Beverage chiller and method

Abstract

A beverage chilling apparatus includes a body defining one or more upwardly-open cavities shaped to receive a container filled with beverage, and a downwardly-open annular cavity extending around the upwardly-open cavity(ies). The cavity has a large open bottom opening suitable for receiving scooped crushed or cubed ice into the annular cavity. A bottom cap threads onto and sealingly covers the bottom opening to retain the ice in the annular cavity, and further in designed to hold some water from melted ice in the container. A method of chilling comprises filling the body to scoop crushed or cubed ice into the annular cavity, and covering the bottom opening to retain the ice in the downwardly-open cavity, and inverting the body to thus chill containers placed in the at least one upwardly-open cavity.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
         1 . A beverage chilling apparatus for chilling a container filled with beverage, comprising:
 a body with a first section defining an upwardly-open center cavity shaped to receive the container, and with a second section defining a downwardly-open annular cavity extending around the first section, downwardly-open annular cavity defining a large open bottom opening suitable for receiving crushed or cubed ice into the annular cavity; and   a bottom cap shaped to cover the bottom opening to retain the ice in the annular cavity.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom cap has threads that engage mating threads on the body. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the body defines additional sections defining additional cavities. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the body is elongated and includes a plurality of additional upwardly-open cavities along its length. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the body is enlarged and includes a plurality of additional upwardly-open cavities around its perimeter. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom cap defines a pocket shaped to receive water melted from the ice in the cavity. 
     
     
         7 . A beverage chilling apparatus for chilling containers filled with beverage, comprising:
 a body with a first section defining a plurality of upwardly-open cavities each shaped to receive the containers, and with a second section defining at least one downwardly-open cavity extending around the upwardly-open cavities and defining an access opening large enough to receive ice; and   a bottom cap shaped to cover the bottom opening to retain the ice in the downwardly-open cavity.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one downwardly-open annual cavity defining a large open bottom opening suitable for scooping crushed or cubed ice into the nnular cavity 
     
     
         9 . A method of providing chilled beverage, comprising:
 providing a body with a first section defining an upwardly-open cavity when in a use position, and with a second section defining a downwardly-open annular cavity extending around the first section, the downwardly-open annular cavity defining a large open bottom opening;   inverting the body and putting ice into the annular cavity;   covering the bottom opening to retain the ice in the annular cavity;   inverting the body so that the upwardly-open cavity faces upwardly; and   placing a container filled with beverage in the upwardly-open cavity to chill the beverage.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the step of covering includes threading the bottom cap onto mating threads on the body. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the body defines additional cavities, and including a step of placing additional containers in the additional cavities. 
     
     
         12 . A method of chilling one or more containers filled with beverage, comprising:
 providing a body with a first section defining at least one upwardly-open cavity each shaped to receive a container, and with a second section defining at least one downwardly-open cavity extending around the at least one upwardly-open cavity, the at least one downwardly-open annular cavity defining a bottom opening;   manipulating the body to scoop crushed or cubed ice into the annular cavity; and   covering the bottom opening to retain the ice in the downwardly-open cavity so that when inverted, the one or more containers are chilled when placed in the at least one upwardly-open cavity.