Patent ID: 9718663
Date: 2017-08-01
CPC Classifications: B67D

Claim:
1. A countertop beverage dispensing apparatus including a beverage dispensing area comprising a beverage dispensing nozzle, a cabinet having generally vertical side walls defining a cavity sized for retaining at least one beverage product container, a cooling unit is associated with the cabinet for communication with the cavity to provide controllable cooling of the cavity and the at least one beverage product container retained therein, opposing inside surfaces of the cavity generally vertical side walls including at least one generally horizontally oriented protrusion on each of the opposing inside surfaces of the cavity generally vertical side walls for spacing the at least one beverage product container away from substantial direct contact with the inside surface of at least a corresponding one of the generally vertical side walls, the generally horizontally oriented protrusion on each of the opposing inside surfaces of the cavity generally vertical side walls forming a generally horizontal channel for conveying cooling air in a first generally horizontal direction, a directional channel for conveying cooling air exiting one end of the generally horizontal channel downward and in a direction opposite the first generally horizontal direction, the cooling unit circulating air through the cavity of the cabinet with the at least one generally horizontally oriented protrusion providing space between the at least one beverage product container placed in the cavity and the inside surface of a generally vertical side wall of the cabinet with the space being open at the top and the bottom to allow circulation of air completely around the side walls of the at least one beverage product container.