Abstract:
Disclosed is an insulated beverage dispenser having a generally cube-shaped insulated body with an interior chamber, an open top, and an outlet adjacent a bottom of the interior chamber. It includes a removable closure member for the outlet and an insulated top hingedly connected to the body to close the open top. A guideway is located on a front outer surface of the body generally adjacent the open top and is sized and positioned to receive a securement strap extended across the body without interference with opening the top. The closure member can be a liquid dispensing valve and/or a plug. An interior surface of the lid may include a recess for receiving a spare closure member for the outlet.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This applications claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/018,242 filed Jun. 27, 2014, the entire contents and disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    This invention relates to an insulated beverage dispenser and cooler constructed in a particular way to enhance its durability and utility. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Large insulated beverage dispensers having a spigot and removable lid are known in order to provide bulk quantities of cold refreshment beverage, such as water, to a group of people or workers. Prior designs lack the durability and compact design necessary to make them suitable for extreme conditions or situations where failure could have catastrophic consequences. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention provides an insulated beverage dispenser with a generally cube-shaped insulated body having an interior chamber, an open top, and an outlet adjacent a bottom of the interior chamber. It includes a removable closure member for the outlet and an insulated top hingedly connected to the body to close the open top. A guideway is provided on a front outer surface of the body generally adjacent the open top that is sized and positioned to receive a securement strap extended across the body without interference with opening the top. 
         [0005]    The closure member may be a liquid dispensing valve and/or an interchangeable plug. An interior surface of the lid may include at least one recess for receiving a spare closure member for the outlet. The body may include first and second opposite tie-down passageways. 
         [0006]    The lid can include lid latches positioned to secure the lid in a closed position and may include a plurality of exterior edge notches positioned to guide a tie-down strap extended across the lid. The lid latches can extend over the guideway. 
         [0007]    The insulated beverage dispenser can include left and right opposite carry handles that are integral with the body and/or have a movable gripping portion that is extendable to a position above the lid. 
         [0008]    Further features, aspects, benefits, and objects of the present invention may be apparent to a person skilled in the art upon examination of the following detailed description and various figures of the drawing. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    Like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts throughout the various figures of the drawings, wherein: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a first embodiment of a heavy duty insulated beverage dispenser according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is an isometric view thereof with the lid in an open position; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken substantially along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a right side plan view thereof with the rope handle in a lifted position; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is an isometric view of a second embodiment; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is an isometric view thereof with the lid in an open position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]    Referring now to the various figures of the drawing, and first to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , therein is shown at  10  a heavy duty insulated beverage dispenser and cooler unit according to a first embodiment of the invention. The illustrated unit  10  may be sized, for example, to hold approximately  40  quarts of liquid volume. In general terms, the unit  10  includes a body  12  and a lid  14  which may be pivotally attached to the body  12  by a hinge. The body  12  includes a hollow interior chamber  16 . Hot or cold liquid put in the chamber  16  may be drained through an ordinary push-button spigot or valve  18  that is in fluid communication with the interior chamber  16 . 
         [0017]    The body  12  and lid  14  have spaced apart interior and exterior walls made of a durable moldable material, such as rotomolded compounded polyethylene. The space between the interior and exterior walls may be filled with an insulating material, such as polyurethane foam. The primary purpose of the unit  10  may be keeping liquids hot or cold for extended periods of time, which may be dispensed as needed through the valve  18 . A large top opening allows ice to be dumped into or from the chamber  16  with ease. 
         [0018]    According to one feature of the invention, the dispensing valve  18  may be situated in a recess  20  so that the valve  18  does not protrude beyond the front and bottom profile of the body  12 . In this way, the valve  18  is protected from damage. The overall shape of the unit  10  may be relatively square, providing improved security and stability during transport of the container, while maximizing the interior capacity of the unit  10  relative to its footprint or profile. In other words, multiple units  10  or other containers, such as tool boxes, can be stacked together or placed adjacent one another with minimal wasted space compared to the common cylindrical shape found in other insulated beverage dispensers. 
         [0019]    According to another feature of the invention, the interior wall  22  of the lid  14  may include one or more recesses  24 ,  26  for removably holding spare or alternative parts. For example, a first recess  24  may be sized and shaped to receive and hold a spare valve  18  for use in the event the other valve  18  fails or becomes damaged. Additionally, a second recess  26  may be sized and shaped to receivably hold a plug  28 , which may be used to replace the valve  18  in the event the unit  10  is to be used as an insulated cooler rather than a beverage dispenser. Common dispenser valves  18  engage an opening in the dispenser with a threaded connection. A threaded plug  28  may be conveniently held in place by providing corresponding threads in the second recess  26 . 
         [0020]    Referring now in particular to  FIG. 2 , the upper edge of the body  12  may be provided with a raised annular lip or ridge  30  positioned to confront a correspondingly positioned elastomeric seal  32  installed on the interior wall  22  of the lid  12 . Accordingly, the unit  10  may be provided with a water tight seal such that liquids in the interior chamber  16  will not escape even if the unit  10  is tipped or inverted. 
