Beverage Cooler

Abstract

The application discloses a seamless, corrugated paper container having a top opening larger than its base and therefore capable of being nested with like containers. There is disposed therein a keg, bottle or the like of beverage desirably maintained in a cool state. The container may be coated with a moisture proof plastic and a coolant, such as ice, is disposed between the keg and the inner wall structure of the container. The latter is provided with a breakable aperture portion to receive a spigot assembly which communicates with the interior of the keg. The container also has a weakened area to receive, if desired, a drain hose, such area being below the expected water level of the container when the ice is substantially melted. Alternatively, the container is usable as an ice bucket in which case the weakened portions are not broken through.

Description

The application relates to containers and, in particular, to containers having as their principal function to provide a device for storing a coolant and a st substance to be maintained in a partially refrigerated state.

According to the present invention there is provided a paper container sufficiently capacious as to house a small beer keg presently available in chain stores and the lie like which is in heat exchange contact with a coolant material such as ordinary ice. The container provides a breakthrough perforated area in its sidewall so as to support a spigot in communication with the keg and, if desired, a second breakthrough aperture to which may be secured a drain hose sufficiently hear the bottom thereof to drain off substantial amounts of water expected to accumulate as the ice melts. The container is seamless and coated so as to be leak proof and its top is larger than its bottom portions for nesting purposes.

One object of e the invention is to provide a leak proof container, coolant and beverage holder in combination which is capable of drawing off beverage as desired and at the same time permitting a drain-off of the coolant.

A second object of the invention is to provide a container as above described which is capable of alternative usage as an ordinary ice bucket.

Other objects and advantages of the invention may be appreciated on reading the following description of one of its embodiments which is taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a paper blank which is formed into the seamless container according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective vie w of the container; and

FIG. 3 is an elevation in section showing the container and keg assembly.

Referring to the drawings the container 1 is formed of a corrugated paper 2. The sides 3, 4, 5 and 6, are formed on bottom fold lines a, b, c, and d, respectively, defining a base 9. In each case the corners are made by bringing together fold lines b and f by folding triangular corner pieces 7 and 8 on fold line g. The folded corner members thus formed are held in position by top edge sealers 10 and a seamless container is thus produced.

Weakened apertured portions 20 and 21 are provided in the paper 2 as shown in FIG. 2 in the formed container. Within the completed container 22 is a keg 23 of beverage, such as beer. A spigot 24 communicates with the keg through aperture 20a in the container, said aperture having been formed by punching out the portion 20 in the corrugated paper. Similarly a second aperture 21a is formed in the container by removing the weakened portion 21 so as to receive a drain-off hose 25. A space is provided between the keg 23 and the container to receive ice the melt o of which is allowed to drain through the hose 25 having a flared end 25a when the combination is thus used. The draw drain hose 25 in its aperture from the interior of the formed container preferably by employing a tapered dowel 26 on the outer end for the purposes of forming the aperture to proper size for a watertight fit of the hose therein. So that the apertured 21 can be located on the inside of the container, it can be punctured from the outside, as by the dowel, prior to insertion of the hose interiorly.

Alternatively, if it is desired to use the container as an ordinary ice bucket, the weakened portions 20 and 21 remain as originally formed in the paper. The buckets can be nested due to their truncated design.

Various modifications of the invention may be effected by persons skilled in the art without departing form the scope and principle thereof as defined in the following claims.

Claims

I claim:

1. A paper blank out of which is formed container for cooling other liquid beverage or other liquid having fold lines defining an intermediate square area in said blank to constitute the base of the container, a set of three fold lines from the center of said blank extending to each corner of the bland blank, said container thus being fashioned with seamless corners and a pair of weakened circular areas formed in said blank proximate one of the base forming fold lines with one of the weakened circular areas being nearer said base forming fold line than the other, whereby said container to be formed may be used optionally as a conventional ice bucket or a device for cooling a beverage keg with the beverage being drawn off through one of said circular areas formed into an aperture and the melted coolant therefor being drawn off through the other circular area having been similarly apertured.