US Patent 7163125 Carafe with contents volume indicator

An inexpensive, readily visible indicator for liquid levels in a vacuum bottle that includes a coating of reflective material to minimize radiation heat transfer from the interior of the vacuum bottle to the exterior of the assembly. The vacuum bottle assembly includes a container receiving the vacuum bottle and a transparent or translucent window is located in the side wall of the container and in alignment with an interruption in the reflective coating. An indicator is located within the vacuum bottle and is aligned with both the windows and the interruption so as to be visible therethrough to provide an indication of the level of the liquid contained within the inner liner of the vacuum bottle.