Contactless beverage dispenser

A contactless beverage dispenser, system, and method of contactlessly dispensing a beverage are disclosed herein. Embodiments of the present invention utilize a sensor that is operatively coupled to a pump for selective activation thereof. The sensor detects, in a sensor zone, the presence of a beverage container proximal a dispensing spout of the beverage dispenser. The sensor may be a proximity sensor, such as a photoelectric sensor. Upon detection of the beverage container, the pump is activated and dispenses a beverage to a user.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to liquid dispensing and, more particularly, to a touchless/contactless liquid dispenser.

Beverage dispensers are used for serving drinks on a large scale and in a manner that each individual can serve themselves from it. Epidemics, such as the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic, prevent vendors from being able to safely distribute beverages, such as cold bulk water, flavored drink beverages (such as GATORADE™), and other consumable liquids, because commonly touched surfaces become a hazard (during pandemics and due to other diseases that may be present at any given time). Consequently, prior to the present invention, there was no way to safely hydrate worker at job sites, factories, sporting events and other group settings where individuals are usually in need of hydration.

Conventional solutions require touching or depressing of a button to activate the liquid dispenser. A popular example of such is a five-gallon drink dispenser with a spout and pour button disposed at a lower end thereof. Furthermore, the solutions require putting the cup close to or touching the spout to catch the beverage being dispensed. If an individual has already drank out of the cup (which is very frequently the case), there is even more possibility to spread various types of germs (including, but not limited to, COVID-19).

As can be seen, there is a need for a contactless, mobile liquid dispenser in accordance with the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a beverage dispenser comprises: a reservoir configured to contain a beverage; a dispensing spout configured to dispense the beverage; a sensor configured to detect when a beverage container is disposed in a sensor zone proximal the dispensing spout; and a pump operably coupled to the reservoir and the dispensing spout, the pump being configured to pump the beverage out of the dispensing spout upon the detection, by the sensor, of the beverage container being disposed in the sensor zone.

In another aspect of the present invention, a beverage dispenser system comprises: a reservoir; a beverage contained within the reservoir; a dispensing spout configured to dispense the beverage; a beverage container; a sensor configured to detect when the beverage container is disposed in a sensor zone proximal the dispensing spout; and a pump operably coupled to the reservoir and the dispensing spout, the pump being configured to pump the beverage out of the dispensing spout upon the detection, by the sensor, of the beverage container being disposed in the sensor zone.

In another aspect of the present invention, a method of dispensing a beverage comprises the steps of: providing a reservoir; providing a beverage contained within the reservoir; providing a dispensing spout that is configured to dispense the beverage; providing a beverage container; providing a sensor configured to detect when the beverage container is disposed in a sensor zone proximal the dispensing spout; providing a pump operably coupled to the reservoir and the dispensing spout; positioning the beverage container in the sensor zone; detecting, by the sensor, the beverage container being disposed in the sensor zone; and pumping, by the pump, the beverage out of the dispensing spout.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The subject disclosure is described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present disclosure such that one skilled in the art will be enabled to make and use the present invention. It may be evident, however, that the present disclosure may be practiced without some of these specific details.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a contactless beverage dispenser. This embodiment makes use of a sensor that is operatively coupled to a pump for selective activation thereof. The sensor is positioned to detect, in a sensor zone thereof, the presence of a beverage container being located proximal a dispensing spout of the beverage dispenser. Upon detection of the beverage container, the pump is activated to pump and dispense a beverage out the dispenser spout and into the beverage container for a user to consume.

In accordance with certain aspects of the present invention, after filling a cooler (which may be insulated) with a beverage, and individual may put his/her bottle or other liquid container (e.g., a cup) a predetermined distance away from a fill spout, and the liquid is dispensed from the fill spout, stopping when the liquid container is pulled away. In certain embodiments, the predetermined distance may be approximately 2.5 inches. Other than the liquid/beverage container, which must be grasped by the individual, no contact or touching is required to dispense the beverage, eliminating germ transmission due to physical contact with parts of the beverage dispenser. At any event where beverages are supplied (such as sporting events, job sites, etc.), germ transmission is reduced or eliminated due to embodiments of the present invention.

In future iterations of embodiments of the present invention, it could be provided as a more compact, less expensive unit, provided that the functionality remains the same. Various means of power may be provided in accordance with the present invention. For example, embodiments of the present invention may be powered by 120 volts alternating current and/or 12 volts direct current. As will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, the contactless beverage dispensing technology discussed herein may be applied to various types of beverages, such as water, GATORADE™, soda, and more.

Referring now toFIGS. 1-4, a touchless beverage dispenser10is shown. The dispenser10includes a beverage reservoir14(which may be embodied as, for example, a cooler of various sizes), a beverage container dispenser14A, and a housing assembly16(which houses electrical connections, and in certain embodiments may be embodied as a junction box). The beverage container dispenser14A retains beverage containers12A, which are selectively removed by a user12for use contactlessly, as described in greater detail below. As those with skill in the art will appreciate, any appropriate container (e.g., bottle, cup, mug, glass, etc.) may be used in accordance with the present invention. The beverage reservoir14, in use, holds a beverage16A to be dispensed. Alternatively, those with skill in the art will appreciate that users12may also supply their own containers.

The housing assembly16, in use, dispenses a beverage16A via a dispensing spout16B. The housing assembly16may be provided with a photo eye16C (i.e., a photoelectric sensor), mounted on an outer surface thereof, and a support16D for supporting the photo eye16C. As shown inFIG. 1, the support16D extends the photo eye16C proximal a region in which the beverage16A is dispensed. A sensor zone16E is shown in dashed lines inFIGS. 1-3and is representative of the region in which the photo eye16C is capable of sensing the presence of a beverage container12A (in particular, seeFIG. 1). As will be appreciated by those with skill in the art, other proximity-based sensors may be used in accordance with the present invention.

