Patent Application
20230322540
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The disclosure relates to dispensing devices and more particularly pertains to a new dispensing device for dispensing a variety of cocktails. The device includes an alcohol dispensing unit which contains a variety of distilled spirits and a mixer dispensing unit for dispensing a variety of mixers. The device includes a point of sale unit for paying for a cocktail and an identification reader for reading a state issued identification card. The device dispenses a cocktail containing a chosen distilled spirit and a chosen mixer when payment has been received and the identification has been verified. The device includes a facial recognition unit for verifying the face of the user matches the information on the state issued identification card.
The prior art relates to dispensing devices including an automated alcohol dispenser that is in communication with a cash register in a tavern or restaurant. The prior art discloses a variety of automated cocktail dispensing devices for automatically mixing a cocktail. The prior art discloses a vending machine that includes payment processing, an identification reader for reading a state issued identification card and a facial recognition unit for verifying a user's face against the state issued identification card for vending regulated materials. In no instance does the prior art disclose a cocktail vending unit that includes facial recognition, a plurality of alcohol reservoirs and a plurality of mixer reservoirs for dispensing a custom ordered cocktail.
An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a housing that is positionable in an establishment licensed to sell alcohol and a dispensing outlet is integrated into the housing. An alcohol dispensing unit is integrated into the housing to dispense a pre-determined volume of a distilled spirit outwardly through the dispensing outlet. A mixer dispensing unit is integrated into the housing to dispense a pre-determined volume of a cocktail mixer outwardly through the dispensing outlet. In this way the distilled spirit and the mixer can be dispensed in the beverage container. A point of sale unit is integrated into the housing to conduct a financial transaction to purchase a cocktail. An identification reader is integrated into the housing to read a state issued identification card. A facial recognition unit is integrated into the housing to scan a face of a user for to inhibiting an unauthorized user from purchasing alcohol.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.
The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to
As best illustrated in
A control circuit 24 is integrated into the housing 12 and the control circuit 24 receives a payment input and a verify input. The control circuit 24 is normally de-actuated and the control circuit 24 is actuated when the control circuit 24 receives the payment input and the verify input. A dispensing valve 26 is integrated into the housing 12 and the dispensing valve 26 has a pair of inlets 28 and an outlet 30. The outlet 30 is aligned with the dispensing outlet 14 and the dispensing valve 26 is electrically coupled to the control circuit 24. Furthermore, the dispensing valve 26 may having a fluid capacity of at least 12.0 ounces thereby facilitating the dispensing valve 26 to contain a volume of fluid that would commonly be served as a cocktail.
An alcohol dispensing unit 32 is provided and the alcohol dispensing unit 32 is integrated into the housing 12. The alcohol dispensing unit 32 has a plurality of alcohol reservoirs 34 each containing a respective distilled spirit, including but not being limited to, rum, whiskey, tequila, gin and vodka. The alcohol dispensing unit 32 includes a plurality of alcohol buttons 36 that is each disposed on the housing 12. Each of the alcohol buttons 36 is in operational communication with a respective one of the alcohol reservoirs 34. Moreover, each of the alcohol buttons 36 actuates the respective alcohol reservoir 34 to dispense a pre-determined volume of the distilled spirit outwardly through the dispensing outlet 14. In this way the alcohol dispensing unit 32 can dispense the distilled spirit into the beverage container 16.
Each of the alcohol buttons 36 is positioned on the front wall 18 and the alcohol buttons 36 is spaced apart from each other and is laterally distributed on the front wall 18. Additionally, each of the alcohol buttons 36 is electrically coupled to the control circuit 24. Each of the alcohol reservoirs 34 has an outlet port 38 and each of the alcohol reservoirs 34 includes an alcohol valve 40 that is fluidly coupled to the outlet port 38. The alcohol valve 40 associated with each of the alcohol reservoirs 34 is electrically coupled to the control circuit 24 and the alcohol valve 40 associated with each of the alcohol reservoirs 34 is assigned to a respective one of the alcohol buttons 36. Additionally, the alcohol valve 40 may comprise an electronically controlled liquid valve or the like that releases a pre-determined volume of fluid each time it is actuated. Each of the alcohol buttons 36 may be labeled with the distilled spirit that is contained in the respective alcohol reservoir 34.
The alcohol valve 40 associated with a respective one of the alcohol reservoirs 34 is actuated into an open condition when the respective alcohol button 36 is depressed. In this way the distilled spirit in the respective alcohol reservoir 34 can flow through the alcohol valve 40. The alcohol valve 40 associated with each of the alcohol reservoirs 34 is fluidly coupled to a respective one of the inlets 28 of the dispensing valve 26 and the alcohol valve 40 associated with each of the alcohol reservoirs 34 is normally actuated into a closed condition. Conversely, the alcohol valve 40 associated with each of the alcohol reservoirs 34 is actuated into the open condition when the control circuit 24 receives the payment input and the verify input.
A mixer dispensing unit 42 is provided and the mixer dispenser unit 42 is integrated into the housing 12. The mixer dispensing unit 42 has a plurality of mixer reservoirs 44 each containing a respective cocktail mixer, including but not being limited to, cola, club soda, lime juice, triple sec, orange juice, water and other mixers commonly mixed in a cocktail. The mixer dispensing unit 42 includes a plurality of mixer buttons 46 that is each disposed on the housing 12. Each of the mixer buttons 46 is in operational communication with a respective one of the mixer reservoirs 44 such each of the mixer buttons 46 actuates the respective mixer reservoir 44 to dispense a pre-determined volume of the cocktail mixer outwardly through the dispensing outlet 14. In this way the mixer dispensing unit 42 can dispense the cocktail mixer into the beverage container 16.
