Abstract:
A beverage dispense font incorporating a portable cooling device is provided wherein the portable cooling device cools an outer housing of the dispense font in order to encourage ice formation on the dispense font. Unique visual effects can be obtained with ice formation on the outer housing of the dispense font, and the portable cooling device therefore enables independent cooling of the outer housing without redesign or modification of the existing glycol cooling system used to cool the dispensed beverage. 
     The portable cooling device can be inherently small in size due to relatively minimal cooling capacity requirements for cooling just the outer housing of the dispense font. The dispense font and portable cooling device may be moved from location to location thereby greatly enhancing the capability to provide a frozen-appearing dispense font to many locations.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to beverage dispensing systems that cools the beverage to be dispensed, and more particularly to a dispense font or tower having a separate cooling device to cool the tower in order to create a desired visual effect on the tower such as formation of ice on the tower without burdening an existing glycol cooling system used to cool the beverage. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Beverages such as beer must be maintained at a sufficiently cool temperature in order to prevent excessive foaming of the beer when it is dispensed from the tap. Pressure-fed beer dispense systems typically include a glycol cooling system or cooling deck that cools the beer as it is transferred from the beer keg to the dispense point. The dispense point typically includes a dispense font or tower having a small reservoir to hold a quantity of the beverage to be dispensed. The tower itself may be cooled by the glycol cooling system wherein a glycol supply line circulates cooled glycol through or around the tower. The reservoir is replenished as the beverage is dispensed, since the beverage is under pressure from the keg. 
         [0003]    It is preferable to minimize the distance between the beer keg and the dispense point. However, depending upon the layout of the particular establishment in which the beverage is to be dispensed, in many circumstances the beverage supply line must be cooled for a considerable distance. Glycol cooling systems include a glycol circulation loop, a refrigeration source, and one or more heat exchangers whereby the beverage supply line comes in contact with the glycol circulation loop. A glycol cooling system certainly adds to the expense of providing a cooled beverage. The most common glycol cooling systems are used for dispensing beer at establishments such as restaurants and bars. 
         [0004]    It is common for the dispense tower to have a particular shape or style that corresponds to the brewer&#39;s commercial identity. In other words, the tower many include the trademarks/logos of the brewer and may be shaped and sized to reflect other commercial characteristics of the brewer. Thus, certain non-functional or aesthetic features may be added to the exterior surface of the dispense tower and beer tap with the intention of clearly associating the identity of the brewer with the beverage being dispensed from the tower. One feature that has been recently developed for dispense towers is the formation of ice on the beer tower itself. The glycol cooling system sufficiently cools the housing or shell of the dispense tower such that moisture in the atmosphere surrounding the beer tower condenses on the beer tower surface, and then ultimately freezes. Thus, the beer tower appears as a frozen mass. 
         [0005]    One disadvantage to present frozen dispense towers is that the dispense towers must be integrated within the closed loop glycol cooling system. Therefore, the particular style or type of dispense tower that is in use at any particular location cannot be modified without disconnecting the glycol cooling line, redesigning/replacing the tower, and then reconnecting the glycol cooling line. Additionally, cooling of the dispense tower by the glycol cooling system also places additional demands on the glycol cooling system. Depending upon the length of the beverage supply line, the cooling capacity of the glycol cooling system, and the size of the dispense tower, the beverage may not be kept adequately cooled if the dispense tower must also be cooled. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    In order to overcome the disadvantages set forth above with respect to the prior art, and to provide greater flexibility with respect to provision of a frozen dispense tower, it is therefore desirable to provide a dispense tower that is not connected to or otherwise integrated with an existing glycol cooling system. Additionally, there is a need to provide a frozen dispense tower that has its own integral cooling source, thus making the frozen dispense tower truly portable so that it can be used at different locations without disturbing the existing glycol cooling systems. Additionally, there is a need to provide a dispense tower that can also provide some additional cooling of the beverage as it is held within the reservoir at the point of dispense. 
         [0007]    In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a dispense tower or font is provided with its own dedicated cooling source in the form of a small, compact cooling unit that is mounted directly adjacent the dispense font when in use. This cooling unit is completely separate from the existing glycol cooling system and has its own dedicated cooling line and refrigeration source. Specifically, the tower includes an interior shell that supports a traversing arrangement of a closed loop cooling line that adequately cools the entire outer surface area of the tower. The outer surface of the tower is defined by an outer housing that surrounds the interior shell. The dispense tower of the present invention is preferably co-located with the point of dispense reservoir and dispense tap. In one embodiment, the tower has a mating configuration allowing the tower to at least partially surround the point of dispense reservoir, such that the tower may provide some additional secondary cooling to the beverage in the reservoir. The interior shell of the tower may have a cavity adapted in size to accept the particular point of dispense reservoir that may be present. Alternatively, the dispense tower may simply surround the point of dispense reservoir, but not make contact therewith such that no cooling is provided to the reservoir. 
