Abstract:
A liquid food fountain comprises a center barrel having a top opening and a bottom opening and a plurality of stackable modules ( 16, 14, 12, 10 ) adapted for a slip fit on the center barrel ( 20 ). Each module has a tier ( 16 ) extending around the center barrel ( 10 ). A liquid collector ( 24 ) is adapted to be placed below the modules. An auger ( 34 ) assembly is adapted to fit inside the center barrel to carry liquid entering the center barrel at the bottom opening to the top opening. A drive module is connectable to the auger assembly. The described parts can be assembled for use and disassembled for cleaning and storage.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a National Phase Patent Application of International Application Number PCT/US2005/014523, filed on Apr. 27, 2005, which claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/623,194, filed Oct. 29, 2004. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to food appliances, and more particularly, to a liquid food fountain. 
     Liquid food fountains for displaying and/or serving chocolate, cheese, and various types of confectionary are festive attractions at social events. A number of tiers are stacked one on top of the other around a hollow center barrel. A rotating auger assembly disposed inside the barrel extrudes the liquid food from a collection basin at the bottom of the fountain to its top, from which the liquid spills over the tiers and returns to the basin. This process is continued as long as the auger assembly continues to rotate. 
     Owing to the size and the tacky nature of the material being handled by the fountain, it is difficult and time consuming to clean after use. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to one feature of the invention, a liquid food fountain is constructed as a number of separable modules. One of the modules comprises a hollow center barrel. Another of the modules comprises a collection basin, to which the barrel is removably attached. The remaining modules each comprise in a one piece construction a tier and a free standing sleeve sized to slip over the center barrel. An auger assembly is disposed inside the center barrel and extends from the collection basin to the top of the highest tier. The auger assembly is driven by a motor located under the collection basin. 
     According to another feature of the invention, a liquid food fountain is constructed to display and serve a number of liquid food types at the same time. A collection basin and a number of tiers each have dividers to keep the food types from mixing. Separate auger assemblies and separating sheaths for each food type are disposed inside a single center barrel. 
     According to another feature of the invention, the auger assembly is supported and driven by a frictionless magnetic coupling. 
     According to another feature of the invention, the collection basin is made of two pieces. The bottom is made from a good heat conductor such as aluminum and the rim is made from a good insulator such as a plastic material. 
     According to another feature of the invention, there is a well at the bottom of the collection basin. The bottom of the center barrel is seated in an annular groove formed in the bottom of the well. 
     According to another feature of the invention, a drive module houses the auger assembly motor and supports a spring-mounted heating element under the collection basin. The heating element has a plurality of springs that urge it. into intimate physical contact with the collection basin to insure good heat transfer. 
     According to another feature of the invention, the tier assembly is provided as a readily disposable unit to facilitate cleaning. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The features of specific embodiments of the best mode contemplated of carrying out the invention are illustrated in the drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1A  is an exploded side view of a preferred embodiment (single auger assembly) of a liquid food fountain incorporating principles of the invention when used with a magnetic coupling; 
         FIG. 1B  is an exploded side view of another embodiment (single auger assembly) of a liquid food fountain incorporating principles of the invention when used with a mechanical coupling and a shaft seal; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded isometric view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1A  and  FIG. 1B ; 
         FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the center barrel of  FIG. 1A  and  FIG. 1B  illustrating the hooks at the top outside of the center barrel and the nipples in the inside of the top module; 
         FIG. 4  is a side elevation view of part of the outside surface of the center barrel illustrating the L-shaped slots; 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded side view of another embodiment (three auger assembly) of a liquid food fountain incorporating principles of the invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a bottom plan view of the top module in the embodiment of  FIG. 5 , showing the sockets for receiving the three center barrels; 
         FIG. 7  is a side, partially sectional view of the collection basin illustrating its two material construction; and 
         FIG. 8  is a side, partially sectional view of the collection basin and the magnetic coupling. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In each embodiment of the invention shown in  FIG. 1A  to  FIG. 4 , modules  10 ,  12  &amp;  14  each comprise a dome-shaped tier  16  and an open sleeve  18  that are formed in one piece. Bosses  47  ( FIG. 1B ) are formed on the bottom of modules  10  and  12  and matching annular recesses  49  ( FIG. 2 ) are formed at the tops of modules  14  and  16  to insure the modules remain aligned with each other. A center barrel  20  is sized to fit inside sleeve  18  of each module to establish a slip fit. Center barrel  20  is removably attached to a collection basin  24  by a plurality (preferably three in number) of radially extending hooks  26  ( FIG. 3 ) that engage rivets or pegs  28  (preferably three in number) extending up through collection basin  24 . Rivets  28  ( FIG. 2 ) each have a head spaced from the upper surface of collection basin  24 . When center barrel  20  is twisted, the heads of rivets  28  engage or disengage from hooks  26 . Liquid in collection basin  24  flows toward a centrally located well  30 . A portion  32  of center barrel  20  lies under hooks  26 . An auger assembly  34  is disposed inside center barrel  20 . A motor  60  is housed in a drive module  38 . A coupling  83  is mounted on the drive shaft of motor  60 . The bottom portion  32  fits in an annular groove  40  formed at the center of well  30  to form an annular space  42  ( FIG. 3 ) between portion  32  and the inner surface of well  30 . Groove  40  keeps center barrel  20  in proper alignment. 
