IL266134A

IL266134A - Removably connectable systems for removable connection to a beverage dispenser

Info

Publication number: IL266134A
Application number: IL266134A
Authority: IL
Original assignee: Strauss Water Ltd
Priority date: 2019-04-18
Filing date: 2019-04-18
Publication date: 2020-10-28
Also published as: CN114072352A; WO2020212983A1; IL266134B; CN114072352B

Description

Removably connectable systems for removable connection to a beverage dispenser TECHNOLOGICAL FIELD The present disclosure concerns systems for removably connecting to a beverage dispenser, for removably connecting various accessories to an outlet module of the beverage dispenser. More specifically, the present disclosure concerns systems that comprise an adapter and an accessory, e.g. beverage additive unit, for removably connecting the accessory to the dispenser via the adapter.

BACKGROUND ART References considered to be relevant as background to the presently disclosed subject matter are listed below: - US 7,645,381 Acknowledgement of the above references herein is not to be inferred as meaning that these are in any way relevant to the patentability of the presently disclosed subject matter.

BACKGROUND Beverages dispensers, e.g. water dispensers (for example those described in US 7,645,381), soft drink dispensers or even water dispensers that are incorporated into refrigerators, are known. Adding an additive, such as a nutrient or a flavorant, to the dispensed water or beverage is typically carried out by adding the additive to the drinking glass or receptacle separately by the user from a separate container. In other systems, an additive may be contained in a container, and the dispenser is configured for dispensing the additive into the beverage by an electronically-controlled system.

In such systems the container may be built in the dispenser, or may be in the form of replaceable containers. However, typically connecting the additive containers to the dispenser is through built-in adapter(s) or through connecting the containers to the tubing system of the dispenser. Such type of connections often result in a series of operations that need to be carried out by the user when installing or removing the container from the dispenser, which can also include taking apart elements of the dispenser in order to permit installing or removal of the container. In addition, containers which are directly linked to the beverage flow system of the dispenser can result in undesired contamination of the beverage flow line and/or undesired accumulation of additive in the flow line.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION The present disclosure concerns systems for fitting onto beverage dispensers, the systems enable removably attaching or connecting various accessories to an outlet module of a beverage dispenser. The systems of this disclosure are designed to permit additional functionality to the dispensing module of the dispenser, thereby allowing the user to selectively modify the functionality of the outlet module in a convenient fashion, with minimal installation. For example, the system can permit a user to removably attach various accessories, e.g. extension tubes, to the dispensing module, thereby elongating the dispensing outlet and permitting dispensing of beverage, e.g. water, into vessels remote from the dispenser. Another exemplary system permits removably connecting an additive unit, that permits adding a desired additive to the beverage upon user demand without linking the additive container to the beverage flow line of the dispenser. exemplary additives may be minerals, flavorants, food supplements, flavoring concentrates, vitamins, nutrients, etc.

Thus, according to an aspect of this disclosure, there is provided a system that is removably connectable to an outlet module of a beverage dispenser for dosed dispensing of an additive, the system comprises an adapter unit and a beverage additive unit. The adapter unit is configured to be removably connected to the dispensing module of the beverage dispenser and is configured for fitting onto the outlet module of the dispenser such that the dispensing outlet of the dispenser is received within the adapter. The beverage additive unit is removably connectable to the adapter unit, and can be replaced upon user demand. For example, when different additives are desired, the user can remove one beverage additive unit from the system and replace it by another without the needs to disassemble the dispenser. Further, as will be described below, the system permits physical separation between the beverage additive unit and the beverage dispensing outlet, thus avoiding the need to clean the dispensing outlet or dispensing line of the dispenser as no residues or leftover additives remain in the flow system of the dispenser.

The beverage additive unit comprises an additive container that holds the additive, typically in liquid form (e.g. a suspension, a solution, and emulsion, a microemulsion, a pure ingredient in liquid form), a dosing unit that is in fluid communication with the additive container, and an actuation member for operating the dosing unit and dispensing a dose of the additive from the container into an additive dispensing nozzle which is in liquid communication with the additive container.

