AU740406B2

AU740406B2 - Unit for the chilling of beverages and the like

Info

Publication number: AU740406B2
Application number: AU55029/00A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Jennifer Kemp
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-02-01
Filing date: 2000-09-01
Publication date: 2001-11-01
Anticipated expiration: 2020-09-01
Also published as: AU5502900A

Description

Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

(ORIGINAL)

9* o o ooo oso Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: *0 0000 JENNIFER KEMP JENNIFER KEMP SANDERCOCK COWIE 69 Robinson Street, DANDENONG VIC 3175 UNIT FOR THE CHILLING OF BEVERAGES AND THE LIKE Invention Title: Details of Associated Provisional Application(s): No(s): Australian Provisional Application No. PQ5364 and PQ7639 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: -1- 2000-08-3 I.A:294kemp.file.wpd, lao TITLE: UNIT FOR THE CHILLING OF BEVERAGES AND THE LIKE FIELD OF INVENTION: The present invention relates to entertaining, catering and the like, and more particularly to a unit which is adapted to the chilling of beverages.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION: In the course of catering and entertaining, there is a need for mechanisms for chilling beverages.

For example, in restaurants and in some domestic entertaining, ice buckets are used to keep bottles of wine chilled. These ice buckets are generally mounted on a tripod-like 00831,A:\290kemp.complele.wpd,l 2 stand, or placed on the dining table. Such conventional ice buckets suffer from the disadvantage that they are of limited capacity. They also generally suffer from the disadvantage that they are relatively unstable, and so they are easily knocked over.

For larger scale entertaining, bottles and cans of beverages are often kept chilled in tubs or drums of ice. However, such a solution to the problem of keeping beverages cold is unsightly and not suitable for a formal occasion.

It is accordingly an aim of the present invention to provide a means of keeping beverages chilled which is of higher capacity and more convenient to use than are the traditional ice bucket.

It is also an aim of the present invention to provide a means of keeping beverages chilled that is more attractive than is a tub or drum.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION: 20 According to the present invention there is provided a unit for storing items including a bowl-shaped container having an opening capable of receiving the items :i therethrough to store the items in the container, the bowl-shaped container having a storage shelf located at or close to the opening of the bowl-shaped container for storing or supporting objects thereupon and a base for supporting the bowl-shaped container in use of the unit, wherein the base includes an adjustable stem portion such that the length of the stem portion is adjustable in order to vary the height of the bowl-shaped container.

PREFERRED FEATURES OF THE FIRST ASPECT OF THE INVENTION: It is preferred that the container is substantially bowl-shaped.

It is preferred that the container includes a hollow stem which extends through the \\melb_files\home\Pclarke\Keep\Retypes\55029-00 J Kemp claims.doc 3/09/01 -3container, which stem is adapted for the receipt of an umbrella shaft therein. It is preferred that the umbrella shaft has a tray mounted about it.

It is preferred that the stem is also adapted for the receipt of a shaft which has a tray mounted on an end of it.

When the container is bowl-shaped, it is preferred that the hollow stem extends co-axially with the axis of the bowl.

According to one form of the invention, it is preferred that the base includes a hollow stem which extends through it, and that the container is mountable to the base such that the hollow stem of the container and the hollow stem of the base are contiguous and coaxial.

It is preferred that the base includes a chamber for the receipt of weighting material. It is then preferred that the chamber in the base includes an aperture which extends from the interior of the base to the exterior of the of the base to drain weighting material from the chamber. It is preferred that this aperture is closed with a stopper.

According to another form of the invention, the base includes a table.

It is preferred that the container includes an aperture which is separate from the mouth of the container, and which extends from the interior of the container to the exterior of the container to drain water from the container. It is preferred that this aperture is closed with a stopper when the container is not being drained.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS: Figure 1 is a partial perspective view of one embodiment of apparatus according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a variation on the apparatus of Figure 1.

