Naturally refrigerated cooler and ice bin

Abstract

An apparatus, system and method for natural refrigeration comprising a naturally refrigerated cooler and ice bin containing an ice bin with a refrigerator compartment suspended within it. The ice bin and cooler compartment are configured such that when ice cubes and the resulting cold water are loaded into the ice bin, the ice cubes and resulting cold water surround the refrigerator compartment and act to remove heat from inside the refrigerator compartment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A naturally refrigerated cooler and ice bin, comprising:
 a housing having a top, a bottom, a front, a back and two side walls, wherein each wall is defined at least partially by an insulated wall, wherein the insulated wall further comprises an exterior wall, an interior wall and insulation disposed between the exterior and interior wall and wherein the bottom wall has a drain disposed therein;   a refrigerator compartment disposed within and dimensioned as to be spaced a predetermined distance from at least the top, bottom, back and two side walls of the housing, wherein the space between a bottom surface of the refrigerator compartment and the bottom wall of the housing is adapted to be filled with at least one of ice and cold water; and   at least one support rail mounted to the bottom wall of the housing and the bottom surface of the refrigerator compartment, wherein the at least one support rail is adapted to accommodate the flow of at least one of ice and cold water;   wherein the space between the housing and the refrigerator compartment at least partially defines an ice bin.   
     
     
         2 . The naturally refrigerated cooler and ice bin of  claim 1 , wherein the top wall of the housing further comprises an access door adapted to allow a user to access the ice bin. 
     
     
         3 . The naturally refrigerated cooler and ice bin of  claim 2 , wherein the access door is insulated. 
     
     
         4 . The naturally refrigerated cooler and ice bin of  claim 1 , further comprising an refrigerator compartment door mounted to at least a portion of the front wall of the housing and communicating with an interior of the refrigerator compartment. 
     
     
         5 . The naturally refrigerated cooler and ice bin of  claim 4 , wherein the refrigerator compartment access door is insulated. 
     
     
         6 . The naturally refrigerated cooler and ice bin of  claim 1 , wherein the exterior wall of the insulated wall comprises steel. 
     
     
         7 . The naturally refrigerated cooler and ice bin of  claim 6 , wherein the exterior wall of the insulated wall further comprises one of 304 stainless steel, galvanized steel, and vinyl lined aluminum. 
     
     
         8 . The naturally refrigerated cooler and ice bin of  claim 1 , wherein the interior wall of the insulated wall comprises at least one of 304 stainless steel, and plastic. 
     
     
         9 . The naturally refrigerated cooler and ice bin of  claim 8 , wherein the interior wall comprises 304 stainless steel. 
     
     
         10 . The naturally refrigerated cooler and ice bin of  claim 1 , wherein the insulation of the insulated wall comprises a polymer. 
     
     
         11 . The naturally refrigerated cooler and ice bin of  claim 1 , wherein the refrigerator compartment comprises a thermally conductive material configured to facilitate heat transfer from contents placed within the refrigerator compartment to the at least one of ice and cold water disposed in the housing. 
     
     
         12 . The naturally refrigerated cooler and ice bin of  claim 1 , wherein the drain disposed in the bottom wall is adapted to be connected to onsite plumbing. 
     
     
         13 . The naturally refrigerated cooler and ice bin of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of wheels, legs, level glides or some other component operably coupled to the bottom wall of the housing. 
     
     
         14 . The naturally refrigerated cooler and ice bin of  claim 1 , further comprising a draft line tube communicating between the interior of the refrigerator compartment and a draft tower disposed on top of the top wall of the housing through an opening defined therein. 
     
     
         15 . The naturally refrigerated cooler and ice bin of  claim 14 , further comprising a faucet operably associated with the draft line and draft tower, wherein the faucet is operable to selectively dispense a liquid conducted via the draft line. 
     
     
         16 . The naturally refrigerated cooler and ice bin of  claim 1 , further comprising a cold plate assembly disposed on a top surface of the refrigerator compartment. 
     
     
         17 . The naturally refrigerated cooler and ice bin of  claim 1 , wherein the cold plate assembly further comprises a ported aluminum plate with a plurality of copper coils disposed therein. 
     
     
         18 . The naturally refrigerated cooler and ice bin of  claim 1 , further comprising a coil system assembly disposed inside of the ice bin. 
     
     
         19 . The naturally refrigerated cooler and ice bin of  claim 18 , wherein the coil system assembly further comprises a stainless steel coil assembly operable to run a variety of liquids for the purpose of in-line cooling. 
     
     
         20 . The naturally refrigerated cooler and ice bin of  claim 1 , further comprising a fresh water dispenser assembly disposed inside the ice bin and operably associated with a dispensing faucet located on top of the naturally refrigerated cooler. 
     
     
         21 . The naturally refrigerated cooler and ice bin of  claim 20 , wherein the fresh water dispenser assembly further comprises an in-line pickup tube, an in-line water filter, a pumping mechanism, all operably associated to conduct water to the dispensing faucet.