U.S. patent application number 11/955958 was filed with the patent office on 2008-06-19 for apparatus for chilling a beverage container.
Invention is credited to Jeffrey Todd Lewis.
Application Number | 20080141701 11/955958 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39525502 |
Filed Date | 2008-06-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080141701 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lewis; Jeffrey Todd |
June 19, 2008 |
Apparatus For Chilling A Beverage Container
Abstract
An apparatus for chilling a beverage container includes a motor
housing having an electric motor. A receiving member is coupled to
the motor and is rotated when the motor is actuated. A beverage
container may be removably coupled to the receiving member such
that the beverage container may be rotated/spun when the motor is
actuated. The apparatus may also include a base unit that defines a
reservoir configured to receive the beverage container and ice. The
base unit includes a lid that is spring biased toward a closed
configuration. The motor housing with beverage container coupled
thereto may be situated such that the beverage container is
received in the base unit reservoir. Ice may be poured over the
container and the lid moved to apply pressure therebetween.
Activating the motor causes a thermal transfer that melts the ice
as the container spins and the beverage within the container is
chilled.
Inventors: |
Lewis; Jeffrey Todd;
(Transfer, PA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HARSHAW RESEARCH, INC.
210 W. TECUMSEH STREET
OTTAWA
KS
66067
US
|
Family ID: |
39525502 |
Appl. No.: |
11/955958 |
Filed: |
December 13, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60870017 |
Dec 14, 2006 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
62/381 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D 2400/28 20130101;
F25D 2331/805 20130101; F25D 2303/081 20130101; F25D 3/08 20130101;
F25D 31/007 20130101; F25D 2303/0841 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
62/381 |
International
Class: |
F25D 31/00 20060101
F25D031/00; F25D 3/08 20060101 F25D003/08 |
Claims
1. An apparatus for use in chilling a beverage container,
comprises: a motor housing having first and second ends and having
an outer shell that defines an interior area, said first end
defining an opening and said second end being closed; an electric
motor positioned in said interior area of said housing; a power
source positioned in said interior area and electrically connected
to said motor; a receiving member positioned in said opening of
said motor housing first end and operatively coupled to said motor
such that said receiving member rotates when said motor is
actuated; and wherein said receiving member is configured to
receive and removably hold the beverage container.
2. The apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said motor housing includes
means adjacent said first end opening for preventing water from
entering into said interior area of said motor housing.
3. The apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising a button on said
housing outer shell in electrical communication with said motor for
selectively actuating said motor.
4. The apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising a flange
connected to said outer shell and extending outwardly.
5. The apparatus as in claim 4 wherein said flange has a first
flange end adjacent to said first end of said outer shell, said
flange having a generally convex configuration.
6. The apparatus as in claim 4 wherein said flange is a handle by
which a user may hold said motor housing.
7. The apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising: a base unit
having a pair of opposed side walls, a bottom wall, a rear wall,
and a front wall, said side, front, and rear walls defining an open
top and an interior reservoir in communication with said open top;
a lid operatively coupled to said rear wall and movable between
open and closed configurations; and wherein said reservoir is
configured to receive the beverage container connected to said
receiving member of said motor housing.
8. The apparatus as in claim 7 wherein said lid is coupled to said
rear wall of said housing with a spring hinge and normally biased
toward said closed configuration.
9. The apparatus as in claim 7, wherein said front wall of said
base unit defines a cavity having a configuration complementary to
a configuration of a portion of said flange such that said cavity
may selectively receive said flange when said motor housing is
positioned relative to said reservoir such that the beverage
container is received into said reservoir.
10. The apparatus as in claim 7 wherein at least one of said side
walls or said bottom wall defines a channel configured to direct
water toward a lower portion of said interior reservoir.
11. The apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said power source is a
rechargeable battery.
12. An apparatus for chilling a beverage container, comprising: a
handheld unit comprising: a motor housing having first and second
ends and having an outer shell that defines an interior area, said
first end defining an opening and said second end being closed; an
electric motor positioned in said interior area of said housing; a
receiving member positioned in said opening of said motor housing
first end and operatively coupled to said motor such that said
receiving member rotates when said motor is actuated; and wherein
said receiving member is configured to receive and removably hold
the beverage container. a base unit comprising: a pair of opposed
side walls, a bottom wall, a rear wall, and a front wall, said
side, front, and rear walls defining an open top and an interior
reservoir in communication with said open top; a lid operatively
coupled to said rear wall and movable between open and closed
configurations; and wherein said reservoir is configured to receive
the beverage container coupled to said receiving member of said
motor housing.
