This disclosure relates to beverages, and more particularly to an esthetic and informative device and method for dispensing beverages.
Fruit-infused, vegetable-infused, herb-infused, spice-infused or other flavor-infused water provides a refreshing beverage that is enjoyed by many. Historically, infused water can only be provided by adding pieces of cut-up fruit, vegetables or other flavoring component and dropping them into a container or vessel full of water. If the container is clear or nearly so, the consumer is able to see the actual fruit inside the vessel before tasting the contents, assisting in identifying what flavor the water might have and providing an aesthetically appealing presentation.
Many organizations desire to serve fruit-infused water to their employees or customers, to provide a more pleasant work or customer experience. However, heretofore this required a chef or food worker to cut up the fruit and prepare batches of infused water for serving. Also, with fruit, vegetable and other perishable flavoring components, maintaining cold storage and monitoring the product for freshness becomes an issue, requiring expense and personnel who are trained or certified in food handling.
In accordance with the disclosure, an infused beverage dispenser provides a low cost, efficient way for an owner to provide fruit-infused, vegetable-infused or other flavor-infused water to a user not by using cut-up fruit, vegetable or other flavorings, but with shelf-stable extracted oils of a fruit, vegetable or other shelf-stable concentrates that can be mixed with the water in the vessel. The vessel uses a slot defined between the walls of a two-piece tower to provide an appealing graphic display of the contents of the infused water or other beverage.
The dispenser is comprised of three components, all separate but part of a whole that work together to affect the intended result. The first component is the clear inner tower which holds the liquid (infused water, for example) and a faucet. This component acts as the water container or vessel that provides the liquid to be dispensed to users. This component has laser etched markings to indicate contents level, and it also has an indexing lip at its base that is responsible for holding up the graphic which is displayed on the outside of this vessel and aligning the outer tower.
The clear outer tower (second component) fits seamlessly over the inner tower and holds in the graphic panel that visually displays the contents of the inner vessel.
The third component is a unique two layer lid that works to: #1 cover the liquid contents of the inner vessel; #2 fit snuggly over the graphics and outer tower; #3 allow air flow to the inner container so that water can be dispensed evenly and without interruption.
The subject matter of the present technology is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of this specification. However, both the organization and method of operation, together with further advantages and embodiments thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to like elements.
The system according to a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure comprises a beverage storage vessel with and replaceable graphic element to inform consumers of the infusion flavor currently being dispensed.
Referring to
Referring now to
An outer wall member 30 of corresponding shape to that of container 28, but having inner dimensions slightly larger than the outer dimensions of container 28, is positioned about the container 28. Base portion 26 extends horizontally outward farther than the outer periphery of the container 28. The gap between 26 and 28, providing a space receiving member 30 and the bottom edges of member 30 rest against the base 12 when fully lowered over container 28. Member 30 has a cut out portion 32 designed to accommodate the faucet 16 where it extends out of container 28 so that the member can be fully lowered around container 28. When member 30 is positioned about container 28, a small gap 42 is defined between the outer periphery of container 28 and the inner periphery of member 30. An exemplary size of the gap is ΒΌ inch, for example.
At the upper rear portion of container 28, one or more vent notches 34 are defined, with correspondingly positioned notches 36 provided in member 30 and notches 38 provided in the underside of lid 20, visible in
Referring now to
In the particular embodiment illustrated, container 28 and member 30 are substantially clear at least at the front and left and right side faces. Referring to
The insert in
In particular embodiments, the information provided on the member 44 is in the form of pleasing graphical displays that represent the flavors of infused water that is in container 28.
Referring to
In a particular embodiment, the lid, container 28, member 30 and based 12 are made of acrylic. As noted above, container 28 and member 30 may be substantially clear, while the base 12 and lid 20 are given an aesthetically pleasing color, such as black. Other materials are also suitable for the various components, such as glass, or other plastics or material that can provide a transparent or translucent effect for the beverage container portions. The base can be made of plastic, metal, glass or other materials.
While the illustrated embodiment employs a graphic that fits between an inner and outer wall, other ways to accomplish the aesthetic display of the type of beverage can be employed. The graphic display in the preferred embodiment encompasses 3 sides of the rectangular shaped dispenser, but an alternative graphic can cover only 1 or 2 sides or just part of a side. Other manners of applying the graphic can be used. For example, a removable lightly adhesive transparent graphic material can be applied to the outside of the beverage containing vessel (in which case only vessel 28 need be employed. The graphic can be removed and used over and over again, replaced with another graphic when the beverage flavor is changed. Still another embodiment can employ artificial fruits or other indicators of the flavor that made of, e.g., plastic, and that can be inserted into the liquid to emulate the flavor extract being added, in which case there is no need for a graphic at all.
In accordance with the disclosure, improved ways to provide infused beverages are provided.
While a preferred embodiment of the technology has been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many changes and modifications may be made without departing from the broader aspects. The appended claims are therefore intended to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the technology.