Beverage distribution and dispensing system and method

• US 6,751,525 B1
• Filed: 06/08/2000
• Issued: 06/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Beverage Works, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Beverage Works, Inc.
• Inventors: Crisp, Harry Lee III
• Primary Examiner(s): Fischetti, Joseph A.
• Application Number:
  US09/589,725
• Time in Patent Office: 1,468 Days
• Field of Search: 705/28, 700/231, 700/236, 700/241, 235/381, 222/25, 222/61, 222/70
• US Class Current: 700/241
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0021 the components being mixed at the time of dispensing, i.e. post-mix dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0057 Carbonators
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0858 using compression systems
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2001/082 arranged in parallel
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/00036 for use with or in refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/0006 Manifolds
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 3/0006 responsive to coded information provided on the neck or spout of the storage container, e.g. bar-code, magnets or transponder
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/126 Water cooler
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2323/023 Door in door constructions
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2331/803 Bottles
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/06 Refrigerators with a vertical mullion
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/00 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/203 Inventory monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing

Abstract

The present invention is a beverage distribution and dispensing system and method for distributing drinks such as soda, juice and punch, to a home or business and which involves a computerized system which enables users to dispense such drinks from their refrigerator. The computerized system monitors its own supply levels and, when necessary, automatically orders and delivers drink supplies and CO₂ gas supplies. In addition, the computerized system automatically detects dispensing problems and orders and arranges for repair service.

Claims

1. A beverage dispensing system for dispensing a plurality of different beverages, said system comprising:

a refrigeration device at a location;

an order processing system remote from said location of the refrigeration device;

a dispensing apparatus in the refrigeration device, said dispensing apparatus formed to receive at least one drink supply container and at least one CO₂ supply container;

a dispensing computer connected to the dispensing apparatus, wherein the dispensing computer includes means for determining the volume of at least one of the drink supply containers and an event is said drink supply container in the dispensing apparatus having less than a predetermined volume, wherein data representing said predetermined volume is stored in the dispensing computer, and wherein the determining means includes means for calculating an average daily consumption of drink supply in said drink supply container and said predetermined volume is based on an average daily consumption of drink supply in said drink supply container which is stored in the dispensing computer;

a plurality of supply systems remote from said location of the refrigeration device, said plurality of supply systems having means for facilitating the shipment to the location of the refrigeration device of ordered drink supply containers for each of said different beverages, wherein each said supply system has means for facilitating the shipment to the location of the refrigeration device of ordered drink supply containers for at least one of said different beverages;

means for the dispensing computer to selectively communicate drink supply container orders for said beverages to the order processing system, wherein the dispensing computer communication means communicates the drink supply container orders to the order processing system upon the occurrence of the event;

means for the order processing system to select at least one of the supply systems which distributes the drink supply containers for said ordered beverages; and

means for the order processing system to selectively communicate the drink supply container orders to each selected supply system.

2. The beverage dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the dispensing computer communication means for communicating a problem with the dispensing computer or dispensing apparatus to the order processing system.

3. The beverage dispensing system of claim 1, which further includes a user interface in the refrigeration device connected to the dispensing computer.

4. The beverage dispensing system of claim 3, wherein the user interface includes a touch screen.

5. The beverage dispensing system of claim 3, wherein the user interface includes means for enabling a user to order drink supply containers for the beverages.

6. The beverage dispensing system of claim 3, wherein the user interface includes means for enabling a user to obtain information regarding the beverages.

7. The beverage dispensing system of claim 3, wherein the user interface includes means for enabling a user to signal the dispensing computer of a change in the beverage dispensed by the dispensing apparatus.

8. The beverage dispensing system of claim 3, wherein the user interface includes means for enabling a user to obtain information regarding the beverages.

9. The beverage dispensing system of claim 3, wherein the user interface includes means for enabling a user to signal the dispensing computer of a change in the beverage dispensed by the dispensing apparatus.

