Patent Publication Number: US-8973787-B2

Title: Portable beverage-dispensing device for use by groups

Description:
SCOPE AND PRIOR ART 
     The present invention relates in general to a portable device or apparatus to distribute drinks collectively applicable in the hotel industry equipment sector, such as bars, restaurants and such like, but it can even be used for domestic purposes. 
     Document ES 2121506 discloses a dispenser device with a drink receptacle equipped with an emptying orifice in its bottom which is obturated with a valve; a support to securely but demountably hold the drink receptacle; and a tap which serves to open the valve of the drink receptacle and allow the exit of the liquid. But this device is not adapted to dispense drink simultaneously to several users nor is it provided with means to keep the drink at a suitable temperature. 
     Document WO95/00434 discloses a drink dispenser device which also has drink receptacle with an emptying orifice in its bottom and a tap connected to the receptacle to dispense the liquid contained, being additionally provided to have inside the drink receptacle a cooling element, disposed in bag that is in direct contract with the drink. Neither is this device adapted to dispense drink simultaneously to several users and the bag containing the cooling element is in direct contact with the drink to be dispensed so that there is a potential risk of contamination of the drink with germs and unsuitable substances and so that, furthermore, the material forming the bag may alter the taste of the drink contained. 
     OBJECT OF THE INVENTION 
     Starting from the aforementioned state of the art, the invention&#39;s objective is the development of a device of the type indicated at first adapted to the simultaneous serving of drink to several users and which has a cooling element which is not in direct contact with the drink. 
     This objective is achieved through the characteristics indicated in claim  1  which includes a preamble with the characteristics of the prior art. Other objectives and advantages of the invention are achieved through the characteristics indicated in the dependent claims. 
     In accordance with the invention the drink dispenser is provided with a support base where a receptacle for containing drinks by way of a glass is engaged, which has emptying orifices in its bottom obturated by respective valves. Mounted in said support base, protruding through its lower part and angularly equidistant, nozzles are disposed for the exit of the drink, for example three nozzles equidistant at 120°, and conveniently located and centred on them, respective pouring levers in the form of a handle each of which on being independently actuated move sliding parts vertically upward which drag said nozzles, displacing, in said vertical movement the valves located in the bottom of the receptacle, causing their opening and the consequent exit of the drink through the nozzles. When the pressure on the pouring lever stops, the corresponding sliding part and the respective valve are returned to their initial position by springs provided for said purpose, cutting off the drink supply. 
     The dispenser has a cooling element in the form of a block which is adapted to the shape of the inner part of the support base and of the lower part of the drink receptacle and filled of cooling gel which can freeze placed between the support base and the drink receptacle in order to keep this suitable cool. 
     This assembly is finished in its upper part by a lid situated on the drink receptacle in order to protect the drink and it has in its lower part a tray on which legs provided on the support base rest and engage and enable the collection of wasted water and the support of glasses and jugs during the use of the dispenser. 
     The drink receptacle, preferably of transparent material, is configured with a semi-triangular base and a cylindrical opening and has in its bottom angularly equidistant cylindrical emptying orifices, for example three orifices equidistant at 120°, wherein are housed respective valve bodies which, equipped with a toric seal and spring, cause its obturation. Said bottom has a convex shape to favour the exit of liquids. In the lower part it has an area for its engaged and demountable coupling on the support base, configured with crenellated protuberances, for example, three equidistant at 120°, in the inner wall to guarantee it is secured. 
     The support base is supported by legs, for example, three angularly equidistant at 120°, and in which upper part rests perimetrically engaged the drink receptacle, having in its inner perimeter blocking parts, for example three situated angularly equidistant at 120° and which are mounted in respective housings provided for this purpose; these blocking parts which are actuated by a spring, have the purpose of securing and blocking the drink receptacle against an undesired removal. In the bottom of the support base, is mounted an unblocking disk, which remains at rest via a spring and which has arms, for example, three angularly equidistant at 120°, which have an end suitably configured to act as cam on the blocking parts and protuberances in the form of appendage on its lower part which crossing the bottom protrude therefrom and can be manually pressed from the outside for the release of the drink receptacle. 
