Abstract:
A system and method for dispensing a beverage. The system includes a beverage cartridge that stores any liquid and has a spout for dispensing the stored liquid. The beverage cartridge may be inserted into a beverage press that includes a housing for receiving the beverage cartridge. The beverage press also includes a tap that engages the spout of the beverage cartridge, and a lifting assembly that exerts force on the beverage cartridge. Pressing the tap activates the spout of the beverage cartridge to dispense the stored liquid through the spout and out of the tap of the beverage press, a system for dispensing a beverage.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/191,201, filed Jul. 10, 2015, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Current consumer perception is that good wine only comes in bottles. Because of this, bars and restaurants have served wine by the glass by opening and resealing individual bottles. Wine waste goes up and the pours of wine are not as fresh as the first pour. However, with wines on tap at a bar or restaurant, the aging process does not occur in the keg because the wine is blanketed with a gas such as nitrogen or argon to pressurize the keg. This works in the favor of consumers when they get a fresh pour every time with wine on tap at a bar or restaurant. 
         [0003]    Wine on tap also creates other cost savings by eliminating bottle, cork, and carton. Transport costs are significantly reduced without heavy glass, plus steel kegs are disposable and recyclable. However, there is currently no consistent way for consumers to enjoy wine on tap in their homes without having a system to store a wine keg. 
         [0004]    Thus, what is needed is a system and method that allows consumers to conveniently enjoy wine on tap in their homes. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    Briefly and in general terms, various embodiments are directed to a system for dispensing a beverage. The system includes a beverage cartridge storing a liquid and having a spout that dispenses the stored liquid. A beverage press includes a housing that receives the beverage cartridge, a tap that engages the spout of the beverage cartridge, and a lifting assembly that exerts force on the beverage cartridge. Once the beverage cartridge is secured within the beverage press, a user may press the tap to activate the spout of the beverage cartridge in order to dispense the stored liquid through the spout and out of the tap of the beverage press. Any liquid, such as wine, beer, water, juice, soda, any alcoholic or non-alcoholic liquid, may be stored in the beverage cartridge. In certain embodiments, the liquid may be dispensed through the spout without insertion of the beverage cartridge into the beverage press. 
         [0006]    Various other embodiments describe a method for dispensing a liquid. The method may include inserting a beverage cartridge into a beverage press. The beverage cartridge may store any liquid and includes a spout for dispensing the stored liquid. In one embodiment, the beverage press includes a housing that receives the beverage cartridge, a tap, and a lifting assembly that exerts force on the beverage cartridge. The method further includes engaging the spout of the beverage cartridge with the tap of the beverage cartridge, and pressing the tap of the beverage press to activate the spout of the beverage cartridge and release the liquid through the spout of the beverage cartridge and the tap of the beverage press. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    The accompanying figures, which are included as part of the present specification, illustrate the various embodiments of the present disclosed system and method and together with the general description given above and the detailed description of the preferred embodiments given below serve to explain and the teach the principles of the present disclosure. 
           [0008]      FIGS. 1A-1D  illustrate one exemplary beverage cartridge; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  depicts a front view of a beverage bag used inside a beverage cartridge; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  depicts an exploded view of one embodiment of a beverage cartridge; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  depicts an exemplary diagram of a system having a beverage cartridge in a beverage press; 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  depicts a wine glass stationed under a tap of a beverage press; 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  depicts an exemplary diagram for dispensing wine from a beverage press into a wine glass; 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  depicts an exemplary diagram for loading a beverage cartridge into a beverage press; 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  depicts an exemplary diagram for removing the lid of the beverage press; 
           [0016]      FIGS. 9A and 9B  depict an exemplary embodiment of a lifting mechanism; 
           [0017]      FIG. 10  depicts an exemplary plot of the pressure exerted by a three link scissor gas spring for a volume of beverage in a beverage cartridge; 
           [0018]      FIG. 11  depicts an exploded view of an exemplary beverage press; 
           [0019]      FIG. 12  depicts an exemplary beverage cartridge with a spout cap covering a spout; 
           [0020]      FIGS. 13A-13C  depict exemplary uses of the beverage cartridge depicted in  FIG. 12 ; 
           [0021]      FIGS. 14A and 14B  depict one example of a beverage cartridge having a breakaway floating floor design; and 
           [0022]      FIGS. 15A and 15B  depict another example of a beverage cartridge having a tap or spout locator. 
