Beverage dispensing system

• US 9,073,741 B2
• Filed: 02/19/2013
• Issued: 07/07/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Igusa LLC
• Original Assignee: Igusa LLC
• Inventors: Jannatkhah, Mehdi
• Primary Examiner(s): Durand, Paul R
• Assistant Examiner(s): LONG, DONNELL ALAN
• Application Number:
  US13/770,441
• Publication Number:
  US 20140151402A1
• Time in Patent Office: 868 Days
• Field of Search: 222/108, 222/146.6, 222/399, 222/143, 222/136, 222/144.5, 222/130, 222/129.1, 624/41, 624/571
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 9/00 Shop, bar, bank or like counters show cases or show cabinets A47F3/00; safety transaction partitions, e.g. movable pay plates, E05G7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0004 the beverage being stored in a container, e.g. bottle, cartridge, bag-in-box, bowl
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0858 using compression systems
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/16 Devices for collecting spilled beverages
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2001/0821 having different compartments for different components
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/00036 for use with or in refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 3/0009 provided with cooling arrangements cooling perse F25

Abstract

The present disclosure relates generally to systems and methods for dispensing beverages, and more specifically, systems and methods for dispensing beer. In some embodiments, the beverage dispensing units are modular and portable and may be installed in any suitable existing establishment. In some embodiments, the units are configured to allow for the dispensing of draft beer without substantial modifications to the structure of the existing establishment.

Claims

1. A beverage dispensing system comprising:

(a) a refrigerated housing defining an interior space with a depth and a width, the refrigerated housing comprising;

(i) a front, two sides, and a back;

(ii) one or more fixed panels positioned along the front, wherein a plurality of taps are positioned along at least one of the one or more fixed panels at a vertical position between a top and a bottom of the refrigerated housing; and

(iii) at least two doors, wherein the at least one of the one or more fixed panels is positioned between two of the at least two doors;

wherein the housing has an open position and a closed position, and wherein, in the open position, the interior space is accessible from an exterior of the refrigerated housing and, in the closed position, the interior space is not accessible from the exterior of the refrigerated housing;

(b) at least one connection point in communication with at least one of the plurality of taps and positioned along an interior portion of the refrigerated housing;

(c) a drainage mechanism positioned substantially beneath the plurality of taps;

(d) a condensing unit configured to cool the interior space; and

(e) a cavity distinct from the interior space, the cavity positioned in one of the at least two doors and accessible from the exterior of the refrigerated housing, wherein a panel door is connected with the at least two doors and proximate the cavity so as to provide selective access to the cavity from the exterior of the refrigerated housing.

2. The beverage dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the cavity comprises one or more shelves.

3. The beverage dispensing system of claim 1, further comprising lighting to illuminate the cavity.

4. The beverage dispensing system of claim 1, further comprising an incoming tube configured to provide at least one of carbon dioxide and nitrogen gas to the at least one connection point, wherein the incoming tube enters the interior space of the refrigerated housing.

5. The beverage dispensing system of claim 4, wherein the panel door is transparent.

6. The beverage dispensing system of claim 5, further comprising at least one beverage container housed in the interior space of the refrigerated housing.

7. The beverage dispensing system of claim 6, wherein the at least one beverage container is on shelving.

8. The beverage dispensing system of claim 7, further comprising container tubing that connects the at least one connection point to the at least one beverage container.

9. The beverage dispensing system of claim 1, further comprising at least a lower shelf and an upper shelf.

10. The beverage dispensing system of claim 9, wherein at least one container is on the lower shelf and at least another container is atop another container or is on the upper shelf.

11. The beverage dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the depth of the interior space is at least 10 inches.

12. The beverage dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the at least two doors provide access to the interior space of the refrigerated housing.

13. The beverage dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the panel door provides access to the cavity along the front or one of the two sides of the refrigerated housing.

14. The beverage dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the drainage mechanism comprises a sink positioned below the plurality of taps.

15. The beverage dispensing system of claim 1, further comprising an information board that is adjacent to and at least partially covering the condensing unit.

16. The beverage dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the beverage dispensing system further comprises:

a faucet distinct from the plurality of taps; and

a water supply for providing water to the faucet.

17. The beverage dispensing system of claim 16, wherein the water supply enters the system adjacent to the condensing unit.

