DE29811864U1 - Transportable device for providing food and beverages at events - Google Patents

Description

*··***· ·· Hamburg· *

Patent Attorney

European Patent Attorney

Jochen Ehlers

Patent Attorney

Dipl.-Phys. Frank Meier

Lawyer

Rainer Boehm

Munich

Patent attorneys

European Patent Attorneys

Dipl.-Phys. Gerhard Liedl

Dipl.-Wirtsch.-Ing. Rainer Pritsche

Patent Attorney

Dipl.-Chem. Dr. Peter Schüler

Berlin

Patent Attorney
European Patent Attorney
Dipl.-Ing. Jutta Kaden

Alicante

European Trademark Attorney
Dipl.-Ing. Jürgen Klinghardt

Bremen, 2 July 1998

Our reference: D 1365 MAN/hs

Applicant/Owner: Karin Dokters

Official reference number: New registration

Patent attorneys European Patent Attorneys Dipl.-Ing. Günther Eisenführ Dipl.-Ing. Dieter K. Speiser Dr.-Ing. Werner W. Raous Dipl.-Ing. Jürgen Brügge Dipl.-Ing. Jürgen Klinghardt Dipl.-Ing. Klaus G. Göken Patent attorneys Dipl.-Ing. Mark Andres Dipl.-Ing. Joachim von Oopen

Attorneys Ulrich H. Sander Christian Spmtig Sabine Richter

Martinistrasse 24 D-28195 3remen Tel. 0421-36 35 0 Fax 0421-36 35 35 (G3) Fax 0421-32 88 631 (G4)

mail@Eisenfuhr.com

Karin Dokters, Poststr. 12, 49770 Dohren

Portable device for providing food and drinks at events

The present invention relates to a transportable device for providing food and drinks at events, with a transportable frame and a grill device arranged on the frame for heating food.

Such a transportable device is known in the form of a trailer that can be coupled to a motor vehicle and on which a grill device that can be heated by gas, for example, is arranged. The trailer with the grill device can be transported to an event location and parked there in order to then provide food heated by the grill device for consumption.

The disadvantage of the known device is that it is used exclusively for the provision of heated food at the respective location.

The present invention is based on the object of further developing a portable device of the type mentioned at the beginning in such a way that it can be used in a more versatile manner and meets additional needs at events.

The invention solves the problem in such a device by means of a beverage dispensing system for dispensing a beverage from a barrel and a cooling device associated with the dispensing system for cooling the beverage and by means of a refrigerator device supported by the framework for storing food in a cooled state.

The device according to the invention advantageously enables not only the provision of heated food, but also the provision of chilled drinks from a drinks dispenser and, in addition, the provision of other chilled food such as drinks from bottles or cans or ice cream or the like. As a result, a large part of the food supply needs that arise at events, such as celebrations, can be satisfied with a single device. The invention eliminates the need for complex construction of a device from individual components, which results in a great deal of time saving. Instead, the device according to the invention is transported to the site of use and can be put into operation immediately.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the cooling device and the refrigerator device have a common cooling unit. The common cooling unit for the cooling and refrigerator device keeps the equipment costs low.

In a particularly preferred manner, the device according to the invention additionally has a music system supported by the frame, with which the music often required at larger events can be provided, for example by means of a conventional cassette or CD player and an amplifier and loudspeaker system. All components of the device can be easily transported together without the need for several separate transports. The entire device can be easily transported to the event locations and operated there without the need for complex assembly work, since all components are quickly ready for operation.

According to a preferred development of the invention, an electric lighting system with several light sources is provided which is attached to the frame, so that the device can operate smoothly even in the dark. The lighting system is preferably coupled to the music system in the manner of a so-called light organ, so that the light sources can be switched on and off depending on the respective

Music can be switched on, which allows special effects to be achieved.

An alternative embodiment of the invention is characterized by a power generation system attached to the frame for providing electrical energy from a fuel, whereby the power generation system is coupled to the grill device and/or the cooling device and/or the refrigerator cabinet device and/or the music system and/or the lighting system by means of cables to supply the components with electrical energy. The power generation system makes the portable device energy-independent and can be operated without any problems in the open air, so that the needs of events such as celebrations in rural tourist regions are particularly taken into account.

Alternatively, the device according to the invention has a power transfer unit arranged on the frame for connection to an external electrical cable for transferring electrical energy to the grill device and/or the cooling device and/or the refrigerator device and/or the music system and/or the lighting system, so that a simple connection to a power network is possible.

In a particularly preferred manner, a radio telephone system is additionally provided on the frame, so that the need for telecommunications is also met.

