EARTH HOLE DRINK COOLER

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an earth-hole beverage cooler with a plastic casing tube that can be inserted vertically into an earth hole, which is provided at the bottom with a tightly sealing base and at the top with a removable lid, and in the interior of which a support device is arranged that can be moved axially upwards out of the casing tube, to which several disc-shaped beverage holders, which can be inserted into the casing tube and are attached at axial distances from each other, are attached, each of which is provided with several hanging openings distributed around its circumference and accessible from the periphery for hanging the necks of beverage bottles.

[0002] Such underground beverage coolers are state-of-the-art (see Internet). http: / / www.hopfenhoehle.de) is known. With previously known in-ground beverage coolers, due to the special design of the disc-shaped beverage holders, only the spaces below the respective holders can be used, not the spaces above them. This leads, on the one hand, to a relatively poor utilization of the interior space of the casing pipe and, on the other hand, to the fact that beverage containers without a bottle neck, such as beverage cans, cuboid cardboard containers, etc., cannot be securely fixed to the disc-shaped beverage holders, especially not in the spaces above their plane of extension.

[0003] The purpose of the invention is to further develop the earth-hole beverage cooler of the type mentioned above in such a way that the interior of its casing pipe can be better utilized and that, in addition to bottles with bottle necks, other beverage containers of different shapes and dimensions can be securely placed on the beverage holders.

[0004] To solve this problem, the invention proposes, starting from an earth-hole beverage cooler of the type mentioned above, that the beverage holders are each provided above the hanging openings with cylindrical support walls open towards the periphery of the beverage holder for supporting beverage containers which can be inserted into the beverage holder from above.

[0005] The beverage holders designed according to the invention still allow, on the one hand, the insertion of bottle necks from the side, specifically from bottles that hang down into the space below the respective beverage holder, and on the other hand, the insertion of beverage containers of any shape, e.g., beverage cans, cuboid cardboard beverage containers, etc., which can be inserted from above into the receiving spaces between the cylindrical support walls and thus utilize the space above the respective beverage holder. The in-ground beverage cooler according to the invention is therefore, for the first time, suitable for virtually all commercially available beverage containers and, moreover, makes better use of the space available in the outer casing.

[0006] A further advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the cylindrical support walls of the beverage holders have a progressively increasing radius of curvature with increasing distance from the insertion openings. This makes it even easier to insert beverage containers of different diameters into the beverage holders from above and to support them securely against the holders.

[0007] The drink holders are conveniently manufactured as one-piece cast plastic parts and are therefore suitable for mass production.

[0008] To better utilize the space between the individual beverage holders and accommodate beverage containers of varying heights, the support structure features a support rod that extends axially from the casing tube. The beverage holders can be moved along this rod and locked into position along its length. This allows, for the first time, the spacing between successive beverage holders to be easily adjusted to specific needs with just a few simple steps and without any assembly required, for example, while loading the in-ground beverage cooler with bottles and / or other beverage containers.

[0009] This stepless adjustability and locking of drink holders on the support rod of a holding device for in-ground beverage coolers is also useful even if the drink holders themselves are conventional and designed according to the state of the art.

[0010] One embodiment of the invention that enables this stepless adjustment provides that the drink holders each have a central opening for the support rod and that a clamping spring is arranged below each drink holder, supporting the drink holder and clamping itself to the support rod at any desired height. When using such a clamping spring, it is only necessary to move this clamping spring axially along the support rod, thereby fixing the drink holder to the support rod at the correct height.

[0011] The aforementioned clamping springs are expediently designed as torsion springs with several axially adjacent spring coils surrounding the support rod, the inner diameter of which, when the clamping spring is relaxed, is smaller than the outer diameter of the support rod, wherein the upper spring leg of this clamping spring is supported in a rotationally fixed manner on the underside of the drink holder and the lower spring leg of this clamping spring is designed as a handle, which serves to introduce a torque that tensions the torsion spring.

[0012] A clamping spring designed and positioned in this way allows the drink holders to be moved and fixed to the support bar at any desired height with exceptional ease. To do this, simply hold the drink holder with one hand and, using the lower spring leg (which acts as a handle) with the other, apply a torque to the clamping spring. This causes the threads of the clamping spring, which are located on the outer circumference of the support bar, to lift away from the bar's outer circumference, allowing the clamping spring to be easily moved axially along the support bar. To fix the holder in the changed position, simply release the lower spring leg (which acts as a handle), causing the threads of the clamping spring to re-engage firmly against the outer circumference of the support bar.

