Patent Publication Number: US-4481791-A

Title: Insulated beer keg cooler

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In the past, beer kegs have merely been cooled in ice-containing tubs which permit the ice to melt rapidly and are relatively unsanitary and unsightly in a party atmosphere. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The cooler embodying this invention provides an insulated ice-conserving container designed to surround a beer keg and keep the beer cold for long periods of time with very little ice required. 
     The removable top can be inverted to more closely surround a smaller quarter barrel keg as shown in FIG. 3 and is also provided with a keyhole slot which permits the use of a center mounted pump and tap assembly as well as the offset assembly illustrated. The body of the cooler unit has sufficient insulating properties to preserve for long periods of time the ice packed around the keg, even in hot weather, and in addition, provides an attractive housing for the keg instead of the unsightly tub or open top container frequently used. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the cooler shown in FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the cooler shown in FIG. 1 with portions shown in side elevation; and 
     FIG. 3 is a view of the cooler with the cover inverted to more compactly enclose a smaller keg unit. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIG. 2 shows a cooler made from a pair of sections having side wall portions 10a and 10b, respectively having bottom portions 11a and 11b, and handles 12. The sections are made from molded polyurethane foam. A suitable polyurethane material is manufactured by the Stepan Company of Chicago. Ill., and is produced by mixing in equal proportions, two separate ingredients identified by the Stepan Company as No. HW1160CR and No. HW1160A. In the form shown, the two sections have a mating tongue and groove edge joint 10c which is glued together by any suitable glue such as a hot-melt glue. A suitable glue is produced by the Dexter Corporation of Elsworth, Wis. and is identified as No. TW-ESP/1942. In the form shown, the male tongue element is formed on the edge of the side wall and bottom portions designated by the numerals 10b and 11b and the mating female groove portion is provided in the edge of the section identified as 10a and 11a. 
     A cover 14 is provided and is made from similar polyurethane foam material. The cover is generally concavo-convex in shape as illustrated and has a generally keyhole-shaped opening 14a formed in the top panel thereof. The opening has a circular central portion 14b and a radially extending slot portion 14c as best shown in FIG. 1. A support flange 14d is provided around the outer portion of the concavo-convex central section and is removably received around the top edge of the joined-together side wall sections 10a and 10b. A tight-fitting, slightly tapered circumferential wall portion 14e and 14f is provided on both sides of the flange 14d to be snugly received in frictional engagement within the top marginal edge portion of the side walls 10a and 10b. The connecting portion 14f is received in the cooler top when the larger size keg 20 is to be used, and the cover 14 is inverted when the smaller size keg 21 is to be used, with the connecting portion 14e tightly received within the top circumferential edge of the container body wall formed by the joined-together portions 10a, 10b, 11a and 11b, as best shown in FIG. 3. 
     The specific kegs 20 and 21 illustrated in the drawings show an off-center or edge-mounted pump and tap unit 25 of conventional design, which includes a pump element 25a and a flexible discharge tube 25b connected at the bottom of the respective kegs 20 and 21. A spigot and control valve assembly 25c of conventional design is provided to permit controlled dispensing of the contents of the kegs. 
     The cooler is designed of sufficient size to permit ice to be packed around the keg 20 and of course, the space between the smaller keg and the side walls of the container will be greater when being used for the smaller size keg 21. 
     It will be seen that this invention provides a highly efficient cooler for beer kegs which is particularly adapted for use with different sized kegs by merely inverting the concavo-convex cover unit. The keyhole opening 14a in the cover 14 provides for different locations for the various pump and tab assemblies including the eccentric mounting illustrated as well as a center mounted assembly (not shown). 
     It is to be understood that while there has been illustrated and described certain forms of the present invention, the invention is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement of parts herein described and shown except to the extent that such limitations are found in the claims.