10. The beverage dispensing system of claim 1, which includes a carbonated and non-carbonated water supplier in the refrigeration device connected to the dispensing apparatus, dispensing computer and the CO₂ supply container.

11. The beverage dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the drink supply container includes a rigid plastic container.

12. The beverage dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the plastic container is sized to hold approximately one liter of drink supply.

13. The beverage dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the CO₂ supply container is sized to hold less than 100 grams of CO₂ gas.

14. The beverage dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the CO₂ supply container is sized to hold no more than approximately 78 grams of CO₂ gas.

15. The beverage dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the CO₂ supply container is formed to hold CO₂ gas at a pressure no more than 1,000 pounds per square inch.

16. The beverage dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the dispensing computer communication means includes means for communicating drink supply container orders to the order processing system through a data network.

17. The beverage dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the order processing computer communication means includes means for communicating drink supply containers orders to the supplier systems through a data network.

18. The beverage dispensing system of claim 1, which includes means for transmitting at least one repair order from the dispensing computer to the order processing system when a problem occurs in the dispensing computer or dispensing apparatus.

19. A beverage dispensing system for dispensing a plurality of different beverages, said system comprising:

a refrigeration device at a location;

an order processing system remote from said location of the refrigeration device;

a dispensing apparatus in the refrigeration device, said dispensing apparatus formed to receive at least one drink supply container and at least one CO₂ gas supply container;

a dispensing computer connected to the dispensing apparatus, wherein the dispensing computer includes means for determining the volume of CO₂ gas in the CO₂ gas supply container and an event is said CO₂ gas supply container having less than a predetermined volume, wherein the determining means includes means for calculating an average daily consumption of drink supply and said predetermined volume is based on the average daily consumption of said drink supply in said drink supply containers, and wherein data representing said predetermined volume and average daily consumption are stored in the dispensing computer;

a plurality of supply systems remote from said location of the refrigeration device, said plurality of supply systems having means for facilitating the shipment to the location of the refrigeration device of ordered drink supply containers for each of said different beverages, wherein each said supply system has means for facilitating the shipment to the location of the refrigeration device of ordered drink supply containers for at least one of said different beverages;

means for the dispensing computer to selectively communicate drink supply container orders for said beverages to the order processing system, wherein the dispensing computer communication means communicates the drink supply container orders to the order processing system upon the occurrence of the event;

means for the order processing system to select at least one of the supply systems which distributes the drink supply containers for said ordered beverages; and

means for the order processing system to selectively communicate the drink supply container orders to each selected supply system.

20. The beverage dispensing system of claim 19, wherein the dispensing computer includes means for communicating a problem with the dispensing computer or dispensing apparatus to the order processing system.

21. The beverage dispensing system of claim 19, which further includes a user interface in the refrigeration device connected to the dispensing computer.

22. The beverage dispensing system of claim 21, wherein the user interface includes a touch screen.

23. The beverage dispensing system of claim 21, wherein the user interface includes means for enabling a user to order drink supply containers for the beverages.

24. The beverage dispensing system of claim 21, wherein the user interface includes means for enabling a user to obtain information regarding the beverages.

25. The beverage dispensing system of claim 21, wherein the user interface includes means for enabling a user to signal the dispensing computer of a change in the beverage dispensed by the dispensing apparatus.

26. The beverage dispensing system of claim 19, which includes a carbonated and non-carbonated water supplier in the refrigeration device connected to the dispensing apparatus, dispensing computer and the CO₂ gas supply container.

27. The beverage dispensing system of claim 19, wherein the drink supply container includes a rigid plastic container.

28. The beverage dispensing system of claim 19, wherein the plastic container is sized to hold approximately one liter of drink supply.

29. The beverage dispensing system of claim 19, wherein the CO₂ gas supply container is sized to hold less than 100 grams of CO₂ gas.

30. The beverage dispensing system of claim 19, wherein the CO₂ gas supply container is sized to hold no more than approximately 78 grams of CO₂ gas.

