Abstract: An inexpensive insulated container and container system for receiving fruits, vegetables, or other plant materials particularly including leafy vegetables, in the field or packing facility, transporting such products and, if desired, storing them. A stackable insulated chest is provided with a lid-mounted ice cavity that may be removed and replaced through an access door without removing the lid or unstacking the containers. An alternative embodiment includes a lid-mounted manifold through which water may be introduced from outside the container, and alternative structures are disclosed for diverting water from stacked containers or circulating it through stacked containers.

Abstract: Transport- and storage container for cooled goods, for example fresh fish, using ice as cooling medium and comprising a first container of an impact-resisting and heat insulating material, and a second self-supporting container shaped so that it can be received as an insert in the first container. The second container is of a water-proof material and has in its bottom distance members for keeping the cooled goods separated from the water from the melted ice. The distance members consist of a number of vertical cells forming a lattice work upon which the cooled goods is intended to rest and which cells communicate with each other through overflows.

Abstract: A foldable ice tray and table covering combination (10, 20) is described. The combination has a sheet (11, 21) of material which is placed on the table and foldable walls (11a to 11d or 22a to 22d). Optionally carrying handles 12 or drain holes a with plug 24 or a second sheet or cover (23a and 23b) for the ice (100) and food (101 to 103) are provided.

Abstract: A container for holding food. The container includes cylindrical side walls fixedly mounted atop a bottom wall. A externally threaded post is rotatably and removably mounted atop the bottom wall and is in meshing engagement with a horizontally extending food supporting wall which sealingly engages the interior surface of the side walls. The top end of the threaded post is reduced in configuration and keyed to receive an external tool to facilitate the rotation of the post allowing the food supporting wall to be moved upwardly maintaining the food level adjacent the top of the container as food is withdrawn therefrom. A second tool removably mounted to the top end of the post allows the post and food supporting wall to be pulled upwardly and removed from the container.

Abstract: An improved cold plate (10) is disclosed for use in cooling carbonated water and syrup which is mixed to form a beverage. The cooling coil (10) employs a plurality of involute carbonated water cooling coils (12-16) formed of tubing through which is flowed the carbonated water. The use of involute coils provides a more uniform thermal gradient within the cold plate (10) and resists bridging of the cooling medium, typically ice. The syrup cooling coils (18-28) can be constructed in either a serpentine or involute configuration.

Abstract: An inflatable insulated barrel cooler comprising a cylindrical, open topped, closed bottom, container constructed of sheet plastic or vinyl reinforced fabric. The cooler is somewhat rigid when inflated and in use yet is easily stored when collapsed. Insulation is provided by the trapped air of inflation. The cooler accommodates both 1/2 and 1/4 barrel sizes by incorporating a sleeve insert.

Abstract: A portable cooler or ice chest comprising a container for ice insulated on the sides with a drain and a base compartment with insulated recesses situated beneath the container. Adapted to fit in the recesses are closable bins for storage and cooling of beverages or items. The bins are separate from the container but not by insulation.

Abstract: A portable ice table having a platform comprised of a light-weight material with an outer insulated surface and a removable insulating cover. The platform includes a handle, a recessed dry storage compartment and a recessed ice storage compartment separated from the dry storage compartment by a separating member. A threaded orifice is provided between the ice storage compartment and the side of the platform for storing and draining water from the ice table. The ice table further includes supporting members fixedly secured to the bottom of the platform for setting the platform on a table and also includes legs pivotably secured to the platform to support the platform above the ground or floor. The legs are provided with retractable locking rings which frictionally engage the supporting member to secure the leg into position.

Abstract: In the preferred and illustrated embodiments of the present apparatus, a tray or platform standing above the bottom of an ice chest is disclosed. The tray is a generally horizontal planar member having a number of slots or openings formed therein, and further comprising a set of feet which support the horizontal member in an elevated position. In an alternate embodiment, the tray rests on a set of raised transverse members integrally formed in the bottom of the ice chest.

Abstract: A chilling container includes a chilling agent chamber and a chilled goods chamber. The chilling agent chamber is sealed shut to contain e.g. dry ice, is highly insulated from the outside, and is connected by a pressure passage system to the chilled goods chamber which has an opening to the outside and a door. The chilling agent is vaporized in the chilling agent chamber by removal of the heat. A pressure drop occurs and therewith a forced movement with a forced circulation of the vaporized gases into the chilled goods chamber. A wall containing the pressure passage system is cooler and is opposite the door causing convection circulation which reinforces the forced circulation. A wall separating the chambers is relatively highly heat conductive.

Abstract: In the preferred and illustrated embodiments of the present apparatus, a rack or platform standing above the bottom of an ice chest is disclosed. The rack is a generally horizontal planar member having a number of slots or openings formed therein, and further comprising a set of feet which support the horizontal member in an elevated position. An alternate preferred embodiment is preferably divided into a pair of similar portions, the two portions joining together, one portion having a set of hollow legs with receptacles therein and the other portion having two sets of tabs which protrude for insertion into the hollow legs. One set of tabs is insertable into the receptacles in the hollow legs to align the two portions, thereby forming a large planar expanse, the two being parallel and coextensive. An alternate arrangement of the two portions secures one of the two portions horizontally and the other is set at a right angle to enable division of an ice chest into two separate portions.