       
    
    
       [0023]    It should be noted that the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale and elements of similar structures or functions are generally represented by like reference numerals for illustrative purposes throughout the figures. It also should be noted that the figures are only intended to facilitate the description of the various embodiments described herein. The figures do not describe every aspect of the teachings disclosed herein and do not limit the scope of the claims. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0024]    The present disclosure describes a system and method for dispensing a beverage (e.g., wine) on tap. The tap is a valve that controls the release of the beverage out of a dispenser. According to one embodiment, the present system dispenses a beverage from a beverage sealed in a pouch or a bag. Bag-in-box type packaging is cheaper, lighter, more environmentally friendly, and easier to transport and store than glass-bottled wine. 
         [0025]    According to one embodiment, the present system includes a beverage cartridge that dispenses a beverage based on gravity. This may be referred to as gravity mode. The present system may further include a beverage press that allows the beverage cartridge to be inverted and inserted into the beverage press. The beverage press compresses the beverage cartridge to dispense the beverage. This may be referred to as dispensing mode.  FIG. 1  illustrates a beverage cartridge, according to one embodiment. The beverage cartridge has a height of 9.5 inches, a length of about 5.8 inches, and a width of about 3.5″, according to one embodiment. The size and shape of the beverage cartridge may vary. 
         [0026]    According to one embodiment, the present system includes a beverage cartridge that includes a spout for dispensing a beverage in a gravity mode. The spout of the beverage cartridge is in proximity to a surface that the beverage cartridge rests on, such as a countertop. This allows the spout of the beverage cartridge to dispense a beverage based on gravity. The beverage cartridge may contain any volume of beverage, for example, a volume of 1.5 liters, or a volume equivalent to a two-bottle wine box. In one embodiment, a user that holds a side radius of the beverage cartridge has a similar feeling of holding a 750 milliliter (ml) bottle. A typical 750 ml bottle has a diameter of 3 inches. A typical 0.187 ml four-pack beverage has a dimensions of 4 inches by 4 inches. A typical 1.5 liter bottle has a diameter of 4 inches. 
         [0027]      FIGS. 1A-1D  illustrate an exemplary beverage cartridge  20 , according to one embodiment. In  FIG. 1A , the beverage cartridge  20  includes a label  22  that covers the front of the beverage cartridge prior to dispensing a beverage. The beverage cartridge  20  further includes a spout  24  that protrudes from a door  25  of the beverage cartridge for dispensing a beverage. The spout includes a button activated valve  26  that can be pressed to dispense a beverage. During production and shipping, the label protects the spout and prevents accidental dispensing of the liquid. 
         [0028]    Together,  FIGS. 1A-1D  illustrate an exemplary diagram for preparing a spout of a beverage cartridge for dispensing a beverage, according to one embodiment. A user peels back the label  22  on the front of the beverage cartridge to reveal the spout  24  and the door  25  that are contained within a cavity in the beverage cartridge  20 . The cavity may be shaped to conform to the sides of the spout and the door. In this embodiment, the door is flush with the spout. The spout is engaged with an opening  27  of a beverage bag within the beverage cartridge to seal the beverage bag. The opening of the beverage bag may include one or more grooves, according to one embodiment. The user may further lift the door  25  by pulling the door away from the beverage cartridge. The user lifts the spout  24  up and away from the beverage cartridge and seats the spout in the cavity such that the spout is protruding from the beverage cartridge. After the user seats the spout, the user returns the door  25  to lock by lowering the door towards the beverage cartridge and engaging an edge of the door with a groove in the opening of the beverage bag. 
