Patent Application
20130264360
Aspects of the invention relate generally to vessels for storing beverages, more particularly a vessel for storing carbonated beverages such as beer.
Historically, home brewers, particularly those brewing beer, have been forced to either individually bottle or keg the entire batch. Beer and other fermented beverages are not traditionally stored in standard plastic containers like milk or water jugs, because pressure must be maintained in these beverages in order to keep them fresh. The kegging process requires a significant financial investment in equipment and a significant investment of space for the keg and its associated equipment, including purchasing not only the keg but a dedicated refrigerator or kegerator. Refrigeration capacities also often limit the number of varieties of beer or other beverages that a home brewer can have on tap.
A 5-gallon batch of beer yields approximately 55-12-oz bottles. Bottling is a tedious and time-consuming process that involves washing, brushing, rinsing, sanitizing, filling, and capping each bottle. These processes often involve unexpected frustrations, such as bent caps and broken cappers, and thus many home brewers dread bottling beer.
Very few options exist for the home brewer who wishes to store brewed beer, root beer, cider, or other carbonated or fermented beverages in quantities larger than a single bottle but smaller than an entire keg. There is a need for an improved beer storage and secondary fermentation vessel which may be easily kept in a standard home refrigerator, can be easily labeled, and allows for direct dispensing to a drinking vessel.
The present invention includes a vessel comprised of a rectilinear primary casing made from a polymer material and a removable dispenser. The vessel further includes a one-way valve that may be used to introduce gases to the vessel once the dispenser is attached and sealed to the primary casing. The invention may further include integrated feet, which may serve as a reservoir for sediment from the liquid contained therein to settle. The invention may also include an integrated top handle.
The invention further includes a method of dispensing beverage from the vessel, a method of filling the vessel, and a method of cleaning the vessel.
The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following description of certain preferred embodiments thereof, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. The invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete and convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.
According to
As shown in
According to an embodiment of the invention, the dispenser hole 430 may be used to clean out the vessel. Thus, according to these embodiments, the dispenser hole needs to have a large enough diameter for inserting water and small brushes and other apparatuses to clean out the vessel. It is further understood by those skilled in the art that the dispenser hole can vary in size based on the size needed to attach an adequate dispenser and for various cleaning tools. In some preferred embodiments, the dispensing hole diameter ranges from approximately 0.5 inches to 2 inches. In more preferred embodiments, the dispense hole is at least 1.5 inches in diameter to allow a brush of at least 1 inch in width to be inserted for cleaning. Larger and smaller dispenser holes may be used in different embodiments. In a preferred embodiment of the invention designed for approximately 2.5 gallons of liquid beverage, the dispenser hole diameter is about 1.5 inches in diameter.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the front face 140 is relatively flat and smooth to accommodate placement of a standard beer bottle label (typically a 4 inch by 4 inch square label) on the outside of the vessel. According to an embodiment of the invention, the front face 140 and/or any of the faces of the primary casing may include raised text or other indicators for identification of the beverage, the vessel manufacturer, or to convey other important information.
According to an embodiment of the invention as shown in
According to an embodiment of the invention as shown in
According to an embodiment of the invention, the top face 120 and the back face 150, rather than coming together at an approximate right angle, may be joined by an upper back face 150. Similarly, other sides of the approximately rectangular prism, such as the front face and side face, may be connected by corner panels 132 rather than coming together at an approximate right angle. Such corner panels 132 and upper back face serve to strengthen the vessel such that it can withstand higher pressures, yet the vessel maintains ease of manufacture using inexpensive techniques such as blow molding techniques.
The primary casing 100 is also comprised of a bottom face 110. The bottom face may, according to an embodiment, further comprise at least two integrated feet. According to the embodiment of the invention provided in
According to an embodiment of the invention, the left side 130 or the right side 180 or both may include a level indicator, which may be raised, translucent, graduated, or otherwise designed for ease of use, to assist the person handling the vessel in gauging how far it may be filled or in determining the current level of liquid within the vessel.