In some embodiments, the beverage additive unit comprises a pump unit that has an pump inlet in liquid communication with the additive container and a pump outlet. The pump has an operative state and a rest state, the pump being biased to the rest state, e.g. by a biasing spring. The pump outlet is in fluid communication with the additive dispensing nozzle, that may be positioned adjacent the outlet of the beverage dispenser.

The actuation member is operable for switching the pump from the rest state to the operative state.

A non-limiting example of the pump unit is a dosing pump; however, other types of pumps may be contemplated to be within the scope of the present disclosure, e.g. an electrically-controlled pump.

The pump unit, by some embodiments, may comprise a piston member that fitted within a piston bore, in which the piston can axially reciprocate. The piston member has a piston plug at a front end of a hollow shaft, the hollow shaft has a front orifice defined in the piston plug and a rear opening defining said pump outlet. A dosing cavity is defined between the pump inlet and the piston plug, the front orifice of the piston member opens into the dosing cavity. The piston member can axially reciprocate between a forward position, corresponding to the operative state, in which the front face of the piston plug is adjacent the pump inlet, and a rearward position corresponding to the rest state. The piston member is biased to the rearward position.

The transition of the piston member from the rearward position (corresponding to the rest state of the pump unit) to the forward position (corresponding to the operative state of the pump unit) is enabled by the actuation member, that is rigidly linked to a rear portion of the pump unit; axially pressing the actuation member causes axial movement of the piston member, thus displacing it from the rearward position to the forward position. Such actuation may, by some embodiments, be user-operated (e.g. by pressing a user-operated button).

As the dosing cavity is defined between the pump inlet and the piston plug of the piston member, axially displacing the piston member changes the volume of the dosing cavity. When the dosing cavity is filled with additive, as will be explained below, pressing onto the actuation member and displacing the piston member to its forward position will cause the additive to be dispensed out of the cavity through the front orifice, into the hollow shaft.

As the dosing cavity is defined between the pump inlet and the piston plug of the piston member, axially displacing the piston member changes the volume of the dosing cavity. When the dosing cavity is filled with additive, as will be explained below, pressing onto the actuation member and displacing the piston member to its forward position will cause reduction in volume of the cavity, causing the additive to be forced out of the cavity through the front orifice, into the hollow shaft, and from there to the pump outlet. When the piston member is displaced back to its rearward position, the cavity increases in volume, permitting a new dose of additive to be drawn into the cavity from the additive container through the pump inlet.

In some embodiments, the front orifice may have a dimeter that is smaller than that of the pump inlet. This difference in diameters may cause formation of a pressure gradient along the cavity when the piston member is displaced from the forward to the rearward position. Such a pressure gradient causes a drawing effect, causing the liquid additive to flow from the additive container into the cavity.

The pump inlet may comprise a seat portion that is configured to reactive a flow restricting element, which is displaceable to a seat-engaging position when the piston member is at its forward position. When in its forward position, the flow restricting element is pushed against the seat, thus blocking flow of additive from the container into the pump cavity. When the piston is at its rearward position, the flow restricting element is biased to a seat disengaged position by the pressure gradient formed along the cavity due to the difference in diameter between the pump inlet and the front orifice of the piston member. Thus, when the piston member is at its rearward position, flow of additive from the container into the pump cavity is permitted and induced by said pressure gradient.

The additive container may be rigid, i.e. having a defined constant volume.

However, in other embodiments, the additive container may be elastic or semi- elastic. In cases where the additive container is elastic (or semi-elastic), the dosing unit may comprise a plunger that has a proximal end associated with the actuation member and a distal end in contact with a wall of the elastic additive container. Such a plunger may have a distal position and a proximal position, and biased to the proximal position, such that pressing on the actuation member in a distal direction will cause the plunger to elastically deform said wall thereby dispensing a dose of an additive held in the additive container. In such embodiments, the a biasing element, e.g. a helical spring, may be fitted about a shaft of the plunger, thus biasing the plunger into its proximal position.

In some embodiments, the additive container may be accommodated within the beverage additive unit in a manner that permits the additive container to be removed from the additive unit and be replaced. Alternatively, the additive container can be an integral part of the beverage additive unit, e.g. defined as an internal space within the unit. The container can be refillable. By some embodiments, the entire beverage additive unit may be disposable.

