Beverage measuring system

• US 5,837,944 A
• Filed: 08/19/1996
• Issued: 11/17/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Michael R. Herot
• Original Assignee: Michael R. Herot
• Inventors: Herot, Michael R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Luebke, Renee S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MAI, ANH T
• Application Number:
  US08/699,415
• Time in Patent Office: 820 Days
• Field of Search: 177/25.13, 177/25.14, 177/25.19, 177/245, 222/400.7, 222/23, 222/77, 174/71 R, 174/72 R, 99/275, 374/141, 374/142, 374/147, 374/148, 374/150, 374/179, 73/296
• US Class Current: 177/245
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 17/04 for weighing fluids, e.g. gases, pastes
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/14 Supports; Fastening devices; Arrangements for mounting thermometers in particular locations

Abstract

A new Beverage Measuring System for simultaneously measuring and displaying the temperature and the amount of beverage remaining within a conventional beverage keg thereby eliminating guessing how much beverage remains in said beverage keg. The inventive device includes an electronic scale where a beverage keg is positioned on the cornice of said electronic scale, a beverage thermometer connected within the beverage dispensing hose or the scale, and a digital display electronically connected to said electronic scale and the beverage thermometer thereby displaying the temperature of the beverage and the number of servings of beverage remaining within the beverage keg.

Claims

1. A beverage measuring system comprising:

an electronic scale with a beverage keg containing a beverage positioned on the electronic scale;

a beverage dispensing hose for coupling to a opening on the beverage keg;

a T-coupler positioned in the beverage dispensing hose,

a beverage thermometer inserted in the T-coupler for contacting the beverage as the beverage flows through the beverage dispensing hose for measuring the temperature of the beverage within the beverage dispensing hose as the beverage is dispensed through the beverage dispensing hose;

a digital display means electronically connected to the electronic scale and the beverage thermometer, the digital display means being for displaying the temperature of the beverage and the amount of beverage remaining in the beverage keg; and

a power cable electronically connected to the digital display;

wherein the digital display means includes;

a digital display housing;

a servings remaining display located in the digital display housing for processing data received by the servings remaining display and calculating and generating a visible output indicating the number of servings remaining in the beverage keg, wherein the servings remaining display is electronically connected to the electronic scale by a scale connecting cable, wherein the servings remaining display is adapted to adjust for the weight of the particular beverage keg size thereby displaying a total number of servings of beverage in fluid ounces remaining within the beverage keg;

a first selection switch located in the digital display housing and being electronically connected to the servings remaining display, wherein the first selection switch is manually adjustable to select a desired serving size for adjusting the calculation by the servings remaining display to compensate for the size of the servings to be drawn from the beverage keg;

a second selection switch located in the digital display housing and being electronically connected to the servings remaining display, wherein the second selection switch is manually adjustable to select the particular size of the beverage keg placed on the electronic scale for adjusting the calculation by the servings remaining display to compensate for the weight of various beverage keg sizes; and

a temperature display located in the digital display housing for processing data received by the servings remaining display and calculating and generating a visible output indicating the temperature of the beverage in the beverage dispensing hose, wherein said temperature display is electronically connected to the beverage thermometer by a thermometer cable and wherein the temperature display is adapted to disclose the temperature of the beverage in both Celsius and Fahrenheit degree measurements.

2. The beverage measuring system of claim 1, wherein the digital display includes a power switch mounted to the digital display housing and electronically connected between the power cable and the digital display for controlling the power to the digital display.

3. The beverage measuring system of claim 1, wherein the servings remaining display is adapted to calculate and display the number of servings dispensed from the beverage keg based on the desired serving size.

4. A beverage measuring system for measuring the amount of a beverage within a beverage keg, the beverage measuring system comprising:

an electronic scale adapted for placement under the beverage keg;

an electronic display means for calculating and displaying the amount of beverage remaining in the beverage keg and the temperature of the dispensed beverage;

a beverage dispensing hose adapted for dispensing the beverage from the beverage keg;

a T-coupler interposed in the beverage dispensing hose;

a beverage thermometer inserted into said T-coupler such that the dispensed beverage contacts the beverage thermometer for measuring the temperature of the beverage within the beverage dispensing hose, said beverage thermometer further being in communication with said electronic display means; and

a power cable electronically connected to the digital display;

wherein the electronic display means includes;

a digital display housing;

a servings remaining display located in the digital display housing for processing signals received by the servings remaining display and calculating and generating a visible output indicating the number of servings remaining in the beverage keg, wherein the servings remaining display is electronically connected to the electronic scale by a scale connecting cable, wherein the servings remaining display is adapted to adjust for the weight of the particular beverage keg size thereby displaying a total number of servings of beverage in fluid ounces remaining within the beverage keg;

a first selection switch located in the digital display housing and being electronically connected to the servings remaining display, wherein the first selection switch is manually adjustable to select a desired serving size for adjusting the calculation by the servings remaining display to compensate for the size of the servings to be drawn from the beverage keg;

a second selection switch located in the digital display housing and being electronically connected to the servings remaining display, wherein the second selection switch is manually adjustable to select the particular size of the beverage keg placed on the electronic scale for adjusting the calculation by the servings remaining display to compensate for the weight of various beverage keg sizes; and

a temperature display located in the digital display housing for processing data received by the servings remaining display and calculating and generating a visible output indicating the temperature of the beverage in the beverage dispensing hose, wherein said temperature display is electronically connected to the beverage thermometer by a thermometer cable and wherein the temperature display is adapted to disclose the temperature of the beverage in both Celsius and Fahrenheit degree measurements.