COOLER FOR USE WITH A BEVERAGE KEG

Abstract

A cooler is provided and includes a housing having a sidewall portion defining an open compartment of a size larger than a beverage keg. The housing also having a wall portion defining a partially opened base member configured to support the compartment and provide a seat for at least a portion of the beverage keg. The base member includes an opening configured to receive a spout operatively associated with the beverage keg. A sealing member is configured to provide a substantially fluid tight seal between at least a portion of the beverage keg and the base member. An anti-lift plug is operatively associated with the housing and is adapted to releasably couple to the spout of the beverage keg and contact a portion of the opening of the base member such that the beverage keg is prevented from floating during dispensing of a beverage contained within the beverage keg.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to, and the benefit of, U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/139,780 filed on Dec. 22, 2008, the entire content of which is incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a cooler configured for use with a beverage keg and, more particularly, to a cooler configured to receive ice or other cooling material while holding the beverage keg in a fixed upright position such that a beverage contained within the beverage keg is maintained in a chilled state relative to an ambient environment.

2. Related Art

Beverages, and especially carbonated beverages, are sometimes supplied in bulk quantities (e.g., a bulk quantity of beverage, especially a carbonated beverage such as beer), for example, for use in dispensing individual servings. Such bulk quantities are often purchased as barrels or as fractions of barrels referred to as kegs. The keg family typically refers to a domestic keg (15.5 gallons), an import keg (13.2 gallons), a pony or quarter barrel keg (7.75 gallons), a 6^th-barrel keg (5.23 gallons) and a mini-keg (1.32 gallons).

Kegs of beverages are often purchased by consumers as an adjunct to large get-togethers, such as special events, family reunions, picnics, etc. Even where such gatherings have sufficient attendance to consume the bulk quantity of beverage, nonetheless, certain problems exist where a consumer without special equipment seeks to dispense a beverage, such as a carbonated beverage, acquired in keg quantities. For example, typically, it is necessary to keep the bulk quantity of beverage in a chilled environment. This is especially true where the event is held in an outdoor environment during warmer times, such as in the summer.

In order to maintain the beverage in a chilled state for consumption, the keg is often placed in a tub or vat (commonly referred to as a keg cooler) that may contain a coolant (e.g., crushed ice or the like) to maintain a reduced temperature for the beverage. However, because of the ambient environment, the ice melts, which, in turn, causes an excess of water to pool in the interior of the keg cooler. This excess water in the interior of the keg cooler can make dispensing the beverage from the beverage keg a burdensome procedure (especially considering the weight of the bulk quantity of beverage along with the weight of the water from the melted ice). For example, as the beverage is dispensed and consumed, the beverage keg may become buoyant in the water from the melted ice, which, may result in the keg floating in an unstable manner in the keg cooler making it difficult to dispense the beverage from the beverage keg. In addition, as the beverage keg floats on the water, more of the surface of the beverage keg (which is typically constructed of metal) is exposed to a warmer environment which increases the thermal transfer of heat to the contents of the beverage keg.

While various efforts have been made in the past to resolve one or more of the above identified difficulties and problems, there exists a need for an cooler that facilitates transport of a bulk quantity of beverage, that maintains the beverage at a reduced temperature in a convenient manner and which allows for the dispensing of the beverage in a more convenient manner.

SUMMARY

A cooler adapted for use with a beverage keg is provided. The cooler includes a housing having a sidewall portion defining an open compartment of a size larger than the beverage keg to provide space for ice around the keg within the compartment. The housing also has a wall portion defining a partially opened rigid base member configured to support the compartment and provide a seat for at least a portion of the beverage keg. The rigid base member includes an opening configured to receive a spout operatively associated with the beverage keg. A sealing member is configured to provide a substantially fluid tight seal between at least a portion of the beverage keg and the rigid base member when the beverage keg is positioned in the compartment of the housing and seated on the rigid base member. An anti-lift plug is operatively associated with the housing. In an embodiment the anti-lift plug may be adapted to releasably couple to the spout of the beverage keg and contact a portion of the opening of the rigid base member such that the beverage keg is prevented from floating during dispensing of a beverage contained within the beverage keg.

A keg cooler adapted for use with a beverage keg is provided. The keg cooler includes a housing having a sidewall portion defining an open compartment of a size larger than the beverage keg to provide space for ice around the keg within the compartment. The housing includes a wall portion defining a partially opened base member configured to support the compartment and provide a seat for at least a portion of the beverage keg. The rigid base member includes an opening configured to receive a spout operatively associated with the beverage keg. A sealing member is configured to provide a seal between the beverage keg and the rigid base member when the beverage keg is positioned in the compartment of the housing and seated on the rigid base member. An anti-lift plug operatively associated with the housing is configured to removably connect to the spout of the beverage keg and the rigid base member such that the beverage keg is prevented from floating during the dispensing of a beverage contained within the beverage keg.

