US1954370A - Beverage cooling device - Google Patents

Description

April 10,

B. SOLOMON BEVERAGE COOLING DEVICE Filed May l5, 1935 INVENTOR forrzlf. M10/0172022 ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 1o, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT@ OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to a beverage cooling device, and has for its primary object and purpose to provide a device of simple and durable construction which can be readily applied to the open top of a pitcher or like container for maintaining a beverage contained therein at a desirably low temperature, as beer, water or other contents.

It is also another important object of the invention to provide a cooling device for the above `purpose having a detachable holder in which water may be frozen and converted into ice in the freezing chamber of a conventional automatic refrigerator, thus obviatng the necessity of cracking or breaking ice cubes or blocks into small particles to be placed in the said holder.

` It is also a further object of the invention in one embodiment thereof to provide a support for the ice holder having means which will enable the same to be easily and securely applied to orremoved from connection with pitchers vor other containers of different diameters.

With the above and other objects `in view, the invention consists in the improved beverage coolingdevice, and in the form, construction and relative arrangement of its several parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and subsequently incorporated in the subjoined claims.

i In the drawing wherein `I have disclosed several simple and practical embodiments'of the device, and in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a side elevation showing one form of my present invention as applied to a pitcher or other beverage containing vessel;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a similar section showing a slightly modified form of the device;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical section illustrating another alternative embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a plurality of ice-holding tubes connected with a cornmon supporting plate; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional View through the freezing chamber of an automatic refrigerator showing the tube carrying plate mounted therein.

Fig. 'l is a sectional view of another embodiment; and

Fig. 8 is a sectional View of a part of another.

Referring in detail to the drawing and for the present more particularly to Figs. l and 2 thereof, a pitcher 5 of conventional form such as is used in the serving of beer or other beverages, has the usual outwardly turned pouring mouth 6 at its upper open end.

, My improved cooling device in one form there- 00 of embodies the metal disc or plate 7 of larger diameter than the open end of the pitcher. This plate is formed at its underside in spaced relation to its periphery with spaced annular flanges indicated at 8 and 9 respectively between which 05 the upper edge and body wall of the pitcher is adapted to be received. The outer flange 8 is cut away at one side of the disc or plate as shown at 10 where said disc overlies the pouring mouth p v 6 of the pitcher. 70

The disc or plate 7 is also further provided on the underside thereof and concentric with its axis with an internally threaded boss 11.

The ice holder consists of a thin walled tube 12, preferably somewhat conical in form, and it may be of other forms or shapes, said tube being of such length as to extend downwardly for the greater part of the depth of the pitcher 5 and terminating slightly above the bottom of the pitcher when said tube is connected with the plate 7. For this purpose, the wall of the tube 12 at its upper open end is externally threaded as at 13 for engagement with the internal threads of the boss l1. Of course, it will be understood that ice may be supplied to the tube l2 in any desired form, and when said tube, together with the plate 7, is applied to the pitcher 5, the said tube extending downwardly into the beverage, the latter will thereby be kept at the desired low temperature for an indefinite period of time. The plate 7 being comparatively heavy, and the flanges 8 and 9 engaging closely against opposite'surfaces of the wall of the pitcher, the beverage may be poured freely from the mouth of the pitcher without displacement of the cooling device from its applied position.

In Fig. 3 of the drawing, I illustrate a slightly different construction in which a sheet metal cover 14 is provided of annular concave-con- Vex form having an upstanding flange 15 at its inner edge, and a downwardly extending flange 16 at its outer edge which is adapted to resiliently grip the outer surface of the wall of the pitcher 5, said flange being also cut away as indicated at 1'?, where the cover overlies the mouth 6 of the pitcher.

A sheet metal cap member 18 is adapted to be 4frictionally telescoped upon the flange 15. 'l'no end wall of this cap internally thereof is centrally provided with an internally threaded collar 19 to ioo detachably receive the threaded end 13 of the ice-holding tube 12.

In both of the above described constructions, the tube 12 may be readily detached from the plate 7 or the cap 18. A plurality of such tubes, after being partly filled with water, may be detachably engaged at their threaded ends 13 in the threaded openings 21 of a supporting plate 20. or the tubes may be dropped into the openings, in which case the shoulder of the tubes holds onto the plate. After removing the ice cube freezing trays from the freezing chamber 22 in an automatic refrigerator as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawing, the opposite side edges of the plate 20 may then be arranged upon the upper tray supporting shoulders or ribs on the opposite side walls of said chamber, so that the series of tubes 12 are thereby supported in suspended relation to said plate within the freezing chamber. The water contained in said tubes will thus be quickly frozen into ice, and the tubes may then be singly removed from the supporting plate and attached to the cover plate of the device in the manner above described, as may be required. Thus, a device of this construction readily lends itself to a continuous ample supply of ice for the purpose of cooling such beverage, and with a minimum of expense and labor for the individual user.

In Fig. 4 of the drawing, I show another alternative embodiment of the device, wherein the cover member may consist of a thin metal disc or plate 23 having a central opening therethrough surrounded by an internally threaded boss 24 projecting from one side of said plate. The plate 23 at its outer edge is provided with a plurality of spring arms 25 which readily yield to accommodate themselves to pitchers or vessels of various diameters within certain limits to retain said plate 23 in its applied position and resting at its outer edge upon the upper edge of the pitcher.

