Method and apparatus for cooling a storage container for liquid

The invention relates generally to a method and apparatus for cooling a storage container for liquid.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to a method and apparatus for holding and cooling a storage container for liquid.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Storage containers for liquids are well-known. For example, kegs are often used to store beer. Other types of tanks are used to store soda. There usually is a need to chill the storage container to keep its contents cool. For example, when kegs are used to dispense beer, it is desirable to chill the keg so that the beer is cold when served. In addition, keg beer typically needs to be chilled because the beer will become spoiled otherwise.

In the prior art, people tried various methods for cooling beer kegs and other containers for liquids. One common practice was to place the beer keg in another container, such as a large bucket, and fill the area around the beer keg within the container with ice. The container usually will become too heavy for one person to carry, since the beer keg and ice have substantial mass. In addition, once the ice begins to melt, there is no way to drain the water except to tip the entire container over to drain the water from the top opening. This is cumbersome and sometimes dangerous.

Another common practice is to place the beer keg in a refrigerator and remove it as needed to dispense beer, which is often inconvenient. In addition, once the keg is out of the refrigerator, there is no system to chill it, and the beer's temperature will slowly increase until it matches the ambient temperature of the air surrounding the keg.

What is needed is a device for cooling beer kegs and other storage containers for liquid, where the device itself is mobile and can easily be transported by an ordinary person and where the device is thermally insulated and can accommodate ice around the storage container to increase the amount of time in which the storage container will be chilled. What is further needed is a way to drain water from the device as the ice melts without tilting the container.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments are disclosed for a thermally insulated device to store and chill a storage container, where the device optionally comprises handles and wheels for transport, a drain to release water, a lid for providing further thermal insulation, a tap on the outside of the device, and a hose for connecting from the tap to the storage container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1depicts an embodiment. Storage device10is used to hold storage container20. Storage container20optionally is a beer keg or other container for storing liquid. Storage container20optionally is coupled to an air tank30for inserting carbon dioxide, nitrogen, or another gas into storage container20to maintain the internal pressure of storage container20to assist in the dispensing of liquid from storage container20. Storage container20optionally comprises stent85for transporting liquid from storage container20and hose88connected to stent85for transporting liquid from stent85. Storage device10optionally comprises tap90, which is mounted to the side walls40of storage device10and mates with hose88. Thus, the liquid contents of storage container20can be dispensed through tap90. Ice130can be placed into storage device10so that storage container20is at least partially surrounded by ice130.

Storage device10comprises side walls40, bottom member110, and top member120. Side walls40, bottom member110, and top member120preferably are comprised of thermally insulative material, such as plastic, carbon, wood, or foam. Side walls40, bottom member110, and top member120optionally can be double-walled, which has the benefit of keeping the contents colder while minimizing the formation of condensation on the outer surfaces.

Storage device10optionally comprises one or more handles50and wheels80. Wheels80can comprise two wheels, each mounted separately onto side walls40or bottom member110, or two wheels mounted to an axle (not shown) which in turn is mounted to side walls40or bottom member110. Wheels80alternatively can comprise four wheels, each mounted separately onto side walls40or bottom member110, or as shown inFIG. 3, two sets of two wheels mounted to axle81, with each axle81in turn mounted to side walls40or bottom member110. Storage device10can be transported by an ordinary user by lifting or pulling one or more handles50and rolling storage device10using wheels80.

One or both of bottom member110and top member120are removable from side walls40. Bottom member110and top member120optionally can attach to side walls40using well-known latching mechanisms, snap mechanisms, or screw mechanisms. For example, as shown inFIG. 4, bottom member110and/or top member120can comprise threads45that mate with threads46on side walls40, such that bottom member110and/or top member120screw onto side walls40. When this is implemented for bottom member110, there is an added benefit of being able to insert storage container110onto bottom member110, and then screwing bottom member110and side walls40together, thus eliminating the need to lift storage container110and place it into storage device10. In the alternative, one of bottom member110and top member120can be permanently affixed to side walls40, such as by well-known adhesives or by being formed as one piece with side walls40during the manufacturing process.

Storage device10optionally includes one or more drains70for draining water or other liquid from storage device10without pumping the water out or tipping over storage device10to remove the water or other liquid from the top. Drains70optionally can include a two-way valve, which can either drain directly to the ground or can be connected to a hose (not shown). Thus, when ice130melts into water, the water can be drained easily by a user from storage device10, without tipping or moving storage device10.

All of the components of storage device10optionally can be removable, which would result in easier transportation of storage device10(such as when it is hauled in a car or truck) and would make it easier for a user to clean the components. For instance, it would be desirable to be able to remove and clean stent85, hose88, and tap90after use.

Storage device10has the added benefit of being discreet in appearance when compared to an ordinary beer keg. This may be a valuable feature for consumers at sporting events or public gatherings.

The embodiment described above has the added benefit of being an “all-in-one” system where all components are contained within a single device (storage device10).

Side walls40and/or top member120optionally include one or more openings (such as a small hatch, not shown) through which a user can add ice130to storage device10.

FIG. 2shows a side-view of one embodiment of bottom member110. Bottom member110optionally includes one or more protrusions140for receiving storage container20, such as a raised circular member on the side of bottom member110that faces storage container20. The raised circular member receives storage container20and minimizes the lateral movement of storage container20within storage device10when storage device10is transported or tilted.