Dispensing – Processes of dispensing
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-30
2003-02-25
Kaufman, Joseph A. (Department: 3754)
Dispensing
Processes of dispensing
C222S153050, C222S481500, C222S568000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06523720
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to dispensing consumable liquids, and more particularly to bottles and containers for dispensing such liquids in bar and restaurant service, and methods of their manufacture and use.
BACKGROUND
Speed and convenience are very important considerations for bar service, and bartenders typically have at their disposal a rack behind the bar for holding frequently used alcoholic spirits and mixes. Appropriately, this rack is called a “speed rack”, and is sized to accept standard size alcoholic bottles
14
.
FIG. 1
shows a speed rack
10
mounted behind a bar
12
and stocked with several alcoholic bottles
14
and washable plastic container bottles
16
for convenient repetitive access. For fruit juices and other perishable consumables, some ice wells
18
feature a top having openings for holding juice containers
20
on ice. So that speed rack bottles need not be reopened repetitively, and to aid in pouring controlled amounts, both alcoholic bottles
14
and washable plastic bottles
16
are equipped with vented pour spouts. In the case of the reusable plastic containers
16
, the pour spouts typically have a molded plastic neck portion
22
that accepts a color-coded spout tip portion
24
. Their neck portions
22
(see also
FIG. 3
) unscrew from the bodies
26
of the containers for filling and cleaning. Such empty, reusable speed rack containers
16
are available from Carlisle FoodService Products, in Oklahoma City, Okla., for example, and are available with bodies of several diameters and lengths, all designed to accept a common pour spout neck with an 89-400 SPI (Society of Plastics Industry) thread. Containers
16
are generally employed for dispensing mixes and other beverages that are either mixed on site or purchased in retail or bulk form, such as canned or bottled fruit juices.
Improvements in speed, convenience and sanitation in dispensing beverages at bar service facilities are always needed, as well as are reductions in cost and waste.
SUMMARY
The invention features a bottle for holding consumable liquids for commercial food service (e.g., bar service). According to one aspect of the invention, the bottle has a body that defines an inner cavity and has a neck extending to an opening. The neck of the bottle defines a first thread adapted to receive a cap to seal the cavity. The bottle also defines a second thread, of a diameter larger than the first thread, adapted to mate with a thread of a threaded pour spout to retain the pour spout on the bottle for serving liquids from the bottle cavity.
In some embodiments, the bottle is combined with a consumable liquid disposed within the cavity, and a cap releasably retained to cover the opening to seal the liquid within the bottle. In some cases the consumable liquid is perishable, in which cases the bottle is preferably heat-sealed with the perishable liquid within the cavity. The perishable liquid may comprise a fruit juice or a drink mix, for example. For some perishable liquids, a removable foil seal is provided across the opening of the bottle beneath the cap, to seal the liquid within the bottle.
Various sealing means are featured in various embodiments. These include a rib extending about the periphery of the neck of the bottle and adapted to engage an inner surface of the pour spout to form a seal between the bottle and pour spout with the pour spout mounted on the bottle; a rib extending outward from an end face of the bottle from which the neck of the bottle extends, the rib adapted to engage an inner face of the pour spout to form a seal between the bottle and pour spout with the pour spout mounted on the bottle; a recess defined within an end face of the bottle from which the neck of the bottle extends, for accommodating a rib extending from an inner face of the pour spout; a gasket seal affixed to an end face of the bottle from which the neck of the bottle extends, the gasket seal adapted to engage an inner face of the pour spout to form a seal between the bottle and pour spout with the pour spout mounted on the bottle; and an end face from which the neck of the bottle extends and that tapers outwardly in its outer region to engage and seal against an inner face of the pour spout.
For some preferred applications, the second thread is of a nominal 89-millimeter diameter to fit a standard speed rack pour spout. The first thread is preferably of a nominal diameter of between about 15 and 65 millimeters, more preferably between about 24 and 53 millimeters, and most preferably either about 38 or 43 millimeters.
The bottle is preferably sized to fit within a bar service speed rack. For example, some preferred embodiments of the bottle have a major outer dimension (e.g., a base diameter) of less than about 4.25 inches
(108
millimeters).
The bottle is preferably formed of thermoplastic resin and adapted to be disposed after use. The resin of the bottle may be selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terpthalate, polyvinyl chloride, nylon, ethylene vinyl alcohol, and their copolymers and co-extrusions. One material presently preferred for many applications is polyethylene terpthalate. Another presently preferred material is a co-extrusion of polypropylene and ethylene vinyl alcohol.
According to another aspect of the invention, a container of consumable and perishable liquids for commercial food service or retail sale has a body defining an inner cavity and a large diameter opening sealed across with a removable seal, and a quantity of consumable and perishable liquid heat-sealed within the cavity. The large diameter opening of the container has an 89-millimeter nominal diameter thread adapted to mate directly with a corresponding thread of a standard bar service pour spout, for serving the liquid in multiple quantities directly from the container.
According to a third aspect of the invention, a method of forming a disposable bottle for holding consumable liquid is provided. The method comprises the steps of injection-molding from thermoplastic resin a preform in the form of a tube sealed at one end and having molded threads about its other end; placing the molded preform in a mold, with the sealed end of the preform extending through an opening into a cavity of the mold, the cavity shaped to form outer surfaces of the bottle and a large diameter thread on the outer surface of the bottle at an end of the bottle near the opening; clamping the threaded end of the preform in the opening to seal the cavity; heating the preform tube; and blowing air into the heated preform tube through its threaded end to cause the tube to expand and fill the mold cavity to form the bottle with the large diameter thread. The steps of clamping and heating, for instance, can be performed in any order in accordance with specific process parameters.
In some instances the step of injection-molding forms a rib extending about the tube preform near its threaded end, the rib adapted to locate the preform in the opening of the mold during the placing step, and to form a seal against an inner surface of a pour spout during use of the bottle to dispense consumable liquids.
According to a fourth aspect of the invention, a method of distributing consumable liquids is provided. The method comprises distributing to bar service providers filled bottles according to the first aspect of the invention, and informing the bar service providers that the second thread of the bottles is useful for retaining a pour spout on the bottle during use.
According to a fifth aspect of the invention, a method of serving drinks is provided. The method comprises the steps of removing the cap from a filled bottle according to the first aspect of the invention; attaching a pour spout to the bottle at its second thread; and tilting the bottle to pour an amount of the consumable liquid from the bottle into a glass.
The invention provides a useful container construction for dispensing consumable liquid contents, with an integral thread that can be designed to mate directly with a thread of a standard
Kaufman Joseph A.
Ocean Spray Cranberries Inc.
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