Abstract: A satellite ice plant operable by a single operator bagging ice comprising ice making apparatus; comminution apparatus for reducing the ice to a size for bagging; refrigerated storage housing which is cooled below freezing point of the ice and has a storage bin for storing the ice, conveyor for conveying the ice from the comminution apparatus to the storage bin, freeze-up prevention device disposed in the refrigerated storage housing and operable to prevent freezing up of the conveyor, ice break up apparatus for breaking up the stored ice for bagging, second conveyor interiorly of the refrigerated storage housing for conveying the ice to a bagging machine, and controls operable to automatically effect the operation of the respective elements to supply ice to the bagging machine at the signal of a operator bagging ice. Also disclosed are specific preferred pieces of apparatus for moving the stored ice, breaking it into crushed ice size, snow removal and the like.

Abstract: An apparatus for converting a standard conventional bucket into a bucket suitable for uses such as by fishermen for storage of bait, tackle, food and other such items. The converted bucket is also advantageously used for picnicing and by hunters and the like. The apparatus comprises a circular, planar base member having perforations along a continuous sector and a solid surface along the remainder thereof. The base member is adapted to receive a plurality of divider panels extending vertically above the base member and a plurality of support legs extending vertically below the base member. The divider panels from cold volume spaces above the perforated portion of the base member for storing food, bait and the like, while the panels form warmer volume spaces above the non-perforated portion of the base member for storing tackle, clothing and the like. The legs permit the base member to extend above ice which cools through the base member perforations.

Abstract: A portable ice table having a platform comprised of a light-weight material with an outer insulated surface and a removable insulating cover. The platform includes a handle, a recessed dry storage compartment and a recessed ice storage compartment separated from the dry storage compartment by a separating member. A threaded orifice is provided between the ice storage compartment and the side of the platform for storing and draining water from the ice table. The ice table further includes supporting members fixedly secured to the bottom of the platform for setting the platform on a table and also includes legs pivotably secured to the platform to support the platform above the ground or floor.

Abstract: A storage bin for bulk ice has upper and lower sections that completely enclose a space in which ice cubes are stored. These ice cubes are produced by an ice making machine and are delivered to the ice bin by a conveyor which is inclined upwardly away from the ice making machine. One of the walls on the upper section of the ice bin is inclined to accommodate the inclination of the conveyor and this wall has an opening through which the ice cubes are discharged into the enclosed space. The lower section of the bin has an opening through which the ice cubes are withdrawn for bagging, while the upper section has another opening that provides access to the interior of the bin for breaking up ice jams. Both of these openings are normally closed by doors. Refrigeration equipment extracts heat from the enclosed space of the bin, and the water line that leads to the ice making machine passes through the space so that the water is precooled, thus rendering the ice making machine considerably more efficient.

Abstract: A portable and self-contained ice bucket combination having a compartmentalized portion for chilling condiments and the like. The ice bucket includes an insulated vessel or base portion for defining a chamber within which cooling a media, such as ice may be stored. The vessel is open ended at the top and includes a complementary support structure for placement and support of a compartmentalized condiment tray thereon in communication with the cooling media while serving as a cover or closure for the vessel. The compartmentalized tray defines a plurality of compartments within which condiments and the like may be placed for chilling and serving. In addition, the tray includes a second compartment serving the dual purposes of containing similar articles and functioning as a handle for removing the tray from the top of the vessel. An annular cover plate is included for placement over the condiment tray for storage or transporting from one location to another.

Abstract: An icebox for a recreational vehicle such as a van or the like is described and comprises a hollow cylindrical portion which is rotatably mounted in the interior of the van. A tabletop portion is provided on the upper end of the cylindrical portion. An access door is provided at one side of the icebox so that the interior of the icebox is easily accessible. A layer of insulation material is provided between the walls of the icebox. The icebox is centrally positioned in the van or recreational vehicle between the sidewalls so that the icebox is easily accessible from the plurality of seats positioned therearound. The icebox not only serves as an icebox but as a table and its centrally located position enhances its utility.

Abstract: A refrigeration system for a catering truck includes a reservoir of ice cubes. A food compartment is provided for storing food under refrigeration and includes a cooling section adjacent thereto. Ice cubes are fed from the reservoir to the cooling section. A blower circulates cool air from the cooling section through the food compartment.

Abstract: A refrigerated butter dispenser comprising a receptacle for containing crushed ice and an invertable cover unit which has on one side thereof a handle for lifting the cover and on the other an outwardly extending tapered skirt defining interiorly thereof a butter receiving chamber. When the dispenser is not being used, the cover is positioned so that the skirt portion depends inwardly of the receptacle, keeping the butter contained therein in close proximity with the crushed ice. When it is desired to remove the butter from the dispenser, the cover is inverted so that the skirt portion extends upwardly, making the butter chamber readily accessible to the user.

Abstract: A refrigerator incorporates an insulated cabinet having an access opening and a door normally closing said opening with at least one dry ice carrier removably disposed in said cabinet in alignment with said access opening. Said dry ice carrier takes the form of a container having a solid side and a perforated side and of a size and shape enabling the dry ice carrier to be positioned at one side of said insulated cabinet or transversely thereof as desired.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a mateable upper and lower vessel having upper and lower compartments substantially isolated from one-another, of insulation light-weight material self-supporting, containable of water and ice in the lower compartment and having mounted fans adjacent upper ports of the upper compartment and therebeneath water-circulation conduits and heat-transfer fins with a connected pump mounted also within the upper compartment and circulatable of water from the lower compartment through the water-circulation conduits and heat-transfer fins which are located above air intake ports at a lower location within side walls of the upper compartment structure, with separate variable controls of speed for the separate fans, and with thermostat and manual activation switches in parallel with one-another both in electrical series with a variable speed control of the motor of the pump.