     In the embodiment of  FIG. 1B , a sealed bearing  36  at the bottom of collection basin  24  connects motor  60  to auger assembly  34 . 
     In the embodiment of  FIG. 1A , a magnetic coupling shown in detail in  FIG. 8  connects motor  60  to auger assembly  34  obviating the need for a seal. 
     In both embodiments, a plurality of windows  46  in the side of bottom portion  32  couple annular space  42  to auger assembly  34 . Preferably, the height of windows  46  is almost the height of well  30  and close to the height of the pitch of auger assembly  34 . The function of well  30  is twofold. As the liquid food in collection basin  24  is moved up center barrel  20  by auger assembly  34 , more liquid food flows into well  30 . The presence of the well  30  ensures that there is always sufficient liquid food to fill the flights of the auger assembly  34 . The presence of the ample liquid food avoids starving the auger thus allowing it to operate at its maximum efficiency. Well  30  also creates a head-height pressure feed of the liquid food to auger  34 . This pressure insures that the liquid food is pressure-fed into and not simply pushed away from auger assembly  34 . Well  30  permits the operation of the fountain to be accomplished with less liquid food than without well  30 . An annular rim  35  on collection basin  24  forms a snap fit with a groove  64  around the top of drive module  38 . A heating element  66  is disposed between collection basin  24  and drive module  38 . Control knobs  68  on drive module  38  adjust the speed of motor  60  and the temperature of heating element  66 . 
     When modules  10 ,  12 , and  14  are assembled they fit around center barrel  20  in stacked abutting relationship. Module  14  rests on hooks  26 , module  12  rests on module  14 , and module  10  rests on module  12 . A plurality of L-shaped slots  48  ( FIG. 4 ) are formed on the top outside surface of center barrel  20 . Nipples  50  (the same in number as slots  48 ) on the inside of top module  10  ( FIG. 3 ) engage slots  48  and lock the tiers in place when top module  10  is twisted. Top module  10  has a gripping surface  52 , which facilitates hand gripping during the locking and unlocking procedure. 
     Here is the assembly procedure:
         1. Place the drive module  38  on a solid, level surface. Align the non-magnetic cup-shaped sheath  84  over the opening in the heating element  66  and gently press down until the collection basin  24  is seated firmly and level on the heating element  66 .   2. Align the barrel  20  with the center of collection basin  24  seating annular rim  35  in annular groove  40 . Turn the barrel in a clockwise direction until the hooks  26  engage the rivets  28 .   3. Slide the auger assembly  34  magnet-side first into the barrel and let it drop. The auger assembly is self-aligning.   4. Stack the tier modules  14 ,  12  and  10  onto barrel  20  and lock top tier module  10  in place by twisting nipples  50  into “L” shaped slots  48 .       

     Assembly is complete. 
     After assembly of the fountain, collection basin  24  is filled with liquid food and motor  60  is actuated. As a result, liquid food is extruded from collection basin  24  by auger assembly  34  to opening  53 . The liquid food spills out of opening  53  and flows down tiers  16  to collection basin  24 . 
