Patent Application
20080264953
The present invention broadly relates to apparatus adapted to maintain beverages in a chilled state relative to an ambient environment. The exemplary embodiments described herein concern apparatus that can maintain a bulk quantity of a containerized beverage in a cooled condition for consumption, for example, at outdoor events. To that end, the exemplary embodiments also facilitate the transport of bulk quantities of beverages, such as those contained in kegs and the like.
Beverages for human consumption are often contained in “serving size” containers containing a single serving typically on the order of one liter or less. It is also well known that larger quantities, typically on the order of one gallon or less, may be sold in individual containers. In either case, where the beverage is carbonated, these containers are sealed in a manner so as to maintain the carbonation therein.
Beverages, and especially carbonated beverages, are also supplied in bulk quantities, for example, to commercial establishments such as bars, soda fountains, etc. for use in dispensing individual servings to customers. Typically, the individual consumer does not purchase bulk quantities of beverages. One reason is that, where the beverage is carbonate, the beverage may go flat (i.e. lose its carbonation) before the bulk quantity is consumed. Thus, the individual consumer typically buys beverages in bottles or cans of individual portions are smaller servings, as noted above.
There are times, though, when an individual consumer is more likely to purchase a bulk quantity of beverage, especially a carbonated beverage such as beer. Such bulk quantities are purchased as barrels or as fractions of barrels referred to as kegs. The keg family typically refers to a domestic keg (15.5 gallons) an import kegs (13.2 gallons) the pony keg or quarter barrel keg (7.5 gallons) and the 6-barrel keg (5 gallons). For purposes of this description, a keg refers to any containerized bulk quantity of beverage generally in the keg family to barrel range although it is not limited to these exact gallon quantities.
Kegs of beverages are often purchased by consumers as an adjunct to large get-togethers, such as special events, family reunions, picnics, etc. Even where such gatherings have sufficient attendance to consume the bulk quantity of beverage, nonetheless, certain problems exist where a consumer without special equipment seeks to dispense a beverage, such as a carbonated beverage, acquired in keg quantities. For example, it is necessary to keep the bulk quantity of beverage in a chilled environment. This is especially true where the event is held in an outdoor environment during warmer times, such as in the summer.
In order to maintain the beverage in a chilled state for consumption, the keg is often placed in a tub or vat that also contains crushed ice to maintain a reduced temperature for the beverage. However, since the tub or vat is usually not insulated, the ice melts fairly rapidly. Not only does this require the continual addition of more ice to the tub or vat, but also it requires the draining of excess water from the melted ice from the interior of the tub. Since most tubs are not provided with drain openings, this can become a difficult procedure, especially considering the weight of the bulk quantity of beverage along with the weight of the water from the melted ice. Moreover, as the beverage is consumed, the keg may become buoyant in the water from the melted ice so that it floats in an unstable manner in the tub or vat. Also, as the keg floats on the water, more of the surface of the keg (which is typically constructed of metal), is exposed to a warmer environment which increases the thermal transfer of heat to the contents of the keg.
Another difficulty encountered during the use of a keg by a consumer is the necessary provision of pressure to expel the beverage from the keg. In noncommercial usage, such pressure is usually provided by a hand pump which injects pressurized air into the interior of the sealed keg thereby forcing the contents out of a dispensing opening such as a conduit and spigot. As more and more of the beverage is dispensed, the users must inject increasing quantities of air into the interior of the container by utilizing a hand pump. This is inconvenient and can cause foaming of the beverage, especially where the beverage is carbonated.
Another disadvantage often encountered by consumers who use keg quantities of beverage at a special event is that the dispensing conduit between the keg and the dispensing spigot is relatively lengthy. Since it is uninsulated, any beverage residing in the conduit between each dispensing event can rapidly become elevated to the ambient temperature, especially on a hot summer day. When the next serving is dispensed, the warmed beverage results in a serving that is less palatable because it is not sufficiently chilled. Alternatively, the beverage that has become warmed in the conduit may be discarded in order to obtain a more chilled serving; however, this is very wasteful and expensive.
Finally, it may be well appreciated that bulk quantities of beverage can be fairly difficult to transfer to the location of the event, especially in an outdoor setting. This difficulty is caused both by the weight of the filled keg of beverage as well as the awkwardness of the container itself. Accordingly, an apparatus that facilitates the transport of bulk quantities of a beverage is highly desirable.
While various efforts have been made in the past to resolve one or more of the above identified difficulties and problems, there has been a long need for an apparatus that facilitates transport of a bulk quantity of beverage, that maintains the beverage at a reduced temperature in a convenient manner and which allows for the dispensing of the beverage in a more convenient manner. The exemplary embodiments of the present invention describe an apparatus which meets such needs.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and useful apparatus for the transport, cooling and dispensing of bulk quantities of beverages and, especially, carbonated beverages.
It is an aspect of the exemplary embodiments to provide an apparatus which may house a keg of a beverage along with a quantity of ice to maintain the beverage at a reduced temperature. It is another aspect of the exemplary embodiments to provide for relative ease in handling and transporting a keg quantity of beverage. Still another aspect of the exemplary embodiments is to provide an apparatus which provides for the dispensing of servings of a beverage from a keg without the need to inject pressurized air into the interior of the keg.