13. The apparatus as in claim 12, wherein said motor housing
includes means adjacent said first end opening for preventing water
from entering into said interior area of said motor housing.
14. The apparatus as in claim 12 further comprising a button on
said housing outer shell in electrical communication with said
motor for selectively actuating said motor.
15. The apparatus as in claim 12 further comprising a flange
connected to said outer shell and extending outwardly.
16. The apparatus as in claim 15, wherein said front wall of said
base unit defines a cavity having a configuration complementary to
a configuration of a portion of said flange such that said cavity
may selectively receive said flange when said motor housing is
positioned relative to said reservoir such that the beverage
container is received into said reservoir.
17. The apparatus as in claim 12 wherein said lid is coupled to
said rear wall of said housing with a spring hinge and normally
biased toward said closed configuration.
18. The apparatus as in claim 12 wherein at least one of said side
walls or said bottom wall defines a channel configured to direct
water toward a lower portion of said reservoir.
19. The apparatus as in claim 12 further comprising: a battery
positioned in said interior area of said motor housing and
electrically connected to said motor; and a button electrically
connected to said motor for selectively actuating said motor.
20. An apparatus for chilling a beverage container, comprising: a
handheld unit comprising: a motor housing having first and second
ends and having an outer shell that defines an interior area, said
first end defining an opening and said second end being closed; an
electric motor positioned in said interior area of said housing; a
power source positioned in said interior area and electrically
connected to said motor; a receiving member positioned in said
opening of said motor housing first end and operatively coupled to
said motor such that said receiving member rotates when said motor
is actuated; and wherein said receiving member is configured to
receive and removably hold a respective beverage container. a base
unit comprising: a pair of opposed side walls, a bottom wall, a
rear wall, and a front wall, said side, front, and rear walls
defining an open top and an interior reservoir in communication
with said open top; a flange attached to said outer shell and
extending outwardly. a lid operatively coupled to said rear wall
and movable between open and closed configurations; and wherein
said reservoir is configured to receive said respective beverage
container connected to said receiving member of said motor housing.
Description
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of provisional patent
application 60/870,017 filed Dec. 14, 2006 entitled "Appliance That
Quickly Chills Beverages Without Diluting In Ice."
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates generally to beverage cooling devices
and, more particularly, to an apparatus for chilling a beverage
container by spinning the container against a reservoir of ice and
applying a relative degree of pressure between the container and
the ice.
[0003] Beverage containers, such as cans of soda, beer, and the
like are often transported to the location where they will be
consumed, such as a picnic, sporting event, or the like. It is not
always possible to deposit all of the cans into an ice chest prior
to the time of the activity and, therefore, the containers still
need to be chilled at a later time prior to consumption.
Frequently, a person may simply fill an ice chest with ice just
prior to the activity and then deposit all of the beverage
containers into the chest. The reality of this procedure, however,
is that it may take an undesirable length of time for the cans to
become sufficiently chilled.
[0004] Therefore, it would be desirable to have an apparatus for
chilling beverage containers that enables individual beverage
containers to be chilled in about one minute through an expedited
thermal transfer between the ice and the beverage container.
Further, it would be desirable to have an apparatus for chilling
beverage containers in which a handheld unit spins a beverage
container in contact with ice with pressure applied
therebetween.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] Accordingly, an apparatus for chilling a beverage container
includes a motor housing having an electric motor positioned within
an interior area defined by an outer shell. A receiving member is
coupled to the motor and is rotated when the motor is actuated. A
beverage container may be removably coupled to the receiving member
such that the beverage container may be rotated/spun when the motor
is actuated. The apparatus may also include a base unit that
defines a reservoir configured to receive the beverage container
and ice. The base unit also includes a lid that is spring biased
toward a closed configuration. The motor housing with beverage
container coupled thereto may be situated such that the beverage
container is received in the base unit reservoir. Ice may be poured
over the container and the lid may be moved to apply pressure
therebetween. Activating the motor causes a thermal transfer that
melts the ice as the container spins and the beverage within the
container is rapidly chilled. Water from the melted ice may be
emptied from the reservoir, the beverage container may be
de-coupled from the receiving member, and the chilled beverage may
be enjoyed.
[0006] Therefore, a general object of this invention is to provide
an apparatus for chilling a beverage container.
