Marine Drink Cooler

Abstract

A portable beverage carrier and dispenser. The carrier comprises an elongate tube have one end open and the opposite end generally enclosed. The tube includes perforations to permit water to move in and out of the tube, and a float that is placed into the tube prior to inserting beverage containers. The carrier is designed to be inserted into a hole in the ice surface on a body of water. A flange prevents the tube from falling into the hole into the underlying body of water. Anchors can be provided to anchor the carrier to the ice surface. When the carrier is placed in a hole in the ice surface, water enters the interior of the tube via the perforations. The float is placed in the tube and then beverage containers are loaded on top of the float. The buoyancy of the float in the water forces the beverage containers upwards in the tube so that the topmost container can be readily retrieved by a user.

Claims

1. A beverage dispensing carrier, the carrier comprising: an elongate tube having an enclosed end and an open end, and an internal cross-section of a shape and size configured to admit one or more beverage containers; wherein the open end further comprises a flange, the flange operative to maintain the tube in a desired position within a hole formed in an ice surface of a body of water; the tube further comprising at least one perforation, the at least one perforation operative to permit the passage of water in and out of the interior of the tube, when the tube is positioned within the hole; a float, the float sized such that it will move substantially freely back and forth within the interior of the tube, movement of float being the result of the net force resulting from the bouncy of the float and the weight of one or more beverage containers inserted into the interior of the tube between the float and the open end of the tube.

2. The carrier of claim 1, wherein the carrier further comprises at least one anchor, the at least one anchor configured to engage the ice surface, such that the carrier is maintained in a substantially fixed position relative to the hole in the ice surface.

3. The carrier of claim 1, wherein the tube comprises a plurality of telescoping segments.

4. The carrier of claim 1, wherein the open end of the carrier further comprises a moveable cover.

5. A method for storing and retrieving beverage containers from a carrier, the method comprising: providing an elongate tube having an enclosed end and an open end, and an internal cross-section of a shape and size configured to admit one or more beverage containers; wherein the open end further comprises a flange, the flange operative to maintain the tube in a desired position within a hole formed in an ice surface of a body of water; wherein the tube further comprises at least one perforation, the at least one perforation operative to permit the passage of water in and out of the interior of the tube, when the tube is positioned within the hole; providing a float, the float sized such that it will move substantially freely back and forth within the interior of the tube, movement of float being the result of the net force resulting from the bouncy of the float and the weight of one or more beverage containers inserted into the interior of the tube between the float and the open end of the tube; forming a hole in the ice surface and inserting the enclosed end of the elongate tube into the hole and positioning the enclosed end of the tube to a desired depth within the hole; permitting water to enter the interior of the elongate tube via the at least one perforation; placing the float into the interior of the tube via the open end; wherein storing a beverage container in the tube is accomplished by inserting a beverage container into the interior of the tube via the open end such that the weight of the beverage containers causes the float to move from the open end towards the enclosed end of the tube; and wherein retrieving a beverage container from the tube is accomplished by removing the beverage container from the tube via the open end such that the removal of the weight of the beverage container causes the float to move from the closed end towards the open end of the tube.

6. The method of claim 5, the method further comprising providing a carrier further comprising at least one anchor, the at least one anchor configured to engage the ice surface, and engaging the ice surface with the at least one anchor, such that the carrier is maintained in a substantially fixed position relative to the hole in the ice surface.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising providing a carrier wherein the elongate tube comprises a plurality of telescoping segments.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising providing an elongate tube wherein the open end of the elongate tube comprises a moveable cover.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] To easily identify the discussion of any particular element or act, the most significant digit or digits in a reference number refer to the figure number in which that element is first introduced.

