Method and apparatuses for providing a selectable beverage

• US 8,162,176 B2
• Filed: 07/11/2008
• Issued: 04/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
• Original Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
• Inventors: Rudick, Arthur G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nicolas, Frederick C.
• Application Number:
  US12/171,698
• Publication Number:
  US 20090069932A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,383 Days
• Field of Search: 222/1, 2221291-1294, 222/145.6, 222/132, 222/52, 222/145.5, 222/144.5, 222/145.1, 700/231, 700/237, 700/239, 700/241, 992/80
• US Class Current: 222/1
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0021 the components being mixed at the time of dispensing, i.e. post-mix dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0022 the apparatus comprising means for automatically controlling the amount to be dispensed
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0036 based on the timed opening of valves
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0044 for mixing inside the dispensing nozzle
• 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 1/0888 Means comprising electronic circuitry (e.g. control panels, switching or controlling means)
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/0006 Manifolds
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/00086 Selector circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/00091 Bar management means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/065 for drink preparation

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses for providing a selectable beverage from a post-mix beverage dispenser are provided. In one embodiment, the method for providing a beverage having a separately selected color from a post-mix beverage dispensing system comprises: (a) providing at least two beverage bases for dispense from the post-mix beverage dispensing system; (b) separately storing at least two colorants in the post-mix beverage dispensing system; (c) receiving a request for a selected beverage base and the separately selected color with a computer processor; and (d) in response to the selection of the selected beverage base and the separately selected color, automatically dispensing through a single faucet of the post-mix beverage dispensing system, continuously in a predetermined ratio for any volume of the beverage dispensed, the selected beverage base and at least one of the colorants to provide the beverage having the separately selected color.

Claims

1. A method for providing a beverage having a separately selected color from a post-mix beverage dispensing system comprising:

a. providing at least two beverage bases for dispense from the post-mix beverage dispensing system;

b. separately storing at least two colorants in the post-mix beverage dispensing system;

c. receiving a request for a selected beverage base and the separately selected color with a computer processor; and

d. in response to the selection of the selected beverage base and the separately selected color, automatically dispensing through a single faucet of the post-mix beverage dispensing system, continuously in a predetermined ratio for any volume of the beverage dispensed, the selected beverage base and at least one of the colorants to provide the beverage having the separately selected color.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the separately selected color comprises a separately selected color having a separately selected intensity, separately selected saturation, or separately selected brightness.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the separately selected color is selected by an automated program.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the automated program is a pre-programmed recipe, a randomizing program, or a combination thereof.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

e. separately storing at least one additive in the post-mix beverage dispensing system;

f. receiving a request for at least one selected additive with the computer processor; and

g. in response to the selection of the selected beverage base, the separately selected color, and the at least one selected additive, automatically dispensing through the single faucet of the post-mix beverage dispensing system continuously in a predetermined ratio for any volume of the beverage dispensed, the selected beverage base, at least one of the colorants, and the at least one selected additive to provide the beverage having the separately selected color and the at least one selected additive.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of providing the at least two beverage bases comprises separately storing in the post-mix beverage dispensing system at least two beverage base components for forming the beverage bases, and wherein the step of automatically dispensing comprises automatically dispensing through the single faucet, continuously in a predetermined ratio for any volume of the beverage dispensed, at least two of the beverage base components and at least one of the colorants to provide the beverage having the separately selected color.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the beverage base components are selected from the group consisting of water, carbonated water, sweeteners, thickeners, dairy products, soy products, fruit products, vegetable products, food products, and combinations thereof.

8. A method for providing a beverage from a post-mix beverage dispensing system comprising:

a. providing at least two beverages for dispense from the post-mix beverage dispensing system;

b. providing a user interface for user interactions with a computer processor;

c. presenting via the user interface a choice of one of the beverages or a blended beverage, wherein the blended beverage comprises at least two of the beverages;

d. receiving a selection of one of the beverages or the blended beverage via the user interface with the computer processor; and