In an expedient development of the invention, it is provided that the dispensing system has a drain coil with a faucet connected to a water storage tank, so that dishes can be washed and the dispensing system can be operated hygienically.

The device can also be transported over longer distances in a particularly simple manner if, according to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the frame is mounted on a single-axle or multi-axle trailer that can be coupled to a motor vehicle.

According to a further development of the invention, it is provided that the frame has a substantially closed, weatherproof housing with several lockable door openings, so that the components of the device are protected from the effects of the weather and other external influences. Preferably

A door opening can be closed using a roller shutter so that it can be easily opened and closed.

The device is also particularly self-sufficient if the cooling device and/or the refrigerator device has a gas-powered absorption chiller. The grill device and the absorption chiller are supplied with gas from a common gas bottle. The power generation system is also expediently operated with gas, preferably liquid gas.

Preferably, the refrigerator device has a pivotable door arranged in the area of the outer contour of the housing, so that food stored in the refrigerator device can be easily removed from the outside.

According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the frame is designed in such a way that the device can be attached to a motor vehicle for transport. This eliminates the need for a chassis and the device can be transported on a so-called pick-up vehicle with a loading area. The frame expediently has several length-adjustable support elements for placing the device on the ground, so that the transport vehicle is relieved and can be used separately while the "party" device according to the invention is being used.

Finally, according to a further alternative embodiment, a toilet facility supported by the frame is provided, so that the relevant need is also taken into account.

The invention is described below using exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. They show:

Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of a transportable device according to the invention in a side view;

Fig. 2 shows the device shown in Fig. 1 in another side view;

Fig. 3 shows the device shown in Fig. 1 in another side view;

Fig. 4 shows the device from Fig. 1 in a rear view;

Fig. 5 shows the device from Fig. 1 in a rear view;

Fig. 6 shows the device shown in Fig. 1 in a plan view;

Fig. 7 shows a further embodiment of a transportable device according to the invention in a side view;

Fig. 8 shows the device shown in Fig. 7 in a further side view; Fig. 9 shows the device from Fig. 7 in a rear view.

The portable device shown in Fig. 1 for providing food and drinks at events is designed in the manner of a trailer that can be coupled to a motor vehicle and has a portable frame 2. The frame 2 can be coupled to a motor vehicle using a conventional trailer coupling 4 and, in the uncoupled operating state, stands on two wheels 6 and a support wheel 8. The frame carries all the components of the device according to the invention, which are described in detail below. The device has all the devices that are required for operation in road traffic, such as the rear lights and reflectors shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

A substantially closed, weatherproof housing 10 protects the components of the device arranged inside the housing 10 from the effects of the weather and other external influences and has two rectangular door openings 12 formed on opposite side walls of the housing 10, each of which can be closed using a conventional roll-up roller shutter. In Fig. 1, the door openings 12 are closed, while in Figs. 2, 3 and 5 the roller shutters are in the open position. Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate a door opening 13 arranged in the rear area of the device.

On the left side of the trailer in the direction of travel, a grill device 14 that can be heated with liquid gas is arranged, as shown in Fig. 2 and 6. The grill device 14 for heating food has a cooking chamber delimited by grates, a flame chamber arranged underneath and an outer housing. The grill device 14 is connected to a liquid gas bottle 16, which is arranged in a separate room inside the housing 10. Fig. 6 shows particularly clearly that the interior of the housing 10 is divided into individual rooms by the outer walls of the housing 10 and by vertically and horizontally arranged partition walls 18 inside, each of which has its own function.

Above the grill device 14, a smoke extraction hood 20 is attached to the ceiling of the housing 10, through which the smoke gases produced during grilling can be removed from the interior of the housing 10. The smoke extraction hood 20 is inserted through an opening (not shown in detail) in the ceiling of the housing 10 in order to enter the operating state. In the transport state according to Fig. 1, the smoke extraction hood 20 is arranged completely inside the housing 10 and the opening arranged in the ceiling of the housing 10 is closed by a cover.

As can be seen from Fig. 3 and 6, a beverage dispensing system 22 is arranged in a separate room in the housing 10 on the right-hand side of the portable device in the direction of travel. In the exemplary embodiment, this dispensing system has 2 taps and is connected to two barrels 24, 25 arranged in the rear area of the device and shown in Fig. 5, so that beverages in barrels 24, 25 can be conveniently filled into glasses or the like using the dispensing system 22. The dispensing system 22 can be connected to a compressed gas bottle 26 shown in Fig. 5, with the aid of which the pressure required for dispensing is generated in the barrels 24, 25.

