GB2390213A

GB2390213A - Illuminated imitation beverage display

Info

Publication number: GB2390213A
Application number: GB0211319A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ray Exton
Original assignee: IMI Cornelius Inc
Current assignee: Cornelius Inc
Priority date: 2002-05-17
Filing date: 2002-05-17
Publication date: 2003-12-31
Also published as: GB0211319D0

Abstract

A counter-top display (1) in the form of an imitation glass filled with a beverage, e.g. beer. The display (1) comprises a hollow body portion (3) of coloured plastics to simulate the appearance of the beverage and a cap portion (4) including an inner part (5) of contrasting coloured plastics to simulate the appearance of the beverage head and an outer part (6) of clear plastics to simulate the rim of the glass. The hollow body portion (3) houses a light source (9) to illuminate the display (1).Optionally advertising may be mounted on the display.

Description

DISPLAY

This invention relates to a display for beverages and in particular, but not exclusively, to a display for mounting on a counter-top or adjacent a 5 dispense point. More especially, the present invention is concerned with a display to simulate a glass or similar receptacle filled with the beverage to be dispensed.

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a display 10 comprising an imitation glass including a first coloured plastics material to create the effect of a beverage, a second plastics material of a different colour to create the effect of a head on the beverage, and a third transparent plastics material surrounding the second plastics material to create the effect of a rim of the glass.

By this invention, an imitation glass that simulates a dispensed beverage of the type having a head, for example beer, is produced by the use of differently coloured plastics materials for the beverage and head with additional transparent plastics material around the head to produce the 20 effect of a glass rim.

In this way, a realistic simulation of a glass containing dispensed beverage is obtained without surrounding the plastics material of the beverage with transparent plastics material. As a result, a saving in 25 materials can be made with resulting cost savings and simplified manufacture. Preferably, the display includes a light source for illumination of the display. For example, the first plastics material may be of hollow 30 construction providing an internal cavity to receive the light source

The light source may be of any suitable type and is preferably chosen so as not to produce a large amount of heat in use. Illuminating the display provides the glass with a more realistic appearance.

5 The first plastics material forming the beverage may be partially translucent to allow transmission of light emitted by the light source and may include trapped air bubbles that give the appearance of gas bubbles rising in the beverage. The second plastics material forming the head may be opaque to provide enhanced contrast with the plastics material forming 10 the beverage.

The head and rim may be formed integrally by twin shot moulding the second and third plastics materials. In a preferred arrangement, the rim is of tear-drop shape in cross section tapering from a rounded bead at the 15 upper end that simulates the upper end of the glass to a narrow tail that merges smoothly with the wall of the glass at the junction between the head and beverage.

The head may have a textured outer surface to replicate the frothy 20 appearance of the head formed when dispensing a carbonated beverage such as beer by escaping gas bubbles.

The display may be provided with advertising or information relating to the beverage to be dispensed. For example, the glass may be printed with 25 brand details. Alternatively or additionally, the glass may be provided with a plaque, label or similar device carrying brand details.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method of making a display to simulate a glass containing a dispensed beverage, 30 the method comprising providing mouldings of first and second plastics materials of different colours to simulate a beverage and a head in the

l ( shape of a glass and a further moulding of clear plastics material arranged around the plastics material of the head to simulate a rim of the glass.

The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example 5 only, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure I is a longitudinal section through a display embodying the invention; and Figure 2 is an enlarged detail of the circular area A of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a display l in the form of an imitation glass containing a dispensed beverage.

The display 1 is intended for mounting on a counter top adjacent to a 15 point of dispense such as a tap (not shown) for dispensing a beverage.

In this embodiment, the glass 2 is in the shape of a pint glass but it will be understood other shapes and/or sizes of glass may be replicated using the present invention.

The glass 2 comprises a hollow body portion 3 of coloured plastics to simulate the dispensed beverage, for example amber colour to give the appearance of beer.

25 The glass 2 further comprises a cap portion 4 to close-off the upper end of the body portion 3 and made up of an inner part 5 of coloured plastics different to the colour of the body portion 3 to simulate the head of the beverage, for example opal colour, and an outer part 6 of clear plastics to simulate the rim of the glass.

( As best shown in Figure 2, the outer part 6 is of tear-drop shape in axial-

section tapering from a rounded bead 6a at the upper end to a narrow tail 6b at the lower end.

5 The inner part 5 has a top wall 5a of convex shape and a dependent side wall 5b formed at the lower end with a rebate 5c to receive the upper end of the body portion 3. The inner part S may have a textured outer surface on at least the top wall 5a to simulate the frothy appearance of the head formed by escaping gas bubbles when a carbonated beverage is dispensed.

