WO2016164271A1

WO2016164271A1 - Non-powered portable dispenser

Info

Publication number: WO2016164271A1
Application number: PCT/US2016/025598
Authority: WO
Inventors: Pranav SHEEL; Chandrakanth VASUDEV; Mysore Nagendra SRINATH
Original assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
Priority date: 2015-04-06
Filing date: 2016-04-01
Publication date: 2016-10-13

Abstract

A portable beverage dispenser unit (100) may include an outer insulation layer (1), at least one housing unit (2) encapsulated within the outer insulation layer (1), one or more sections (3) formed within the housing unit (2), the sections (3) sized and shaped to hold at least one beverage container (4) in an inverted position, and the beverage container (4) is encapsulated within a phase change material (PCM) jacket (10), before the beverage container is placed inside the sections (3) of the housing unit (2).

Description

NON-POWERED PORTABLE DISPENSER

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to dispensers and more particularly, relates to a non-powered portable dispenser for storing and dispensing beverages and a method thereof.

BACKGROUND

Beverages of all kinds - carbonated, flavored, energy drinks, etc., are common forms of drinks that are liked and consumed in day to day life by every age group either at work, home, or a market place, etc. To keep up with the competition, the beverage industry must continuously adapt to the increasing and diverse demands of the consumers and must adopt new and effective strategies in expanding their market space. Generally, beverages are available in containers (PET, glass, cans, or the like) of fixed sizes; for example 300 ml, 500 ml, and 2 liters to accommodate consumer requirements. These containers are sold for individual consumption at retail outlets and grocery stores where the beverage is purchased and can be easily carried by the consumers and disposed of after use. In other public places like movie theatres, shopping complexes, airports, etc., the beverage industry, in addition to outlets that sell the beverages, also has set up vending machines that carry beverages in cans and/or bottles of various sizes and will dispense them on demand and upon payment into a currency/coin slot in the vending machine itself. Additionally, beverage companies have deployed dispending units at various outlets that have the ability to dispense one or more beverages in different quantities depending upon the requirement of the user. For example, outlets such as McDonald's^® restaurants serve Coca-Cola^® beverages in small, medium, and large cups based on the requirement of the user. The biggest challenge of selling beverages to consumers through any one of the above described channels is that the vending machines, dispensing units, vendor locations are stationary and require the consumer desiring the beverage to approach the location of these channels in order to purchase and consume the beverage. Understandably, such efforts from the consumer are not feasible every time due to proximity to the location (or lade thereof) and/or availability in a certain location.

A further drawback with the existing method of beverage selling is that all machines dispensing the beverage for immediate consumption require electricity or some power source for refrigeration in order to keep the beverage cool. In many countries, where the electricity supply is inconsistent, continuous supply of electricity to vending machines, cooling refrigerators, and the like is uncertain, resulting in the inability of the consumer to fulfill their desire of consuming a good quality beverage at a preferred temperature. Further, the beverage also may not be available in the quantity desired by the consumer and, therefore, this may result in the loss of sales.

Accordingly, a need exits in taking the point-of-sale to the consumer instead of bringing the consumer to the point-of-sale. While one can deploy sales person with beverages containers, who can move around and can approach the needy person to serve the beverage; however in such a solution is not manpower friendly as there is no physical ease of carrying of such beverage containers in crowded place to meet the demand for the beverages. Additionally, the supply has to be based on the size of the bottle/can and individual demands for a different quantity cannot be met. Further, there is no proper provision for keeping the beverage insulated and at cool temperature for a longer duration without relying on electricity for maintaining the temperature of the beverages. More importantly, once the quantities at hand are exhausted, the sales person has to return to the original source to refill and must traverse the same ground thereby only working within a limited area. Currently, there are no products available in the market, which are adopted by the beverage companies to overcome the above challenges.

Thus, the need exists for a beverage dispenser unit that can make beverages available to the consumer on the move, on demand, at varying quantities, and at optimum temperature and carbonation without relying upon an electricity source, while making the beverages affordable. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an objective of the present invention to provide a portable beverage dispenser unit for storing and dispensing beverages on the move carried by a human or a carrier. It is another objective of the present invention to provide a portable beverage dispenser unit and method for storing and maintaining the temperature of the beverage for a longer duration and having improved heat insulation layers. It is yet another objective of the present invention to provide a portable beverage dispenser unit, which can be light-weight so to enable easy carrying of dispenser for a longer duration. The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawings described hereinafter. It is to be appreciated that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting in its scope. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 illustrates a beverage dispenser unit in accordance with the present invention;

Figures 2a, 2b illustrate the top view and side view depiction of a single bottle beverage dispenser unit according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 3 illustrates the top view of the two bottle beverage dispenser unit according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 illustrates a Phase Change Material (PCM) jacket in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 5 illustrates the pockets of the phase change material (PCM) jacket in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 6 illustrates the Temperature Retention Test Results of the beverage dispenser unit; and Figure 7 illustrates the beverage dispenser unit's Temperature Retention Test - Testing Conditions.

