GB2443384A - Drinks carrier - Google Patents

Abstract

A plastic drinks carrier (10) is for use with an automated dispensing system which dispenses liquid into multiple aligned drinks containers. The drinks carrier (10) comprises multiple apertures (12) each adapted to receive and align a drinks container with a dispensing head of the dispensing system, the drinks carrier (10) having sufficient rigidity to support multiple filled drinks containers. The carrier may comprise arched strengthening elements 14 extending substantially along its length. It may be vacuum formed from a single sheet of material which is 0.5mm thick.

Description

1 2443384 TITLE: DRINKS CARRIER

DESCRIPTION

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a drinks carrier for drinks containers, e.g. glasses for beer or other alcoholic beverages.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known to provide automated dispensing systems which dispense alcoholic beverages, particularly beer, at high speed, for example the "Ultraflow" system from IMI Cornelius. These systems comprise multiple, e.g. four, heads arranged adlacent each other which simultaneously dispense beer to a corresponding number of glasses. The glasses are supported in holders to ensure the correct alignment of the dispensing head with the glass. This *...

automated process is particularly suitable for quickly serving large volumes of clients, e.g. at a stadium or at * other event outlets.

*. : SUMMARY OF INVENTION * S.

According to the invention there is provided a plastic drinks carrier for use with an automated dispensing system which dispenses liquid into multiple aligned drinks containers, the drinks carrier comprising multiple apertures each adapted to receive and align a drinks container with a dispensing head of the dispensing system, the drinks carrier having sufficient rigidity to support multiple filled drinks containers.

In the known dispensing systems, the filled drinks containers are removed by hand from the dispensing system.

However, using a drinks carrier according to the present invention enables multiple filled drinks containers to be simultaneously removed from the dispensing system. The drinks carrier may need to be held at opposite ends when supporting multiple filled drinks containers. Accordingly, drinks may be served more quickly than with the current manual process.

The drinks carrier may be a tray and may be generally planar. The multiple apertures may be arranged in a single row. There may be four apertures.

To ensure sufficient rigidity, the drinks carrier preferably comprises at least one strengthening element.

The at least one strengthening element may extend along the length of the drinks carrier and may extend along both s..

long edges of the drinks carrier. This may be particularly . 25 useful for a drinks carrier in which the multiple apertures are aligned in a row. The strengthening element *:*. may be in the form of a beam or may be arched. The strengthening element may be integrally formed with the body of the drinks carrier.

The drinks carrier is preferably formed from a single sheet of material. The sheet of material may have a thickness of approximately 0.5mm or less. The drinks carrier may be manufactured by vacuum forming or thermoforming. Such a drinks carrier may be relatively cheap to produce and may thus be regarded as disposable.

The disposability may be a key factor for dispensing systems used in large stadiums or other event grounds where it would be not be practicable to retrieve the drinks carrier.

The automated dispensing system may comprise multiple dispensing heads which dispense liquid simultaneously or may comprise a single head programmed to dispense liquid to multiple containers. The automated dispensing system may comprise holders for aligning the drinks containers with the dispensing heads. In such a system, the drinks carrier may be placed on top of the holders with the apertures aligned with the holder.

The drinks carrier may be printed or formed with slogans, advertising material or other information. This information may be printed or formed on the at least one strengthening element.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF TUE DRAWINGS *..

25 An embodiment of the invention will now be described

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* by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying ** figures, in which: Figures la, lb and ic are plan, side and perspective views of an attachment according to the present invention, respectively; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the drinks carrier of Figure la, and Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the drinks carrier in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figures la to 2 show a drinks carrier 10 comprising four circular apertures 12 arranged in a single row. Each aperture is adapted to receive and align a beer container, e.g. glass (not shown) with a dispensing head of a dispensing system. By arranging the apertures in a single row, the drinks carrier has an elongate rectangular shape.

The drinks carrier is substantially planar with two arched strengthening ribs 14 extending out of the plane of the drinks carrier. The arched ribs are symmetrical having greatest height at the short axis of the drinks carrier.

The strengthening ribs 14 run substantially along the whole length of the opposed long sides of the drinks carrier. The ribs strengthen the drinks carrier parallel to its long axis and prevent flexure about the short axis of the drinks carrier. The ribs provide the drinks carrier with sufficient rigidity so that a user may carry four filled beer glasses.

.... 25 The apertures are defined by annular rings 20 which project from the front face of the drinks carrier and which provide additional strengthening in the plane of the *. drinks carrier. The inner face of the annular rings 20 also extends from the rear face of the drinks carrier.

Further strengthening is provided by projections 18 joining the inner side walls of the strengthening ribs to the circular rings 20 either side of the short axis of the drinks carrier.

The drinks carrier is provided on its lower face with two curved recesses 16, each one adjacent a short edge of the drinks carrier. A user may locate his fingertips in these recesses 16 to facilitate the carrying of the drinks carrier.

Figure 3 shows the drinks carrier 10 in use. Four glasses 22 are received and supported in the apertures.

Each glass 22 is positioned under a corresponding dispensing head 24 so that liquid may be simultaneously dispensed into each glass. After the glasses are filled, the drinks carrier enables all four glasses to be lifted simultaneously. In this way, drinks may be rapidly dispensed. * S * S.. S... * S *.I. S... * S

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Claims (8)

1. A plastic drinks carrier for use with an automated dispensing system which dispenses liquid into multiple aligned drinks containers, the drinks carrier comprising multiple apertures each adapted to receive and align a drinks container with a dispensing head of the dispensing system, the drinks carrier having sufficient rigidity to support multiple filled drinks containers.

2. A drinks carrier according to claim 1, comprising at least one strengthening element.

3. A drinks carrier according to claim 2, wherein the strengthening element extends substantially along the length of the drinks carrier.

4. A drinks carrier according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the strengthening element is arched.

5. A drinks carrier according to any preceding claim, formed from a single sheet of material.

6. A drinks carrier according to claim 5, wherein the sheet of material has a thickness of approximately 0.5mm.

7. A drinks carrier according to claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the drinks carrier is manufactured by vacuum forming.

8. A drinks carrier according to any preceding claim, * .0s wherein the drinks carrier is disposable. *... * . *.*. *

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