A cooler assembly adapted for use with a beverage keg is provided. The cooler assembly includes a housing that defines an open compartment configured to receive the beverage keg therein and to provide a space for ice around the beverage keg. The housing includes a wall portion defining a partially opened rigid base member configured to support the compartment and provide a seat for at least a portion of the beverage keg. The rigid base member includes an opening configured to receive a spout operatively associated with the beverage keg. A sealing member is configured to provide a substantially fluid tight seal between at least a portion of the beverage keg and the rigid base member when the beverage keg is positioned in the compartment of the housing and seated on the rigid base member. An anti-lift plug adapted to releasably couple to the spout of the beverage keg is in operable communication with the housing such that the beverage keg is prevented from floating as the ice melts and as a beverage contained in beverage keg becomes progressively depleted during dispensing thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various embodiments of the present disclosure are described herein with reference to the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a cooler adapted for use with a beverage keg in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the cooler depicted in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the cooler depicted in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of the cooler depicted in FIG. 1 with a housing plug connected to a base member of the housing;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the cooler depicted in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of the cooler depicted FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a front perspective view shown in partial phantom of a cooler adapted for use with a beverage keg in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 8 is an isolated, partial cross-sectional view illustrating a sealing member including a detent configuration that is operably disposed in a track associated with an interior wall of the cooler depicted in FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For purposes of the present disclosure, a keg refers to any containerized bulk quantity of beverage generally in the keg family to barrel range although it is not limited to these exact gallon quantities.

The present disclosure provides a cooler adapted for use with a beverage keg that may be used by a consumer to dispense a beverage contained therein. The cooler is intended to maintain the beverage contained in the beverage keg at a desirable temperature and the beverage keg in a substantially fixed position during the dispensing of the beverage.

With reference to FIGS. 1-6, and initially with reference to FIG. 1 a cooler 10 adapted for use with a beverage keg 100 (FIG. 2) is shown. Cooler 10 includes a housing 12, a sealing member 14 (FIG. 2) and an anti-lift plug 16.

Housing 12 includes a generally cylindrical shape and includes sidewall portion 18 that defines an open compartment 20. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-6, sidewall portion 18 includes spaced apart walls 22 and 24 having a quantity of insulating material 26 (FIGS. 2 and 3) contained therebetween. Suitable insulating material 26 may include but is not limited to high density 11/2″ polyurethane foam, Eva foam, open or closed cell foam, Thin-Sulate™, Texolite®, neoprener™, etc. Sidewall portion 18 forms a compartment 20 of a size larger than the beverage keg 100 to provide space for a coolant (e.g., ice “I”) around the beverage keg 100 when the keg is seated within the compartment 20.

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, housing 12 includes wall portion 28 including walls 30 and 32 (as best seen in FIG. 3) defining a partially opened rigid base member 34. As used herein rigid is defined as being capable of supporting compartment 20. Walls 30 and 32 extend across a bottom of the base member 34 closing the latter (see FIG. 5, for example). Base member 34 is configured to support the compartment 20 and provide a seat for at least a portion of the beverage keg 100. Walls 30 and 32 may include insulation as previously described herein with respect to sidewalls 22 and 24.

Housing 12 includes a cavity 36 that includes an opening 38 (see FIGS. 1 and 3). In the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1-6, cavity 36 and opening 38 are each operatively disposed on base member 34. Opening 38 is disposed at a predetermined position within the cavity 36 and configured to receive a spout 102 operatively associated with the beverage keg 100. Opening 38 may have any suitable configuration. In the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1-6, opening 38 includes a generally circumferential configuration. In embodiments, opening 38 may include one or more suitable sealing structures or other structures (not shown) that are configured to form a seal about a periphery of the spout 102 of the beverage keg 100.

A sealing member 14 is operatively connected to the housing 12 between the base member 34 and the compartment 20 (FIGS. 2 and 3). In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-6, sealing member 14 is disposed within a pair of circular grooves 40 (as best seen in FIG. 3) disposed on each of the base member 34 and compartment 20. Sealing member 14 may be made from any suitable material (e.g., a low or high Durometer elastomeric material). Sealing member 14 is configured to provide a substantially fluid tight seal between at least a portion of the beverage keg 100 and the base member 34 when the beverage keg 100 is positioned in the compartment 20 of the housing 12 and seated on the base member 34 (see FIG. 2, for example). In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-6, sealing member 14 includes a concave lip portion 42 that extends radially inwardly and along an inner periphery of one of the compartment 20 and the base member 34 (FIG. 3). In the illustrated embodiment, lip portion 42 of sealing member 14 extends along a periphery of the base member 34.

