Patent Application
20090272759
THIS INVENTION relates to a device and method for storing and dispensing beverages. Preferably, but not exclusively, the invention relates to a device and method for storing a single type of drink or two or more separated ingredients of a final mixed drink. The drink is preferably alcoholic but is not so limited. The drink may be liquid but the invention may also extend to at least one paste. The invention may be adapted to resist tampering by unauthorised parties.
Throughout recorded history, it has been a standard process for consumers to enter a public house, bar, restaurant or similar and order one or more drinks, usually with an alcoholic content. Typically, those drinks are dispensed from a bulk storage container, such as a large bottle, into an open drinking glass. This process has at least some chance of contamination of the bulk storage material with consequent risk to subsequent users.
A further risk has more recently evolved relating to the danger of “drink spiking”. This term describes activities whereby psychoactive and, often, stupefying chemicals are surreptitiously added to a drink or drinks in a public place, often with an associated intention to rob or assault the victim. Rohypnol® is one notorious example of a drug abused by criminals in this fashion.
This manual preparation, particularly of mixed drinks, has some inherent disadvantages. The bulk container is somewhat clumsy to use. A bar attendant needs considerable skill to know and accurately mix ingredients. This takes time which is an additional cost to a proprietor. Inaccurate mixing may lead to wastage of ingredients or short changing of a client. It may be difficult to identify and mix ingredients in a dark environment such as is present in many nightclubs. Glasses especially shot glasses, may be easily stolen or broken or spilled.
There are other instances where separate storage of components in a final consumable mixture is desirable. For example, some therapeutic agents may be provided in two separate portions that are unstable once mixed.
It would be advantageous to provide a beverage, preferably a multi-ingredient beverage, in an easily used and perhaps disposable container that stored sufficient material for one or a few recipients.
Reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that this prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in any country.
Throughout this specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word “comprise”, or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element or integer or group of elements or integers but not the exclusion of any other element or integer or group of elements or integers.
In a first aspect, the invention resides in a beverage container comprising an outer housing:
a discharge aperture in the outer housing;
one or more beverage storage chambers located in the outer housing;
a discharge outlet formed in each beverage storage chamber to provide an outlet for beverage stored therein. The discharge outlet in fluid communication with the discharge aperture; and
plunger means adapted for manual operation to discharge beverage from each beverage storage container through the discharge outlet and discharge aperture.
The beverage storage chambers are preferably formed with a rigid side wall or walls. Alternatively, the side wall or walls may be semi-rigid or even pliable.
The beverage container may contain one or more of Vodka, Tequila, Scotch, Rum, Bourbon, Gin, Advocat, Grenadine, Vermouth, Tia Maria, Kahlua (coffee liqueur), Baileys (Irish cream), Midori (melon liqueur), Cointreau (orange liqueur) and Schnapps (butterscotch or peppermint), although it is noted that these are non-limiting examples.
Liquid foods or pastes, medicaments and other ingestible substances may be suitably stored and discharged in similar fashion other products may include drink mixes like soft drinks, milk, cream, juice and water.
The beverage container preferably comprises two or more beverage storage chambers which may be tubular, although not so limited. The storage chambers may be any suitable cross-sectional shape and may be cylindrical. The beverage container may further comprise restraint means for fixing the two or more storage chambers in position relative to each other. Most preferably, the device has three storage chambers. They may be fixed in abutting contact relative to each other. Each of the three beverage containers may be formed substantially as a third of a circle in cross section, to provide a cylindrical shape when the three beverage storage chambers are aligned for use.
The restraint means may be one or more sleeves adapted to encircle the storage chambers and fix them in position relative to each other, preferably adjacent. Each sleeve may be adhesive and/or elastic.
Restraint means may further alternatively comprise or include a clip arrangement, a channel and rail arrangement or the use of adhesive to fix the storage chambers in position relative each other, preferably adjacent.
The discharge outlet may be a nozzle formed at one end of each of the beverage storage chambers. Each of the discharge nozzles may communicate with a mixing nozzle adapted to mix and discharge the contents of each of the beverage storage containers for consumption. The mixing nozzle may be located in the external housing. Alternatively, the beverage storage chambers may each be adapted to discharge independently. It is preferred that each of the beverage storage chambers contains a different beverage to provide a final mixed drinks or sequence of drinks for consumption. This is not essential however as different storage chambers may have the same beverage if preferred.