In order to enable a user to connect the beverage additive unit to the adapter unit, the beverage additive unit may, by some embodiments, comprise a connecting element for removably connecting to the adapter unit.

As noted above, the adapter unit is configured for removably fitting ono an outlet module of the beverage dispenser, thus enable the user to selectively attach various functional units, such as the beverage additive unit.

In some embodiments, the adapter unit may be configured for snap fitting onto the outlet of the beverage dispenser. The adapter unit may comprise a recess dimensioned to receive the outlet of the beverage dispenser, such that once the beverage additive unit is fitted onto the adapter, the beverage additive unit is positioned within the adapter as to not to hinder the operation of the outlet of the beverage dispenser and/or not linked to the beverage dispenser's outlet.

For this purpose, the adapter unit typically comprises an adapter opening for receiving a matching connecting element of the beverage additive unit. Once the connecting element of the beverage additive unit is fitted onto the adapter opening, the dispensing nozzle of the beverage additive unit is typically positioned adjacent the beverage outlet of the dispenser.

In another aspect, the disclosure provides a beverage additive unit for removably connecting to an outlet module of a beverage dispenser, as described herein. The beverage additive unit comprises an additive container, a pump unit having an pump inlet disposed within said additive container and a pump outlet, the pump having an operative state and a rest state, the pump being biased to the rest state, the pump outlet being in fluid communication with an additive outlet adjacent the outlet of the beverage dispenser; and an actuation member for switching the pump from said rest state to said operative state.

An adapter for removably connecting to an outlet module of a beverage dispenser to permit attachment of various functional elements to the dispenser is also an aspect of this disclosure. The adapter comprises a recess dimensioned to receive an outlet nozzle of the beverage dispenser, and an accessory opening for receiving and positioned an accessory unit substantially vertically below the outlet nozzle.

The adapter is configured to receive various accessories with different functionalities, such as the beverage additive unit disclosed herein. Another example of an accessory for attaching to the adapter is a tube that is configured to form liquid communication with an outlet of the beverage dispenser once the accessory is received in the adapter, e.g. a flexible or rigid tube, that may or may not be telescopic. Such a tube accessory functions to extend the dispensing outlet of the beverage dispenser, for example to allow filling of vessels having dimensions that do not permit fitting into or below the outlet of the beverage dispenser.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order to better understand the subject matter that is disclosed herein and to exemplify how it may be carried out in practice, embodiments will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figs. 1A-1B are, respectively, a top isometric view and a top view of a removable adapter unit according to an embodiment of this disclosure.

Figs. 2A-2B show a beverage dispenser with the adapter connected to the outlet module (Fig. 2A) and without the adapter (Fig. 2B).

Figs. 3A-3B show top isometric views of an additive unit configured for removable connection to an outlet module of a beverage dispenser via an adapter according to an embodiment of this disclosure; Fig. 3A is a front-top isometric view, Fig. 3B is a back-top isometric view.

Fig. 4A shows the additive unit of Figs. 3A-3B in a side view.

Figs. 4B-4C are cross sections of the additive unit of Fig. 4A along line IV-IV in a rest state (Fig. 4B) and an operative state (Fig. 4C).

Fig. 4D is a cross section of the unit of Fig. 4A along line IV'-IV'.

Fig. 4E is a cross section of the unit of Fig. 3A along line IV''-IV''.

Fig. 5A shows a side view of an exemplary accessory configured to be received within the adapter of Figs. 1A-1B.

Figs. 5B-5C are cross sections of the system of Fig. 5A along line V-V in a retracted state (Fig. 5B) and an extended state (Fig. 5C).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS As noted above, the present disclosure concerns systems for removably fitting onto beverage dispensers that enable a user to temporarily connect various accessories to the outlet module of a beverage dispenser, thereby providing further functionalities to the beverage dispenser.

Shown in Figs. 1A-1B is an removable adapter unit according to an embodiment of this disclosure. Adapter unit 100 is configured for removably fitting onto an outlet module of a beverage, e.g. water, dispenser. The adapter 100 comprises an outlet module receiving recess 102, that is defined in the adapter body 104. The recess 102 has an axial opening (i.e. an open end along axis 103). In this particular non-limiting example, the recess is defined by rails 106, extending generally parallel to axis 103, each having a bulging member 108 that protrudes into the opening of the recess, and configured for engaging with the walls 111 of the outlet module of the beverage dispenser (better seen in Fig. 2B), once the adapter fitted into the dispenser along the direction indicated by arrow 112.