         [0021]    The lid  14  may be hinged to the body  12  along a rear upper edge of the body  12  with alternating lid and body knuckles  34 ,  36  that have axially aligned openings sized to receive a replaceable metal rod  38 . This provides an extraordinarily durable hinge, while allowing the lid  14  and body  12  to be separated for repair or replacement. 
         [0022]    The lid  14  may be secured in a closed position by use of elastomeric draw latches  40 . One end of the elastomeric latch arm  42  may be secured to the lid  14 , for example, and may be stretched by using a handle portion  44  to engage the latch arm  42  with a cleat mounted in a corresponding position on the body  12 . Such a closure devise is particularly durable and can survive high impact without damage, while being easily replaceable, if necessary. The latch arm  42  may be attached to the lid  14  such as with an anchor member  48  by use of screws or rivets  50 . In this manner, the latch arm  42  is allowed to pivot relative to the lid  14 , allowing it to be moved out of the way and not hamper easy opening and closing of the lid  14 . 
         [0023]    The unit  10  may be secured against tampering or contamination by providing a pair of aligned eyes  52 ,  54  on the lid  14  and body  12  to receive an elongated shank padlock  56 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , recesses may be provided adjacent the attachment eyes  52 ,  54  to allow a padlock  56  to rest within the overall profile of the unit  10  without projecting outwardly therefrom where it may be susceptible to damage. Alternatively, single use ties or other tamper-evident security devices (not shown) may be used to lock the unit  10  through the eyes  52 ,  54  and control access. 
         [0024]    According to another aspect of the invention, the body  12  and lid  14  may include a variety of molded openings, contours and/or indentations that facilitate utilization of strapping, lashing, or hook devices to secure the unit  10  in place to hold the unit  10  down or laterally against a support surface on a building, vehicle or support stand. For example, the lid  14  may be provided with left and right edge guide notches or indentations  58  which help hold a strap (not shown) in place without sliding when used to latch the unit  10  to a support surface below it. Alternatively, the forward edge of the lid  14  and forward upper edge of the body  12  may be provided with edge guide notches or cuts  60 ,  62 , also sized to engage standard cargo straps that may be provided in a front-to-rear orientation. 
         [0025]    Additional features may be provided for securing the body portion  12  of the unit  10  in a way that allows the lid  14  to be opened while the unit  10  remains securely held in place. For example, a forward upper edge of the body  12  may be provided with a transverse groove or guideway  64 , also sized to receive a common cargo securement strap. This guideway or groove  64  allows such a securement strap to be fixed in place under and without interfering with either the latches  40  or padlock  56 . 
         [0026]    Referring now in particular to  FIGS. 1 and 4 , upper side edges of the body  12  may be provided with guide indentations  66  for accommodating a tie down strap  68 . A vertical passageway  70  is aligned with the guide indentation  66  to accept a tie-down strap  68 , as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . Alternatively, hook openings  72  may be provided to receive tie-down hooks, such as on the end of an elastomeric cord. 
         [0027]    Indentations  74  in sides of the body  12  provide two functions. First, as best illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the indentations  74  in combination with the upper extended edge where the vertical passageway  70  and hook opening  72  may be found, provide a recess  76  for receiving the fingers of a person lifting the unit  10 . Additionally, as shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  5 , and  16 , flexible handles made by a combination of rope  78  and a rigid grip tube  80  provide handles that fall within the side recesses  74  when at rest. The rigid tube  80  may be made with a solid core and cushioned foam exterior to provide a comfortable and secure grip. When at rest, the rope handles  78 ,  80  are positioned in a flush alignment with the outside edges of the body  12  in the molded indentations  74 . Referring now also to  FIG. 4 , therein can be seen that when the rope handles  78 ,  80  are lifted, a grip is provided at a selected height H above the bottom of the unit  10 . 
         [0028]    Elastomeric feet  82  may be provided on the outer bottom surface of the body  12  to resist sliding movement of the unit  10  on a support surface that may be wet, angled or subject to vibration. 
         [0029]    Referring now to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , therein is shown an insulated beverage dispenser and cooler  84  according to an alternate embodiment of the invention. This alternate embodiment may be of smaller capacity than the previously described unit  10 , such as having an interior chamber  16  of approximately 20 quarts volume. Other than the overall size and capacity of the unit  84 , it differs from the previously-described unit  10  minimally, in that it does not include rope handles or eyes for receiving a padlock. With those exceptions, like reference numerals are used to indicate corresponding parts and features throughout the use of this second embodiment. 
         [0030]    While one embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail, it should be apparent that modifications and variations thereto are possible, all of which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, the foregoing is intended only to be illustrative of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not intended to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described. Accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be included and considered to fall within the scope of the invention.