0083 1,A:\290kemp.complete.wpd,3 -4f ef f ft. ft Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view on a diameter of a component of the apparatus of Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view on a diameter of a component of the apparatus of Figure 2.

Figures 5 and 6 are perspective views of a component of the apparatus of Figures 1 and 2 respectively.

10 Figure 7 is a partial perspective view of a second embodiment of apparatus according to the present invention.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of apparatus according to the present invention.

Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view on a diameter of a portion of the apparatus of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a perspective view of a component of the apparatus of Figure 8.

Figure 11 is a plan view of a component that may be used in conjunction with the apparatus of Figure 8.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, preferred embodiments of it will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION WITH RESPECT TO THE DRAWINGS: A unit according to the first embodiment of the invention is indicated generally by the reference numeral 1 in Figure 1.

The unit 1 includes a base portion 2 and an upper portion 3.

r 00831 ,A:\290kemp.complete.wpd4 The base portion 2 of the unit 1 includes an open-mouthed receptacle 4 which is mounted on a foot portion 7 through an intermediate mounting portion 6.

The open-mouthed receptacle 4 has an internal cavity 8 for the receipt of beverages and ice. The open mouth of the receptacle 4 is surrounded by a lip 9 which is suitable for the placement of cans, bottles, glasses and the like thereon. It is especially preferred that the lip 9 includes a surface which is generally horizontal in use.

As is shown more clearly in the cross-sectional view of Figure 3, the receptacle 4 also includes a central, longitudinally extending hollow shaft 10. The functioning of this hollow shaft is described in more detail below.

o* A drain hole which is not illustrated in Figure 1 communicates between the interior of receptacle 4 and the exterior. When the unit is in use with ice in the cavity 8, this drain hole is closed off with the stopper 11.

In the embodiment of the invention which is shown in Figure 1, the intermediate o mounting portion 6 is telescopically adjustable so that the height of the lip 9 above the ground is adjustable.

The upper portion 3 of the unit 1 according to the present embodiment is generally in the form of a conventional umbrella which has a shaft 12 and shade cloth 13. The upper portion 3 also includes a tray 14 which is mounted to the shaft 12 intermediate the lip 9 and the shade cloth 13. It is especially preferred that the tray 14 be generally circular in area with an upstanding edge, and mounted substantially co-axially on the shaft 12.

The foot 7 of the unit 1 includes a central hollow shaft which is not shown in the drawings and which extends through that foot. In use, the hollow shaft of receptacle 4, the shaft of the intermediate mounting portion 6 and the hollow shaft of the foot 7 are coaxially aligned. As is shown in Figure 1, the shaft 12 of the upper portion 3 is mounted within the hollow shaft 10, the mounting portion 6 and the shaft of the foot 7. According to especially preferred forms of the shaft 12, its end remote from the shade cloth 13 is sharpened to penetrate the ground and so stabilise the unit 1.

00831 .A:\290kemp.complete. -6- According to the present embodiment the foot 7 of the unit 1 preferably includes a weight to contribute to the stability of the unit. Similarly, the foot 7 is hollow to form the void 18 for the receipt of weighting material such as water or sand to provide weight to the foot and so contribute to the stability of the unit.

The base portion 2 of the unit 1 that is shown in Figures 2 and 4 is the same as the base portion 2 of Figure 1, except that the hollow shaft 16 of the foot 7 does not extend through the bottom 20 of that foot.

As with the foot ofthe unit of Figure 1, the foot 7 of Figures 2 and 4 includes a weight 17 to contribute to the stability of the unit. Similarly the foot 7 is hollow to form the void 18 for the receipt of weighting material such as water or sand so as to contribute to the o• stability of the unit.

A variation of the embodiment of Figure 1 is illustrated with reference to Figure 5. In the embodiment of Figure 5, the umbrella and tray portion has been replaced with a carrier 21 which has a tray 22 which is mounted on the end of a shaft 23. It is preferred that the tray 22 be generally circular in area with an upstanding edge, and be mounted substantially co-axially on the shaft 23.

