GB2307976A

GB2307976A - Glass chilling apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2307976A
Application number: GB9525235A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Anthony Smyth; James Smyth
Original assignee: GLASSFROSTER UK Ltd
Current assignee: GLASSFROSTER UK Ltd
Priority date: 1995-12-09
Filing date: 1995-12-09
Publication date: 1997-06-11
Also published as: GB9525235D0

Abstract

A glass chilling apparatus (1) comprises a receiver means (3,4) against which the rim of a glass (5) may be placed, supply means including a nozzle (10) to deliver a refrigerant to the interior of the glass, and control means to regulate the delivery of the refrigerant. The control means may comprise a manual switch (16), or may comprise an electronic or other timing device controlling a valve to deliver refrigerant gas.

Description

Glass Chilling Aooaratus" This invention relates to an apparatus for chilling and frosting drinking glasses.

According to the invention there is provided an apparatus for chilling a glass having receiver means against which the glass is placed, supply means to deliver a refrigerant to an interior portion of the glass to chill the glass and control means to regulate the delivery of refrigerant.

In one embodiment the control means includes means for delivering a preset charge of refrigerant to the glass interior. Said means may include a timer associated with the valve to open the valve for a preset time period for delivery of a refrigerant charge to the glass. Ideally the timer is adjustable to adjust the time setting for different sized glasses.

In another embodiment of the invention the receiver means has a bearing face for reception of a rim of the glass.

In a further embodiment the supply means includes a nozzle mounted adjacent the bearing face and a supply line to deliver refrigerant to the nozzle from a refrigerant reservoir. Preferably the nozzle is mounted on the receiver means.

In another embodiment the control means has a valve.

Ideally the valve includes a valve head and associated valve seat of both of which are metallic. Preferably the valve is a solenoid operated valve actuated by a switch means.

In a further embodiment the receiver means has a socket within which the nozzle is mounted. Preferably the nozzle is mounted in the socket with an outlet of the nozzle located below the bearing face. Typically the socket has a side wall which diverges outwardly of the nozzle.

In another embodiment the bearing face is substantially flat.

In a particularly preferred embodiment the bearing face is surrounded by a raised rim which projects outwardly of the bearing face. Preferably the rim is at an outer periphery of the bearing face.

In another embodiment a number of nozzles are mounted at the bearing face.

In a further embodiment the receiver means further includes a base support within in which is housed the control means.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of an embodiment thereof given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which; Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a glass chilling apparatus according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a side sectional view of the glass chilling apparatus, Fig. 3 is an underneath plan view of the glass chilling apparatus; Fig. 4 is a schematic perspective view of another glass chilling apparatus; Fig. 5 is a schematic side elevational view of the glass chilling apparatus of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a schematic front elevational view of the glass chilling apparatus of Fig. 4; Fig. 7 is a schematic plan view of the glass chilling apparatus of Fig. 4; Fig. 8 is an electrical circuit diagram for the glass chilling apparatus of Fig. 4;; Fig. 9 is a schematic perspective view of another glass chilling apparatus; Fig. 10 is a schematic sectional elevational view of the glass chilling apparatus of Fig. 9; Fig. 11 is a schematic side sectional elevational view of the glass chilling apparatus of Fig. 9; Fig. 12 is a schematic plan view of the glass chilling apparatus of Fig. 9; Fig. 13 is a detail schematic perspective view of portion of the glass chilling apparatus of Fig. 9; Fig. 14 is an electrical circuit diagram for the glass chilling apparatus of Fig. 9; and Figs. 15-19 are various views of a base plate forming portion of the glass chilling apparatus of Fig. 9.

Referring to the drawings there is illustrated a chilling apparatus according to the invention indicated generally by the reference numeral 1. The chilling apparatus 1 comprises a base 2 on which is mounted receiver means, in this case a receiver body 3 having a bearing face 4 for reception of a glass 5 which is mountable thereon with a rim 6 of the glass 5 engaging the bearing face 4. Supply means to deliver a refrigerant gas to an interior portion of a glass 5 placed on a bearing face 4 includes a nozzle 10 centrally mounted in a socket 11 in the receiver body 3 adjacent the bearing face 4 and a supply line 12 to deliver refrigerant to the nozzle 10 from a refrigerant reservoir (not shown) in this case comprising a conventional bottle of liquified refrigerant gas.Control means to regulate the delivery of refrigerant to the nozzle 10 comprises a solenoid operated valve 15 actuated by switch means 16 comprising an on/off switch mounted on the base 2.

It will be noted that the nozzle 10 is mounted within the socket 11 with its outlet 18, comprising a number of discharge holes, below the bearing face 4. A side wall 19 of the socket diverges outwardly of the nozzle 10 towards the bearing face 4.

The bearing face 4 is substantially flat and is surrounded by a raised peripheral rim 20 of the bearing face 4, the rim 20 projecting outwardly of the bearing face 4.

The control means is housed within the base 2 with a power cable 22 led through a side wall of the base 2 for connection to a power supply for operation of the solenoid controlling the valve 15. In this case the refrigerant supply line 12 is of the flexible reinforced hose type adapted for releasable connection to a refrigerant gas bottle. An important feature of the valve 15 is that it includes a valve head and associated valve seat both of which are metallic.