A still further aspect of the exemplary embodiments is to provide an apparatus that is constructed to reduce temperature loss of a chilled beverage from the interior of a container continuously to a dispensing spigot.
In order to accomplish the above-described object and the aspects of the exemplary embodiments, an apparatus is provided for maintaining a bulk quantity of beverage at a reduced temperature and for dispensing the beverage under the influence of pressurized gas. Broadly, the exemplary embodiments include an insulated housing assembly that provides a cavity to receive a bulk quantity of a beverage, such is that contained in a keg along with a quantity of ice that is sufficient to maintain the beverage at a reduced temperature. A support structure is disposed on the housing assembly and is configured to support a canister of pressurized gas in a mounted state relative to the housing assembly. A dispensing conduit has a first end adapted to connect in fluid communication with the keg and a second conduit end located exterior of the housing such that a beverage may be dispensed therethrough. A conduit guide is secured to the housing assembly and has a passageway therethrough for the dispensing conduit. A pressure conduit has an inner end adapted to connect in fluid communication with the keg and an opposite outer end adapted to connect in fluid communication to a canister of pressurized gas supported by the support structure.
In more detail, the housing assembly includes a housing body having a bottom, a surrounding sidewall extending upwardly from the bottom and an open top. The housing body may be generally cylindrical in shape and, in the exemplary embodiments, is a 55-gallon barrel. A lid is adapted to mount on the housing body in a closed state so as to enclose the interior. A layer of insulating material is disposed in the interior of the housing body proximally to the sidewall. The insulating material defines the cavity that is sized and adept to receive a keg of beverage through the open top in a received state. The housing body may also include a bottom layer of insulating material that extends along the bottom of the housing body. At least one support is also located at the bottom of the housing body and is so oriented so as to resist the collapse of the bottom layer of insulating material under the weight of the keg of beverage. Furthermore, in the exemplary embodiments, the lid includes a lid-insulating panel located on a side thereof that is disposed internally of the housing body when in the closed state. This lid is sized to friction fit within the open top of the housing body.
In the exemplary embodiments, a tub is disposed in the cavity formed by the insulating layers such that the layer of insulating material is disposed between the tub and the surrounding sidewall. This tub, then, has a tub interior sized and adapted to receive the keg of beverage. In order to remove water from melted ice, the housing body may include a drain located either proximally to or in its bottom. Where a tub is employed, the drain is in fluid communication with the interior of the tub. This drain can also include a hose fitting associated therewith that is adapted to connect to a standard garden hose fitting.
In order to establish fluid communication with the beverage that is located within the keg, a tap assembly is disposed at the first conduit end of the dispensing conduit. A faucet assembly is disposed at the second conduit end. Furthermore, the tap assembly may include a connector such that the inner end of the pressure conduit may be placed in fluid communication therewith in order to introduce pressurized gas into the keg. A pressure regulator may be associated with the pressure conduit in order to control the pressure of the gas supplied to the keg.
In the exemplary embodiments, the housing assembly is supported by a wheel assembly for movement along the support surface. This wheel assembly includes a handle assembly mechanically coupled to the wheel assembly so that a user may maneuver the housing assembly relative to the support surface. In one embodiment, the handle assembly is connected to the housing body and the wheel assembly is also connected to the housing body such that the housing body, itself, mechanically couples the wheel assembly to the handle assembly. In another embodiment, the handle assembly is directly connected to the wheel assembly, such as a standard dolly, and the housing assembly is then supported on this dolly-like arrangement. Furthermore, in one embodiment, the handle assembly includes a pair of handles that may be manually gripped by a person and is structured so that the distance between the handles and the bottom of the housing body may be selectively adjusted. A handgrip may also be mounted to the sidewall of the housing body exteriorly thereof so that a user may be provided with a grip for help in maneuvering the apparatus and for loading and unloading the apparatus into a transportation vehicle.
The wheel assembly, in the exemplary embodiments, includes at least two spaced-apart wheels and further includes a leg spaced apart from the wheels. This leg may be sized so as to orient the bottom of the housing body in a substantially parallel, spaced-apart relation to a support surface. Here, also, the drain conduit can have one end in fluid communication with the drain and its opposite end supported by the leg. In one embodiment, the pair of wheels is supported by a U-shaped axle.
In one exemplary embodiment, the support structure for the canister of pressurized gas is a bracket affixed to the housing body. In another exemplary embodiment, the support structure is a bracket affixed to the handle and wheel assembly. In the preferred embodiments, the conduit guide includes an inner lining of insulating material so as to insulate a medial portion of the dispensing conduit.
