Dispensing – Drip – leakage or waste catching or disposal
Patent
1998-07-20
1999-10-19
Shaver, Kevin P.
Dispensing
Drip, leakage or waste catching or disposal
141 88, 141 94, 222113, 362 96, 362101, F21V 3300
Patent
active
059673710
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to beverage dispensing apparatus in particular, but not exclusively, dispensing apparatus for dispensing beer or the like.
Beer dispensers conventionally include an outlet, usually in the form of a nozzle, and a tap or other means by which beer is discharged from the nozzle. A beverage container or beer glass is located under the outlet and a support may be provided for the container, the support usually including a drip tray for spillage during dispensing. Conventionally the drip tray is located below the level of the bar counter and the view of the glass into which the beverage is dispensed is obscured from the customer side of the counter.
It has been proposed in FR-A-2465154 to illuminate a beverage container by providing a light source under the container so that the light from said source is directed upwardly into the container. It has also been proposed to incorporate switch means so that the light source operates only when a beverage container is in place.
An object of the invention is to provide beverage dispensing apparatus incorporating a light source.
According to the invention beverage dispensing apparatus comprises a beverage dispensing outlet, a support for a beverage container, spillage collection means associated with the support, a light source incorporated in the support and arranged to direct light towards a beverage container when located on the support, wherein the support has an upwardly directed portion on which the beverage container is arranged to be supported and the light source is arranged to direct light from said portion.
Preferably the spillage collection means surrounds said support and is arranged to collect any spilled beverage below said support.
Conveniently the spillage collection means is an open topped container surrounding said support.
The support may include a transparent upper portion through which said light source directs light upwardly through the base of a beverage container.
The light source may include a switch arranged to be actuated by the location of a beverage container on the support whereby light from the light source is transmitted when a container is located on the support.
The apparatus may be arranged to be located at a bar counter having a serving surface so that the dispensing outlet is located above said surface and said support is located substantially at the level of said surface.
The light source may be a light bulb located in said support. Alternatively the light source may be an optic fibre with the light directed to said support.
The light source may include light emitting means remote from the support with the light directed to the support by light reflecting means.
Further features of the invention will appear from the following description of embodiments of the invention given by way of example only and with reference to the drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a schematic side elevation of beverage dispensing apparatus,
FIG. 2 is a plan view on the line 2--2 in FIG. 1,
FIG. 3 is a schematic side elevation corresponding to FIG. 1 showing an alternative light source, and
FIG. 4 is a schematic side elevation corresponding to FIG. 1 with a further light source.
Referring to the drawings and firstly to FIGS. 1 and 2, beer dispensing apparatus 10 is shown arranged to be associated with a bar counter 11 having an upper surface 12. Preferably the apparatus 10 is clamped to the bar counter in known manner. It will be seen that the dispensing apparatus 10 extends upwards above the level of the bar counter surface 12.
The apparatus 10 includes a discharge arrangement for beer or other beverages comprising an upstanding member 13 through which the beverage is ducted and an arm 14 extending outwards and carrying a control valve or tap 15 towards its outer end. The tap 15 includes a nozzle 16 through which the beverage is dispensed.
Under the tap 15 is located a support 18 for a beverage container 19, which is usually in the form of a transparent glass.
The support 18 incorporates a central circular support member 20 on which the ba
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Charles Wells Limited
Shaver Kevin P.
LandOfFree
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