Cooling device for cooling beverages

Abstract

A cooling device for cooling a fluid includes first and second bodies each having a first end, a second end, a longitudinal axis, an inner face, an outer face, and two side faces connecting the inner and outer faces. When the first and second bodies are assembled together with the respective inner faces facing one another, the inner faces together define a cylindrical chamber with a cylinder axis that extends parallel to the longitudinal axes, with the cylindrical chamber having a first radius and extending substantially entirely around the cylinder axis in a circumferential direction, for receiving a container with a cylindrical portion having the first radius. Each of the first and second bodies is solid and is formed using a material or alloy with a thermal conductivity of at least 75 Wm −1 K −1 when at zero degrees Fahrenheit that extends substantially uniformly throughout substantially the entire body.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cooling device for cooling a fluid, the cooling device comprising:
 a first body having a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal axis extending between the first and second ends, the first body comprising an inner face, an outer face, and two side faces connecting the inner and outer faces, wherein the inner face, the outer face, and the side faces extend from the first end to the second end;   a second body having a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal axis extending between the first and second ends, the second body comprising an inner face, an outer face, and two side faces connecting the inner and outer faces, wherein the inner face, the outer face, and the side faces extend from the first end to the second end;   wherein when the first and second bodies are assembled together with the respective inner faces facing one another and the respective longitudinal axes being parallel to one another, a chamber is formed between the inner faces that extends parallel to the longitudinal axes for receiving a container for the fluid; and   wherein each of the first and second bodies is solid and comprises a material or alloy with a thermal conductivity of at least 75 Wm −1 K −1  when at zero degrees Fahrenheit that extends substantially uniformly throughout substantially the entire body.   
     
     
         2 . The cooling device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first or second bodies comprises a projection configured to engage a recess on the other one of the first or second bodies to restrict relative movement between the first and second bodies. 
     
     
         3 . The cooling device of  claim 1 , wherein the inner face of each of the first and second bodies is configured to define half of the chamber. 
     
     
         4 . The cooling device of  claim 1 , wherein the chamber is open at at least one of the first ends of the first and second bodies or the second ends of the first and second bodies. 
     
     
         5 . The cooling device of  claim 1 , wherein the chamber has a constant cross-section over substantially an entire length of the cooling device. 
     
     
         6 . The cooling device of  claim 1 , wherein for at least one of the first body or the second body, a minimum distance between a recess defining the chamber and one of the side faces is at least a minimum distance between the recess and the outer faces. 
     
     
         7 . The cooling device of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second bodies are permanently connected to one another. 
     
     
         8 . The cooling device of  claim 7 , wherein the connection is a hinged connection.