• Brand Name: Thermos®
• Founded: 1904
• Industry: Consumer housewares and insulated products
• Headquarters: Thermos L.L.C. is headquartered in Schaumburg, Illinois, USA, while Thermos Group operates globally through regional subsidiaries.2
• Products:
• Vacuum-insulated bottles
• Travel mugs
• Tumblers
• Food jars
• Lunch kits
• Hydration bottles
• Coolers
• Children’s insulated drinkware
• Official Motto: “Protect What You Love™”3

The origins of Thermos date back to 1892, when Scottish scientist Sir James Dewar invented the vacuum flask whilst conducting cryogenic research. His invention comprised a glass bottle placed inside another with a vacuum between them, significantly reducing heat transfer. Although Dewar created the technology, he never patented it for commercial household use.4

In 1903, German glassblower Reinhold Burger and businessman Albert Aschenbrenner improved upon Dewar’s design by enclosing the glass flask in a protective metal casing and obtaining patents for a consumer version.5

The following year, in 1904, they held a naming contest for the new product. The winning name, “Thermos,” was derived from the Greek word thermē, meaning “heat”. This marked the official birth of the Thermos brand.6

In 1907, American entrepreneur William B. Walker established The American Thermos Bottle Company, introducing Thermos products to the United States and facilitating the brand’s international expansion.

Throughout the 20th century, Thermos became one of the most recognisable names in insulated containers. Key milestones in the brand’s development include:

• 1909: Won the Grand Prize at the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition (World’s Fair).
• 1911: Introduced machine-made glass vacuum fillers, enabling large-scale production.
• 1939–1945: Produced insulated bottles for military personnel during World War II.
• 1953: Released the famous Roy Rogers lunch box, selling more than two million units in its first year.
• 1966: Introduced one of its first stainless steel vacuum bottles.
• 2004: Celebrated its 100th anniversary and launched the FUNtainer® children’s product line.
• 2023: Introduced the Icon Series, a premium collection of insulated bottles, food jars, and coolers.
• 2024: Celebrated its 120th anniversary.7

Thermos products utilise double-wall vacuum insulation, a technology that minimises heat transfer through conduction, convection, and radiation. This allows products to:

• Keep beverages hot for many hours
• Keep drinks cold for extended periods
• Reduce condensation on the exterior
• Preserve food temperature during transport

Modern Thermos products commonly use durable stainless steel rather than the original glass vacuum liners, making them more suitable for everyday use and outdoor activities.8

Thermos manufactures products across several categories:

• Vacuum bottles: Designed for hot coffee, tea, or cold beverages.
• Travel mugs: Spill-resistant mugs for commuters.
• Food jars: Insulated containers for soups, rice, noodles, and other meals.
• Hydration bottles: Reusable water bottles for sports and daily use.
• Children’s products: FUNtainer bottles and food containers for school.
• Coolers: Soft and hard insulated coolers for outdoor activities.
• Lunch boxes: Insulated lunch bags and meal containers.9

Thermos products are sold in more than 100 countries through regional companies in:

• United States
• Japan
• China
• Malaysia
• United Kingdom
• Germany
• Canada
• Australia
• Many other international markets10

Thermos has built a reputation for:

• Reliable temperature retention
• Durable stainless steel construction
• Long product lifespan
• Practical designs for everyday use
• Continuous innovation in insulated drinkware and food storage

The brand is widely used by students, office workers, travellers, hikers, campers, and outdoor enthusiasts.11

• The word “thermos” has become a generic term for vacuum flasks in many countries, even though Thermos® remains a registered trademark in many jurisdictions.12
• Early Thermos bottles accompanied famous expeditions to the North Pole and South Pole, as well as flights by the Wright brothers and Count Zeppelin.13
• Thermos pioneered consumer vacuum-insulated products and helped popularise insulated food and beverage containers worldwide.

For more than 120 years, Thermos has remained one of the most influential brands in insulated food and beverage storage. By transforming scientific vacuum insulation into practical household products, the company helped establish a global market for reusable insulated containers. Today, Thermos continues to develop products that emphasise temperature performance, durability, convenience, and sustainability whilst maintaining its status as one of the most recognised names in insulated drinkware and food storage.

1. About – Thermos Brand
2. history – Thermos Brand
3. HISTORY | THERMOS
4. THERMOS® | The Original. For Originals.
5. TIL Thermos was a registered trademark for vacuum flask
6. Thermos® Brand Marks 120 Years of Trust, Innovation, and Unmatched Qua – Thermos Brand
7. THERMOS® | The Original. For Originals.
8. history – Thermos® Insulated Water Bottles, Food Jars & Tumblers | Thermos
9. サーモスブランドの歴史 | サーモスの歴史 | サーモス
10. The Brand – Thermos
11. Thermos | About us
12. История бренда THERMOS
13. Thermos | Nippon Sanso Holdings Corporation