BEVERAGE SERVICE STATION AND BAR
The invention involves a beverage station and bar. The beverage station and bar is constructed from lightweight blow molded panels secured to a metal frame. This construction provides a structure that can be shipped to homes and assembled on site. Ballast containers that utilize locally sourced ballast material are securable within the base of the beverage station and bar to provide stability and reduce the tendency of the beverage station and bar to tip from users leaning against the structure during use.
1 . A beverage station ( 100 ) comprising:
a space frame ( 10 ), the space frame ( 10 ) constructed to provide structure for the attachment of interlocking outer panels ( 16 ), the space frame ( 10 ) forming a load bearing structure constructed and arranged to transfer loads to other portions of the space frame ( 10 ) to increase weight capacity and rigidity to the beverage station and bar ( 100 ),
a bar panel ( 18 ) secured to a spine portion ( 14 ) of the space frame ( 10 ) such that loads applied to the bar panel ( 18 ) are transferred through the space frame ( 10 ) and distributed to other portions of the beverage station and bar ( 100 ),
a plurality of interlocking panels ( 16 ) secured to a plurality of rib members ( 12 ), the rib members ( 12 ) secured to the spine ( 14 ) of the space frame ( 10 ), the panels ( 16 ) interlocked at least along the edges and secured to the space frame ( 10 ) to create a hybrid structure,
a base assembly ( 22 ) secured to a bottom portion ( 24 ) of the ribs ( 12 ), a plurality of outrigger beams ( 200 ) secured to the base assembly ( 22 ) to extend outwardly beyond a perimeter of the space frame ( 10 ), each respective outrigger beam ( 200 ) including at least one wheel ( 102 ) for supporting the weight of the beverage station ( 100 ) and for allowing wheeled movement of the beverage station.
2 . The beverage station ( 100 ) as claimed in claim 1 wherein the outrigger beams ( 200 ) extend outwardly beyond the outer perimeter of the bar panel ( 18 ) when viewed from the top.
3 . The beverage station ( 100 ) as claimed in claim 1 wherein the outriggers include a plate portion ( 106 ) and a box portion ( 108 ), the plate portion ( 106 ) secured to the base assembly ( 22 ), the box portion ( 108 ) securing the at least one wheel ( 102 ).
4 . The beverage station ( 100 ) as claimed in claim 3 wherein the at least one wheel ( 102 ) is a pair of dually wheels ( 103 ) in a side by side arrangement.
5 . The beverage station ( 100 ) as claimed in claim 4 wherein at least a portion of the dually wheels are caster wheel assemblies ( 104 ).
6 . The beverage station ( 100 ) as claimed in claim 3 wherein all of the dually wheels are caster wheel assemblies ( 104 ).
7 . The beverage station and bar ( 100 ) as claimed in claim 3 wherein the box portion ( 108 ) of each outrigger ( 100 ) includes an offset wall ( 110 ) that is constructed and arranged to reduce the clearance between a bottom surface ( 124 ) of the beverage station ( 100 ) and a ground surface that is less than the diameter of the at least one wheel ( 102 ).
8 . The beverage station ( 100 ) as claimed in claim 7 wherein the offset wall ( 110 ) connects to the plate portion ( 106 ) at a bottom surface ( 109 ) thereof and to a base plate ( 112 ) of the box portion ( 108 ) at a top surface ( 111 ) thereof, for supporting the at least one wheel ( 102 ).
9 . The beverage station ( 100 ) as claimed in claim 8 including a pair of gussets ( 114 ) secured to the base plate ( 112 ) and the offset wall ( 110 ) to provide structural support and defining the box portion ( 108 ).
10 . The beverage station ( 100 ) as claimed in claim 9 wherein the box portion ( 108 ) includes a front wall ( 116 ), the front wall ( 116 ) secured to the base plate ( 112 ) and the gussets ( 114 ).
11 . The beverage station ( 100 ) as claimed in claim 1 wherein the at least one wheel ( 102 ) includes a brake ( 118 ) for restricting the rotation of the at least one wheel ( 102 ) about an axis of rotation ( 120 ).
12 . The beverage station ( 100 ) as claimed in claim 6 wherein all of the caster wheel assemblies ( 104 ) include a manually operated brake ( 118 ).
13 . The beverage station and bar ( 100 ) as claimed in claim 1 wherein the base assembly ( 22 ) includes a cross grid comprising at least two longitudinal members ( 26 ) and at least two cross members ( 28 ), the longitudinal members ( 26 ) and the cross members ( 28 ) secured together in a suitable manner to transfer load from the ribs ( 12 ) to the base assembly ( 22 ).