Cooler for use with a beverage keg

Abstract

A cooler is provided and includes a housing having a sidewall portion defining an open compartment of a size larger than a beverage keg. The housing also having a wall portion defining a partially opened base member configured to support the compartment and provide a seat for at least a portion of the beverage keg. The base member includes an opening configured to receive a spout operatively associated with the beverage keg. A sealing member is configured to provide a substantially fluid tight seal between at least a portion of the beverage keg and the base member. An anti-lift plug is operatively associated with the housing and is adapted to releasably couple to the spout of the beverage keg and contact a portion of the opening of the base member such that the beverage keg is prevented from floating during dispensing of a beverage contained within the beverage keg.

1 . A cooler adapted for use with a beverage keg, the cooler comprising:
 a housing having a sidewall portion defining an open compartment of a size larger than the beverage keg to provide space for ice around the beverage keg within the compartment, the housing also having a wall portion defining a partially opened rigid base member configured to support the compartment and provide a seat for at least a portion of the beverage keg, the rigid base member including an opening configured to receive a spout operatively associated with the beverage keg;   a sealing member configured to provide a substantially fluid tight seal between at least a portion of the beverage keg and the rigid base member when the beverage keg is positioned in the compartment of the housing and seated on the rigid base member; and   an anti-lift plug operatively associated with the housing, the anti-lift plug adapted to releasably couple to the spout of the beverage keg and contact a portion of the opening of the rigid base member such that the beverage keg is prevented from floating as the ice melts and as a beverage contained in beverage keg becomes progressively depleted during dispensing thereof.   
     
     
         2 . A cooler according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a removable cover for closing the top of the housing to enclose the beverage keg in the compartment. 
     
     
         3 . A cooler according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a pair of handles operatively coupled thereto. 
     
     
         4 . A cooler according to  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the housing is insulated. 
     
     
         5 . A cooler according to  claim 4 , wherein the at least a portion of the housing that is insulated is the compartment. 
     
     
         6 . A cooler according to  claim 1 , further comprising a housing plug configured to removably attach to the opening of the rigid base member and provide a substantially fluid tight seal thereto when the spout of the beverage keg is not received therein. 
     
     
         7 . A cooler according to  claim 1 , wherein the sealing member is operatively connected to the housing between the rigid base member and the compartment. 
     
     
         8 . A cooler according to  claim 1 , wherein the sealing member includes a lip that extends radially inwardly and along an inner periphery of at least one of the compartment and the rigid base member. 
     
     
         9 . A cooler according to  claim 1 , wherein the sealing member is slidably coupled to the sidewall of the housing via a detent and track configuration. 
     
     
         10 . A keg cooler adapted for use with a beverage keg, the keg cooler comprising:
 a housing having a sidewall portion defining an open compartment of a size larger than the beverage keg to provide space for ice around the keg within the compartment, the housing also having a wall portion defining a partially opened base member configured to support the compartment and provide a seat for at least a portion of the beverage keg, the rigid base member including an opening configured to receive a spout operatively associated with the beverage keg;   a sealing member configured to provide a seal between at least a portion of the beverage keg and the rigid base member when the beverage keg is positioned in the compartment of the housing and seated on the rigid base member; and   an anti-lift plug operatively associated with the housing, the anti-lift plug configured to removably connect to the spout of the beverage keg and the rigid base member such that the beverage keg is prevented from floating during the dispensing of a beverage contained within the beverage keg.   
     
     
         11 . A keg cooler according to  claim 10 , wherein the housing includes a removable cover for closing the top of the housing to enclose the beverage keg in the compartment. 
     
     
         12 . A keg cooler according to  claim 10 , wherein the housing includes a pair of handles operatively coupled thereto. 
     
     
         13 . A keg cooler according to  claim 10 , wherein at least a portion of the housing is insulated. 
     
     
         14 . A keg cooler according to  claim 13 , wherein the at least a portion of the housing that is insulated is the compartment. 
     
     
         15 . A keg cooler according to  claim 10 , further comprising a housing plug configured to removably attach to the opening of the rigid base member and provide a substantially fluid tight seal thereto when the spout of the beverage keg is not received therein. 
     
     
         16 . A keg cooler according to  claim 10 , wherein the sealing member is operatively connected to the housing between the rigid base member and the compartment. 
     
     
         17 . A keg cooler according to  claim 10 , wherein the sealing member includes a lip that extends radially inwardly and along an inner periphery of at least one of the compartment and the rigid base member. 
     
     
         18 . A keg cooler according to  claim 10 , wherein the sealing member is slidably coupled to the sidewall of the housing via a detent and track configuration. 
     
     
         19 . A cooler assembly adapted for use with a beverage keg, the cooler assembly comprising:
 a housing defining an open compartment configured to receive the beverage keg therein and to provide a space for ice around the beverage keg, the housing having a wall portion defining a partially opened rigid base member configured to support the compartment and provide a seat for at least a portion of the beverage keg, the rigid base member including an opening configured to receive a spout operatively associated with the beverage keg;   a sealing member configured to provide a substantially fluid tight seal between at least a portion of the beverage keg and the rigid base member when the beverage keg is positioned in the compartment of the housing and seated on the rigid base member; and   an anti-lift plug adapted to releasably couple to the spout of the beverage keg, the anti-lift plug in operable communication with the housing such that the beverage keg is prevented from floating as the ice melts and as a beverage contained in beverage keg becomes progressively depleted during dispensing thereof.