Rapid Cooling Dock

Abstract

A method of and apparatus for accelerating the cooling of at least one beverage can and/or ice tray including at least one body that presents a thermal conductivity, defines a receiving receptacle preferably configured to form a minimum contact surface area of engagement with the can(s) and/or tray, and further including an air compressor operable to cause an airflow adjacent the can(s) and/or tray, so as to promote the accelerated cooling through conduction, and convection within a chilled compartment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A rapid cooling dock adapted for use within a compartment producing chilled air encased within the compartment, and for causing a flow of said chilled air adjacent at least one standard beverage can defining a continuous side wall, so as to accelerate the cooling of said at least one can when said at least one can is placed therein, wherein the air presents an average temperature, the temperature produces a first heat transfer rate from said at least one can and to the air when said at least one can is placed within the air, and the flow produces a second and greater heat transfer rate from said at least one can and to the air when said at least one can is placed within the dock, said dock comprising:
 at least one body having a first surface defining a receptacle, said receptacle being configured to enable the placement and removal of said at least one can within the receptacle,
 said at least one body and said at least one can cooperatively defining at least one channel adjacent said at least one can, when said at least one can is placed within the receptacle; and 
   an air compressor fixedly connected to the body, communicatively coupled to said at least one channel, and operable to selectively cause the chilled air to flow adjacent the sidewall of said at least one can, when said at least one can is placed within the receptacle.   
     
     
         2 . The dock as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said at least one body is tubular, said at least one can is longitudinally placed within the receptacle, and the chilled air flows in parallel with the longitudinal axis of said at least one can. 
     
     
         3 . The dock as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the body and said at least one can are cooperatively configured to define a gap therebetween when said at least one can is placed within the receptacle, the gap presents a maximum thickness not more than the diameter and not less than two percent of the diameter of said at least one can, and the chilled air is caused to flow within the gap by the compressor. 
     
     
         4 . The dock as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the receptacle is configured to receive a plurality of cans stacked laterally. 
     
     
         5 . The dock as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the body, receptacle, and compressor are configured to cause the chilled air to flow transversely to the longitudinal axis of said at least one can. 
     
     
         6 . The dock as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the compressor is operable to cause an airflow of at least 20 CFM. 
     
     
         7 . The dock as claimed in  claim 1 , further including a protective overlay configured to protect the compressor. 
     
     
         8 . The dock as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the second heat transfer rate is at least twenty-five percent greater than the first heat transfer rate. 
     
     
         9 . The dock as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the can comprises a continuous sidewall, the sidewall presents an outside surface area, the receptacle is cooperatively configured with the sidewall to present a contact surface area of engagement with at least five percent of the outside surface area when the can is placed within the receptacle, and said at least one body presents a mass, density, and thermal conductivity operable to cause a third heat transfer rate greater than the second heat transfer rate when the can is placed within the receptacle and said at least one body is at the average temperature. 
     
     
         10 . The dock as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the third heat transfer rate is at least fifty percent greater than the first heat transfer rate. 
     
     
         11 . The dock as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the receptacle is cooperatively configured with the can to present a contact surface area of engagement with at least ten percent of the outside surface area of the can, when the can is placed within the receptacle. 
     
     
         12 . The dock as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the receptacle is cooperatively configured with the can to present a contact surface area of engagement with at least twenty percent of the outside surface area of the sidewall, when the can is placed within the receptacle. 
     
     
         13 . The dock as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said at least one body is formed of a metallic material. 
     
     
         14 . The dock as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said at least one body is treated to prevent rust. 
     
     
         15 . The dock as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the dock is integrated with and cooperatively defines the compartment. 
     
     
         16 . The dock as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the body defines first and second receptacles configured to engage first and second cans comprising sidewalls having differing radii, outside surface areas, and/or lengths respectively, and said first and second receptacles are each configured to form a contact surface area of engagement with at least five percent of the outside surface area of first and second cans having differing radii. 
     
     
         17 . The dock as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 said receptacle defining a complex profile, wherein said profile is cooperatively configured with a plurality of cans having differing radii, so as to present a contact surface area of engagement with at least five percent of the outside surface area of each can, when either can is placed within the receptacle.   
     
     
         18 . The dock as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the receptacle is configured to receive an ice cube tray, and the airflow is operable to accelerate the cooling of the tray. 
     
     
         19 . A rapid cooling dock adapted for use within a compartment producing chilled air encased within the compartment, and for causing a flow of said chilled air adjacent at least one standard beverage can defining a continuous side wall, so as to accelerate the cooling of said at least one can when said at least one can is placed therein, wherein the air presents an average temperature, the temperature produces a first heat transfer rate from said at least one can and to the air when said at least one can is placed within the air, and the flow produces a second and greater heat transfer rate from said at least one can and to the air when said at least one can is placed within the dock, said dock comprising:
 at least one body presenting a tubular configuration, having a first surface defining a receptacle, said receptacle being configured to enable the placement and removal of said at least one can within the receptacle,
 said at least one body and said at least one can cooperatively defining at least one channel adjacent said at least one can, when said at least one can is placed within the receptacle; 
   an air compressor fixedly connected to the body, communicatively coupled to said at least one channel, and operable to selectively cause the chilled air to flow adjacent the sidewall of said at least one can, when said at least one can is placed within the receptacle; and   a protective overlay fixedly connected to said at least one body adjacent the compressor.   
     
     
         20 . The dock as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein first and second mated parts compose said at least one body, and are manually separable so as to facilitate can removal.