e. in response to the selection of one of the beverages or the blended beverage, automatically dispensing through a single faucet of the post-mix beverage dispensing system the selected beverage or at least two of the beverages to form the blended beverage.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the blended beverage comprises at least two of the beverages selected by an automated program.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the automated program is a pre-programmed recipe, a randomizing program, or a combination thereof.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the blended beverage comprises at least two of the beverages selected by a user.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein the blended beverage comprises at least one branded beverage.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of providing the at least two beverages comprises separately storing in the post-mix beverage dispensing system at least two beverage components for forming the beverages, and wherein the step of automatically dispensing comprises automatically dispensing through the single faucet at least two of the beverage components to provide the selected beverage or the blended beverage.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the beverage components are selected from the group consisting of beverage base components, colorants, flavorants, additives, and combinations thereof, and wherein the beverage base components are selected from the group consisting of water, carbonated water, sweeteners, thickeners, dairy products, soy products, fruit products, vegetable products, food products, and combinations thereof.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the beverage components further comprise at least two colorants, and wherein the method further comprises:

f. presenting via the user interface a choice of at least two separately selected colors;

g. receiving a request for a separately selected color with the computer processor; and

h. in response to the selection of one of the beverages or the blended beverage and the separately selected color, automatically dispensing through the single faucet at least two of the beverage components and at least one of the colorants to provide the selected beverage or the blended beverage having the separately selected color.

16. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

f. separately storing at least one additive in the post-mix beverage dispensing system;

g. receiving a request for at least one selected additive with the computer processor; and

h. in response to the selection of one of the beverages or the blended beverage and the at least one selected additive, automatically dispensing through the single faucet the selected beverage or at least two of the beverages to form the blended beverage and the at least one selected additive to provide the selected beverage or the blended beverage having the at least one selected additive.

17. A method for providing a beverage from a post-mix beverage dispensing system comprising:

a. providing at least two beverages for dispense from the post-mix beverage dispensing system;

b. providing a user interface for user interactions with a computer processor programmed with a randomizing program;

c. presenting via the user interface a choice of one of the beverages or a random beverage;

d. receiving a selection of one of the beverages or the random beverage via the user interface with the computer processor;

e. in response to the selection of the random beverage, determining with the randomizing program a random selection of at least one of the beverages; and

f. automatically dispensing the selected beverage or the random beverage from the post-mix beverage dispensing system.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the step of providing the at least two beverages comprises separately storing in the post-mix beverage dispensing system at least two beverage components for forming the beverages, and wherein the step of automatically dispensing comprises automatically dispensing at least two of the beverage components to provide the selected beverage or the random beverage.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the beverage components are selected from the group consisting of beverage base components, colorants, flavorants, additives, and combinations thereof, and wherein the beverage base components are selected from the group consisting of water, carbonated water, sweeteners, thickeners, dairy products, soy products, fruit products, vegetable products, food products, and combinations thereof.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein the beverage components further comprise at least two colorants, and wherein the method further comprises:

g. presenting via the user interface a choice of at least two separately selected colors;

h. receiving a request for a separately selected color with the computer processor; and

i. in response to the selection of one of the beverages or the random beverage and the separately selected color, automatically dispensing at least two of the beverage components to provide the selected beverage or the random beverage and at least one of the colorants to form the selected beverage or the random beverage having the separately selected color.

21. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

g. separately storing at least one additive in the post-mix beverage dispensing system;

h. receiving a request for at least one selected additive with the computer processor; and

i. in response to the selection of one of the beverages or the random beverage and the at least one selected additive, automatically dispensing through the single faucet the selected beverage or the random beverage and the at least one selected additive to form the selected beverage or the random beverage having the at least one selected additive.

22. A method for providing a beverage from a post-mix beverage dispensing system comprising:

a. providing at least two beverages for dispense from the post-mix beverage dispensing system;

b. providing a user interface for user interactions with a computer processor programmed with a randomizing program;

c. presenting via the user interface a choice of one of the beverages or a random beverage;

d. receiving a selection of one of the beverages or the random beverage via the user interface with the computer processor;

e. in response to the selection of the random beverage, determining with the randomizing program a random selection of at least one of the beverages;

f. automatically dispensing the selected beverage or the random beverage from the post-mix beverage dispensing system;

g. receiving identification information associated with a user; and

h. retrieving a user profile associated the identification information, wherein the user profile comprises a beverage preference list, a beverage recommendations list, or combinations thereof, and wherein the step of determining with the randomizing program a random selection comprises determining with the randomizing program a random selection of any one of the beverages on the beverage preference list or the beverage recommendations list.