31. The beverage dispensing system of claim 19, wherein the CO₂gas supply container is formed to hold CO₂ gas at a pressure no more than 1,000 pounds per square inch.

32. The beverage dispensing system of claim 19, wherein the dispensing computer communication means includes means for communicating drink supply container orders to the order processing system through a data network.

33. The beverage dispensing system of claim 19, wherein the order processing computer communication means includes means for communicating drink supply containers orders to the supplier systems through a data network.

34. The beverage dispensing system of claim 19, which includes means for transmitting at least one repair order from the dispensing computer to the order processing system when a problem occurs in the dispensing computer or dispensing apparatus.

35. A beverage dispensing system for dispensing a plurality of different beverages, said system comprising:

a refrigeration device at a location;

an order processing system remote from said location of the refrigeration device;

a dispensing apparatus in the refrigeration device, said dispensing apparatus formed to receive at least one drink supply container and at least one CO₂ gas supply container;

a dispensing computer connected to the dispensing apparatus, wherein the dispensing computer includes means for determining the volume of CO₂ gas in the CO₂ gas supply container and an event is said CO₂ gas supply container having less than a predetermined volume, wherein said determining means includes means for calculating an average daily consumption of CO₂ gas and said predetermined volume is based on an average daily consumption of CO₂ gas in said CO₂ gas supply container, wherein data representing said predetermined volume is stored in the dispensing computer;

a plurality of supply systems remote from said location of the refrigeration device, said plurality of supply systems having means for facilitating the shipment to the location of the refrigeration device of ordered drink supply containers for each of said different beverages, wherein each said supply system has means for facilitating the shipment to the location of the refrigeration device of ordered drink supply containers for at least one of said different beverages;

means for the dispensing computer to selectively communicate drink supply container orders for said beverages to the order processing system, wherein the dispensing computer communication means communicates the drink supply container orders to the order processing system upon the occurrence of the event;

means for the order processing system to select at least one of the supply systems which distributes the drink supply containers for said ordered beverages; and

means for the order processing system to selectively communicate the drink supply container orders to each selected supply system.

36. The beverage dispensing system of claim 35, wherein the dispensing computer includes means for communicating a problem with the dispensing computer or dispensing apparatus to the order processing system.

37. The beverage dispensing system of claim 35, which further includes a user interface in the refrigeration device connected to the dispensing computer.

38. The beverage dispensing system of claim 37, wherein the user interface includes a touch screen.

39. The beverage dispensing system of claim 37, wherein the user interface includes means for enabling a user to order drink supply containers for the beverages.

40. The beverage dispensing system of claim 35, which includes a carbonated and non-carbonated water supplier in the refrigeration device connected to the dispensing apparatus, dispensing computer and the CO₂ gas supply container.

41. The beverage dispensing system of claim 35, wherein the drink supply container includes a rigid plastic container.

42. The beverage dispensing system of claim 35, wherein the plastic container is sized to hold approximately one liter of drink supply.

43. The beverage dispensing system of claim 35, wherein the CO₂ gas supply container is sized to hold less than 100 grams of CO₂ gas.

44. The beverage dispensing system of claim 35, wherein the CO₂ gas supply container is sized to hold no more than approximately 78 grams of CO₂ gas.

45. The beverage dispensing system of claim 35, wherein the CO₂ gas supply container is formed to hold CO₂ gas at a pressure no more than 1,000 pounds per square inch.

46. The beverage dispensing system of claim 35, wherein the dispensing computer communication means includes means for communicating drink supply container orders to the order processing system through a data network.

47. The beverage dispensing system of claim 35, wherein the order processing computer communication means includes means for communicating drink supply containers orders to the supplier systems through a data network.

48. The beverage dispensing system of claim 35, which includes means for transmitting at least one repair order from the dispensing computer to the order processing system when a problem occurs in the dispensing computer or dispensing apparatus.