The primary casing 100 is made of a material appropriate for the storage of beverages and more particularly beer, such as a food-grade plastic, aluminum, stainless steel, and any other suitable material that is known in the art. Some materials have an affinity for esters present in beer, and thus are not desirable for this purpose. Furthermore, some materials are more permeable to oxygen, carbon dioxide, and other gases than others. The primary casing material preferably does not have an affinity for esters present in beer and also has a low oxygen permeation rate. The material is preferably one that is rigid enough to hold beverages and withstand the weight and pressure of the beverage and pressurization within, yet easily formed in the manufacturing process to the desired shape. A preferred material for the primary casing is a polymer which may be blow molded, such as high density polyethylene (“HDPE”). Preferably, the primary casing material is light limiting and translucent so that the fill level of the beverage can be ascertained, but the amount of light that the beverage within is exposed to is minimized. The material may also not be translucent but merely light limiting. The material is preferably a light-limiting colored HDPE, such as green, red, pink, amber, and other known colors. According to a most preferred embodiment, the primary casing is comprised of translucent amber HDPE. The primary casing may also be made of a compound material, such as a base material with a coating. For example, a base material with desirable physical characteristics, such as rigidity and easy injection formation, may be used in combination with an inner and/or coating material which has chemical characteristics that minimize flavor degradation of the beverage within, such as minimizing light degradation, chemical reactions, or oxygen permeation. Similarly, compound materials may be used for aesthetic purposes, such as for labeling the container.
Some embodiments of the present invention include a primary casing and a separate removable handle, rather than handle integrated into the primary casing (integrated handle embodiments are shown in the figures). Such separate handles may be rigid and snap into place at or near the top face, or be comprised of flexible straps, or other carrying means. Alternate embodiments may also include separate carrying straps which may be attached to the integrated handle, secured around the perimeter of the primary facing along approximately four walls of the primary casing, or otherwise attached or affixed to the primary casing.
The invention further comprises a spout or dispenser assembly, generally designated 400. According to an embodiment of the invention, the dispenser assembly is comprised of a dispenser head 420, a dispenser screw cap 440, and a dispensing mechanism. The dispensing mechanism itself may be comprised of multiple parts in a single assembly. The dispensing mechanism can include a push-button dispensing mechanism, a lever arm mechanism, a screw mechanism, or any other mechanism or valve known in the art for regulating the flow of liquids on demand through the dispenser head 420. A dispensing mechanism, on its most basic level, may include a hose attached to the dispenser head, flow through which is regulated by a clamp.
A dispenser head according to an embodiment of the invention is shown in
The dispenser head further includes a dispensing outlet 427 from which the beverage exits the container when dispensed into a cup or other drinking vessel or container. According to an embodiment of the invention as shown in
The dispenser head also includes a dispenser mechanism opening 426. The outer edge of the dispenser mechanism opening may include an outer threaded edge 425, as shown in
One type of dispensing mechanism that may be used according to an embodiment of the invention is a valve/spring dispensing mechanism assembly, an example of which is shown in
A more detailed representation of the valve and spring retainer threaded end cap according to an embodiment of the invention is provided in
In assembling the storage vessel according to this embodiment, the dispenser head 420 may be attached to the primary casing first, as previously described herein, before the dispensing mechanism is attached, or the dispenser head with the dispensing mechanism already attached may be screwed into the primary casing. As shown in
The valve stop or stopper 490 serves to both seal the opening in the dispenser head when the stopper is engaged, and move to allow liquid to flow out of the dispensing outlet 427 when the stopper is disengaged. The stopper may be made of any suitable material that is appropriate for food use, can easily slide along the walls of the dispenser head, and can withstand liquid pressure and conform to the interior surface of the inner walls of the dispenser head. In preferred embodiments, the valve stop 490 is made of silicone rubber. The valve spring 480 may be made of any suitable material for springs, preferably brass or stainless steel, more preferably a food-grade metal material. The valve lever and valve pin may also be made of any suitable rigid material for its intended use that may be formed into the desired shape, such as food grade styrene or nylon.