With reference again to FIGS. 1 and 3, an anti-lift plug 16 is shown. Anti-lift plug 16 is operatively associated with the housing 20. Anti-lift plug 16 may be made from any suitable material and may have any suitable configuration. The anti-lift plug 16 is adapted to releasably couple to the spout 102 of the beverage keg 100 and contact a portion of the opening 38 of the base member 34 (FIG. 3) such that the beverage keg 100 is prevented from floating as the ice melts and as a beverage contained in beverage keg becomes progressively depleted during dispensing thereof. Anti-lift plug 16 includes a proximal end 44 that is configured to be grasped by a user and distal end 46 that is configured to removably connect to the spout 102 (by any suitable connection method) of the beverage keg 100. In the illustrated embodiment, the distal end 46 operably couples to the spout 102 via a coupling mechanism 47 that couples the anti-lift plug 16 to the spout 102. Anti-lift plug 16 is movably and/or removably attached to the spout 102 of the beverage keg 100 from an open position wherein the beverage is allowed to dispense from the beverage keg 100, to a closed position wherein the beverage is prevented from dispensing from the beverage keg 100. In an embodiment, anti-lift plug 16 may be configured as a dispensing mechanism. To this end, anti-lift plug 16 may include one or more valves 48 and/or apertures (not shown) that ultimately may be employed to dispense the beverage contained within the beverage keg.

With reference to FIGS. 4-6 and initially with reference to FIG. 4, cooler 10 is shown including a housing plug 50. Housing plug 50 is configured to removably attach to the opening 38 and/or cavity 36 of the base member 34 and provide a substantially fluid tight seal thereto when the spout 102 of the beverage keg 100 is not received therein. To this end, housing plug 50 may have any suitable shape and may be made from any suitable material previously described herein. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 4-6, housing plug 50 includes a shape that is complementary to the cavity 36. In certain instances, when the housing plug 50 is attached to the opening 38, the cooler 10 may function as a bucket cooler for ice.

In the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1-6, cooler 10 includes a removable closure or lid 60 (see FIG. 1 for example) that may be constructed with spaced apart walls and intermediate insulation in the manner heretofore described with respect to housing 12. Lid 60 may be attachable to housing 12 by any suitable structure and/or device. In an embodiment, lid 60 is attachable to a circumferential lip 52 of housing 12 via a press or snap fit.

In order to render the cooler 10 conveniently portable, a pair of carrying handles 62 are secured to the outer wall of the housing 12 (see FIG. 1 for example).

In use, a consumer may position a beverage keg 100 within compartment 20 of cooler 10 and seat the beverage keg 100 within base member 34 (FIG. 2). When properly seated, sealing member 14 provides a substantially fluid tight seal about a periphery of the beverage keg 100. Once properly seated within the cooler 10, a consumer may add a suitable amount of ice “I” to the compartment 20 and around the beverage keg 100. If the keg is to be transported, a consumer may secure lid 60 to compartment 20. Additionally, a consumer may secure the housing plug 50 the opening 38 and/or cavity 36 (FIG. 4). Once the beverage contained within beverage keg 100 is ready for dispensing, a consumer may remove housing plug 50 from opening 38 and/or cavity 36 and attach anti-lift plug 16 to the spout 102 of beverage keg 100. If the ice melts and water begins to pool within the compartment 20, cooler 10 will be maintained in a substantially fixed upright position due to interaction between anti-lift plug 16 and opening 36 and/or cavity 36.

From the foregoing and with reference to the various figure drawings, those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain modifications can also be made to the present disclosure without departing from the scope of the same. For example, it is contemplated that cavity 36 and/or opening 38 may be disposed on housing 12 adjacent compartment 20.

It is contemplated that in certain embodiments, sealing member 14 may be slidably coupled to the housing 12, see FIG. 7, for example. More particularly, sealing member 14 may be slidably coupled to wall 22 of the housing 12. In this instance, sealing member 14 may operably couple to the wall 22 of the housing 12 via one or more detents 19 (or other suitable device(s), e.g., a clip) that are coupled to the wall 22 such that the detents 19 including the sealing member 14 may be repositioned along the wall 22. More particularly, the detents 19 may couple to one or more respective spaced-apart tracks 21 that are operably disposed on the wall 22 the housing 12, see FIG. 7 in combination with FIG. 8. More particularly, and in this instance, the spaced-apart tracks 21 extend longitudinally along the wall 22 from the base 34 to an area adjacent an upper portion, e.g., adjacent lip 52, of the housing 12, as best seen in FIG. 7. Accordingly, if a user wants to reposition the sealing member 14, such as, for example, with respect to the beverage keg 100, a user may slide the sealing member 14 along the wall 22 of the housing 12 via the detent 19 and track 21 configuration.