     In another embodiment of the invention shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , a liquid food fountain is constructed to display and serve two or more liquid food types at the same time. The same reference numerals are used to identify parts in common with the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-4 . Assume there are n food types. Collection basin  24  has dividers  69  (n in number) and wells  67  (n in number). Tiers  16  also each have dividers  70  (n in number) and collars  73  (n in number) that confine the liquid to sectioned regions. Dividers  69  and  70  are aligned with each other to keep the food types from mixing as they cascade down tiers  16 . Auger assemblies  71  (n in number) are disposed in corresponding center barrels  72  (n in number). One or more windows  74  in the side of the bottom of center barrels  72  couple the respective sectioned regions of collection basin  24  to auger assemblies  71  without permitting the different liquid foods to mix. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , inside module  10  there are a plurality of sockets  80  (n in number) for receiving respective center barrels  72 . Apertures  76  (n in number) in top tier  16  provide egress for the liquids to the respective sectioned regions of top module  10 . Apertures  76  face toward the respective sockets  80 . The interface between each center barrel and the respective socket  80  could be a sealed bearing or a magnetic coupling as in the embodiments of  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  3 . In summary, the flow of each type of liquid is confined to sectioned regions throughout its flow path so the different types of liquid do not mix. Drive shaft  58  on motor  60  is coupled to auger assemblies  71  by a set of gears  78 . In this embodiment top of tier  16  is closed off to prevent the liquids from spilling out from the top of the fountain. 
     In one embodiment shown in  FIG. 7 , collection basin  24  is constructed from two materials permanently attached together. An inner portion  85  is made of aluminum or other good conductor of heat. An outer portion  86  is made of plastic or other good insulator. The plastic is fused with the aluminum by enveloping a hook  87  formed in the aluminum to anchor the plastic. The purpose of this two-material construction is that inner portion  85  is in contact with heating element  66  and there is a very efficient transfer of heat between these surfaces. Because the consumable fluids will be in contact with the inner portion, the transfer of heat to the consumable fluids will be very efficient. Outer portion  86  will serve as an insulator from the heat. This serves as a safety feature as the portions that are most likely to come into contact with the consumer will not be too hot to the touch. Additionally, the use of plastic on outer portion  86  will allow the visible portions of the removable collection basin to have the same appearance as the rest of the product which may be constructed of plastic. The outer lip of inner portion  85  is formed in such a way that during the manufacturing process, the plastic material of outer portion  86  will form around and trap the metal lip of inner portion  85  forming a strong, leak proof bond. In order to maximize the efficiency of the heating system, springs  92  ( FIG. 1A ) press upon and so urge heating element  66  into close surface contact with inner portion  85  thus providing for the maximum thermal transfer with minimum heat loss. The configuration of these springs may be accomplished in any number of ways including coil-type and leaf-type springs. In addition to cutting operating costs, maintaining full contact with inner portion  85  means heat is distributed evenly and this results in an even heating of the liquid food within the removable collection basin  24 , thus preventing hot-spots and burning of the consumable fluid. Heating element  66  is connected to a 110 volt outlet by means not shown. 
       FIG. 8  shows one embodiment of a drive mechanism for auger assembly  34 . According to this aspect of the invention, a magnetic coupling eliminates the need for a mechanical seal at the interface between the drive mechanism and the auger assembly. The bottom of auger assembly  34  has embedded into it a plurality of horizontally oriented anisotropic magnets  77 . A non-magnetic cup  84  is provided at the bottom of well  30  within which auger assembly  34  can rotate. Accordingly, the bottom of collection basin  24  is completely closed by cup  84 , thus eliminating any possibility of leakage. A magnet holder  81  surrounds cup  84  and is fixedly attached to motor shaft  91 . A further plurality of horizontally oriented anisotropic magnets  83  are positioned radially around and within magnet holder  81 . Due to the strong magnetic attraction between magnets  77  and  83 , as magnet holder  81  is rotated by motor shaft  91 , magnets  77  rotate in concert with magnets  83 , thus rotating auger assembly  34 . Because of the magnetic attraction between magnets  77  and  83 , the bottom of auger assembly  34  is suspended within cup  84  and there is no contact between the surfaces of the interface. The result is a frictionless, efficient, quiet coupling that requires no mechanical seal. 
     Preferably, cup  84 , in additional to being non-magnetic, is also electrically conductive. As a result, eddy currents circulate in the space between magnets  77 , which generates heat to keep the temperature of the liquid food high enough to flow easily in the small spaces between parts. 
     The described embodiments of the invention are only considered to be preferred and illustrative of the inventive concept; the scope of the invention is not to be restricted to such embodiments. Various and numerous other arrangements may be devised by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention. For example, if a disposable fountain is desired, modules  10 ,  12 , and  14  could be molded as a single unit. Or the fountain could be designed to handle non-food liquids in a decorative multi-colored display.