After the valve/spring dispensing mechanism is assembled and the container is fully sealed (as discussed below), the beverage within the container may be dispensed by using the dispensing mechanism assembly. To use the valve/spring dispensing mechanism assembly to dispense the liquid out of the storage vessel, a user would pull on the lever 460. In the embodiment and specific handle shape shown in
One advantage of the embodiments of the present invention is that they allow beer and other beverages to be easily transported. Thus, it is desirable to be able to place storage assemblies of the present invention in, for example, standard coolers with ice for picnics, boat trips, and other mobile adventures. Thus, it may be desirable to dispense the beverage without opening or removing it from a cooler or refrigerator, or to dispense the liquid within from a distance from the primary casing of the storage vessel. To achieve this end, embodiments of the invention may optionally include hose taps or other flow regulators, a hose, and a hose adapter. As an example of an embodiment of a hose adapter according to the invention is shown in
Flow of liquid through the hose may be regulated using means known in the art, including using various types of clamps on the hose or attaching another valve on the other end of the hose (i.e., the end not attached to the hose adapter 500). Picnic taps for beer kegs, usually comprising a hose and a valve mechanism are known in the art and are available through homebrew and beer suppliers. The hose attachment end 540 of the hose adapter may be sized such that standard food grade vinyl tubing as is typically used for this application in picnic tap kits may be easily attached. According to preferred embodiments, the hose attachment end is sized to fit tubing of at least 3/16 to 5/16 inches. An example of a remote valve faucet 800 that may be attached to the dispensing tubing (the end not attached to the hose adapter 500) is shown in
The invention further comprises a pressurization source 200 which is used to provide pressure to the liquid within the container to maintain adequate dissolved gases and thus maintain a consistent texture and flavor of the beverage. According to preferred embodiments of the invention, a one-way valve is integrated with or attached to the upper primary case. Various means of attachment of such valves are possible, such as through an integrated threaded attachment system or by using common attachment systems. As shown in
An advantage that embodiments of the invention have over other beverage containers known in the art is an ability to withstand internal pressures above atmospheric pressure. According to an embodiment of the invention, the assembled container, including the secured dispensing element and the pressurization valve, can withstand internal pressures of more than 15 psi, more preferably more than 25 psi, most preferably more than 35 psi. It is understood by those skilled in the art that the beverage would not occupy all available space within the interior of the container, as adequate head space is needed to contain the gas within the vessel. It is understood that exact dimensions of the various elements of the embodiments of the invention may vary.
One example embodiment of the invention designed to contain approximately 2.5 gallons of beer has the following dimensions and specifications:
Primary casing material: Amber HDPE
HDPE material weight: 1.52 lb HDPE, as assembled
Approximate wall thickness: 0.09 inches
Assembled length: 15.901 inches, with dispensing spout mounted
Primary casing length: 12.228 inches
Vessel width: 6.500 inches
Vessel height: 9.000 inches
Maximum total volume: 2.826 gallons (654.47 cubic inches) Recommended liquid
volume: 2.5 gallons (577 cubic inches)
Recommended head space: 1.800 inches
Approximate weight of vessel with beer in it: 21.5 lb
Preferred embodiments of the invention, including but not limited to the example provided above, are designed so that the filled vessel may be easily transported from one location to another by picking the vessel up by the handle 50. In addition to storing beer, root beer, cider, and other beverages that have been home-brewed, the assembled vessel may be used for storage and transportation of beverages such as from a bar or microbrewery to home, similar to a growler. As such, the internal volume of the vessel includes various sizes, including but not limited to 1 quart, ½ gallon, 1 gallon, 2 gallon, 2.5 gallon, 3 gallon, and 4 gallon, and 5 gallon sizes. Embodiments of the invention provide an advantage over those known in the art in that they are reusable, durable and not easily subject to breakage, and can be easily lifted with a single hand or, in some cases, a few fingers. Carbon dioxide and other inert gases can also be added at any time and periodically throughout storage of the beverage to prevent deteriorating taste and maintain adequate levels of dissolved gases in the beverage contained therein.
The invention also includes a method of filling the container. When filling the container according to this embodiment, the dispenser 400 is removed from the vessel, thus exposing the dispensing hole 430. This method includes checking the pressurization valve to ensure it is secure, turning the vessel so that it rests on the back face 150 or that the back face 150 is generally facing down, filling the vessel with liquid through the dispensing hole 430, attaching the dispenser 400 to create a secure seal. The vessel may then be righted such that the bottom face 110 is facing downward. The method may optionally include pressurizing the vessel with the pressurization source 200 any time after the dispenser is attached to create a secure seal.
The invention further includes a method of cleaning the container. The container assembly may be disassembled and cleaned using soap and water, bleach, and any commercially available cleaners and sanitizers, such as Five Star and Star San HB. When cleaning and/or filling the container according to this embodiment, the dispenser 400 is removed from the vessel, thus exposing the dispensing hole 430. As previously indicated, and fill tubes brushes may be easily inserted into the dispensing hole 430, which allows for easier cleaning. Similarly, the integrated feet 12 and 13, may be easily reached with brushes and pressurized water so the contaminants may be removed and the entire vessel easily sanitized. Removable parts may all be soaked and individually cleaned as needed. The design of the primary casing, in particular, allows for easier cleaning than other types of containers known in the art, many of which have small openings, crevices, and grooves which are hard to clean.
It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments of the present disclosure are merely possible examples of implementations, merely set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the disclosed systems and methods. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiment(s) without departing substantially from the disclosed principles of the systems and methods. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and the present disclosure and protected by the following claims.
