Title:
Removable insulating cover for generally cylindrical containers
United States Patent 3906129
Abstract:
A removable insulating cover for fluid containers consisting of two symmetrical portions which define a hood having oppositely disposed open and closed ends. The cover portions may be joined together by means of a zipper and are formed from multilayer material consisting of a closed cell polyurethane sandwiched between layers of polyvinyl chloride and a flexible insulating material.
US Patent References:
Nursing bottle container and support
Wells - February 1951 - 2541002
/2733710.html
Zibell - February 1956 - 2733710
Nursing bottle container and support
Berry et al. - December 1964 - 3163194
INSULATED CONTAINER FOR PIZZA PIES
Walsh - February 1969 - 3428103
ARTICLE OF MANUFACTURE
Chapuis - November 1970 - 3541620
Nursing bottle container and support
Wells - February 1951 - 2541002
/2733710.html
Zibell - February 1956 - 2733710
Nursing bottle container and support
Berry et al. - December 1964 - 3163194
INSULATED CONTAINER FOR PIZZA PIES
Walsh - February 1969 - 3428103
ARTICLE OF MANUFACTURE
Chapuis - November 1970 - 3541620
Application Number:
05/448450
Publication Date:
09/16/1975
Filing Date:
03/06/1974
View Patent Images:
Export Citation:
Assignee:
Etablissements, Damois Freres (Le Havre, FR)
Primary Class:
Other Classes:
428/314.400, 220/902, 428/319.700, 220/592.240, 428/316.600, 428/102, 150/901, 428/52, 383/110
International Classes:
B32B5/18; B65D65/02; B32B7/08
Field of Search:
150/52R,52E,2.2,2.6,2.3 220/9F,9E,9R 161/160,48,53
US Patent References:
Primary Examiner:
Dier, Philip
Claims:
What is claimed is
1. An insulating cover for a generally cylindrically shaped container, said cover having a sidewall which converges to define a closed hood, said sidewall further defining an aperture disposed oppositely of said hood, said cover comprising:
2. The article of claim 1 wherein said first flexible material comprises polyvinyl chloride.
3. The article of claim 1 wherein said first flexible insulating material comprises polyurethane having open cells.
4. The article of claim 3 wherein said first flexible material comprises polyvinyl chloride.
1. An insulating cover for a generally cylindrically shaped container, said cover having a sidewall which converges to define a closed hood, said sidewall further defining an aperture disposed oppositely of said hood, said cover comprising:
2. The article of claim 1 wherein said first flexible material comprises polyvinyl chloride.
3. The article of claim 1 wherein said first flexible insulating material comprises polyurethane having open cells.
4. The article of claim 3 wherein said first flexible material comprises polyvinyl chloride.
Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the provision of thermal isolation and particularly to the insulating of containers wherein hot liquids are stored. More specifically, this invention is directed to insulating covers for hot water containers. Accordingly, the general objects of the present invention are to provide novel and improved methods and apparatus of such character.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There are many applications wherein it is deemed necessary or desirable to provide a cover medium for enhancing the thermal isolation between the interior and exterior of a container. Thus, by way of example, insulating covers comprising a sheet of flexible material having a degree of elasticity and lined on one side with a layer of flexible insulating material are known for the purpose of covering hot water containers. Such multilayer insulating covers are typically shaped so as to assume the form of a hood having a crown and a side wall terminating in an aperture; the hood being split from a point intermediate the crown to the aperture to permit or facilitate installation of the cover and the split being adapted to be closed by a zipper type fastener. A prior art insulating cover of this type is disclosed in French Pat. No. 1,502,737.
While prior art insulating covers of the type briefly described above have performed satisfactorily, there has nevertheless been a desire to enhance the insulating properties thereof. Additionally, as is the case for most products, there has also a desire to facilitate the manufacture of insulating covers while simultaneously reducing the cost of production.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention comprises a novel and improved insulating cover which, while not limited thereto in its utility, is particularly well suited for use with fluid holding vessels and particularly hot water containers. The present invention thus comprises an improvement over the prior art as discussed above.
