Beverage Cooling Apparatus

Abstract

A beverage cooling apparatus for imparting coldness to beverage containers includes a base having a planar configuration and having a pair of side walls extending upwardly from ends of the base. The apparatus includes a guide member that includes first and second end portions and defining a plurality of apertures spaced apart from one another between the first and second end portions thereof that are configured to selectively receive and suspend the plurality of beverage containers, respectively. The first and second end portions of the guide member are coupled to upper ends of the side walls of the cooling member, respectively. The cooling member includes a temperature transfer material that transfers hot or cold heat energy to beverage containers suspended in apertures, respectively, such that they touch or are in proximity to the cooling member. The cooling member is separable from the guide member and re-frozen for later use.

1 . A beverage cooling apparatus for imparting coldness to a plurality of beverage containers, comprising:
 a cooling member that includes an elongate base having a generally planar configuration defining a first linear axis and having a pair of side walls extending upwardly from opposed ends of said base, respectively;   a guide member that includes first and second end portions having an elongate and planar configuration, said guide member defining a plurality of apertures spaced apart from one another between said first and second end portions thereof that are configured to selectively receive the plurality of beverage containers therethrough, respectively;   wherein said first and second end portions of said guide member are coupled to upper ends of said side walls of said cooling member, respectively;   wherein said cooling member includes a temperature transfer material that transfers hot or cold heat energy the plurality of beverage containers received in said plurality of apertures, respectively.   
     
     
         2 . The beverage cooling apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein said base of said cooling member includes an upper surface defining a plurality of recesses aligned with said plurality of apertures when said guide member is coupled to said side walls of said cooling member. 
     
     
         3 . The beverage cooling apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said side walls include upper ends each having a free, truncated configuration;   said guide member has a lower surface defining first and second notches proximate said first and second end portions thereof, said first and second notches having a configuration that selectively receives said upper ends of said side walls, respectively.   
     
     
         4 . The beverage cooling apparatus as in  claim 3 , wherein said guide member includes first and second handles extending outwardly from said first and second end portions, respectively. 
     
     
         5 . The beverage cooling apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein said guide member defines a second linear axis extending between said first and second end portions, said second linear axis being parallel to said first linear axis when said guide member is coupled to said cooling member. 
     
     
         6 . The beverage cooling apparatus as in  claim 5 , wherein:
 said first and second handles are situated in said second linear axis of said guide member;   said first and second handles extend outwardly of said side walls of said cooling member.   
     
     
         7 . The beverage cooling apparatus as in  claim 1 , further comprising at least one locking fastener selectively coupled to at least one side wall of said cooling member, said at least one locking fastener blocking removal of said guide member from said cooling member when said guide member is first coupled to said cooling member prior to said at least one locking fastener being coupled to said respective side wall. 
     
     
         8 . The beverage cooling apparatus as in  claim 7 , further comprising:
 at least one anchor fastener mounted to a side edge of at least one side wall of said cooling member;   wherein said at least one locking fastener includes a top wall and a pair of end walls depending downwardly from opposed ends of said top wall, each end wall defining an opening for selectively engaging said at least one anchor fastener.   
     
     
         9 . The beverage cooling apparatus as in  claim 8 , wherein:
 said at least one locking fastener is a pair of locking fasteners selectively coupled to said first and second side wall of said cooling member, respectively;   said at least one anchor fastener is a pair of anchor fasteners mounted to said side edges of each said side wall of said cooling member.   
     
     
         10 . The beverage cooling apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein temperature transfer material is refreezable gel pack. 
     
     
         11 . A beverage cooling apparatus for imparting coldness to a plurality of beverage containers, comprising:
 a cooling member that includes an elongate base having a generally planar configuration defining a first linear axis and having a pair of side walls extending upwardly from opposed ends of said base, respectively;   a guide member that includes first and second end portions having an elongate and planar configuration defining a second linear axis, said guide member defining a plurality of apertures spaced apart from one another between said first and second end portions thereof that are configured to selectively receive and suspend the plurality of beverage containers therethrough, respectively;   wherein said first and second end portions of said guide member are releasably coupled to upper ends of said side walls of said cooling member, respectively, said second axis being parallel to said first axis when said guide member is coupled to said cooling apparatus;   wherein said cooling member includes a temperature transfer material that transfers hot or cold heat energy to the plurality of beverage containers received in said plurality of apertures, respectively.   
     
     
         12 . The beverage cooling apparatus as in  claim 11 , wherein said base of said cooling member includes an upper surface defining a plurality of recesses aligned with said plurality of apertures when said guide member is coupled to said side walls of said cooling member. 
     
     
         13 . The beverage cooling apparatus as in  claim 11 , wherein:
 said side walls include upper ends each having a free, truncated configuration;   said guide member has a lower surface defining first and second notches proximate said first and second end portions thereof, said first and second notches having a configuration that selectively receives said upper ends of said side walls, respectively.   
     
     
         14 . The beverage cooling apparatus as in  claim 13 , wherein said guide member includes first and second handles extending outwardly from said first and second end portions, respectively. 
     
     
         15 . The beverage cooling apparatus as in  claim 11 , further comprising at least one locking fastener selectively coupled to at least one side wall of said cooling member, said at least one locking fastener preventing removal of said guide member from said cooling member when said guide member is first coupled to said cooling member prior to said at least one locking fastener being coupled to said respective side wall. 
     
     
         16 . The beverage cooling apparatus as in  claim 15 , further comprising:
 at least one anchor fastener mounted to a side edge of at least one side wall of said cooling member;   wherein said at least one locking fastener includes a top wall and a pair of end walls depending downwardly from opposed ends of said top wall, each end wall defining an opening for selectively engaging said at least one anchor fastener.   
     
     
         17 . The beverage cooling apparatus as in  claim 16 , wherein:
 said at least one locking fastener is a pair of locking fasteners selectively coupled to said first and second side wall of said cooling member, respectively;   said at least one anchor fastener is a pair of anchor fasteners mounted to said side edges of each said side wall of said cooling member.   
     
     
         18 . The beverage cooling apparatus as in  claim 11 , wherein temperature transfer material is refreezable gel pack. 
     
     
         19 . The beverage cooling apparatus as in  claim 11 , wherein said temperature transfer material is taken from a group comprising corn syrup, liquid soap, rubbing alcohol, salt and water mixture, and refrigerant gel.