The plunger means may comprise a separate plunger arrangement on each of the beverage storage chambers. Two or more plunger arrangements may be inter-engaged for simultaneous operation and may include a thumb tab. Alternatively, each plunger arrangement may be adapted for independent operation. Alternatively, a plunger array may be formed with each plunger formed integrally with or engaged with a rigid support structure for simultaneous operation. Further alternatively, the plunger means may comprise a single plunger adapted to simultaneously discharge two or more liquid storage chambers.
In an alternative embodiment, the plunger means may comprise a semi-rigid or pliable side wall adapted for manual compression by a user to discharge the contents.
Each beverage storage chamber may include an anterior and/or posterior seal to contain the beverage stored therein. Displacement or pressurisation of the storage chamber may lead to rupture the anterior and posterior seal and subsequent discharge of liquid from the chamber as the plunger arrangement is depressed.
The device may be formed from any suitable material but it is preferred if it is formed from thermo-plastic polymers such as Polyethylene, Polyethylene Terephthalate (“PET”), Polystyrene (“PS”), Polypropylene (“PP”) or Polycarbonate (“PC”) or other material which is suitable food grade. Preferably, the beverage container or components thereof are formed from injection moulding, blow moulding or compression moulding.
The beverage storage container may have a rigid wall or walls. Alternatively, the wall or walls may be semi-rigid or even pliable.
The plunger means may include severing means for severing a band or sleeve holding the chambers in relative position. The band or sleeve may be adhesive.
In a second aspect, the invention resides in a beverage container comprising:
an outer housing comprising a continuous outer wall forming a cavity;
a discharge nozzle, preferably a mixing nozzle, located at one end of the cavity, the other end of the cavity forming an opening;
one or more beverage storage chambers positioned in the cavity, each beverage storage chamber having an outlet in fluid communication with the nozzle;
a plunger arrangement adapted to discharge the contents of the one or more beverage storage chambers on manual operation, the plunger arrangement formed as a rigid cup locatable through the opening and slidable relative thereto, the cup including a plunger or part thereof, for each of the one or more beverage storage chambers.
The beverage container preferably has two or three beverage storage chambers, fixed in relative position, which may be in a longitudinally abutting arrangement. A sleeve, adhesive and/or elastic, may encircle the beverage storage chambers to fix them in position relative to each other. The storage chambers may contain ingredients for an alcoholic drink.
One or more frangible seals may be formed on the beverage storage chambers to resist tampering and/or maintain the integrity of the beverage stored there. Preferably, there is an anterior and posterior frangible seal on each beverage storage chamber. The frangible seal or seals may be adapted to rupture during discharge of the contents of the beverage storage chambers.
The beverage container may include guide means to guide the relative movement of the housing and the plunger arrangement. The guide means may comprise channels, rails for meeting engagement to the channels and/or tabs.
In a further aspect, the invention may reside in or method of providing a beverage, preferably an alcoholic beverage, in a beverage container, preferably for single use, comprising the steps of:
filling one or more beverage storage chambers with an appropriate beverage;
sealing the one or more chambers;
mounting discharge means to discharge the contents of the one or more beverage storage chambers;
The method preferably further comprises the step of fixing two or more beverage storage chambers adjacent to each other.
Forming discharge means may comprise mounting a plunger arrangement to each beverage storage chamber wherein the plunger arrangement is adapted to discharge the contents of the beverage storage chambers when depressed.
Alternatively, forming discharge means may comprise forming the one or more liquid storage chambers with a manually compressible wall or walls, wherein application of sufficient pressure by a user will discharge the contents. Two or more liquid storage chambers with semi-rigid or pliable walls may separately but simultaneously engaged with a single discharge nozzle. Alternatively, two or more liquid storage chambers may be located within a common wall or walls and adapted for discharge through a single pathway to a discharge nozzle.
The method may include the steps of providing a safety cap for the discharge nozzle or nozzles and/or wrapping the beverage storage chamber in a wrap such as a plastic wrap.
The method preferably comprises storing two or more different and compatible liquids each in a respective beverage storage chamber, fixing the two or more beverage storage chambers in relative positions each to the other and mounting plunger means in position to discharge each of the beverage storage chambers during operation.
The method may further comprise the step of mounting a mixing nozzle to outlet apertures of the beverage storage chamber or chambers. The method may still further comprise the step of locating the beverage storage chambers in an external housing and preferably providing rotation resistant means such as guide tracks or lugs to fix the chambers in position inside the external housing.
