Abstract:
A container covering apparatus provides a structural work surface and has an opening to access operational components of a container. The container cover also provides attachment elements to attach the cover to a container or a receptacle holding the container. The container cover further includes an accessory support element. An embodiment designed to cover a beverage container within a receptacle, wherein the surface is used in serving beverages, the opening allows for access to a beverage dispensing mechanism, and the accessory support holds empty cups for serving the beverage.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/480,523 filed on Apr. 29, 2011. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The disclosure relates to an apparatus for at least partially covering a container. The disclosure further relates to an apparatus to partially cover a liquid dispenser while allowing access to at least a portion of the dispenser. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Devices such as a variety of pumps have been attached to containers to dispense liquids from the containers. For example, a pump may be attached to the top of a beverage container in order to dispense the beverage into smaller containers for consumption. Often a beverage container may be placed into a larger receptacle that can be used to cool the beverage container and/or for aesthetic purposes. For example, a beverage container known as a keg may be placed in a larger receptacle, such as a trash can, and surrounded by ice to keep the keg and its liquid contents cold. 
     Some people have covered such a container located in a larger receptacle by cutting a hole in the standard cover for the receptacle to accommodate a pump and placing the cover over both the beverage container and the receptacle. However, such covers have drawbacks often associated with the original design as a complete cover to the receptacle without a hole. For example, such covers do not provide a surface to efficiently serve beverages from the beverage container. For another example, such covers may be too structurally weak to support common items associated with serving beverages, such as serving containers filled with the beverage, and the standard cover may be further weakened by the hole cut into the cover. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure describes embodiments of a container cover that meets the needs of dispensing and supplying liquids efficiently. For example, embodiments disclose a covering apparatus that is structurally capable of supporting beverage serving items such as pitchers or cups when they are filled with the beverage. Embodiments further disclose an apparatus that provides access to the dispensing device. Some embodiments further include cup, pitcher, or utensil holding structures. 
     Additional aspects, advantages and features of the present invention are included in the following description of exemplary examples thereof, which description should be taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures, wherein like numerals are used to describe the same feature throughout the figures. 
    
    
     
       A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a top view of a first embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an embodiment in application. 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of a second embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of the second embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  is a top view of a third embodiment. 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of the third embodiment. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the third embodiment engaged with a receptacle. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     While this invention may be embodied in many different forms, there will herein be described in detail embodiments of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspects of the invention to the embodiments illustrated. It will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or central characteristics thereof. The present embodiments, therefore, are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details given herein. 
     An embodiment of the invention is shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Cover  100  includes a main body  102  which is depicted as a circular shape, but the shape may be altered and remain within the scope of the disclosure. Main body  102  may be constructed of a metal plate, reinforced plastic, or any other material to provide sufficient strength to support item associated with the use of the cover  100 . For example, main body  102  may be constructed with a sanitary grade metal that provides sufficient structural support and cleanliness for the beverage service items such as cups, pitchers, and ice containers. 
     The cover  100  also includes attachment means to hold the cover  100  in place over the container (not shown). One skilled in the art will recognize that the attachment means may be any device or apparatus that connects the cover  100  to the container (not shown) or to a receptacle (not shown) which holds the container (not shown). In this embodiment, attachment means are hooks  104  which are located at the exterior edge of main body  102 . Although four hooks  104  are shown in this embodiment, the number and design of the hooks  104  may vary and remain within the scope of the invention. One skilled in the art will recognize that the stability of the cover  100  may be altered by altering the number of hooks  104  or width of the hooks  104 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , hooks  104  extend vertically from main body  102  allowing main body  102  to be recessed from the structure to which the hooks  104  attach. When the cover  100  is attached to and within a receptacle (not shown) the recessed position of main body  102  helps to contain any spills within the receptacle (not shown). In addition, hooks  104  are shown with protrusions  120  which may aid in maintaining the position of cover  100  and preventing accidental removal of hooks  104 . Hooks  104  may be constructed as a single form with main body  102  or may be attached by any means, including but not limited to bolts, rivets, adhesives, and welding. Hooks  104  may also be designed as separate components that may be removably connected to (e.g. a tongue and groove or snap connection) or used in conjunction with main body  102  to provide support (e.g. the hook  104  has an L shape wherein one side extends under the main body  102  to provide support). In addition, hooks  104  and main body  102  may be adjustable to fit containers with varying dimensions. 
