System to hold multiple beverage containers

Abstract

A system for holding multiple beverage containers may include a cooler or carrier with toting handles, closing tabs, and base. The base may be formed from a molded plastic, rubber or synthetic rubber material. The base may also include feet that hold the base a sufficient height from the ground. The base may have a generally conic tapering drain floor that makes up its top surface. The tapering drain floor may make draining the carrier easier by directing water toward a drain hole located in the base. Extending up from the base may be a multi-layer soft-sided wall where different layers perform different desired functions. For example, an inside layer closest to the internal cavity may be a waterproof layer, a middle layer may be an insulating layer, and an external layer may be a decorative layer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system to access a beverage, comprising:
 a hard-sided cooler having a base, a top, a front wall, a back wall, and a first and second side wall, wherein the front wall, the back wall, and the first and second side wall at least partially define an interior portion of the hard-sided cooler;   a formation within the interior portion configured to releasably maintain a rigid beverage container within the interior portion;   a port hole formed through at least one wall of the hard-sided cooler;   a dispensing port located at an exterior surface of the hard-sided cooler;   the rigid beverage container having an opening that may be releasably connected to the dispensing port when the rigid beverage container is releasably maintained within the interior portion; and   a dispensing control mechanism associated with the dispensing port, wherein an activation of the dispensing control mechanism allows a user to dispense a beverage contained within the rigid beverage container through the dispensing port.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the formation comprises a beverage sleeve formed from a four way stretch material. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the formation comprises a molded plastic component within the interior portion. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the top can be in an opened position and a closed position, further wherein the rigid beverage container may be removed from the interior portion when the top is in the opened position. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the port hole is formed through the front wall and the base is generally rectangular in shape. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least two feet molded as part of the base and extending downward from a bottom surface of the base; and   at least one closing mechanism attached to the top.   
     
     
         7 . A system to access a beverage, comprising:
 a cooler having a base, a top, a perimeter wall extending up from the base, wherein the base and the perimeter wall at least partially define an interior portion of the cooler;   a region within the interior portion configured to releasably maintain a removable beverage container in place within the interior portion;   a port hole formed through the perimeter wall of the cooler;   the removable beverage container comprising a circular opening that may be releasably connected to a dispensing port;   the dispensing port configured: (1) to extend through the port hole, (2) to releasably connect to the circular opening of the removable beverage container at a first end of the dispensing port, and (3) to dispense a beverage contained within the removable beverage container from a dispensing end of the dispensing port located outside the interior portion of the cooler; and   a push button dispensing control mechanism for the dispensing port, wherein an activation of the push button dispensing control mechanism allows a user to dispense a beverage contained within the removable beverage container through the dispensing end of the dispensing port.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a second region within the interior portion that is configured to maintain ice; and   a drain located within the second region.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the cooler is a molded plastic, hard-sided cooler. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 7 , further comprising a four way stretch fabric sleeve located within the region and configured to facilitate releasably maintaining the removable beverage container in place. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the port hole is formed through the perimeter wall near the bottom of the region such that releasably connecting the first end of the dispensing port to the circular opening of the removable beverage container facilitates using gravity to dispense the beverage contained within the removable beverage container. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the base is generally rectangular. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the top may be placed in an open position to facilitate removing the removable beverage container. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the removable beverage container is formed from a rigid material. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the removable beverage container is a glass bottle. 
     
     
         16 . A method to access a beverage, comprising:
 placing a rigid, removable beverage container within an interior portion of a cooler;   inserting a first end of a beverage dispensing port, the beverage dispensing port having a push button dispensing control mechanism at a second end, through a port hole formed through a side wall of the cooler such that the second end of the beverage dispensing port remains outside the cooler; and   removably attaching the first end of the beverage dispensing port to a circular hole formed in the rigid, removable beverage container.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein removably attaching the first end of the beverage dispensing port to the circular hole formed in the rigid, removable beverage container utilizes an interference fit attachment. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 removing the first end of the beverage dispensing port from the circular hole formed in the rigid, removable beverage container; and   removing the rigid, removable beverage container from the cooler.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 adding a beverage to the rigid, removable beverage container;   closing a lid of the cooler; and   pressing the push button dispensing control mechanism to dispense the beverage outside the cooler.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising opening the lid of the cooler before placing the rigid, removable beverage container within an interior portion of the cooler.