses, each identical in configuration; each of said plurality of recesses having a symmetrical cubical form having a bottom, sides and an aperture; said bottom having a centrally located stand-off feature having a cylindrical; each of said sides being contiguous with said bottom and extending upward toward said aperture; said sides having two stand-off features of hemispherical form; said stand-off features of hemispherical form being vertically centered on each of said sides and horizontally spaced from each other; said plurality of recesses configured in an array; said liquid holding device comprising food-safe material; said stand-off features extending away from said sides and said bottom inward toward an interior region of said recesses providing offset between said sides and said bottom of said recesses; a plurality of solid-objects placed, one within each of said plurality of recesses; and a liquid added to said plurality of recesses to occupy spaces created by said offsets for the encapsulation of said plurality of solid objects, each individually, within said liquid when frozen.

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