Method and apparatus for a beverage dispenser

• US 20120048887A1
• Filed: 08/23/2011
• Published: 03/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lancer Partnership Limited (Hoshizaki Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lancer Partnership Limited (Hoshizaki Corporation)
• Inventors: Edwards, William A., Kolodziejcyk, Roger Anthony
• Granted Patent: US 8,251,259 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 222/129.1
• 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 2210/00034 Modules
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/00047 Piping
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/0006 Manifolds
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/025 wherein the volume is determined during delivery
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53 Means to assemble or disassemble

Abstract

A product dispenser reconfigurable in the field includes a housing, at least one tower unit, and a removable ambient box. The at least one tower unit includes at least one dispense point, whereby a product or diluent is delivered from a diluent or product source to the dispense point. The ambient box is an insulated product path that is adaptable to at least one external source and the tower units or the dispense points. The external source may be conditioned through external means or may deliver an ambient temperature product, wherein the product circuits passing through the ambient box may deliver product to any tower unit, thereby providing increased product variability within a same product dispenser. The product dispenser still further includes a tower structure that is removable without disabling the product circuits, and a method of merchandising on the tower structure.

Claims

1-33. -33. (canceled)

34. A product dispenser, comprising:

a housing including a lower unit;

at least one tower unit disposed on the lower unit, wherein the at least one tower unit houses a dispense point;

at least one product circuit disposed within the housing, wherein a drink may be dispensed from the dispense point; and

a tower structure surrounding the at least one tower unit, and securable to the lower unit, wherein the tower structure is adapted for removal from the lower unit without disabling the product circuit.

35. The product circuit according to claim 34, wherein the lower unit houses a lower product circuit.

36. The product circuit according to claim 35, wherein the at least one tower unit includes an upper product circuit, and further wherein the upper product circuit is adaptable to the lower product circuit upon installation of the tower structure, thereby forming the at least one product circuit.

37. The product circuit according to claim 34, wherein the tower structure comprises:

at least one vertical structure;

a crossbar;

an outer skin; and

a cap, wherein the at least one vertical structure is securable to the lower unit and the cross bar provides lateral support, and further wherein the outer skin and the cap close out the sides and rear of the at least one tower unit.

39. The product dispenser according to claim 34, wherein the tower structure is utilized for merchandising by placing advertising materials onto the tower structure.

40. The product dispenser according to claim 34, wherein the tower structure secures to the at least one tower unit, thereby providing an integral tower.

38. The product dispenser according to claim 38, further comprising:

a splash plate closing out a front of the at least one tower unit, thereby closing out the at least one tower unit.

41-43. -43. (canceled)