Today in 1967, US Patent 3327902 A was issued, an invention of Melvin Alterwitz, for his “Chilled Beverage Dispensing System.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:
The present invention relates generally to a beverage dispensing system. More particularly, it relates to the adaptation of a chilled beverage dispensing system either to a home bar or to a portable picnic ice chest.
In recent years it has become increasingly popular to serve chilled beverages dispensed from bulk containers or tanks in the home as well as out of doors. This has proven to be a more economical as well as practical way in which to serve a large number of chilled beverage drinks, as it obviates the need for purchasing, handling and chilling large numbers of small bottle or can containers. Moreover, there is a degree of added charm in dispensing chilled beverages in the same manner as do commercial establishments.
Some people have gone to the great expense to have a built-in bar put in their homes. Very few, however, have gone to the considerably additional expense to incorporate in their home bars a system for dispensing chilled beverages from bulk containers, such as beer kegs, etc. Typically, these home bar setups require a considerable amount of space and thus require a reasonably large room to accommodate it.
Quite obviously, those living in leased quarters would not undertake the construction of such a home .bar setup knowing that once they moved. out they would either have to dismantle it or leave it behind.
For outdoor gatherings, such as picnics, chilled beverages are customarily served. Typically, in order to chill the beverages to a suitable temperature for drinking, a plurality of small beverage containers are placed in a container, such as an ice chest, filled with ice. The problem of suitably chilling beverages dispensed from bulk containers can be a particularly difficult one when out of doors. Quite obviously, ice in some form has to be used either to cool the-bulk containers or to cool the beverage as it is drawn from the bulk container and dispensed through beverage taps. While it is generally much preferred to be able to dispense chilled beverages from bulk containers, dispensing apparatus which is sufficiently portable and convenient to use is not readily available.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a portable chilled beverage dispensing system.
An additional object is to provide a chilled beverage dispensing system of the above character which is readily implemented with means for chilling the beverage to be dispensed.
Another object is to provide a chilled beverage dispensing system of the above character for dispensing plural kinds of beverages from different bulk containers.
Still another object is to provide a chilled beverage dispensing system of the above character in which the beverage taps are mounted to swing into position for dispensing from a position of protective concealment.
Yet another object is to provide a chilled beverage dispensing system of the above character which is compact, inexpensive, and simplified in design.