Patent ID: 12234933

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS.1aand1bshow respective front and top views, at a slight perspective, of an ice chest10and cold plate12. Ice placed within ice chest10contacts a top surface of cold plate12to cool cold plate12. Cold plate12is shown extending below the bottom of ice chest10, so that only its top surface is in contact with ice. However, any suitable arrangement may be used, for example, and without limitation, with cold plate12raised within ice chest10so that the sides (or portions thereof) of cold plate12are contacted by ice. A drain14for the ice chest10is provided through cold plate12. However, the drain14may be placed in any appropriate location, and need not flow through the cold plate12.

Also shown are fittings16. As will be discussed in more detail below, these fittings16are used to couple beverage tubing to beverage lines that run within the cold plate12.

FIG.2is a diagram of a system according to certain aspects of the present invention. Cold plate12includes a plurality of beverage lines18a-18d. The use of four beverage lines is for an example only, and more or fewer lines may be used. The beverage lines18a-18dare typically made of metal, and run circuitously through cold plate12. Often the path they take is coiled, including serpentine-shaped paths among other shapes, and often sections of the lines are spaced apart vertically. However, any path may be used, and the ones depicted are for illustrative purposes only.

Each of the beverage lines18a-18dhas an inlet end and an outlet end, each coupled to a respective fitting16. Each of the inlet ends, via its respective fitting16, is in fluid communication with a respective beverage component supply20a,20b,20cor20d(BC1-BC4) through a respective inlet line22a,22b,22c, or22d. More or fewer beverage component supplies may be included. The beverage components supplied by the supplies20a-20dmay be, for example and without limitation, syrups, concentrates, pre-mixed beverages, bonus flavors, additives, sweeteners, water (plain or carbonated), or any other beverage component. The beverage component supplies may comprise any suitable source, for example and without limitation, bag-in-box containers, bulk storage, cartridges, municipal water sources, carbonators, and local water supplies. Upstream of fittings16, inlet lines22a-22dmay couple directly to the beverage component supplies20a-20d, or may couple indirectly through other lines or components. Any suitable pumps or other suitable supply components (not shown) may be used to draw the beverage components from their supplies to cold plate12.

Each of the outlet ends of the beverage lines18, via its respective fitting16, is in fluid communication with a dispensing system through a respective outlet line24a,24b,24c, or24d. In the example ofFIG.2, beverage lines18aand18bare in fluid communication with a bar gun system26, and beverage lines18cand18dare in fluid communication with a post-mix dispensing system28. Although two dispensing systems are shown (26and28), only one, or more than two, may be used. Downstream of fittings16, outlet lines24a-24dmay couple directly to the dispensing systems, or may couple indirectly through other lines or components. Furthermore, further plumbing may be used to split any of the beverage lines into multiple streams for use with multiple dispensing systems.

Inlet lines22a-22dand outlet lines24a-24dpreferably comprise flexible plastic tubing, suitable for beverages.

FIGS.3a-3c(perspective, sectional, and end views, respectively) illustrate one embodiment of a fitting16according to certain aspects of the present invention. As shown, fitting16is a barbed fitting, having a fluid passageway30therethrough, a first section32near the end of fitting16that is closest to cold plate12, a second section34on the end of fitting16opposite first section32, and a transition section36between sections32and34. The end of fitting16that attaches to a respective inlet or outlet of the beverage lines18a-18dis a section37having a void39. In a particular example, and without limitation, the respective inlet or outlet fits in void39and is welded to fitting16.

First and second sections32and34each comprise a plurality of frustoconical sections38, with those of first section32having larger outside diameters than those of second section34. The widest part of each of the frustoconical sections38has an outside diameter referred to herein as a major outside diameter, and the narrowest part each of the frustoconical sections38has an outside diameter referred to herein as a minor outside diameter. Within a respective section, the major outside diameter of each frustoconical section38may be the same or some or all of such major outside diameters may be different. Also, within a respective section, the minor outside diameter of each frustoconical section38may be the same or some or all of such minor outside diameters may be different.

FIG.3bshows major outside diameters with reference numerals40and41, for the sections38of sections32and34, respectively, and minor outside diameters with reference numerals42and43, for the sections38of sections32and34, respectively.

Transition section36is a transition area between sections32and34. In the particular example shown, transition section36tapers from the bottom section38of first section32(the section38of first section32that is farthest from cold plate12) to the top section38of second section34(the section38of second section34that is closest to cold plate12). The tapering may follow any slope, for example, and without limitation, linear, bent, or curvilinear. In a particular example, as can be seen by reference numeral45ofFIG.3b, the transition section36flairs radially outward at the bottom section38of first section32(that is, adjacent to the first section32, it has an outside diameter greater than the first-section minor outside diameter42). Furthermore, in this example, transition section36terminates (see reference numeral47onFIG.3b) at the top section38of second section34with an outside diameter that is less than the major outside diameter41of that top section38. However, this is an example only, and transition section36may begin and terminate at any suitable outside diameters.

Also, in the example shown inFIG.3b, the transition section36includes a section33that has a shape of a frustoconical section38, followed by a section35that tapers further down to section34. In this particular example, section33is considered part of transition section36. However, section33may be considered one of the frustoconical sections38of section32, in which case transition section36would include only section35.

