Patent Description:
Document <CIT> discloses a cover assembly for a bar gun with an upper elongated body having a top wall, a right side wall, a left side wall, a front wall, the upper body being shaped and adapted to contain the bar gun and to extend about and surround a nozzle extending from the bar gun. The cover assembly also has an aperture penetrating the top wall for access to buttons on the top of the bar gun.

Document <CIT> discloses a bar gun having a configurable display.

The bar gun includes a housing portion having an internal cavity. A mixing mechanism is disposed in the internal cavity and is in fluid communication with a plurality of fluid lines. A spout having an opening is in fluid communication with the mixing mechanism to discharge fluid received from the mixing mechanism. The configurable display is coupled with the housing. The configurable display can include a display window and an illumination source configured to emit illumination to back light the display window. The configurable display can also include an electronic display.

The present invention is defined in the independent claim. The dependent claims define advantageous embodiments thereof.

According to some embodiments disclosed, an advertising accessory includes a frame and a front face extending from one side of the frame. The front face may include a branding area that extends across some or all of the front face. The branding area may show advertisements, such as, for example, logos or trademarks. A user interface void is formed in the frame and is configured to receive a user interface plate of a bar gun. The advertising accessory also includes a locking clip that extends from the front face and is parallel to the frame. The clip may be configured to engage a nozzle surface of the bar gun. The clip and frame couple the advertising accessory to the bar gun. The frame extends around the user interface plate of the bar gun. In some embodiments, the clip and frame form a snap fit connection between the advertising accessory and the bar gun.

In some embodiments, the advertising accessory includes a badge mating surface. The badge mating surface may be formed on the front face of the advertising accessory and may be configured to engage branding badges. The branding badges may be interchangeable and each branding badge may contain a different advertisement such as, for example, beverage logos, corporate logos, sport team logos, other logos, trademarks, or service marks. The branding badges may be removably coupled to the badge mating surface such that the badges can be changed to customize the advertising experience. The branding badges may mate with the badge mating surface using a friction connection, a snap lock connection, or other connection type, such as, for example, a screw, adhesive, or interference fit.

An advertising accessory according to some embodiments has a frame thickness at the user interface void that is the same as a thickness of the user interface plate of the bar gun that is exposed above a top surface of the bar gun. When the frame thickness at the user interface void and the thickness of the user interface plate are the same, the user interface plate and the advertising accessory may present a smooth, continuous appearance.

In use, an advertising accessory for a bar gun may have a front face that faces away from the user of the bar gun. In this way, a customer at a bar, restaurant, or other establishment is presented with the advertisement shown on the front face of the advertising accessory as the beverage is dispensed. The presentation of the brand may enhance brand recognition and contribute to greater brand recognition. In some embodiments, the front face displays a beverage logo or trademark. The displayed logo or trademark may correspond to a beverage that may be dispensed. When the bar gun with an advertising accessory is used to dispense a beverage, the branding area faces away from the user of the bar gun.

The advertising accessory may be coupled to the bar gun using only a snap fit connection created between the frame of the advertising accessory and the locking clip. That is, the advertising accessory may be coupled to the bar gun without the use of adhesives or fasteners. A rear face of the advertising accessory may be bounded on one side by the locking clip and on two sides by lateral support protrusions. The locking clip and lateral support protrusions may extend on to different surfaces of the bar gun. In some embodiments, the advertising accessory includes a removal tab formed on the frame. The removal tab may be formed as a depression in the frame opposite the front face of the advertising accessory. The removal tab may aid a user in removing the advertising accessory from the bar gun. The removal tab may extend across all or a portion of the length or width of one side of the advertising accessory.

Reference will now be made in detail to representative embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the following descriptions are not intended to limit the embodiments to one preferred embodiment. To the contrary, it is intended to cover alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as can be included within the scope of the described embodiments as defined by the claims.

The present disclosure is directed to an advertising accessory for a bar gun. Branding facilitates consumer recognition of goods and services and my also create new revenue streams for vendors. The advertising accessory mates with the user interface frame of the bar gun and extends over a front edge of the bar gun. In some embodiments, the advertising accessory and user interface plate may be a single structure and may be mounted to the bar gun.

A bar gun is a beverage dispensing device that includes a dispensing nozzle and beverage dispensing buttons. The dispensing buttons are located on a user interface plate. The user interface plate organizes the dispensing buttons. When a user of a bar gun selects a dispensing button on the user interface plate, the corresponding beverage is dispensed from one or more beverage reservoirs from the dispensing nozzle. Bar guns are a staple of the beverage industry are commonly used in restaurants, bars, concessions, and other high-volume beverage-dispensing operations.

