Perforated ice bin insert
AssigneeCold Core, Ltd.
InventorJoseph D. Siefker
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An ice bin insert (10) separates a single store of ice pieces into separate stashes, namely, into potable and non-potable portions. The insert (10) includes a divider (C, D) dimension to be received within an ice holding cavity of an ice bin (30). Support members (B, E) attached to the divider (C, D) hold the divider (C, D) at a desired position within the ice holding cavity of the ice bin (30). A plurality of perforations (12) are arranged within the divider (C, D) so as to permits ice pieces to flow from a first side thereof to a second side thereof while inhibiting retrieval of ice pieces on the second side from the first side. Preferably, the insert (10) is constructed from a unitary sheet of stainless steel which is bent to define the respective portions or sections thereof.
Claims11
An insert for arrangement in an ice holding cavity of an ice bin, said insert comprising:
- a divider dimension to be received within the ice holding cavity of the ice bin, wherein the ice holding cavity includes a floor and one or more walls defining the cavity and an opening through which ice pieces are selective loaded into and removed from the cavity;
- a plurality of perforations within the divider, said perforations being arranged such that the divider permits ice pieces to flow from a first side thereof to a second side thereof while inhibiting retrieval of ice pieces on the second side from the first side;
- and,
- support members attached to the divider, said support members holding the divider at a desired position within the ice holding cavity of the ice bin, wherein the divider is positioned such that an auxiliary cooling device separate from the ice bin can be placed on the floor inside the cavity of the ice bin on the second side of the divider;
- wherein the insert includes cutouts through which one or more supporting connections pass to operatively connected with the cooling device for circulating a beverage to be cooled through the cooling device.
A beverage cooling system comprising:
- an ice bin having an ice holding cavity including a floor and one or more walls defining the cavity and an opening through which ice pieces are selective loaded into and removed from the cavity;
- a loose auxiliary cooling device separate from the ice bin and placed on the floor inside the cavity of the ice bin;
- one or more supporting connections operatively connected with the cooling device to circulate a beverage to be cooled through the cooling device;
- a divider arranged within the ice holding cavity of the ice bin;
- support members attached to the divider, said support members holding the divider at a desired position above the cooling device within the ice holding cavity of the ice bin;
- and,
- a plurality of perforations within the divider, said perforations being arranged such that the divider permits ice pieces to flow from a top side of the divider to a bottom side of the divider while inhibiting retrieval of ice pieces on the bottom side from the top side;
- wherein the divider and support members comprise an insert which is selectively removable from the ice bin and the insert includes cutouts through which the supporting connections are routed when the insert is installed in the ice bin.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.