         [0008]    The dispense tower and associated integral cooling unit are portable in that the dispense tower is configured to be easily separated from the point of dispense reservoir and tap. Additionally, the dispense tower includes its own base, enabling it to be mounted to any surface adjacent to the point of dispense reservoir and tap. 
         [0009]    In one aspect of the invention, the invention may be considered a dispense tower with an integral cooling unit in order to create a decorative, frozen appearance for the tower. In another aspect of the invention, it may be considered a dispense tower in combination with a conventional beverage dispense system wherein the dispense tower may optionally provide additional cooling to the beverage located at the point of dispense reservoir and provides the decorative, frozen appearance. 
         [0010]    In yet another aspect of the present invention a method of freezing a dispense tower is provided wherein the dispense tower and its associated cooling source are separated from the existing glycol cooling system, and secondary cooling can optionally be provided to the point of dispense reservoir. 
         [0011]    These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from a review of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the beverage dispense font of the present invention, along with a schematic view of the portable cooling unit of the present invention, and a schematic view of a conventional glycol cooling system; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the beverage dispense font of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is an elevation view of the interior shell and glycol circulating line of the dispense font; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a rear perspective view of the beverage dispense font; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a front perspective view of the beverage dispense font; 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a fragmentary perspective view of the beverage dispense font illustrating interior details thereof; and 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a rear perspective view of a second embodiment of the beverage dispense font of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0019]      FIG. 1  illustrates a first embodiment of the beverage dispense font  10  incorporating the portable cooling device  14 . Also shown is a conventional glycol cooling system  12  that cools the beverage supplied to the reservoir  16  mounted adjacent the dispense font  10 . Activating tap handle  18  causes the beverage to flow from the reservoir  16  through the tap  20  and out from the spout  21 . The beverage is supplied under pressure so that a constant flow of the beverage can be provided. As well understood by those skilled in the art, dispensing a beverage such as beer is achieved by pressurizing a beer keg located remote from the dispense font, and the glycol cooling system  12  provides cooling of the beverage supply line  22 , such that the beer delivered to the reservoir  16  is at the desired temperature. The conventional glycol cooling system  12  is illustrated as including a heat exchanger  24  that allows heat transfer from the supply line to the coolant supply  26  circulated through the heat exchanger. The coolant supply  26  is cooled by a refrigeration source (not shown) integral with the cooling system  12 . The heat exchanger may include one or more coils containing a coolant such as a glycol. Although the cooling system  12  is specifically disclosed as using glycol, it shall be understood that the cooling system  12  represents any prior art cooling system wherein the supply line  22  is cooled by a cooling system and some means is provided for allowing heat exchange to occur between the coolant line and a cooling source. Examples of prior art cooling systems include those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,949,552; 5,564,602; and 5,732,856, these references being hereby incorporated by reference for teaching conventional cooling systems used to cool a dispensed beverage such as beer. 
         [0020]    Referring also to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , further structural details of the dispense font are provided. The dispense font includes an outer housing  30  that is cooled and consequently, condensation forms on the outer housing and then freezes. In the example of  FIG. 2 , the outer housing  30  is in the shape of a mountain. However, it shall be understood that the particular shape of the outer housing  30  can be any shape which corresponds to some commercial aspect of the brewer, the establishment in which the beverage dispense font is installed, or any other desired shape. A condensation collection base  32  surrounds the lower portion of the outer housing  30 . The collection base  32  has an outer lip or flange  34  and a trough  36  that catches liquid if the ice melts from the outer housing. Conveniently, two drain extensions  38  protrude from the collection base  32 , and allow the liquid in the trough to drain as necessary. 
         [0021]    The interior of the outer housing  30  is essentially hollow and inner surface  42  defines an interior cavity. Edge  44  defines a large central opening of the outer housing, which enables the interior shell  50  and cooling line  46  to be placed therein. The interior shell  50  may simply be a molded plastic piece that fits within the large central opening defined by edges  44  in the outer housing  30 . The shell  50  has a conforming surface  51  that may substantially match the shape of the inner surface  42 , thereby placing the cooling line  46  in close proximity to or in contact with the inner surface  42 . Preferably, direct contact is made by the cooling line  46  with the inner surface  42  such that optimum heat transfer may occur from the outer housing  30 . The cooling line  46  is formed in a pattern on the shell  50 . Depending upon the extent to which the outer housing  30  must be cooled to cause condensation to freeze, the size, spacing, and particular configuration of the coolant line can be modified. The interior shell  50  also includes a base  52 , and in the preferred embodiment of  FIGS. 2 and 3 , no coolant line surrounds the base. An exterior face  40  of the shell  50  is substantially planar as shown, and a plurality of fasteners  48  (see  FIG. 6 ) secures the shell  50  near the edge  44  of the housing  30 . A cylindrical shaped cavity  54  may be formed in the exterior face  40  in order to receive the reservoir  16 . The reservoir typically has a lower flange  28  that is secured to the bar surface, and the lower portion of the cavity  54  includes a cutout  55  to accommodate the lower flange  28 . As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the cooling line  46  enters and exit through holes  60  formed in the conforming surface  51 . Although the preferred embodiment illustrates a shell  50  having a particular shape and spacing with respect to the housing  30 , it shall also be understood that the shell is not required and adequate cooling may be achieved by simply shaping the cooling line  46  such that it contacts or comes in close proximity to the inner surface  42  of the housing. In general terns, use of a cooling line  46  within the housing may be referred to herein as cooling means. 