23. A post-mix beverage dispensing system for providing a beverage having a separately selected color, the post-mix beverage dispensing system comprising:

a. at least two sources for providing at least two beverage bases for dispense from the post-mix beverage dispensing system;

b. at least two colorant storage containers for separately storing at least two colorants in the post-mix beverage dispensing system;

c. a computer processor for receiving a request for a selected beverage base and the separately selected color; and

d. a single faucet for automatically dispensing, continuously in a predetermined ratio for any volume of the beverage dispensed, in response to the selection of the selected beverage base and the separately selected color, the selected beverage base and at least one of the colorants to provide the beverage having the separately selected color.

24. The post-mix beverage dispensing system of claim 23 wherein the separately selected color comprises a separately selected color having a separately selected intensity, separately selected saturation, or separately selected brightness.

25. The post-mix beverage dispensing system of claim 24 wherein the separately selected color is selected by an automated program.

26. The post-mix beverage dispensing system of claim 25 wherein the automated program is a pre-programmed recipe, a randomizing program, or a combination thereof.

27. The post-mix beverage dispensing system of claim 24 further comprising:

e. at least one additive storage container for separately storing at least one additive, wherein the computer processor is adapted to receive a request for at least one selected additive, and wherein the single faucet is adapted to automatically dispense, continuously in a predetermined ratio for any volume of the beverage dispensed, in response to the selection of the selected beverage base, the separately selected color, and the at least one selected additive, the selected beverage base, at least one of the colorants, and the at least one selected additive to provide the beverage having the separately selected color and the at least one selected additive.

28. The post-mix beverage dispensing system of claim 24 wherein the sources comprise at least two storage containers for separately storing at least two beverage base components for forming at least two beverage bases, and wherein the single faucet is adapted to automatically dispense, continuously in a predetermined ratio for any volume of beverage dispensed, at least two of the beverage base components and at least one of the colorants to provide the beverage having the separately selected color.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein the beverage base components are selected from the group consisting of water, carbonated water, sweeteners, high fructose corn syrup, thickeners, dairy products, soy products, fruit products, vegetable products, food products, and combinations thereof.

30. A post-mix beverage dispensing system comprising:

a. at least two sources for providing at least two beverages for dispense from the post-mix beverage dispensing system;

b. a user interface for user interactions with a computer processor, wherein the user interface is adapted to present a choice of one of the beverages or a blended beverage, and wherein the blended beverage comprises at least two of the beverages, and wherein the computer processor is adapted to receive a selection of one of the beverages or the blended beverage; and

c. a single faucet for automatically dispensing, in response to the selection of one of the beverages or the blended beverage, the selected beverage or at least two of the beverages to form the blended beverage.

31. The post-mix beverage dispensing system of claim 30 wherein the blended beverage comprises at least two of the beverages selected by an automated program.

32. The post-mix beverage dispensing system of claim 31 wherein the automated program is a pre-programmed recipe, a randomizing program, or a combination thereof.

33. The post-mix beverage dispensing system of claim 30 wherein the blended beverage comprises at least two of the beverages selected by a user.

34. The post-mix beverage dispensing system of claim 30 wherein the blended beverage comprises at least one branded beverage.

35. The post-mix beverage dispensing system of claim 30 wherein the sources comprise at least two storage containers for separately storing at least two beverage components for forming the beverages, and wherein the single faucet is adapted to automatically dispense, continuously in a predetermined ratio for any volume of beverage dispensed, at least two of the beverage components to provide the selected beverage or the blended beverage.

36. The post-mix beverage dispensing system of claim 35 wherein the beverage components are selected from the group consisting of beverage base components, colorants, flavorants, additives, and combinations thereof, and wherein the beverage base components are selected from the group consisting of water, carbonated water, sweeteners, thickeners, dairy products, soy products, fruit products, vegetable products, food products, and combinations thereof.