Figure 8 depicts an exemplary carrying of the beverage dispenser unit in accordance with the present invention; and

Figure 9 illustrates the method of preparing the beverage dispenser unit for dispensing the beverages. A more complete understanding of the present invention and its embodiments thereof may be acquired by referring to the following description and the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The dispenser unit in accordance with the present invention overcomes the disadvantages associated with what is known in the art and as identified hereinabove. The present invention provides a beverage dispenser unit which can be used with one or more beverage containers, keeps the beverage containers at cooler temperature for a longer time duration, with optimum insulation from heat, the beverage dispenser unit being light and easily carried by a human or any other suitable carrier and capable of dispensing beverages in variable quantities.

With reference to the drawings, Figure 1 illustrates an embodiment of a beverage dispenser unit (100) in accordance with the present invention, wherein the beverage dispenser unit (100) unit may include an outer insulation layer (1), one or more beverage container housing units (2), at least one section (3) disposed within each housing unit (2), a beverage container (4) disposed within the section (3) and insulated with a phase change material (PCM) jacket (10) and a tap system (5) with a tap lever (6). The outer insulation layer (1) provides an enclosure and is made up of plastic, sheet material, or cloth that holds all the dispenser parts together and provides structural integrity and rigidity. The outer insulation layer (1) can be of various shapes and sizes. The housing unit (2) is disposed within the enclosure formed by the outer insulation layer (1) and the housing unit (2) may include at least one section (3) for holding a beverage container. As illustrated in figure 1, the exemplary beverage dispenser unit may include one housing unit made up of one section (3). The beverage container (4) is capable of being disposed within the section (3). In the exemplary embodiment, the beverage container (4) is disposed in an inverted position with the container opening facing downwards. In order to maintain the temperate of beverage container at cooler temperature for longer duration, the beverage container is encompassed in a phase change material (PCM) jacket (10) before placing the beverage container in the appropriate section (3) of the housing unit (2). The detailed embodiment of the PCM jacket is elaborated below with reference to Figures 3 and 4.

In an embodiment, the beverage container is one of a PET bottle of 2 liter size and the size of the PCM jacket is in accordance with the size and shape of the beverage container. In a further embodiment, the PCM jacket varies in size and shape so as to encompass the beverage container according to the requirement of the dispenser unit.

Once inserted in the section of the housing unit, the opening of the inverted beverage container (4) is connected to a tap system (5) including a tap lever (6). The tap system (5) is connected to the lower section of housing (2) and the tap system (5) ensures that the carbonation levels of the beverage inside the beverage container (4) meets retention requirement. The tap lever (6) is connected to the tap system (5), and when being pressed down releases the carbonated beverages from the beverage container through a spout (7). The tap system preferably may include a nozzle, wherein the beverage dispenser unit facilitates the attachment of the nozzle or a portion of the nozzle to the opening of the beverage container and facilitates the installation of the beverage container in an inverted position. In an embodiment, a tap dock is provided as a separate unit, which can be fixed to the opening of the beverage container before it is housed in the section of the housing unit. During operation, upon removal of beverage container's cap, the tap dock is screwed on the beverage container and the container is placed in inverted position in the section (3) so that said nozzle of the dispenser unit is attached and locked to the tap dock. The nozzle facilitates operational connection of the beverage container with the tap system while preventing any leakage or spillage of the beverage. It also facilitates venting of the beverage container while pouring a beverage. The dispenser unit of the present invention is not limited to the tap system as illustrated and other suitable tap system for dispensing the beverage from the container can be connected as known to a person skilled in the art.

The peripheral surface of outer insulation layer (1) further may include a cup holding mechanism that includes a cup holder (8), for holding the disposable cups used for serving the beverages. Further, the upper portion of housing unit (2) is covered with a lid (9). In an embodiment, the lid is made of up insulating material such as PUF, heatlon or XPE which provides an additional layer of insulation.

Figure 2a illustrates a top view of an exemplary embodiment of the housing unit (2) that is capable of holding one beverage container encompassed in the PCM jacket (10). As illustrated, the housing unit (2) may include a section (3), which holds a beverage container (4) in the inverted position encompassed in the PCM jacket (10). In an embodiment, the section (3) can be sized and shaped to hold beverage containers of varying sizes and shapes.

