Versatile countertop cooler

Claim 1

A liquid chiller or countertop cooler for standard size water bottles or the like comprising: an enclosed refrigeration case for removably receiving and closely enclosing a plastic water bottle approximately 6 inches wide, 12 inches deep, and 10 inches in height, said bottle having a dispensing spigot mounted at the lower front end thereof; said case including a base, said enclosed case having a lower section fixed to said base and a fully removable top section including a portion covering more than one-half of the top of said bottle, and most of the front thereof, to permit placement of said bottle in said enclosed refrigeration case and to allow for the removal of said bottle therefrom; means for mounting said removable section in place to enclose said refrigeration case; a thermally conductive metal member covering the inner rear of said case, and extending along at least a substantial portion of the inner rear of said case, and at least one adjacent inner wall of said refrigeration case, to cool said bottle by conduction; thermoelectric cooling means mounted at the rear of said refrigeration case and in intimate thermal conductive relationship with said conductive metal member for cooling the water in said bottle; said refrigeration case including a spigot receiving opening extending through the front wall of the lower fixed section thereof, whereby the bottle must be placed into said countertop cooler with the spigot being initially engaged through said opening before the remainder of the bottle can be placed into said cooler; and means including downwardly extendable or foldable legs mounted under said base for varying the height of said countertop cooler from a relatively low height which will easily fit under kitchen cabinets to a higher elevation for greater convenience in filling tall receptacles.