Each of the mixer buttons 46 is positioned on the front wall 18 of the housing 12. The mixer buttons 46 are spaced apart from each other and are laterally distributed on the front wall 18. Each of the mixer buttons 46 is positioned beneath a respective one of the alcohol buttons 36 and each of the mixer buttons 46 is electrically coupled to the control circuit 24. Each of the mixer reservoirs 44 has an outlet port 48 and each of the mixer reservoirs 44 includes a mixer valve 50 that is fluidly coupled to the outlet port 48 of the mixer reservoirs 44. The mixer valve 50 associated with each of the mixer reservoirs 44 is electrically coupled to the control circuit 24. Additionally, the mixer valve 50 associated with each of the mixer reservoirs 44 is assigned to a respective one of the mixer buttons 46. The mixer valve 50 may comprise an electronically controlled liquid valve or the like that releases a pre-determined volume of fluid each time it is actuated.
The mixer valve 50 associated with a respective one of the mixer reservoirs 44 is actuated into an open condition when the respective mixer button 46 is depressed. In this way the cocktail mixer in the respective mixer reservoir 44 can flow through the mixer valve 50. The mixer valve 50 associated with each of the mixer reservoirs 44 is fluidly coupled to a respective one of the inlets 28 of the dispensing valve 26. In this way the dispensing valve 26 can mix the distilled spirit and the cocktail mixer together. The mixer valve 50 associated with each of the mixer reservoirs 44 is normally actuated into a closed condition. Conversely, the mixer valve 50 associated with each of the mixer reservoirs 44 is actuatable into the open condition when the control circuit 24 receives the payment input and the verify input.
A point of sale unit 52 is integrated into the housing 12 for conducting a financial transaction to purchase a cocktail. The point of sale unit 52 is in operational communication with each of the alcohol dispensing unit 32 and the mixer dispensing unit 42. Furthermore, the point of sale unit 52 comprises a card reader 54 that is disposed on the front wall 18 of the housing 12. Additionally, a credit card or debit card can be swiped through the card reader 54 for purchasing the cocktail. The card reader 54 is electrically coupled to the control circuit 24 and the control circuit 24 receives the payment input when the card reader 54 successfully charges the credit card or the debit card for the cost of the cocktail. The card reader 54 may be in communication with an extrinsic communication network to facilitate the card reader 54 to debit charges against the credit card or the debit card.
An identification reader 56 is integrated into the housing 12 for reading a state issued identification card, such as a driver's license, for example. The identification reader 56 is positioned on the front wall 18 of the housing 12 and the identification reader 56 is electrically coupled to the control circuit 24. The identification reader 56 may be an electronic scanner or other similar electronic device that can read a bar code on the state issued identification card in order to obtain identification information, such as date of birth, of a user's state issued identification card. A refrigeration unit 57 may be integrated into the housing 12 for cooling the alcohol reservoirs 34 and the mixer reservoirs 44.
A facial recognition unit 58 is integrated into the housing 12 thereby facilitating the facial recognition unit 58 to scan a face of the user. The facial recognition unit 58 verifies the user's face with the information on the state issued identification card. In this way the facial recognition unit 58 can inhibit an unauthorized user from purchasing alcohol. Furthermore, the facial recognition unit 58 inhibits an unauthorized user from employing a stolen state issued identification card, for example. The facial recognition unit 58 is positioned on the front wall 18 of the housing 12 and the facial recognition unit 58 is electrically coupled to the control circuit 24. Additionally, the control circuit 24 receives the verify input when the facial recognition unit 58 verifies that the user's face matches the information on the state issued identification card. The facial recognition unit 58 may include a digital camera and facial analysis software for analyzing and comparing the user's face to the picture on the state issued identification card.
A door 60 is hingedly disposed on the back wall 20 of the housing 12. The door 60 is aligned with the opening 22 for opening and closing the opening 22. A lock 61 is integrated into the door 60 and the lock 61 engages the back wall 20 of the housing 12 when the door 60 is closed and when the lock 61 is in a locked condition. The lock 61 is urgeable into an unlocked condition with a key for disengaging the back wall 20 of the housing 12 to facilitate the door 60 to be opened. A power cord 62 is coupled to and extends away from the housing 12 and the power cord 62 is electrically coupled to the control circuit 24. The power cord 62 has a distal end 64 with respect to the housing 12 and a male plug 66 is electrically coupled to the distal end 64. The male plug 66 can be plugged into a power source 68 comprising a female electrical outlet 30.
In use, user passes their state issued identification card through the identification reader 56 and the user passes their credit card or debit card through the card reader 54. The facial recognition unit 58 verifies that the user is the individual that is represented on the state issued identification card. The user depresses the alcohol button 36 that corresponds to their desired distilled spirit and the user depressed the mixer button 46 that corresponds to their desired mixer. In this way the chosen distilled spirit and the chosen mixer is dispensed into the beverage container 16. Thus, the user can enjoy a custom mixed cocktail without having to wait in line or interact with a bartender.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.
