Means for cooling beverage containers in a carton

A beverage container cooling device in which a plurality of beverage container are arranged in rows and columns such that each beverage container is in contacting relation with other beverage containers in adjacent rows and columns and spaces are formed between the beverage containers comprising:

• p1 a carton for containment of a plurality of beverage containers;
• a plurality of separately removable individual refrigeration elements;
• each said refrigeration element being substantially filled with a refrigerant having a freezing point of 40.degree. F. or less;
• each said refrigeration element being adapted to substantially fill to the space between said beverage containers within said carton;
• and
• each said refrigeration element having a plurality of heat conducting surfaces dimensioned for surface contact with the outer surfaces of a plurality of said beverage containers such that heat transfer between said refrigeration elements and said beverage containers occurs primarily by conduction.

A refrigeration element for maintaining beverage containers within a carton at reduced temperatures for substantial time periods of at least four hours comprising:

• a top surface;
• a bottom surface;
• a plurality of heat conducting side surfaces dimensioned for surface contact with the outer surfaces of a plurality of said beverage containers;
• each said refrigeration element being substantially filled with a refrigerant having a freezing point of 40.degree. F. or less;
• each said refrigeration element being adapted to substantially fill the space between said beverage containers within said carton;
• and
• said refrigeration element transferring heat for refrigeration purposes between said beverage containers and said refrigeration element primarily by conduction.

A refrigeration element for maintaining beverage containers within a carton at reduced temperatures for substantial time periods of at least four hours comprising:

• a convex top surface;
• a concave bottom surface;
• a plurality of heat conducting side surfaces dimensioned for surface contact with the outer surfaces of a plurality of said beverage containers;
• said refrigeration element being substantially filled with a refrigerant having a freezing point of 40.degree. F. or less;
• said refrigeration element being adapted to substantially fill a space between said beverage containers within said carton;
• and
• said refrigeration element transferring heat for refrigeration purposes between said beverage containers and said refrigeration element primarily by conduction.

A beverage container cooling device comprising:

• a carton for containment of a plurality of beverage containers;
• said carton having a reclosable opening;
• a plurality of removable refrigeration elements;
• each said refrigeration element being substantially filled with a refrigerant having a freezing point of 40.degree. F. or less;
• said refrigeration elements being adapted to substantially fill existing spaces between said beverage containers within said carton;
• each said refrigeration element having a plurality of heat conducting surfaces dimensioned for surface contact with the outer surfaces of a plurality of said beverage containers such that heat transfer between said refrigeration elements and said beverage containers occurs primarily by conduction;
• said carton including perforated openings on at least one surface thereof for insertion of said refrigeration elements therethrough;
• and
• said perforated openings being adapted to closely fit the outer dimensions of said refrigeration elements.

A beverage container cooling device comprising:

• a carton for containment of a plurality of beverage containers;
• a plurality of removable refrigeration elements;
• each said refrigeration element being substantially filled with a refrigerant having a freezing point of 40.degree. F. or less;
• said refrigeration elements being adapted to substantially fill existing spaces between said beverage containers within said carton;
• each said refrigeration element having a plurality of heat conducting surfaces dimensioned for surface contact with the outer surfaces of a plurality of said beverage container such that heat transfer between said refrigeration elements and said beverage containers occurs primarily by conduction;
• said carton including perforated openings on at least one surface thereof for insertion of said refrigeration elements therethrough;
• and
• said perforated openings being adapted to closely fit the outer dimensions of said refrigeration elements.

A beverage container cooling device comprising:

• a carton for containment of a plurality of beverage containers;
• said carton having a reclosable opening;
• a plurality of removable refrigeration elements;
• each said refrigeration element being substantially filled with a refrigerant having a freezing point of 40.degree. F. or less;
• said refrigeration elements comprising a first set of refrigeration elements and a second set of refrigeration elements;
• said first set of refrigeration elements each being adapted to substantially fill existing spaces between said beverage containers within the centermost portion of said carton;
• said first set of refrigeration elements each having four heat conducting surfaces dimensioned for surface contact with the outer surfaces of up to four beverage containers;
• said second set of refrigeration elements each being adapted to substantially fill existing spaces between said beverage containers adjacent to the outer walls of said carton;
• said second set of refrigeration elements each having two heat conducting surfaces dimensioned for surface contact with the outer surfaces of up to two said beverage containers and one surface dimensioned for surface contact with the inner surface of an outer wall of said carton;
• said carton including perforated openings on at least one surface thereof for insertion of said second set of refrigeration elements therethrough;
• and
• said perforated openings being adapted to closely fit the outer dimensions of said second refrigeration elements.

A beverage container cooling device comprising:

• a carton for containment of a plurality of beverage containers;
• said carton having a reclosable opening;
• a plurality of removable refrigeration elements;
• each said refrigeration element being substantially filled with a refrigerant having a freezing point of 40.degree. F. or less;
• said refrigeration elements comprising a first set of refrigeration elements and a second set of refrigeration elements;
• said first set of refrigeration elements each being adapted to substantially fill existing spaces between said beverage containers within the centermost portion of said carton;
• said first set of refrigeration elements each having four heat conducting surfaces dimensioned for surface contact with the outer surfaces of up to four beverage containers;
• said second set of refrigeration elements each being adapted to substantially fill existing spaces between said beverage containers adjacent to the outer walls of said carton;
• said second set of refrigeration elements each having two heat conducting surfaces dimensioned for surface contact with the outer surfaces of up to two said beverage containers and one surface dimensioned for surface contact with the inner surface of an outer wall of said carton;
• said carton including perforated openings on at least one surface thereof for insertion of said first set of refrigeration elements therethrough;
• and
• said perforated openings being adapted to closely fit the outer dimensions of said first refrigeration elements.

A beverage container cooling device comprising:

• a carton for containment of a plurality of beverage containers;
• said carton having a reclosable opening;
• a plurality of removable refrigeration elements;
• each said refrigeration element being substantially filled with a refrigerant having a freezing point of 40.degree. F. or less;
• said refrigeration elements comprising a first set of refrigeration elements and a second set of refrigeration elements;
• said first set of refrigeration elements each being adapted to substantially fill existing spaces between said beverage containers within the centermost portion of said carton;
• said first set of refrigeration elements each having four heat conducting surfaces dimensioned for surface contact with the outer surfaces of up to four beverage containers;
• said second set of refrigeration elements each being adapted to substantially fill existing spaces between said beverage containers adjacent to the outer walls of said carton;
• said second set of refrigeration elements each having two heat conducting surfaces dimensioned for surface contact with the outer surfaces of up to two said beverage containers and one surface dimensioned for surface contact with the inner surface of an outer wall of said carton;
• said carton including first perforated openings on at least one surface thereof for insertion of said first set of refrigeration elements therethrough;
• said first perforated openings being adapted to closely fit the outer dimensions of said first refrigeration elements;
• said carton including second perforated openings on at least one surface thereof for insertion of said second set of refrigeration elements therethrough;
• and
• said second perforated openings being adapted to closely fit the outer dimensions of said second refrigeration elements.

A beverage container cooling device comprising:

• a carton for containment of a plurality of beverage containers;
• a plurality of removable refrigeration elements;
• each said refrigeration element being substantially filled with a refrigerant having a freezing point of 40.degree. F. or less;
• said refrigeration elements comprising a first set of refrigeration elements and a second set of refrigeration elements;
• said first set of refrigeration elements each being adapted to substantially fill existing spaces between said beverage containers within the centermost portion of said carton;
• said first set of refrigeration elements each having four heat conducting surfaces dimensioned for surface contact with the outer surfaces of up to four beverage containers;
• said second set of refrigeration elements each being adapted to substantially fill existing spaces between said beverage containers adjacent to the outer walls of said carton;
• said second set of refrigeration elements each having two heat conducting surfaces dimensioned for surface contact with the outer surfaces of up to two said beverage containers and one surface dimensioned for surface contact with the inner surface of an outer wall of said carton;
• said carton including perforated openings on at least one surface thereof for insertion of said second set of refrigeration elements therethrough;
• and
• said perforated openings being adapted to closely fit the outer dimensions of said second refrigeration elements.

A beverage container cooling device comprising:

• a carton for containment of a plurality of beverage containers;
• a plurality of removable refrigeration elements;
• each said refrigeration element being substantially filled with a refrigerant having a freezing point of 40.degree. F. or less;
• said refrigeration elements comprising a first set of refrigeration elements and a second set of refrigeration elements;
• said first set of refrigeration elements each being adapted to substantially fill existing spaces between said beverage containers within the centermost portion of said carton;
• said first set of refrigeration elements each having four heat conducting surfaces dimensioned for surface contact with the outer surfaces of up to four beverage containers;
• said second set of refrigeration elements each being adapted to substantially fill existing spaces between said beverage containers adjacent to the outer walls of said carton;
• said second set of refrigeration elements each having two heat conducting surfaces dimensioned for surface contact with the outer surfaces of up to two said beverage containers and one surface dimensioned for surface contact with the inner surface of an outer wall of said carton;
• said carton including perforated openings on at least one surface thereof for insertion of said first set of refrigeration elements therethrough;
• and
• said perforated openings being adapted to closely fit the outer dimensions of said first refrigeration elements.

