US20130047660A1

US20130047660A1 - Cold Wrap for Beverage Keg

Info

Publication number: US20130047660A1
Application number: US13/596,726
Authority: US
Inventors: Ruthanne Schmitz; Mary Adolf
Original assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed Inc
Current assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed Inc
Priority date: 2011-08-29
Filing date: 2012-08-28
Publication date: 2013-02-28

Abstract

Accordingly, the invention is a beverage keg cooling wrap designed to easily collapse to a small, manageable package, and to easily fit and stretch around the keg using Velcro or similar fasteners. Additionally, the invention features openings for kegs that employ a side or bottom tap.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/528,416, filed Aug. 29, 2011, which is hereby incorporated by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to the field of beverage cooling, and specifically to re-usable cold wraps containing a refrigerant gel for application to beverage cooling kegs.
Beverage kegs are typically used to store and dispense large quantities of a contained beverage for consumption by a large number people. The contained beverage is most often beer, but other beverages, such as root beer, are commonly available. While many indoor keg set-ups feature a specially designed refrigerator to keep the keg and its contents cool, such devices are relatively fixed to the location of installation, and therefore may not always be available, especially at outdoor events.
The prior art discloses a number of wraps and bags that may be applied to a beverage keg to keep it cool. Some simply involve an air or neoprene insulating layer, while others apply ice or a freezable refrigerant gel. Within wraps that apply a refrigerant gel, those known in the art tend to be bulky (making them difficult to store, freeze, transport, and install), tend to be fiddly to properly fit around a keg, and generally lack special access points for kegs that feature a tap at the side or bottom, rather than at the top, particularly increasingly popular disposable mini kegs. Further, many of the prior art keg wraps employing a gel employ manually inserted gel packs stored in pockets. While this type of system provides versatility, it also greatly increases the number of parts that must be separately managed and cared for.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the invention is a beverage keg cooling wrap designed to easily collapse to a small, manageable package, and to easily fit and stretch around the keg using Velcro or similar fasteners. Additionally, the invention features openings for kegs that employ a side or bottom tap.
Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated into and constitute a part of the specification. They illustrate invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates the first exemplary embodiment fitted around a common top-tapped beverage keg.

FIG. 2 illustrates the second exemplary embodiment fitted around a side-tapped beverage keg, and featuring an opening to accommodate the tap.

FIG. 3 illustrates the third exemplary embodiment fitted around a bottom-tapped beverage keg, and featuring an opening to accommodate the tap.

FIG. 4 illustrates a sectional view of the inside of the keg wrap.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the invention in more detail, FIG. 1 shows the first exemplary embodiment of the invention fitted to a standard top-tapped beverage keg. The invention, in its most basic embodiment, comprises a refrigerant wrap (1) surrounding a beverage keg (2), and held in place by Velcro strip (3); the refrigerant wrap (1) leaves the top-located tap (4) exposed. The cold wrap (1) comprises a hollow membrane of flexible and stretchable material, for example a plastic or elastic sheet, woven, or knit material.
FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of the cold wrap (1). The cold wrap (1) may be formed by stitching, fusing, adhering, or otherwise affixing a pair of sheets of material (40) and (41) together along the edges; each sheet of material may comprise more than one layer. The cold wrap (1) may, optionally, be divided into chambers by fusing the opposing walls of the hollow membrane (40) and (41) together along lines to separate the chambers. The interior of the hollow membrane is filled with a refrigerant gel (42), suitable for freezing and refreezing, which may be inserted alone or inside of a flexible, impervious bladder. Many such gel materials are known in the prior art. Also optionally, the Velcro strip (3) may be of different widths to attain different amounts of gripping strength, and may be broken into sections to accommodate differently shaped kegs (2). It would further be acceptable to replace the Velcro strip (3) with an alternative fastening method, such as hooks and eyes, a lace and eyes, clasps, or buckles.
Referring now to the second exemplary embodiment of FIG. 2, the invention is shown fitted around a beverage keg (2) features a tap (4) that protrudes from the side at the vertical center. In this configuration, the wrap (1) features an opening (5), created by short cuts made transverse to the seam held in place by the Velcro strip (3) or to a separate vertical cut, allowing for the wrap (1) to be peeled back around the tap (4). Additionally, the wrap (1) could feature a fastening means for the peeled back corners to attach to the wrap's surface, such as buttons or snaps, thereby holding the opening (5) open in a convenient and visually pleasing manner.
Referring now to the third exemplary embodiment of FIG. 3, the invention is shown fitted around a beverage keg (2) features a tap (4) that protrudes from the side at the vertical bottom. In this configuration, the lower corners of the wrap (1) peel back around the tap (4). The corners may be located at the base of the seam held in place by the Velcro strip (3) to form an opening (5), or may optionally be located along a separate slit or cutout at the bottom of the wrap (1). Additionally, the lower corners of the wrap (1) could feature a fastening means for attachment to the wrap's surface, such as buttons or snaps, thereby holding open the opening (5) in a convenient and visually pleasing manner.
While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is presently considered to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill in the art will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should, therefore, not be limited by the above described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention.

