Chest for cooling and dispensing beverage containers

Abstract

A cooler for containing beverage cans comprising a chamber comprising a bottom wall, side walls, a front wall, back wall, top wall and bottom wall, the top and bottom walls having exterior complementary mating surfaces, wherein the cooling chamber receives and stabilizes a plurality of beverage containers and receives ice adjacent the plurality of containers; at least one beverage-dispensing opening into the cooling chamber defined by the front wall, the opening selectively covered by a substantially transparent beverage-dispensing door, the door moveable between open and closed positions, wherein the beverage containers are aligned with the opening and door and viewable through the door in the closed position, the opening being large enough to permit access and removal of individual containers through the door in the open position; and, an ice-loading opening into the cooling chamber defined by the top wall, the opening selectively covered by an ice-loading door.

1 . A cooler for containing and cooling beverage containers, comprising:
 a. a cooling chamber comprising a bottom wall, two opposing side walls, a front wall, a back wall, a top wall and a bottom wall, the top and bottom walls having exterior complementary mating surfaces, wherein the cooling chamber receives and stabilizes a plurality of beverage containers therein and receives ice adjacent the plurality of beverage containers;   b. at least one beverage-dispensing opening into the cooling chamber defined by the front wall, the at least one beverage-dispensing opening selectively covered by a substantially transparent beverage-dispensing door, the beverage-dispensing door moveable between open and closed positions, wherein the beverage containers are aligned with the beverage-dispensing opening and beverage-dispensing door and viewable through the door in the closed position, the at least one opening being at least large enough to permit access and removal of individual beverage containers through the beverage-dispensing door in the open position; and,   c. at least one ice-loading opening into the cooling chamber defined by the top wall, the at least one ice-loading opening selectively covered by an ice-loading door.   
   
   
       2 . The cooler of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one support platform within the cooling chamber, the at least one support platform being capable of receiving and stabilizing a carton of beverage containers, wherein each carton comprises a dispensing opening and wherein the dispensing opening of each carton is aligned with the beverage-dispensing opening and beverage-dispensing door. 
   
   
       3 . The cooler of  claim 2 , further comprising at least two support platforms and one beverage-dispensing opening and beverage-dispensing door, wherein each carton comprises a dispensing opening and wherein the one beverage dispensing-opening and beverage-dispensing door are sufficiently wide to allow alignment of the dispensing opening of each carton with the beverage-dispensing opening and beverage-dispensing door. 
   
   
       4 . The cooler of  claim 1 , further comprising at least two support platforms, each support platform corresponding with a beverage-dispensing opening and beverage-dispensing door and capable of receiving and stabilizing a carton of beverage containers, wherein each carton comprises a dispensing opening and wherein the dispensing opening of each carton is aligned with a beverage-dispensing opening and beverage-dispensing door. 
   
   
       5 . The cooler of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one support platform is removable from the cooling chamber. 
   
   
       6 . The cooler of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one support platform is fixedly attached within the cooling chamber. 
   
   
       7 . The cooler of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one support platform further comprises channels to move melted ice water away from the carton and beverage containers. 
   
   
       8 . The cooler of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one beverage container tray within the cooling chamber, the at least one beverage container tray being capable of receiving and stabilizing beverage containers loaded therein, wherein each beverage container tray comprises a dispensing opening aligned with the at least one beverage-dispensing opening and at least one beverage-dispensing door. 
   
   
       9 . The cooler of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one beverage container tray further comprises channels to move melted ice water away from the beverage container tray and beverage containers. 
   
   
       10 . The cooler of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one beverage container tray is removable from the cooling chamber. 
   
   
       11 . The cooler of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of beverage containers comprise cans and/or bottles. 
   
   
       12 . The cooler of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of beverage containers comprise bottles. 
   
   
       13 . The cooler of  claim 2 , further comprising at least one beverage container tray within the cooling chamber, the at least one beverage container tray being capable of receiving and stabilizing beverage containers loaded therein, wherein each beverage container tray comprises a dispensing opening. 
   
   
       14 . The cooler of  claim 2 , further comprising at least one water reservoir to accommodate melting ice. 
   
   
       15 . The cooler of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one water reservoir is located beneath the support platform along the bottom wall of the cooling chamber and is sufficiently sized to hold the melted ice. 
   
   
       16 . The cooler of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one water reservoir is behind the support platform and holds the melted ice away from the plurality of beverage containers. 
   
   
       17 . The cooler of  claim 1 , further comprising an adjustable carrying strap, the strap having a length adjustment mechanism thereon, wherein the cooler may be carried by the strap. 
   
   
       18 . The cooler of  claim 1 , further comprising a rigid carrying handle rotatably disposed on the front wall of the cooler. 
   
   
       19 . The cooler of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of retractable wheels mounted on the bottom wall and a retractable handle mounted on the front wall. 
   
   
       20 . The cooler of  claim 1 , wherein the top wall and bottom wall further comprise complementary interfacing surfaces that locate at least two coolers relative to each other during stacking, wherein front-to-back movement of the stacked coolers is minimized and wherein each of the at least one beverage-dispensing doors are selectively operable in all stacked coolers. 
   
   
       21 . The cooler of  claim 20 , wherein the complementary surfaces further comprise complementary curvilinear profiles. 
   
   
       22 . The cooler of  claim 17 , wherein the top wall and bottom wall further comprise complementary interfacing surfaces that locate at least two coolers relative to each other during stacking, wherein side-to-side movement of the stacked coolers is minimized and wherein each of the at least one beverage-dispensing doors are selectively operable in all stacked coolers. 
   
