Abstract:
A tilter for holding a container in a tilted position for receiving a beverage being dispensed from a dispensing system such as a beer faucet, which holds the container, such as a cup or mug, in an initial highly tilted orientation for receiving the dispensed beverage, and which progressively reduces the degree of tilt as the container fills. The tilter can operate in cooperation with the lever or other actuator of a dispenser to automatically be tilted to the initial highly tilted orientation when the actuator is operated to initially dispense, and to automatically operate the actuator to stop the dispensing of the beverage when a final reduced degree of tilt is reached and present the filled container for removal from the tilter.

Description:
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/525,490, filed Aug. 19, 2011. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates generally to a tilter for holding a container in a particular position and orientation for receiving a beverage being dispensed from a dispensing system such as a beer faucet for dispensing draught beer, and, more particularly, which holds the container, such as a cup or mug, in an initial highly tilted orientation for receiving the dispensed beverage, and which progressively reduces the degree of tilt as the container fills. As additional features, the tilter can be configured to operate in cooperation with the lever or other actuator of a dispenser to automatically be tilted to the initial highly tilted orientation when the actuator is operated to initially dispense, and to automatically operate the actuator to stop the dispensing of the beverage when a final reduced degree of tilt is reached and present the filled container for removal from the tilter. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     The disclosure of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/525,490, filed Aug. 19, 2011, is hereby incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. 
     Beverage dispensing systems, particularly faucets for the pouring of draught beer or other naturally and/or artificially pressurized beverages, are well known. Typically, when a beverage is to be dispensed, whether into a cup, mug, pitcher, or other container, and particularly when dispensing a carbonated beverage such as a beer, to control foaming, tipping or tilting to a sufficient degree and position such that the beverage impinges a target which is a relatively near surface, e.g., a side surface of the container, is highly sought. It is also sought to reduce the tilt of the container as it fills until it is upright or nearly upright when full or nearly full. Both of these objectives are commonly met by skilled pourers such as trained or experienced bartenders, but one or both are commonly not met by unskilled persons. 
     At stadiums and other high volume beverage dispensing locations, it is sought to dispense as many beverages as possible in a short time, such as between innings, periods, intermissions, and the like. It is also desired to maintain as high a quality as possible, e.g., minimized foaming of beer. However, lack of skill among dispensing personnel, e.g., unskilled temporary employees of the sports or other venues, has been found to negatively affect the quality of the dispensing. As another problem, personnel may be required to prepare and/or dispense food, collect payment, etc., while or between dispensing the beverages. 
     What is sought therefore, is a manner of, and/or apparatus for, dispensing which overcomes the shortcoming, and achieves the objectives, set forth above. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     What is disclosed is a tilter for holding a container in a particular position and orientation for receiving a beverage being dispensed from a dispensing system such as, but not limited to, a beer faucet for dispensing draught beer, and, more particularly, which holds the container, such as a cup or mug, in an initial highly tilted orientation for receiving the dispensed beverage, and which automatically progressively reduces the degree of tilt as the container fills. 
     As an additional feature, the tilter can be configured to automatically operate in cooperation with the lever or other actuator of a dispenser to automatically tilt to the initial highly tilted orientation when the actuator is operated to initially dispense, gradually move to a less tilted, more upright position, and automatically operate the actuator to stop the dispensing of the beverage when a desired upright position is reached. 
