Background of the Invention Beverage coolers are widely used in such places as bars, restaurants and offices. Such coolers commonly consist of a receptacle for a beverage and refrigerating means which is oper- ated by electricity or natural gas. The coolers are generally quite heavy because of the weight of the refrigerating means and the beverage receptacle and for that reason are not portable. They are also, of course, not suitable for use where there is not a source of power such as on a patio, be- side a swimming pool or in the out-of-doors.

We have invented a cooler which is self-sufficient so that it can be used where there is no source of power. The cooler is portable because it is compact and is relatively light of weight.

Lightness is achieved by the elimination of the conventional refrigerating machinery and by the elimination of a receptacle for a beverage.

According to one embodiment of the invention cooling is carried out by ice which is add- ed as needed but is removed when the cooler is being transported. The beverage which the cooler refrigerates remains is its original container and is only within the cooler when it is actually being refrigerated. Only a relatively small quantity of beverage is refrigerated at a time and such quan- tity adds relatively little to the overall weight of the cooler If, for example, the beverage is beer, the beer remains in its keg until it is ready for consumption. At that time, the keg is connected to the cooler and the beer flows through the cooler to a tap. As the beer flows through the cooler it is refrigerated but should the flow be interrupted, relatively little beer remains in the cooler and such beer adds relatively little to the overall weight of the cooler.

Summary of the Invention Briefly the beverage cooler of our invention comprises: a vessel for a coolant; a cooling tube extending through the coolant and through which beverage is adapted to flow, the tube hav- ing an inlet through which beverage from an external source separate and apart from the cooler enters the tube; and a tap in liquid-flow communication with an outlet of the tube through which beverage discharge from the cooler.

Description of the Drawings The beverage cooler of our invention is described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an elevation of the cooler, partly cut away to show the interior of the various components; Figure 2 is a plan view of a second embodiment of the cooler; Figure 3 is an elevation of the second embodiment, illustrated schematically ; and Figures 4 and 5 are elevations of a third embodiment of the cooler illustrated schematically.

Like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the description of the drawings.

Description of the Preferred Embodiments With reference to Figure 1, the beverage cooler of the invention, generally 10, includes a vessel 12 and a hose 14. The hose extends vertically upwardly from the vessel and terminates at a tap 16. Handle 17 opens and closes the tap in the usual manner.

The vessel has a cylindrical inner wall 18 disposed about a vertical longitudinal axis 20- 20. The vessel contains a refrigerant which, in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1 is ice cubes floating in water.

A cooling tube 32 wound into a coil is mounted within the vessel. The coil is disposed concentrically about axis 20-20. A beverage to be cooled by the ice flows through an inlet (not illustrated) at the lower end 34 of the coil, through the coil where it is cooled by the ice and exits from an outlet 36 at the upper end of the coil. The outlet is connected to the lower end of hose 14 while the upper end of the hose is connected to tap 16.

Beverage which discharges from the tap flows downward into a receptacle (not illust- rated) on a drip tray 40. The drip tray is seated on top of the vessel and is, in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1, removable so that fresh ice and water can be added to the vessel from the top.

Overflow from the receptacle flows onto the drip tray and from there flows into a drain 42 disposed centrally of the tray. The drain extends into a conduit 44 which is disposed concent- rically about axis 20-20. The conduit extends downwardly through the vessel and through an opening 46 in the bottom wall 48 of the vessel where the overflow is disposed of.

In operation, the drip tray is removed to gain access to the interior of the vessel. Ice cubes are then added until their level reaches line 50. Water is then added to raise the level of ice to line 54. Aperture 52 in conduit 44 is provided to drain excess water should the vessel be over-filled.

A beverage is then introduced into the inlet of the coil. Since the vessel is substantially full of ice, cooling of the beverage will begin as soon as it enters the coil at the bottom of the vessel. The coil is composed of conducting material such as stainless steel, copper or a heat- conducting polymer and the wall of the vessel is insulated to minimize the inward transfer of heat from outside the vessel. The cooled beverage then flows upwardly through hose 14 and dis- charges from the tap when it is opened by handle 17. The beverage flows into a tumbler or other like container which is seated on the drip tray.

Should the tumbler be overfilled, the excess beverage will spill onto the drip tray and exit downwardly through drain 42 and into conduit 44 where it exits from the vessel.

With reference to Figures 2 and 3, cooler, generally 60, is mounted on a keg 62 of beer.

When handle 63 is opened, beer flows through the tube to coil 66 where it is cooled by ice in the interior of the vessel. The coils are spaced concentrically inward of the interior wall 70 of the vessel so that the coils are surrounded by the coolant. A conduit 72 serves to drain excess water from the vessel.

Beer flows from the coil to a tap 74 which is at the side of the vessel. In the embodiment illustrated, there is no drip tray. Excess beer from the tap discharges outside the cooler; there is no provision for directing it to a drain within the cooler.

With reference to Figure 4, cooling of the refrigerant occurs outside the vessel. The re- frigerant can be a conventional coolant such as glycol, Freon or even water and can be gaseous or liquid depending on its temperature of condensation. The refrigerant is cooled by conventional means which is not part of this invention. The refrigerant is introduced under pressure through a nozzle 80 at the bottom wall of vessel 82.

The contents of the vessel of Figure 4 are sealed from the atmosphere. The refrigerant fills the space within the vessel and a conduit 84 is provided for draining off excess refrigerant.

Since the conduit carries only refrigerant, the excess can be recycled to the apparatus for further cooling of the refrigerant.

The top of drip tray 86 is sealed so that no refrigerant can escape from the top of the ves- sel. A coil 88 is provided for the beverage. The beverage flows from the coil to a tap (not illust- rated). Excess beverage on the drip tray flows to a drain 92 at the side of the tray.

The cooler of Figure 5 is the same as that illustrated in Figure 4 except that the contents of the vessel are not sealed from the atmosphere. Drip tray 88 can be removed to gain access to the contents of the vessel and the drip tray can be provided with a drain at its side such as at 92 to remove excess beverage on the drip tray.

It will be understood of course that modifications can be made in the beverage cooler described and illustrated herein without departing from the scope and purview of the invention as defined in the appended claims.