         [0029]      FIG. 2  illustrates a front view of a beverage bag  28  used inside a beverage cartridge  20 , according to one embodiment. The beverage bag may include a volume of 1.5 liters of beverage, according to one embodiment. However, the beverage bag may be sized to hold any amount of a liquid. The beverage bag may be pre-filled with a beverage using a filling system. The beverage bag opening may be sealed by engaging a spout with the beverage bag opening. 
         [0030]      FIG. 3  illustrates exemplary components of the beverage cartridge  20 , according to one embodiment. The beverage cartridge includes a canister top cap  30 , a canister floor  32 , and a canister rim  34  that may be manufactured using an injection molding process and made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE), according to one embodiment. In other embodiments the parts of the beverage cartridge may be made from other materials, including any plastic, metal, cardboard or wood. The beverage cartridge includes a canister cardboard  36  that may be manufactured using an extrusion or winding process and made of extruded chipboard, according to one embodiment. The canister cardboard includes a recess  38  for accommodating the spout  24  of the bag  28  of beverage. The beverage cartridge  20  may also include a top label, a bottom label, a front label, and a back label that may be printed on paper. 
         [0031]      FIG. 4  illustrates an exemplary diagram for dispensing a beverage using a beverage press  40 , according to one embodiment. As shown, the beverage press  40  includes a housing  42  and a lid  44  that includes a tap  46 . A user may invert and insert a beverage cartridge  20  into the beverage press  40  for dispensing a beverage in a dispensing mode. For example, the beverage press may dispense wine into a wine glass. The beverage cartridge  20  is inverted such that the spout  24  of the beverage cartridge is on an opposing end to a base of the beverage press  40 . The beverage press  40  includes a lifting mechanism such as a spring mechanism (see  FIG. 9 ) for lifting and dispensing a beverage from the beverage cartridge. In one embodiment, the beverage press fits a standard 9-inch wine glass under the tap of the beverage press. It is understood that the beverage press may dispense a beverage into a vessel of any height without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure. 
         [0032]    The tap  46  of the beverage press  40  dispenses a beverage into a desired vessel. A user may place a vessel  48  below the tap of the beverage press such that an opening of the vessel faces the bottom of the tap as shown in  FIG. 5 . When the user presses one end of the tap  46 , the tap dispenses a beverage into the vessel. The beverage press dispenses beverage on a surface, for example, on a countertop, on a refrigerator shelf, and within a refrigerator door shelf bin. The beverage press may have a tapered body that allows a user to hold and transport the beverage press without the beverage press slipping from his/her hand. Ridges, indentations, or other structures for gripping may be added to the body of the beverage press. 
         [0033]    According to one embodiment, the shape of the tap mimics the silhouette of a wine glass. It is understood that the tap may be of any shape without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure. The tap may be made of stamped aluminum cover, according to one embodiment. However, any material, such as plastic may be used. The tap includes a curved handle to allow a user to conveniently place his/her finger on the tap. The tap may further include a front face that provides an engraved logo and reflects light. 
         [0034]      FIG. 4  illustrates an exploded view of a beverage cartridge and beverage press assembly, according to one embodiment. A user may place the lid  44  of the beverage press  40  over the top of the beverage cartridge  20  and push down on the beverage cartridge towards the base of the beverage press until the lid of the beverage press engages the housing  42  of the beverage press. The lid of the beverage press may include a cutout  50  to expose the top of the beverage cartridge and show a label printed on or attached to the top of the beverage cartridge. The lid  44  may include tabs  52  that may rest within grooves on the inside of the housing of the beverage press to lock the lid in place. The lid may also be unlocked and removed from the housing of the beverage press  42  by pressing the tabs and pulling up on the lid to disengage the tabs  52 . 
         [0035]      FIG. 6  illustrates an exemplary diagram for dispensing a beverage from the beverage press  40 , according to one embodiment. A user presses his/her finger or thumb on one end of the tap  46  to compress a button activated valve  26  of the spout  24  on the beverage cartridge  20  inserted into the beverage dispenser to release a beverage from the beverage cartridge into a vessel. 