     As another feature, the tilter can be attached to or incorporated onto the dispensing apparatus in a manner to facilitate joint or cooperative operation of the tilter and dispensing apparatus. As a non-limiting example, the tilter can be mounted to the spout of a conventional American beer faucet in a manner such that operation of an actuator of the faucet for dispensing the beer, such as, but not limited to, a lever or other device or element in connection with the dispensing valve, etc., of the faucet, will cause the tilter to tilt a container for receiving the beer to a desired initial angle of tilt, and then, as the beer is dispensed into the container, the tilter will gradually reduce the angle of tilting of the container until it is upright, or near upright, and will automatically move the dispenser actuator to its closed position. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of a beverage dispensing faucet including one embodiment of a tilter of the invention holding a container in an upright orientation under a spout of the faucet; 
         FIG. 2  is another side view of the faucet and tilter of  FIG. 1 , showing the tilter holding the container in a tilted position under the spout; 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of a beverage dispensing faucet including another embodiment of a tilter of the invention holding a container in an upright orientation under a spout of the faucet; 
         FIG. 4  is another side view of the faucet and tilter of  FIG. 3 , showing the tilter holding the container in a tilted position under the spout; 
         FIG. 4A  is a side view of the faucet and tilter in a tilted to show an alternative location for a biasing element; 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of a beverage dispensing faucet including another embodiment of a tilter of the invention holding a container in an upright orientation under a spout of the faucet; 
         FIG. 6  is another side view of the faucet and tilter of  FIG. 5 , showing the tilter holding the container in a tilted position under the spout; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the faucet and tilter of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 8  is another perspective view of the faucet and tilter of  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 9  is another perspective view of the faucet and tilter of  FIG. 7 , holding a container in an upright orientation ready for filling; 
         FIG. 10  is another perspective view of the faucet and tilter of  FIG. 9  holding the container in a fully tilted orientation with the faucet open and dispensing a beverage into the container; 
         FIG. 11  is another perspective view of the faucet and tilter of  FIG. 9  holding the container in a partially tilted orientation and partially filled, with the faucet open; 
         FIG. 12  is another perspective view of the faucet and tilter of  FIG. 9  holding the container in the upright orientation after filling; 
         FIG. 13  is another perspective view of the faucet and tilter of  FIG. 9  holding the container in the upright orientation after filling; 
         FIG. 14  is bottom view of the tilter of  FIG. 1  showing an optional adjusting capability of the invention; 
         FIG. 15  is a fragmentary side view of the tilter showing a pivoting platform option for the container holding element; and 
         FIG. 16  is another fragmentary side view of the tilter, showing the platform pivoted. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , one embodiment of the tilter  20  of the invention includes a mounting bracket  22  for mounting tilter  20  on a dispensing apparatus which here is a conventional American beer faucet  24 . Here also, bracket  22  is configured for mounting about a spout  26  of faucet  24 . To accomplish this, bracket  22  is of a clamshell configuration, so as to be capable of clamping about spout  26  and being secured in position by a suitable fastener, such as a small screw, set screw, or the like. However, it should be understood that it is contemplated that the invention can be mounted in a wide variety of ways to adjacent structure or other element of a faucet. 
     Tilter  20  includes a container holding element 28  connected to bracket  22  by a pivot joint  30  so as to be located beneath a discharge outlet  32  of spout  26  for receiving beer flowing therefrom. A yieldable biasing element  34  is connected between bracket  22  and container holding element  28  and is configured to yieldably urge container holding element  28  toward the tilted position of  FIG. 2 . In this regard, element  34  will be configured to yield to a force exerted thereagainst for moving container holding element  28  back toward the position of  FIG. 1 , which force will be exerted by the weight of the container supported thereby as the container fills with beer. Most preferably, element  34  will be configured to yield gradually in a manner corresponding to the gradual increase in weight of a container as it fills with the beverage, e.g. beer, to allow element  28  to gradually returned to the position of  FIG. 1 . As non-limiting example, biasing element  34  can comprise one or more automatically operable compressible fluid devices, such as a compressed gas strut or shock  36 , of a suitable length, gas charge, and orifice size, to store sufficient energy when in its retracted state ( FIG. 1 ) to provide this functionality. Here, one end of gas shock  36  is pivotally connected by a pivot joint  38  to mounting bracket  22 , and the opposite end by a pivot joint  40  to container holding element  28 . When in the position and configuration of  FIG. 1 , shock  36  will be in a retracted state, charged with its working fluid, in a manner so as store energy directed to urge container holding element  28  toward the highly tilted position of  FIG. 2 , and which will be released to actually pivot element  28  to that position. Advantageously, energy will be returned to shock  36  when element  28  is again moved to the position of  FIG. 1 . 