[0013] For a particularly simple design of the connection between the upper spring leg of the clamping spring and the respective drink holder, which is especially suitable for assembly and disassembly, it is provided that receiving openings for receiving and securing the upper spring leg of a clamping spring are arranged on the undersides of the drink holders, wherein these receiving openings each have at least one undercut into which the upper spring leg can be elastically snapped.

[0014] A particularly simple and cost-effective embodiment of the earth-hole beverage cooler according to the invention provides that the support rod at its upper end is equipped with a handle for lifting out the entire support device with the beverage holders attached to it and loaded with beverage containers.

[0015] A significantly more convenient embodiment of the in-ground beverage cooler according to the invention provides that the support rod is connected to the lid of the casing tube and is equipped with a gas spring for lifting the support device out of the casing tube, which is supported at the bottom of the casing tube. Such a gas spring, which is tensioned by pushing down the support device loaded with beverage containers into the casing tube, essentially automates the lifting process.

[0016] The gas spring is advantageously equipped with a push-down switching element for alternately releasing and locking the gas spring. Pushing down and lifting the support device with the assistance of the gas spring is done in a manner similar to the operating mechanism of a ballpoint pen.

[0017] As an alternative to operation with a gas spring, the support device can also be equipped with an electric rotary spindle drive supported at the bottom of the outer tube, which serves to lift the support device out of the outer tube or to lower the support device into the outer tube. In this case, it is advantageous to additionally guide the support device against rotation on the wall of the outer tube to prevent the support device from being unintentionally twisted relative to the outer tube by the rotary spindle drive.

[0018] It is particularly advantageous if the base, which tightly seals the bottom of the casing pipe, is designed as a solid metal plate bolted to the casing pipe. Such a metallic base plate ensures, on the one hand, rapid heat dissipation into the surrounding cool soil, thus supporting the cooling process, and on the other hand, forms a stable support platform for the gas spring or the electric rotary spindle drive, if these are used.

[0019] If the gas spring discussed above is used, the support for the gas spring or the spindle of the electric rotary spindle drive at the base of the casing tube is provided by a ball joint to prevent jamming. This ball joint is also used in the manual version. Therefore, retrofitting the gas spring is possible without tools.

[0020] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings. These show: Figures 1a, 1b and 1c: schematic side view of an in-ground beverage cooler according to the invention in three different embodiments; Figure 2: one of the beverage holders in perspective; Figure 3: the one in Figure 2 Figure 4: a view of the beverage holders from below; Figure 4: a perspective view of one of the beverage holders loaded with various beverage containers; Figure 5: a side view of Figure 4 Figure 6: side view of one of the clamping springs; Figure 7: the one in Figure 6 Figure 8: a perspective view of the clamping spring shown; Figure 9: a view of a drink holder with the clamping spring inserted, from below; Figure 10: a perspective view of the cup holder with the clamping spring inserted; Figure 11: a perspective view of the cup holder with the clamping spring inserted; Figure 12: a perspective view of the cup holder with the clamping spring inserted; Figure 13: a perspective view of the cup holder with the clamping spring inserted; Figure 14: a perspective view of the cup holder with the clamping spring Figure 8 Figure 10: exploded view of the fastening of the metallic base to the outer casing.

[0021] In the drawing, the casing pipe of an in-ground beverage cooler according to the invention, made of a suitable plastic and inserted into a hole in the ground, is designated by reference numeral 1. A support device 2, equipped with several disc-shaped beverage holders 3 arranged axially apart from one another, can be inserted into the interior of this casing pipe 1 from above. These holders are supported by a support rod 4 that extends upwards from the casing pipe 1. The casing pipe 1 is screwed to a tightly sealing metallic base 5 at its lower end (see figure). Figure 10 ) and, with the support device 2 inserted, can be accessed at its upper end by means of a removable cover 6 (see below). Figures 1a, 1b and 1c ) be closed.