         [0036]      FIG. 7  illustrates an exemplary diagram for loading a beverage cartridge  20  into a beverage press  40 , according to one embodiment. A user loads the beverage cartridge  20  into the beverage press  40  by inverting and inserting the beverage cartridge into the beverage press. The user inverts the beverage cartridge such that the spout of the beverage cartridge is in proximity to a cavity  54  in the housing  42  of the beverage press  40 . The user attaches the lid  44  of the beverage press to a top end (the end having the spout) of the beverage cartridge housing  42  such that the tap  46  on the lid of the beverage press engages to the spout  24  of the beverage cartridge. According to one embodiment, the tap  46  on the lid  44  of the beverage press  40  touches or leans against the spout  24  of the beverage cartridge  20 . The user pushes down on the beverage cartridge  20  towards the base of the beverage press  40  using the lid  44  of the beverage press until the lid of the beverage press engages with the beverage press. In one embodiment, the beverage press provides an indication that the beverage cartridge is loaded into the beverage press by providing a feedback sound (e.g., a click sound) once the tabs  52  engage the housing  42  of the beverage press. 
         [0037]      FIG. 8  illustrates an exemplary diagram for removing the lid  44  of a beverage press  40 , according to one embodiment. The beverage press  40  includes side buttons  54  that are located on both ends of the lid. The side buttons  54  may be pulled away from each other to disengage the tabs  52  from the housing  42  to release the lid  44  from the beverage press housing. 
         [0038]      FIGS. 9A-9B  illustrate an exemplary dispensing mechanism or lifting assembly  60  within a beverage press  40 , according to one embodiment. The beverage press  40  includes a dispensing mechanism  60  that is a scissor mechanism for providing a consistent flow during beverage dispensing. The scissor mechanism includes a piston  62  attended to one end of the scissor spring that is aligned for straight travel in the beverage press. The scissor mechanism or spring further includes a gas spring  63  that provides integrated damping to slow the movement of the scissor springs and piston.  FIG. 10  illustrates an exemplary plot of the pressure of a scissor gas spring for a volume of beverage in a beverage cartridge, according to one embodiment. A beverage cartridge  20  filled with beverage is inverted and inserted into a beverage press  40  such that a scissor gas spring within the beverage press is compressed. The plot of  FIG. 10  shows that the pressure of a scissor gas spring within a beverage press decreases when the volume of beverage remaining in a beverage cartridge decreases. 
         [0039]      FIG. 11  illustrates an exploded view of an exemplary beverage press  40 , according to one embodiment. The beverage press  40  includes a body  64 , a scissor mechanism  60 , and a lid  44 . The body of the beverage press  40  includes a housing  42 , a front shell  66 , and a back shell  68  that may be manufactured using an injection molding process and made of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). The body  64  of the beverage press  40  further includes four screws that may be made of steel. 
         [0040]    The scissor mechanism  60  of the beverage press includes an upper piston  70  and a lower piston  72  that may be manufactured using an injection molding process and made of ABS. In one embodiment, the scissor mechanism  60  includes tubular rivets, washers, and stamped links that may be made of plated steel. The scissor mechanism includes machined slider pins that may be made of stainless steel, and machined short pins and clips that may be made of stainless steel. The scissor mechanism may further include spacers made of plastic tubing. 
         [0041]    The lid  44  of the beverage press  40  includes a tap shell  76 , a tap body  78 , a back lid shell  80 , a front lid shell  82 , a core lid  84 , and two buttons  54  that may be manufactured using an injection molding process and made of ABS. In one embodiment, the lid includes a tap spring, two button springs, and a tap pivot pin that may be made of stainless steel. The tap pivot pin may have dimensions of 2 mm×12 mm. 
         [0042]      FIG. 12  illustrates an exemplary beverage cartridge  100  with a protruding spout  102  ( FIG. 13 ), according to one embodiment. The protruding spout allows a desired ring location with grooves for use in the dispenser mode. The protruding spout further provides a secure spout in the gravity mode. The beverage cartridge may further include a spout cap  104  for covering and protecting the protruding spout during transportation by engaging the spout cap with the spout. The spout cap  104  may further be used to twist the spout in the dispenser mode. 