Bar guns allow bartenders and other operators to switch quickly between dispensed beverages improving the bartender's efficiency and customer satisfaction. Bar guns present a limited surface for advertisement bar guns have a relatively small exposed surface when in use. The limited surface are exists not only because the bar gun itself is a small object, but also because much of the relatively small area is obscured by the user's hand when the bar gun is operated.

The present disclosure is directed to embodiments of an advertising accessory for a bar gun. The disclosed embodiment expand and/enhance an advertising area of the bar gun. The advertising accessory has a front face that may display advertisements such as logos, slogans, or other information. The front face may have a badge mating portion configured to replaceably mate with branding badges. Branding badges may contain corporate logos, beverage logos, or other brand identifiers. In this way, the advertising accessory may display a wide variety of branding badges.

These and other embodiments are discussed below with reference to the figures. However, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the detailed description given herein with respect to these figures is for explanatory purposes only and should not be construed as limiting.

In some embodiments, for example as shown in <FIG>, an advertising accessory <NUM> is coupled to a bar gun <NUM>. Advertising accessory <NUM> includes a frame <NUM> and a front face <NUM> located at a front side of the frame. Frame <NUM> rests on a top surface <NUM> of bar gun <NUM>. A user interface void <NUM> is formed in frame <NUM> and surrounds a user interface plate <NUM> of bar gun <NUM>. A front face <NUM> of bar gun <NUM> is at least partially obscured by front face <NUM> of advertising accessory <NUM>. Front face <NUM> includes branding area <NUM>. Branding area <NUM> may include advertisements, such as, for example, logos or other branding and may contain two dimensional brand representations, such as, for example, stickers or surface printing, or may contain three dimensional brand representations, such as, for example, raised, textured, or contoured logos. In some embodiments a branding badge <NUM> may be mated to a badge mating surface <NUM> to form front face <NUM> and branding area <NUM> as a part of branding badge <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>.

Advertising accessory <NUM> may be made of plastic, resins, metal, or other materials. For example, advertising accessory <NUM>, or components thereof, may be made of polytetrafluoroethylene. Advertising accessory <NUM>, or components thereof, may be formed using an injection molding process.

<FIG> shows an exploded view of advertising accessory <NUM> and bar gun <NUM> according to some embodiments. Bar gun <NUM> includes a central body <NUM>. Central body <NUM> contains mechanical systems necessary for the operation of bar gun <NUM>. Central body <NUM> is connected to a beverage supply line <NUM>. Beverage supply line <NUM> supplies beverages and beverage ingredients to bar gun <NUM> in response to a user's selection at user interface plate <NUM>. Nozzle <NUM> is located opposite of beverage supply line <NUM>. Nozzle <NUM> extends from a bottom surface <NUM> of bar gun <NUM>. User interface plate <NUM> is disposed at a top surface <NUM> of bar gun <NUM>. User interface plate <NUM> has a user interface plate thickness <NUM>. User interface plate thickness <NUM> may be defined as the portion of user interface plate <NUM> that extends above top surface <NUM> of bar gun <NUM>.

Bar gun <NUM> includes user interface plate <NUM>. User interface plate <NUM> may be coupled to bar gun <NUM> using, for example, fasteners or adhesives. Fasteners <NUM> may include screws or other mechanical fasteners. In some embodiments, an adhesive holds user interface plate <NUM> to bar gun <NUM>. User interface plate <NUM> includes dispensing buttons <NUM>. Dispensing buttons <NUM> may be labeled with various brands of beverages or beverages to be dispensed. For example, one dispensing button <NUM> may be labeled Pepsi-Cola®, another dispensing button <NUM> may be labeled water, and another dispensing button <NUM> may be labeled soda. Depressing each respective button causes bar gun <NUM> to dispense Pepsi-Cola®, water, and soda water, respectively. Each dispensing button <NUM> is associated with different input lines which a user may adjust at the beverage source, such as, for example, under the bar counter. In some embodiments, dispensing buttons <NUM> may be rearranged on user interface plate <NUM>. A corresponding change may need to be made to the input lines so the dispensed product matches the label of dispensing button <NUM>. This may be particularly useful because it allows the bar gun <NUM> operator to customize user interface plate <NUM> to match dispensed content.

Bar gun <NUM> has a front face <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, front face <NUM> is perpendicular (for example, disposed between <NUM>° and <NUM>° to one another) to top surface <NUM> of bar gun <NUM> and is parallel (for example, disposed between <NUM>° and <NUM>° to one another) to an output direction of nozzle <NUM>. When bar gun <NUM> is in use, front surface <NUM> faces the patron, which is across from the user of bar gun <NUM> (e.g., across a bar).

