Patent Application
20140367418
While there are a number of portable keg coolers, containers, and related vessels, it would be desirable to provide a portable beverage dispensing system which could be quickly set up and collapsed, and easily transported. It would also be desirable to provide a portable beverage dispensing system that presents the beverages at a convenient table top surface of the dispensing system. It would furthermore be desirable to provide a portable beverage dispensing system which has wheels and handles for portability and yet which are removable for a more aesthetic presentation of the portable beverage dispensing system once it is emplaced.
In accordance with the present invention, a portable beverage dispensing system for carrying and storing one or more beverage kegs is disclosed. The portable beverage dispensing system is comprised of: a lower tub component that defines an open interior region for removably receiving one or more beverage kegs; a hollow upper component that removably attaches to the lower tub and surrounds the upper portion of the one or more beverage kegs; and a table top that removably attaches to the hollow upper tub and which may furthermore have one or more apertures that allow standard beverage dispensing components to pass through and attach to the table top for dispensing of beverages. The portable beverage dispensing system may also comprise: a wheel attachment apparatus, connected to the lower tub in a fixed or removable manner; and a handle apparatus, connected to the table top in a fixed or removable manner; both of which allow portability of the beverage dispensing system.
In one exemplary embodiment, the lower tub component of the portable beverage dispensing system may be configured as a hollow cylinder with a fixed bottom portion on which one or more beverage kegs would rest; and the hollow upper component may be configured as a hollow cylinder. In such an embodiment, the cylindrical lower tub component and the cylindrical hollow upper component may have diameters that are similar in size. In other such embodiments, either the cylindrical lower tub component or the cylindrical hollow upper component may be configured with a diameter that is larger in size than that of the other, so as to allow the larger of the two components to be nested over the smaller of the two components to form an alternate storage configuration for the portable beverage dispensing system.
In another exemplary embodiment, the lower tub component of the portable beverage dispensing system may be configured as a hollow tapered-cylinder with a fixed bottom portion on which one or more beverage kegs would rest and the hollow upper component may be configured as a hollow tapered-cylinder. In such embodiments, the tapered-cylindrical lower tub component and the tapered-cylindrical hollow upper component may be configured such that the smaller diameters of each component and the larger diameters of each component are similar in size, respectively. In other such embodiments, either the tapered-cylindrical lower tub component or the tapered-cylindrical hollow upper component may be configured so that its smaller and larger diameters are larger in size than that of the other, so as to allow the larger of the two components to be nested over the smaller of the two components to form an alternate storage configuration for the portable beverage dispensing system.
In at least one exemplary embodiment, the lower tub component is configured as a hollow tapered-cylinder with a fixed bottom portion on which one or more beverage kegs would rest and where the bottom of the lower tub component is larger in diameter than its top; and the hollow upper component is configured with a hollow tapered-cylindrical shape, where the bottom of the hollow upper component is smaller in diameter than its top. In such an embodiment, the tapered-cylindrical hollow upper component may be configured such that its smaller and larger diameters are larger in size than those of the tapered-cylindrical lower tub component, respectively, so as to allow the tapered-cylindrical hollow upper component to be flipped upside down and nested over the tapered-cylindrical lower tub component, forming an alternate storage configuration for the portable beverage dispensing system.
The invention is further described in connection with the accompanying drawings.
As depicted in
In one exemplary embodiment, the lower tub component 100 of the portable beverage dispensing system may configured as a hollow cylinder with a fixed bottom portion on which one or more beverage kegs 400 would rest; and the hollow upper component 200 may be configured as a hollow cylinder. In such an embodiment, the cylindrical lower tub component 100 and cylindrical hollow upper component 200 may have diameters that are similar in size. In other such embodiments, either the cylindrical lower tub component 100 or the cylindrical hollow upper component 200 may be configured with a diameter that is larger in size than that of the other, so as to allow the larger of the two components to be nested over the smaller of the two components to form an alternate storage configuration for the portable beverage dispensing system.
In another exemplary embodiment, the lower tub component 100 may be configured as a hollow tapered-cylinder with a fixed bottom portion on which one or more beverage kegs 400 would rest; and the hollow upper component 200 may be configured as a hollow tapered-cylinder. In such embodiments, the tapered-cylindrical lower tub component 100 and the tapered-cylindrical hollow upper component 200 may be configured such that the smaller diameters of each component and the larger diameters of each component are similar in size, respectively. In other such embodiments, either the tapered-cylindrical lower tub component 100 or the tapered-cylindrical hollow upper component 200 may be configured so that its smaller and larger diameters are larger in size than those of the other, respectively, so as to allow the larger of the two components to be nested over the smaller of the two components, forming an alternate storage configuration for the portable beverage dispensing system.