   
       23 . The cooler of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one carton-loading opening defined by the front wall, the carton-loading opening selectively coverable by a carton-loading door, the carton-loading door moveable between an open and a closed position, the carton-loading door defining the at least one beverage-dispensing opening, the beverage-dispensing opening selectively coverable by a substantially transparent beverage-dispensing door. 
   
   
       24 . The cooler of  claim 23 , wherein the carton-loading opening defines at least two beverage-dispensing openings, each beverage-dispensing opening covered by a substantially transparent and independently operable beverage-dispensing door. 
   
   
       25 . The cooler of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one support platform has a front end and a rear end, wherein the rear end is adjustably raised above the front end at an incline angle. 
   
   
       26 . The cooler of  claim 25 , wherein the incline angle is adjustably greater than or equal to zero degrees. 
   
   
       27 . The cooler of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one beverage container tray has an adjustable incline angle that is great than or equal to zero degrees. 
   
   
       28 . The cooler of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one support platform has a front end and a rear end, wherein the rear end is raised above the front end at an incline angle that is fixed. 
   
   
       29 . The cooler of  claim 1 , further comprising a DC power source and a Peltier junction powered by the DC power source, the Peltier junction being operatively in communication with the cooling chamber. 
   
   
       30 . The cooler of  claim 1 , further wherein the Peltier junction is incorporated into a mode of powered transportation selected from the group consisting of automobile, truck, boat, train, and airplane, the Peltier junction in fluid communication with the cooling chamber. 
   
   
       31 . A cooler for containing and cooling beverage containers comprising:
 a. a cooling chamber defined by a bottom wall, two opposing side walls, a front wall, a back wall, a top wall and a bottom wall, the top and bottom walls having exterior complementary mating surfaces, wherein the cooling chamber receives and stabilizes a plurality of beverage containers therein and receives ice adjacent the plurality of beverage containers;   b. at least one carton-loading opening defined by the front wall, the carton-loading opening selectively coverable by a carton-loading door, the carton-loading door moveable between an open and a closed position;   c. at least one beverage-dispensing opening into the cooling chamber defined by the at least one carton-loading door, the at least one beverage-dispensing opening selectively covered by a substantially transparent beverage-dispensing door, the beverage-dispensing door moveable between open and closed positions, wherein the beverage containers are viewable through the beverage-dispensing door in the closed position, the at least one opening being at least large enough to permit access and removal of individual beverage containers through the beverage-dispensing door in the open position;   d. at least one ice-loading opening into the cooling chamber defined by the top wall, the at least one ice-loading opening selectively covered by an ice-loading door;   e. at least one removable support platform within the cooling chamber, the at least one support platform being capable of receiving and stabilizing a carton of beverage containers, the at least one support platform comprising channels to move melted ice away from the carton and beverage containers, wherein the at least one support platform comprises a front end and a rear end, wherein the rear end is raised above the front end at an incline angle, the incline angle being greater than or equal to zero degrees; and,   f. at least one water reservoir beneath the support platform sufficiently sized to hold the melted ice moved by the support platform channels.   
   
   
       32 . A cooler for containing and cooling beverage containers, comprising:
 a. a cooling chamber defined by a bottom wall, two opposing side walls, a front wall, a back wall, a top wall and a bottom wall, the top and bottom walls having exterior complementary mating surfaces, wherein the cooling chamber receives and stabilizes a plurality of beverage containers therein and receives ice adjacent the plurality of beverage containers;   b. at least one carton-loading opening defined by the front wall, the carton-loading opening selectively coverable by a carton-loading door, the carton-loading door moveable between an open and a closed position;   c. at least one beverage-dispensing opening into the cooling chamber defined by the at least one carton-loading door, the at least one beverage-dispensing opening selectively covered by a substantially transparent beverage-dispensing door, the beverage-dispensing door moveable between open and closed positions, wherein the beverage containers are viewable through the beverage-dispensing door in the closed position, the at least one opening being at least large enough to permit access and removal of individual beverage containers through the beverage-dispensing door in the open position;   d. at least one ice-loading opening into the cooling chamber defined by the top wall, the at least one ice-loading opening selectively covered by an ice-loading door;   e. at least one removable support platform within the cooling chamber, the at least one support platform being capable of receiving and stabilizing a carton of beverage containers, the at least one support platform comprising channels to move melted ice water away from the carton and beverage containers, wherein the at least one support platform comprises a front end and a rear end, wherein the rear end is raised above the front end at an incline angle, the incline angle being greater than or equal to zero degrees;   f. at least one removable beverage container tray within the cooling chamber, the at least one beverage container tray receiving and stabilizing bottles loaded therein, wherein each beverage container tray comprises a dispensing opening aligned with the at least one beverage dispensing opening and at least one beverage-dispensing door;   g. at least one water reservoir beneath the support platform sufficiently sized to hold the melted ice water moved by the support platform and at least one beverage container tray channels; and,   h. complementary interfacing surfaces on the top wall and bottom wall of the cooler that locate at least two coolers relative to each other during stacking, wherein the interfacing of the complementary surfaces minimizes front-to-back and/or side-to-side movement of the stacked coolers and wherein each of the at least one beverage-dispensing doors are selectively operable in all stacked coolers.   
   
   
       33 . The cooler of  claim 1 , further comprising a removable tray comprising a base, a rear wall, a front wall, and at least one vertical panel. 
   
   
       34 . The cooler of  claim 33 , further comprising a first side wall and a second side wall. 
   
   
       35 . The cooler of  claim 33 , wherein said at least one vertical panel is adjustable and may be repositioned within said tray.