The present invention relates to beverage coolers. In particular, it relates to portable beverage coolers.

Portable insulated containers are well known and are used for transporting food, drink and other items at a temperature lower than that of the containers surroundings. They are often used when picknicking and help to maintain the freshness of the items stored therein. The container typically takes the form of a box or chest with a removable lid to facilitate the insertion or removal of items. Fabric bags are also known.

Conveniently, a removable coolable pack or block (cool block), or several such packs or blocks, are used to cool and maintain the chilled environment within the cooler. Conventional coolable blocks typically comprise a sealed plastics container filled with a coolable fluid such as ethylene glycol, water, etc. Prior to use, the blocks are placed inside a freezer and chilled, preferably frozen. The cooled blocks are subsequently placed into the insulated container to cool and maintain the contents of the container at a lower temperature than ambient for a period of time. However, such arrangements largely work by cooling the air around the food or containers of drinks to be chilled, rather than by cooling the products themselves. Accordingly, cooling is not instantaneous and the contents should preferably be pre-chilled. This is a particular problem with beverages due to the large volumes to be cooled and comparatively small surface area of the container. Considerable forethought on the part of the user is required. Chilling drinks just prior to drinking could overcome this problem. For example a bag of ice would be carried in the cooler and ice added directly to drinks prior to serving. An obvious problem with this approach would be in the cooling of drinks such as beer and wine where, as the ice melts, it will have an undesirable diluting effect. Coolable blocks of the type described above, but sized and shaped to resemble ice cubes have been proposed. However, these are considered unattractive and unconventional additions to a glass of wine and particularly beer.

FR2549587 describes a drink-cooling apparatus consisting of a body containing a eutectic composition. This is transversed from top to bottom by a helical tube which forms a long path through the body of the apparatus having an opening in the upper surface of the body, to receive drink to be cooled, and an opening, in the lower surface of the body and regulated by a tap, from which to dispense the said drink. However, due to the closed nature of this system, cleaning and maintenance, especially in an outdoor environment where suitable facilities may be unavailable, would be problematic. The problems would be exacerbated if it was desired to chill different drinks for different users (beer, wine, spirits and soft-drinks etc.). Such an apparatus is therefore rather inconvenient for use on a picnic.

Accordingly, there is a need for a convenient method of cooling beverages. In particular, there is a need to provide a cooler convenient for use during outdoor activities such as picnics and camping trips.

According to the present invention there is provided a beverage-cooling apparatus comprising a coolable body having a beverage-flow channel, said channel having an inlet and an outlet; characterised in that the beverage-flow channel is formed substantially across an external surface of the coolable body.

In one embodiment, the beverage-flow channel includes a snaked, raked or convoluted pathway.

In an alternative embodiment, the beverage-flow channel includes a helical pathway.

Further alternative embodiments include combinations of formations of beverage- flow channels.

In one modification, the beverage-flow channel comprises a plurality of flow channels. Suitably, the channels diverge and/or converge. Optionally, the channels interweave or criss-cross the surface of the apparatus.

In certain embodiments, as required, the apparatus further includes a support means to support the apparatus at an incline suitable to provide a desired flow-rate through the beverage-flow channel.

Suitably, the support means is in the form of a flap, frame, support or stand. The support means may be hingedly attached to the underside of the apparatus or at a side or edge of the apparatus. Alternatively, the support means may be in the form of one or more legs or pegs, suitably detachably mountable in the underside of the apparatus. Suitably, the outlet of the apparatus further comprises a spout. The spout aids flow into a cup, glass or other such beverage-receiving receptacle. The spout may be formed integrally with the apparatus. Alternatively, the spout may be demountable.

Preferably, the inlet of the beverage-flow channel comprises a drink receiving receptacle or reservoir.

Optionally, the inlet of the beverage-flow channel is adapted to accept a funnel. Suitably, the funnel outlet is adjustable to control the flow rate into the beverage-flow channel. Alternatively, the position of the funnel outlet relative to the beverage-flow channel can be adjusted to control the flow-rate of a liquid from the funnel into the beverage-flow channel.

