GB2355707A

GB2355707A - A device for delivery of fluid into a receptacle

Info

Publication number: GB2355707A
Application number: GB9925351A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nicholas Cross
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-10-26
Filing date: 1999-10-26
Publication date: 2001-05-02
Anticipated expiration: 2019-10-26
Also published as: GB2355707B; GB9925351D0

Abstract

A device for the delivery of a fluid such as beer into a receptacle (7) such as a standard beer glass, comprises (a) an attachment means (1) which is adapted to be substantially rigidly attached to, or to be integral with, a tap assembly comprising a fluid outlet (3) through which the fluid is delivered; and (b) a support means (5) for mounting the receptacle (7) beneath the fluid outlet (3), the support means (5) being connected to the attachment means (1), and being adapted to move with the receptacle between an inclined position (A) when the receptacle is empty to a substantially vertical position (B) when the receptacle is full, whereby, at least initially, fluid flows down a side of the receptacle. The device may be connected to a flow valve which stops fluid flow when the receptacle reaches the vertical position. Fluid may be simultaneously dispensed into two receptacles (Figure 5).

Description

2355707 A Device for Delivery of Fluid into a Receptacl This invention

relates to a device for the delivery of fluid into a receptacle. More specifically, this invention relates to a device particularly suited to delivery of certain fluids, such as beer and other carbonated beverages, whose delivery into receptacles such as pitchers or beer glasses is required to be controlled.

When beer is poured into a receptacle such as a glass or a pitcher, it is necessary, in order to avoid unacceptable foaming, initially to cause the beer to run gently down the side of the receptacle. In bars, this is usually accomplished by hand by tilting the receptacle initially, and then straightening the receptacle as it approaches fullness. However, this significantly limits the productivity of the bar worker, who must hold the receptacle for nearly the whole time that the drink is being poured.

A number of devices have been proposed in order to achieve such an effect mechanically. US Patent No. 5,086,817 discloses a foam-suppressing apparatus for filling a beer pitcher, which comprises a device that holds a pitcher at a pre-selected angle of tilt while the pitcher is being filled with a beverage. The device is biased towards a tilted orientation, and the weight of the beer as it fills the pitcher acts against the bias and causes the pitcher to move to an upright position. This device is a freestanding device, that must be separately installed onto a surface underneath the nozzle through which the beer is dispensed.

US 5, 335,705 discloses an apparatus for dispensing a sparkling or bubbling beverage, in which the receptacle is moved by means of a motorised rest base from a tilted position when the receptacle is empty to a vertical position when the receptacle is full. Another beverage dispensing apparatus is disclosed in GB 2024779A. 30 2 There remains, however, a need for a device which is simple and inexpensive, and, more importantly, is adapted to be installed onto existing beverage supply systems, rather than be an entire separate installation that must replace the existing system in tolo.

According to the present invention, there is provided a device for the delivery of a fluid into a receptacle, comprising (a) an attachment means which is adapted to be substantially rigidly attached to, or to be integral with, a tap assembly comprising a fluid outlet through which the fluid is delivered; and (b) a support means for mounting the receptacle beneath the fluid outlet, the support means being connected to the attachment means, and being adapted to move with the receptacle between an inclined position when the receptacle is empty to a substantially vertical position when the receptacle is full, whereby, at least initially, fluid flows down a side of the receptacle.

The device has the advantage over the prior art that it is simple and inexpensive, and can easily be fitted to existing fluid-dispensing systems and beverage supply systems such as beer pumps. The device is obviously most suitable for use with carbonated beverages, such as beer (lager or bitter), cider, stout, and carbonated soft drinks, where foaming is a problem. However, it can also be used for other beverages, and other fluids.

The receptacle can be a glass, bottle, pitcher.. cup, mug, or any other receptacle suitable for containing fluids.

The attachment means serves to attach the device to the tap assembly of the fluiddispensing system. The attachment means can comprise any suitable means for rigidly attaching the device to the tap assembly. By "rigidly attached" is meant that there is substantially no movement at the point of attachment to the tap assembly. Suitable attachment means may comprise a clamp such as a screw clamp, or a clip, or a catch such as a quick-release catch. Preferred attachment means are a screw clamp and a quick release catch.

By "tap assembly" is meant the part of the fluid assembly system around a tap, including supply piping immediately upstream of the tap, and everything downstream of the tap.

