This disclosure relates broadly to support stands for beverage containers and more particularly to angled support stands for coffee mugs, thermoses, glasses, cups, etc.
Millions of people start their day off with a jolt of caffeine, whether it be from coffee, tea, or soda. On the other hand, others start their day off with decaffeinated drinks, such as water or hot chocolate. Either way, morning routines have become ritualistic for the modern workforce. However, everyone can agree that they want their drink-of-choice fast and they want to keep it at the perfect temperature. Modern drink dispensers, such as single-brew coffee makers, have become a household, workplace, and industry commonality to quickly brew a variety of beverages, caffeinated and decaffeinated alike. These drink dispensers allow users to select their preferred beverage, while also providing a drink in a few minutes.
On the other hand, thermoses provide the other half of what every drink enthusiast seeks; namely, a large drink that stays hot or cold for a long time. However, modern drink dispensers are not designed to accommodate the height of many thermoses on the market today. This means that users are required to hold their thermos in place as their drink is brewed. The other option would be to fill a smaller sized cup and transfer the beverage to a larger container or thermos. Instead of getting ready for their day, people are either stuck as their drink is prepared or must brew multiple cups to fill their thermos. While beverages are an integral part of many people's mornings, getting out the door in the morning can be quite stressful. On top of the morning rush, running late can add an undesirable layer of stress to one's day.
Therefore, it is desirable to have a convenient method of holding a thermos or other large beverage container under the spout of a drink dispenser, such as a single-brew coffee maker, so a user can simultaneously make their favorite morning drink and get ready for their day. While this is advantageous, users should be cautious of leaving minors or children in the vicinity of unattended hot (potentially scalding) liquids. This technology may also be implemented in other applications where hands-free drink despising is desirable.
Various embodiments of the present disclosure include support stands for beverage containers for use when the selected beverage container or thermos is too tall to fit under the spout of a beverage dispenser, such as a single-brew coffee maker. To ensure the beverage container is filled fully and properly, the support stand holds the beverage container at a mostly vertical angle such that the mouth of the container extends under and aligns with the spout of the beverage dispenser. In certain embodiments, a user may conveniently adjust the angle of the support stand to accommodate various containers or thermoses of various heights, so the container and beverage dispenser are aligned properly. The support stand can be placed and/or locked in an “open” position where the receptacle for the beverage container is supported at a mostly vertical angle relative to the support surface that the support stand rests on.
A user can either place a thermos in the support stand and then set and/or lock the support stand at the appropriate angle or can set and/or lock the support stand at a particular angle and place the thermos on the support stand. In both instances, the mouth of the thermos or beverage container is able to properly align with the spout of the drink dispenser. This allows the user to begin brewing their desired beverage and then walk away. The support stand will support the beverage container as it is being filled and when it is completely filled so a user is not required to supervise the filling process. Proper angling of the beverage container and support stand may be fixed or adjustable before or during use, for example as accomplished by mechanical means or automatic means.
In some embodiments, the support stand may be also be placed and/or locked in a “storage” position, where the receptacle for the beverage container lays parallel against the base of the support stand. This allows for easy, compact storage of the support stand.
Alternatively, in other embodiments, the angle of the support stand may be fixed, so that the support stand sits at an appropriate angle and can be used with a preferred beverage container and coffee maker without adjusting the angle of the stand. Similarly, the support stand will hold the beverage container during and after filling, thus allowing the user to focus on other tasks. The embodiments of the present disclosure are discussed primarily with reference to thermoses and coffee makers, however, it should be appreciated that this technology may be used in association with other beverage containers and drink dispensers. For example, this technology may be implemented in association with cocktail shakers or glasses and soda dispensers (e.g., hoses or soda machines) for hands-free bartending applications. This technology may also have commercial and/or industrial applications for dispensing liquids other than those for human consumption. For example, the devices disclosed herein may be applied in factory settings, such as filling paint cans or household cleaners.
Other objects and attendant advantages will be readily appreciated as the same become better understood by references to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings.
For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the disclosure, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the disclosure is thereby intended, such alterations, modifications, and further applications of the principles being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.
