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US 12,487,028 B2Granted
Beverage cooler with automatic dispenser
OwnerBenjamin Rizzo, II, Bennett Rizzoinventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cooler assembly includes an insulted main container and a pump assembly configured to pump contents of the main container through a tube to a spigot. An electronic control board includes a pressure-sensing switch that senses pressure differentials or fluid movement when the spigot is opened and closed, causing a triggering event. Triggering events are used to activate and deactivate the pump to dispense fluid from the main container.
Claims19
A cooler, comprising:
- A manually-portable shell housing defining an integrated beverage storage container structure, the shell housing comprising:
- a thermally-insulated main container comprising a floor and a wall adjacent to the floor, said main container being configured to retain a volume of a liquid;
- a liquid-proof electronics chamber disposed below said floor of said main container, said floor defining a transverse partition between said main container and said electronics chamber that fully separates said main container from said electronics chamber and prevents transfer of liquid therebetween;
- a pump disposed entirely within said electronics chamber configured to pump fluid from a fluid inlet that is in fluid communication with said main chamber to a fluid outlet that is external to said electronics chamber;
- a length of tubing having proximal and distal end portions, wherein said proximal end portion is connected to said fluid outlet on an external portion of said shell housing, and said distal end is connected to a manually-operated spigot;
- and
- an electronic control, located entirely within said electronics chamber, operatively connected to said pump to cause activation and cessation of said pump;
- wherein an exterior surface of said shell comprises a recessed groove configured to receive and securely grip said length of tubing.
5 more elements
A beverage cooler, comprising:
- a manually-portable shell housing defining an integrated structure, said shell housing comprising:
- a thermally-insulated main liquid storage chamber and an electronics chamber, said electronics chamber being disposed entirely beneath said main liquid storage chamber and separated by a transverse floor portion of said main chamber;
- a pump disposed entirely within said electronics chamber, configured to pump liquid from said main liquid storage chamber to a pump outlet;
- a length of tubing having a proximal end connected to said pump outlet and a distal end connected to a manually-activated spigot;
- and
- an electronic control disposed within said electronics chamber comprising a micro-pressure switch configured to activate upon detection of a change in pressure within said length of tubing, said pump, or both;
- wherein said pump is configured to pump said liquid from said main liquid storage chamber to said pump outlet when said micro-pressure switch is activated.
4 more elements
A beverage cooler, comprising:
- a thermally insulated, main liquid storage chamber;
- a pump, said pump comprising an inlet in fluid communication with said main liquid storage chamber, and an outlet in fluid communication with an actuatable fluid dispenser and an electronic pressure-sensing switch;
- and
- an electronic control in signal communication with said pressure-sensing switch and said pump;
- wherein said electronic control is configured to activate said pump upon receiving a first signal from said pressure-sensing switch and deactivate said pump upon receiving a second signal from said pressure-sensing switch;
- wherein:
- said beverage cooler further comprises a shell housing defining an integrated structure, and a transverse partition that divides said housing between separate upper and lower portions, said transverse partition extending fully across a cross-sectional area of said housing;
- said main liquid storage chamber is located in said upper portion of said housing;
- the lower portion defines a liquid-proof electronics chamber located entirely below said transverse partition and housing, in their entirety, said pump, said electronic pressure-sensing switch, and said electronic control;
- said beverage cooler is manually portable;
- said pump is battery powered;
- and
- said upper portion and said lower portion are contained within said housing as a single, cohesive unit.
10 more elements
A cooler, comprising:
- a thermally-insulated main container comprising a floor and a wall adjacent to the floor, said main container being configured to retain a volume of a liquid;
- an electronics chamber disposed below said floor of said main container;
- a fluid inlet in fluid or atmospheric communication with said main container, and a fluid outlet;
- a pump, disposed within said electronics chamber, configured to pump fluid from said fluid inlet to said fluid outlet;
- a length of tubing having proximal and distal end portions, wherein said proximal end portion is connected to said fluid outlet, and said distal end is connected to a spigot;
- and
- an electronic control operatively connected to said pump to cause activation and cessation of said pump;
- wherein said electronic control comprises at least one processor, at least one memory, at least one signal input/output port, a power source, and is in electronic signal communication with at least one micro-pressure switch;
- wherein:
- said cooler further comprises a shell housing defining an integrated structure, said housing being divided between upper and lower portions by said floor of said main container, said floor extending transversely and fully across a cross-sectional area of said housing;
- said main container is within said upper portion of said housing, and said electronics chamber is within said lower portion of said housing,
- the electronics chamber:
- (i) is configured to prevent ingress of liquid from said main container;
- and
- (ii) houses, in their entirety, said pump, said electronic control, and said micro-pressure switch;
- said cooler is manually-portable;
- and
- said upper and lower portions are contained within said housing as a single, cohesive unit.
15 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.