     Tilter  20  preferably includes a detent element  42  for releasably retaining or detaining container holding element  28  in the upright position of  FIG. 1  with shock  36  in its retracted, charged condition. Here, detent element  42  is illustrated as comprising a pair of magnets on mounting bracket  22  and container holding element  28 , oriented so as to be attracted to one another by their magnetic attraction force, for holding element  28  in the upright position. In this regard, shock  36  is advantageously oriented in its retracted state as shown in  FIG. 1 , relative to pivot joint  30  so as not to directly oppose and act against detent element  42 . As a result, only a portion of the stored energy of shock  36  is directed in opposition to the detent element, enabling the detent element to hold the container holding element  28  in the position of  FIG. 1 , such that a triggering event will be required to release the detent element to enable shock  36  to release its energy to pivot element  28  to the position of  FIG. 2 . 
     To provide a triggering event, tilter  20  additionally preferably includes apparatus  44  for releasing detent element  42  and allowing shock  36  to effect the pivotal movement of container holding element  28  from its upright position ( FIG. 1 ) to the initial tilted position ( FIG. 2 ). Advantageously, tilter  20  is configured such that the triggering event will comprise movement of an actuator  46  of faucet  24  to open the faucet for dispensing beer. Here, this is implemented by configuring apparatus  44  as a lever mechanism having a contact surface  48  on the end of a lever arm  50  of container holding element  28  positioned when the element  28  is in the upstanding position of  FIG. 1  to engage or be located proximate to a surface of a disk  52  located adjacent to an end of faucet  24 . Disk  52  is attached internally to a dispensing valve stem VS of the faucet so as to be moved a short distance toward the faucet and forceably against contact surface  48  when the faucet is initially opened. This arrangement is advantageous as the force of this contact is used as the triggering event and provides the energy to initially release detent element  42  to enable shock  36  to pivot element  28  to the fully tilted position of  FIG. 2 . Disk  52  is then movable the short distance away from the faucet when closed. Here, actuator  46  includes a conventional upstanding dispensing lever  54  which is in the position of  FIG. 1  for closing the faucet, and moved to the position of  FIG. 2  for opening the faucet. As another advantage, it can be observed in  FIG. 2  that when container holding element  28  is tilted, lever arm  50  is spaced from disk  52 , to allow independent operation of the faucet. As an option, disk  52  can be configured to be sized and shaped, or include an appropriate handle, for grasping by a user for operating the faucet. 
     As another optional but desired feature, actuator  46  is configured such that the faucet can be closed by movement of disk  52  in the direction away from the faucet by contact with contact surface  48  when the tilter is returned to the position of  FIG. 1 . This is to allow a container filled to a desired level to automatically close the faucet to cease dispensing of the beer. Advantageously, as container holding element  28  is pivoting back to the position of  FIG. 1  the attractive force of the magnets of detent element  42  can provide additional force for automatically closing the faucet. In this regard, the relative positions of the magnets can be selected or adjusted to vary the attractive force exerted against element  28 , in  FIG. 1  the magnets being shown slightly spaced apart, but providing sufficient attractive force for holding element  28  in the position shown until moved by the opening of the faucet. 
     Container holding element  28  can have any of a variety of configurations for holding any variety of containers, including, but not limited to, conventional or customized cups, mugs, pitchers, and the like. Here, element  28  is representatively configured for holding a conventional plastic beer cup  56  of  20  fluid ounce capacity, commonly used at sporting events, festivals and the like. For this purpose, element  28  is conveniently L-shaped, having an elongate upstanding body  58  extending downwardly to one or more legs  60  angularly related to body  58 . Cup  56  has a conventional tapered frusto-conical outer surface, and a bottom of cup  56  will be supported on leg or legs  60  and the tapered side of cup  56  will be supported by body  58  at one or more locations. Element  28  can additionally include one or more support arms  62  projecting sidewardly for contacting the outer surface of cup  56  at one or more locations for providing lateral support. These elements of container holding element  28  can be suitably configured and sized for securely holding a wide variety of containers other than cup  56  shown, such as, but not limited to, cylindrical or barrel shaped cups, glasses, mugs, pitchers, and the like. Here, it should be noted that the configuration of container holding element  28  allows a cup  56  to be quickly and easily placed thereon and removed therefrom unobstructedly, so as to be suitable for high-volume environments, such as stadiums and the like. It should also be noted that the various aspects of container holding element  28  can be adjustable for receiving and holding different style containers, as desired. 