The end of the shaft 23 remote from the tray 22 is sharpened to penetrate the ground and so stabilise the unit 1.

In contrast, Figure 6 shows a carrier 21 to be used in conjunction with the embodiment of Figure 2. The end of the shaft 23 of Figure 6 is not sharpened.

Figure 2 also illustrates a stopper 27 which closes an aperture (not illustrated) which communicates between a void 18 in the interior of the foot 7 which receives weighting material as described above.

Figure 7 illustrates yet another embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the foot 28 of the base unit 4 consists of a shaft 30 with a plate 29 mounted transversely at one end of it. The plate 29 has holes through it to provide for the stable fixing of the unit 00831 ,A:\290kemp.complcte.wpd,6 1 to the ground or floor.

Figure 7 also illustrates how a unit 1 according to the present invention may be located protruding through an aperture in the surface of a table 2. In the arrangement which is illustrated in Figure 7, the unit 1 is mounted at the centre of a circular table 32, and adjusted so that the lip at the mouth of the receptacle 4 is mounted flush with the upper surface 33 of the table 32.

Figures 8, 9 and 10 illustrate yet another embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the base portion 35 of the unit 1 includes an open-mouthed receptacle 36 which is mounted in a table 32.

The open-mouthed receptacle 36 has an internal cavity 8 for the receipt of beverages and *ice.

The open mouth of the receptacle 36 is surrounded by a lip 9. The lip 9 supports the receptacle 36 within a counter-sunk aperture in the surface 33 of the table 32, so that the upper surface of the lip 9 is flush with the table surface 33. It is especially preferred that oo the lip 9 includes a surface which is generally horizontal in use.

Figure 11 illustrates a lid 37 which may be used for covering the receptacle 36 when it is not in use.

Although the invention is described and this specification with reference to its purpose as a chilling unit, it will be readily apparent that the invention may be used for receipt or storage of items of beverages and the like without chilling those items, or for warming those items.

00831 \290kemp.complte. wpd.7

Claims

1. A unit for storing items including a bowl-shaped container having an opening capable of receiving the items therethrough to store the items in the container, the bowl-shaped container having a storage shelf located at or close to the opening of the bowl-shaped container for storing or supporting objects thereupon and a base for supporting the bowl-shaped container in use of the unit, wherein the base includes an adjustable stem portion such that the length of the stem portion is adjustable in order to vary the height of the bowl-shaped container.

2. A unit according to claim 1 for cooling or chilling items located in the bowl-shaped container in use of the unit.

3. A unit according to claim 2 for containing ice in the bowl-shaped container to chill or cool the items.

4. A unit according to any preceding claim in which the opening of the bowl-shaped container is an open mouth. 20 5. A unit according to claim 4 in which the storage shelf is located around the rim of the open mouth of the bowl-shaped container. i 6. A unit according to any preceding claim in which the objects being stored upon the storage shelf include glasses, bottles, cans or beverage containers.

7. A unit according to claim 6 in which the storage shelf is sufficiently wide upon which to store the cans, bottles, glasses or beverage containers.

8. A unit according to any preceding claim in which the items include containers of beverages, food or refreshments.

9. A unit according to claim 8 in which the containers of beverages include bottles or cans, including plastic bottles and glass bottles.

10. A unit according to any preceding claim in which hr,1 the bowl-shaped container includes a hollow stem extending S through the container wherein the stem is adapted to \\melb-fies\home\PCarke\Kee\Retypes\55029-00 J Kemp claims.doc 3/09/01 9 receive a shaft therein to facilitate retention of the shaft in the unit.

