Beverage container insulator

An aluminum can insulator for holding an aluminum can and slowing heat transfer between liquid contained in the aluminum can and ambient surroundings, said aluminum can insulator comprising:

• a generally cylindrical outer shell including an outer sidewall having an outer sidewall top edge and an outer bottom wall spanning the outer sidewall opposite said outer sidewall top edge, said outer sidewall having a generally cylindrical outer face and an outer sidewall height extending vertically between the outer sidewall top edge and the outer bottom wall;
• and
• a generally cylindrical inner shell including an inner sidewall having an inner sidewall top edge and an inner bottom wall spanning the inner sidewall opposite said inner sidewall top edge, said inner sidewall having a generally cylindrical inner face and an inner sidewall height extending vertically between the inner sidewall top edge and the inner bottom wall, said inner sidewall being sized to nest inside the outer sidewall forming a continuous annular space having a generally uniform width, said inner sidewall top edge being joined with the outer sidewall top edge forming a rim of the aluminum can insulator, said inner sidewall and the inner bottom wall defining a hollow interior of the aluminum can insulator in which the aluminum can is held;
• wherein:
• the inner sidewall, the outer sidewall, the inner bottom wall, and the outer bottom wall form a closed, insulating cavity between the inner shell and the outer shell to slow heat transfer through the aluminum can insulator;
• the inner sidewall includes a multiplicity of protrusions consisting of at least five protrusions arranged circumferentially around the inner sidewall and extending inwardly into the hollow interior of the aluminum can insulator for engaging a portion of the aluminum can when received in the hollow interior of the aluminum can insulator to space the portion of said aluminum can from the inner sidewall;
• and
• the outer sidewall includes a groove extending circumferentially around the outer sidewall.

A beverage container insulator for holding a beverage container and slowing heat transfer between liquid contained in the beverage container and ambient surroundings, said beverage container insulator comprising:

• a generally cylindrical outer shell including an outer sidewall having an outer sidewall top edge and an outer bottom wall spanning the outer sidewall opposite said outer sidewall top edge, said outer sidewall having a generally cylindrical outer face and an outer sidewall height extending vertically between the outer sidewall top edge and the outer bottom wall;
• and
• a generally cylindrical inner shell including an inner sidewall having an inner sidewall top edge and an inner bottom wall spanning the inner sidewall opposite said inner sidewall top edge, said inner sidewall having a generally cylindrical inner face and an inner sidewall height extending vertically between the inner sidewall top edge and the inner bottom wall, said inner sidewall being sized to nest inside the outer sidewall forming a continuous annular space having a generally uniform width, said inner sidewall top edge being joined with the outer sidewall top edge forming a rim of the beverage container insulator, said inner sidewall and the inner bottom wall defining a hollow interior of the beverage container insulator in which the beverage container is held;
• wherein:
• the inner sidewall height is sized so a beverage container resting against the inner bottom wall extends above the rim of the beverage container insulator;
• the inner sidewall, the outer sidewall, the inner bottom wall, and the outer bottom wall form a hermetically sealed insulating cavity between the inner shell and the outer shell to slow heat transfer through the beverage container insulator;
• the inner sidewall has a multiplicity of protrusions consisting of at least five protrusions circumferentially spaced around the inner sidewall, each protrusion of said multiplicity of protrusions extending inwardly from the inner face into the hollow interior by a distance sized so said protrusion of the multiplicity of protrusions engages the beverage container when received in the hollow interior of the beverage container insulator so the multiplicity of protrusions space the beverage container from the inner face of the inner sidewall;
• and
• the outer sidewall has a groove extending circumferentially around the outer sidewall and inwardly from the outer face.