     Opening  106  is located within the main body  102  and provides access to operational components of the liquid dispenser (not shown). Opening  106  is also shown as a circle, but may be any shape that provides sufficient operation access to the liquid dispenser (not shown). In addition, placement of opening  106  may be varied according to the liquid dispenser (not shown) operation or for aesthetic purposes. 
     Main body  102  includes drainage options to prevent spilled liquids from gathering on the useable surface. In the food industry this increases sanitation. In some industries the drainage may be used in conjunction with a reclamation option if the dispensed liquid is reusable. In this embodiment, drainage options include the dual drainage holes  108  and the single drainage holes  110 . One skilled in the art will recognize that the selection of drainage options and designs may vary and remain within the scope and spirit of the disclosure. 
     Accessory support  112  is also located on main body  102 . Accessory support  112  may be designed to support various accessories that may be employed in conjunction with the liquid dispenser (not shown). In this embodiment, accessory support  112  is designed as a container holder to support a stack of empty containers (not shown) for use in serving the selected liquid. As shown in  FIG. 2 , accessory support  112  comprises a raised set of prongs that bow outward from center. Accessory support  112  may be designed such that the bowed exterior of accessory support  112  provides pressure against the interior of an empty serving container (not shown) to help prevent the container from tipping over. Similar to hooks  104 , accessory support  112  may be constructed as a single form with main body  102  or may be permanently or removably attached by any means. 
       FIG. 3  depicts cover  100  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  as part of a beverage service operation. Cover  100  is depicted within receptacle  130  and held in place by hooks  104 . Receptacle  130  is shown with a cut-away section to depict the contents within receptacle  130  and the placement of cover  100 . Inside receptacle  130  is beverage container  132 . As an example, beverage container  132  may be a keg of beer and receptacle  130  may be a trash can. 
     Attached to the top of the beverage container is a dispenser having pump handle  134  and output spout  136 . Pump handle  134  and output spout  136  extend through opening  106  of the main body  102  and may be used to operate the dispenser in this embodiment. As one skilled in the art will recognize, other dispensers may utilize alternative or additional operational components which may extend through or be accessed through opening  106  and remain within the scope and spirit of the disclosure. 
     Container stack  138  is shown on top of main body  102  and is located on top of accessory support  112 . Accessory support  112  supports all containers that make up container stack  138  through the engagement of the bottom container. 
     During use the pump handle  134  may be operated to maintain a pressure within the beverage container  132 . A person may remove a serving container from container stack  138  and use output spout  136  to pour a beverage into the serving container. The filled container may be placed on the surface of main body  102  until it is served. Spilled beverages would drain through drainage holes  108  to maintain a sanitary operating surface of main body  102 . 
     Another embodiment of the invention is shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . Cover  150  includes a main body  152 . Main body  152  may be constructed of a metal plate, reinforced plastic, or any other material to provide sufficient strength to support item associated with the use of the cover  150 . For example, main body  152  may be constructed with a sanitary grade reinforced plastic that provides sufficient structural support and cleanliness for beverage service items such as cups, pitchers, and ice containers. 
     Hooks  154  are located at the exterior edge of main body  152 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , hooks  154  are shown with protrusions  170  which may aid in maintaining the position of cover  150  and preventing accidental removal of hooks  154 . Similar to the above embodiment, hooks  154  may be constructed as a single form with main body  152  or may be permanently or removably attached by any means. In addition, hooks  154  and main body  152  may be designed to allow adjustment to fit containers with varying dimensions. 