[0022] The in the Figures 2-5The beverage holders 3, shown in detail, are each provided with several hanging openings 7a, 7b, 7c and 7d distributed around their circumference and accessible from the periphery. These openings serve to hang the neck of beverage containers 8 (for example, beer bottles or sparkling wine bottles 8a). Above these hanging openings 7a, 7b, 7c and 7d, the beverage holders 3 are further provided with cylindrically curved support walls 9a, 9b, 9c and 9d, open towards the periphery of the beverage holder 3, for supporting any beverage containers 8 (e.g., 8b or 8c) of different diameters, which are inserted into the beverage holder 3 from above. These support walls 9a, 9b, 9c and 9d have a progressively increasing radius of curvature with increasing axial distance from the mounting openings 7a, 7b, 7c and 7d and are accordingly well adapted to beverage containers 8 of different diameters.

[0023] For attachment to the beverage holders 3 on the support rod 4, each beverage holder 3 is provided with a central opening 10 for the support rod 4. Furthermore, clamping springs 11 serve to secure the beverage holders 3 to the support rod 4. These springs can be clamped at any height on the outer circumference of the support rod 4 and thus secure the beverage holder 3 positioned above it.

[0024] For this purpose, the clamping springs 11 are designed as torsion springs with several axially adjacent spring coils 11a surrounding the support rod 4, the inner diameter of which, when the clamping spring 11 is relaxed, is smaller than the outer diameter of the support rod 4, wherein the upper spring leg 11b of this clamping spring 11 is supported in a rotationally fixed manner on the underside of the drink holder 3 and the lower spring leg 11c of this clamping spring 11 is designed as a handle, which serves to introduce a torque that tensions the clamping spring 11.

[0025] To secure the upper spring leg 11b of the clamping spring 11 to the underside of the drink holder 3, receiving openings 12 are provided on the underside of the drink holder 3 for receiving and securing this spring leg 11b, wherein these receiving openings 12 each have at least one undercut 13 into which the upper spring leg 11b of the clamping spring 11 can be elastically engaged (see Figure 8 and 9 ).

[0026] To move and fix a beverage holder 3 at the desired height on the support rod 4, it is sufficient to hold the beverage holder 3 with one hand and, with the other hand, apply a torque to the clamping spring 11 by means of the lower spring arm 11c, which is designed as a handle. This tensions the clamping spring 11. This lifts the threads 11a of the clamping spring 11, which are in contact with the outer circumference of the support rod 4, so that the clamping spring 11 can easily be moved axially along the support rod 4. To fix it in the changed position, it is sufficient to release the lower spring arm 11c of the clamping spring 11, which is designed as a handle. This causes the threads 11a of the clamping spring 11 to re-engage with a high clamping force against the outer circumference of the support rod 4, thus fixing the beverage holder 3, which is supported by the clamping spring 11, in the new position.

[0027] To lift out the entire carrying device 2 together with the attached drink holders 3, its carrying rod 4 is provided with a handle at the upper end (see figure). Fig. 1a .)

[0028] To facilitate and at least partially automate the extension process of the support device 2, its support rod 4 is connected to the cover 6 of the outer tube 1 and is provided with a gas spring 15 which is supported on the bottom 5 of the outer tube 1 (see figure). Fig. 1b ). When this gas spring 15 is actuated, a movable assembly consisting of the support rod 4, the beverage holders 3 equipped with beverage containers 8 and the lid 6 is lifted out of the jacket tube 1 buried in the ground in such a way that all beverages stored in the beverage cooler become accessible for use.

[0029] To initiate and terminate these movement processes, the gas spring is provided with a pressable switching element 16 which - in the manner of a ballpoint pen mechanism - alternately and successively locks and releases the gas spring 15.

[0030] An alternative to the semi-automatic supported movement of the support device 2 described above provides that the entire support device 2 is extended and retracted using an electric motor rotary spindle drive 17 supported on the bottom 5 of the casing tube 1 (see figure). Fig. 1c Furthermore, when using such a rotary spindle drive 17, the support device 2 is guided against rotation on the wall of the casing tube 1 by corresponding guide rails 19.