In use, a glass 5 is inverted and placed on the bearing face 4 with its rim 6 engaging the bearing face 4. The glass 5 is held in position while the switch 16 is moved to the "ON" position, energising the solenoid to open the valve 15 and allow delivery of refrigerant gas through the nozzle 10 to an interior of the glass 5. The interior of the glass 5 is rapidly cooled causing condensation on an exterior wall of the glass 5 giving it a frosted effect.

Only a relatively small quantity of refrigerant gas is required to frost the glass 5 and the switch 16 is operated to shut the valve 15 as soon as the desired frosting effect has been achieved. Any refrigerant gas escaping between the rim 6 of the glass 5 and the bearing face 4 is deflected outwardly of the bearing face 4 by the rim 20.

It will be appreciated that having the nozzle 10 mounted in the socket 11 beneath the bearing face 4 ensures an even distribution of refrigerant gas throughout an interior of the glass 5.

It will also be noted that as the valve head and valve seat of the valve 15 are metallic a good seal is achieved preventing leakage of the pressurised refrigerant gas past the valve 15 when the valve 15 is in the closed position.

It will be appreciated that while in the embodiment illustrated the receiver body is shown mounted on a portable base the apparatus may equally well be provided as a built-in device mounted on a counter such as a bar top or a vertical panel for wall mounting or alternatively an over-head panel. The switching means may be provided in any convenient location such as adjacent the bearing face as shown or in another alternative the switching means may be floor mounted for foot operation. The switching means may be provided by a contact switch or pressure pad on the body of the apparatus. The switching means may be operable by placement of a glass against the receiver means.

It is also envisaged that a timer may be provided associated with the solenoid valve to open the valve for a preset time period upon operation of the switching means. Thus a set charge of refrigerant may be delivered to the glass. The timer would preferably be adjustable to accommodate different sized glasses.

Referring now to Figs. 4 to 9, another glass chilling apparatus 30 is shown. Parts similar to those of the glass chilling apparatus shown previously are assigned the same reference numerals. In this case, the receiver means comprises a socket 33 extending downwardly from a top surface of the base 2 and having a bearing face 34 for reception of a glass. An outlet of the nozzle 10 is centrally mounted adjacent the bearing face 34 for spraying a jet of refrigerant into a glass mounted within the socket 33. A bursting disk 36 is mounted in the refrigerant supply line 12. Referring to Fig. 8, the electric circuit for operation of the solenoid 15 is shown and comprises a transformer 38 to step down main supply to 24 volts. The switch means 16 comprises a microswitch or on/off switch.A timer 39 and associated timer switch 40 are provided, being operable to open the solenoid valve 15 for a preset time period.

Referring now to Figs. 9 to 19, there is illustrated another glass chilling apparatus 50. Parts similar to those described previously are assigned the same reference numerals. This is essentially the same as the glass chilling apparatus shown in Figs. 4 to 8, however, in this case a pair of nozzles 10 are provided on the base 2.

Figs. 15-19 show a base plate 52 forming portion of the base 2.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described which may be varied in both construction and detail.

In advantageous embodiments of the device, a cap or cowl may be provided to extend upwardly from one or more sides of the base and support a roof or lid which is positioned in parallel alignment with the bearing face, but spaced therefrom by sufficient distance as not to hinder the placing of a glass on the bearing surface. This roof will prevent injuries to operatives if the froster is actuated without a glass in place, since the jet of refrigerant will strike the underside of the roof.

The timing mechanism controlling the discharge of refrigerant may be an electronic oscillator operating in conjunction with a counting circuit, so as to open the solenoid valve for a predetermined interval (i.e. a preset number of oscillations) when an initiating signal is given. Switches or wiring connections may provide adjustable intervals by resetting the counter to zero after different predetermined numbers of oscillations of the oscillator.

Claims

1. An apparatus for chilling drinking glasses, comprising receiver means against which the rim of a glass may be placed, refrigerant supply means to deliver a refrigerant to the interior of the drinking glass via the receiver means, and control means to regulate the delivery of refrigerant.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control means comprises a manually operated valve controlling the flow of refrigerant.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control means comprises a timing device associated with a valve controlling the flow of refrigerant, the arrangement being such that initiation of the control means will cause the timing device to open the valve for a predetermined period.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the timing device has a memory capable of storing a number of predetermined time intervals, and selector means are operable to select one of the predetermined time intervals.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the selector means is a keypad.

6. An apparatus according to any of claims 2 to 5, wherein the receiver includes an annular surface against which the rim of a glass may be brought to bear, a number of nozzles situated within the annular bearing face to discharge refrigerant into the interior of a glass whose rim is placed against the bearing face.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein a switch means is mounted in the bearing face so as to be operated when a glass is placed against the bearing face, the switch means serving to initiate the control means to deliver the refrigerant to the interior of the glass.

8. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, comprising a housing having receiver means formed in a face of the housing, and a cap or cowl extending in a plane substantially parallel to but spaced from the receiver means, the arrangement being such that a glass may be placed on the receiver means beneath the cap or cowl.

9. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein a housing is provided with two or more receiver means.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the receiving means includes respective annular bearing surfaces of differing diameters to suit differing sizes of glasses.

11. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the refrigerant is a gas.

12. A method of pre-chilling a drinking glass for use with a refrigerated beverage, comprising the steps of placing the rim of the drinking glass over a refrigerant discharge nozzle and discharging into the interior of the drinking glass a predetermined amount of a refrigerant gas.

13. An apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 to 7, Figures 9 to 12, or Figure 13 of the accompanying drawings.

14. A method as substantially as described herein.