AU2014101160A4

AU2014101160A4 - Portable cooler housing or jacket for a barrel or keg beverage dispenser

Info

Publication number: AU2014101160A4
Application number: AU2014101160A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Adam Edward Mccarthy
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-09-19
Filing date: 2014-09-19
Publication date: 2014-10-16
Anticipated expiration: 2022-09-19
Also published as: WO2016040993A1

Abstract

A portable cooler housing or jacket or bag for a barrel or keg beverage dispenser with an opening adapted to seal round but expose the dispensing tap of the barrel or keg; a space between the jacket and the barrel or keg for ice and a perforated shelf over a bottom portion or a drip tray to collect water as the ice melts.

Description

PORTABLE COOLER HOUSING OR JACKET FOR A BARREL OR KEG BEVERAGE DISPENSER FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to coolers and recreational beverage containers, in particular but not exclusively to a novel and innovative portable cooler housing or jacket for a barrel or keg beverage dispenser. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The prior art includes the supply of beverages in barrels also known as kegs for consumers of beer which can be enjoyed at home in much the same manner as at a local pub or wine bar. There are however problems or limitations to the prior art. The barrels or kegs have to be chilled to an optimal temperature of 2-6 degrees Celsius, which can take up to nine hours in a domestic fridge. The keg takes up a reasonable amount of fridge space making it only suitable for certain sized fridges which can be a problem with rearranging foods which require refrigeration. Furthermore, while pouring a beer from the keg, the fridge has to be left open unless the keg is removed thereby allowing cold air to escape from the fridge. While the keg can be transported in an insulated hamper also known as an "esky", which can be loaded with ice, it is problematic to remove the keg to access its dispensing tap and then to place the keg back into the ice inside the esky after pouring a beer. It is therefore an object of the present invention to seek to eliminate or ameliorate the disadvantages and limitations of the prior art by providing a novel and inventive cooler housing or jacket for a barrel or keg beverage dispenser. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In one aspect, the invention resides in a portable cooler housing or jacket for a barrel or keg beverage dispenser including in combination: a substantially water tight container body adapted to receive and support within, a barrel or keg beverage dispenser; the container having an opening adapted to seal round but expose the dispensing tap of the barrel or keg; the container providing a space between the inner wall of the container and the outer wall of the barrel or keg for ice; the container further having a perforated shelf over a bottom portion to elevate and separate the ice and to collect the water, respectively, as the ice melts. Preferably, the beverage dispenser is supported in a cradle in the container. Preferably, the container body has a lid or closure member that can be shut to encloses the beverage dispenser in a substantially water tight arrangement. Preferably, the container is of an inert solid or flexible temperature insulated material. Without limitation, the container body can be made of foam, fiberglass, and plastic or in the form of a flexible cooler bag. Preferably, there is a releasable or removable drain plug to release water from the melted ice. More preferably, the bottom portion is adapted to hold a removable and/or sliding drip tray, Preferably, there are carry handles attached to the container. Preferably, there can be storage pockets associated with the container for small items. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order that the invention be understood, reference is made to the accompanying drawings wherein: FIG. 1A FIG. 1C shows a preferred cooling housing or jacket for a barrel or keg beverage dispenser. FIG. 2 shows another example of the cooling housing or jacket, 2 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT As shown in FIG. 1A to FIG. 1C including cross-section AA, the preferred housing or jacket for a barrel or keg beverage dispenser 10 is in the form of a solid cooler container 12 for a barrel beverage dispenser having an opening 14 adapted to seal round but expose the dispensing tap 16 of the barrel or keg, FIG 1A shows the space between the inner wall 18 of the container and the outer wall 20 of the barrel or keg receives ice 22 which surrounds and chills the barrel, There is a perforated shelf 24 over a bottom portion 26 to elevate and separate the ice and to collect the water as the ice melts. The beverage dispenser is supported in a cradle 28 in the container. A lid 30 or closure member can be shut to enclose the beverage dispenser in a substantially water tight arrangement. The container body is of an inert solid temperature insulated foam but may include a fiberglass or plastic outer layer or skin. There is a releasable or removable drain plug 32 to release water from the melted ice. In a preferred version, the bottom portion is adapted to hold a removable and/or sliding drip tray. There are carry handles 36,38 attached to the container and there can be storage pockets associated with the container for small items. FIG. 2 shows the example of the housing or jacket in the form of a flexible cooler bag 50 which has the same essential features as the solid embodiment of Figures 1A to 1C. The cooler bag for a barrel or keg beverage dispenser 52 has an opening 54 adapted to seal round but expose the dispensing tap 56 of the barrel. The space between the inner wall of the bag and the outer wall of the barrel or keg receives ice which surrounds and chills the barrel or keg. As in the examples of Figures 1A to 1C there is a perforated shelf (not shown) over a bottom portion to elevate and separate the ice and to collect the water as the ice melts. In a preferred version, the bottom portion is adapted to hold a removable and/or sliding drip tray. Similar to the cooler of Figure 1, there can be carry .3 handles 58, 60 attached to the container and storage pockets (not shown) associated with the container for small items. Advantages of the present invention include the reduction of a chill time from nine to three hours. The portable cooler housing or jacket enables transportability of the barrel or keg in a cold environment whether attending a party or barbeque. It also eliminates rubbish at public events or venues as a result of drinking beverages from bottles or cans, In addition, beer can be poured straight from the keg housed in the invention as the tap of the keg is of an optimal dispensing height above any surface it rests on. It will of course be realized that while the foregoing has been given by way of illustrative example of this invention, all such and other modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as is herein set forth. In the specification the terms "comprising" and "containing" shall be understood to have a broad meaning similar to the term "including" and will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps, This definition also applies to variations on the terms "comprising" and "containing" such as "comprise, "comprises", "contain" and "contains". 4

Claims

1. A portable cooler housing or jacket for a barrel or keg beverage dispenser including in combination: a substantially water tight container body adapted to receive and support within, a barrel or keg beverage dispenser; the container having an opening adapted to seal round but expose the dispensing tap of the barrel or keg; the container providing a space between the inner wall of the container and the outer wall of the barrel or keg for ice; the container further having a perforated shelf over a bottom portion to elevate and separate the ice and to collect the water, respectively, as the ice melts.

2. The portable cooler housing or jacket of claim 1, wherein the container body has a lid or closure member that can be shut to encloses the beverage dispenser in a substantially water tight arrangement.

3. The portable cooler housing or jacket of claim 1, wherein the beverage dispenser is supported in a cradle in the container.

4. The portable cooler housing or jacket of claim 1, wherein there is a releasable or removable drain plug to release water of the melted ice.

5. The portable cooler housing or jacket of claim 1, wherein the bottom portion is adapted to hold a removable and/or sliding drip tray. 5