Cooler for faucet-equipped beverage containers

Claim 1

A refrigerated cooler for a generally cubicle, shaperetentive beverage container of the type having a faucet extending outwardly from a forward end thereof; said cooler comprising a cabinet having relatively spaced apart, outer and inner walls defining a fowardly opening compartment to receive and house a shape-retentive, cubicle beverage container with the faucet of said container extending forwardly and outwardly beyond said compartment, said compartment being defined in part by a forwardly and outwardly sloping bottom wall arranged to tilt a beverage container positioned in said compartment slightly downwardly and outwardly toward its faucet; refrigerantcirculating means including a cooling element positioned in adjacent, heat-exchange relation to at least one of the inner walls of said cabinet and operable to cool the contents of said compartment; a thermally insulated closure panel removably carried on said cabinet in closing relation to said compartment and having a recessed lower edge portion arranged to fit around and permit access to the faucet of a beverage container positioned in said compartment; and a manually operable, springbiased faucet-actuating handle pivotally carried on the exterior of said cabinet beneath the recessed lower edge portion of said closure panel for engagement with the faucet of a beverage container positioned in said compartment, said handle being operable upon manual release to close the faucet of a beverage container with which it is engaged.