The outer part 6 overlies the side-wall 5b of the inner part 5 with the bead 6a extending just above the upper end of the side-wall 5b and the tail 6b merging into side-wall 5b at the lower end where the inner part 5 and body portion 3 meet.

In this way, the outer part 6 provides a smooth continuation of the shape of the glass 2 through which the inner part 5 can be seen. This together with the slight projection of the bead 6a creates the effect of a rim of the glass 2 without moulding the clear plastics material over the body 20 portion 3. As a result, a realistic simulation of a glass containing a dispensed beverage is achieved with a saving in materials.

In this embodiment, the glass 2 further comprises a base portion 7 to which the lower end of the body portion 3 is attached, The base portion 7 25 is a moulding of the same plastics material as the body portion 3 and sits on a stand 8 secured to the counter-top or to a font or similar dispense fitting (not shown).

A light source 9 is located within the body portion 3 and is connected to a 30 power supply (not shown) via aligned holes to, 11 in the base portion 7 and stand 8. In this way, the wiring is concealed. The light source 9

may be any suitable low power source that does not emit significant heat when illuminated When illuminated, the display 1 may create the illusion of a carbonated 5 beverage, for example, the body portion 3 may have air bubbles formed in the wall that give the effect of gas bubbles rising in the beverage when illuminated. The body portion 3 and inner part 5 of the cap portion may have different 10 light transmitting characteristics. For example, the body portion 3 may be translucent with the inner part 5 being opaque. In this way, the contrast between the beverage and head is enhanced when the glass 2 is illuminated. 15 The display 1 may be used for advertising. For example the glass 2 may be printed with brand details of the beverage to be dispensed.

Alternatively or additionally, the glass 2 may be provided with a plaque, label or similar device carrying the brand details 20 The glass 2 may be formed by moulding the parts and securing the parts together by adhesive, welding or other suitable technique. The cap portion may be formed by twin-shot moulding the inner part 5 and outer part 6 so as to join the two parts in an integral manner. It will be understood, however, that any suitable method of making the glass 2 may 25 be employed.

Claims

( CLAIMS

1. A display comprising an imitation glass including a first coloured plastics material to create the effect of a beverage, a second plastics 5 material of a different colour to create the effect of a head on the beverage, and a third transparent plastics material surrounding the second plastics material to create the effect of a rim of the glass.

2. A display according to claim I wherein a light source is provided 10 for illumination of the display.

3. A display according to claim 2 wherein an internal cavity is provided to receive the light source.

15 4. A display according to claim 3 wherein the internal cavity is provided in the first plastics material.

5. A display according to claim 4 wherein the first plastics material is partially translucent to allow transmission of light emitted by the light 20 source.

6. A display according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the first plastics material includes trapped air bubbles that give the appearance of gas bubbles rising in the beverage.

7. A display according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the second plastics material is opaque Lo provide enhanced contrast with the first plastics material.

( 8. A display according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the head and rim are formed integrally by twin shot moulding the second and third plastics materials.

5 9. A display according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the rim is of tear-drop shape in cross section tapering from a rounded bead at the upper end that simulates the upper end of the glass to a narrow tail that merges smoothly with the wall of the glass at the junction between the head and beverage.

10. A display according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the head has a textured outer surface to replicate the frothy appearance of the head formed when dispensing a carbonated beverage by escaping gas bubbles. l 1. A display according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the display is provided with advertising or information relating to the beverage to be dispensed.

20 12. A display according to claim l1 wherein the glass is printed with brand details.

13. A display according to claim 11 or claim 12 wherein the glass is provided with a plaque, label or similar device carrying brand details.

14. A display according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the imitation glass is provided in the form of a counter-top display.

15. A display substantially as hcreinbefore described with reference to 30 the accompanying drawing.

( 16. An imitation glass for a counter-top display comprises a body section of coloured plastics to simulate a beverage, the body section imitating the shape of the glass, and a cap portion comprising an inner part of coloured plastics to simulate a beverage head, and an outer part of 5 clear plastics to simulate a rim of the glass.

17. An imitation glass according to claim 16 wherein the body section houses a light source for illumination of the glass.

10 18. A method of making a display to simulate a glass containing a dispensed beverage, the method comprising providing mouldings of first and second plastics materials of different colours to simulate a beverage and a head in the shape of a glass and a further moulding of clear plastics material arranged around the plastics material of the head to simulate a 15 rim of the glass.

19. A method of making a display to simulate a glass containing a dispensed beverage substantially as hercinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

20. A display made by the method of claim 18 or claim 19.