In at least one exemplary embodiment, the lower tub component 100 is configured as a hollow tapered-cylinder with a fixed bottom portion on which one or more beverage kegs 400 would rest and where the bottom of the lower tub component 100 is larger in diameter than its top, as depicted in
In some exemplary embodiments, the lower tub component 100 may be made from a single-walled material. In other exemplary embodiments, the lower tub component 100 may be made to have multiple walls, thereby forming a hollow cross-section. In such embodiments, the inner wall surfaces 110 of lower tub component 100 may be configured to have a different shape than the outer wall surfaces 120 of the lower tub component 100.
In at least one exemplary embodiment, the lower tub component 100 may be made as a single plastic part through a rotomolding process, thereby forming such a hollow cross-section.
In other such embodiments, such a hollow cross-section of the lower tub component 100 may be formed of other materials, and may further be formed from other manufacturing methods.
In some exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the lower tub component 100 may have protruding or recessed features 130, as shown in
Other embodiments may use latches, screws, or other common fastening methods to create a structural connection between the lower tub component 100 and the hollow upper component 200, as could be readily determined by someone with ordinary skills in the art.
In some embodiments of the present invention, the lower tub component 100 may include an integral wheel attachment apparatus 600 or may include attachment features 140, designed to accommodate wheel attachment apparatus 600. Such features could include apertures, recesses, protrusions, latches, fasteners, or other such features in such a way as to allow the wheel attachment apparatus 600 to attach to the lower tub component 100 in a fixed or removable manner, as could be readily determined by someone with ordinary skills in the art.
In some exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the lower tub component 100 may also include a separate aperture for use as a drain feature.
In some exemplary embodiments, the hollow upper component 200 may be made from a single-walled material. In other exemplary embodiments, the hollow upper component 200 may be made to have multiple walls, thereby forming a hollow cross-section. In such embodiments, the inner wall surfaces 210 of hollow upper component 200 may be configured to have a different shape than the outer wall surfaces 220 of the hollow upper component 200.
In at least one exemplary embodiment, the hollow upper component 200 may be made as a single plastic part through a rotomolding process, thereby forming such a hollow cross-section.
In other such embodiments, such a hollow cross-section of the hollow upper component 200 may be formed of other materials, and may further be formed from other manufacturing methods.
In some exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the hollow upper component 200 may have protruding or recessed features 230, as shown in
Other embodiments may use latches, screws, or other common fastening methods to create structural connections between the hollow upper component 200, the lower tub component 100, and the table top 300, as could be readily determined by someone with ordinary skills in the art.
In some exemplary embodiments, the table top 300 may be made from a single-walled material. In other exemplary embodiments, the table top 300 may be made to have multiple walls, thereby forming a hollow cross-section. In such embodiments, the topside surfaces 310 of the table top 300 may be configured to have a different shape than the underside surfaces 320 of the table top 300.
In at least one exemplary embodiment, the table top 300 may be made as a single plastic part through a rotomolding process, thereby forming such a hollow cross-section.
In other such embodiments, such a hollow cross-section of the table top 300 may be formed of other materials, and may further be formed from other manufacturing methods.
In some exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the table top 300 may have protruding or recessed features 330, as shown in
Other embodiments may use latches, screws, or other common fastening methods to create a structural connection between the table top 300 and the hollow upper component 200, as could be readily determined by someone with ordinary skills in the art.
In some embodiments of the present invention, the table top 300 may include an integral handle apparatus 700 or attachment features 340, designed to accommodate handle apparatus 700. Such features could include apertures, recesses, protrusions, or other such features in such a way as to allow the handle apparatus 700 to attach to the table top 300 in a fixed or removable manner, as could be readily determined by someone with ordinary skills in the art.
In even further embodiments of the present invention, the table top 300 may include one or more apertures 350 configured to accommodate standard beverage dispensing components 500, where the number and shape of such apertures 350 could be readily determined by someone with ordinary skills in the art. Such apertures 350 may further be configured to allow the beverage dispensing components 500 to attach to the top of the table top 300, as depicted in
Unless otherwise specified in this description, the components of the present invention may be made from plastics, polymers, metals, or any other rigid material suitable for use within a beverage cooler system, provided such materials possess properties suitable for the loads and conditions typically present in such an application. Additionally, unless otherwise specified in the description, when components are attached to each other, they may be attached using various welding techniques, with screws, nails, glue, or by any suitable technique for attaching metal or non-metal components to other metal or non-metal components.
The above is a detailed description of particular embodiments of the invention. It is recognized that departures from the disclosed embodiments may be within the scope of this invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. It is the intent of the applicant that the invention include alternative embodiments known in the art that perform the same functions as those disclosed. This specification should not be construed to unduly narrow the full scope of protection to which the invention is entitled.
This application discloses and claims subject matter that is disclosed in applicant's copending U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 61/661,795 that was filed Jun. 19, 2012.
