Abstract:
A beverage fountain includes a reservoir for containing a low-viscosity liquid. A riser tube extends upwardly from the reservoir. A pump pumps liquid from the reservoir upwardly through the riser tube. A weir at an upper part of the riser tube has a peripheral array of drains past which individual streams of liquid flow for return to the reservoir and possible interception by a drinking vessel.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]    The present invention relates to fountains for liquid beverages such as champagne, fruit punch, fruit juice, cordials or the like. More particularly, although not exclusively, the invention relates to such a fountain of a style that might be used in the home to entertain party guests, or in hotel dining rooms, restaurants or buffets for example. 
         [0002]    Known multi-tier food fountains are designed for use with viscous substances such as chocolate fondue or syrup-like substances and comprise a bowl from which a vertical riser tube extends and in which a slow-turning auger is rotated by a motor to draw the substance from the bowl to an outlet at the top of the riser tube. From the top of the riser tube, the viscous substance flows over a mushroam-shaped surface to fall in a continuous cylindrical sheet to a second, larger mushroom-shaped surface, from which a larger-diameter continuous cylindrical sheet of viscous material cascades. 
         [0003]    Such fountains as described above are limited to use with viscous substances into which a food item such as a strawberry for example can be dipped prior to consumption. The slow-turning auger cannot draw a fast-flowing low-viscosity liquid intended to be imbibed from a glass or cup for example. Furthermore, since drinking vessels cannot be inverted and dipped in any sensible or sanitary manner into the liquid for the purpose of filling, they must be filled from above. Placing an upright glass for example into a cylindrical sheet-like flow of liquid would be untidy as liquid would inevitably mess the outside surface of the glass. 
       OBJECT OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]    It is an object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate it least one of the above disadvantages and/or more generally to provide an improved beverage fountain. 
       DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]    There is disclosed herein a beverage fountain, comprising:
       a reservoir for containing a low-viscosity liquid,   a riser tube extending upwardly from the reservoir,   a pump for pumping liquid from the reservoir upwardly through the riser tube, and   an upper weir receiving liquid from the riser tube and comprising an array of drains past which individual streams of liquid flow for return to the reservoir and possible interception by a drinking vessel en route thereto.       
 
         [0010]    Preferably, the upper weir has a continuous periphery at or alongside which the array of drains is situated. 
         [0011]    Preferably, each drain comprises a hole. 
         [0012]    Preferably, each drain comprises a short tube. 
         [0013]    Preferably, the upper weir comprises an inverted hollow cone for attachment to the riser tube and through which the liquid from the riser tube passes. 
         [0014]    Preferably, the fountain further comprises a housing containing the pump and comprising an inlet through which liquid from the reservoir is drawn by the pump, and further comprising a hopper attached to the housing for directing caught liquid to the inlet. 
         [0015]    Preferably, the hopper is situated in the reservoir and comprises a number of apertures through which liquid can pass between the reservoir and the hopper. 
         [0016]    Preferably, the fountain further comprises a light source directing light at parts selected from the group consisting of said: riser tube; weir and reservoir. 
         [0017]    Preferably, said parts are formed substantially of light transmissive material. 
         [0018]    Preferably, said parts are coloured. 
         [0019]    Preferably, said light source is coloured. 
         [0020]    Preferably, said reservoir rests upon a base including a switch for activating the pump. 
         [0021]    Preferably, said reservoir rests upon a base including a switch for activating the light source. 
         [0022]    There is further disclosed herein a beverage fountain, comprising:
       a reservoir for containing a low-viscosity liquid,   a riser tube extending upwardly from the reservoir,   a pump for pumping liquid from the reservoir upwardly through the riser tube,   an upper weir receiving liquid from the riser tube and comprising a drain past which a stream of liquid flows for return to the reservoir and possible interception by a drinking vessel en route thereto,   an intermediate weir attached to the riser tube below the upper weir for catching said streams of liquid and comprising an intermediate drain past which a stream of caught liquid flows for return to the reservoir and possible interception by a drinking vessel en route thereto, the intermediate weir comprising an intermediate deflector situated above its drain for deflecting liquid from the upper weir toward the riser tube.       