In accordance with the invention an insulating cover or blanket includes a sheet of flexible material which has a preselected degree of elasticity. A cover in accordance with the present invention also includes a first layer of flexible insulating material. The first layer of flexible insulating material will typically be comprised of a porous or open celled material having good thermal isolation properties. A further layer of flexible insulating material, and particularly a layer of expanded polyurethane with closed cells, is sandwiched between the first flexible insulating material layer and the sheet of flexible material. The three layer cover thus defined is formed into the shape of a hood having a crown and a side wall terminating in an aperture. The cover is particularly characterized by being comprised of two symmetrical parts divided along an axial median plane. The two parts are adapted to be joined together, for example, by a zipper type fastener.
The covers in accordance with the present invention being formed in two parts, the present invention is characterized by ease and quickness of manufacture. The ability to manufacture the covers at a faster rate and with less difficulties, in turn, precipitates important manufacturing economies. Covers in accordance with the present invention are also characterized by improved thermal insulating properties as a result of the addition of the intermediate layer of expanded polyurethane which provides a barrier to the loss of heat. It is also to be noted that, because of the addition of the layer of expanded polyurethane, it is possible to reduce the overall thickness and thus the weight of a cover without having a deleterious effect on its thermal insulating properties. A further advantage of the present invention is that the two part covers are characterized by ease of assembly.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
The present invention may be better understood and its numerous objects and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art by reference to the accompanying drawing wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an insulating cover in accordance with the invention; and
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view, taken along line II--II of FIG. 1, depicting a portion of the cover of FIG. 1 on an enlarged scale.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT:
With reference to FIG. 1, a container which is to be provided with a thermal insulating cover is indicated at 1. Container 1 is intended for the storage of a heated fluid, for example hot water, and will generally be in the form of a cylinder. The object of the present invention is to provide a thermal insulating cover, as indicated generally at 2, for container 1.
An insulating cover in accordance with the invention is defined by two symmetrical sections 3 and 4 which are divided along a vertical axial median plane. Cover sections 3 and 4 may be joined to one another by means of a zipper type fastener 5.
Along their lower edges, which with the cover sections assembled define an aperture for receiving container 1, cover sections 3 and 4 are provided with a hem as indicated at 6. A ligature or draw string 7 is sewn into each of the hems 6. The draw strings 7, of course, may be pulled tight and tied together to insure that the cover fits tightly about and thus completely envelopes the container 1.
Referring now to FIG. 2, the cover 2 of the present invention is formed from a first sheet 8 of flexible material which has a preselected degree of elasticity. Sheet 8 will, in a preferred embodiment, be comprised of polyvinyl chloride. The cover also includes a first layer 9 of flexible insulating material. Layer 9 will, for example, be comprised of open celled expanded polyurethane, fiberglass wool, rock wool or some other equivalent material. A second insulating layer 10 is sandwiched between layers 8 and 9. Layer 10 will also be flexible and will be comprised of closed cell expanded polyurethane. Layers 8, 9 and 10 are adhesively bonded to one another by techniques well known in the art and are thereafter formed into the desired shape of the cover sections 3 and 4.
While a preferred embodiment has been shown and described, various modifications and substitutions may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the present invention has been described by way of illustration and not limitation.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the provision of thermal isolation and particularly to the insulating of containers wherein hot liquids are stored. More specifically, this invention is directed to insulating covers for hot water containers. Accordingly, the general objects of the present invention are to provide novel and improved methods and apparatus of such character.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There are many applications wherein it is deemed necessary or desirable to provide a cover medium for enhancing the thermal isolation between the interior and exterior of a container. Thus, by way of example, insulating covers comprising a sheet of flexible material having a degree of elasticity and lined on one side with a layer of flexible insulating material are known for the purpose of covering hot water containers. Such multilayer insulating covers are typically shaped so as to assume the form of a hood having a crown and a side wall terminating in an aperture; the hood being split from a point intermediate the crown to the aperture to permit or facilitate installation of the cover and the split being adapted to be closed by a zipper type fastener. A prior art insulating cover of this type is disclosed in French Pat. No. 1,502,737.
