ICE BUCKET

Abstract

The invention relates to an ice bucket (1) comprising: a base (2) for resting on a surface; a central body (3); a plurality of tanks (4), associable with said central body (3), adapted to contain ice and bottles to be refrigerated; means for the rotatable connection between said central body (3) and said base (2) to allow the rotation of said tanks (4) and selectively make said bottles available to a plurality of users.

Claims

1. Ice bucket (1), characterized in that it comprises: a base (2) for resting on a surface; a central body (3); a plurality of tanks (4), associable with said central body (3), adapted to contain ice and bottles to be refrigerated; means for the rotatable connection between said central body (3) and said base (2) to allow the rotation of said tanks (4) and selectively make said bottles available to a plurality of users.

2. Ice bucket (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said rotatable connection means comprise at least one radial bearing (5) interposed between said base (2) and said central body (3).

3. Ice bucket (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises means for reversible association, of the shape-coupling type, of said tanks (4) to said central body (3).

4. Ice bucket (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that said reversible association means comprise channels (6) uniformly distributed on said central body (3) and corresponding tracks (7), each provided on one of said tanks (4), where said channels (6) and said tracks (7) cooperate to keep the association of said tanks (4) to said central body (3) stable during the rotation of the latter on said base (2).

5. Ice bucket (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that said reversible association means comprise a fork (8) provided with elastic plates (9) adapted to fit simultaneously on said central body (3) and said tanks (4) for keeping said tracks (6) and said channels (7) coupled to avoid the escape thereof.

6. Ice bucket (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a disc structure (10) stably associated with said central body (3), comprising a plurality of arms (11) extending radially from it, where each arm (11) is adapted to support one of said tanks (4).

7. Ice bucket (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said tanks comprise a translucent or transparent plastic material.

8. Ice bucket (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that said arms (11) comprise a housing (12) for LEDs (13) for the backlighting of said tanks (4).

9. Ice bucket (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that it comprises an electrical power supply system for said LEDs (13) comprising power supply batteries (14), a switch (15) and electrical connection cables.

10. Ice bucket (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that said central body (3) comprises a cavity (16) adapted to house said supply batteries (14) and a closing door (17) for said cavity (16).

11. Ice bucket (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises accessory elements (23) and corresponding fastening means (20, 21, 24) of the latter to the top of said central body (3).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] These and other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the more detailed description set forth below, with the aid of the drawings which show a preferred embodiment thereof, illustrated by way of non-limiting example, in which:

[0034] FIGS. 1 and 2 show, in assembled and exploded isometric view respectively, an ice bucket according to the invention;

[0035] FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 show, in plan view from above, in side view and in section along a vertical plane, respectively, the ice bucket of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0036] With reference to the figures, an ice bucket 1 for containing bottles of sparkling wine, wine, water or beverages in general which need to be kept cool is illustrated.

[0037] Said ice bucket 1 essentially comprises: [0038] a base 2 for resting on a surface; [0039] a central body 3; [0040] a plurality of tanks 4, associable with said central body 3, adapted to contain ice and bottles to be refrigerated (not shown); [0041] rotatable connection means between said central body 3 and said base 2.

[0042] Said rotatable connection means comprise at least one radial bearing 5, advantageously two radial bearings 5 superimposed on each other and interposed between said base 2 and said central body 3.

[0043] Said radial bearings 5 allow rotation on the base 2 of the central body 3, and of the tanks 4 associated with it, to make said bottles selectively available to a plurality of users arranged around the ice bucket 1.

[0044] In the variant illustrated, said central body 3 has a substantially cylindrical shape, comprises a lower base 3a facing said base 2, an upper base 3b and a side surface comprising a plurality of flat faces 3c available for the association of the tanks 4.

[0045] The tanks 4 in particular are three in number, uniformly distributed around said central body 3 and comprise flat side walls 4 adapted to cooperate in support on said flat faces 3c.

[0046] The tanks 4 are advantageously made of transparent or translucent plastic material, to allow the contents and the particular bottle inside to be seen, and are shaped to accommodate different bottle formats.

[0047] Advantageously said tanks 4 can be interchangeable, by selecting them for example of a suitable shape according to the bottles to be contained and the inclined or vertical position.

[0048] For this purpose, said ice bucket 1 comprises means for reversible association, of the shape-coupling type, of said tanks 4 to said central body 3.

[0049] As particularly evident from the exploded view of FIG. 2, said reversible association means comprise three channels 6 uniformly distributed on the side surface 3c of said central body 3 and three corresponding tracks 7, each track 7 provided on one of said tanks 4, projecting externally from its flat side wall 4.

[0050] The sections of said channels 6 and said tracks 7 are complementary and ensure a stable coupling between the central body 3 and the tanks 4, avoiding their disconnection in the tangential direction particularly during the rotation of the central body 3 on the base 2.

[0051] Again for the purpose of best securing the tanks 4 to the central body 3, avoiding their radial disengagement also due to the increased weight brought about by the ice and the bottles contained, said reversible association means comprise a safety fork 8.

[0052] Said fork 8 is provided with a circular plate 18 and radial elastic plates 9 projecting orthogonally from said plate 18. Said elastic plates 9 are equal in number to the tanks 4, and therefore three, equidistant from each other.

[0053] Said fork 8 is adapted to fit on said central body 3, with the circular plate 18 resting on the upper base 3b of said central body 3 and with the elastic plates 9 inside said tanks 4 against the flat side walls 4, to maintain coupled said tracks 7 and said channels 6 and precisely avoiding the disengagement thereof.

[0054] Since said tanks 4 can be heavy when full of ice and bottles, said ice bucket 1 comprises a support disc structure 10.

[0055] Said disk structure 10 comprises a ring 19 stably associated, by means of screws, with said central body 3, and a plurality of arms 11 which extend radially from said ring 19, where each arm 11 is shaped at its free end 11 to support one of said tanks 4.

[0056] Each arm 11, at its free end 11 on which the tank 4 will rest, comprises a housing 12 for backlighting LEDs 13 of the corresponding tank 4.

[0057] The presence of LEDs 13 creates, with the help of the ice and the glass of the bottles, a particular play of light and reflections which makes the ice bucket 1 captivating and very scenographic.

[0058] For the operation of said LEDs 13, said ice bucket 1 comprises an electrical power supply system comprising power supply batteries 14, a switch 15 and electrical connection cables (not shown).

[0059] Said power batteries 14 are housed in a cavity 16 obtained in said central body 3 and closed by a door 17.

[0060] A plurality of Seeger ring connection means 22 are provided between said bearings 5, said bracket 10, said central body 3.

[0061] In a preferred variant, said ice bucket 1 can comprise at least one accessory element 23 to be fixed on the top of said central body 3.

[0062] For this purpose, said ice bucket 1 comprises fastening means for said possible accessory element 23.

[0063] In particular, the upper base 3b of said central body 3 comprises a threaded hole 20, and the circular plate 18 of said fork 8 comprises a hole 21, for the passage of a screw stem 24 protruding from said accessory element 23, adapted to allow the accessory element 23 to be tightened on the ice bucket 1.

[0064] Said accessory element 23 can advantageously be a support tray for glasses or snacks, or a vase of flowers, a candle holder, etc. . . . .