         [0022]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , the dispense font is shown assembled with the reservoir  16  placed within the cavity  54 . In the configuration of  FIG. 4 , some cooling may also be provided to the reservoir  16  by contact of the reservoir  16  with the cavity  54 . If the interior shell  50  were made of metal as opposed to plastic, conduction characteristics would be improved thereby increasing the cooling effect for cooling the reservoir  16 . However, if it is desired to insulate the reservoir  16  from any cooling provided by the cooling line  46 , then molded plastic is a better choice of material since plastic is a better insulator. 
         [0023]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , it is also seen that the outer housing  30  may also include a mount feature  61  formed on the outer surface. The mount  61  can be used to display the particular trademark/logo of the brewer or other party who wishes to be identified. Referring back to  FIG. 3 , it is therefore desirable to not form ice on area  61 ; therefore, cooling line  46  does not traverse at that corresponding location on the inner shell  50 . 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , further interior details of the invention are illustrated. As shown, the cooling line  46  are mounted to the exterior conforming surface  51  of the shell  50 , thereby enabling efficient heat transfer from the outer housing  30  to the coolant line. The coolant line directly connects to the portable cooling unit  14  and the sections of the cooling line extending away from and to the font are shown as sections  47 . The cooling unit  14  includes its own coolant supply  42 , as well as a refrigeration source  43  that continually cools the coolant circulated through the cooling line  46 . The refrigeration device  43  can be any small refrigeration device wherein a refrigerant line or chamber (not shown) cools the coolant supply. There are a number of commercial products that use very small refrigeration devices for purposes of cooling a desired space. For example, portable coolers with integral refrigeration devices such as those made by Coolmatic® of Ft. Lauderdale Fla. represent the type of small refrigeration devices available. Preferably, the portable cooling unit  14  is mounted directly below the dispense font  10 , such as below the bar surface. The portable cooling unit is also preferably of such small size that it may be easily transported with the dispense font if it is necessary or desired to separate the dispense font from the point of dispense reservoir  16 . Although glycol can be the coolant used in the portable cooling unit, it is contemplated that other coolants can also be used to include gas and liquids. 
         [0025]      FIG. 7  illustrates another preferred embodiment of the present invention. The embodiment of  FIG. 7  is similar to the first embodiment, with the exception of the particular style of the reservoir  76 , spout  74 , tap  72 , and tap handle  70 . Also in the embodiment of  FIG. 7 , the reservoir or column  76  is not contained within a cavity formed on exterior surface  40  but rather, is mounted exterior to the dispense font. Therefore, with the embodiment of  FIG. 7 , the sole purpose of the dispense font  10  is for producing ice on the outer housing  30 . Additionally, a beverage rest  80  is shown wherein a beverage glass may be placed, and the drain extensions  38  are positioned such that condensation may flow into the beverage rest  80 . 
         [0026]    In accordance with the method of the present invention, a portable cooling unit is provided to separately cool the outer housing of the dispense font in order to cause ice to form on the outer housing. The portable cooling unit has its own dedicated cooling line that allow heat transfer from the outer housing to the dedicated cooling line. The dedicated cooling line may be supported on the interior shell that thereby maximizes surface contact of the interior of the housing with the cooling line. Sufficient cooling is provided to cause condensation to form on the outer housing, and as time progresses, the condensation freezes on the outer housing. As time further progresses, the amount of ice that forms on the outer housing will increase, and it may be desirable to control the thickness of the ice forming in order to achieve the desired visual effect. Therefore, it is also contemplated that the portable cooling unit may be cycled on and off such that the desired thickness of ice is maintained, thereby producing the desired visual effect on the outer housing. A temperature controller  90  may be used with the portable cooling unit to monitor the temperature inside the housing and to establish a desired cooling cycle to selectively freeze and thaw the condensation. An RTD or other temperature sensing devices (not shown) can be placed adjacent the cooling line to provide an input to the temperature controller. In turn, the temperature controller can then control the activation and on-off cycling of the portable cooling unit. By use of such a temperature controller, the thickness of the ice can be controlled over time. During start-up, it may be desirable to periodically brush the outer surface of the housing with water to encourage ice formation. 
         [0027]    There are numerous advantages to the beverage dispense font and portable cooling device of the present invention. An existing glycol cooling system can remain in place without modification, yet a decorative, frozen appearing dispense font may be provided and installed at any desired location where a beverage is dispensed. The portable cooling unit can be a very small device, since the length of the coolant line is relatively small as compared to a conventional glycol cooling system. Some additional cooling benefit may be provided to the point of dispense tower if desired.