 
         [0028]    Preferably, the intermediate deflector is attached to the intermediate weir by spacers. 
         [0029]    Preferably, the intermediate deflector is frustoconical. 
         [0030]    Preferably, the fountain further comprises a lower weir attached to the riser tube below the intermediate weir for catching said stream of liquid and comprising a lower drain past which a stream of caught liquid flows for return to the reservoir and possible interception by a drinking vessel en route thereto. 
         [0031]    Preferably, the lower weir comprises a lower deflector situated above the lower drain for deflecting liquid from the intermediate weir toward the riser tube. 
         [0032]    Preferably, the lower deflector is attached to the lower weir by spacers. 
         [0033]    Preferably, the lower deflector is frustoconical. 
         [0034]    Preferably, the upper, intermediate and lower weirs each comprise a peripheral lip extending about the respective drains and serving to contain liquid above the drains and a decorative purpose. 
         [0035]    There is further disclosed herein a beverage fountain bottom structure, comprising:
       a reservoir for containing a low-viscosity liquid,   a pump for pumping liquid from the reservoir,   a housing comprising an inlet through which liquid from the reservoir is drawn by the pump, and   a hopper attached to the housing and situated in the reservoir and comprising an aperture through which liquid can pass between the reservoir and the hopper, wherein the hopper directs liquid returned from said pump to said inlet.       
 
         [0040]    There is further disclosed herein a beverage fountain upper structure, comprising:
       a riser tube for passage of liquid upwardly therethrough,   an weir for receiving liquid from the riser tube and comprising a drain past which a stream of liquid falls,   a deflector surrounding the riser tube below the drain for deflecting said stream of liquid toward the riser tube.       
 
         [0044]    Preferably, the deflector is supported by spacers. 
         [0045]    Preferably, the deflector is frustoconical. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0046]    A preferred form of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0047]      FIG. 1  is a schematic parts-exploded elevation of a beverage fountain, 
           [0048]      FIG. 2  is a schematic elevation of the assembled beverage fountain, 
           [0049]      FIG. 3  is a schematic perspective illustration of an intermediate weir of the fountain, 
           [0050]      FIG. 4  is a schematic perspective illustration of motor and pump housing portions and hopper of the fountain, 
           [0051]      FIG. 5  is a schematic elevation of the base and reservoir of the fountain, and 
           [0052]      FIG. 6  is a schematic cross-sectional elevation taken at VI-VI in  FIG. 5 . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0053]      FIG. 1  depicts the major parts forming the structure of a beverage fountain  10 . The major parts are typically formed of light-transmissive plastics material such as polycarbonate for example. 
         [0054]    The fountain comprises a base  24  having an electrical switch  25  thereon. The base supports a bowl or reservoir  22 . Situated within the reservoir there is a motor housing  23  and a pump housing  28 . The pump housing  28  comprises an inlet  27  through which liquid from the reservoir  22  is drawn. A socket  20  extends upwardly from the pump housing  28 . 
         [0055]    A riser tube comprises three individual segments  16 ,  16 ′ and  16 ″. The riser tube segments comprise an upper end socket  15 ,  15 ′ and  15 ″ respectively. The bottom of riser tube segment  16 ″ fits upon the socket  20 . The bottom of riser tube segment  16 ′ fits upon socket  15 ″. The bottom of riser tube segment  16  fits upon socket  15 ′. 
         [0056]    Supported upon the riser tube segment  16  is an upper weir  12  having a conical entry passage  14  fitted to the socket  15 . The upper weir  12  comprises a peripheral lip  11  inside of and beneath which there is provided a circular array of drain holes  13 . Each drain hole  13  takes the form of a short vertical hollow tube. 