11. A unit according to claim 10 in which the shaft is the shaft of an umbrella.

12. A unit according to claim 10 or 11 in which the shaft is provided with a tray.

13. A unit according to claim 12 in which the tray is a circular tray having an upstanding edge or flange.

14. A unit according to any one of claims 10 to 13 in which the hollow stem of the container extends co-axially with the central axis of the bowl-shaped container. A unit according to any one of claims 10 to 14 in which the base includes a hollow stem portion extending at least partially through the base wherein the container is mountable to the base such that the hollow stem of the container and the hollow stem of the base are substantially contiguous and coaxial.

16. A unit according to any preceding claim in which the base further includes a chamber for receiving ooo:": 20 weighting material therein to weight and stablise the base.

17. A unit according to claim 16 in which the chamber :i in the base includes an aperture through which the weighting material may be introduced into the chamber and through which the weighting material may be removed from the chamber.

18. A unit according to claim 17 in which the aperture is provided with a closure means. c:o: 19. A unit according to claim 18 in which the closure means is a stopper. A unit according to any preceding claim in which the unit further includes a table having an aperture arranged such that the bowl-shaped container is received in the aperture so that the storage shelf is substantially level with the table surface.

21. A unit according to any preceding claim in which S the bowl-shaped container includes an aperture extending \\melbfiles\home$\PCarke\Keep\Retypes\ 55029-00 J Kemp claims.doc 3/09/01 10 through a wall on the container allowing fluid communication between the interior of the bowl-shaped container and the exterior of the container to drain the container.

22. A unit according to claim 21 in which the aperture is closable with a stopper.

23. A unit according to any preceding claim in which the adjustable stem portion is hollow.

24. A unit according to claim 23 in which the adjustable stem portion is adapted to receive a shaft. A unit according to claim 24 in which the shaft is an umbrella shaft or a support shaft.

26. A unit according to claim 23 or 24 in which the shaft is provided with a tray.

27. A unit according to any one of claims 23 to 26 in which the adjustable hollow stem portion extends between the base and the bowl-shaped container.

28. A unit according to claim 27 in which the hollow stem of the container, the hollow adjustable stem portion 20 and the hollow stem of the base are coaxial with each other.

29. A unit according to any preceding claim in which ;i the base includes a foot portion. A unit according to claim 29 in which the foot portion is provided with a central hollow shaft.

31. A unit according to any preceding claim in which the adjustable stem portion is located between the bowl- shaped container and the foot portion and is coaxial with o ooo the hollow stem of the bowl and the hollow stem of the foot.

32. A unit according to any preceding claim in which the stem portion is telescopically adjustable.

33. A unit according to any preceding claim in which the shelf is fixedly connected to the container.

34. A unit according to any preceding claim in which the shelf is integral with the container. R

35. A unit according to any preceding claim in which \\nelb.files\homeS\pClarke\Keep\Retype\55029-00 J Kemp claims.doc 3/09/01 11 the height of the shelf is adjustable in accordance with the variation in the height of the bowl-shaped container in response to adjustment in the length of the adjustable stem portion.

36. A unit according to any one of claims 26 to 35 in which the tray is circular.

37. A unit according to any one of claims 29 to 36 in which the foot portion is fixedly connected to a substrate.

38. A unit according to claim 37 in which the substrate is the ground, floor or other solid surface.

39. A unit according to any one of claims 30 to 38 in which the foot portion is a plate mounted transversely to the lengthwise extending direction of the stem of the foot portion. A unit according to any preceding claim in which the storage shelf is located in a substantially horizontal orientation. S41. A unit according to any preceding claim further 20 including a lid for closing the open-mouth of the bowl- shaped container when the unit is not in use.

42. A unit according to any one of claims 28 to 41 in :i *which the shaft is received through the hollow stem of the .bowl-shaped container, the hollow adjustable stem portion and the hollow stem of the base to support the shaft in use of the unit.

43. A unit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings. Dated this 3rd day of September 2001 JENNIFER KEMP By their Patent Attorneys GRIFFITH HACK Fellows Institute of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys of Australia \\melb.files\home\Pclarke\Keep\Retypes\55029-00 J Kemp claims.doc 3/09/01