Bucket Assembly

Abstract

A bucket assembly includes a bucket, a lid, and a beverage holding insert that extends outwardly from the lid and into the bucket. The bucket can include ice to keep a beverage located in the beverage holding insert cold. The beverage holding insert provides a watertight seal such that liquids, ice, or contaminants cannot pass into the bucket and contaminate ice located therein.

1 . A bucket assembly, comprising:
 an outer bucket;   an inner bucket that fits inside of and removably engages with the outer bucket;   a lid that includes a plurality of holes and that engages the inner bucket to form a watertight seal that prevents liquid from exiting the inner bucket; and   a plurality of beverage holding inserts that each include a rigid ring-shaped rim and an elongated cylindrically-shaped bladder that connects to the ring-shaped rim,   wherein the ring-shaped rim of each of the plurality of beverage holding inserts removably engages the lid at one of the plurality of holes such that the lid connects and holds the beverage holding inserts inside the inner bucket and such that the bladder of each beverage holding insert extends into the inner bucket,   wherein the bladder of each beverage holding insert is watertight so water cannot enter into and escape through the bladder when the bladder is immersed in liquid contained in the inner bucket.   
     
     
         2 . The bucket assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the bladder of each beverage holding insert is pliable and formed of a polymer. 
     
     
         3 . The bucket assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the ring-shaped rim of each beverage holding insert removably engages with the lid with one of a snap-fit connection and a threaded connection. 
     
     
         4 . The bucket assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the bladder of each beverage holding insert is foldable. 
     
     
         5 . The bucket assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the bladder of each beverage holding insert is sized and shaped to receive and hold one of a single beer bottle and a single beer can. 
     
     
         6 . The bucket assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of holes of the lid includes six equally spaced holes, and each of the six equally spaced holes engages with one of the plurality of beverage holding inserts. 
     
     
         7 . The bucket assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the inner bucket engages the outer bucket to provide an air-lock space therebetween that reduces condensation on an outer surface of the outer bucket when the inner bucket is filled with water and ice. 
     
     
         8 . The bucket assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the outer bucket includes a rim with a locking mechanism, the inner bucket includes a rim with a locking mechanism, and the locking mechanism of the outer bucket removably engages the locking mechanism of the inner bucket with one of a snap-fit connection and a threaded connection. 
     
     
         9 . The bucket assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the lid engages the outer and inner buckets to form a watertight so water cannot from the inner bucket when the outer bucket, the lid, and the inner bucket are engaged together. 
     
     
         10 . A bucket assembly, comprising:
 an outer bucket;   an inner bucket that fits inside of and engages with the outer bucket;   a lid that includes a plurality of circular holes sized to receive an end of a beer bottle, that engages with and is removable from the outer bucket and the inner bucket, and that forms a watertight seal that prevents liquid from exiting the inner bucket; and   a plurality of beverage holding inserts that each include a rigid rim and an elongated flexible and collapsible bladder that connects to the rigid rim,   wherein the rigid rim of each of the plurality of beverage holding inserts removably engages the lid at one of the plurality of circular holes such that the lid connects and holds the beverage holding inserts inside the inner bucket and such that the bladder of each beverage holding insert extends into the inner bucket and into the outer bucket,   wherein the plurality of beverage holding inserts form a watertight seal such that liquid contained in the beverage holdings inserts cannot pass into either the outer bucket and the inner bucket and liquid contained in the inner bucket cannot pass into the beverage holding inserts when the plurality of beverage holding inserts are immersed in liquid contained in the inner bucket.   
     
     
         11 . The bucket assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the inner bucket removably engages with the outer bucket with one of a snap-fit connection and a threaded connection. 
     
     
         12 . The bucket assembly of  claim 10 , wherein each of the plurality of circular holes has a diameter from about two and one-half inches to about three and one-half inches. 
     
     
         13 . The bucket assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the inner bucket engages the outer bucket to provide an air-lock space that exists between an outside surface of the inner bucket and an inside surface of the outer buck such that the air-lock space reduces condensation on an outer surface of the outer bucket when the inner bucket is filled with water and ice. 
     
     
         14 . The bucket assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the lid has a circular shape that engages a circular shaped rim of the outer bucket and a circular shape rim of the inner bucket. 
     
     
         15 . The bucket assembly of  claim 10 , wherein each of the plurality of beverage holding inserts has an elongated cylindrical shape with a size to hold a beer bottle while an end of the beer bottle is emerged in water and ice trapped inside the inner bucket. 
     
     
         16 . The bucket assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the inner bucket includes a circular fill line that extends around an interior surface of the inner bucket and indicates a limit for filling the inner bucket with ice and water. 
     
     
         17 . A bucket assembly, comprising:
 a bucket having a vertical cylindrical shape or truncated cone shape and having an open top and a flat bottom;   a circular lid that includes a plurality of circular holes and that engages the bucket to form a watertight seal that prevents liquid included in the bucket from exiting the bucket; and   a plurality of beverage holding inserts with a rigid rim and an elongated cylindrically-shaped bladder that extends from the rigid rim and that is sized to receive and hold a single beer bottle,   wherein the rigid rim of each of the plurality of beverage holding inserts removably engages the lid at one of the plurality of circular holes such that the lid connects and holds the beverage holding inserts inside the bucket and such that the bladder of each beverage holding insert extends into the bucket,   wherein each of the plurality of beverage holding inserts forms a watertight seal such that with the liquid in the bucket cannot escape into the plurality of beverage holding inserts and liquid in the beverage cannot escape through the beverage holding inserts and into the bucket.   
     
     
         18 . The bucket assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the bucket includes an outer surface, an inner surface, and an air-lock space that exists between exterior and interior surfaces and reduces condensation on the outer surface when the bucket is filled with water and ice. 
     
     
         19 . The bucket assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the lid includes six beverage holding inserts that extend into a volume of the bucket defined between the open top and the flat bottom. 
     
     
         20 . The bucket assembly of  claim 17 , wherein each of the plurality of beverage holding inserts are formed of polymer and are flexible and foldable.