Provided is an environmentally friendly refreezable barrel for chilling a plurality of items in an energy efficient manner that also conserves water. The refreezable barrel includes a cooler body defining an open end and a closed end portion. The cooler body defines a cavity extending from the open end towards the closed end portion. The cavity is configured to receive the plurality of items. A cooling element is disposed within the cooler body and is refreezable to mitigate temperature rise within the cooler body to prolong the melting of ice within the barrel, thereby reducing the overall amount of water used by the barrel. The refreezable barrel also includes a cooler stand defining a recess configured to engage with the closed end portion of the cooler body.

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates generally to ice barrels adapted for holding ice and beverages and, more particularly, to ice barrels configured to reduce the amount of ice required to chill the beverages over an extended period of time.

Ice barrel containers or “beverage containers” are well-known in the art and are commonly utilized at retail markets, sporting events, and promotional events. The ice barrels are typically used to chill beverages at a location which typically does not offer refrigerated cooling. For instance, the ice barrels are frequently located close to check-out counters to entice purchases by departing customers.

The ice barrels generally include a receptacle having an open top, a bottom wall, and a continuous upright sidewall extending between the open top and the bottom wall to from an interior cavity. The interior cavity is generally sized to hold a plurality of beverages, i.e., soft drinks or beer in cans or bottles. It is generally desirable for the beverages to be served at a chilled temperature. Therefore, ice may also be placed within the cavity to chill the beverages.

Over time, the ice within the ice barrel melts, leaving a large volume of water. In order to keep the beverages chilled, the water is generally removed from the ice barrel and the barrel is refilled with fresh ice. However, the ice barrel may be positioned in a location which may not accommodate removal of the water from the barrel. For instance, if the ice barrel is placed at a checkout counter in a convenience store, the ice barrel is generally moved to an outdoor location or a location having a drain in order to remove the water from the interior cavity. Once the water is removed, the ice barrel may be refilled with ice to keep the beverages at a chilled temperature.

Although conventional ice barrels may allow the beverages to be maintained in a chilled temperature, the conventional ice barrels may be inefficient. For instance, the ice barrel may be filled with ice on numerous occasions in order to maintain the beverages at a chilled temperature. As such, the process of removing the water and refilling the ice barrels with ice may consume large amounts of water. In view of the importance of water conservation, it is typically desirable to limit the amount of ice used in the ice barrels. Furthermore, as was mentioned above, the process of draining the water from the interior cavity and refilling the ice barrel with ice may require movement of the ice barrel. Given the amount of water and beverages which may be located within the barrel, movement of the ice barrel may be a strenuous endeavor.

As is apparent from the foregoing, there exists a need in the art for an ice barrel configured to reduce the amount of ice required to chill beverages over an extended period of time. The present invention address this particular need, as will be discussed in more detail below.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Provided is a refreezable barrel configured to reduce the amount of ice used to chill beverages over an extended period of time. In this manner, the refreezable barrel may require fewer ice refills and thus conserve water to provide a more environmentally friendly alternative to conventional ice barrels.

The refreezable barrel includes a cooler body defining an open end and a closed end portion. The cooler body defines a cavity extending into the cooler body from the open end towards the closed end portion. The cavity is configured to receive a plurality of items, such as ice and beverages. A cooling element is disposed within the cooler body and is refreezable to mitigate temperature rise within the cooler body. The refreezable barrel also includes a cooler stand defining a recess configured to engage with the closed end portion of the cooler body.

The refreezable barrel may advantageously be chilled to freeze/chill the refreezable elements before ice is placed within the cooler body. By freezing/chilling the cooler body, the temperature difference between the cooler body and the ice may be reduced. Consequently, the ice may last for a longer period of time before it melts, which may reduce the overall amount of ice used to chill the beverages. To facilitate that end, the refreezable ice barrel may have integrated therein an ice maker or refrigerator unit to produce ice or otherwise maintain refrigerated temperatures.

According to another embodiment, there is provided a refreezable barrel for use with a refreezable substance for chilling a plurality of items. The refreezable barrel includes a barrel shell having a shell outer wall and a shell inner wall defining a shell cavity. A barrel insert is disposable within the shell cavity to assume a nested position. The barrel insert includes a closed end portion and an open end portion, as well as an insert inner wall defining an insert cavity. The barrel insert is configured to receive the plurality of items. A cooling element is disposed between the insert inner wall and shell inner wall and in thermodynamic communication with the barrel insert, and is operative to freeze the refreezable substance.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings, wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating a preferred embodiment of the present invention only, and not for purposes of limiting the same,FIG. 1illustrates one embodiment of a refreezable barrel10. The refreezable barrel10includes a cooler body12and a cooler stand14. The cooler body12is disposable on the cooler stand14to facilitate movement of the cooler body12. Ice may be disposed within the cooler body12to chill food items and/or beverages. The cooler body12is refreezable to prolong the melting of ice disposed within the cooler body12. In this manner, the cooler body12may reduce the amount of ice needed to keep food and/or beverages at a chilled temperature. As such, the refreezable barrel10may provide an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional ice barrels due to its ability to conserve water by reducing ice consumption.

