Apparatus for displaying and chilling a beverage

Abstract

Apparatus for displaying a chilled container in which the container is received in an internal cavity in which the container is in thermal contact with a cradle which is in turn in thermal contact with at least one thermoelectric cooling element while the container remains visible through a window in a front wall of the internal cavity.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . Apparatus for chilling a container and a fluid in the container, the apparatus comprising:
 an enclosure comprising a top element with structure defining and a front window; and   an internal module configured to be at least partially received within the enclosure, the internal module comprising
 a thermally conductive cradle which when inserted into the enclosure defines with the enclosure an internal cavity dimensioned to receive the container, and 
 at least one thermoelectric cooling element in thermal communication with the thermally conductive cradle. 
   
     
     
         2 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the enclosure comprises a rigid insulating shell. 
     
     
         3 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 2  wherein further comprising a metallic skin on a surface of the rigid insulating shell defining a bottom of the internal cavity. 
     
     
         4 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 3  wherein the surface is sloped so that a container in the internal cavity leans away from the window and against the thermally conductive cradle. 
     
     
         5 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the top element comprises structure defining an aperture dimensioned to permit insertion of the container into the internal cavity. 
     
     
         6 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 5  wherein the top element comprises structure such that at least one edge of the aperture is angled to guide a container when the container is being inserted into the internal cavity. 
     
     
         7 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the window is dimensioned and positioned to permit viewing of at least a portion of the container when the container is in the internal cavity. 
     
     
         8 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the thermally conductive cradle comprises extruded aluminum. 
     
     
         9 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the thermally conductive cradle comprises extruded aluminum with a nonstick coating. 
     
     
         10 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 9  wherein the nonstick coating comprises PTFE. 
     
     
         11 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the rigid shell comprises expanded polypropylene. 
     
     
         12 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 11  wherein the expanded polypropylene has a surface with a metallic skin. 
     
     
         13 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising a sensor arranged to measure a parameter of the apparatus. 
     
     
         14 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 13  wherein the parameter is a temperature of a hot side of the at least one thermoelectric cooling element. 
     
     
         15 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 13  wherein the parameter is a temperature of a hot side of the at least one thermoelectric cooling element. 
     
     
         16 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 13  wherein the parameter is a temperature of a the internal cavity. 
     
     
         17 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 13  further comprising a wireless communication module arranged to receive a value of the parameter and for generating a wireless signal indicative of the value. 
     
     
         18 . Apparatus for chilling a container and a fluid in the container, the apparatus comprising:
 an enclosure comprising a top element with structure defining and a front window;   a thermally conductive cradle configured to be positioned in the enclosure and at least partially defining an internal cavity dimensioned to receive the container, and   at least one thermoelectric cooling element in thermal communication with the thermally conductive cradle.   
     
     
         19 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 18  wherein the enclosure comprises a rigid insulating shell with a metallic skin. 
     
     
         20 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 19  wherein a surface of the rigid insulating shell defines a bottom of the internal cavity. 
     
     
         21 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 20  wherein the surface is sloped so that a container in the internal cavity leans away from the window and against the thermally conductive cradle. 
     
     
         22 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 18  wherein the top element comprises structure defining an aperture dimensioned to permit insertion of the container into the internal cavity. 
     
     
         23 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 22  wherein the top element comprises structure such that at least one edge of the aperture is angled to guide a container when the container is being inserted into the internal cavity. 
     
     
         24 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 18  wherein the window is dimensioned and positioned to permit viewing of at least a portion of the container when the container is in the internal cavity. 
     
     
         25 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 18  wherein the thermally conductive cradle comprises extruded aluminum. 
     
     
         26 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 18  wherein the rigid shell comprises expanded polypropylene. 
     
     
         27 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 26  wherein the expanded polypropylene has a surface with a closed surface structure. 
     
     
         28 . Apparatus for chilling controlling a temperature of a container and a fluid in the container, the apparatus comprising:
 a top;   a base;   first side wall extending between the top and the base;   a front wall extending between the top and the base and laterally adjoining the first side wall at substantially a right angle;   a third side wall extending between the top and the base and laterally adjoining the front wall at substantially a right angle;   a back wall extending between the top and the base and laterally adjoining the first side wall at substantially a right angle and the second side wall at substantially a right angle;   the first and second side walls, the front wall, and the back wall together defining a parallelepiped with an internal cavity dimensioned to receive the container;   the top comprising structure defining an aperture dimensioned to permit insertion of the container into the cavity and the front wall including a window dimensioned and positioned to permit viewing of at least a portion of the container when the container is in the cavity; and   at least one cooling element arranged in the enclosure and in thermal communication with the cavity.