Method and apparatuses for providing a selectable beverage

• US 10,046,959 B2
• Filed: 08/22/2014
• Issued: 08/14/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
• Original Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
• Inventors: Rudick, Arthur G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nicolas, Frederick C
• Application Number:
  US14/465,976
• Publication Number:
  US 20140361035A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,453 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0021 the components being mixed at the time of dispensing, i.e. post-mix dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0022 the apparatus comprising means for automatically controlling the amount to be dispensed
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0036 based on the timed opening of valves
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0044 for mixing inside the dispensing nozzle
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/06 Mountings or arrangements of dispensing apparatus in or on shop or bar counters shop or bar counters per se A47F9/00
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0888 Means comprising electronic circuitry (e.g. control panels, switching or controlling means)
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/0006 Manifolds
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/00086 Selector circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/00091 Bar management means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/065 for drink preparation

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses for providing a selectable beverage from a post-mix beverage dispenser are provided. In one embodiment, the method for providing a beverage having a separately selected color from a post-mix beverage dispensing system comprises: (a) providing at least two beverage bases for dispense from the post-mix beverage dispensing system; (b) separately storing at least two colorants in the post-mix beverage dispensing system; (c) receiving a request for a selected beverage base and the separately selected color with a computer processor; and (d) in response to the selection of the selected beverage base and the separately selected color, automatically dispensing through a single faucet of the post-mix beverage dispensing system, continuously in a predetermined ratio for any volume of the beverage dispensed, the selected beverage base and at least one of the colorants to provide the beverage having the separately selected color.

Claims

1. A method for providing a beverage from a post-mix beverage dispensing system comprising:

a. providing at least three beverage components for dispensing from a post-mix beverage dispensing system;

b. providing a user interface;

c. receiving a selection of a blended beverage comprising at least two beverages via the user interface; and

d. in response to the selection of the blended beverage, automatically dispensing through a single faucet of the post-mix beverage dispensing system at least three beverage components to form the blended beverage,

wherein the step of providing the at least three beverage components comprises separately storing at least three beverage components for forming the at least two beverages, and wherein the step of automatically dispensing comprises automatically dispensing through the single faucet at least three of the beverage components to provide the blended beverage.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the blended beverage comprises at least two of the beverages selected by an automated program.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the automated program is a pre-programmed recipe, a randomizing program, or a combination thereof.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the blended beverage comprises at least one branded beverage.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the beverage components are selected from the group consisting of beverage bases, diluents, water, carbonated water, sweeteners, beverage base components, colorants, flavorants, additives, and combinations thereof.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the user interface comprises a wireless signal receiver, the method further comprising:

e. wirelessly receiving identification information associated with a user via the user interface; and

f. retrieving a user profile associated the identification information,

wherein the user profile comprises a blended beverage preference list, a blended beverage recommendations list, or combinations thereof and wherein the step of receiving a selection of a blended beverage comprises determining with a randomizing program a random selection of a blended beverage on the blended beverage preference list or the blended beverage recommendations list.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the blended beverage preference list is compiled based on past selections or determined from current user information.

8. A method for providing a beverage from a post-mix beverage dispensing system comprising:

a. providing at least three beverage components for dispensing from a post-mix beverage dispensing system;

b. providing a user interface;

c. receiving a selection of a blended beverage comprising at least two beverages via the user interface; and

d. in response to the selection of the blended beverage, automatically dispensing through a single faucet of the post-mix beverage dispensing system at least three beverage components to form the blended beverage;

wherein the user interface comprises a wireless signal receiver, and receiving a selection via the user interface comprises wirelessly receiving a selection from a user of the blended beverage.

9. A method for providing a beverage from a post-mix beverage dispensing system comprising:

a. providing at least three beverage components for dispensing from a post-mix beverage dispensing system;

b. providing a user interface;

c. receiving a selection of a blended beverage comprising at least two beverages via the user interface;

d. in response to the selection of the blended beverage, automatically dispensing through a single faucet of the post-mix beverage dispensing system at least three beverage components to form the blended beverage;

e. separately storing at least one additive;

f. receiving a request for at least one selected additive via the user interface; and

g. in response to the selection of the blended beverage and the at least one selected additive, automatically dispensing through the single faucet at least three of the beverage components and the at least one selected additive to provide the blended beverage having the at least one selected additive.

10. A method for providing a beverage from a post-mix beverage dispensing system comprising:

a. providing at least three beverage components for dispensing from a post-mix beverage dispensing system;

b. providing a user interface;

c. receiving a selection of a blended beverage comprising at least two beverages via the user interface; and

d. in response to the selection of the blended beverage, automatically dispensing through a single faucet of the post-mix beverage dispensing system at least three beverage components to form the blended beverage;

wherein the user interface comprises a wireless signal receiver and a wireless signal transmitter.

11. A post-mix beverage dispensing system comprising:

a. at least three separately-stored beverage components for providing at least two beverages for dispense from the post-mix beverage dispensing system;

b. a user interface; and

c. a single faucet for automatically dispensing, in response to a selection of a blended beverage, at least three beverage components to form the blended beverage,

wherein the user interface comprises a wireless signal receiver configured to wirelessly receive a selection of a blended beverage comprising at least two beverages.

12. The post-mix beverage dispensing system of claim 11, wherein the blended beverage comprises at least two beverages selected by an automated program.

13. The post-mix beverage dispensing system of claim 12, wherein the automated program is a pre-programmed recipe, a randomizing program, or a combination thereof.

14. The post-mix beverage dispensing system of claim 11, wherein the blended beverage comprises at least two beverages selected by a user.

15. The post-mix beverage dispensing system of claim 11, wherein the beverage components are selected from the group consisting of beverage bases, diluents, water, carbonated water, sweeteners, beverage base components, colorants, flavorants, additives, and combinations thereof.

16. A post-mix beverage dispensing system comprising:

a. at least three separately-stored beverage components for providing at least two beverages for dispense from the post-mix beverage dispensing system;

b. a user interface; and

c. a single faucet for automatically dispensing, in response to the selection of one of the beverages or the blended beverage, the selected beverage or at least three of the beverage components to form the blended beverage, wherein the post-mix beverage dispensing system is capable of dispensing any of the at least two beverages and any combination of the at least two beverages,

wherein the post-mix beverage dispenser system is adapted to receive identification information associated with a user via the user interface and retrieve a user profile associated with the identification information, and wherein the user profile comprises a beverage preference list, a beverage recommendations list, or combinations thereof, and wherein the post-mix beverage dispenser system is adapted to determine with a randomizing program a random selection of any one of the beverages or blended beverages on the beverage preference list or the beverage recommendations list.

17. The post-mix beverage dispensing system of claim 16, wherein the beverage preference list is compiled based on past selections or determined from current user information.