Figure 2b illustrates a side view of a proposed dispenser unit with disengaged units. As depicted in figure 2b, the outer insulation layer (1) is sized to encapsulate a housing unit (2) with a section (3), which is sized and shaped to hold a single beverage container in an inverted position. Further, the beverage container is encapsulated within a PCM jacket (10) and the beverage container tightly covered by PCM jacket is placed inside the section (3) of the housing (2).

Figure 3 illustrates a top view of an exemplary embodiment of the housing unit (2), which is capable of holding two beverage containers encompassed in the PCM jacket (10). As illustrated, the section (3) of the housing unit (2) may include at least a first section (3') and a second section (3"), the sections (3', 3") sized and shaped to hold at least one beverage container in an inverted position encompassed in the PCM jacket (10). In an embodiment, the sections (3', 3") can be sized and shaped to hold beverage containers of varying sizes and shapes. In an embodiment, the housing unit (2) is made up of material which makes the dispenser lightweight to carry and the material may be one of plastic, sheet metal, fabric, cardboard, wood etc. Figure 4 illustrates an exemplary PCM jacket (10) being used with the beverage container for maintaining the temperature of the beverage container within a specified range. The PCM jacket (10) is a cylindrical enclosure made up of flexible material. In an exemplary embodiment, the PCM jacket (10) is made up of water resistant cloth jacket. The PCM jacket is sized and shaped to hold a beverage container of specific shape and size depending upon the requirement of the dispenser unit. The said PCM jacket has two openings (11, 12), which are disposed opposite to each other. The opening (11) is appropriately sized to allow a beverage container to be inserted and placed inside the PCM jacket. Further, the opening (12) is appropriately sized to encompass the beverage container cap portion. As shown in figure 3, the PCM jacket (10) encompasses the beverage container inside and is sized to closely hug the container holding the beverage.

The PCM jacket (10) further may include a number of pockets (13) disposed in the inner portion of jacket. One or more pockets (13) are formed in the inner portion of the PCM jacket (10) at predetermined positions. In a preferred embodiment, the pockets can be longitudinal pockets extending along the inner portion of said PCM jacket from the opening (11) to the opening (12). In an embodiment, multiple longitudinal pockets (13) are formed circumferentially distanced from each other and extending from the opening (11) to the opening (12). As illustrated in Figure 5, the pocket (13) formed in the inner portion of PCM jacket (10) has an opening (14) which allows insertion of a pouch (15) inside the pocket. The pouch (15) as inserted inside the pocket contacts the surface of beverage container inside the PCM jacket when the PCM jacket encompasses the beverage container. The pouch (15) contains a PCM material which, when in contact with the beverage container, maintains the cool temperature of the beverage container.

In an exemplary embodiment, the pouches (15) are a nylon pouches that contain a salt solution, and particularly, a water based salt solution. The salt decides the temperature at which the solution freezes. In one configuration, the PCM material is enclosed in nylon laminate (150 micron) pouches and the recommended weight of the PCM material in each jacket is 440gms. Temperate retention below 4° C for four hours is possible with 330 gms of PCM and similar level of insulation. The freezing temperature of the PCM material is 1°C, which ensures that the beverage in contact remains chilled but does not freeze.

Figure 6 shows the temperature retention test results (performed in a certified environmental chamber) of a single bottle embodiment of the invention. The duration of the test is approximately 6 hours and that the initial and final temperatures are 1.6°C and 2.5°C respectively.

Figure 7 shows the ambient testing conditions inside the certified environmental chamber while testing for temperature retention capabilities of a single bottle embodiment of the invention. The ambient temperature is approximately 40°C and that the relative humidity is approximately 75%.

Figure 8 illustrates a human carrying the dispenser unit with a strap tied on to the shoulders. It is preferred to keep the overall weight of the dispenser light so that the human carrier can hold it for longer duration. In an embodiment, the dispenser unit is removably mounted on a carrier, the carrier is one of light motor vehicle, a bicycle of the like.