Referring now toFIG. 2, the cooler body12includes a cooler sidewall16and a cooler base18. The cooler body12defines a closed end portion20adjacent the cooler base18and an open end22opposite the cooler base18. In the embodiment depicted inFIG. 2, the cooler sidewall16defines a diameter that increases from the cooler base18toward the open end22. However, it is understood that the cooler sidewall16may define a non-circular shape without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The cooler sidewall16includes a sidewall inner surface24, a sidewall outer surface26, and a sidewall upper surface28extending between the sidewall inner surface24and the sidewall outer surface26adjacent the open end22of the cooler body12. The cooler base18defines a cooler base inner surface30and a cooler base outer surface32. The cooler base inner surface30and sidewall inner surface24collectively define a cavity34which extends into the cooler body12from the open end22towards the cooler base18.

The refreezable barrel10may additionally include a cooler stand14for supporting the cooler body12. The cooler stand14includes a stand base36and a stand sidewall38protruding from the stand base36. The stand sidewall38includes a sidewall inner surface40defining a stand recess42. The stand recess42is sized and configured to receive the closed end portion20of the cooler body12to support the cooler body12. In the embodiment depicted inFIG. 2, the cooler base outer surface32and a portion of the cooler sidewall outer surface26engage with the stand sidewall inner surface40when the cooler body12is seated on the cooler stand14. The cooler stand14may additionally include one or move movement elements44, such as wheels, to facilitate movement of the cooler stand14. It is also contemplated that the movement elements44may be connected directed to the cooler body12.

The cooler stand14depicted inFIG. 2includes a sidewall inner surface40which supports the cooler base outer surface32. However, it is also contemplated that the cooler stand14may include an opening which receives the closed end portion20of the cooler body12and circumferentially engages with the cooler body12.

The refreezable barrel10further includes one or more refreezable cooling element(s)46disposed within the cooler body12. The cooling element46is freezable/chillable to chill the cooler body12to prolong the melting of ice disposed within the cooler body12. In other words, the temperature difference between the temperature of the cooler body12and the melting temperature of the ice may be reduced to prolong the lifespan of the ice. In this regard, the cooler body12may be disposed in a remote, non-refrigerated location (i.e., adjacent a counter at a convenience store or in a stadium) at a chilled temperature. Therefore, when ice and beverages are disposed within the cavity34, the initial chilled temperature of the cooler body12prolongs melting of the ice. Instead of the ice and beverages being disposed within an ice barrel at an elevated temperature (i.e., at a temperature well above the freezing point of ice), the cooler body12is freezable to a temperature at or near the freezing point of the ice to extend the melting period of the ice. As used herein, the melting period is defined as the time period beginning when a quantity of ice is disposed within the refreezable barrel10and ending when the all of the quantity of ice has melted.

In the particular embodiment illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2, the cooler body12includes a plurality of cooling elements46disposed within the cooler sidewall16. Cooling elements46may additionally be disposed within the cooler base18. The cooling elements46are disposed in spaced relation relative to each other. The cooling elements46may include refrigerants commonly used in the art, such as liquid or gel refrigerants. The refrigerant may be repeatedly chilled or frozen to extend the melting period of the ice disposed within the cavity34. The refrigerant may be disposed within an outer shell to separate the refrigerant from the cooler body12.

The cooling elements46may be integrally formed within the cooler body12. In this manner, the cooling elements46may be molded within the cooler body12during formation of the cooler body12to enclose the refrigerant within the cooler body12. According to another embodiment, and referring now specifically to the embodiment illustrated inFIGS. 3 and 4, the refrigerant may be added to the cooler body12after the formation of the cooler body12. For instance, the cooler body12may be manufactured with one or more pockets48formed therein. The pocket(s)48may be sized and configured to receive the refrigerant after manufacture of the cooler body12. In this manner, the pocket(s)48may include an access channel50extending through the cooler sidewall16to allow a liquid or gel refrigerant to be disposed into the pocket(s)48. In the embodiment depicted inFIG. 3, the cooler body12includes a plurality of pockets48which are fluidly connected via fluid passageways52to disperse the refrigerant through the cooler body12.

