Systems and methods of selecting and dispensing products

• US 8,251,258 B2
• Filed: 09/04/2008
• Issued: 08/28/2012
• 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, Ellis, Annie T
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaver, Kevin P
• Assistant Examiner(s): CARTAGENA, MELVIN A
• Application Number:
  US12/204,208
• Publication Number:
  US 20090069933A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,454 Days
• Field of Search: 222/31, 222/49, 222/59, 222/129.1, 222/1
• US Class Current: 222/31
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0034 for controlling the amount of each component
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0877 Advertising means advertising in general G09F
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0888 Means comprising electronic circuitry (e.g. control panels, switching or controlling means)
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/1284 Ratio control

Abstract

Embodiments of a dispensing system for dispensing a number of products to a user are disclosed. The dispensing system may include an input/output device and a dispenser. The input/output device may be adapted to receive a selection of one of the products from the user. The dispenser may be adapted to dispense a plurality of diluent components, the diluent components and a ratio of the diluent components corresponding at least in part to the selection of the user.

Claims

1. A dispensing system for dispensing a number of products to a user, comprising:

an input/output device adapted to receive a selection of one of the products from the user;

a dispenser adapted to dispense a plurality of diluent components, the diluent components and a ratio of the diluent components corresponding at least in part to the selection of the user; and

wherein the input/output device comprises a continuum for entering the selection comprising a two-dimensional graph that visually illustrates the plurality of diluent components according to relative amount in the product.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the dispenser is further adapted to dispense one or more flavoring components, the one or more flavoring components corresponding at least in part to one or more flavor selections of the user.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the one or more flavoring components comprises juice concentrates, the dispenser being adapted to create a first juice concentrate from a universal juice base and a first concentrated flavoring agent, and the dispenser being adapted to create a second juice concentrate from the universal juice base and a second concentrated flavoring agent.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein:

the diluent components comprise one or more of the following;

water, milk, and yogurt; and

the products comprise one or more of the following;

juice, a juice-flavored milk, a juice-flavored smoothie, and a juice-flavored yogurt.

5. A dispensing system, comprising:

an input/output device adapted to receive a plurality of selections, the selections including one or more diluent selections and one or more diluent intensity selections; and

a dispenser adapted to dispense one or more diluent components, the one or more diluent components corresponding at least in part to the one or more diluent selections, a ratio of the one or more diluent components corresponding at least in part to the one or more diluent intensity selections;

the input/output device comprises an input mechanism adapted to be adjusted along a continuous range of positions, wherein the continuous range of positions comprises;

a first discrete position indicating a first diluent option;

a second discrete position indicating a second diluent option, the first and second discrete positions are separated by a total distance; and

an area between the first and second discrete positions, the area indicating a combination of the first and second diluent options;

the input/output device is adapted to receive each of the diluent selections when the input mechanism is adjusted to one location on the continuous range of positions; and

the input/output device is further adapted to receive the diluent intensity selections when the input mechanism is adjusted to the location on the continuous range of positions, the location being a first distance from the first discrete position and a second distance from the second discrete position, a relative relationship between the first distance and the total distance indicating the relative amount of the first diluent selection and a relative relationship between the second distance and the total distance indicating a relative amount of the second diluent selection.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein:

the input/output device comprises a display that visually presents one or more diluent options and one or more pre-defined combinations of diluent options; and

the input/output device is adapted to limit the one or more diluent selections to either one of the diluent options or one of the pre-defined combinations of diluent options.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the input/output device comprises:

a display that visually presents a continuum of options to the user, the continuum visually illustrating a plurality of diluent options and a plurality of diluent intensity options; and

an input mechanism adapted to select each of the one or more diluent selections and each of the one or more diluent intensity selections from the continuum of options.

8. A method for preparing a product, comprising:

presenting a plurality of options to the user, the options comprising a plurality of diluent options and a plurality of diluent intensity options;

receiving a plurality of selections from the user, the selections comprising one or more diluent selections and one or more diluent intensity selections;

determining one or more diluent components based at least in part on the diluent selections;

determining relative amounts of the diluent components based at least in part on the diluent intensity selections;

dispensing the product that includes the relative amounts of the diluent components; and

wherein presenting a plurality of options to the user comprises presenting a continuum of options to the user, the continuum of options comprising a two-dimensional graph that visually illustrates the diluent options according to relative amount in the product.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein presenting a plurality of options to the user comprises presenting one or more pre-defined combinations of diluent options to the user.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising limiting the one or more diluent selections to either one of the diluent options or one of a plurality of pre-defined combinations of diluent options.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein receiving a plurality of selections from the user comprises receiving an indication of a location of an input mechanism, the location being associated with each of the one or more diluent selections and each of the one or more diluent intensity selections.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the continuum of options visually illustrates each diluent option using a diluent intensity line, the diluent intensity line having an amplitude that represents the diluent intensity options.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein:

an end point of the continuum is same as a beginning point of the continuum; and

presenting a continuum of options to the user comprises presenting the continuum of options on a display, the end point of the continuum being positioned adjacent the beginning point of the continuum on the display such that the continuum of options appears endless.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein receiving a plurality of selections from the user comprises receiving an indication of a location on the continuum, the location on the continuum simultaneously indicating each of the one or more diluent selections and each of the one or more diluent intensity selections.

15. The method of claim 8, wherein:

the options further include one or more flavor options, and

the selections further include one or more flavor selections,

the product further includes one or more flavoring components, the flavoring components being determined at least in part by the flavor selections.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein:

the flavoring components comprise juice concentrates; and

the diluent components comprise water, milk, and yogurt.