Refrigeration – Cooled enclosure – Portable receptacle
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-04
2001-08-07
Buiz, Michael Powell (Department: 3744)
Refrigeration
Cooled enclosure
Portable receptacle
C062S003620, C062S238200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06269653
ABSTRACT:
This application claims priority benefit of Republic of Croatia patent application No. P980612A (filed Dec. 2, 1998).
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates generally to portable devices designed to cool or refrigerate containerized beverages and is particularly directed to such devices having an integral refrigeration apparatus.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is well known that for refrigeration of beverages, especially in bars and restaurants, specifically designed vessels, such as ice buckets, are used into which a bottle or some other container of beverage is placed and surrounded with ice cubes in order to chill it to a desirable temperature for consumption. Such a vessel is customarily held on a table or in the vicinity of a table near consumers in hotel rooms, cruise ships, restaurants or the like. Obviously, if the vessel is left alone for a period of time inside a warm room or in ambient conditions, the ice gradually melts allowing the containerized beverage (a wine bottle for example) to warm to an undesirable temperature. Accordingly, it periodically becomes necessary for new ice to be added to the container.
One problem associated with the above-described prior art chilling system is that bottles or other containers, when removed from the chilling vessel, tend to be covered with moisture. This moisture may, when a customer or waiter pours a drink, dribble onto a tablecloth or onto the guests being served. This moisture also frequently causes a label, on a wine bottle for example, to become torn, loosened, or wrinkled resulting in a less pleasing presentation to a consumer.
Other prior art beverage chilling systems use beverage cooling containers adapted to receive multiple-use chilling packs which need to be frozen before usage. Such multiple-use chilling pack systems are disadvantageous in situations where it is impossible or impractical to have a steady supply of frozen chilling packs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to overcome the above-described limitations and disadvantages in the portable refrigeration unit prior art.
Additional objects, advantages and other novel features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description that follows and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned with the practice of the invention as described and claimed herein.
To achieve the foregoing and other objects, and in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, an improved portable device for refrigerating containerized beverages is provided that includes an integral beverage cooling apparatus. The device of the present invention includes a receptacle adapted to receive containerized beverages (e.g. wine bottles or soft drink cans). The device further includes an integral beverage cooling apparatus, preferably disposed below the beverage receptacle. The beverage receptacle preferably includes one or more handles for ease of transport. The beverage receptacle is in communication with the cooling apparatus through a grid of ventilation apertures.
The internal surface of the beverage receptacle preferably includes a thin ribbed non-corrosive material which carries a holder for the beverage containers. Between the outer layer of the beverage receptacle and the inner ribbed layer, a plurality of pipes are provided that circulate the cooling medium. The device may be equipped with any suitable prior art cooling apparatus to circulate the cooling medium through the walls of the beverage receptacle.
Still other objects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in this art from the following description and drawing wherein there is described and shown a preferred embodiment of the invention. As will be realized, the invention is capable of other different embodiments, and its several details are capable of modification in various, obvious aspects all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions will be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.
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patent: 5181393 (1993-01-01), Lott
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http://www.chilla.co.uk/product-vinchilla.html.
Buiz Michael Powell
Frost Brown Todd LLC
Jones Melvin
LandOfFree
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