The refrigerant disposed within the cooler body12may include liquids or gels commonly used in the art. It is also contemplated that water/ice may be used to cool the cooler body12. Referring now to the embodiment depicted inFIG. 4, the cooler body12includes a single cooling element46disposed within the cooler sidewall16. The cooler sidewall16includes a single pocket48which circumnavigates the cooler cavity34. Given the large area of the cooling element46in the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 4, relative to the cooling elements46depicted inFIGS. 1-3, it may be desirable to use water as the refrigerant. In this manner, water may be disposed within the pocket48formed within the cooler body12. Subsequently, the cooler body12may be disposed within a freezer to chill or freeze the water. It is understood that water expands when it is frozen; therefore, the pocket48may not be completely filled with water to accommodate the expansion upon freezing. The expansion may also be accommodated by forming the cooler body12from a flexible material capable of withstanding the expansion.

Although the cooler body12may be configured to prolong the melting of ice disposed within the cavity34, at some point, the ice will likely melt leaving water in the cavity34. The cooler body12may include one or more drains54formed therein to facilitate removal of the water from the cavity34. The drains54extend from the sidewall inner surface24to the sidewall outer surface26. The drains54may also extend from the base inner surface30to the sidewall outer surface26or base outer surface32. The drains54may include plugs55to restrict fluid flow through the drains54. As shown inFIG. 2, the cooler body12includes two drains54, namely an upper drain54aand a lower drain54bhaving respective plugs55aand55b. The upper drain54amay be used initially to drain a portion of the cavity34. Partial draining of the cavity34may be desirable to facilitate movement of the cooler body12. However, the entire cavity34may be drained via the lower drain54b.

Various implementations of the refreezable barrel10may include a lid56disposable over the open end22of the cooler body12. The lid56may temporarily cover the open end22of the cooler body12to prevent foreign objects or debris from entering the cavity34. The lid56may be connected to the cooler body12via a hinge58to enable pivotal movement of the lid56relative to the cooler body12between an open position and a closed position. In the closed position, the cavity34is substantially covered by the lid56. As the lid56moves from the closed position toward the open position, the cavity34becomes uncovered.

The lid56may include a handle60to facilitate movement of the lid56between the open and closed positions. The lid56may further include a seal62which engages with the cooler body12when the lid56is in the closed position to create a substantially air-tight seal between the lid56and the cooler body12when the lid56is in the closed position. AlthoughFIGS. 2 and 4depicts the seal62on the lid56, it is understood that the seal62may be disposed on the cooler body12for engagement with the lid56when the lid56is placed in the closed position.

As stated above, the refreezable barrel10may be filled with ice to chill beverages for an extended period of time. To this end, one embodiment of the refreezable barrel10includes an ice maker or refrigeration unit64disposed therein. As depicted inFIG. 5, the ice maker or refrigeration unit64is disposed within the cooler stand14. By disposing the ice maker or refrigeration unit64within the cooler stand14, the cooler body12may be easily filled with ice. The ice maker or refrigeration unit64may be battery powered, or receive power from an electrical outlet via a power chord66.

The ice maker or refrigeration unit64may be connected to a water input, or the cooler stand14may include a water reservoir disposed therein. As ice is produced by the ice maker64, the ice may fall into an ice storage chamber within the cooler stand14. The cooler stand14may further include an access door which may be opened or closed to provide access to the ice storage chamber.

Referring now toFIGS. 6 and 7, there is depicted another embodiment of an environmentally friendly refreezable barrel110for chilling beverages, food items, and the like. The refreezable barrel110may be chilled during a “freezing cycle” and set up in a vending location during a “vending cycle.” More specifically, the refreezable barrel110includes an electrical cooling system for chilling/freezing cooling gel or similar media sealed inside the refreezable barrel110. The cooling gel is refrigerated during the “freezing cycle” to lower the temperature of the cooling gel. Once the cooling gel is chilled, the refreezable barrel110may be unplugged, and filled with products (i.e., bottled beverages or other items), and positioned in a desired location suitable for vending the products. The refreezable barrel110utilizes the chilled/frozen gel to maintain the items disposed therein at a chilled temperature. This period is referred to as the “vending cycle.” During the “vending cycle,” the refreezable barrel110does not need the electrical cooling system to be running. Accordingly, the refreezable barrel110may be disposed remote from an electrical source during the “vending cycle.” At the end of the “vending cycle”, refreezable barrel110will be plugged back into an electrical source to begin the “freezing cycle” again. These cycles may follow each other and repeat continuously.