Adjacent to the dispensing device 22, a conventional sink 28 is attached to the frame 2, on which a faucet connected to a water storage container is arranged and which has a drain connected to a water collecting container. The dispensing system 22 is assigned a cooling device for cooling the drinks to be dispensed. In the exemplary embodiment shown, a continuous cooling device is provided within the dispensing system 22 shown in Fig. 3, in which the liquid to be dispensed runs through a heat exchanger and is cooled by a cooling medium. In addition, the barrels 24 and 25 can be pre-cooled. The separate space arranged in the rear area for accommodating the barrels 24, 25 (Fig. 6) is accordingly thermally insulated, for example by insulating panels in the area of the intermediate walls 18 and the outer walls of the housing 10. Alternatively, a separate cooling device with a cooling unit can be provided in the space for accommodating the barrels 24, 25, which cools the entire space.

In the front area of the device, as seen in the direction of travel, a refrigerator device 30 is arranged, which, as best illustrated in Fig. 6, has two separate cooling chambers 32, 33. Both cooling chambers 32, 33 are each accessible from the outside through a door opening for filling and removing

Food such as meat or drinks. The door openings are closed by doors 34,

35 can be locked. The cooling rooms 32 and 33 are thermally insulated by insulation panels.

A cooling unit 36, see Fig. 1, 2, 3 and 6, has a refrigeration machine, preferably a gas-operated absorption refrigeration machine, an evaporator and a heat exchanger for releasing the heat to the environment. The cooling unit

In one embodiment, 36 has a coolant line that leads to the dispensing system 22 and is connected there to the heat exchanger of the dispensing system, so that the drinks can be cooled by means of the cooling unit 36.

In a manner not shown in detail, the device is equipped with a music system which has a playback device, such as a cassette player or a CD player, an amplifier and at least one loudspeaker. The loudspeakers can expediently be arranged inside the housing 10 in the area of the door openings 12 so that the sound penetrates easily to the outside, while the other components of the music system can be arranged, for example, in the space 38 arranged in the rear area of the device (see Fig. 5).

The device also has an electric lighting system with several lights (not shown) so that the grill device 14, the dispensing system 22 and, if necessary, the individual rooms of the device are illuminated. The lights are arranged, for example, in the area of the ceiling of the housing 10. The lights can also be arranged in the area of the outer contour of the housing 10 and designed as spotlights so that the area around the portable device is illuminated. It is also preferred to couple the lighting system with the music system so that the lights can be switched depending on the music in question in the manner of a so-called light organ. The lighting system usually has several switches with which the lights can be switched separately.

A power generation system 40 is attached to the frame 2 within a housing and is used to provide electrical energy from gas or other fuels. The power generation system 40 is coupled in a manner not shown by means of cables to the lighting system, the music system, the cooling device, the dispensing system 22 if this is designed as an electrical cooling system, the refrigerator device 30 if this is electrically operated, and to the grill device.

The power generation system 40 makes the entire portable device self-sufficient in terms of energy and does not need to be connected to an electrical network. Alternatively, however, the power generation system 40 can be omitted and replaced by a power transfer unit for connection to an external electrical cable or network for transferring electrical energy to the previously described components of the device. Both the power generation system 40 and a power transfer unit can also be provided so that energy can alternatively be supplied from an electrical network or from the independent power generation system 40. The power generation system 40 has, for example, a gas or diesel engine that is coupled to an electrical generator. The electrical energy generated can be stored in a battery that is also arranged on the frame 2, so that the engine does not have to be operated continuously. The battery can also be charged from an electrical network if necessary.

In a manner not shown, a telephone system is mounted on the frame 2. The telephone system is - like the other components - supplied with power from a battery, the power generation system 40 or a power transfer unit. It is equipped as a radio telephone system so that it can be used from any location. Also in a manner not shown, a toilet system can be carried by the frame.

The transportable device shown in Figs. 7 to 9 is designed so that it can be transported on a motor vehicle, for example a car 42 with a loading area 44 arranged in the rear area on which the transportable device rests. To attach the device to the car during transport, fastening means are provided in the area of the floor of the transportable device, which cooperate with fastening means arranged on the loading area 44, for example in the manner of a twist-lock closure, as is known from ship technology. The transportable device contains essentially the same components as the previously described embodiment, so that in order to avoid repetition, reference is made to the above description and the same reference numerals are used for the same parts and differences are described in detail below.

In the corner sections of the frame, which is also connected to a housing 10, a total of four support elements 46 are arranged so as to be longitudinally displaceable.

and can be fixed in a retracted position shown in Fig. 7 and in several extended positions shown as examples in Figs. 8 and 9 relative to the frame 2. For this purpose, bolts can be inserted through holes in the support elements and in sections of the frame 2. The support elements 46 are guided in sleeves 48 which are firmly connected to the housing 10 and frame 2.

