Beverage dispenser device

• US 5,791,517 A
• Filed: 02/21/1996
• Issued: 08/11/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Menachem M. Deren
• Original Assignee: Menachem M. Deren
• Inventors: Avital, Ami
• Primary Examiner(s): KAUFMAN, JOSEPH A
• Application Number:
  US08/604,446
• Time in Patent Office: 902 Days
• Field of Search: 222/1, 222/129, 222/146.6, 222/185.1, 222/481.5, 222/518, 222/556
• US Class Current: 222/1
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 3/00 Apparatus or devices for controlling flow of liquids under gravity from storage containers for dispensing purposes separating and dispensing metered quantities of liquids G01F
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 3/043 with a closing element having a linear movement, in a direction perpendicular to the seat
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/04 with special compartments, e.g. butter conditioners
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/126 Water cooler
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2331/803 Bottles

Abstract

A refrigerator door-mounted beverage dispenser device for use with bottled beverages, to control beverage flow during dispensing from a bottle. The device comprises a generally cylindrical housing engaging the mouth of the bottle, an operating lever pivotably attached to the housing and movable between upper and lower positions, a self-closing flow valve, and a valve actuator operable with the operating lever to open the flow valve by applying pressure thereto while it is in either of the upper and lower positions, to enable controlled beverage flow. In a preferred embodiment, the beverage dispenser device itself is threaded onto the beverage bottle, sealing it closed. A retractable lever is arranged to displace a ball valve and enable liquid beverage flow into a cup. When combined with a bottle holder mounted on a refrigerator door, the bottle is inverted and the beverage dispenser device becomes a self-service bar providing a door-mounted beverage dispensing system, offering quick and easy access without opening the door. The advantage of the inventive design over conventional beverage dispensers is a significant savings in electrical energy, since the refrigerator door need not be opened, and escape of cool air from the refrigerator is prevented. Many other configurations of the beverage dispenser are possible, such as with an ice container and a table-top dispenser.

Claims

1. A beverage dispenser device for controlling dual-mode beverage flow during dispensing from a bottle held in one of horizontal and inverted positions, said device comprising:

a generally cylindrical housing having a borehole formed therethrough, and having means for engaging the mouth of the bottle;

an operating lever pivotably attached to said housing and movable between upper and lower positions, said upper position being defined by said lever extending proximately alongside the bottle while held horizontally, said lower position being defined by said lever extending downwards below the bottle mouth while inverted;

a self-closing flow valve seated at an end of said borehole, for controlling beverage flow therethrough; and

a valve actuator means in said housing being operable with said operating lever to open said flow valve upon application of pressure to said operating lever while it extends substantially in either of said upper and lower positions, to enable controlled dual-mode beverage flow.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said valve actuator means is a pin extending vertically from said housing and contacting a portion of said lever when in said lower position, such that when said pressure is applied to said lever, said valve actuator pin is raised and said flow valve opens, enabling controlled beverage flow.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said valve actuator means has a semi-spherically shaped bottom portion, under which there rests a tapered end of a rod, said rod extending horizontally in said housing and contacting a portion of said lever when in said upper position, said rod being loaded against a compression spring, such that reciprocating horizontal movement of said rod lifts and lowers said valve actuator, opening and closing said flow valve, to enable controlled beverage flow.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein said means for engaging the mouth of the bottle is a threaded opening matching bottle neck threads.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein said flow valve comprises a spring-loaded ball-check control valve seated in a cylindrical tube having holes formed therein and being surrounded by a sleeve having spiral flow vanes formed therein, said holes and spiral vanes causing reduced flow turbulence during said beverage flow.

6. The device of claim 1 further comprising an air tube communicating with atmospheric air, extending through said housing into the bottle, allowing replacement air flow therein during beverage flow.

7. The device of claim 6 further comprising a one-way valve mounted on said air tube to prevent beverage flow therein.

8. The device of claim 1 further comprising means for holding the bottle containing a beverage in inverted fashion, such that said dispenser device dispenses the beverage while the bottle remains inverted and said lever is in said lower position.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein said means for holding the bottle is an ice container for removably holding the bottle.

10. The device of claim 8 wherein said means for holding the bottle is a refrigerator door for removably holding the bottle.

11. The device of claim 8 wherein said means for holding the bottle is a table-top beverage dispenser machine for removably holding the bottle.

12. The device of claim 1 wherein said dispenser device dispenses the beverage while the bottle is held horizontally and said lever is in said upper position.

13. The device of claim 1 wherein application of pressure to said operating lever while it extends substantially in said lower position is provided in a one-handed operation by a cup held in a user'"'"'s hand and depressed against it.

14. A method of controlling dual-mode beverage flow during dispensing from a bottle held in one of horizontal and inverted positions, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a generally cylindrical housing having a borehole formed therethrough, and having means for engaging the mouth of the bottle, an operating lever pivotably attached to said housing and movable between upper and lower positions, said upper position being defined by said lever extending proximately alongside the bottle while held horizontally, said lower position being defined by said lever extending downwards below the bottle mouth while inverted, a self-closing flow valve seated at an end of said borehole, for controlling beverage flow therethrough, and a valve actuator means in said housing being operable with said operating lever; and

applying pressure to said operating lever while it extends substantially in either of said upper and lower positions, to open said flow valve and enable controlled dual-mode beverage flow.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said bottle is held in an inverted orientation and said lever is in said lower position.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein said bottle is held in a horizontal orientation and said lever is in said upper position.

17. A beverage dispenser device for controlling beverage flow during dispensing from a bottle, said device comprising:

a generally cylindrical housing having a borehole formed therethrough, and having means for engaging the mouth of the bottle;

an operating lever pivotably attached to said housing and movable between upper and lower positions;

a self-closing flow valve seated at an end of said borehole, for controlling beverage flow therethrough; and

a valve actuator means in said housing being operable with said operating lever to open said flow valve upon application of pressure to said operating lever while it is in either of said upper and lower positions, to enable controlled beverage flow,

wherein said flow valve comprises a spring-loaded ball-check control valve seated in a cylindrical tube having holes formed therein and being surrounded by a sleeve having spiral flow vanes formed therein, said holes and spiral vanes causing reduced flow turbulence during said beverage flow.