     The main body  152  includes opening  156  which provides access to components of the liquid dispenser (not shown). Main body  152  also includes a drainage system with a variety of drainage options to prevent spilled liquids from gathering on the useable surface. In this embodiment, drainage options include the drainage holes  158 , the drainage slots  160 , and offset drainage slots  162 . One skilled in the art will recognize that the selection of drainage options and designs may vary and remain within the scope and spirit of the disclosure. 
     This embodiment also includes accessory supports  164  and  166  located on main body  152 . In this embodiment, accessory support  164  is designed as a container holder to support a stack of empty containers (not shown) for use in serving the selected liquid. As shown in  FIG. 5 , accessory support  164  comprises a raised set of prongs that bow outward from center such that the bowed exterior of accessory support  164  provides pressure against the interior of an empty container (not shown) to help prevent the container from tipping over. In addition, accessory support  166  is designed as a container holder to support either a second stack of empty containers (not shown) for use in serving the selected liquid or a filled serving container. Accessory support  166  comprises a lowered set of prongs that curve inward at the extremities such that the curved extremities of accessory support  166  provide pressure against the exterior of a container (not shown) to help prevent the container from tipping over. Similar to hooks  154 , accessory supports  164  and  166  may be constructed as a single form with main body  152  or may be permanently or removably attached by any means. 
     Another embodiment of the invention is shown in  FIGS. 6, 7, and 8 . Cover  200  includes a main body  202 . Main body  202  may be constructed of a metal plate, reinforced plastic, or any other material to provide sufficient strength to support item associated with the use of the cover  202 . 
     On the exterior edge of main body  202  are three prongs  204 . Each prong  204  has an extension member  206  and a cap  208  such that the cap  208  is wider than the extension member  206 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , prongs  204  are generally in the same plane as the cover  200 . Prongs  204  may be constructed as a single form with main body  202  or may be permanently or removably attached by any means. In addition, prongs  204  and main body  202  may be adjustable to fit containers with varying dimensions. 
     The main body  202  includes opening  210  which provides access to components of the liquid dispenser (not shown). Main body  202  also includes drainage options to prevent spilled liquids from gathering on the useable surface. In this embodiment, drainage options include the drainage channels  212 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , drainage channels  212  may extend to the edge of main body  202  to allow liquid to flow off of cover  200 . Drainage channels  212  may have a declined gradient such that liquids will flow down the gradient to the exterior of main body  202 . One skilled in the art will recognize that the design of drainage channels may vary the direction of liquid flow and destination of any liquid and remain within the scope and spirit of the disclosure. 
     This embodiment also includes accessory support  214  located on main body  202 . In this embodiment, accessory support  202  is designed as a container holder to support a stack of empty containers (not shown) for use in serving the selected liquid. As shown in  FIG. 7 , accessory support  214  comprises a raised set of prongs that bow outward from center such that the bowed exterior of accessory support  214  provides pressure against the interior of an empty container (not shown) to help prevent the container from tipping over. 
     In addition, main body  202  includes holes  216  which may be used as part of a drainage system or as accessory holders. For example, holes  216  may be used to hold filled serving containers. 
       FIG. 8  depicts cover  200  placed within receptacle  220  which is shown with a cut-away section. Cover  200  is held in place by prongs  204  engaged with slots  222  in receptacle  220  to create a fitted connection between cover  200  and receptacle  220 . One skilled in the art will recognize that other connections may be used and remain within the scope of the disclosure. The wider caps  208  help prevent the cover  200  from sliding out of slots  222 . The depth of slots  222  in receptacle  220  may provide for a cover  200  to be recessed within receptacle  220 . One skilled in the art will recognize that the manner in which the cover  200  is attached to a container or receptacle may vary and remain within the scope and spirit of the disclosure. 
     Drainage channels  212  are shown extending to the edge of main body  202  within receptacle  220 . Spilled beverages would flow down drainage channels  212  and to the edge of main body  202  and into receptacle  220  to maintain a sanitary operating surface of main body  202 . 
     The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the apparatus described.