Various embodiments of the present disclosure include support stands for beverage containers for use when the selected beverage container is too tall to fit under the spout of a beverage dispenser. For example, when the height of a thermos is taller than the clearance of the spout of a single-brew coffee maker from a support surface. To ensure the beverage container is filled fully and properly, the beverage stand holds the beverage container at a mostly vertical angle such that the mouth of the container extends under and aligns with the spout of the beverage dispenser. As one aspect, a user may conveniently alter the angle of the support stand to accommodate various thermoses or containers of various heights, so the container and beverage dispenser are aligned properly. Alternatively, the angle of the support stand may be fixed, so that the correct support stand sits at an appropriate angle and can be used with a preferred thermos or container without adjustments. Further yet, the support stand may alter the mostly vertical angle automatically by implementing an adjustment mechanism.
A “mostly vertical angle” is an angle that is greater than 45 degrees and less than 90 degrees relative to the support surface.
Directional references herein are for ease of explanation and are not intended to be limiting.
Support stand 100 includes a base 105 on a support surface for supporting the weight of the support stand 100 and a beverage container. A support surface is any surface that a support stand can rest or sit on, such as a table, countertop, bar top, etc. Support stand 100 additionally includes a container support 110. The container support 110 may include at least one sidewall portion 111 and a floor portion 115. The sidewall portion 111 and floor portion 115 define support cradle 112 which is configured to receive and support the beverage container. In the embodiment shown, the support cradle 112 receives and supports the lower end of the beverage container on the floor portion 115 and receives and supports a sidewall portion of the beverage container on sidewall portion 111. In this manner, the beverage container is supported in both vertical and horizontal directions.
It should be noted that sidewall portion 111 and floor portion 115 may be formed from one continuous piece of material or may be separate pieces connected by an appropriate means, such as welding, melting, adhesives, or any sort of fastener, or combinations thereof. Additionally, in some embodiments, cradle 112 may include rubber gripping to increase the friction between the beverage container and support stand 100. For example, sidewall portion 111 and/or floor portion 115 may be covered by a layer of rubber or rubber strips could be placed along the length and/or width of the sidewall 111 and/or floor 115. Base 105 may optionally have a rubber pad or feet to support base 105 and to provide traction on the support surface. Further, base 105 may be directly connected to or incorporated into the design of a beverage machine.
In
It should be appreciated that hinge 120 may be placed at any location sufficient to allow support stand 100 to rotate within a desired range. For example, hinge 120 may be located at a point along sidewall portion 111. Alternatively, hinge 120 may be located where sidewall portion 111 and floor portion 115 connect or the vertex between container support 110 and base 105. As depicted, hinge 120 includes side plates which act as a side walls that prevent the beverage container from moving in a lateral direction and falling off support stand 100 during filling.
Support stand 100 may further include a locking mechanism 124. As depicted in
In some embodiments, hinge 120 allows sidewall portion 111 to lay parallel to base 105 while floor portion 115 is approximately perpendicular to base 105. Additionally, adjustment lever 125 may be connected to container support 110 via a hinge such that adjustment lever 125 can be oriented flat against sidewall portion 111. In this manner, adjustment lever 125 and hinge 120 allow for support stand 100 to be adjusted to a storage position.
Sidewall portion 211 and/or floor portion 215 may also contain rubber pads or strips to increase traction/friction between support stand 200 and beverage container 250.
In this manner, support stand 300 holds beverage container at a mostly vertical angle that is fixed. As shown in
Support stand 600 includes base 605. Base 605 is connected to platform 609/housing 630 via supply box 607 and adjustment mechanism 650. Supply box 607 is configured to provide power to housing 630 via wiring 608 connected to base 605. Base 605 also includes rotating mechanism 606, which is configured to rotate the top portion of base 605, along with platform 609 and housing 630, in an angular direction relative to the supporting surface. Rotating mechanism 606 may be a revolving mechanism, a turntable mechanism, a rotating ring assembly, or a combination of bearings, or any mechanism sufficient to move support stand 600 in an angular direction relative to the supporting surface. Such additional mechanisms will be appreciated by those of skill in the art.
Supply box 607 or base 605 may also house a computer system configured to control automated movement of support stand 600. For example, the system may control the horizontal, vertical, and angular movement of support stand 600. Supply box 607 may also house a motor to drive vertical adjustment mechanism 620 and control motor 654 of adjustment mechanism 650.