[0007] Another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus,
as aforesaid, having a motor housing to which a beverage container
may be attached and spun in contact with a reservoir of ice.
[0008] Still another object of this invention is to provide an
apparatus, as aforesaid, having a motor housing that is waterproof
and that may be able to be immersed in ice.
[0009] Yet another object of this invention is to provide an
apparatus, as aforesaid, in which the motor housing includes a
flange that prevents the outer shell from rotating while the
receiving member is rotating.
[0010] A further object of this invention is to provide an
apparatus, as aforesaid, having a base unit the defines a reservoir
configured to receive the beverage container coupled to the motor
housing as well as a quantity of ice.
[0011] A still further object of this invention is to provide an
apparatus, as aforesaid, in which the base unit include a lid
biased to assert pressure between the ice and container within the
reservoir for a rapid and efficient thermal transfer
therebetween.
[0012] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent from the following description taken in connection
with the accompanying drawings, wherein is set forth by way of
illustration and example, embodiments of this invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus for chilling
beverages according to a preferred embodiment of the present
invention;
[0014] FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the apparatus as in
FIG. 1 with the base unit lid in an open configuration;
[0015] FIG. 3 is another perspective view of the apparatus as in
FIG. 2 taken from another angle and with the motor housing removed
from the base unit;
[0016] FIG. 4a is an end perspective view of the motor housing
prior to receiving a beverage container;
[0017] FIG. 4b is another view of the motor housing as in FIG. 4a
coupled to the beverage container;
[0018] FIG. 5a is a top view of the motor housing as in FIG.
4b;
[0019] FIG. 5b is a sectional view taken along line 5b-5b of FIG.
5a;
[0020] FIG. 6a is a side view of the apparatus as in FIG. 1;
and
[0021] FIG. 6b is a sectional view taken along line 6b-6b of FIG.
6a.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0022] An apparatus for chilling a beverage container according to
the present invention will now be described in detail with
reference to FIGS. 1 to 6b of the accompanying drawings. The
apparatus may be utilized directly with a traditional ice chest or
with a base unit that provides its own ice reservoir, as will be
described in greater detail below.
[0023] More particularly, the apparatus 10 for chilling a beverage
container 8 includes a motor housing 12 having an outer shell 14
that is constructed of a durable material such as a hard plastic or
metal although other suitable materials may also be used. The motor
housing 12 may also be referred to herein as a handheld unit. The
outer shell 14 preferably includes a cylindrical configuration. The
motor housing includes first 16 and second 18 ends. The outer shell
14 defines an interior area 20. The first end 16 of the motor
housing 12 defines an opening 17 in communication with the interior
area 20 whereas the second end 18 is closed (FIG. 5b).
[0024] An electric motor 24 is positioned within the interior area
20 of the motor housing 12 and includes a rod 26 that extends
therefrom in the direction of the opening of the first end 16 (FIG.
5b). The rod 26 rotates axially when the motor 24 is actuated. A
battery 28 may also be situated in the interior area 20 and
electrically coupled to the motor 24 for providing current to the
motor 24 when it is actuated. Although a battery is the preferred
power source, the motor 24 may alternatively be configured for
connection to a traditional AC power source for home use or a DC
power source for use in or in the proximity of an automobile.
[0025] A receiving member 30 is situated in the opening defined by
the first end 16 of the motor housing 12 and is operatively coupled
to the motor 24. More particularly, the receiving member 30
includes a receiving member rear wall 32 that is connected to the
rod 26 extending from the electric motor 24 such that the receiving
member 30 will rotate/spin when the motor is actuated. A continuous
side wall 34 having a generally cylindrical configuration suitable
for receiving an end of a beverage container 8 extends from the
receiving member rear wall 32 (FIGS. 4a to 5b). The receiving
member 30 is configured, therefore, to removably receive and hold a
beverage can in a friction fit arrangement. Preferably, the
receiving member 30 is positioned within the interior area 20
adjacent the opening 17 and includes a configuration complementary
to that of the outer shell 14 such that the receiving member 30 is
slightly recessed from the opening itself. The receiving member 30
also presents a diameter slightly smaller than that of the outer
shell 14 such that it may rotate without contact with the outer
shell 14 (FIG. 4a). An on/off button 36 is mounted on the outer
shell 14 of the motor housing 12 at or adjacent to the second end
18, the button 36 being electrically connected to the motor 24 for
selectively actuating the motor 24.