Adapter 100 further comprises an outlet nozzle receiving space 110, that, once adapter 100 is fitted onto the outlet module, accommodates one or more outlet nozzles 113 of the beverage dispenser (as better seen in Fig. 2A). Thus, the adapter is configured for fitting onto the outlet module without interrupting the functionality of the outlet nozzle.

The adapter further comprises an accessory opening 114, positioned vertically below the outlet nozzle receiving space 110 (along axis 105). The accessory opening is configured to receive an accessory, as will be described below, such that, once received within the accessory opening, the accessory is positioned vertically below the outlet nozzle. Thus, a separation is formed between the nozzle and the accessory, such that the operation of the nozzle is not interrupted by the accessory.

As noted above, the adapter is configured to receive various accessories, each providing a different additional functionality to the outlet module.

One example of an accessory according to this disclosure is a beverage additive unit 200, generally seen in Figs. 3A-3B. Beverage additive unit 200 comprises a positioning pin 202 and a cavity 204 that is configured to engage and receive the adapter's body 104. The cavity's walls 206 are configured with internal rails 208 designed to engage with matching rails 118 formed on an outer face of the adapter, such that a sliding displacement of external rails 118 is permitted along the internal rails 208 when the additive unit is slid into the adapter unit in a direction designated by arrow 207. When the additive unit is fitted into the adapter, projections 116 formed on the outer surface of adapter body 104 are received in matching cut-outs 210 formed at a back-end of the cavity 204, thus fixing the container unit over the adapter.

Positioning pin 202 is dimensioned to be received within accessory opening 114 (seen in Fig. 2A), such that when the accessory is fitted into the adapter, the accessory is fixed in a position vertically below the outlet nozzle.

The additive unit 200 comprises an additive container 212 accommodated within the additive unit 200. The container 212 (better seen in Figs. 4B-4C) can be a separate container, i.e. a container that is made to be accommodated within the additive unit.

Alternatively, the container can be an integral part of the additive unit, e.g. defined as an internal space within the unit. The container can be refillable, e.g. via user-port 214; however it is also contemplated that the container will be sealed (without user- accessibility) in cases where the entire additive unit is disposable.

Seen in details on Figs. 4B-4C is a dosing unit utilized for metered dispensing of an additive from the additive container. The dosing unit, generally designated 220, comprises a pump assembly 222 having a pump inlet 224, connected to tubing 225 - the tip of which is disposed within the additive container 212, thus forming liquid communication between the pump assembly and the additive container. The pump assembly further comprises a pump outlet 230 (seen in Fig. 4D), connected to an additive outlet 228 defined at the bottom of the additive unit. The additive outlet 228 is designed to be located near the outlet nozzle 113 of the beverage dispenser when the additive unit is fixed within the adapter, thus permitting dosing of an additive directly into a vessel to be filled with beverage by the user, however without contact with the dispenser's beverage outlet, thus preventing undesired contamination of the beverage outlet by the additive.

The pump assembly 222 comprises a piston member 232 fitted within a piston bore 234. The piston member has a hollow shaft 236, extending along axis 238, and having a front orifice 240 and a rear opening 242 connected to the pump outlet. The front orifice 240 typically has a smaller diameter than the pump inlet 224, in order to permit formation of a pressure gradient along the cavity during operation of the pump, as will be explained below.

The pump assembly further comprising a hollow piston plug 244 attached to a front portion of the shaft with the front orifice 240 defined in a front wall of the piston plug. The pump assembly also comprises a dosing cavity 246, defined between the pump inlet 224 and the piston plug 244, with the front orifice 240 opening into the dosing cavity.

As the shaft 236 and the piston plug 224 are both hollow, a fluid flow line is formed between the pump inlet and the pump outlet, hence also between the container and the additive outlet. The piston member axially reciprocates along axis 238 between a forward position, shown in Fig. 4B and a rearward position shown in Fig. 4C.