Claims

1. A beverage container cooling wrap comprising:

(a) a first at least one layer of material;

(b) a second at least one layer of material;

(c) said first at least one layer of material and second at least one layer of material being about rectangular in shape;

(d) said first at least one layer of material and second at least one layer of material having a lesser dimension about equal to or slightly greater than exterior surface distance from bottom to top of a target cylindrical beverage container;

(e) said first at least one layer of material and second at least one layer of material having a greater dimension slightly longer than the exterior circumference of said target cylindrical beverage container;

(f) said first at least one layer of material and said second at least one layer of material being fastened together at least along all four edges;

(g) said first at least one layer of material and said second at least one layer of material defining between them at least one cavity;

(h) said at least one cavity being filled with a freezable gel or liquid or a flexible bladder containing a freezable gel or liquid;

(i) an area along the lesser edge of said first at least one layer of material on the face opposite said second at least one layer of material being defined as a first fastening point;

(j) an area along the lesser edge of said second at least one layer of material on the face opposite said first at least on layer of material being defined as a second fastening point;

(k) a means for removably fastening said first fastening point to said second fastening point comprising a first portion and a second portion;

(l) said first portion of said means for removably fastening said first fastening point to said second fastening point being affixed to said first at least one layer of material at said first fastening point;

(m) said second portion of said means for removably fastening said first fastening point to said second fastening point being affixed to said second at least on layer of material at said second fastening point;

(l) and said second at least one layer of material having affixed on its side facing away from said first at least one layer of material and along its second lesser end, opposite the first lesser end of said first at least one layer of material, a second strip of hook or loop fabric complementary to said first strip of hook or loop fabric;

whereby said cooling wrap may be frozen and then wrapped around said target cylindrical beverage container to cover substantially all of said target beverage container's exterior side surface area, and such that said first and second portions of said means for removably said first fastening point to said second fastening point may be fastened together to secure said cooling wrap about said target cylindrical beverage container.

2. The beverage container cooling wrap of claim 1 wherein said means for removably fastening said first fastening point to said second fastening point comprises a pair of complementary strips of hook and loop fabric.

3. The beverage container cooling wrap of claim 1 wherein said first at least one layer of material and said second at least one layer of material are made of a flexible and stretchable material such that they tightly conform to the exterior surface of said target beverage container.

4. The beverage container cooling wrap of claim 1 wherein a slit or cutout is made in the shape of said first at least one layer of material and said second at least on layer of material, to accommodate a target cylindrical beverage container having a tap or spigot on its side exterior surface at or near its base.

5. The beverage container cooling wrap of claim 4 wherein said slit or cutout is formed by unfastening the lowermost portion of said means for removably fastening said first fastening point to said second fastening point.

6. The beverage container cooling wrap of claim 4 wherein said slit or cutout results in movable flaps overlaying the tap or spigot of said target beverage container, and wherein a means for removably fastening said flaps in an open position is affixed to the exterior surface of said flaps and to the exterior surface of said beverage container cooling wrap.

7. The beverage container cooling wrap of claim 6 wherein said means for removably fastening said flaps in an open position comprises snaps.

8. The beverage container cooling wrap of claim 1 wherein a crossed slit or cutout is made in the shape of said first at least one layer of material and said second at least on layer of material, to accommodate a target cylindrical beverage container having a tap or spigot on its side exterior surface at or near its vertical center.

9. The beverage container cooling wrap of claim 8 wherein said slit or cutout is formed in its vertical part by unfastening a portion of said means for removably fastening said first fastening point to said second fastening point.

10. The beverage container cooling wrap of claim 8 wherein said slit or cutout results in movable flaps overlaying the tap or spigot of said target beverage container, and wherein a means for removably fastening said flaps in an open position is affixed to the exterior surface of said flaps and to the exterior surface of said beverage container cooling wrap.

11. The beverage container cooling wrap of claim 10 wherein said means for removably fastening said flaps in an open position comprises snaps.

12. The beverage container cooling wrap of claim 1 wherein:

(a) said means for removably fastening said first fastening point to said second fastening point comprises a pair of complementary strips of hook and loop fabric;

(b) said first at least one layer of material and said second at least one layer of material are made of a flexible and stretchable material such that they tightly conform to the exterior surface of said target beverage container;

(c) and a slit or cutout is made in the shape of said first at least one layer of material and said second at least on layer of material, to accommodate a target cylindrical beverage container having a tap or spigot on its side exterior surface.

13. The beverage container cooling wrap of claim 12 wherein said slit or cutout results in movable flaps overlaying the tap or spigot of said target beverage container, and wherein a means for removably fastening said flaps in an open position is affixed to the exterior surface of said flaps and to the exterior surface of said beverage container cooling wrap.

14. The beverage container cooling wrap of claim 13 wherein said means for removably fastening said flaps in an open position comprises snaps.