[0026] A flange 38 is attached to the outer shell 14 and extends
outwardly therefrom (FIGS. 4a, 4b, 5b). Preferably, the flange 38
presents a convex configuration so that the motor housing 12 is
prevented from rolling even if laid down on a flat surface, say, an
ice chest, as will be further described below. The flange 38 may be
configured as a handle and used for carrying or positioning the
motor housing 12 in use.
[0027] It should also be appreciated that the interior area is
waterproof. More particularly, an interior wall 22 separates the
receiving member 30 from the interior area (FIG. 5b) such that ice
and water encountered by the receiving member 30 is prevented from
entering into contact with the electric motor 24 and battery power
source 28.
[0028] Further, the apparatus 10 for chilling a beverage container
8 may include a base unit 40. The base unit 40 may also be referred
to herein as a holder. More particularly, the base unit 40 includes
a pair of opposed base unit side walls 42, a bottom wall 43
interconnecting the base unit side walls 42, a base unit rear wall
44, and a base unit front wall 46. The side, front, and rear walls
define an open top 53 and an interior reservoir 54 configured to
receive ice therein. The base unit 40 includes a lid 50, one end of
which is pivotally connected to the base unit rear wall 44 for
relative movement between open (FIG. 2) and closed (FIG. 1)
configurations. Preferably, the lid 50 is coupled to the rear wall
44 with a spring hinge 52 such that it is normally biased toward
the closed configuration. Alternatively, the lid 50 may be weighted
to apply pressure toward the closed configuration.
[0029] The front wall 46 of the base unit 40 defines a cavity 48
having a configuration that is complementary to a configuration of
a portion the motor housing flange 38. The cavity 48, therefore, is
configured to selectively receive a portion of the flange 38
therein. More particularly, when the flange 38 is engaged with the
cavity 48 and a beverage container 8 is coupled to the receiving
member 30, the beverage container 8 is received into the interior
reservoir 54 (FIG. 2). The reservoir 54 may then be loaded with ice
such that the beverage container 8 is in contact with the ice (not
shown). The lid 50 may then be allowed to move toward the closed
configuration, thereby exerting pressure on the beverage can
against the ice (FIG. 1). At least one of the side walls 42 or the
bottom wall 43 of the base unit define a channel 56 configured to
direct water from melted ice into a lower portion 56 of the
reservoir (FIG. 3). It is understood that the lower portion 56 is
suitable for storing water while the base unit 40 is in use and may
be easily emptied by pouring the icy water out of the open top.
[0030] In use, a beverage container 8, such as a soda pop can, may
be inserted into the receiving member 30 of the motor housing 12
where it may be held in a friction fit engagement (FIGS. 4a and
4b). The motor housing 12, also referred to as a handheld unit, may
then be guided by a user such that the beverage container 8 is
placed in contact with or even submerged into a collection of ice,
such as an ice chest or even snow. The on/off button 36 may then be
activated so as to actuate the motor 24 to spin the receiving
member 30 and beverage container 8. The entire handheld unit 40 may
be deposited into the ice chest and allowed to operate for a period
of time without the user maintaining a grip on it. This may be
preferred so as to avoid having to place one's hand into or in
close proximity to the ice. As the can spins, there will be a
thermal transfer that causes the ice to melt and that chills the
beverage within the container. The flange 38 that extends from the
outer shell 14 of the motor housing 12 prevents the entire housing
from spinning, but rather holds the housing steady as the receiving
member 30 and beverage container 8 rotate.
[0031] Preferably, the handheld unit 12 may be used with the base
unit/holder 40. The motor housing 12 with a beverage container 8
coupled thereto may be positioned such that the beverage container
8 is received into the reservoir 54. Ice may be poured into the
reservoir 54 atop the beverage container 8 and the lid 50 allowed
to assert pressure between the ice and container (FIG. 1). The
motor 24 may then be actuated such that the thermal transfer takes
place as described above and the beverage container 8 is chilled in
about one minute. As the ice melts, the water is directed by the
internal channel(s) 58 to the lower portion 56 of the reservoir 54
where is may be emptied later. The chilled beverage container 8 may
then be removed from the motor housing 12 and consumed. Chilling a
beverage container 8 using the base unit 40 is faster and more
efficient than using the handheld unit 12 by itself in that the lid
50 may apply pressure between the ice and the beverage container 8,
thus speeding the thermal transfer.
[0032] It is understood that while certain forms of this invention
have been illustrated and described, it is not limited thereto
except insofar as such limitations are included in the following
claims and allowable functional equivalents thereof.
* * * * *