The pump assembly 222 is rigidly connected to an actuation member 248, which is configured to axially displace in the direction of arrow 250 when pressed upon by the user. As the piston assembly is rigidly connected to the actuation member 248, pressing on the actuation member 248 will cause axial displacement of the piston member into the forward position, thus switching the pump assembly into the operative state. As seen in Fig. 4E, the actuation member 248 is also associated with a biasing member (e.g. spring 252) located within the additive unit, which biases the pump assembly into the rear position (i.e. switches the pump into its rest state when pressure is released from the actuation member).

In the exemplified embodiment, pump inlet 224 comprises a seat portion 254 that is configured to reactive a flow restricting element 256 (e.g. in the form of a ball). The flow restricting element 256 is displaceable to a seat-engaging position (shown in Fig. 4C) when the piston member 232 is at its forward position, in which the flow restricting element is pushed against the seat, thus blocking flow of additive from the container into the pump cavity. When the piston is at its rearward position, the flow restricting element 256 is biased to a seat disengaged position by the pressure gradient formed along the cavity due to the difference in diameter between the pump inlet 224 and the front orifice 240 of the piston member 232.

In operation, the transition of the piston member 232 from the rearward position (corresponding to the rest state of the pump unit) to the forward position (corresponding to the operative state of the pump unit) is enabled by the actuation member 248, that is rigidly linked to a rear portion of the pump unit; axially pressing the actuation member 248 in the direction of arrow 250 causes axial movement of the piston member 232, thus displacing it from the rearward position to the forward position.

As the dosing cavity 246 is defined between the pump inlet 242 and the piston plug 244 of the piston member 232, axially displacing the piston member changes the volume of the dosing cavity. When the dosing cavity is filled with additive, pressing onto the actuation member and displacing the piston member to its forward position will cause reduction in the volume of the cavity 246, thus forcing the additive to be dispensed out of the cavity 246 through the front orifice 240, into the hollow shaft 236, and from there to rear opening 242 that connected to the pump outlet 230. The volume reduction of the cavity due to the displacement of the piston member also forms internal pressure within the cavity, causing the flow restricting element 256 is pushed against the seat 254, thus blocking flow of additive from the container into the pump cavity.

When the piston member 232 is displaced back to its rearward position (e.g. by the biasing force of spring 252 when pressure is released from the actuation member 248), the cavity 246 increases in volume in pressure is released from the flow restricting element 256, permitting its disengagement from the seat. This permits a new dose of additive to be drawn into the cavity from the additive container 212 through the pump inlet 224 induced by the pressure gradient formed in the cavity 246 due to the difference in dimensions between the pump inlet 224 and the front orifice 240.

In this manner, the volume of the cavity 246 determines the dose of additive to be dispensed in a single cycle of operation.

Another accessory configured for fitting into the adapter is shown in Figs. 5A-5C.

In Figs. 5A-5C, adapter 300, having a structure similar to that of adapter 100, is configured for removably connecting an extension tube, generally designated 304, that is configured to form liquid communication with an outlet of the beverage dispenser once the accessory is received in the adapter. Similar to the additive unit 200, extension tube 304 is configured with a positioning pin 302 that is configured to be received in accessory opening 306 formed in adapter 300, thus positioning the accessory vertically below the beverage outlet of the dispenser. The extension tube may comprise a tube assembly 308 composed of several sections, three in this example, 308A, 308B, 308C, telescopically fitted one into the other, that permit a user to vary the length of the extension tube upon demand. Such a tube accessory functions to extend the dispensing outlet of the beverage dispenser, for example to allow filling of vessels having dimensions that do not permit fitting into or below the outlet of the beverage dispenser. It is also contemplated that the tube assembly 308 may permit a rotation displacement about axis 310 (along arrow 312).

Claims

- 12 - CLAIMS:

1. A system removably connectable to an outlet module of a beverage dispenser for dosed dispensing of an additive, the system comprising: a removable adapter unit for fitting onto said outlet module, and a beverage additive unit removably connectable to the adapter unit and comprising: an additive container, a dosing unit in fluid communication with the additive container; and an actuation member for operating the dosing unit and dispensing a dose of the additive from the container into an additive dispensing nozzle which is in liquid communication with the additive container.