The present invention broadly relates to the transportation, maintenance and dispensing of a bulk quantity of a beverage at a reduced temperature. By “reduced temperature” it is meant that the beverage may be maintained and dispensed at a reduced temperature relative to an ambient temperature that is at room temperature or above. The reduced temperature typically correspond to the temperature of ice or a mixture of ice/water. The exemplary embodiments of the present invention generally include a housing assembly that is insulated so as to receive a container, such as a keg, of a bulk quantity of liquid beverage along with a cooling medium such as ice or an ice/water slurry, a structure that may support a canister of pressurized gas, a dispensing conduit for dispensing the fluid and a pressure conduit allowing the introduction of pressurized gas into the interior of a container which holds the bulk quantity of beverage.
An apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in
With continued reference to
With reference now to
Housing body 12 includes a layer of insulating material 46 that extends around the interior surface of sidewall 42. As is shown in
If desired, a tub 48 is disposed in the interior of housing body 42. Thus, as is illustrated in
Tub 48 has an interior 54 sized to receive a bulk quantity of beverage, for example, as received in keg 60 shown in
With continued reference to
Conduit guide 34 in this exemplary embodiment is formed as a hollow elbow of plastic material that includes a lower straight section 70 and an upper straight section 72 that are connected by elbow section 74. An end cap 76 is mounted on the outer end of straight section 72. As is best shown in
Conduit guide 34 accordingly supports a medial portion of conduit 82 along with faucet 36 in a manner such that the medial portion of conduit 82 is insulated from the ambient environment. Further, it may be appreciated that conduit guide 34 is supported by plate 62 of lid 14. To this end, an end of conduit guide 34 opposite end cap 76 is received in an opening 92 formed centrally in plate 62. Conduit 82 may thus pass from passageway 80 through opening 92 and an opening 94 in panel 68 into the interior of housing body 12. It is then connected to tap assembly 86.
As noted above, pressurized gas is also supplied to the interior of keg 60, and this is accomplished in the standard manner through tap assembly 86. Here, pressure conduit 28 has an inner end 96 connected, in a standard manner, to tap assembly 86 and an outer end 98 connected to pressure regulator 32 that in turn is connected to canister 26 of pressurized gas. Support structure 24 supports canister 26 and is formed by a horizontal U-shaped strap 100 having its opposite ends affixed to the exterior of sidewall 42 and a downwardly depending U-shaped strap 102 that in turn supports a lower horizontal arm 104 provided with an upstanding lip 106 so that canister 26 may be supported by this bracket in a relatively stable manner.
In this first exemplary embodiment, handle assembly 22 is provided, as is noted above. Here, handle assembly 22 is formed by a pair of vertically oriented tubular sections 110 of square-shaped cross-section. Sections 110 slidably receive tubular sections 112 in telescopic engagement. Tubular sections 112 are joined, near their top, by a crosspiece 114 that is arcuate in shape. Further, each tubular section 112 supports a handle 116 at an upper end thereof. Due to the telescopic engagement of sections 110 and 112, it should be appreciated that the handle assembly is adjustable in height, as defined by the distance between handles 116 and bottom 40 of housing body 12 by virtue of the telescopic engagement. The engagement of sections 110 and 112 may be releasably held in position by means of push pins 118 or other releasable fasteners in a manner as is known in the art. Due to the arcuate nature of crosspiece 114, moreover, the handle assembly may be collapsed so that handles 116 are located below the level of lid 14 for more compact storage.
Also, as noted above, the housing assembly formed by housing body 12 and lid 14, is supported by wheel assembly 16. Wheel assembly 16 includes a U-shaped axle 120 onto which wheels 122 are rotatably journaled. In order to maintain bottom 40 of housing body 12 in upright state, a leg 18 is provided and is sized so that, along with wheels 122, bottom 40 is maintained and is in substantially parallel relation to the support surface. Leg 18 mounts a twist valve 124 or spigot that is connected a drain 130 formed by a drain conduit 132 connected at one end in fluid communication to a fitting 134 that establishes fluid communication with the interior of the housing assembly. A hose fitting 136 is disposed at the opposite end of drain conduit 132 with fitting 136 being of a standard type to connect with a female fitting on a standard garden hose. Thus, opening valve 124 allows water from melted ice to be drained from the interior of the housing assembly as desired. By providing hose fitting 136, a length of garden hose may be connected in fluid communication with drain conduit 132 through valve 124, so that this water may be discharged at a location remote from apparatus 10 thus preventing the region around apparatus 10 from becoming unduly wet or, for disposed on the ground, from becoming muddy.
Handle assembly 22 and wheel assembly 16 are provided to assist in transporting a keg of beverage between locations. Further, in order to assist in tipping apparatus 10 onto wheels 122 for rolling movement, housing body 12 is provided with an externally mounted hand grip 23 located near the top of housing body 12 opposite handle assembly 22. Hand grip 23 also facilitates the loading and unloading of apparatus 10 into a vehicle, truck bed, etc. Moreover, hand grip 23 can help a user to maneuver or otherwise position the apparatus 10 for use.
With reference now to
Finally, with reference now to
Accordingly, the present invention has been described with some degree of particularity directed to certain exemplary embodiments. Those of skill in the art, though, will recognize that certain modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations thereof are within the true spirit and scope of the various embodiments.
