Prior Art? Probably not.

Gee, what were Bill Gates and Nathan Myhrvold doing when they dreamed this one up?

Microsoft's chairman and its former chief technology officer are among the inventors listed on a series of patent applications for "temperature-stabilized storage containers" -- super-high-tech devices intended for use in the storage and transport of "water or flavored water, dairy product or fruit juice, carbonated soda, wine, beer or distilled spirits, for example."

OK, so they threw a bunch of other beverages in there, too, but why else would a bunch of geeks imagine a temperature-controlled liquid container if not for the noble purpose of keeping beer cold?

As one of their patent filings explains, such a container "may store a beverage such as beer, for example, at a temperature appropriate for serving depending upon the type of beer." In addition, the filings says, the container "may be used to store wine at an optimal storage temperature range, generally 50 to 55 degrees."

It sounds almost like a high-tech take on the Coors "cold-activated can," which signals the internal temperature based on the color of the Rocky Mountains on the outside. Beyond sensing (and controlling) the temperature, the storage systems described in the patent filings would include electronic displays, in addition to transmitters and sensors -- apparently to let people monitor the state of the liquid inside.

Although the filings refer to the devices as containers, suggesting that they would be relatively large, the applications also leave open the possibility of something smaller. Reads one line, "The integrally thermally sealed container may contain a single or multiple servings of the liquid or beverage, which may be used in a single sitting."

If granted, the patent would be assigned to Searete LLC, an entity tied to Myhrvold's Intellectual Ventures, a Bellevue-based invention house and patent company. Myhrvold's company conducts regular brainstorming sessions in which Gates takes part. Their previous filings included several seeking patents on an electromagnetic engine.

For the temperature-controlled liquid storage containers and related technologies, the group submitted a series of patent applications in December 2007, but they didn't become public until earlier this month. Related patent applications describe similar temperature-controlled storage devices for medicine and other substances.

(Thanks to eagle-eyed "theodp" for letting us know about the filings.)