Collapsible and reusable container insulator

Claim 2

An insulator for a cylindrical can adapted for holding liquid contents, the insulator comprising thermal insulating means removably enclosingly surrounding the cylindrical can, said insulating means having opening means for exteriorly gaining access to the cylindrical can, the thermal insulating means comprising a pair of joined collapsible side walls formable into a cylindrical sleeve, an insulating bottom, and a removable insulating top lid which comprises said opening means, the insulating bottom being fittingly receivable into the cylindrical sleeve and the insulating top lid being attachable to the opposite end of the cylindrical sleeve, whereby said liquid contents are maintainable at a temperature above or below ambient temperatures, and whereby damage to a surface on which the container rests is preventable.

Claim 3

The insulator of claim 1 wherein said side walls are joined on the outside thereof by insulating strips having an insulating foam in the gap between said insulating strip and said side walls.

Claim 4

The insulator of claim 2, wherein one of said side walls has a cut-out portion disposed along its top for exteriorly gaining access to said container, and said top has a depending lip seal covering said cut-out portion.

Claim 5

The insulator of claim 3 wherein said top lid is attached by a tape hinge to the side wall opposite said cut-out portion and has a straw acceptor hole for receiving a drinking straw passing therethrough, the top lid further having a lip extending beyond said side walls for improving the insulating quality of the insulator.

Claim 6

The insulator of claim 4 wherein said bottom has a lip extending beyond said side walls for improving the insulating quality and appearance of the insulator, and the bottom has an undercut ridge for snap fitting into a kerf within the lower rim of said side walls.

Claim 7

An insulator for a generally cylindrical liquid container, the insulator comprising a pair of joined collapsible side walls expandable into a cylindrical sleeve, the side walls being joined by insulating strips having an insulating foam in the gap between the insulating strip and the side walls, the side walls having a lower periphery into which an insulating bottom is removably insertable and fittable, the side walls having an openable insulating top lid attachable to the side walls and openable to provide access through the insulator to the contents of the container, the top lid being attachable to the side walls by a tape hinge enabling opening and closing of the top lid on the side walls, the insulating bottom being constructed of a soft material to prevent scratching of a table surface on which the insulator is restable, the side walls, insulating bottom and insulating top lid being constructed of a material having insulating properties to minimize transfer of heat therethrough and to minimize the warming effect on said contents by incident solar radiation, the collapsible side walls having a springiness or tendency to collapse when assembled, whereby axial gripping force is exerted on the insulating bottom to retain the insulating bottom by friction, the insulating bottom being provided with three circumferential ridges including a lowermost, middle, and uppermost ridge, the middle ridge being undercut to provide a snap fit with said side walls, the side walls having a lower gripping kerf for receiving the middle ridge.

Claim 8

An insulator for a generally cylindrical liquid container, the insulator comprising a pair of joined collapsible side walls expandable into a cylindrical sleeve, the side walls being joined by insulating strips having an insulating foam in the gap between the insulating strip and the side walls, the side walls having a lower periphery into which an insulating bottom is removably insertable and fittable, the side walls having an openable insulating top lid attachable to the side walls and openable to provide access through the insulator to the contents of the container, the top lid being attachable to the side walls by a tape hinge enabling opening and closing of the top lid on the side walls, the insulating bottom being constructed of a soft material to prevent scratching of a table surface on which the insulator is restable, the side walls, insulating bottom and insulating top lid being constructed of a material having insulating properties to minimize transfer of heat therethrough and to minimize the warming effect on said contents by incident solar radiation, the collapsible side walls having a springiness or tendency to collapse when assembled, whereby axial gripping force is exerted on the insulating bottom to retain the insulating bottom by friction, the insulating bottom being provided with three circumferential ridges including a lowermost, middle, and uppermost ridge, the middle ridge being undercut to provide a snap fit with said side walls, the side walls having a lower gripping kerf for receiving the middle ridge.

Claim 9

The insulator of claim 6 wherein said top lid has a straw acceptor hole for receiving a drinking straw passing therethrough.