     Is contemplated that tilter  20  can be constructed of any of a variety of materials, such as, but not limited to, a metal, such as aluminum or steel, rigid plastics, and the like, and can be treated or coated so as to be corrosion resistant if desired. 
     Referring also to  FIGS. 3, 4, and 4A , tilter  20  is alternatively configured such that yieldable biasing element  34  comprises an extension spring  64  operable to urge container holding element  28  toward the position of  FIGS. 4 and 4A . Alternatively, the tilter could be configured to utilize other types of springs, including, but not limited to, a compression spring, clock spring, or the like for this purpose. A detent element  42 , again comprising attracting magnets, is operable to releasably detain container holding element in the position of  FIG. 3 . A lever arm  50  is again positioned in contact with a disk  52  in connection with valve stem VS to provide the triggering event or action for releasing spring  64  to release its stored energy to move element  28  to the initial highly tilted position of  FIGS. 4 and 4A . Movement of element  28  back to the position of  FIG. 3  will return spring  64  to the stored energy state.  FIG. 4A  illustrates tilter  20  with a spring in an alternative location adjacent to detent element  42 . The triggering event or action is again contact of disk  52  with lever arm  50  to release detent element such that the spring will release its stored energy and expand as shown to move element  28  to the initial highly tilted position. Again also, movement of element  28  back to the position of  FIG. 3  will return spring  64  to the stored energy state. 
     Referring also to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , tilter  20  is again configured such that biasing element  34  comprises a spring  64  urging container holding element  28  toward the position of  FIG. 6 , and detent element  42  comprises a clip  66  which engages an edge of mounting bracket  22  for releasably detaining container holding element  28  in the upright position ( FIG. 5 ). Clip  66  can act in a manner similar to the magnets for releasing the energy of the spring. Here, tilter  20  is shown without lever arm  50  for initiating the tilting action, to illustrate that the tilting action of the tilter can be manually initiated by movement of element  28  from the detained position, but alternatively, the lever arm and disk arrangement can be provided. As another alternative, a release mechanism can be provided with the clip or magnets to initiate the tilting action. 
     Operation of the tilter  20  and faucet  24  will be described in reference to  FIGS. 7 through 13 . In  FIGS. 7 and 8 , tilter  20  is shown in a ready position with container holding element  28  empty and ready for receiving a container, in its upright position detained by detent element  42 , and positioning lever arm  50  of apparatus  44  for releasing the detent element positioned adjacent to disk  52  of the faucet. 
     In  FIG. 9 , a cup  56  is placed on the container holding element  28  below the faucet  24  while detained in its upright position by the detent element. The container holding element  28  and cup  56  will remain detained in this position until released. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 10 , when the dispensing lever  54  of the faucet  24  is pulled (denoted by arrow P) to commence the dispensing of beer  68  from spout  26 , the holding force of the detent elements is overcome and the container holding element  28 , with the cup  56  thereon, is automatically tilted about pivot joint  30  into the initial inclined position, as illustrated, by the above described triggering event of the striking contact of the disk  52  with contact surfaces of lever arms  50  to cause the release of the energy stored by the biasing element used, e.g., gas shock (also referred to as a gas a spring), spring, e.g., as illustrated by the extension of the gas shock in  FIG. 2 , and cup  56  is held in the tilted position by the biasing element, which exerts a force against container holding element  28  holding it and the cup in the tilted position as the beer is initially dispensed into the cup. In this position, contact surfaces  48  on lever arms  50  are no longer in contact with disk  52 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 11 , as the amount of beer  68  in cup  56  dispensed from spout  26  increases, cup  56  will become heavier, and its weight W will counteract the force exerted by the biasing element  34  so as to act to cause that element to retract (thereby gradually returning the biasing element to the stored energy state) and pivot the container holding element  28  in the reverse direction about joint  30  as denoted by arrow RD, also gradually, toward the more upright position. 