According to some embodiments, advertising accessory <NUM> attaches to bar gun <NUM> through a snap fit connection. Frame <NUM> extends around user interface plate <NUM> such that user interface plate <NUM> extends into user interface void <NUM> of frame <NUM>. Frame <NUM> may have a frame thickness <NUM>. Frame thickness <NUM> may be the same as user interface plate thickness <NUM> to minimize a seam formed between user interface plate <NUM> and frame <NUM>. Minimizing the seam may improve the user experience and give bar gun <NUM> with advertising accessory <NUM> a cleaner, more integrated appearance.

Front face <NUM> of advertising accessory <NUM> extends over front face <NUM> of bar gun <NUM>. A locking clip <NUM>, for example as shown in <FIG>, extends over bottom surface <NUM> of bar gun <NUM>. Locking clip <NUM> and frame <NUM> create a snap fit connection hold advertising accessory <NUM> to bar gun <NUM>.

Advertising accessory <NUM> may be added to existing bar guns in the market by taking advantage of structural features of bar gun <NUM>. As discussed with respect to <FIG> above, existing bar guns <NUM> include bottom surface <NUM> and user interface plate <NUM>. Advertising accessory <NUM> connects to bar gun <NUM> and presents a clean, smooth, integrated appearance. Advertising accessory <NUM> is an economical addition to existing bar guns in the market.

<FIG> shows advertising accessory <NUM>. Front face <NUM> presents a branding area <NUM> in the direction of patron <NUM>. Direction of patron <NUM> points to where patrons of establishments using bar gun <NUM> may be located. For example, when bar gun <NUM> is used at a bar where patrons interact with bartenders opposite a counter, the bartender, as the user of bar gun <NUM>, is located in the opposite direction of direction of patron <NUM>. Seam <NUM> is shown between badge mating surface <NUM> and branding badge <NUM>.

Seam <NUM> may be present in embodiments where advertising accessory <NUM> uses interchangeable branding badges <NUM> as described in further detail below. User interface void <NUM> is formed in frame <NUM>. User interface void <NUM> has corners <NUM>. Corners <NUM> match the corner contours <NUM> of bar gun <NUM>'s user interface plate <NUM>. Corners <NUM> have a smooth geometry and smoothly connect the four straight edges of user interface void <NUM>. User interface void <NUM> is sized the same as or slightly larger than user interface plate <NUM> to provide a tight mating between user interface plate <NUM> and advertising accessory <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a rear perspective view of advertising accessory <NUM>. A rear face <NUM> is bounded by locking clip <NUM> and lateral support protrusions <NUM>. Locking clip <NUM> extends beyond rear face <NUM> and is configured to engaged bottom surface <NUM> of bar gun <NUM>. Lateral support protrusions <NUM> extend beyond front face <NUM> of bar gun <NUM>, around rounded corners <NUM>, and may extend to side <NUM> of bar gun <NUM>. Lateral support protrusions <NUM> keep advertising accessory <NUM> symmetrically located on front face <NUM> of bar gun <NUM>. As discussed above, locking clip <NUM> and frame <NUM> create a snap fit that holds advertising accessory <NUM> securely to bar gun <NUM>. The use of a snap fit connection allows for the quick introduction and removal of advertising accessory <NUM> to bar gun <NUM> without the need of any additional adhesives or fasteners. In this way, bar gun <NUM>'s operator can change the branding bar gun <NUM> by changing advertising accessory <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a left side view of an advertising accessory <NUM> according to an embodiment. Advertising accessory <NUM> has frame thickness <NUM>. As discussed above, frame thickness <NUM> may be the same as user interface plate thickness <NUM>. A removal tab <NUM> is located on frame <NUM> opposite of front face <NUM>. Removal tab <NUM> aids a user of advertising accessory <NUM> in removing advertising accessory <NUM> from bar gun <NUM>. Advertising accessory <NUM> connected to bar gun <NUM> may be removed by inserting an object, such as, for example, a finger or spoon tip, at removal tab <NUM> between frame <NUM> and top surface <NUM> of bar gun <NUM>. Advertising accessory <NUM> may be removed by pulling on removal tab <NUM> and lifting frame <NUM> away from top surface <NUM> of bar gun <NUM>. Once frame <NUM> is a sufficient distance from top surface <NUM> of bar gun <NUM>, advertising accessory <NUM> separates from bar gun <NUM>. In this way, advertising accessory <NUM> can be said to "snap off" of bar gun <NUM>. In some embodiments, the removal tab is formed as a depression in frame <NUM> so create a space between frame <NUM> and top surface <NUM> of bar gun <NUM>.