     Furthermore, the support base has housings, for example three angularly equidistant at 120°, to house the outlet nozzles and centred with respect to them, another three housings with the suitable form for the fastening and assembly of the pouring levers. 
     Each pouring lever has a support where the sliding part is housed, adapted to hook with the outlet nozzles mounted in the support base, each sliding part being provided to move vertically upward on actuating the respective pouring lever which pivots in an axis housed in said support. The recovery of the mechanism is performed by two springs that act on the sliding part once the assembly is conveniently secured in housings disposed in the support base. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will be clearer from the following description made with the aid of the attached drawings, referring to an example of non-limitative embodiment and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a dispenser device in accordance with the invention. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of the drink container of the dispenser with exploded detail of its cut-off values. 
         FIGS. 3A to 3C  and  4  show respective lower perspective views, upper and lower plan and an elevation view of the drink container of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIGS. 5 and 6  respectively illustrate a cross-section of the drink container along line I-I of  FIG. 4  and an enlargement of said section. 
         FIG. 7  shows an exploded perspective view of the support base of the dispenser device according to the invention. 
         FIGS. 8 and 9  show respective perspective and plan views of the support base of the dispenser device according to the invention. 
         FIG. 10  illustrates a sectional view of the support base of the dispenser device along line I-I of  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 11  shows a perspective view of a dispenser device in accordance with  FIG. 1  but assembled. 
         FIGS. 12 and 13  illustrate respective elevation and plan views of the dispenser device according to  FIG. 11 . 
         FIGS. 14 and 15  show respectively a section through line I-I of  FIG. 13  and an enlargement of said cut. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     As can be seen through the drawings, the dispenser device in accordance with the invention designated in general by reference  1 , comprises a drink receptacle  2  with valves  3  in its bottom, a support base  4  for supporting the drink receptacle, pouring mechanisms  5  that serve to open the valves  3  and a cooling element  6  which is mounted inside the support base under the drink receptacle. 
     It can be seen that the drink receptacle  2  has a bottom  20  configured in its inner part with a convex central portion  201  surrounded by a perimeter portion  202  wherein are provided a plurality of angularly equidistant emptying orifices  200 . Furthermore, the outer part of the bottom  20  is configured with a central area  203  surrounded by a perimeter area  204  wherein are provided cylindrical housings  205  in the form of a bushing aligned with the emptying orifices  200  and in which cylindrical housings are engaged the respective valve  3 . 
     Additionally, this drink receptacle  2  has configured in its lower part a perimeter flange  206  and a support edge  207 , which serve to rest on the support  4  as will be described in detail below. Furthermore, in the inner part of the perimeter flange  206  are provided crenellated ribs  2060  disposed angularly equidistant as will be described below for coupling with blocking against undesired removal of the drink receptacle. 
     The valves  3 , known in themselves, consist of a valve body  30  and a valve spring  32  and each one of these cut-off valves mounted on the orifices  200  and engaged in the cylindrical housings  205  of the lower part of the container  2  with the aid of a valve gasket  31  and a valve bushing  33 . 
     As shown in the drawings, the support base  4  is provided with an upper portion  40  in the form of bowl with a configuration complementary to that of the base of the drink receptacle for the engaging of said drink receptacle thanks to the aforementioned perimeter flange  206  and support edge  207 ; furthermore, in the upper portion  40  of this support  4  are provided openings  401  for mounting of the pouring mechanisms  5  as will be explained in detail below. 
     Additionally, said support has support legs  41  that extend from its upper portion  40 . It can also be provided with a support platform  7  in the form of a tray with housings  70  wherein the support legs  41  of the support  4  engage so that they provide a surface under the support that can serve for placing cups or glasses for the drink served which are not represented, which also serve for collecting waste which may be generated during dispenser use. 
     It can be seen that the pouring mechanisms  5  are mounted on the upper portion  40  of the support base  4  to operationally face the respective valve  3  for its actuation. 