18. A beverage dispensing system comprising:

(a) a refrigerated housing comprising a top, a bottom, a front, a back, and two substantially parallel upright lateral sides arranged substantially perpendicular to the front and the back, wherein the front, the back, and the two lateral sides extend substantially to a surface relative to which the refrigerated housing is positioned and wherein the refrigerated housing defines an interior space with a depth between the front and the back, a width between the two lateral sides, and a height between the top and the bottom, the depth, the width, and the height of the interior space sized to accommodate two or more kegs therein, the height being at least approximately 31 inches so as to accommodate at least two of the two or more kegs being stacked upright one above another, the refrigerated housing comprising one or more fixed panels positioned along the front of the refrigerated housing and further comprising two doors, wherein a first of the two doors is positioned left of the one or more fixed panels and a second of the two doors is positioned right of the one or more fixed panels such that the one or more fixed panels is between the two doors;

(b) at least two taps, each of the at least two taps positioned on one of the one or more fixed panels along the front of the housing at a vertical position away from both the top and the bottom of the housing, each of the at least two taps in communication with at least one connection point configured for connecting at least one of the at least two taps to at least one of the two or more kegs when the two or more kegs are accommodated in the interior space;

(c) a drainage mechanism positioned substantially beneath at least one of the at least two taps;

(d) a condensing unit configured to cool the interior space of the refrigerated housing;

(e) one or more shelves positioned within the refrigerated housing and arranged so as to accommodate at least two of the two or more kegs being stacked upright one above another; and

(f) a cavity distinct from the interior space, the cavity positioned in one of the two doors and accessible from an exterior of the refrigerated housing, wherein a panel door is connected with the one of the two doors and proximate the cavity so as to provide selective access to the cavity from the exterior of the refrigerated housing.

19. The beverage dispensing system of claim 18, wherein the drainage mechanism comprises a sink positioned along the front of the housing.

20. The beverage dispensing system of claim 18, further comprising an incoming tube configured to provide at least one of carbon dioxide and nitrogen gas to the at least one connection point.

21. The beverage dispensing system of claim 18, further comprising at least three kegs housed in the interior space of the refrigerated housing.

22. The beverage dispensing system of claim 18, wherein the one or more shelves further comprises an upper shelf and a lower shelf.

23. The beverage dispensing system of claim 18, wherein the two doors enables the housing to move from a closed position to an open position, wherein, in the open position, the interior space is accessible from an exterior of the refrigerated housing and, in the closed position, the interior space is not accessible from the exterior of the refrigerated housing.

24. The beverage dispensing system of claim 18, wherein the two doors is provided along the front of the housing.

25. The beverage dispensing system of claim 18, further comprising an information board that is adjacent to and at least partially covering the condensing unit.

26. The beverage dispensing system of claim 18, wherein the cavity comprises at least one shelf.

27. The beverage dispensing system of claim 18, further comprising lighting configured to illuminate the cavity.

28. A beverage dispensing system comprising:

(a) a refrigerated housing comprising a top, a bottom, a front, a back, and two substantially parallel upright lateral sides arranged substantially perpendicular to the front and the back, wherein the front, back, and sides extend substantially to a floor on which the beverage dispensing system is positioned, the refrigerated housing defining an interior space with a depth between the front and the back, a width between the lateral sides, and a height between the top and the bottom, the depth, the width, and the height of the interior space sized to accommodate two or more kegs therein, the height being at least approximately 31 inches so as to accommodate at least two of the two or more kegs being stacked upright one above another, the refrigerated housing comprising one or more fixed panels positioned along the front of the housing and located between two doors, wherein a first end of the one or more fixed panels is proximate a first of the two doors and a second end of the one or more fixed panels opposite the first end is proximate a second of the two doors;

wherein the housing has an open position and a closed position, and wherein, in the open position, the interior space is accessible from an exterior of the refrigerated housing and, in the closed position, the interior space is not accessible from the exterior of the refrigerated housing;

(b) one or more shelves positioned within the refrigerated housing and arranged so as to accommodate at least two of the two or more kegs being stacked upright one above another;

(c) at least two taps positioned along the one or more fixed panels of the front of the housing at a vertical position away from both the top and the bottom of the housing, each of the at least two taps in communication with at least one connection point configured for connecting at least one of the at least two taps to at least one of the two or more kegs when the two or more kegs are accommodated in the interior space;

(d) a sink positioned substantially beneath the at least two taps;

(e) a waste container connected to the sink;

(f) a condensing unit configured to cool the interior space; and

(g) a cavity distinct from the interior space and comprising shelving, the cavity positioned in one of the two doors and accessible along the exterior of the refrigerated housing, wherein a panel door is connected with the one of the two doors and proximate the cavity so as to provide selective access to the cavity from the exterior of the refrigerated housing.

29. The beverage dispensing system of claim 28, further comprising a drainage connection and drainage tubing, wherein the drainage tubing of the drainage connection comprises a proximal end and a distal end and wherein the proximal end of the drainage tubing is attachable to the sink.

30. The beverage dispensing system of claim 28, wherein the two doors enables the interior space to be selectively accessible.

31. The beverage dispensing system of claim 28, further comprising at least three kegs housed inside the refrigerated housing.

32. The beverage dispensing system of claim 28, wherein the one or more shelves comprises an upper shelf and a lower shelf.

33. The beverage dispensing system of claim 28, further comprising an information board that is adjacent to the condensing unit.

34. The beverage dispensing system of claim 28, wherein the panel door is transparent and further comprises lighting for illuminating the cavity.

35. The beverage dispensing system of claim 28, wherein the cavity further comprises shelving.