While several embodiments of the disclosure have been shown in the drawings, it is not intended that the disclosure be limited thereto, as it is intended that the disclosure be as broad in scope as the art will allow and that the specification be read likewise. Therefore, the above description should not be construed as limiting, but merely as exemplifications of particular embodiments. Those skilled in the art will envision other modifications within the scope and spirit of the claims appended hereto.

Claims

1. A cooler adapted for use with a beverage keg, the cooler comprising:

a housing having a sidewall portion defining an open compartment of a size larger than the beverage keg to provide space for ice around the beverage keg within the compartment, the housing also having a wall portion defining a partially opened rigid base member configured to support the compartment and provide a seat for at least a portion of the beverage keg, the rigid base member including an opening configured to receive a spout operatively associated with the beverage keg;

a sealing member configured to provide a substantially fluid tight seal between at least a portion of the beverage keg and the rigid base member when the beverage keg is positioned in the compartment of the housing and seated on the rigid base member; and

an anti-lift plug operatively associated with the housing, the anti-lift plug adapted to releasably couple to the spout of the beverage keg and contact a portion of the opening of the rigid base member such that the beverage keg is prevented from floating as the ice melts and as a beverage contained in beverage keg becomes progressively depleted during dispensing thereof.

2. A cooler according to claim 1, wherein the housing includes a removable cover for closing the top of the housing to enclose the beverage keg in the compartment.

3. A cooler according to claim 1, wherein the housing includes a pair of handles operatively coupled thereto.

4. A cooler according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the housing is insulated.

5. A cooler according to claim 4, wherein the at least a portion of the housing that is insulated is the compartment.

6. A cooler according to claim 1, further comprising a housing plug configured to removably attach to the opening of the rigid base member and provide a substantially fluid tight seal thereto when the spout of the beverage keg is not received therein.

7. A cooler according to claim 1, wherein the sealing member is operatively connected to the housing between the rigid base member and the compartment.

8. A cooler according to claim 1, wherein the sealing member includes a lip that extends radially inwardly and along an inner periphery of at least one of the compartment and the rigid base member.

9. A cooler according to claim 1, wherein the sealing member is slidably coupled to the sidewall of the housing via a detent and track configuration.

10. A keg cooler adapted for use with a beverage keg, the keg cooler comprising:

a housing having a sidewall portion defining an open compartment of a size larger than the beverage keg to provide space for ice around the keg within the compartment, the housing also having a wall portion defining a partially opened base member configured to support the compartment and provide a seat for at least a portion of the beverage keg, the rigid base member including an opening configured to receive a spout operatively associated with the beverage keg;

a sealing member configured to provide a seal between at least a portion of the beverage keg and the rigid base member when the beverage keg is positioned in the compartment of the housing and seated on the rigid base member; and

an anti-lift plug operatively associated with the housing, the anti-lift plug configured to removably connect to the spout of the beverage keg and the rigid base member such that the beverage keg is prevented from floating during the dispensing of a beverage contained within the beverage keg.

11. A keg cooler according to claim 10, wherein the housing includes a removable cover for closing the top of the housing to enclose the beverage keg in the compartment.

12. A keg cooler according to claim 10, wherein the housing includes a pair of handles operatively coupled thereto.

13. A keg cooler according to claim 10, wherein at least a portion of the housing is insulated.

14. A keg cooler according to claim 13, wherein the at least a portion of the housing that is insulated is the compartment.

15. A keg cooler according to claim 10, further comprising a housing plug configured to removably attach to the opening of the rigid base member and provide a substantially fluid tight seal thereto when the spout of the beverage keg is not received therein.

16. A keg cooler according to claim 10, wherein the sealing member is operatively connected to the housing between the rigid base member and the compartment.

17. A keg cooler according to claim 10, wherein the sealing member includes a lip that extends radially inwardly and along an inner periphery of at least one of the compartment and the rigid base member.

18. A keg cooler according to claim 10, wherein the sealing member is slidably coupled to the sidewall of the housing via a detent and track configuration.

19. A cooler assembly adapted for use with a beverage keg, the cooler assembly comprising:

a housing defining an open compartment configured to receive the beverage keg therein and to provide a space for ice around the beverage keg, the housing having a wall portion defining a partially opened rigid base member configured to support the compartment and provide a seat for at least a portion of the beverage keg, the rigid base member including an opening configured to receive a spout operatively associated with the beverage keg;

a sealing member configured to provide a substantially fluid tight seal between at least a portion of the beverage keg and the rigid base member when the beverage keg is positioned in the compartment of the housing and seated on the rigid base member; and

an anti-lift plug adapted to releasably couple to the spout of the beverage keg, the anti-lift plug in operable communication with the housing such that the beverage keg is prevented from floating as the ice melts and as a beverage contained in beverage keg becomes progressively depleted during dispensing thereof.