The method may further comprise providing one or more tamper resistant arrangements on the beverage container. The tamper resistant arrangements may be one or more frangible seals, a safety cap and plastic wrapping.
The method may further comprise the step of colour coding beverage containers to indicate different beverages contained therein.
In yet a further aspect, the invention may reside in a method of providing a drink to a consumer, the method comprising the steps of providing a comestible liquid in a beverage storage chamber and operating a plunger arrangement to discharge the liquid from the container and into a drinking vessel or the mouth of the consumer. The method preferably further comprises the step of storing two or more compatible liquids in respective chambers and operating a plunger arrangement to discharge both liquids into a common receptacle such as a glass or the mouth of the consumer. The method may further comprise the step of charging the consumer for the drink.
In order to provide a better understanding of the present invention, preferred embodiments will be described in detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
A first embodiment of a beverage container is shown in
A plunger arrangement in the form of a base cup 14 is positioned internally in the outer housing and adapted for relative sliding movement in relation to the outer housing 11. Arrows 13 are provided as visible indicia to assist in alignment of the outer housing 11 and base cup 14. This process may be further assisted by making arrangements such as a channel and rail as described below.
The plunger arrangement is provided in the form of base cup 14 which has elongate shafts which are designed to engage a sliding sealing member in the beverage storage chamber (as described further below) and thereby form a plunger arrangement to discharge the contents of the beverage storage containers. Cutters 21 are provided to slice a restraint band as described below
Two of three beverage storage chambers 18 are shown and are formed with an elongate tubular shape. The beverage chambers 18 terminate in a discharge aperture or nozzle 19. In one embodiment, the aperture may simply by formed in end wall 20 of the beverage chamber 18 and be flush with the rest of the wall. The aperture may occupy the entirety of the wall space. The chamber may be formed in any suitable configuration that permits effective operation of a plunger discharge and can be expected to be tubular. The chamber may be formed with a pliable wall that is compressed by the plunger action.
The components together form the beverage container. Additional features may include a safety cap over the end of the outer housing. Its removal indicates the device has been accessed at least in part. The safety cap may be fixed in place by a rip seal such as is common in soft drink bottles and the like wherein a series of lugs attach the cap to a collar on the other feature on the housing. The lugs break with operation. This is often accomplished by twisting. Finger indents may be provided. The shown embodiment includes a mixing nozzle 75 for mixing contents of the separate chambers.
The edges 36, 37 are aligned with outlet nozzles 42, 43, respectively, which, in this case, are covered by a frangible seal adapted to rupture under sufficient pressure or on pressurised contact with edges 36, 37. Beverage storage chambers 38, 39 each have a continuous side wall 44, 45 and are sealed by a second frangible seal 46, 47, respectively. One particularly suitable material is foil type seals as are well known in the field. A wall or divider 48, 49, is slidably mounted in each of the liquid chambers 38, 39.
The base cup 40 has two visible shaft members 50, 51 supported by a rigid base 22 and side wall 23. The shaft members 50, 51 are aligned with seats 52, 53 respectively, formed in walls 48, 49.
The base cup 40 has nibs 54, 55. Each nib 55 is aligned to run along a corresponding one of equally spaced base cup location rails 56 to control the positioning of the base cup 40 relative to the outer housing 31 and hence to the beverage storage chambers 38, 39. Lugs 57 are provided to retain the base cup 40 in the outer housing 31. When the base cup is advanced in operation, the nib 55 meets a second lug 58 which indicates the end of the first stage of operation. Finally, in operation, a terminal lug 59 is provided to indicate completion of depression of the base cup 40 and to lock the plunger cup array in a depressed position thereby avoiding or resisting re-use.
In one embodiment, the present invention has three stages of operation.
The travel or locked stage—this is to prevent the unit from being accidentally compressed during transit or storage. The unit must then be rotated to allow channels in the base cup to align with location rails, at which point the unit may be advanced to the next stage.
The ready or loaded stage—at this point the unit has been compressed somewhat and both rear and exterior seals have been pierced (a requirement of some liquor licensing authorities preventing the sale of takeaway liquor (i.e. unopened) over the bar by holders of a general liquor license). This is the point at which the bartender may hand the unit to the purchaser or consumer. The consumer may then remove a non-sealing safety cap and compress the unit to the final stage, consuming the discharged liquid with confidence that it has not been tampered with.