Base 605 includes adjustment mechanism 650 which is connected to platform 609. Adjustment mechanism 650 is configured to move platform 609/housing 630 in a horizontal plane relative to the supporting surface. Movement of adjustment mechanism 650 changes the angle that beverage container 250 is held at, such that support stand 600 can be used in conjunction with various drink dispensers and beverage containers. For example, a comparison of the positioning of platform 609 relative to the supporting surface as depicted in
It should be noted that base 605 may be manufactured of a sufficiently heavy material so that the weight of the base 605 sufficiently offsets the weight of platform 609/housing 630 and the weight of a fully filled beverage container 250. Additionally or alternatively, base 605 may include rubber gripping or temporary attachment means in contact with the support surface that base 605 is placed on. For example, base 605 may include a suction cup configured to temporarily connect support stand 600 to a table. Further yet, base 605 may be connected to or incorporated into the design of beverage machine 500. For example, a plate may be used to connect base 605 to machine 500. Alternative methods of connecting support stand 600 to machine 500 are envisioned.
Base 605 also may include power supply 700. Power supply 700 is configured to supply support stand 600 with power and may be a 2-plug power supply, 3-plug power supply, NEMA power cord, or any cabling sufficient to provide the required power supply to support stand 600. Alternatively, if support stand 600 is connected to a beverage dispensing machine 500, then support stand 600 may receive power supply from the beverage dispenser itself. Similarly, support stands 100, 200, 300, and 400 may be incorporated as a part of the drink dispenser.
Support stand 600 includes platform 609 and housing 630. As shown in
Similar to the previously discussed embodiments, container support 610 includes a sidewall portion 611 and a floor portion 615 that define cradle 612. Cradle 612 is configured to receive and support the lower end of a beverage container 250 on the floor portion 615 and receive and support the sidewall portion of beverage container 250 on sidewall portion 211. In this way, container support 610/cradle 612 may support the beverage container 250 at a mostly vertical angel.
As depicted in
Therefore, between rotating mechanism 606, adjustment mechanism 650, and vertical adjustment mechanism 620, support stand 600 can move platform 609/beverage container 250 horizontally, vertically, and angularly, relative to the support surface. This may be accomplished manually via mechanical means or automatically via the use of internal electrical systems (discussed in more detail below with reference to
It should be noted that other vertical positioning mechanisms are included within the scope of the present disclosure. For example, vertical adjustment mechanism 620 and connecting member 622 may include a latch and lock system similar to those depicted with respect to support stands 100 and 200. Alternatively, hydraulic movement of container support 610 may be implemented, just to name a few examples.
Connecting member 622 may include friction-inducing gripping that is in contact with the surface of support poles 621. In this manner, the movement of container support 610 by vertical adjustment mechanism 620 is sufficient to overcome these frictional forces, while at the same time the friction is sufficient to hold container support 610 in place at the desired height.
Housing 630 may also include a sensing element (not shown) configured to locate the dispenser of a beverage machine (e.g., the spout of a coffee maker) and the height of beverage container 250. In this manner, support stand 600 is capable of automatically tilting and lifting beverage container 250 to the appropriate height and angle via adjustment mechanism 650 and vertical adjustment mechanism 620, respectively. Support stand 600 may also be configured to automatically move the beverage container 250 away from the dispenser of the beverage machine after the beverage container 250 is filled. The automatic movement of the support stand 600 may be performed in a number of ways. For example, the container support 610 may include a pressure sensor configured to sense the presence of a container 250 once it is placed on support stand 600. Once the pressure from the container 250 is sensed, the automatic movement of support stand 600 will initiate. In other embodiments, the base 605 may include a button configured to initial automatic movement of support stand 600.
It will be appreciated by one of skill in the art that this technology may be utilized in a vast array of applications. Support stands 100, 200, 300, 400, and/or 600 may be used with many beverage containers (water cups, soda glasses, rocks glasses, coffee mugs, thermoses, wine glasses, etc.) just to name a few examples. Further, support stands 100, 200, 300, 400, and/or 600 may be used in conjunction with many types of beverage dispensers (coffee makers, single-brew coffee makers, soda dispensers, soda hoses, etc.) just to name a few examples.
While the embodiments have been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiments have been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come with the spirit of the disclosure are desired to be protected.
Number | Date | Country | |
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63266484 | Jan 2022 | US |