2. The system of claim 1, the beverage additive unit comprising: a pump assembly having a pump inlet in liquid communication with said additive container and a pump outlet, the pump having an operative state and a rest state, the pump being biased to the rest state, the pump outlet being in fluid communication with the additive dispensing nozzle, said actuation member for switching the pump from said rest state to said operative state.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the pump assembly is a dosing pump.

4. The system of claim 3, the pump assembly comprises a piston member fitted within a piston bore, the piston member having a piston plug at a front end of a hollow shaft, the hollow shaft having a front orifice defined in the piston plug and a rear opening defining said pump outlet; and a dosing cavity, defined between the pump inlet and the piston plug, the front orifice of the piston member opening into the dosing cavity, the piston member being axially reciprocable between a forward position and a rearward position, and biased to said rearward position.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the front orifice has a dimeter smaller than that of the pump inlet.

6. The system of claim 4 or 5, wherein the pump inlet comprises a seat portion that is configured to reactive a flow restricting element, the flow restricting element being displaceable to a seat-engaging position when the piston member is at its forward position - 13 - for blocking flow of additive from the container into the pump cavity, and is biased to a seat disengaged position when the piston member is at its rearward position, permitting flow of additive from the container into the pump cavity.

7. The system of any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the actuation member is linked with a rear portion of the pump unit, whereby pressing the actuation member causes axial movement of the piston member to displace it from the rearward position to the forward position.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the actuation member is a user-operated button.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the additive container is elastic, and the dosing unit comprises a plunger having a proximal end associated with the actuation member and a distal end in contact with a wall of the additive container, the plunger having a distal position and a proximal position, and biased to the proximal position, such that pressing on the actuation member in a distal direction causes the plunger to elastically deform said wall thereby dispensing a dose of an additive held in the additive container.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein a biasing element, e.g. a helical spring, is fitted about a shaft of the plunger, biasing the plunger into said proximal position.

11. The system of any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the beverage additive unit comprises a connecting element for removably connecting to the adapter unit.

12. The system of any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the adapter unit is configured for snap fitting onto the outlet of the beverage dispenser.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the adapter unit comprises a recess dimensioned to receive the outlet of the beverage dispenser.

14. The system of claim 12 or 13, wherein the adapter unit comprises an adapter opening for receiving a matching connecting element of the beverage additive unit.

15. The system of any one of claims 1 to 14, configured to receive the beverage additive unit such that, when the beverage additive unit is received in the additive, the additive dispensing nozzle and the dispensing outlet are separated one from the other.

16. The system of any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the adapter unit is removably connectable to the outlet module of the beverage dispenser.

17. The system of any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the beverage additive unit is disposable.

18. The system of any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the additive container is configured to hold an additive in liquid form. - 14 -

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the additive is in a liquid form selected from a suspension, a solution, and emulsion, a microemulsion, a pure ingredient in liquid form .

20. The system of claim 18 or 19, wherein the additive is selected from a mineral, a flavorant, a food supplement, a flavoring concentrate, a vitamin, and a nutrient.

21. A beverage additive unit for removably connecting to an outlet module of a beverage dispenser, the unit comprising: an additive container, a pump unit having an pump inlet disposed within said additive container and a pump outlet, the pump having an operative state and a rest state, the pump being biased to the rest state, the pump outlet being in fluid communication with an additive outlet adjacent the outlet of the beverage dispenser; an actuation member for switching the pump from said rest state to said operative state.

22. An adapter for removably connecting to an outlet module of a beverage dispenser, comprising a recess dimensioned to receive the outlet module, an outlet nozzle receiving space, and an accessory opening for receiving and positioning an accessory unit substantially vertically below the outlet nozzle.

23. The adapter of claim 22 configured to receiving the beverage additive unit of claim 20.

24. The adapter of claim 22, wherein the accessory comprises a tube configured to form liquid communication with an outlet of the beverage dispenser once the accessory is received in said adapter.

25. The adapter of claim 24, wherein said tube is flexible or rigid.

26. The adapter of claim 24, wherein said tube is telescopic. For the Applicants REINHOLD COHN AND PARTNERS By: