Beverage container warmer
AssigneeHLC Efficiency Products LLC
InventorsAndrew J. Hamm, Cody Lord, Steve Clark
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention provides an electrically heated jacket to maintain a hot beverage contained in a disposable hot-beverage container at optimum temperature for consumption. Electrical power for heating may be provided, in various embodiments, by household electric power, electric power from a motor vehicle electrical system, or batteries, which may be disposable or rechargeable. The invention also provides a method for keeping a hot beverage warm comprising providing freshly recharged batteries convenient to the point-of-sale of hot beverages.
Claims28
A device for keeping a hot beverage, contained in a container having the shape of the frustum of a cone, at the desired elevated temperature for consumption, comprising:
- a flexible heating jacket having the shape of a frustum of a cone into which said container can be inserted such that said jacket substantially surrounds and contacts at least a portion of said container, said flexible heating jacket being capable of being transformed into a substantially flattened configuration when not enclosing said container;
- electrically powered heating means embedded in said heating jacket;
- and
- means for supplying electric power to said heating jacket.
A method of keeping a hot beverage, contained in a container having the shape of the frustum of a cone, at the desired elevated temperature for consumption, comprising:
- providing a flexible electrically heated jacket having the shape of a frustum of a cone into which said container can be inserted such that said jacket substantially surrounds and contacts at least a portion of said container, said flexible heating jacket being capable of being transformed into a substantially flattened configuration when not enclosing said container, wherein the electrical power for said heating jacket is provided by a rechargeable battery contained in a battery holder detachably attached and disconnectably connected electrically to the heating jacket;
- providing a battery dispensing machine into which a partially discharged battery in its holder can be inserted and which will in turn dispense a fully recharged battery in its holder.
A cup holder for permanent installation as an integral component of a motor vehicle comprising means for keeping a hot beverage in a container at the desired elevated temperature for consumption, comprising:
- a cavity into which said beverage container can be inserted;
- electrically powered heating means embedded in the walls of said cavity;
- means for supplying electric power to said heating means;
- and
- a switch controlling the application of electric power to said heating means.
A device detachably connectable to a computer for keeping a hot beverage, contained in a container having the shape of the frustum of a cone, at the desired elevated temperature for consumption, comprising:
- a flexible heating jacket having the shape of a frustum of a cone into which said container can be inserted such that said jacket substantially surrounds and contacts at least a portion of said container, said flexible heating jacket being capable of being transformed into a substantially flattened configuration when not enclosing said container;
- electrically powered heating means embedded in said heating jacket;
- and
- means for supplying electric power to said heating jacket.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.