Apparatus For Chilling A Beverage Container

Abstract

An apparatus for chilling a beverage container includes a motor housing having an electric motor. A receiving member is coupled to the motor and is rotated when the motor is actuated. A beverage container may be removably coupled to the receiving member such that the beverage container may be rotated/spun when the motor is actuated. The apparatus may also include a base unit that defines a reservoir configured to receive the beverage container and ice. The base unit includes a lid that is spring biased toward a closed configuration. The motor housing with beverage container coupled thereto may be situated such that the beverage container is received in the base unit reservoir. Ice may be poured over the container and the lid moved to apply pressure therebetween. Activating the motor causes a thermal transfer that melts the ice as the container spins and the beverage within the container is chilled.

1 . An apparatus for use in chilling a beverage container, comprises:
 a motor housing having first and second ends and having an outer shell that defines an interior area, said first end defining an opening and said second end being closed;   an electric motor positioned in said interior area of said housing;   a power source positioned in said interior area and electrically connected to said motor;   a receiving member positioned in said opening of said motor housing first end and operatively coupled to said motor such that said receiving member rotates when said motor is actuated; and   wherein said receiving member is configured to receive and removably hold the beverage container.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus as in  claim 1  wherein said motor housing includes means adjacent said first end opening for preventing water from entering into said interior area of said motor housing. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus as in  claim 1  further comprising a button on said housing outer shell in electrical communication with said motor for selectively actuating said motor. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus as in  claim 1  further comprising a flange connected to said outer shell and extending outwardly. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus as in  claim 4  wherein said flange has a first flange end adjacent to said first end of said outer shell, said flange having a generally convex configuration. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus as in  claim 4  wherein said flange is a handle by which a user may hold said motor housing. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus as in  claim 1  further comprising:
 a base unit having a pair of opposed side walls, a bottom wall, a rear wall, and a front wall, said side, front, and rear walls defining an open top and an interior reservoir in communication with said open top;   a lid operatively coupled to said rear wall and movable between open and closed configurations; and   wherein said reservoir is configured to receive the beverage container connected to said receiving member of said motor housing.   
   
   
       8 . The apparatus as in  claim 7  wherein said lid is coupled to said rear wall of said housing with a spring hinge and normally biased toward said closed configuration. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus as in  claim 7 , wherein said front wall of said base unit defines a cavity having a configuration complementary to a configuration of a portion of said flange such that said cavity may selectively receive said flange when said motor housing is positioned relative to said reservoir such that the beverage container is received into said reservoir. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus as in  claim 7  wherein at least one of said side walls or said bottom wall defines a channel configured to direct water toward a lower portion of said interior reservoir. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus as in  claim 1  wherein said power source is a rechargeable battery. 
   
   
       12 . An apparatus for chilling a beverage container, comprising:
 a handheld unit comprising:
 a motor housing having first and second ends and having an outer shell that defines an interior area, said first end defining an opening and said second end being closed; 
 an electric motor positioned in said interior area of said housing; 
 a receiving member positioned in said opening of said motor housing first end and operatively coupled to said motor such that said receiving member rotates when said motor is actuated; and 
 wherein said receiving member is configured to receive and removably hold the beverage container. 
   a base unit comprising:
 a pair of opposed side walls, a bottom wall, a rear wall, and a front wall, said side, front, and rear walls defining an open top and an interior reservoir in communication with said open top; 
 a lid operatively coupled to said rear wall and movable between open and closed configurations; and 
 wherein said reservoir is configured to receive the beverage container coupled to said receiving member of said motor housing. 
   
   
   
       13 . The apparatus as in  claim 12 , wherein said motor housing includes means adjacent said first end opening for preventing water from entering into said interior area of said motor housing. 
   
   
       14 . The apparatus as in  claim 12  further comprising a button on said housing outer shell in electrical communication with said motor for selectively actuating said motor. 
   
   
       15 . The apparatus as in  claim 12  further comprising a flange connected to said outer shell and extending outwardly. 
   
   
       16 . The apparatus as in  claim 15 , wherein said front wall of said base unit defines a cavity having a configuration complementary to a configuration of a portion of said flange such that said cavity may selectively receive said flange when said motor housing is positioned relative to said reservoir such that the beverage container is received into said reservoir. 
   
   
       17 . The apparatus as in  claim 12  wherein said lid is coupled to said rear wall of said housing with a spring hinge and normally biased toward said closed configuration. 
   
   
       18 . The apparatus as in  claim 12  wherein at least one of said side walls or said bottom wall defines a channel configured to direct water toward a lower portion of said reservoir. 
   
   
       19 . The apparatus as in  claim 12  further comprising:
 a battery positioned in said interior area of said motor housing and electrically connected to said motor; and   a button electrically connected to said motor for selectively actuating said motor.   
   
   
       20 . An apparatus for chilling a beverage container, comprising:
 a handheld unit comprising:
 a motor housing having first and second ends and having an outer shell that defines an interior area, said first end defining an opening and said second end being closed; 
 an electric motor positioned in said interior area of said housing; 
 a power source positioned in said interior area and electrically connected to said motor; 
 a receiving member positioned in said opening of said motor housing first end and operatively coupled to said motor such that said receiving member rotates when said motor is actuated; and 
 wherein said receiving member is configured to receive and removably hold a respective beverage container. 
   a base unit comprising:
 a pair of opposed side walls, a bottom wall, a rear wall, and a front wall, said side, front, and rear walls defining an open top and an interior reservoir in communication with said open top; 
 a flange attached to said outer shell and extending outwardly. 
 a lid operatively coupled to said rear wall and movable between open and closed configurations; and 
 wherein said reservoir is configured to receive said respective beverage container connected to said receiving member of said motor housing.