The outer insulation layer (1) with the encapsulating enclosure as discussed above with reference to figure 1 forms the bag that is carried by the human in figure 7. The bag is connected to the straps, in any manner known to a person skilled in the art that enables the carrier to wrap it around the shoulders or the waist to carry the complete dispenser unit. In a further embodiment, the thickness of the insulation layer (1) is at least 20 mm so as to provide the dispenser sufficient structural rigidity. Generally, the insulation comes in pre-fabricated pipe section and sheets, which makes it easy to combine it into a cloth bag. In a most preferred embodiment, the use of cloth and the low density of insulation make the overall dispenser unit very light. A further objective of the present invention is to provide a sufficient insulation from the heat from the outside environment. The outer insulation layer (1) which forms the bag provides sufficient insulation from the heat from outside environment. In an embodiment of the present invention, the outer insulation layer (1) is made up of insulation material that is chemically cross linked closed cell fire retardant polythene. In a preferred embodiment, the density of the insulated material is 30 +/- 3 kg per meter cube and the thermal conductivity is as below (unit w/mK).

Figure 9 illustrates an exemplary method of preparing the beverage dispenser unit for dispensing the beverages. In step 100, a pre-cooled beverage container is obtained from a cooler. In step 200, a pre-frozen PCM jacket is obtained from a freezer and the pre-cooled beverage container is inserted into the frozen PCM jacket. In step 300, the cap of the beverage container is opened and a tap dock is screwed on the beverage container. In step 400, the beverage container is inserted into the sections of the housings in inverted position, so that the nozzle of the dispenser is attached and locked to the tap dock. In step 500, the housing is closed using the lid and is installed in the carrying bag forming the outer insulation layer. In step 600, the tap system is operated to dispense the beverage from beverage container. The dispenser unit of the present invention maintains the beverage at or below 4°C for up to 7 hours at ambient temperatures of up to 40°C and relative humidity around 75%.

While the form of apparatus herein described constitutes a preferred embodiment of this invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this precise form of apparatus, and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS We claim:

1. A portable beverage dispenser unit (100), comprising:

an outer insulation layer (1);

at least one housing unit (2) encapsulated within the outer insulation layer (1); one or more sections (3) formed within the housing unit (2), the sections (3) sized and shaped to hold at least one beverage container (4) in an inverted position; and

the beverage container (4) is encapsulated within a phase change material (PCM) jacket (10), before the beverage container is placed inside the section (3) of the housing unit (2).

2. The dispenser unit (100) as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a tap system (5) mounted at the lower portion of the housing unit (2) and connected to the cap portion of the beverage container (4).

3. The dispenser unit (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the tap system (5) includes a tap lever (6), the tap lever (6) actuating the flow of beverage from the beverage container.

4. The dispenser unit (100) as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a cup holder (8) for holding one or more disposable cups for serving the beverages.

5. The dispenser unit (100) as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a lid (9) for covering the housing unit (2).

6. The dispenser unit (100) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the outer insulation layer (1) forms the bag that encapsulates the housing unit.

7. The dispenser unit (100) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the housing unit is provided with at least one strap that facilitates carrying the dispenser unit.

8. The dispenser unit (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the PCM jacket

(10) forms an enclosure and comprises at least two openings (11, 12), wherein the opening

(11) allows the beverage container to be inserted within the PCM jacket and the opening

(12) is sized to accommodate the beverage container cap portion.

9. The dispenser unit (100) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the PCM jacket (10) further comprises one or more pockets (13) that are sized to hold a pouch (15), the pouch (15) containing a PCM material.

10. The dispenser unit (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the PCM jacket is made up of a water resistant cloth jacket.

11. The dispenser unit (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the section (3) comprises at least a first section (3') and a second section (3"), each section sized and shaped to hold at least one beverage container in an inverted position.

12. A PCM jacket (10) adapted to cover a beverage container, comprising: an enclosure made up of flexible material;

at least two openings (11, 12), wherein the opening (11) allows the beverage container to be inserted within the PCM jacket and the opening (12) is sized to accommodate the beverage container cap portion; and

the PCM jacket (10) further comprises one or more pockets (13) that are sized to hold a pouch (15), wherein the pouch (15) contains a phase change material (PCM).

13. The dispenser (100) as claimed in claim 12, wherein the PCM jacket (10) is made up of a water resistant cloth jacket.

14. The PCM jacket as claimed in claim 12, wherein the pouch (15) is made up of a nylon laminate and contains a water based salt solution.

15. A method for preparing the beverage dispenser unit for dispensing the beverages, comprising the steps of:

obtaining (100) a pre-cooled beverage container;

obtaining (200) a pre-frozen PCM jacket and inserting the pre-cooled beverage container into the frozen PCM jacket;

inserting (400) the frozen PCM jacket encapsulating the pre-cooled beverage container into the section of the housing in inverted position;

connecting the tap system of the dispenser with the cap portion of the beverage container;

closing (500) the housing unit with the lid; and

encapsulating (500) the housing unit within outer insulation layer.