BEVERAGE POURING SYSTEMS

Abstract

A system for improved dispensing of partially frozen beverages from a container. The system comprises a mechanical vibrator adapted to contact the outer wall of a container such as a blending pitcher. The interaction of the partially frozen beverage with the vibrating outer wall reduces the effective viscosity of the mixture as an aid to pouring.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view illustrating a surface supported beverage-pouring unit of a beverage-pouring system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a side view of the beverage-pouring unit of FIG. 1 operationally engaged with a blending pitcher during the dispensing of a slushy beverage into a serving container.

FIG. 3 shows another side view of the beverage-pouring unit of FIG. 2 illustrating a progressive dispensing of the slushy beverage into the serving container.

FIG. 4 shows a side elevational view illustrating the articulated motion of the beverage-pouring unit according to the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 shows a side view, in partial section, illustrating the internal assembly arrangements of beverage-pouring unit of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 shows an exploded view of the beverage-pouring unit of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view illustrating an alternate beverage-pouring unit of the beverage-pouring system comprising a spring-loaded mount adapted to mount the alternate beverage-pouring unit to a peripheral wall of a mixing pitcher according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 shows a perspective view illustrating the alternate beverage-pouring unit mounted to the peripheral wall of the mixing pitcher of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 shows a detailed perspective view of the alternate beverage-pouring unit of FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 shows a side view of the alternate beverage-pouring unit of FIG. 7.

FIG. 11 shows a side view illustrating an alternate beverage-pouring unit of the beverage-pouring system comprising a pin-mount adapted to mount the alternate beverage-pouring unit to a peripheral wall of a mixing pitcher according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 shows a side view illustrating an alternate beverage-pouring unit of the beverage-pouring system mounted to a peripheral wall of a mixing pitcher according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 shows the detail view 13-13 of FIG. 11 illustrating the mounting pin of the mixing pitcher according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 shows a side view of the alternate beverage-pouring unit of FIG. 11.

FIG. 15 shows a rear view of the alternate beverage-pouring unit of FIG. 11 illustrating in greater detail the preferred mounting assembly.

Claims

1) A system relating to improving pourability of at least one slushy beverage held within at least one container, such at least one container comprising at least one containment boundary adapted to contain such at least one slushy beverage and at least one fluid discharge through which such at least one slushy beverage may discharge from the at least one containment boundary, comprising: a) vibrator means for generating at least one mechanical vibration force having at least one frequency of oscillation;b) trigger means for triggering the operation of said vibrator means; andc) vibration transmitter means for transmitting such at least one mechanical vibration force from said vibrator means to the at least one containment boundary;d) wherein said vibration transmitter means comprises surface abutter means for providing at least one vibratable surface abuttable with such at least one containment boundary;e) wherein said surface abutter means comprises positioner means for assisting in positioning said surface abutter means in at least one operable position of abutment with the at least one containment boundary during such fluid discharge of such at least one slushy beverage from within the at least one containment boundary; andf) whereby pourability of such at least one slushy beverage through the at least one fluid discharge is improved by vibratory interaction with the at least one containment boundary receiving from said vibration transmitter means such at least one mechanical vibration force generated by said vibrator means.

2) The system according to claim 1 further comprising assembly support means for supporting said vibrator means, said trigger means, and said vibration transmitter means.

3) The system according to claim 2 wherein said trigger means triggers the operation of said vibrator means by at least one pressure contact between the at least one containment boundary and said surface abutter means.

4) The system according to claim 3 wherein said trigger means comprises frequency adjuster means for adjusting such at least one frequency of oscillation.

5) The system according to claim 4 wherein said frequency adjuster means comprises variable pressure adjuster means for adjusting such at least one frequency of oscillation in substantial correspondence to varying levels of pressure contact between the at least one containment boundary and said surface abutter means.

6) The system according to claim 2 wherein said assembly support means comprises removable attacher means for removably attaching said assembly support means to the at least one container.

