Beverage dispenser

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments include a device that may serve as a drink dispenser for beverage cans. The device may be shaped like a keg. The device may include a portion to contain, cool, and dispense the beverage cans and a portion to contain ice to provide cooling, as well as contain additional beverage containers. The device may include up to five tubes with each tube capable of containing up to four beverage containers in the form of cans. A dispensing mechanism may be located at the lower end of each tube to dispense the beverage cans form the device. The tube structure may provide for cooling of the beverage containers within each tube. The device may be portable and may have a cart that can be used for transportation of the device. The device may be detachable from the cart.

What we claim is: 
     
         1 . An insert for a beverage dispenser, comprising:
 an insert, configured to be mounted inside of a cylindrical outer shell of a beverage dispenser, the insert comprising a plurality of cylindrical tubes, each of the plurality of cylindrical tubes being sized to fit a plurality of beverage cans;   a mechanism located below a termination point of a cylindrical portion each of the plurality of cylindrical tubes, the mechanism comprising a puck portion and a rail portion;   the rail portion being mounted to a tongue portion of each of the plurality of cylindrical tubes that extends below the termination point of the cylindrical portion of each of the plurality of cylindrical tubes, the puck portion being mounted thereto and being configured to move vertically along the rail portion; and   the puck portion having an unloaded position and a loaded position, wherein the unloaded position is above the loaded position, and the puck portion is configured to move downward from the unloaded position to the loaded position upon being impacted by one of the plurality of beverage cans descending out of the cylindrical portion; and   the puck portion being further configured to slide horizontally to allow for removal of one of the plurality of beverage cans from the mechanism.   
     
     
         2 . The insert of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of cylindrical tubes is constructed of aluminum. 
     
     
         3 . The insert of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of cylindrical tubes comprises five tubes. 
     
     
         4 . The insert of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of cylindrical tubes is capable of containing up to four 12 ounce beverage cans. 
     
     
         5 . The insert of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a bracket for mounting the insert to an interior portion of the cylindrical outer shell and configured to contain the plurality of cylindrical tubes and to stabilize the plurality of cylindrical tubes and align the plurality of cylindrical tubes in an arc such that each of the plurality of tubes is positioned next to each other.   
     
     
         6 . A beverage dispenser shell, comprising:
 a cylindrical outer shell;   an open volume located internal to the cylindrical outer shell;   a lid located at an upper portion of the cylindrical outer shell; and   a beverage dispensing area, located at a lower portion of the cylindrical outer shell, comprising:
 a movable covering that provides access through the cylindrical outer shell to an inner volume. 
   
     
     
         7 . The beverage dispenser shell of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 an insert, configured to be mounted inside of the cylindrical outer shell, the insert comprising a plurality of cylindrical tubes, each of the plurality of cylindrical tubes being sized to fit a plurality of beverage cans, the insert further comprising a bracket for mounting the insert to an interior portion of the cylindrical outer shell and the bracket configured to contain the plurality of cylindrical tubes and to stabilize the plurality of cylindrical tubes and align the plurality of cylindrical tubes in an arc such that each of the plurality of tubes is positioned next to each other;   a mechanism located below a termination point of a cylindrical portion of each of the plurality of cylindrical tubes, the mechanism comprising a puck portion and a rail portion;   the rail portion being mounted to a tongue portion of each of the plurality of cylindrical tubes that extends below the termination point of the cylindrical portion of each of the plurality of cylindrical tubes, the puck portion being mounted thereto and being configured to move vertically along the rail portion;   the puck portion having an unloaded position and a loaded position, wherein the unloaded position is above the loaded position, and the puck portion is configured to move downward from the unloaded position to the loaded position upon being impacted by one of the plurality of beverage cans descending out of the cylindrical portion; and   the puck portion being further configured to slide horizontally to allow for removal of one of the plurality of beverage cans from the mechanism.   
     
     
         8 . The beverage dispenser shell of  claim 7 , wherein the open volume is located behind the plurality of cylindrical tubes and the inner volume is located below a lower portion of the insert and comprising a termination point for each of the plurality of cylindrical tubes, the inner volume being further configured to allow for removal of each of the plurality of beverage cans from each of the plurality of cylindrical tubes. 
     
     
         9 . The beverage dispenser shell of  claim 6 , wherein the cylindrical outer shell is constructed of plastic. 
     
     
         10 . The beverage dispenser shell of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 two handles, located on opposite sides of the cylindrical outer shell below the lid, the two handles each being pivotally coupled to the cylindrical outer shell.   
     
     
         11 . A beverage dispenser, comprising:
 a cylindrical outer shell;   an insert, mounted inside of the cylindrical outer shell, the insert comprising a plurality of cylindrical tubes, each of the plurality of cylindrical tubes being sized to fit a plurality of beverage cans and extending from an upper portion of the cylindrical outer shell to proximate a lower portion of the cylindrical outer shell, wherein access to the insert is through a lid mounted on an upper portion of the cylindrical outer shell, the insert further comprising a bracket for mounting the insert to an interior portion of the cylindrical outer shell and containing the plurality of cylindrical tubes, the bracket being configured to stabilize the plurality of cylindrical tubes and align the plurality of cylindrical tubes in an arc such that each of the plurality of tubes is positioned next to each other; and   a beverage dispensing area, located at a lower portion of the cylindrical outer shell, and comprising a single location where each of the plurality of cylindrical tubes terminate, comprising:
 a movable covering that provides access through the cylindrical outer shell to an inner volume; and 
 the inner volume being located below a lower portion of the insert and comprising a termination point for each of the plurality of cylindrical tubes, the inner volume being further configured to allow for removal of each of the plurality of beverage cans from each of the plurality of cylindrical tubes; and 
   a cart that is integrated into the cylindrical outer shell on an opposite side of the beverage dispensing area, the cart comprising:
 a handle, attached to the cylindrical outer shell proximal the lid; and 
 two wheels attached to a lower portion of the cylindrical outer shell such that the two wheels make contact with a surface located below the cylindrical outer shell. 
   
     
     
         12 . The beverage dispenser of  claim 11 , wherein the cylindrical outer shell is constructed of plastic. 
     
     
         13 . The beverage dispenser of  claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of cylindrical tubes is constructed of aluminum. 
     
     
         14 . The beverage dispenser of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of cylindrical tubes comprise five tubes. 
     
     
         15 . The beverage dispenser of  claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of cylindrical tubes is capable of containing up to four 12 ounce beverage cans. 
     
     
         16 . The beverage dispenser of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 two handles, located on opposite sides of the cylindrical outer shell below the lid.   
     
     
         17 . The beverage dispenser of  claim 11 , the insert further comprising:
 an open volume located behind the plurality of cylindrical tubes.   
     
     
         18 . The beverage dispenser of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a mechanism located at the lower portion of each of the plurality of cylindrical tubes within the inner volume and below the termination point of each of the plurality of cylindrical tubes, the mechanism comprising a puck portion and a rail portion;   the rail portion being mounted to a tongue portion of each of the plurality of cylindrical tubes that extends into the beverage dispensing area below the termination of a cylindrical portion of each of the plurality of cylindrical tubes and the puck portion being mounted thereto and being configured to move vertically along the rail portion;   the puck portion having an unloaded position and a loaded position, wherein the unloaded position is above the loaded position, and the puck portion is configured to move downward from the unloaded position to the loaded position upon being impacted by one of the plurality of beverage cans descending out of the cylindrical portion; and   the puck portion being further configured to slide horizontally to allow for removal of one of the plurality of beverage cans from the beverage dispensing area.