[0009] FIG. 1 illustrates an cross sectional view of an embodiment of a beverage carrier and dispenser in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0010] FIG. 2 illustrates an perspective view of an embodiment of a beverage carrier and dispenser in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0011] FIG. 3 illustrates embodiment of a beverage carrier and dispenser wherein the elongate tube comprises telescoping segments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Description

[0012] In the sport of ice-fishing, it is typical to spend extended lengths of time on the frozen surface of a lake while monitoring fishing gear for a catch. As a result, adherents to the sport often assemble portable shelters to reduce exposure to the elements. These shelters can be stocked with food and beverages intended for consumption by the occupants of the shelter. One challenge with liquid refreshments, is because of the surrounding air temperature, there is an increased risk of freezing of liquids. In enclosed containers, the force created within the container by water as it expands during freezing can be sufficient to rupture the container.

[0013] It is well-known that because ice is less dense than water, than on frozen bodies of water, under the ice the water remains liquid, with a temperature at or about 4° C. The present invention takes advantage of this property of water and provides a holder for beverage containers that allows for easy retrieval of a beverage, and at the same time, prevents the contents of the beverage container from freezing.

[0014] As shown in FIG. 1, in one embodiment, the invention comprises a tube 100 that is sized such that the interior of the tube has a diameter large enough such that one or more beverage containers 170 can be easily inserted lengthwise into the tube. Preferably, the inner dimensions of the tube are sized so that the container(s) can slide freely along the length of the tube. One end of the tube will further comprise an opening 120 sized to admit the introduction of one or more beverage containers into the interior of the tube 130. This end of the tube will also preferably include a flange 140, the flange designed to prevent the tube from falling down into the hole and being lost. In addition, the flange may also include one or more anchors 150, the anchors designed to engage the surface of the ice so that the entire assembly remains in a relatively fixed position when in use.

[0015] The opposite end 110 will generally be enclosed, to prevent containers from being inadvertently lost out the end of the tube opposite from the end of the tube they were loaded into. As shown in FIG. 2, the tube can further comprise one or more perforations 115, the perforations functioning to allow water to enter the interior of the tube, when the container apparatus is in use, as is described below.

[0016] The present invention also further comprises a float 160, the float configured to fit within the interior of the tube, and like a beverage container, able to slide freely substantially along the length of the container. The float can be comprised of a number of materials, and have a number of configurations. For example, the float may be constructed from a naturally buoyant material, with a density less than that of water. Alternatively, the float may comprise a hollow structure that encloses a volume of air or other gas. Those of skill in the art will readily recognize the various types of floats and their manner of construction that would be suitable for use in embodiments of the present invention.

[0017] When in use, the tube is intended to be inserted into a hole formed in the ice. The tube is inserted enclosed end first. As it is inserted into the hole, water in the hole in the ice will enter the interior of the tube through the perforations. The tube will be lowered into the hole until such point as the flange contacts the surface of the ice surrounding the hole, the flange preventing the tube from falling into the hole.

[0018] To use the beverage container, a user will first insert the float into the interior of the tube. Then, beverage containers will be stacked one by one on top of the float. The weight of each beverage container will push the float downwards in the tube towards the enclosed end. Conveniently, the perforations will allow for water to be pushed out of the interior of the tube as the float and beverage containers are loaded. The float can be designed such that it provides just enough buoyant force so as to lift a beverage container so that the top of the beverage container is just at the top of the tube when the tube is in position within a hole in the ice. Since beverage containers are typically filled with a water-based beverage, they will only have a slight negative buoyancy when immersed in the water within the tube. Thus, the float will be readily able to force a stack upwards in the tube such that the top of a container is readily retrievable by a user.

[0019] In some cases, it will also be possible to provide a tube that is able to telescope, as depicted in FIG. 3. This will provide two advantages. First, the tube will be extendable over a range of desired lengths allowing for a range of numbers of beverage containers to be placed in the tube when in use. Second, telescoping permits the tube to be collapsed down to a shorter size when not in use, making storage more convenient.

[0020] The present invention has been described herein with regard to preferred embodiments. However, it will be obvious to persons skilled in the art that a number of variations and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as described herein.