While prior art insulating covers of the type briefly described above have performed satisfactorily, there has nevertheless been a desire to enhance the insulating properties thereof. Additionally, as is the case for most products, there has also a desire to facilitate the manufacture of insulating covers while simultaneously reducing the cost of production.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention comprises a novel and improved insulating cover which, while not limited thereto in its utility, is particularly well suited for use with fluid holding vessels and particularly hot water containers. The present invention thus comprises an improvement over the prior art as discussed above.
In accordance with the invention an insulating cover or blanket includes a sheet of flexible material which has a preselected degree of elasticity. A cover in accordance with the present invention also includes a first layer of flexible insulating material. The first layer of flexible insulating material will typically be comprised of a porous or open celled material having good thermal isolation properties. A further layer of flexible insulating material, and particularly a layer of expanded polyurethane with closed cells, is sandwiched between the first flexible insulating material layer and the sheet of flexible material. The three layer cover thus defined is formed into the shape of a hood having a crown and a side wall terminating in an aperture. The cover is particularly characterized by being comprised of two symmetrical parts divided along an axial median plane. The two parts are adapted to be joined together, for example, by a zipper type fastener.
The covers in accordance with the present invention being formed in two parts, the present invention is characterized by ease and quickness of manufacture. The ability to manufacture the covers at a faster rate and with less difficulties, in turn, precipitates important manufacturing economies. Covers in accordance with the present invention are also characterized by improved thermal insulating properties as a result of the addition of the intermediate layer of expanded polyurethane which provides a barrier to the loss of heat. It is also to be noted that, because of the addition of the layer of expanded polyurethane, it is possible to reduce the overall thickness and thus the weight of a cover without having a deleterious effect on its thermal insulating properties. A further advantage of the present invention is that the two part covers are characterized by ease of assembly.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
The present invention may be better understood and its numerous objects and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art by reference to the accompanying drawing wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an insulating cover in accordance with the invention; and
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view, taken along line II--II of FIG. 1, depicting a portion of the cover of FIG. 1 on an enlarged scale.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT:
With reference to FIG. 1, a container which is to be provided with a thermal insulating cover is indicated at 1. Container 1 is intended for the storage of a heated fluid, for example hot water, and will generally be in the form of a cylinder. The object of the present invention is to provide a thermal insulating cover, as indicated generally at 2, for container 1.
An insulating cover in accordance with the invention is defined by two symmetrical sections 3 and 4 which are divided along a vertical axial median plane. Cover sections 3 and 4 may be joined to one another by means of a zipper type fastener 5.
Along their lower edges, which with the cover sections assembled define an aperture for receiving container 1, cover sections 3 and 4 are provided with a hem as indicated at 6. A ligature or draw string 7 is sewn into each of the hems 6. The draw strings 7, of course, may be pulled tight and tied together to insure that the cover fits tightly about and thus completely envelopes the container 1.
Referring now to FIG. 2, the cover 2 of the present invention is formed from a first sheet 8 of flexible material which has a preselected degree of elasticity. Sheet 8 will, in a preferred embodiment, be comprised of polyvinyl chloride. The cover also includes a first layer 9 of flexible insulating material. Layer 9 will, for example, be comprised of open celled expanded polyurethane, fiberglass wool, rock wool or some other equivalent material. A second insulating layer 10 is sandwiched between layers 8 and 9. Layer 10 will also be flexible and will be comprised of closed cell expanded polyurethane. Layers 8, 9 and 10 are adhesively bonded to one another by techniques well known in the art and are thereafter formed into the desired shape of the cover sections 3 and 4.
While a preferred embodiment has been shown and described, various modifications and substitutions may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the present invention has been described by way of illustration and not limitation.