| 摘要 |
A thermal barrier liner is provided to maintain a beverage within a container at a desired temperature. The thermal barrier liner is installed so to make intimate contact with the internal surface of the container. The thermal barrier liner may be provided in various embodiments including a closed cell substrate, a base layer having gas or liquid filled microcapsules, a base layer having microencapsulated solid-liquid phase change material, or combinations thereof. In the closed cell substrate embodiments, when the thermal barrier liner is under pressure within the container such as prior to the container being opened, the thermal barrier liner maintains a minimum profile or thickness. However, when the container is opened and as pressure is released within the container, the barrier liner expands to achieve equilibrium. The expanded or thickened barrier liner provides an effective thermal barrier thereby maintaining the beverage at a desired temperature for a longer period of time. The thermal barrier liner may be formed from some liner materials currently used as protective liners, but supplemented with a foaming agent to create cellular structures. For the embodiment utilizing microencapsulated gas particles, an increase in temperature of the container results in expansion of the microcapsules by virtue of the gas contained therein. For the embodiments utilizing gas or liquid filled microcapsules, voids created by the microcapsules enhance the thermal barrier characteristics of the liner. In accordance with the method of the invention, the liner may be pre-made and mechanically inserted in the container prior to securing the top of the container to the sidewall. In another embodiment, a liner is placed within the container to form an annular gap between the container and the liner. An amount of gas fills the annular gap, thereby providing a thermal barrier to reduce the rate of heat transfer to the liquid within the container.
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