GB2340813A

GB2340813A - Beverage dispenser

Info

Publication number: GB2340813A
Application number: GB9818812A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nigel Hanson Jones; Christopher John Wa Garthwaite; Andrew Philip Waterhouse
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-08-29
Filing date: 1998-08-29
Publication date: 2000-03-01
Also published as: GB9818812D0

Abstract

A beverage dispenser comprises a graduated transparent tube (1) fitted at its base to a tap unit (2) which is supported on a base (3). The tap unit is provided with a tap (4) for use by the consumer for dispensing beer or other beverage from the container formed by the tube and tap unit and the dispenser is intended to be sold at the bar to a group of drinkers who therefore do not have to return to the bar to buy further drinks but can help themselves from the dispenser. The unit (2) may be attached to the base (3) by mans of a key-hole shaped projection inserted in a key-hole shaped aperture and rotated.

Description

2340813 Beverage dispensing arrangenvent The present invention relates to

beverage dispensing arrangements. Current 7 0 beverage dispensing arrangements are usually fixed permanently to a bar or other cl 0 solid surface. They rely on manual power or pump pressure to serve the beverage.

0 They are not readily refillable at point of service and they do not allow the consumer to take subsequent control of beverage dispensing.

Accordingly the present invention provides a portable refillable beverage dispenser 0 0 capable of dispensing a plurality of units of beverage before requiring refilling, the 0 0 0 dispenser comprising an upwardly-extending beveraae container havina a C 0 0 dispensing tap, the container having means for indicating the quantity of beverage 0 0 0 cl dispensed.

In use, above dispenser enables beverages to be dispensed to consumers (particularly groups of drinkers. sat round a table) in larger quantities with less delay cl c> in serving and fewer trips to the bar.

Z1 The, dispenser of the invention is primarily but not exclusively designed for use in cl pugs, clubs and other venues in which beverages, especially beers and lagers but also other liquids, are consumed by the public. It can also be used by consumers in a domestic environment for parties etc.

Preferably the container has an upwardly-extending graduated portion of its wall cl which is at least partially transparent or translucent and indicates the quantity of beverage dispensed or remaining in the container. This feature enables a simple 0 cl construction and makes it easy for the drinkers in a group to see how much each person is drinking so that the cost of the filled dispenser can be correctly apportioned between them.

Preferably the container is attached to base which supports the container with the outlet of the dispensing tap above the bottom surface of the base. This feature cl enables the dispenser to be supported in the middle of a table (where it is easily accessible to all the drinkers sitting around the table) and to dispense beverages to C> -lasses or other drinkina vessels on the table.

Preferably the container is generally in the form of an upright tube closed at its lower end by a tap unit which incorporates the dispensing tap. This feature simplifies construction and enables a range of different capacity containers to be made from different lengths of the tube fitting a standard-sized tap unit. Preferably the tube is detachable from the tap unit. This facilitate's cleaning.

Other preferred features are defined in the dependent claims.

At least in its preferred embodiments, the invention has the following advantages:

0 0 i) it is portable and free-standing (it can be filled in one place but dispenses in another) ii) it is refillable (it is easily filled, washed and refilled) iii) it can be gravityfed and therefore simpler than fixed dispensers (the beverage can dispensed by its own weight rather than by gas pressure) 0 0 0 2 iv) it allows the consumer to control subsequent beverage dispensing.

0 A preferred embodiment of the invention is described below by way of example only with reference to Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawing, wherein:

C1 0 0 Figure 1 is a side elevation of a beer dispenser in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a diametral cross section of the dispenser showing a detail of the tap C 0 unit, base and lower end of the tube, and Fiaure 3 is an underneath plan view of the tap unit.

0 Referring to Fi gure 1, the dispenser comprises a tube 1 of transparent plastics material having a cap 9 which is removable to allow filling of the dispenser by the 0 & barman from eg a pump or a tap, a tap unit 2 removably sealed to the tube 1 and C.

having a dispensing tap 4 for use by the consumer, and a weighted base 3 which is removably fitted to the tap unit 2. The tap 4 is located at a sufficient height to enable C1 beer in the dispenser to be dispensed to a class or tankard standing on the same 0 0 surface (ea a table, not shown) as the base 3.

As shown in Figure 2, the tap unit 2 is essentially in the form of a solid cylinder sealed at its top region 5 to the inside of the lower end of tube 1 and having a generally L-shaped bore 8 which communicates with the tap 4 and the interior of the container formed by the tube 1 and tap unit 2.

The base 3 is in the form of a frusto-conical shell havin. a circular aperture in its 0 top wall for receiving and locating the tap unit 2 and having a shelf portion 7 with a keyhole-shaped aperture for receiving a complementary keyhole-shaped projection 6 which is formed on the base of the tap unit. By rotating the base 3 90 degrees about its vertical axis the projection 6 is secured in the aperture in shelf portion 7, thereby locking the base 3 to the container assembly (comprising tube 1 and tap unit 2).

23 The projection 6 is shown in more detail in Figure 3; the tap 4 has been omitted for the sake of clarity.

As indicated at G in Figure 1, the tube 1 is graduated in units of pints (1 pint = 0.57 M, C litre) or 0.5 litre, the smallest unit in which beer is normally dispensed, and has a capacity of about 3 litres. It is envisaged that capacities of from 1 to ten litres will be particularly useful, and it should be noted that the dispenser of the invention can 30 be used for dispensing other beverages such as wine, soft drinks or tea or coffee for 0 example. The tube 1 can be insulated if intended for dispensing hot or cooled drinks.

The components 1, 2 and 3 can be easily separated for cleaning and storage.

0 C1 The dispenser can be returned to the bar for reuse once it has been emptied. 35

Claims

3 Claims

1. A portable refillable beverage dispenser capable of dispensing a plurality of units 0 1 =I of beverage before requiring refilling, the dispenser comprising an upwardly- C 0 r5 0 extending beverage container having a dispensing tap, the container having means 0 C 0 C 0 for indicating the quantity of beverage dispensed.

0 0 2. A portable beverage dispenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein the container has an 0 upwardly-extending graduated portion of its wall which is at least partially 0 95 transparent or translucent and indicates the quantity of beverage dispensed or 0 remaining in the container.

C 3. A portable beverage dispenser as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the 0 container is attached to a base which supports the container with the outlet of the dispensing tap above the bottom surface of the base.

4. A portable beverage dispenser as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the 0 0 container is removably attached to a base which enables the dispenser to be sup orted uprig ,lit in a free-standing manner on a flat surface.

' p 0 5. A portable beverage dispenser as claimed in claim 4 wherein the base is in the 0 form of a shell clipped to the bottom of the container by releasable locking means.

6. A portable beverage dispenser as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the 0 0 container is generally in the form of an upright tube closed at its lower end by a tap C unit which incorporates the dispensing tap.

V> 7. A portable dispenser as claimed in claim 6 wherein the tube is detachable from the tap unit.

8. A portable dispenser as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the tube is 0 composed of plastics material.

9. A portable beverage dispenser as claimed in any preceding claim having a 0 0 0 capacity of from 1 litre to 10 litres.

11. A portable beverage dispenser substantially as described hereinabove with 0 reference to Fieures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawing