Dispensing – Plural sources – compartment – containers and/or spaced jacket – Three or more diverse sources
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-02
2001-05-01
Shaver, Kevin (Department: 3754)
Dispensing
Plural sources, compartment, containers and/or spaced jacket
Three or more diverse sources
C222S129100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06223948
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to dispensing equipment and, more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to an additive injector assembly for introducing additive flavoring to a base beverage dispensed from a beverage dispenser.
2. Description of the Related Art
Beverage dispensers provide a wide variety of beverages by combining beverage fluids. Typically, concentrate is combined with diluent to form a beverage of choice or “base beverage”. For example, juice, coffee, and punch concentrate is combined with water as the diluent so that a beverage dispenser may provide juice, coffee, and punch therefrom, respectively. Similarly, cola flavored beverage flavored syrup is combined with carbonated water as the diluent to obtain a cola flavored carbonated beverage.
Specifically, concentrate and diluent beverage fluids are each drawn from a respective beverage fluid source by a pump. Each beverage fluid is carried by a separate beverage fluid line from the beverage fluid source to a dispensing valve assembly. Beverage fluids are then combined as they pass through a nozzle assembly provided by the dispensing valve assembly to form the base beverage.
Increasing consumer demands for convenience, personalized service, and expediency now require that beverage dispensers provide additive flavoring or “condiments” for the base drink dispensed, such as cream for coffee as well as cherry, vanilla or chocolate flavoring to be added to cola to create an old fashioned, soda fountain-style beverage. Unfortunately, as evidenced in prior art, past attempts to satisfy these consumer demands has imposed unreasonable economic burdens on the industry in terms of manufacturing and maintaining such condiment dispensing beverage dispensers.
In particular, U.S. Pat. No. 2,880,912, which issued to Fisher and is entitled “System for Dispensing Flavored Beverages”, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,960,997, which issued to Forsythe and is entitled “Beverage Dispensing Apparatus”, each provide a highly specialized beverage dispenser for dispensing condiments. Costs are higher for manufacturing this specialty item apart from standard beverage dispensers. Moreover, standard beverage dispenser owners must undergo added expenses of purchasing another beverage dispenser only for the option of providing condiments for a base beverage.
Furthermore, current beverage dispensers that dispense condiments unfavorably feature exposed parts, such as the Forsythe application as well as U.S. Pat. No. 2,949,933, which issued to Adler and is entitled “Dispensing Machines”. If not properly maintained, dirt, grime, and potentially hazardous microorganisms can accumulate on these exposed parts, thereby compromising the health of consumers.
Accordingly, there is a long felt need for a low cost, low maintenance additive injector that integrates with existing beverage dispensers for delivering condiments thereto.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, a beverage dispenser system includes a dispensing valve and an additive injector assembly linked with the dispensing valve. The additive injector assembly includes an injector unit for introducing additive flavoring, drawn from an additive flavoring source, to beverage fluid passing through the additive injector assembly from the dispensing valve. Moreover, a nozzle assembly linked with the additive injector assembly is provided by the beverage dispenser system for receiving beverage fluid and additive flavoring from the additive injector assembly. A base beverage with additive flavoring is thus dispensed from the beverage dispenser system via the nozzle assembly.
As such, the preferred additive injector assembly is configured to be incorporated with a well known beverage dispenser. The additive injector assembly is self-cleaning in that any residual additive flavoring is washed out of the injector unit by beverage fluid passing therethrough.
The injector unit of the additive injector assembly includes a mixing chamber, whereby additive flavoring is combined with beverage fluid passing through the additive injector assembly without exposure to the surrounding external environment. The injector unit includes an injector body whereby the injector body may form the mixing chamber. Inasmuch, the dispensing valve is secured to the injector body. The injector body, in turn, is secured to the nozzle assembly.
The injector body includes a condiment inlet for receiving additive flavoring from an additive flavoring source. The additive injector assembly may include a condiment line linked with the additive flavoring source and with the injector body for delivering additive flavoring to the injector unit. Moreover, a fitting secured to and in communication with the condiment inlet may be provided for coupling the condiment line with the injector body.
A condiment inlet passageway extending from the condiment inlet through the injector body to the mixing chamber is provided by the injector body to deliver additive flavoring from the additive flavoring source to the mixing chamber. The injector body may include a plurality of condiment inlets and corresponding inlet passageways.
In the preferred embodiment, a beverage dispenser system includes a dispensing valve for discharging a first stream and a second stream of beverage fluid therefrom. An additive injector assembly linked with the dispensing valve is provided for introducing additive flavoring to the first stream of beverage fluid passing through the additive injector assembly from the dispensing valve. The beverage dispenser system includes a nozzle assembly linked with the additive injector assembly for receiving the second stream and the first stream of additive flavoring from the additive injector assembly. Arising from the combination of the second stream and the first stream with additive flavoring, an additive flavoring enhanced base beverage is thus dispensed from the beverage dispenser system via the nozzle assembly. Additionally, the beverage dispenser system may include a bypass linker linked with the dispensing valve and with the nozzle assembly for directing the second stream of beverage fluid from the dispensing valve to the nozzle assembly.
In accordance with the present invention, a method for introducing additive flavoring to beverage fluid includes linking an additive injector assembly with a beverage dispenser system. Beverage fluid for forming a base beverage is passed through the beverage dispenser system. Additive flavoring is introduced to the beverage fluid passing through the additive injector via the injector unit described above. As such, additive flavoring is combined with the beverage fluid in the mixing chamber.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a beverage dispenser system and an associated method for introducing additive flavoring to beverage fluid.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a low cost, low maintenance additive injector assembly that integrates with existing beverage dispensers for delivering additive flavoring thereto.
Still other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become evident to those skilled in the art in light of the following.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4753370 (1988-06-01), Rudick
patent: 5725125 (1998-03-01), Bessette et al.
Cartagena Meg
Lancer Partnership, Ltd
Makay Christopher L.
Shaver Kevin
LandOfFree
Additive injector for a dispensing valve does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Additive injector for a dispensing valve, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Additive injector for a dispensing valve will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2517268