     In  FIGS. 12 and 13 , element  28  is shown pivoted about joint  30 , returned to the upright position. At this time, the contact surface  48  on the lever arm  50  will be brought into contact with the disk  52  on faucet  24  with sufficient force resulting from the weight W of the beer  68  in the now filled, or substantially filled, cup  56 , to actuate the closing of the faucet  24 , by pushing the disk  52  in the direction away from the faucet  24  and lever  54  is returned to its closed position. The detent elements are now engaged to hold the tilter in this position and the filled cup  56  is now in position to be removed. The biasing element  34  is also now recharged with energy. 
     As another feature of the invention, if a container is not adequately filled when returned to the upright position, or it is desired to add a head of foam to the beer, the dispensing lever can be momentarily operated one or more times to add beer to the cup, and because of the weight of the cup at least largely filled with beer, the weight will oppose release of the stored energy of the biasing element, and prevent significant tipping of the cup, and reduce possibility of spillage. 
     As still another feature of the invention, the biasing element  34  can be configured to damp the movement of element  28  from the upright position to the tilted position. In this regard, this capability can be incorporated into gas shock  36 , or if a spring is used as element  34 , in a damping system incorporating the spring. 
     Referring also to  FIG. 14 , as an optional feature of the invention, biasing element  34  of tilter  20  can be configured to be adjustable, that is, to exert an adjustable force against container holding element  28 , for use with containers of different empty weights and/or capacities. For instance, pivot joint  38  can be adjustably positioned along the mounting bracket to vary the orientation of gas shock  36  relative to the mounting bracket, to increase or decrease the force exerted by the gas shock  36  toward the position of  FIG. 1 . For ease of adjustment, pivot joint  38  and the upper end of container holding element  28  can be positioned and held in place by threaded placement on a threaded adjusting rod  70 . Adjusting rod  70  is supported on mounting bracket  22  for rotation relative thereto and has a knob  72  that can be turned for rotating the rod. Adjusting rod  70  is threadedly received in and passes through a threaded passage through pivot joint  38 , such that rotation of the rod will call the joint  38  to move longitudinally along the rod and also along mounting bracket  22 . 
     Referring also to  FIGS. 15 and 16 , tilter  20  is illustrated including another optional feature which is a container holding element  28  including a pivoting platform  74  for supporting a container such as beer cup  56  illustrated. Platform  74  is attached to element  28  in a cantilever manner by a pivot joint  76  and is biased upwardly by a resiliently yieldable biasing element  78 , here comprising a spring, limited by a detent element  80 . Biasing element  78  is sufficiently strong to hold platform  74  in the orientation of  FIG. 15  under the weight of a filled container only, but is resiliently biasable downwardly to the position shown in  FIG. 16  by a user, to enable easily removing the container. Platform  74  can include a raised lip  82  on its outer periphery engageable with a container for holding it on the platform, as illustrated. 
     In light of all the foregoing, it should thus be apparent to those skilled in the art that there has been shown and described a tilter for holding a container in a particular position and orientation for receiving a beverage being dispensed from a dispensing system such as a beer faucet. However, it should also be apparent that, within the principles and scope of the invention, many changes are possible and contemplated, including in the details, materials, and arrangements of parts which have been described and illustrated to explain the nature of the invention. Thus, while the foregoing description and discussion addresses certain preferred embodiments or elements of the invention, it should further be understood that concepts of the invention, as based upon the foregoing description and discussion, may be readily incorporated into or employed in other embodiments and constructions without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the following claims are intended to protect the invention broadly as well as in the specific form shown, and all changes, modifications, variations, and other uses and applications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention are deemed to be covered by the invention, which is limited only by the claims which follow.