System and method for dispensing beverages

• US 6,994,231 B2
• Filed: 05/13/2003
• Issued: 02/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Charles H. Jones
• Original Assignee: Charles H. Jones
• Inventors: Jones, Charles H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Derakshani, Philippe
• Application Number:
  US10/436,067
• Publication Number:
  US 20040026451A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,001 Days
• Field of Search: 222/129.1, 222/129.2
• US Class Current: 222/129.1
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0021 the components being mixed at the time of dispensing, i.e. post-mix dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0045 Venturi arrangements; Aspirators; Eductors

Abstract

A beverage dispensing system and method employs a beverage concentrate, and optionally liquid sweeteners, and beverage flavorings to provide a tailored single beverage output of high volume. A venturi mixing device is utilized with water as the motive force to mix the beverage components together. Control valves are provided for each component to regulate the amounts and ratios to produce a desired beverage.

Claims

1. In a system of dispensing beverages using water as a motive force and a venturi mixing device to mix the water with a beverage base to produce a beverage output, the improvement comprising a system having:

a liquid beverage base source with a first control valve disposed between a first inlet of the venturi mixing device and the liquid beverage base source;

at least one liquid sweetener source with a second control valve disposed between a venturi chamber of the venturi mixing device;

at least one liquid beverage flavoring source with a third control valve disposed between a third inlet to the venturi chamber of the venturi mixing device and the at least one liquid beverage flavoring source;

a water supply assembly connected to the venturi mixing device for supplying pressure regulated water as the motive force for operation of the venturi mixing device;

a single beverage outlet from the venturi mixing device having a dispensing valve; and

means for controlling the taste of the beverage output by controlling the input of each source into the venturi chamber.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the regulated and filtered water inlet further comprises a water supply assembly comprising at least a pressure regulator, and a check valve disposed upstream of the venturi mixing device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein a plurality of beverage flavoring sources are provided, each of the plurality of beverage flavoring sources having a control valve.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the venturi chamber is capable of producing a high volume beverage output flow on the order of least about 3.2-12 ounces per second.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a unitary structure supporting each of the beverage base source with the first control valve, the liquid sweetener source with the second control valve, and the beverage flavoring source with the third control valve, and the venturi chamber.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the beverage base source, the liquid sweetener source, and the beverage flavoring source are containers such as boxes.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the control means includes a memory means for remembering ratios of beverage base, liquid sweetener, and beverage flavorings for a particular beverage flavor, and means for replicating said particular beverage flavor using the remembered ratios.

8. The system of claim 2, further comprising a first structure supporting each of the beverage base source with the first control valve, the liquid sweetener source with the second control valve, and the beverage flavoring source with the third control valve, and the venturi chamber, and a second structure supporting the water supply assembly.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the control valve for each source is exterior to the venturi mixing device or is disposed within the venturi mixing device.

16. The system of claim 1, further comprising a unitary structure supporting each of the beverage base source with the first control valve, the liquid sweetener source with the second control valve, and the beverage flavoring source with the third control valve, and the venturi chamber, wherein the venturi chamber is above the first, second and third control valves and the beverage base, liquid sweetener, and beverage flavoring sources.

10. In a method of dispensing beverages using a venturi chamber, a source of a liquid beverage base, and water as the motive force for dispensing, the improvement comprising:

providing a source of at least one liquid sweetener;

providing a source of at least one liquid beverage flavoring;

mixing the water with a controlled amount of at least one liquid sweetener and at least one liquid beverage flavoring with a controlled amount of the liquid beverage base to produce a single beverage output using the venturi chamber, and outputting a single beverage from the venturi chamber.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the output is a high volume output of at least about 3.2-12 ounces per second.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein a plurality of liquid beverage flavorings are provided, and controlled amounts of at least two of the plurality of liquid beverage flavorings are mixed to produce the single beverage.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the liquid beverage base is a concentrate of one of tea or fruit juice.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the water for mixing is pressure regulated city water.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein a plurality of liquid sweeteners are provided, and one is selectable for beverage making and dispensing.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the venturi chamber is disposed above the beverage base, liquid sweetener, and liquid beverage flavoring sources.

18. In a system of dispensing beverages using water as a motive force and a venturi mixing device to mix the water with a beverage base to produce a beverage output, the improvement comprising a system having:

a plurality of concentrated beverage input lines, each line having a control valve therein;

a switching valve having a plurality of inputs, each input in communication with a respective beverage input line, and an output line, the output line in communication with a concentrate input of the venturi mixing device;

a water supply assembly connected to a water input of the venturi mixing device for supplying pressure-regulated water as the motive force for operation of the venturi mixing device;

a single beverage outlet assembly in communication with an output of the venturi mixing device, the single beverage outlet assembly having a flexible hose extending from the venturi mixing device and a dispensing valve at an end of the flexible hose;

wherein the input lines, the switching valve, the venturi mixing valve, and the water supply assembly are enclosed in a housing.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the input lines have different diameters to accommodate concentrates of different viscosities.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the dispensing valve includes a nozzle body with an elongated outlet member with an outlet opening at and end thereof, the nozzle body for grasping by a user, an operating lever extending from the nozzle body, and a flexible hose interconnecting the nozzle body and the venturi mixing device.

21. The system of claim 18, further comprising a check valve positioned upstream of the concentrate input and water input of the venturi mixing device.

22. The system of claim 18, further comprising a splitter dividing the output of the venturi mixing device into two outputs, one output connecting to the single beverage outlet assembly and the other output passing through a flow control device to produce a diffused flow output.

23. In a method of dispensing beverages using a venturi chamber, a source of a liquid beverage base, and water as the motive force for dispensing, the improvement comprising:

providing a source of a plurality of flavored liquid concentrate;

selecting one of the plurality of flavored liquid concentrate; and

mixing water with a controlled amount of the selected flavored liquid concentrate to produce a single beverage output using the venturi chamber, and outputting a single beverage from the venturi chamber using a flexible hose and nozzle assembly.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the source of a plurality of flavored liquid concentrates includes input lines of different diameters to accommodate flavored liquid concentrate of different viscosities.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein a pair of beverage outputs is provided downstream from the venturi chamber, with one output controlled to have a more diffuse flow rate than the other output.