     As additionally represented in the drawings, there pouring mechanisms  5  are mounted angularly equidistant on the support base  4 , each one of them having a pouring lever  51  mounted with possibility of upward and downward movement on the upper portion  40  of the support base and a nozzle  50  for liquid exit mounted in a housing  400  in the form of bushing correspondingly provided inside said upper portion of said support base. As shall be explained in more detail later, the outlet nozzle  50  is mechanically coupled to the pouring lever  51  so that with the downward movement of the lever, the outlet nozzle moves vertically upward opposing the respective valve  3  opening it and displacing it downward separating from said valve which is closed when the pouring lever moves upward. 
     The drawings also show that each pouring mechanism  5  is provided with a lever support  52  wherein is mounted a spin axis  520  for the pouring lever  51 , a helicoidal spring  53  and a sliding part  54  which is mounted through a respective opening  401  correspondingly provided in the upper portion  40  of the support base  4  and a pair of guides  4010  for the sliding part being associated to each opening  401  and said sliding part being operationally coupled to an outlet nozzle  50 . In this way, by moving the pouring lever  51  downward it will pivot around the spin axis  520  moving the sliding part upward  54  which drags the outlet nozzle upward  50  until it presses against the respective valve  3  opening it; the helicoidal spring  53  serves to put back the nozzle  50 , the slide  54  and the pouring lever  51  to their initial raised position. 
     As can be seen in the drawings, in the upper portion  40  of the support base  4  is provided a blocking-unblocking device  8  of the drink receptacle  2  and which in blocked position prevents the removal of said drink receptacle from its engagement in the support base  4  and which in its unblocked position releases the drink receptacle allowing its removal from said support base. 
     As shown in the figures, this blocking-unblocking device  8  is formed by respective blocking pieces  9  disposed to be operationally faced and be coupled to the crenellated ribs  2060  provided inside the perimeter flange  206  of the lower part of the drink container  2  and an unblocking part  10  that can be actuated from the outside to actuate on the blocking parts  9  as will be explained in detail below. 
     It can be seen that the blocking parts  9 , tightened due to a spring, not represented, are mounted mobile on ribs  4020  provided on a respective additional opening  402  correspondingly made in the upper portion  40  of the support base  4 . 
     It can also be seen that the unblocking part  10 , tightened due to a spring, not represented, is provided as a disk with arms  100  configured at its end to actuate by way of a cam on the blocking parts  9  and each end of the respective arm having an appendage  1000  which extends downward to protrude through an opening  403  made in the bottom of the upper portion  40  of the support base  4 , so that said appendages can be manually pressed from the outside to remove the blocking parts  9  of its engagement in the crenellated ribs  2060  of the lower part of the drink container and thus release this drink receptacle from its engagement in the support base. 
     As shown in the drawings, the cooling element  6  is removably housed inside the upper portion  40  of the support  4  so that it can be replaced by another suitably cooled one. As known, the cooling element is filled with cooling gel that can be frozen. 
     It can be seen that this cooling element  6  has general cylindrical configuration with a convex upper base  60 , an essentially flat lower base  61  and a side wall  62  with recesses  620 . In this way, when this cooling element  6  is mounted in the dispenser device  1 , the concave central portion  203  of the outer part of the bottom  20  of the drink receptacle  2  rests against its convex upper base  60 , its lower base  61  rests against the bottom of the upper portion  40  of the support base and the recesses  620  of its side wall  62  adapt to the internal configuration of said upper portion  40  of the support  4 . 
     In order to protect the drink contained in the receptacle  2 , as can be seen in  FIG. 1 , a lid  11  is provided for the upper opening of the receptacle. 
     As will be easily understood by people skilled in the art, the aforementioned is merely illustrative of a preferred embodiment of the invention so that technical modifications of any kind are possible which means that the embodiments arising from changes in shape, dimensions and such like, as well as those resulting from application of the above disclosed, must be included in its scope, so that the invention will only be limited by the scope of the following claims.