<FIG> shows advertising accessory <NUM> according to an embodiment. As shown, advertising accessory <NUM> includes a badge mating surface <NUM>. Badge mating surface <NUM> is configured to mate with branding badge <NUM>. Branding badge <NUM> may be removable and interchangeable. Interchanging branding badges <NUM> make advertising accessory <NUM> customizable. Representative structures are shown in <FIG> as branding badges 104A, 104B, and 104C.

According to some embodiments, the advertisement or branding of advertising accessory <NUM> may be changed by exchanging branding badges <NUM> on badge mating surface <NUM>. Each branding badge <NUM> may show different logos or trademarks and may be changed by a user depending on available products, seasonal offerings, local events, or holidays. For example, branding badge <NUM> may show a logo of a beverage available from bar gun <NUM>. Alternatively, for example, branding badge <NUM> may show a sport team's logo or other trademark. A user wishing to change the branding of advertising accessory <NUM> may remove branding badge <NUM> from badge mating surface <NUM>. Branding badge <NUM> and badge mating surface <NUM> may have a snap fit connection allowing for easy exchange of branding badges <NUM>. In some embodiments, badge mating surface <NUM> may include a screw or other connection interface such that branding badge <NUM> may be screwed on or otherwise fixed to badge mating surface <NUM>.

<FIG> shows advertising accessory <NUM> not according to the invention as defined in the claims. As shown in <FIG>, user interface plate <NUM> and advertising accessory <NUM> are a unitary structure. According to these embodiments, advertising accessory <NUM> is not a removable structure but is attached to bar gun <NUM> in a more permanent manner, such as, for example, with adhesives. According to these embodiments, advertising accessory <NUM> is attached to bar gun <NUM> and only branding badges <NUM> are changed to change the branding of bar gun <NUM>. According to these embodiments, a unitary advertising accessory <NUM> and user interface plate <NUM> may be shipped with new bar guns <NUM> or may replace user interface plate <NUM> of an existing bar gun <NUM>. A unitary frame and user interface place <NUM> structure as shown in <FIG> may also be used with branding badges <NUM>.

According to some embodiments, advertising accessory <NUM> may not include removable branding badges <NUM> but may have a unitary front face <NUM>. In these embodiments, front face <NUM> does not include any removable or interchangeable components such as branding badge <NUM>. Accordingly, advertising accessory <NUM> may be a unitary structure. According to these embodiments, advertising accessory <NUM> may be exchanged with another advertising accessory <NUM> on bar gun <NUM>. In this way, the branding of bar gun <NUM> may be changed. A vendor of beverage products may supply advertising accessory <NUM> with shipments of beverage products. When bar gun <NUM>'s user receives the shipment, the user may attach advertising accessory <NUM> to bar gun <NUM>. The beverage vendor may supply bar gun <NUM> user with either a single branded advertising accessory or may supply the user with advertising accessory <NUM> and branding badges <NUM> displaying different products.

The foregoing descriptions of the specific embodiments described herein are presented for purposes of illustration and description, and the present invention is defined by the appended claims. These exemplary embodiments are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the embodiments to the precise forms disclosed. All specific details described are not required in order to practice the described embodiments.

It will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings, and that by applying knowledge within the skill of the art, one may readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments, without undue experimentation, without departing from the general concept of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

The Detailed Description section is intended to be used to interpret the claims. The Summary and Abstract sections may set forth one or more but not all exemplary embodiments of the present invention as contemplated by the inventor(s), and thus, are not intended to limit the present invention and the claims.

The phraseology or terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not limitation, such that the terminology or phraseology of the present specification is to be interpreted by the skilled artisan.

Claim 1:
An advertising accessory (<NUM>) for a bar gun (<NUM>), the advertising accessory comprising:
a frame (<NUM>);
a front face (<NUM>) extending from a front side of the frame, the front face perpendicular to the frame, the front face having a branding area (<NUM>);
a locking clip (<NUM>) extending from the front face (<NUM>) of the advertising accessory and parallel to the frame, and
a user interface void (<NUM>) formed in the frame and configured to receive a user interface plate (<NUM>) of a bar gun,
wherein the branding area is disposed on the front face opposite the frame,
wherein the locking clip is configured to engage a bottom surface (<NUM>) of the bar gun, and
wherein the frame is configured to extend around the entire perimeter of the user interface plate of the bar gun.