A beverage container cooling device comprising:

• a carton for containment of a plurality of beverage containers;
• a plurality of removable refrigeration elements;
• each said refrigeration element being substantially filled with a refrigerant having a freezing point of 40.degree. F. or less;
• said refrigeration elements comprising a first set of refrigeration elements and a second set of refrigeration elements;
• said first set of refrigeration elements each being adapted to substantially fill existing spaces between said beverage containers within the centermost portion of said carton;
• said first set of refrigeration elements each having four heat conducting surfaces dimensioned for surface contact with the outer surfaces of up to four beverage containers;
• said second set of refrigeration elements each being adapted to substantially fill existing spaces between said beverage containers adjacent to the outer walls of said carton;
• said second set of refrigeration elements each having two heat conducting surfaces dimensioned for surface contact with the outer surfaces of up to two said beverage containers and one surface dimensioned for surface contact with the inner surface of an outer wall of said carton;
• said carton including first perforated openings on at least one surface thereof for insertion of said first set of refrigeration elements therethrough;
• said first perforated openings being adapted to closely fit the outer dimensions of said first refrigeration elements;
• said carton including second perforated openings on at least one surface thereof for insertion of said second set of refrigeration elements therethrough;
• and
• said second perforated openings being adapted to closely fit the outer dimensions of said second refrigeration elements.

A beverage container cooling device comprising:

• a carton for containment of a plurality of beverage containers;
• said carton having a reclosable opening;
• a plurality of removable refrigeration elements;
• each said refrigeration element being substantially filled with a refrigerant having a freezing point of 40.degree. F. or less;
• said refrigeration elements comprising a first set of refrigeration elements and a second set of refrigeration elements;
• said first set of refrigeration elements each being adapted to substantially fill existing spaces between said beverage containers within the centermost portion of said carton;
• said first set of refrigeration elements each having four heat conducting surfaces dimensioned for surface contact with the outer surfaces of up to four beverage containers;
• said second set of refrigeration elements each being adapted to substantially fill existing spaces between said beverage containers adjacent to the outer walls of said carton;
• said second set of refrigeration elements each having two heat conducting surfaces dimensioned for surface contact with the outer surfaces of up to two said beverage containers and one surface dimensioned for surface contact with the inner surface of an outer wall of said carton;
• said carton including perforated openings on at least one surface thereof for insertion of said second set of refrigeration elements therethrough;
• said perforated openings being adapted to closely fit the outer dimensions of said second refrigeration elements;
• and
• each said second refrigeration element having a slightly angled bottom surface forming a point to facilitate punching through said perforated openings.

A beverage container cooling device comprising:

• a carton for containment of a plurality of beverage containers;
• a plurality of removable refrigeration elements;
• each said refrigeration element being substantially filled with a refrigerant having a freezing point of 40.degree. C. or less;
• said refrigeration elements comprising a first set of refrigeration elements and a second set of refrigeration elements;
• said first set of refrigeration elements each being adapted to substantially fill existing spaces between said beverage containers within the centermost portion of said carton;
• said first set of refrigeration elements each having four heat conducting surfaces dimensioned for surface contact with the outer surfaces of up to four beverage containers;
• said second set of refrigeration elements each being adapted to substantially fill existing spaces between said beverage containers adjacent to the outer walls of said carton;
• said second set of refrigeration elements each having two heat conducting surfaces dimensioned for surface contact with the outer surfaces of up to two said beverage containers and one surface dimensioned for surface contact with the inner surface of an outer wall of said carton;
• said carton including perforated openings on at least one surface thereof for insertion of said second set of refrigeration elements therethrough;
• said perforated openings being adapted to closely fit the outer dimensions of said second refrigeration elements;
• and
• each said second refrigeration element having a slightly angled bottom surface forming a point to facilitate punching through said perforated openings.

A refrigeration element for maintaining beverage containers within a carton at reduced temperatures for substantial time periods of at least four hours comprising:

• a top surface;
• a bottom surface;
• two heat conducting side surfaces dimensioned for surface contact with the outer surfaces of up to two beverage containers;
• a planar side surface dimensioned for surface contact with the inner surface of an outer wall of said carton;
• said refrigeration element being substantially filled with a refrigerant having a freezing point of 40.degree. F. or less;
• said refrigeration element being adapted to substantially fill existing spaces between up to two said beverage containers in a parallel configuration within said carton;
• and
• said refrigeration element transferring heat for refrigeration purposes between said beverage containers and said refrigeration element primarily by conduction.

A beverage container cooling device comprising:

• a carton for containment of a plurality of beverage containers;
• a plurality of removable refrigeration elements;
• each said refrigeration element being substantially filled with a refrigerant having a freezing point of 40.degree. F. or less;
• said refrigeration elements being adapted to substantially fill existing spaces between said beverage containers within said carton;
• each said refrigeration element having a plurality of heat conducting surfaces dimensioned for surface contact with the outer surfaces of a plurality of said beverage containers such that heat transfer between said refrigeration elements and said beverage containers occurs primarily by conduction;
• and
• said carton including perforated openings on at least one surface thereof for insertion of said refrigeration elements therethrough.