3 In particular, the tap assembly will usually comprise a tap, a supply pipe, and a fluid outlet. The fluid outlet may take the form of a nozzle. Typically, the tap assembly comprises all parts which, during delivery, are located above the receptacle.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, where the fluid outlet of the tap assembly comprises a nozzle, the attachment means is adapted to be substantially rigidly attached to the nozzle. In this case, the attachment means may comprise any of the means discussed in the foregoing paragraph.

In an alternative embodiment, the attachment means is integrally formed with the tap assembly or a part of the tap assembly. In this case, when the fluid outlet of the tap assembly comprises a nozzle, the attachment means may be integrally formed with the nozzle. Such an integral attachment means and nozzle may be removably attached to the rest of the tap assembly, for example by means of a screw thread, of the type that is conventionally used for attaching, inier alia, the nozzles of standard beer pumps.

In a further alternative embodiment of the invention the attachment means is adapted to be removably attached to the tap assembly immediately upstream of the fluid outlet, and is adapted to removably receive the fluid outlet in the form of a nozzle. This can advantageously be achieved by providing the attachment means with a screw thread of the type conventionally used to attach removable nozzles to beer pumps, while also providing the attachment means with a screw thread of a type suitable for receiving such a nozzle.

The support means is connected to the attachment means, and serves to support the receptacle in use. It is adapted to move the receptacle between an inclined position when the receptacle is empty to a substantially vertical position when the receptacle is full. Any construction that achieves this will be suitable. It may take the form of a basket or cradle which supports a glass. The support means may be adjustable to accommodate a variety of receptacles.

4 The support means may further be provided at its base with a means for channelling drips into a drip tray. In use, drips will drip over the rear of the receptacle as it approaches fullness, and a channelling means at the base and rear of the support means can conveniently channel such drips into a drip tray lying underneath the device. 5 The connection between the support means and the attachment means must allow the support means to move between an inclined position and a substantially vertical position. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the support means is hingedly connected to the attachment means. In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the support means is biased towards the inclined position, preferably by means of a spring. In this embodiment, the spring biases the support means towards the inclined position, and then the weight of the fluid being delivered acts against the force exerted by the spring, causing the support means (and thereby thereceptacle) to move gradually from the inclined position to a vertical position as the receptacle fills up.

Alternatively, instead of the above-described simple hinged spring arrangement, the connection between the support means and the attachment means may be more complex, for example comprising a system employing a camming arrangment, to provide travel in a different path, which may be multi-staged.

The device may further be fitted with a catch to maintain the support means in the vertical position when not in use, the catch being released when an empty glass is placed in the cradle.

The device may also further be fitted with a flow valve activated by the movement of the support means. The flow valve is preferably integral with the device, and additional to the tap of the fluid-dispensing system, and may be located in or downstream of the tap of the fluid-dispensing system. The flow valve could also be integral with the fluid outlet, especially where the fluid outlet comprises a nozzle. It is further possible for the tap of the beverage-dispensing system, the fluid outlet, the flow valve and the device to be formed as an integral unit, in which case the flow valve may replace the conventional tap. The flow valve is provided with control means dependent on the orientation of the support means, so that it allows the flow of fluid when the support means is in the inclined position, and shuts off the flow when the support means is in the vertical position. Thus, in use, the tap of the fluid dispensing system (if present) remains open, and the control of the fluid flow is provided by the angle of the support means. The control means may comprise a mechanical arrangement linked to the support means or the point of connection between the support means and the attachment means, or it may comprise an electronic means such as an angle transducer.

The flow valve is advantageously combined with the catch mentioned above that keeps the support means in the vertical position when not in use, since the fluid flow is thereby cut off.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the device may comprise a pair of support means for mounting two receptacles beneath two adjacent fluid outlets. When the two fluid outlets are the fluid outlets from two adjacent taps, this constitutes a compact alternative to the installation of two devices onto two adjacent taps on the same font. Alternatively, where the attachment means is integral with the nozzle of the tap assembly, it may bifurcate into a pair of nozzles, each provided with a support means, thereby allowing two receptacles to be filled from the same tap assembly.

The pair of support means may be opposed, in order to be counter balanced.

The invention will now be fin-ther described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Brief Description of the Drawings Figure I shows a device according to the invention attached to a beverage-dispensing nozzle, with a glass that is empty.

Figure 2 shows the same as Figure 1, but where the glass is partially full.

Figure 3 shows the same as Figure 2 but with the glass completely filled.

