Drinking Vessel Fillable from the Bottom and Apparatus for Dispensing a Beverage Therein

• US 20100043911A1
• Filed: 02/28/2007
• Published: 02/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Charles Russell
• Original Assignee: Charles Russell
• Inventors: Russell, Charles
• Granted Patent: US 8,899,281 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 141/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 19/2205 Drinking glasses or vessels A47G19/23 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/04 Apparatus utilising compressed air or other gas acting directly or indirectly on beverages in storage containers
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/00068 Means for filling simultaneously a plurality of cups

Abstract

The present invention relates to a drinking vessel (1), comprising a base (2) and at least one wall (3), wherein the base and the wall together define a chamber (4) for receiving a beverage. The drinking vessel further comprises a sealable aperture (5) provided adjacent the base for filling the chamber with a beverage. In a preferred embodiment, the aperture is provided in the base of the vessel. In one embodiment, a non-return valve is disposed in said aperture. The valve allows a beverage to be dispensed into the vessel through the aperture but prevents the beverage from escaping from the vessel through the aperture. The invention also relates to a method and apparatus for dispensing a beverage.

Claims

1. A drinking vessel, comprising:

a base and at least one wall extending therefrom, wherein the base and the wall together define a chamber for receiving a beverage;

characterised in that the vessel further comprises a sealable aperture provided adjacent the base for filling the chamber with a beverage.

3. A drinking vessel as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising a non-return valve disposed in said aperture, wherein the valve allows a beverage to be dispensed into the vessel through the aperture but prevents the beverage from escaping from the vessel through the aperture.

4. A drinking vessel as claimed in claim 3, wherein the non-return valve comprises a silicone membrane.

5. A drinking vessel as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the at least one wall of the vessel is substantially rigid.

2. A drinking vessel, comprising:

a base and at least one wall extending therefrom, wherein the base and the wall together define a chamber for receiving a beverage;

characterised in that the vessel further comprises a sealable aperture provided in the base for filling the chamber with a beverage.

6. Apparatus for dispensing a beverage, comprising:

an inlet portion connectable to a pressurized beverage supply;

at least one outlet portion arranged to dispense the beverage; and

conduit means provided between said inlet portion and said outlet portion to provide a fluid path for said beverage therebetween;

characterised in that the apparatus is operable to allow the beverage to pass from the inlet portion to the outlet portion under pressure through said conduit means such that the beverage is dispensed at said outlet portion in a substantially upward direction.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6, comprising a plurality of outlet portions to allow several drinking vessels to be filled simultaneously.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the or each outlet portion is engageable with a sealable aperture provided in or adjacent a base of a drinking vessel to dispense the beverage into the vessel through the sealable aperture.

9. An apparatus as claimed in any of claims 6 to 8, wherein the or each outlet portion comprises a nozzle.

10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein each nozzle is provided with at least one dispensing aperture.

11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 9 or claim 10, wherein each nozzle is provided with a plurality of dispensing apertures arranged around the circumference thereof, such that the beverage is dispensed in a substantially upward and outward direction from the nozzle.

12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7, wherein an upwardly directed, pressurized stream of beverage is dispensed at the or each outlet portion.

13. An apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the pressure of the stream of beverage is sufficient to open a valve provided in a base of a drinking vessel to allow beverage to be dispensed into the vessel through the valve.

15. A method as claimed in claim 14, further comprising the steps of:

positioning the drinking vessel at an outlet portion of an apparatus as claimed in any of claims 6 to 13; and

operating the apparatus to dispense the beverage into the vessel in a substantially upward direction.

16. A method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the step of positioning the drinking vessel includes engaging the aperture in or adjacent the base of the drinking vessel with the outlet portion of the apparatus.

17. A method as claimed in claim 16, wherein engaging the aperture with the outlet portion of the apparatus comprises inserting a nozzle into the aperture.

14. A method for dispensing a beverage, comprising the steps of:

providing a drinking vessel having a sealable aperture in or adjacent a base thereof, and

dispensing a beverage into the vessel through the sealable aperture in or adjacent the base.

18. A drinking vessel substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and/or as illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings.

19. An apparatus for dispensing a beverage substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and/or as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.