The compressed or used stage—this stage locks off (using a lock tab) the compression function so that the plungers remain in place and can not be refilled by drawing back other liquid. Used units may be easily identified by bar staff for disposal.
In
The location rail may be adapted to form one or more cutters to slice the wrap around adhesive during operation so that the liquid chamber may be advanced relative to its colleagues for initial use when separate action is required. These cutters 21 are shown in
In
The beverage storage chambers may be formed integrally or in multiple arrangements. In its most basic form, a single liquid chamber may be used for holding a shooter or other drink for solitary consumption or, indeed, for a single volume of a particular ingredient. The single liquid chamber may have a plunger and an outlet. The walls of the beverage storage container may be transparent to allow visualisation of contents. Alternatively or additionally, they may be colour coded to indicate contents. In fact, the whole container may be transparent in whole or in part. The invention may extend to recipes for use with the beverage storage chamber wherein different drinks are formed simply by the addition of indicated coloured containers. The multiple liquid chambers may be held by the adhesive band as discussed. Alternatively, the walls of the chambers may be adapted to inter-engage such as through a slot and rail arrangement, a clip arrangement, or be combined through the use of an adhesive. It is envisaged that one advantage that may arise from separability of the containers is that they may be filled with different ingredients on individual assembly lines and, indeed, in separate locations if preferred. While the description shows the liquid chambers substantially the same in dimension, it is clear to a skilled addressee that variation in the relative volumes of the chambers may be easily accomplished using known manufacturing techniques, should the volume of the components be required at different levels. For example, the cross-sectional area of chambers may be varied and/or the stroke length of the plungers. While three liquid chambers are shown, it is clear that one, two, three, four or more may be used if required, although the manufacturing complexity if the device increases with higher numbers.
An outer housing 97 is further shown in
While the description of the preferred embodiment is to a device with substantially rigid components, it is clear to a skilled addressee that various alternative configurations may be used. For example, instead of a plunger arrangement, the storage chamber/s and/or housing may be formed as a “squeeze” activated arrangement. Deformable walls, either semi-rigid or even pliable, may be used with discharge through individual nozzles or a common mixing nozzle. The expression “beverage” is use in a broad sense and includes drinks, both “soft” and alcoholic. However, it also includes suitable foods such as broths and similar and extends to any ingestible liquid or semi-liquid material of suitable consistency for use in the device, particularly where components need separate storage. This may include ingestible medications.
The advantages of the present invention include the ability to provide an individual drink or a small number of drinks for immediate discharge and consumption by a consumer. When present, one or more seals provide anti-tampering barriers which allow a consumer to ingest in full confidence that the last person to have access to the liquid was the manufacturer. The present invention also provides a method of sale for the owner of an establishment, wherein individual drinks may be provided. The outer housing may be reusable or may be disposable. It is envisaged that cheap materials, although of a sufficient quality to be of food grade standard, will be used, which may be moulded typically, but not exclusively, from thermo-plastic polymers such as PE, ET, PS, PP, PC by means such as injection moulding, blow moulding, or compression moulding. The manufacture of the device also provides the ability to apply bright and attractive colours to one or more components, thereby enhancing the marketability of the device. In fact, colour coding may be used as a means of indicating the nature of the drink contained in the beverage dispenser. In one simple form, the method of the present invention may extend to pouring a drink preferably alcoholic, in a syringe type arrangement. Preferably the arrangement has a safety cap as previously describe. It may also or alternatively be wrapped to prevent tampering.
In one preferred embodiment, the chambers are formed separately. They may then be filled at different locations and ultimately assembled elsewhere. Retention of the chambers may be via a band, rail or lug and corresponding channel connection arrangement, gluing, clips or other suitable means to a skilled adhesive. The beverage storage chambers may be formed as a kit for assembly when required.
Suitable seals may be formed from foil which may be ultrasonically welded to the tip of the base and top apertures or orifices of the beverage storage chambers.
The present invention has a number of advantages in a bar setting including:
Throughout the specification, the aim has been to describe the preferred embodiments of the invention without limiting the invention to any one embodiment or specific collection of features. Those of skill in the art will therefore appreciate that, in light of the instant disclosure, various modifications and changes can be made in the particular embodiments exemplified without departing from the scope of the present invention. All such modifications and changes are intended to be included within the scope of disclosures.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004904948 | Aug 2004 | AU | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/AU05/01320 | 8/31/2005 | WO | 00 | 7/2/2007 |