6 Figure 4 shows an alternative embodiment of the invention.

Figure 5 shows a further alternative embodiment of the invention. 5 Detailed Description of the Drawin-gs The Figures show an embodiment, where the receptacle is a glass of the type used for pints of beer, and the nozzle is that of a conventional beer pump.

In Figure 1, the attachment means (1) comprises a screw clamp (2) by which the device is connected to the nozzle (3) of the tap (4) of the pump that dispenses the beverage. The attachment means (1) is in turn connected to the support means (5) by means of a sprung hinge (6), which biases the support means (5) to the tilted orientation (A) shown. The support means (5) is in the form of a cradle which supports the beer glass (7).

In use, the beer glass (7) is placed into the cradle, and the tap (4) is turned on in order to dispense the beverage from the nozzle (3). As can be seen from Figures 2 and 3, as the beer glass (7) fills up, the weight of the fluid acting against the sprung hinge (6) causes the support means to move gradually from the inclined position in Figure 1, through the position in Figure 2, to a substantially vertical position as shown in Figure 3 (indicated as (B) in Figure 1). It will be appreciated that initially the fluid flows gently down the side of the glass, until the glass is partially full and the support means has therefore rotated towards the vertical position under the weight of the glass and the beverage.

An alternative embodiment of the invention, wherein the attachment means of the device is integral with the nozzle of the tap assembly, is depicted in Figure 4. The integral nozzle and attachment means (8) is connected to the tap (4) by means of a screw and thread joint (9).

A ftirther alternative embodiment of the invention is depicted in Figure 5. In this embodiment, the integral nozzle and attachment means (10) bifurcates into a pair of nozzles (11). As in the previous embodiment, the integral nozzle and attachment means 7 (10) is connected to the tap (4) by means of a screw thread joint (9). Two support means (5) are connected to the integral nozzle and attachment means (10). This embodiment allows the simultaneous delivery of fluid from the same tap into two receptacles. 5 The present invention has been described above purely by way of example, and modifications can be made within the spirit of the invention. The invention also consists in any individual features described or implicit herein or shown or implicit in the drawings or any combination of such features or any generalisation of such features 10 or combination.

Claims

8 CLAIMS

I. A device for the delivery of a fluid into a receptacle, comprising (a) an attachment means which is adapted to be substantially rigidly attached to, or to be integral with, a tap assembly comprising a fluid outlet through which the fluid is delivered; and (b) a support means for mounting the receptacle beneath the fluid outlet, the support means being connected to the attachment means, and being adapted to move with the receptacle between an inclined position when the receptacle is empty to a substantially vertical position when the receptacle is full, whereby, at least initially, fluid flows down a side of the receptacle.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the support means is hingedly connected to the attachment means.

A device according to claim I or claim 2, wherein the support means is biased towards the inclined position.

4. A device according to claim 3 wherein the bias is created by means of a spring.

5. A device according to any of claims I to 4 wherein the attachment means comprises a screw clamp.

6. A device according to any of claims I to 4 wherein the attachment means comprises a quick-release catch.

7. A device according to any of claims I to 6 wherein the fluid outlet comprises a nozzle and the attachment means is adapted to be substantially rigidly attached to the nozzle.

9 8. A device according to any of claims I to 4 wherein the attachment means is integrally formed with the tap assembly or part of the tap assembly.

9. A device according to claim 8 wherein the fluid outlet comprises a nozzle and 5 the attachment means is integrally formed with the nozzle.

10. A device according to claim 9 wherein the integral nozzle and attachment means is adapted to be removably attached to the tap assembly.

11. A device according to any of claims I to 4 wherein the attachment means is adapted to be removably attached to the tap assembly immediately upstream of the fluid outlet, and is adapted to removably receive the fluid outlet in the form of a nozzle.

12. A device according to any of claims I to I I further comprising a catch which serves to maintain the support means in the vertical position when the device is not in use.

13. A device according to any of claims I to 12 further comprising a flow valve and control means dependent on the orientation of the support means, whereby the flow valve allows the flow of fluid when the support means is in the inclined position, and shuts off the flow when the support means is in the vertical position.

14. A device according to any of claims I to 13) comprising a pair of support means for mounting two receptacles beneath two adjacent fluid outlets.

15. A device according to claim 14 wherein the support means are opposed.

16. A device according to Claim 14 or Claim 15 wherein said two adjacent fluid outlets are provided on the same tap assembly by means of an integral nozzle and attachment means comprising two nozzles.

17. A device for the delivery of a fluid into a receptacle, substantially as described herein, with reference to the accompanying drawings.