Beverage cooler

Abstract

The beverage cooler includes a vessel for a coolant such as ice water or a conventional refrigerant such as glycol or Freon. A coil is mounted in the interior of the vessel and has an inlet through which a beverage from an external source, separate and apart from the cooler enters the coil. A drain located above the coil carries off excess coolant. A tap at the outlet of the coil controls the flow of the beverage from the coil.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A beverage cooler comprising: a vessel for a coolant; a cooling tube disposed within said vessel and through which a beverage to be cooled is adapted to flow, a drain for carrying off excess coolant above said cooling tube; and a tap in liquid-flow communication with said tube from which beverage discharges from said cooler.  
     
     
         2 . A beverage cooler comprising: a vessel for a coolant; a cooling tube disposed entirely within said vessel and through which a beverage to be cooled is adapted to flow, said cooling tube having an outlet and an inlet through which the beverage flows; a drain disposed at a point at which a substantial portion of beverage within said cooling tube is below said drain for carrying off excess coolant from said vessel; and a tap in liquid-flow communication with said outlet from which beverage discharges.  
     
     
         3 . The beverage cooler of  claim 2  further including an external container, separate and apart from said cooler from which said beverage flows to said cooling tube.  
     
     
         4 . The beverage cooler of  claim 3  wherein said vessel is arranged and constructed such that the only beverage within said beverage cooler is within said cooling tube.  
     
     
         5 . The beverage cooler as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said cooling tube is in the form of a coil.  
     
     
         6 . The beverage cooler as claimed in  claim 5  wherein said vessel has an outer wall which defines a space for said coolant, said coil being spaced apart from said outer wall.  
     
     
         7 . The beverage cooler of  claim 1  wherein said coolant consisting of ice and water.  
     
     
         8 . The beverage cooler of  claim 7  further including means, separate and apart from said cooler, for forming said ice.  
     
     
         9 . The beverage cooler of  claim 1  wherein said coolant is selected from the group consisting of: glycol, Freon and a combination of glycol and Freon.  
     
     
         10 . The beverage cooler of  claim 1  wherein said coolant is selected from the group consisting of: glycol, Freon and a combination of glycol and Freon and wherein said coolant is sealed from the atmosphere  
     
     
         11 . The beverage cooler of  claim 1  wherein said coolant is selected from the group consisting of: glycol, Freon and a combination of glycol and Freon and wherein said coolant is open to the atmosphere  
     
     
         12 . The beverage cooler of  claim 1  further including a drip tray onto which said discharged beverage is adapted to fall, said drip tray having a discharge conduit through which beverage discharged onto said drip tray is adapted to flow.  
     
     
         13 . The beverage cooler of  claim 12  wherein said drip tray is removably disposed upon said vessel, access being had to the interior of said vessel upon removal of said drip tray.  
     
     
         14 . The beverage cooler of  claim 1  wherein said drain has an opening adapted to be disposed at the upper level of liquid coolant within said vessel.  
     
     
         15 . A beverage cooler of  claim 1  wherein said vessel has a cylindrical inner surface disposed about an upstanding longitudinal axis and is adapted to hold said coolant; said drain being upstanding and being disposed concentrically about said longitudinal axis, said drain further having an opening adapted to be disposed at an upper level of coolant within said vessel; said cooling tube being in the form of a coil disposed concentrically about said longitudinal axis and being spaced apart from said inner surface, said coil further having an inlet and an outlet, said tap being in liquid-flow communication with said outlet, said beverage cooler further including a drip tray onto which said discharged beverage is adapted to fall; and a discharge conduit extending downwardly from said drip tray through which beverage discharged onto said drip tray is adapted to flow, said discharge conduit extending through said opening and into said drain such that beverage discharged onto said drip tray flows into said drain.