The above and other aspects of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a beverage cooler in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a beverage cooler in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a beverage cooler in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 4 is a plan view of the embodiment of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a side view of the embodiment of Figure 3; and

Figure 6 is a perspective part-view of a modification to the outlet of the embodiment of Figure 1 provided with a slot to accept a demountable spout.

Referring to Figure 1, there is illustrated an embodiment of a beverage cooler 10 having a cooler body 11 of generally rectangular form. Cooler body 11 is typically injection moulded from a plastics material and has a cavity containing a chillable fluid of the type conventionally used in 'cool blocks' of the types described above. Alternative materials can be used for the construction of the cooler 10. For example, the cooler body 11 may be formed from marble or granite, or moulded from compositions comprising a resin admixed with a powdered marble or other stone. Alternatively, the cooler body may be formed of a metal, such as silver, gold or other material having the desired finish, such as a polished surface or satin finish.

The cooler body 11 has a channel defining a beverage-flow path 12 formed in an upper surface 13 thereof. In the embodiment shown, beverage-flow path 12 has a beverage-receiving receptacle or reservoir 14 and beverage outlet 15 at opposite ends thereof.

Beverage-flow path 12 typically traces a snaked pathway across the surface of the cooler body 11 in order to increase the area and thus duration of thermal contact between beverage and cooler. In some embodiments, advantageous for promotional use, the path may be configured to depict the name of the manufacturer or of a sponsor. In the alternative embodiment shown in Figure 2, beverage-flow path 12 is defined by a plurality of channels diverging from a single reservoir 14. As shown, these channels extend across the surface of the cooler and then converge upstream of the outlet or spout 15. In other embodiments (not shown), the channels may diverge and converge a number of times in an interwoven fashion as chosen to create a desired aesthetic effect.

As desired, a support means 20 may be provided to allow the cooler to rest with its upper surface 13 in an inclined orientation, selected to facilitate the flow of a beverage through the beverage-flow channel 12 at a rate suitable for cooling by means of gravity, without the need for the user to hold the apparatus. In the embodiments shown in Figures 1 and 2, the support means is in the form of a stand 20 hingedly mounted on the under-surface of the cooler towards the reservoir end thereof.

In a third embodiment, shown in Figures 3-5, beverage-flow path is defined by a helical channel 12 extending from a central reservoir 14. As shown, the arrangement provides a gradient between reservoir 14 and outlet or spout 15, to provide a desired flow-rate of beverage through the apparatus.

In a modification of this embodiment (not shown), the helical channel spirals inwards from an outer edge of the apparatus towards a substantially central outlet. This variation would be particularly advantageous in that it can rest on top of the drinking vessel into which the beverage is being poured. In a modification illustrated in Figure 6, the drink delivery spout is demountable, being attachable to an end of modified block 21 by means of a slot 22 into which a corresponding spigot of a spout element 23 may be inserted.

Alternative arrangements will be apparent to one skilled in the art. For example, the outlet may include a bore through the body of the block emerging at one end/side thereof. The helical arrangement of the beverage-flow channel of the embodiment of Figures 3 to 5 may have a non-circular form, such as oval, square, rectangle, triangle or a random arrangement or suitably adapted motif. A suitably adapted tube may be used to aid dispensing of the beverage into a suitable drinking vessel. Further, the inlet of the beverage-flow channel may be adapted to accept a funnel to aid pouring into the channel. The outlet of the funnel may be adjustable (for example, by means of a valve) to control the flow rate of a liquid from the funnel into the beverage-flow channel. Alternatively, the position of the funnel outlet relative to the beverage-flow channel could be adjusted to control the flow rate of a liquid into the beverage-flow channel.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a beverage to be chilled is poured into reservoir 14 located within a depression on the surface of a cool block 13 and is allowed to flow at a regulated rate along beverage-flow channel 12 by inclining the cool block 10 at a suitable angle 24 to a flat surface such as a table on which the apparatus is placed. The beverage is then dispensed from outlet 15 into a glass 30, jug or other vessel.

With the embodiment of Figures 3-5 flow rate is regulated by the natural gradient inherent in the helical channel 12 of the block. The apparatus will be particularly useful at picnics and in instances where a cooler is used. When not used specifically for chilling beverages, the block can perform the function of a conventional cooler block.