The refrigerator device 30 is arranged in the front area of the device and has a total of four cooling chambers (not shown in detail) which are accessible from the outside through pivoting doors 34 arranged on both sides of the housing 10. The cooling chambers are cooled with the aid of the cooling unit 36.

In the rear area of the device, a total of four separate rooms are also provided, which can be closed from the outside by doors 35. The rooms that can be closed by doors 35 can be cooled by the cooling unit 36 using appropriate coolant lines by arranging evaporators in the rooms. Alternatively, the rooms can be uncooled and can be designed, for example, to accommodate a previously described music system, a lighting system, a telephone system or to accommodate food.

Fig. 8 shows that on the right-hand side in the direction of travel there is a dispensing system 22 and a sink 28, the outlet of which is connected to a waste water hose 50. The dispensing system 22 is connected by means of two hoses 52 to barrels 24, 25 standing on the floor in which the drinks to be dispensed are stored.

On the side opposite the dispensing system 22, the grill device is arranged in a manner not shown, which essentially corresponds to the grill system 14 shown in Fig. 2.

From the rear view according to Fig. 9 it can be seen that in the rear area of the housing 10 there are additional rooms accessible from the outside through doors 54 in which food or other objects can be stored. A water tank 56 for storing fresh water is attached to the ceiling of the housing 10.

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List of reference symbols

2 Frame 4 trailer hitch 6 Wheels 8th Support wheel 10 Housing 12 Door openings 13 Door openings 14 Grill equipment 16 LPG bottle 18 Partition walls 20 Smoke extraction hood 22 Beverage dispensing system 24 Barrels 25 Barrels 26 Compressed gas cylinder 28 kitchen sink 30 Refrigerator equipment 32 Cold storage rooms 33 Cold storage rooms 34 Doors 35 Doors 36 Cooling unit 38 Space 40 Power generation plant 42 Car 44 Loading area 46 Support elements 48 Pods 50 Waste water hose 52 Hoses 54 Doors 56 Water tank

Claims (18)

Expectations 1. Portable device for providing food and drinks at events, with a transportable frame (2) and a grill device (14) arranged on the frame (2) for heating food,
characterized by a beverage dispensing system (22) for dispensing a beverage from a barrel (24, 25) and a cooling device associated with the dispensing system (22) for cooling the beverage and by a refrigerator device (30) carried by the frame (2) for the refrigerated storage of foodstuffs. 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the cooling device and the refrigerator device (30) have a common cooling unit (36). 3. Device according to claim 1 and/or 2, characterized by a music system supported by the frame (2). 4. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims,
characterized by an electric lighting system with several lighting elements attached to the frame (2). 5. Device according to claim 3 and 4, characterized in that the lighting system is coupled to the music system so that the lighting elements can be switched depending on the respective music. 6. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims,
characterized by a power generation system (40) attached to another frame (2) for providing electrical energy from a fuel, which is coupled to the grill device (14) and/or the cooling device and/or the refrigerator cabinet device (30) and/or the music system and/or the lighting system by means of lines for supplying electrical energy. 7. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims,
characterized by a power transfer unit arranged on the frame (2) for connection to an external electrical cable for transferring electrical energy to the grill device (14) and/or the cooling device and/or the refrigerator cabinet device (30) and/or the music system and/or the lighting system. 8. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims,
characterized by a telephone system arranged on the frame (2). 9. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that the dispensing system (22) has a drain sink (28) with a water tap connected to a water storage tank. 10. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that the frame (2) is mounted on a single-axle or multi-axle trailer which can be coupled to a motor vehicle (42). 11. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that the frame (2) has a substantially closed, weatherproof housing (10) with several lockable door openings (12, 13). 12. Device according to claim 11, characterized in that a door opening (12, 13) can be closed by means of a roller shutter. 13. Device according to one of claims 2 to 12, characterized in that the cooling device and/or the refrigerator device (30) comprises a gas-operated absorption refrigeration machine. 14. Device according to claims 2 and 11, characterized in that the refrigerator device (30) has a pivotable door (34) arranged in the region of the outer contour of the housing (10). 15. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the power generation plant (40) is operated with gas, preferably liquefied gas. 16. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the frame (2) is designed such that the device can be attached to a motor vehicle for transport. 17. Device according to claim 16, characterized in that the frame (2) has several length-adjustable support elements (46) for placing the device on the floor. 18. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized by a toilet facility supported by the frame (2).