7) A system relating to improving pourability of at least one slushy beverage held within at least one container, such at least one container comprising at least one containment boundary adapted to contain such at least one slushy beverage and at least one fluid discharge through which such at least one slushy beverage may discharge from the at least one containment boundary, comprising: a) at least one vibrator adapted to generate at least one mechanical vibration force having at least one frequency of oscillation;b) at least one trigger adapted to trigger the operation of said at least one vibrator; andc) at least one vibration transmitter adapted to transmit such at least one mechanical vibration force from said at least one vibrator to the at least one containment boundary;d) wherein said at least one vibration transmitter comprises at least one surface abutter adapted to provide at least one vibratable surface abuttable with such at least one containment boundary; ande) wherein said at least one surface comprises at least one positioner structured and arranged to assist in positioning said at least one surface abutter in at least one operable position of abutment with the at least one containment boundary during such fluid discharge of such at least one slushy beverage from within the at least one containment boundary;f) whereby pourability of such at least one slushy beverage through the at least one fluid discharge is improved by vibratory interaction with the at least one containment boundary receiving from said at least one vibration transmitter such at least one mechanical vibration force generated by said at least one vibrator.

8) The system according to claim 7 further comprising at least one assembly support adapted to support said at least one vibrator, said at least one trigger, and said at least one vibration transmitter.

9) The system according to claim 8 wherein said at least one trigger triggers the operation of said at least one vibrator by at least one pressure contact between the at least one containment boundary and said at least one surface abutter.

10) The system according to claim 9 wherein: a) said at least one trigger comprises at least one frequency adjuster adapted to adjust of such at least one frequency of oscillation; andb) said at least one frequency adjuster is user controllable.

11) The system according to claim 10 wherein said at least one frequency adjuster comprises at least one variable pressure adjuster adapted to adjust such at least one frequency of oscillation in substantial correspondence to varying levels of pressure contact between the at least one containment boundary and said at least one surface abutter.

12) The system according to claim 11 wherein said at least one assembly support comprises at least one surface support structured and arranged to assist in the stable support of said at least one assembly support on at least one substantially horizontal support surface.

13) The system according to claim 12 wherein: a) said at least one assembly support comprises i) at least one pivot guide to pivotally guide said at least one surface abutter along at least one first arc, andii) at least one swivel adapted to guide said at least one surface abutter along at least one second arc;b) wherein the at least one containment boundary is guidable along such at least one first arc and such at least one second arc by such abutment with said at least one surface abutter; andc) wherein, while guided along such at least one first arc and such at least one second arc, the at least one containment boundary receives such at least one mechanical vibration force by such abutment with said at least one surface abutter.

14) The system according to claim 8 wherein said at least one assembly support comprises at least one removable attacher adapted to removably attach said at least one assembly support to the at least one container.

15) The system according to claim 14 wherein said at least one attacher comprises at least one spring clip.

16) The system according to claim 14 further comprising: a) the at least one container;b) wherein said at least one container comprises i) at least one containment boundary adapted to contain such at least one slushy beverage, andii) at least one fluid discharge through which such at least one slushy beverage may discharge from the at least one containment boundary.

17) The system according to claim 16 wherein: a) said at least one container comprises at least one blending pitcher adapted to assist in the preparation of such at least one slushy beverage;b) said at least one containment boundary of said at least one blending pitcher comprises at least one peripheral side wall having at least one bottom wall portion;c) said at least one peripheral side wall and said at least one bottom wall together comprise at least one interior portion;d) said at least one interior portion comprises i) at least one substantially open top portion defining said at least one fluid discharge, andii) at least one cutter blade adapted to assist in the preparation of such at least one slushy beverage;e) said at least one peripheral side wall comprises at least one grip adapted to assist manual gripping of said at least one blending pitcher;f) said at least one bottom wall comprises at least one adapter seat seatable on at least one blender seat of at least one motor base; andg) said at least one cutter blade comprises at least one rotational coupler to rotationally couple said at least one cutter blade with the at least one motor base.

18) The system according to claim 16 wherein said at least one container comprises at least one coupler adapted to removably couple said at least one removable attacher to said at least one containment boundary.

19) The system according to claim 18 wherein: a) at least one of said at least one coupler and said at least one removable attacher comprises at least one post adapted to removably engage at least one socket;b) at least one of said at least one coupler and said at least one removable attacher comprises such at least one socket adapted to removably engage said at least one post; andc) said at least one coupler is removably coupled to said at least one removable attacher using said at least one post removably engaged within said at least one socket.

20) A beverage handling system relating to improving the pourability of at least one slushy beverage held within at least one pitcher by reducing the effective viscosity of such at least one slushy beverage during the arc of a pour, comprising: a) at least one pitcher support adapted to support the at least one pitcher during the arc of a pour;b) at least one support vibrator adapted to generate at least one vibration force to vibrate said at least one pitcher support; andc) at least one vibration transmitter adapted to transmit such at least one vibration force of said at least one pitcher support to such at least one pitcher.