Counter beverage cooling system

Abstract

An above or below surface-mounted beverage cooler and cooling system having at least one beverage holder wrapped in a cooling coil and insulated by a jacket (or any other suitable insulating product) for keeping or cooling a beverage. The cooling coil connects by piping to a condensing unit, which when operated is capable of bringing the insulated beverage holder to a desired temperature. A beverage container, such as a glass, mug, bottle or can, seated within the beverage holder is thereby cooled or at least maintained at a desired temperature. Possible installations range from small systems for home and private use to large systems for public facilities, such as restaurants, bars, banquet halls, etc. The cooling systems can be customized, pre-fabricated, provided as a DIY kit, or designed as a portable stand-alone system with multiple possible configurations.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A beverage cooling system for installation in a horizontal surface, the cooling system comprising:
 a beverage holder having a sidewall defining a cavity and mounted to the horizontal surface in a manner which provides for placement of a container within the cavity;   a cooling coil in a heat exchanging contact with the sidewall of the beverage holder;   an insulator enclosing at least a portion of the cooling coil and the beverage holder to form a drink site; and   a direct expansion refrigeration condensing unit including piping connected to and from the cooling coil to provide a continuous flow of cooling fluid to the coil.   
     
     
         2 . The cooling system of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of drink sites connected to one another in series. 
     
     
         3 . The cooling system of  claim 1 , wherein the beverage holder sidewall comprises a channel to accommodate a handled container. 
     
     
         4 . The cooling system of  claim 1 , wherein the beverage holder comprises a bottom surface and the bottom surface comprises a drain opening to eliminate water from the cavity. 
     
     
         5 . The cooling system of  claim 1 , wherein the beverage holder is mounted above the horizontal surface and extends substantially below the surface. 
     
     
         6 . The cooling system of  claim 3 , wherein the beverage holder is mounted above the horizontal surface and extends substantially above the surface. 
     
     
         7 . The cooling system of  claim 1 , wherein the beverage holder is mounted below the horizontal surface and extends substantially below the surface. 
     
     
         8 . The cooling system of  claim 1 , further comprising a DC power source. 
     
     
         9 . The cooling system of  claim 8 , wherein the DC power source comprises rechargeable batteries. 
     
     
         10 . The cooling system of  claim 9 , wherein the DC power source comprises solar-power cells. 
     
     
         11 . A beverage cooling system for installation in a horizontal surface, the beverage cooling system comprising:
 an enclosed tub having sidewalls, a bottom surface and a top surface defining a cavity, the top surface having at least one opening therein;   a beverage holder having a sidewall defining a cavity and mounted to the top surface of the tub in a manner which provides for placement of a container within the cavity;   a cooling coil in a heat exchanging contact with the sidewall of the beverage holder;   an insulator enclosing at least a portion of the cooling coil and the beverage holder to form a drink site; and   a direct expansion refrigeration condensing unit including piping connected to and from the cooling coil to provide a continuous flow of cooling fluid to the coil;   wherein the enclosed tub is configured to be set into an opening in a horizontal surface and connected to the refrigeration condensing unit.   
     
     
         12 . The beverage cooling system of  claim 11 , wherein the enclosed tub includes a drain opening on the bottom surface. 
     
     
         13 . The beverage cooling system of  claim 11 , further comprising a plurality of drink sites connected to one another in series. 
     
     
         14 . The beverage cooling system of  claim 11 , wherein the beverage holder sidewall comprises a channel to accommodate a handled container. 
     
     
         15 . The beverage cooling system of  claim 11 , further comprising a DC power source. 
     
     
         16 . A self-contained beverage cooling system comprising:
 a structure having a horizontal top surface and a body section;   a plurality of drink sites, each site comprising:
 a beverage holder having a sidewall defining a cavity and mounted to the top surface of the structure in a manner which provides for placement of a container within the cavity; 
 a cooling coil in a heat exchanging contact with the sidewall of the beverage holder; 
 an insulator enclosing at least a portion of the cooling coil and the beverage holder; 
   a direct expansion refrigeration condensing unit positioned within the body section of the structure, wherein the drink sites are connected serially to one another and the condensing unit includes piping connected to and from a first and last cooling coil to provide a continuous flow of cooling fluid to the coils; and   a power source electrically coupled to the condensing unit.   
     
     
         17 . The self-contained beverage cooling system of  claim 16 , wherein each drink site comprises a drain opening to remove water from the cavity. 
     
     
         18 . The self-contained beverage cooling system of  claim 16 , wherein at least one of the beverage holder sidewalls comprises a channel to accommodate a handled container. 
     
     
         19 . The self-contained beverage cooling system of  claim 16 , wherein the power source comprises a DC power source.