Potable beverage temperature control device

Abstract

A potable beverage temperature control device including a cooling plate, a first vessel, and a second vessel. Where the cooling plate includes a body, a plate coupled to the body, the plate having an upper surface, a leading edge, and a trailing edge opposite the leading edge, a refrigeration device in fluid communication with the plate and configured to change the temperature of the upper surface of the plate, and a controller in operable communication with the refrigeration device. The temperature control device also includes a first vessel having one or more nozzles in fluid communication with a reservoir configured to dispense the beverage on the upper surface of the plate proximate the leading edge. The temperature control device also includes a second vessel configured to receive beverage flowing off the trailing edge of the plate.

1 ) A potable beverage temperature control device comprising:
 a cooling plate assembly including:
 a body, 
 a plate coupled to the body, the plate having an upper surface, a leading edge, and a trailing edge opposite the leading edge, 
 a refrigeration device in fluid communication with the plate and configured to change the temperature of the upper surface of the plate, and 
 a controller in operable communication with the refrigeration device; 
   a first vessel defining a first reservoir and one or more nozzles in fluid communication with the reservoir, wherein the nozzles are positionable proximate the leading edge of the cooling plate assembly such that fluid positioned in the first reservoir will flow through the nozzles and onto the upper surface of the plate proximate the leading edge; and   a second vessel defining a second reservoir and an opening in fluid communication with the second reservoir, wherein the opening of the second vessel is positionable proximate the trailing edge of the cooling plate assembly such that fluid flowing over the upper surface of the plate proximate the trailing edge will flow into the second reservoir.   
     
     
         2 ) The potable beverage temperature control device of  claim 1 , wherein the refrigeration device is a Peltier cooler. 
     
     
         3 ) The potable beverage temperature control device of  claim 1 , wherein the upper surface of the plate includes at least one of baffles, channels, and walls. 
     
     
         4 ) The potable beverage temperature control device of  claim 1 , wherein the cooling plate assembly defines a cooling time; and wherein the cooling time is adjustable. 
     
     
         5 ) The potable beverage temperature control device of  claim 4 , wherein the upper surface of the plate defines an angle of inclination, and wherein the cooling time is at least partially defined by the angle of inclination. 
     
     
         6 ) The potable beverage temperature control device of  claim 1 , wherein the cooling plate assembly includes a first set of legs coupled to the body proximate the leading edge and a second set of legs coupled to the body proximate the trailing edge. 
     
     
         7 ) The potable beverage temperature control device of  claim 6 , wherein the length of at least one of the first set of legs and the second set of legs are adjustable. 
     
     
         8 ) The potable beverage temperature control device of  claim 7 , wherein the plate defines an angle of inclination, and wherein adjusting the length of the first set of legs with respect to the second set of legs changes the angle of inclination. 
     
     
         9 ) The potable beverage temperature control device of  claim 6 , wherein the cooling plate assembly defines a storage volume therein, and wherein at least one of the first set of legs and the second set of legs are adjustable between a deployed configuration, where at least a portion of the legs are positioned outside the storage volume, and a stowed configuration, where the legs are positioned inside the storage volume. 
     
     
         10 ) The potable beverage temperature control device of  claim 1 , wherein the body defines a storage volume, and wherein at least one of the first vessel and the second vessel are completely positionable within the storage volume. 
     
     
         11 ) The potable beverage temperature control device of  claim 10 , wherein the first vessel and the second vessel are completely positionable within the storage volume simultaneously. 
     
     
         12 ) The potable beverage temperature control device of  claim 1 , wherein the first reservoir includes a first portion and a second portion, and wherein the first portion is fluidly isolated from the second portion. 
     
     
         13 ) A cooling plate assembly for use with a potable beverage, the cooling plate comprising:
 a body;   a plate coupled to the body, the plate including an upper surface, a leading edge, and a trailing edge opposite the leading edge;   a refrigeration device in thermodynamic communication with the plate and configured to modify the temperature of at least a portion of the upper surface;   a controller in operable communication with the refrigeration device;   a first support leg coupled to the body, the first support leg having a first length; and   a second support leg coupled to the body, the second support leg having a second length different than the first length.   
     
     
         14 ) The cooling plate assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the upper surface of the plate includes at least one of a baffle, a channel, and a wall. 
     
     
         15 ) The cooling plate assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the upper surface of the plate defines an angle of inclination, and wherein the angle of inclination is at least partially defined by the difference between the first length and the second length. 
     
     
         16 ) The cooling plate assembly of  claim 15 , wherein adjusting the first length with respect to the second length changes the angle of inclination. 
     
     
         17 ) The cooling plate assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the cooling plate defines a cooling time, and wherein changing the angle of inclination changes the cooling time. 
     
     
         18 ) The cooling plate assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the upper surface of the plate includes a first portion and a second portion, and wherein the first portion is fluidly isolated from the second portion. 
     
     
         19 ) The cooling plate assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the body defines a storage volume therein, and wherein at least one of the first support leg and the second support leg is adjustable between a deployed configuration, where at least a portion of the support leg is positioned outside the storage volume, and a stowed configuration, where the support leg is positioned inside the storage volume. 
     
     
         20 ) The cooling plate assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the upper surface of the plate defines a travel distance, and wherein the travel distance is greater than the distance between the leading edge and the trailing edge. 
     
     
         21 ) A method for altering the temperature of a volume of potable beverage, the method comprising:
 providing a first vessel defining a first reservoir and a plurality of nozzles in fluid communication with the reservoir;   providing a cooling plate assembly including a plate having an upper surface, a leading edge, and a trailing edge opposite the leading edge, and wherein the cooling plate assembly includes a refrigeration device in thermodynamic communication with the plate and configured to change the temperature of the upper surface;   providing a second vessel, where the second vessel defines a second reservoir and an opening in fluid communication with the second reservoir;   positioning the first vessel proximate the leading edge of the plate;   positioning the second vessel proximate the trailing edge of the plate; and   pouring the volume of potable beverage into the first reservoir of the first vessel so that the potable beverage flows:
 out of the nozzles and onto the upper surface of the of the plate proximate the leading edge, 
 across the upper surface of the plate away from the leading edge and toward the trailing edge; and 
 through the opening into the second reservoir. 
   
     
     
         22 ) The method of  claim 21 , further comprising adjusting the orientation of the cooling plate to produce a first angle of inclination.