Claims

1. Hole-in-the-ground beverage cooler with a jacket tube (1) of plastic, which can be inserted vertically into a hole in the ground, which is equipped at the bottom with a tightly sealing base (5) and at the top with a lift-off cover (6) and in the inner space of which a carrying device (2) is disposed that can be moved axially upward out of the jacket tube (1) and on which several disk-shaped beverage holders (3), which have axial distance from one another and can be pushed into the jacket tube (1), are fastened that are respectively equipped with several hanger openings (7) disposed in distributed manner over their circumference and accessible from the periphery for hanging the bottle necks of beverage bottles, characterized in that the beverage holders (3) are respectively equipped above the hanger openings (7) with cylinder-shell-shaped bracing walls (9), open toward the periphery of the beverage holder (3), for bracing of beverage containers (8), which can be inserted from above into the beverage holder (3).

2. Hole-in-the-ground beverage cooler according to claim 1, characterized in that the cylinder-shell-shaped bracing walls (9) have a radius of curvature that increases stepwise with increasing distance from the hanger openings (7).

3. Hole-in-the-ground beverage cooler according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the beverage holders (3) are respectively manufactured as one-piece castings of plastic.

4. Hole-in-the-ground beverage cooler, especially according to one of claims 1-3, characterized in that the carrying device (2) of the hole-in-the-ground beverage cooler has a carrying bar (4), which can be moved axially out of the jacket tube and on which the beverage holders (3) can be displaced in axial direction and fixed in infinitely variable position.

5. Hole-in-the-ground beverage cooler according to claim 4, characterized in that the beverage holders (3) respectively have a central passage opening (10) for the carrying bar (4), and in that a clamping spring (11) bracing the beverage holder (3) and clamping it securely to the carrying bar (4) at any desired height is respectively disposed underneath the beverage holder (3).

6. Hole-in-the-ground beverage cooler according to claim 5, characterized in that it clamping spring (11) is designed as a leg spring having several spring coils (11a) bearing axially against one another and surrounding the carrying bar (4), the inside diameter of which is smaller than the outside diameter of the carrying bar (4) when the clamping spring (11) is relaxed, wherein the upper spring leg (11b) of this clamping spring (11) is braced in twist-proof manner on the underside of the beverage holder (3)and the lower spring leg (11c) of this clamping spring (11) is designed as a handle, which serves to transmit a torque that tensions the clamping spring (11).

7. Hole-in-the-ground beverage cooler according to one of claims 6, characterized in that receiving openings (12) for the accommodation and fixation of the upper spring leg (11b) of the clamping spring (11) are respectively disposed on the undersides of the beverage holder (3), wherein these receiving openings (12) respectively have at least one undercut (13), in which the upper spring leg (11b) of the clamping spring (11) can be elastically latched.

8. Hole-in-the-ground beverage cooler according to one of claims 4-7, characterized in that the carrying bar (4) is equipped at its upper end with a handle (14) for lifting the carrying device (2) out of the jacket tube (1).

9. Hole-in-the-ground beverage cooler according to one of claims 4-7, characterized in that the carrying bar (4) of the carrying device (2) is connected at the top to the cover (6) of the jacket tube (1) and is equipped with a pneumatic spring (15), which serves to lift the carrying device (2) out of the jacket tube (1) and is braced on the base (5) of the jacket tube (1).

10. Hole-in-the-ground beverage cooler according to claim 9, characterized in that the cover (6) of the jacket tube (1) is equipped with a depressible switching element (16) for release and locking of the pneumatic spring (15) in alternating succession.

11. Hole-in-the-ground beverage cooler according to one of claims 1-7, characterized in that the carrying device (2) is assigned an electric rotary spindle drive (17) braced on the base (5) of the jacket tube (1) and used for lifting of the carrying device (2) out of the jacket tube (1) or for lowering of the carrying device (2) into the jacket tube (1).

12. Hole-in-the-ground beverage cooler according to claim 11, characterized in that the carrying device (2) is additionally guided in twisting-proof manner on the wall of the jacket tube (1).

13. Hole-in-the-ground beverage cooler according to one of claims 1-12, characterized in that the base (5), tightly sealing the jacket tube (1) at the bottom, is designed as a metal plate screwed together with the jacket tube (1).

14. Hole-in-the-ground beverage cooler according to claim 9, characterized in that the bracing of the pneumatic spring (15) on the base (5) of the jacket tube (1) takes place via a ball joint (18).