         [0057]    Fitted upon socket  15 ′ together with the riser tube segment  16  is an intermediate weir  12 ′. The intermediate weir  12 ′ also includes a peripheral lip  11 ′ and an array of drain holes  13 ′. These features are similar to those of the upper weir  12 , however the diameter of the intermediate weir is greater than that of the upper weir. 
         [0058]    The intermediate weir  12 ′ includes an intermediate inverted hollow cone  14 ′ at the top of which there is situated a frustoconical intermediate deflector  18 . The intermediate deflector  18  is spaced above the inverted cone  14 ′ by a number of spacers  17 . The diameter of the deflector  18  is essentially the same as the diameter of the array of drain holes  13  in the upper weir. 
         [0059]    Fitted upon socket  15 ″ together with the riser tube segment  16 ′ is a lower weir  12 ″. The lower weir  12 ″ also includes a peripheral lip  11 ″ and an array of drain holes  13 ″. These features are similar to those of the intermediate weir  12 ′, however the diameter of the lower weir is greater than that of the intermediate weir. The lower weir  12 ″ includes a lower inverted hollow cone  14 ″ at the top of which there is situated a frustoconical lower deflector  18 ′. The lower deflector  18 ′ is spaced above the inverted cone  14 ″ by a number of spacers  17 ′. The diameter of the lower deflector  18 ′ is essentially the same as the diameter of the array of drain holes  13 ′ in the intermediate weir. 
         [0060]    Fitted about the pump housing  28  is a conical hopper  30 . The upper-most diameter of the hopper  30  is slightly larger than the diameter of the array of holes  13 ″ in the lower weir. The hopper  30  includes a number of apertures  19 . 
         [0061]    Within the motor housing  23 , there is provided an electric/magnetic motor  31  activated by a toggle switch  25  on the base  24 . The motor drives a pump impeller  29  located within pump housing  28  to draw in liquid via the inlet  27 . This liquid is taken from the reservoir  22  and is forced upwardly through the interconnected riser tube segments by the pump for delivery to the upper weir  12  via its inverted cone  14 . The liquid is laterally constrained by the lip  11  and drains from the upper weir via the drain holes  13 . This liquid then freefalls as individual separated streams—one of which is indicated by the arrows in  FIG. 2 . The stream is deflected by the intermediate deflector  18  toward the riser tube segment  16  so that it does not splash outwardly from the intermediate weir. The liquid collects in the intermediate weir and is constrained laterally by the lip  11 ′. Liquid drains from the intermediate weir via the array of drain holes  13 ′. This stream is thence deflected by the lower deflector  18 ′ toward the riser tube segment  16 ′ so that it does not splash outwardly from the lower weir. The liquid collects in the lower weir and is constrained laterally by the lip  11 ″. Liquid drains from the lower weir via the array of drain holes  13 ″ and is received by the hopper  30 . The hopper  30  then directs the liquid toward the inlet  27  for recirculation by the pump through the respective riser tube segments. The apertures  19  in the hopper allow liquid from outside the hopper in the reservoir to migrate into the hopper as required. 
         [0062]    In order to fill one&#39;s glass with liquid beverage, one need simply presented the lip of his or her glass into one of the streams beneath one of the weirs. It is upon such depletion of liquid from the recirculating cascade of liquid that migration of liquid from the reservoir through the apertures  19  takes place. The apertures also serve to enable a back-flow of liquid from the hopper to the reservoir if required. 
         [0063]    A pair of lenses  26  is provided in the top surface of the motor housing  23 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , a lamp  31  is situated beneath each lens. The lamps might be activated by the same switch  25  that controls the pump motor. The lenses may be coloured and/or the weirs may be transparent/coloured so that light emanating through the lenses illuminates the fountain most decoratively. 
         [0064]    It should be appreciated that modifications and alterations obvious to those skilled in the art are not to be considered as beyond the scope of the present invention. For example, instead of providing a plurality of drain holes, each lip  11 ,  11 ′ and  11 ″ might be provided with open-topped slots or V- or U-shaped trots through which individual streams of liquid can escape.