A plurality of sanitizing lights16M (such as ultraviolet light emitting diodes (LEDs)) may be provided adjacent the support16D to provide sanitization of the area around where the beverage16A is discharged (including the dispensing spout16B), even further reducing the risk of germ transmission when utilizing the dispenser10. The sanitizing ultraviolet lights16M may run continuously to constantly disinfect the spout16B so that it is disinfected in the event a user12or container12A accidentally comes into contact with the spout16B. Alternatively, in other embodiments, the lights16M may be selectively activated when the photo eye16C detects the presence of the beverage container12A in the sensor zone16E.

Referring now toFIGS. 2 and 3, the housing assembly16may further include a beverage inlet16F (which, as shown inFIG. 2, is a conduit) for receiving the beverage16A from the beverage reservoir14. A beverage outlet16G (which, as shown inFIG. 2, is a conduit) is provided for the beverage16A to exit to the dispensing spout16B, with a potable liquid pump16H for pumping the beverage16A from the reservoir14to the dispensing spout16B. The pump16H is controlled by a pump motor161. A relay16J is provided that selectively energizes and de-energizes the pump motor161of the dispenser10upon a sensing signal being delivered by the photo eye16C.

Further, as shown inFIG. 3, a power supply16K (such as a battery) is provided so that the dispenser10may be operated without need of a power outlet nearby. In certain embodiments, the power supply16K may have a capacity of 6000 mAh that is capable of dispensing more than50gallons of beverage16A prior to needing to be recharged. A power connector16N (e.g., a charger) is provided for charging the power supply16kof the dispenser10. When charging, and as shown inFIG. 3, the power connector16N connects to an external female charging jack16L. In other embodiments, a solar charger may be used such that wall power is not needed to recharge the dispenser10. Due to this power cordless design, it may be used as a mobile unit, or may be provided in a fixed location. It is noted that ultraviolet lights16N are illustrated in two locations in FIG.3to show them schematically (right side ofFIG. 3) in a circuit of the present invention and also exemplary physical placement of them (left side ofFIG. 3).

In use, the dispenser10is first placed at a location, such as a job site, event, or other location where a user12would typically need or want a beverage16adispensed. The user12then places a beverage container12A underneath a dispensing spout16B of the dispenser10. The location/region directly underneath the dispensing spout16B where the user12places the container12A is located a predetermined distance away from a photo eye16C (such as 2.5 inches). As shown inFIG. 1, the beverage container12A does not physically contact any portion of the dispenser10. As shown inFIGS. 1-3, the photo eye16C is located below the dispensing spout16B such that it is directed at the location the container12A is positioned. Within this general region (e.g., which at least partially overlaps within the sensor zone16E), the photo eye16C detects the presence of the beverage container12A, causing the relay16J to switch and activate the pump motor161and pump16H, thus dispensing the beverage16A (i.e., a portion of the beverage16A, since the reservoir14is typically embodied to hold large quantities of the beverage16A). The ultraviolet sanitizing lights16M may always be on, or they may be selectively activated when the photo eye16C detects the beverage container12A. When no additional beverage16A is desired in the container12A, it may be pulled away from the dispensing spout16B, and the photo eye16C causes the relay16J to switch again and deactivate the pump16H (and, in certain embodiments, deactivate the ultraviolet lights16M). Thus, beverages16A may be dispensed in a contactless manner to users12, decreasing the transmission of germs that would otherwise result from touching physical buttons or pressing the container12A up against a conventional dispenser.

FIGS. 5 and 6show a modified version20of the embodiment of the present invention that aesthetically appears different from the embodiment described above in detail but is functionally the same and all discussion herein applies to both embodiments. Specifically,FIGS. 5 and 6illustrate an embodiment which envisions mounting the housing assembly16on top of the beverage reservoir14, rather than sitting adjacent it. Further, as shown, the dispensing spout16B and photo eye16C may take various shapes/forms, provided that the same functionality is achieved in terms of contactless dispensing of beverages16a.

As evidenced by the embodiments ofFIGS. 1-3andFIGS. 4-5, the present invention may be embodied in various forms, and any appropriate method of making such embodiments would be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from the foregoing disclosure andFIGS. 1-5, which detail the mechanical and electrical design employed. It will be appreciated that all components that interact with the beverage16A should be formed from food-grade materials. It will be appreciated, of course, that other physical and electrical implementations are within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, provided that the contactless features described are still functionally provided in such alternative implementations.

While apparatuses and methods are described in terms of “comprising,” “containing,” or “including” various components or steps, the apparatuses and methods can also “consist essentially of” or “consist of” the various components and steps. All numbers and ranges disclosed above may vary by some amount. Also, the terms in the claims have their plain, ordinary meaning unless otherwise explicitly and clearly defined by the patentee. Moreover, the indefinite articles “a” or “an,” as used in the claims, are defined herein to mean one or more than one of the elements that it introduces. If there is any conflict in the usages of a word or term in this specification and one or more patent or other documents that may be incorporated herein by reference, the definitions that are consistent with this specification should be adopted.

Moreover, the use of directional terms such as above, below, upper, lower, upward, downward, left, right, and the like are used in relation to the illustrative embodiments as they are depicted in the figures, the upward or upper direction being toward the top of the corresponding figure and the downward or lower direction being toward the bottom of the corresponding figure.