37. The post-mix beverage dispensing system of claim 35 wherein the beverage components further comprise at least two colorants, and wherein the user interface is adapted to present a choice of at least two separately selected colors, and wherein the computer processor is adapted to receive a request for a separately selected color, and wherein the single faucet is adapted to automatically dispense, in response to the selection of one of the beverages or the blended beverage and the separately selected color, at least two of the beverage components one of the colorants to provide the selected beverage or the blended beverage having the separately selected color.

38. The post-mix beverage dispensing system of claim 30 further comprising:

d. at least one additive storage container for separately storing at least one additive, wherein the computer processor is adapted to receive a request for at least one selected additive, and wherein the single faucet is adapted to automatically dispense, in response to the selection of the selected beverage or the blended beverage and the at least one selected additive, the selected beverage or at least two of the beverages to form the blended beverage and the at least one selected additive to provide the selected beverage or the blended beverage having the at least one selected additive.

39. A post-mix beverage dispensing system comprising:

a. at least two sources for providing at least two beverages for dispense from the post-mix beverage dispensing system; and

b. a user interface for user interactions with a computer processor programmed with a randomizing program, wherein the user interface is adapted to present a choice of one of the beverages or a random beverage, and wherein the computer processor is adapted to receive a selection of one of the beverages or the random beverage and, in response to the selection of the random beverage via the user interface, determine with the randomizing program a random selection of at least one of the beverages, wherein the post-mix beverage dispensing system is adapted to automatically dispense the random beverage, and wherein, in response to the selection of one of the beverages, the post-mix beverage dispensing system is adapted to automatically dispense the selected beverage.

40. The post-mix beverage dispensing system of claim 39 wherein the sources comprise at least two storage containers for separately storing at least two beverage components for forming the beverages, and wherein the single faucet is adapted to automatically dispense, continuously in a predetermined ratio for any volume of beverage dispensed, at least two of the beverage components to provide the selected beverage or the random beverage.

41. The post-mix beverage dispensing system of claim 40 wherein the beverage components are selected from the group consisting of beverage base components, colorants, flavorants, additives, and combinations thereof, and wherein the beverage base components are selected from the group consisting of water, carbonated water, sweeteners, high fructose corn syrup, thickeners, dairy products, soy products, fruit products, vegetable products, food products, and combinations thereof.

42. The post-mix beverage dispensing system of claim 40 wherein the beverage components further comprise at least two colorants, and wherein the user interface is adapted to presenting a choice of at least two separately selected colors, and wherein the computer processor is adapted to receive a request for a separately selected color, and wherein the single faucet is adapted to automatically dispense, in response to the selection of one of the beverages or the random beverage and the separately selected color, at least two of the beverage components and one of the colorants to provide the selected beverage or the random beverage having the separately selected color.

43. The post-mix beverage dispensing system of claim 39 further comprising:

c. at least one additive storage container for separately storing at least one additive, wherein the computer processor is adapted to receive a request for at least one selected additive, and wherein the faucet is adapted to automatically dispense, in response to the selection of the selected beverage or the random beverage and the at least one selected additive, the selected beverage or random beverage and the at least one selected additive to provide the selected beverage or the random beverage having the at least one selected additive.

44. A post-mix beverage dispensing system comprising:

a. at least two sources for providing at least two beverages for dispense from the post-mix beverage dispensing system; and

b. a user interface for user interactions with a computer processor programmed with a randomizing program, wherein the user interface is adapted to present a choice of one of the beverages or a random beverage, and wherein the computer processor is adapted to receive a selection of one of the beverages or the random beverage and, in response to the selection of the random beverage via the user interface, determine with the randomizing program a random selection of at least one of the beverages, wherein the post-mix beverage dispensing system is adapted to automatically dispense the random beverage, and wherein, in response to the selection of one of the beverages, the post-mix beverage dispensing system is adapted to automatically dispense the selected beverage;

wherein the post-mix beverage dispenser system is adapted to receive identification information associated with a user and retrieve a user profile associated with the identification information, and wherein the user profile comprises a beverage preference list, a beverage recommendations list, or combinations thereof, and wherein the computer processor is adapted to determine with the randomizing program a random selection of any one of the beverages on the beverage preference list or the beverage recommendations list.