One embodiment of the refreezable barrel110includes a barrel shell112having a shell outer wall114and a shell inner wall116defining a shell cavity118. A barrel insert120is disposable within the shell cavity118, and includes a closed end portion122and an opposing open end portion124. The barrel insert120includes an insert inner wall126and insert outer wall128defining an insert cavity130. The barrel insert120is disposable within the shell cavity118to assume a nested position within the barrel shell112. The insert cavity130is sized to receive the beverages, or other food items that are to be chilled. A cover125may be disposed over and between the barrel shell112and the barrel insert120to cover any gap therebetween. A cooling element132, such as a refreezable gel, is disposable between the insert inner wall126and the insert outer wall128to place the refreezable gel in thermodynamic communication with the barrel insert120. As used herein, the phrase “thermodynamic communication” refers to the ability of the cooling element132to change the temperature of the barrel insert120. Therefore, the cooling element132is disposable in a position to influence the temperature of the barrel insert112. This may be done by conduction, convection or radiation. In this regard, the refreezable gel may be chilled to keep items disposed within the barrel insert120at a chilled temperature.

According to one implementation, the cooling element132may include evaporator lines134for improved heat transfer. The evaporator lines134may be coated or have a protective barrier disposed thereon to mitigate undesirable chemical reactions between the cooling gel and the evaporator lines134.

It is additionally contemplated that insulation136(SeeFIG. 6) may be disposed about the barrel insert120. As depicted inFIG. 6, the insulation136is disposed between the insert outer wall128and the shell inner wall116. The insulation136may isolate the cooling gel132from a hot condensing coil138.

During use of the refreezable barrel110, it is contemplated that ice may be disposed within the insert cavity130to further chill items disposed therein. The chilled refreezable gel slows the melting of the ice, thereby reducing the overall amount of ice used to chill the products, and making the refreezable barrel110an environmentally friendly device that conserves water by reducing ice usage. However, once the ice melts, water may undesirably accumulate within the insert cavity130. Therefore, one embodiment of the refreezable barrel110includes a drain140formed within the barrel insert120to remove the water from the insert cavity130. A hose142may be connected to the drain140to direct fluid to a drip tray144, as shown inFIG. 6.

It is also contemplated that the hose142may be connected to a drain valve150located on an external portion of the barrel110, as depicted inFIGS. 8-11.FIG. 9is an enlarged sectional view showing the connection between the drain valve150and the hose142. The drain valve150includes a valve base152connected to the barrel110and a valve arm154pivotally coupled to the valve base152. The valve arm154is pivotable between a closed position (FIG. 10), wherein the drain valve150substantially restricts fluid flow from the barrel110, and an open position (FIG. 11), wherein the drain valve150allows fluid to drain from the barrel110. The valve base152includes a cylindrical connector156that is engageable with the hose142to establish fluid communication from the hose142and the valve base152. The cylindrical connector156defines an opening that extends through the valve base152. The valve arm154also includes an opening that is aligned with the valve base opening when the valve arm154is in the open position to allow fluid to drain out of the barrel110. When the valve arm154is in the closed position, the opening in the valve arm154is moved out of alignment with the opening in the valve base152to restrict fluid flow through the valve arm154.

It is additionally contemplated that various embodiments of the refreezable barrel110may be configured for use without ice. Certain implementations of the refreezable barrel110have been able to maintain an ambient product temperature of approximately 38° F. for more than twelve hours after an initial twelve hour “freezing cycle.” The feature of the refreezable barrel110that allows the barrel110to accommodate ice, or keep products chilled without ice makes the barrel110a hybrid between a traditional ice barrel and a traditional refrigerated barrel cooler.

The electric cooling unit146may be disposed at the base of the barrel shell112. The electric cooling unit146may include R-134A, CO2, or alternative refrigerant to cool the cooling gel. The electric cooling unit146may employ a thermo-electric compressor, or a variable speed energy efficient compressor. The electric cooling unit146may include a power cord for receiving power from an external power source. The power cord may be retractable in nature to reduce the likelihood that the cord catches, or snaps when the barrel110is moved.

It is contemplated that the refreezable barrel110may define a wide range of shapes and sizes. In the embodiment depicted inFIGS. 6 and 7, the refreezable barrel110defines a substantially cylindrical shape. Along these lines, the barrel shell112, barrel insert120, and insulation136all define substantially cylindrical shapes. However, one skilled in the art would appreciate that the barrel shell112, insulation136, and barrel insert120may define other shapes, such as square, rectangular, triangular, and oval shapes, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

The refreezable barrel110may include advertising or decorative indicia located on external surfaces thereof. The indicia may be used as advertising for products located within the barrel110. The indicia may also create an aesthetic appearance to attract customers to the barrel110.

Various embodiments of the refreezable barrel110may include wheels for facilitating movement of the barrel110. In one implementation, small caster-type wheels may be placed on the bottom of the barrel110to allow the barrel110to be moved by an individual. In another implementation, larger, bicycle-type wheels may be connected to the barrel110, along with a push-pedal to enable movement of the barrel110over larger distances.