Fitting16may be made of any suitable material, and in a preferred embodiment is made of stainless steel. Dimensions for a preferred embodiment of fitting16are shown onFIG.5(in inches, with metric in brackets). However, these dimensions are examples only, and others may be used without departing from the intended scope of the present invention. The features ofFIG.5correspond to those ofFIG.3.

Each of the sections32and34should have a sufficient number of sections38(be long enough) to accommodate secure connection to an inlet line22or an outlet line24. In one particular example, each section32and34includes five frustoconical sections38, with each of the sections38being about 0.105 inches long (in the direction of the longitudinal axis of fitting16, i.e., parallel to the fluid passageway30). However, any number of sections38may be used, and first section32may have a different number of sections38than are in second section34. Also, for clarity, although two sections32and34are shown, additional such sections may be included, each with its own frustoconical section or sections38.

In a preferred embodiment, as shown inFIG.5, each of the frustoconical sections38of first section32has a major outside diameter of about 0.395 inches and a minor outside diameter of about 0.35 inches, each of the frustoconical sections38of second section34has a major outside diameter of about 0.285 inches and a minor outside diameter of about 0.24 inches, and transition section36is about 0.25 inches long (in the direction of the longitudinal axis of fitting16, i.e., parallel to the fluid passageway30, and considering section33as part of transition section36). In a particular example, first section32is well-suited for connection to ⅜thinch tubing, and second section34is well-suited for connection to ¼ inch tubing. However, any suitable sizes may be used for the fitting sections, so long as the frustoconical sections38of first section32have larger major and minor outside diameters than those of second section34, such that tubing with relatively smaller inside diameters couple at second section34, and those with relatively larger inside diameters couple at first section32. Tubing with intermediate inside diameters may couple at transition section36(and may be accompanied with coupling at second section34). Although it is preferred that each of the major outside diameters of the first-section frustoconical sections38be greater than each of the major outside diameters of the second-section frustoconical sections38, it is within the scope of the present invention if at least one of the major outside diameters of the first-section frustoconical sections38is greater than each of the major outside diameters of the second-section frustoconical sections38.

FIG.4illustrates a perspective view of fittings16a-16ein various states of use according to certain aspects of the present invention, and shows how the fittings16accommodate different sizes of tubing. Because it accommodates different sizes of tubing, the ice chest (or cold plate) of the present invention may be installed in a wide range of systems without having to first match the ice chest (and its fitting size) with the particular tubing sizes used in the installation.

A portion of ice chest10is shown inFIG.4, illustrating five fittings16illustrated (16a,16b,16c(hidden by an attached beverage tube),16d, and16e) descending from cold plate12. Fitting16ais shown as capped with a flexible cap44, as it may come from the manufacturer. Fitting16bis uncapped, ready to receive a beverage tube (e.g., an inlet line22or outlet line24).

Fittings16c,16d, and16eshow the fittings connected to beverage tubing (inlet lines22or outlet lines24) of various diameters. Fitting16cis covered by a beverage tube46to which it is coupled. Beverage tube46is secured to fitting16cat its first section32with a clamp48. In this example with fitting16c, the inside diameter of tube46is too great for a proper connection to second section34, but appropriate for connection to first section32. In the particular example shown, tube46is ⅜thinch tubing.

In the next example, a beverage tube50is secured to fitting16dat its second section34, because the tube50has an inside diameter that is too small to connect at first section32, and so is secured with a clamp52at section34. In the particular example shown, tube50is ¼ inch tubing. In this example, tube50is covering section35of transitions section36.

In the example illustrated with fitting16e, a beverage tube54covers section33of transition section36, and is secured with clamp56. Beverage tube54has an inside diameter that is too small to connect at first section32, but too large for ideal connection at section34. Thus, tube54is secured to fitting16ewith clamp56at its transition section36, accompanied with some securing at section34. In the particular example shown, tube54is 5/16thinch tubing.

As discussed, each of the inlets and outlets of the beverage lines18a-18dmay be coupled to a respective fitting16. Alternatively, only some of them may be coupled to fittings16. For example, and without limitation, in one embodiment, only the outlets of the beverage lines18a-18dare coupled to fittings16, with the inlets coupled to conventional fittings. This outlet-only example may often be sufficient, because most variability in beverage tube sizes is found between the cold plate and dispensing systems.

However, attaching fittings16to both ends of a beverage line18provides significant installation flexibility, not only because it accommodates different sizes of tubing on both the inlet and outlet, but it allows installers flexibility in choosing where to connect each inlet line22and outlet line24. In particular, the designation of one end of beverage line18as an inlet and the other as an outlet is somewhat arbitrary, because beverages can flow in either direction within a cold plate. So, either end can be the inlet or the outlet. Accordingly, including the universal fitting16of the present invention on both ends of a beverage line18allows installers the flexibility to choose which end to connect to an inlet line22and which end to connect to an outlet line24. The symmetry is also useful in eliminating or reducing the need to install the ice chest in a particular orientation due to plumbing constraints.

Although the fitting16of the present invention has been discussed in connection with ice chest10and cold plate12, the fitting16alone is inventive, and may be used in any suitable application. Similarly, the combination of cold plate12and fitting16is inventive on its own.

Within this description, coupling includes direct connection and connection through one or more intermediate elements.

Although the present invention has been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, alterations, substitutions, additions, and modifications could be made without departing from the intended scope of the invention, as defined in the following claims.