         [0043]      FIGS. 13A-13C  illustrate exemplary uses of a spout of a beverage cartridge, according to one embodiment. In the gravity mode, a user may remove the spout cap  104  from the spout  102  of the beverage cartridge. The spout includes a spout opening  106  that faces downwards as shown in  FIG. 13A . The user may then dispense a beverage from the spout based on gravity. 
         [0044]    Referring to  FIGS. 13B-13C , in the dispenser mode, the user may invert the beverage cartridge  100  and use the spout cap  104  to twist the spout  102  for use with a beverage press  40 . The user may rotate the spout cap 180 degrees to similarly twist and rotate the spout 180 degrees. This allows the spout opening  106  to rotate and face downwards when the beverage cartridge is inverted. The user removes the spout cap  104  from the spout  102  and loads the beverage cartridge into the beverage press  40 . 
         [0045]    Another embodiment of a beverage cartridge  20  is shown in  FIGS. 14A and 14B .  FIG. 14A  shows a bottom plan view of a canister box  122  having a breakaway floating floor  124 . The breakaway floating floor  124  is defined by a perforated breakaway edge  126 . The breakaway floating floor  124  allows an end  128  of the box  122  to be held in a fixed position during production, shipping, and retail shelving of the product. 
         [0046]    Once the perforated breakaway edge  126  is broken, the breakaway floating floor  124  has freedom of movement into the box  122 , while still being constrained against movement out of the box as shown in  FIG. 14B . In one embodiment, a canister rim or cover, such as the canister rim  34  shown in  FIG. 3  would be placed over the bottom end  128  of the box  122  to protect the perforated breakaway edge  126  of the breakaway floating floor  124  from breaking during production, shipping or retail. It has also been contemplated that the beverage cartridge  20  of previously described embodiments also may include a bottom end having a breakaway floating floor defined by a perforated edge. Any embodiment of the beverage cartridge may be installed and used in the disclosed beverage press  40 . 
         [0047]    Yet another embodiment of a beverage cartridge  140  is shown in  FIGS. 15A and 15B .  FIG. 15A  shows a beverage cartridge  140  having a canister box  141  with a first end  142  and a second  144 . During production, the first end  142  is left open to load a liquid bag  146 . The liquid bag  146  includes a spout  148  that seals an opening of the bag. To secure and protect the spout  148 , the spout is seated into a tap locator  150  of the beverage cartridge box  141 . The tap locator  150  includes fingers  151  forming a seating area  152  that engages the neck of the bag spout  148 . As best shown in  FIG. 15B , the tap locator  150  includes a hinge  154  connected to the box  141  that allows the tap locator  150  to pivot inside the box  141 , and flush with the box. When a bag  146  is loaded into the box  141 , the neck of the spout drops into the seating area  152  of the tap locator  150 . 
         [0048]    In one embodiment, the tap locator  150  includes a pull tab  156  located above the hinge  154 . A user may grab the pull tab  156  to pivot the tab locator and pull the spout  148  out of the box  141 . In other embodiments, the pull tab may be located above the seated spout  148  or no pull tab may be necessary. Any of the other previously described embodiments of a beverage cartridge may incorporate the features shown in  FIGS. 15A and 15B . 
         [0049]    In one embodiment, the bag-in-box wine tap locator cartridge  140  allows a wine spout  148  to automatically be held in a fixed position within the box  141  during production. The fixed position protects the spout  148  during production, shipping, and retail shelving of the product. To prepare the product for consumption, the bag-in-box wine tap locator cartridge allows the wine spout  148  to be conveniently brought out of the box  141  by pulling on a pull tab  156 , without the end user having to dig around inside the box in search of the tap. 
         [0050]    The above example embodiments have been described hereinabove to illustrate various embodiments of implementing a system and method for dispensing a beverage. Various modifications and departures from the disclosed example embodiments will occur to those having ordinary skill in the art.