In this construction, the ice-holding tube 12' at its upper open end is formed with a relatively thick outwardly projecting annular flange 26 externally threaded as at 29 to engage the boss 24. Above this flange, which may be dispensed with, and the external threads placed in the exterior of the tube itself, the internal threads 29 of the boss 24, are engaged by the external threads 30 of a cover 26a which seats on the plate 23. rIhe peripheral face of the flange 26al is preferably knurled or serrated so as to provide a finger grip, whereby the cover 262- may be easily attached to or detached from the boss 24 on the plate 23.

In the construction shown in Fig. 4, it will be readily understood lthat the ice-holding tubes may be detached from the cover plate without removing the latter from the upper end of the pitcher and replaced by another tube containing ice. Also, in this form of the device, if desired, the plate 20 for suspending the tubes in a vertical position within the freezing chamber of the refrigerator need not be used, but since the individual tubes are tightly closed at their open ends by the plugs 28, they may be horizontally positioned within the freezing chamber. Also, this construction enables a very simple and inexpensive form of the covei` member 23 to be employed.

The container 5a may be either provided with a spout as in Fig. 2, or be circular and entirely closed by the cover as in Fig. 4.

It will thus be noted that in each embodiment,

a covering member for the open end of a pitcher, shaker or other container is provided, which closes the open end of the container. To this is detachably attached a tube for cooling or heating media. Thus, the cover acts as a cover only when without the tube, or it acts also as a support when attached to the tube. The embodiment of Fig. 4 has the further advantage of enabling the cover 23 to remain on the container, though the auxiliary cover 26ZL be removed. In such a case, the tube can be removed, without taking away the cover 23, or the tube can be emptied of its liquid or provided with cubes of ice. The prongs 25 can of course, be dispensed with, and the plate 23 made longer so as to adapt it to different sized containers.

In Fig. 7 is shown another embodiment. In this, the tube is elongated, preferably made of glass, and preferably has a square cross section at 32.

The container 5a may be either with or without a spout and either wholly enclosed as in Fig. 4, or partially enclosed as in Fig. 2 by the cover. The lower part of the tube is closed, and the upper part is provided with an external screw threaded portion 33 having an open end. This portion engages the internal threads 34 of the cover 35, which has a closed dome 36, and a downwardly depending apron 37 having a cylindrical flange 38. The open end of the container is provided with a U-shaped embrasure 39 frictionally engaging the upper rim of the container. The embrasure is provided to take up certain inequalities of glass manufacture, and to provide a smooth surface for the flange 38 of the cover, so that a good frictional hold be thereby obtained. In Fig. 8, another form of cover connection is provided in which the angular member 41 has its flange 40 inwardly of the container 5c. Other provisions to facilitate a good connection may be supplied. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 7, the cover may be applied with or without the heating or cooling member. The cooling member may have its liquid frozen therein, or already frozen cubes or dry ice placed therein. Or hot or heating liquids may be used in the tubes.

In each of the constructions above referred to, the outer surfaces of the metal cover and the tube are preferably chromium plated so that the device, when applied to the pitcher or receptacle, will impart thereto a more or less ornamental and attractive appearance.

From the foregoing description considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, the construction and manner of use of the several illustrated embodiments of the device will be clearly and fully understood. It will be seen that any one of these constructions provides a simple and inexpensive means for maintaining beer and other beverages served in pitchers and like vessels at a desirably low temperature. While in the accompanying drawing, I suggest several practical and serviceable forms of the cover member for the pitcher, and also a desirable form of the ice-holding tube 12, it is nevertheless to be understood that in these particulars, the device is susceptible of more or less modification, and I therefore reserve the privilege of resorting to all such legitimate changes in the form, construction and relative arrangement of the several parts as may be fairly incorporated within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. A beverage cooling device, comprising a cover plate proportioned to t over the open top of a pitcher or other vessel for closing the same, Said cover plate having at its underside and at its central portion an internally threaded boss, and an ice holding tube externally threaded at its upper end for detachable engagement in the boss to close the tube and suspend the same in a pitcher or other vessel for immersion in a beverage to be cooled, said cover plate also having at its underside and at its marginal edge portion spaced concentric flanges to embrace the upper edge of the pitcher or other Vessel and hold the cover plate thereto, said tube cooperating with said flanges to retain the cover plate in place when the pitcher is tilted to pour the beverage.

2. A beverage cooling device, comprising a cover plate shaped to the conguration of the upper open end of a pitcher or other vessel for beverages and adapted to close the pitcher, said cover plate having a relatively small diameter boss on its under side and providing a solid closure wall within the boss, said boss being internally threaded, said cover plate also having adjacent its outer marginal edge portions concentric depending flanges for embracing the opposite sides of the wall of the pitcher to hold the cover plate thereto, and an ice carrying tube open at its upper end and having external threads adapted to engage in the boss for closing the upper end of the tube and suspending the tube from the cover plate in the beverage in the pitcher.

MORRIS B. SOLOMON.

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