Method and apparatus for a product cooler

Abstract

A container system allows a user to register a bulk product unit at a predetermined elevation by engaging a stop disposed at a deepest point of an engagement slot. The engagement slot is disposed in a wall of a container containing a chamber having an inlet for receiving a product vessel. The neck of the product unit may be lowered into the slot, thereby moving the product vessel through the inlet of the chamber, and positioning the dispensing valve outside of the container. The first embodiment further comprises a retrofit system for adapting an existing product cooler to contain a saddle to support the neck of a bulk product unit. In a second embodiment, the container system is designed to receive and dispense gravity fed flexible packages, such as bulk wine. In a third embodiment, the container system comprises a product unit that is refillable, sealable, and separable for cleansing.

1 . A container system, comprising:
 a product unit, comprising:
 a product vessel containing a pressurized product; 
 a dispense portion including a dispense point, wherein the product disposed in the product vessel is in fluid communication with the dispense point to regulate a flow therefrom; 
   a container, comprising:
 at least one wall defining a chamber for receiving the product vessel of the product unit, wherein the at least one wall comprises a slot in communication with an inlet of the chamber; 
 a first engagement face disposed on a first side of the slot; 
 a second engagement face disposed on a second side of the slot; and 
 a stop disposed between the first engagement face and the second engagement face, wherein a neck of the product unit slides between the first engagement face and the second engagement face until engaging the stop, thereby placing the product unit in a registered position, and further wherein the product vessel is disposed within the chamber and a dispense point of the product unit is disposed outside of the container in the registered position. 
   
     
     
         2 . The container system according to  claim 1 , wherein a neck width is complementary is size to a width of the slot. 
     
     
         3 . The container system according to  claim 2 , further comprising at least one flange disposed adjacent to the neck to limit axial translation of the neck through the at least one wall. 
     
     
         4 . The container system according to  claim 3 , wherein the pressure in the product vessel moves the product to the dispense point of the product unit when a dispense valve is in an open position. 
     
     
         5 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The container system according to  claim 1 , wherein the stop is complementary in shape to the neck to minimize thermal losses. 
     
     
         11 . The container system according to  claim 2 , wherein the neck is round in shape and the neck width equivalent to the diameter. 
     
     
         12 . The container system according to  claim 1 , wherein the neck includes a first flat and a second flat, and the neck width is equivalent to a distance between the first flat and the second flat. 
     
     
         13 . The container system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plug adaptable to the slot, wherein the plug comprises:
 a body including a first end and a second end: 
 a first groove disposed on the body and extending from the first end to the second end, and 
 a second groove disposed on an opposing side of the body, wherein the second groove extends from the first end to the second end, and further wherein the body slides between the first engagement face and the second engagement face, thereby moving the first engagement face and the second engagement face into the first and second grooves to close out the slot. 
   
     
     
         14 . The container system according to  claim 13 , wherein the first end of the plug is of a shape complementary to the neck of the product unit to minimize thermal losses. 
     
     
         15 . The container system according to  claim 13 , wherein the second end of the plug is complementary in shape to a lid to minimize thermal losses. 
     
     
         16 . The container system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an insulating layer disposed adjacent to the at least one wall to minimize thermal losses.   
     
     
         17 . The container system according to  claim 13 , further comprising a lid adaptable to the inlet of the chamber, wherein the lid closes out the chamber to minimize thermal losses. 
     
     
         18 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The container system according to  claim 1 , wherein the product unit is a bulk beer unit. 
     
     
         22 . The container system according to  claim 1 , wherein the product vessel includes at least one support in alignment with the dispense point. 
     
     
         23 . The container system according to  claim 22 , wherein the at least one support contacts a floor of the chamber when the product unit is in the registered position. 
     
     
         24 . The container system according to  claim 22 , further comprising a load support in communication with the floor of the chamber and the at least one support of the product vessel, whereby the product vessel is level in the registered position. 
     
     
         25 . The container system according to  claim 1 , wherein a distance from the inlet of the chamber to the stop is equivalent to a depth from the top of the product unit to a lowermost portion of a minor diameter of the product unit, thereby ensuring that the product unit is disposed within the chamber. 
     
     
         26 . The container system according to  claim 1 , wherein a distance from the inlet of the chamber to the stop is not equivalent to a depth from the top of the product unit to a lowermost portion of a minor diameter of the product unit. 
     
     
         27 . The container system according to  claim 26 , further comprising a load support in communication with the at least one support of the product vessel and the floor of the chamber, wherein the load support is complementary to a distance between the floor and the supports of the product vessel to support the product unit in a level position when the product unit is in the registered position.