Foam reducing container

• US 9,139,413 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 09/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Think Tank Innovation, LLC (d/b/a Think Tank Innovations)
• Original Assignee: David J. Fedewa
• Inventors: Fedewa, David J.
• Primary Examiner(s): MAUST, TIMOTHY LEWIS
• Application Number:
  US13/838,167
• Publication Number:
  US 20130255825A1
• Time in Patent Office: 921 Days
• Field of Search: 141/2, 141/250, 141/266, 141271-278, 141/369, 141/373, 141/377, 220/608, 220/623, 215/382
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 19/00 Table service
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 19/12 Vessels or pots for table use
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 19/2233 related to the evolution of bubbles in carbonated beverages
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 11/02 of curved cross-section thermally insulated B65D81/3813
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 13/02 of glass, pottery, or other ceramic material
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/02 Internal fittings of containers made by folding or erecting blanks made of paper B65D5/44
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/2885 provided on the side wall
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/42 Integral or attached nozzles or spouts
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0804 Shape or materials
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/00065 related to the use of drinking cups or glasses

Abstract

A foam reducing container for reducing the level of foam created when pouring a carbonated liquid into the container. The foam reduction container generally includes the container body having sidewalls extending from a base and the sidewalls defining at least one impact sloped wall for receiving a beverage poured from a delivery system.

Claims

1. A beverage container comprising:

(a). a vessel defining an interior space, the vessel having a base and sidewalls surrounding the interior space, the sidewalls extending upward from the base and sized and shaped to retain a carbonated liquid beverage, the interior space of the vessel having a vertical centerline;

(b). an opening defined at a top portion of the sidewalls to allow for the liquid beverage to enter and exit the interior space;

wherein the sidewalls include a filling side passing through the vertical centerline of the interior space, the filling side being configured to gradually decelerate a downward stream of carbonated beverage from a tap dispenser prior to colliding with an opposite portion of the sidewalls, the filling side including an angled section extending from adjacent the top portion of the sidewalls diagonally toward the base of the vessel, the angled section being slanted to directly receive the downward stream of carbonated beverage from the tap dispenser, the filling side further including a curved intersection disposed between the angled section and an interior floor formed on top of the base;

wherein the angled section directs the carbonated beverage flow into the curved intersection where the in-flow of carbonated beverage is progressively slowed by traveling over an elongated arcuate surface while passing through the vertical centerline thereby reducing foam production from the carbonated beverage when entering the interior space of the vessel.

2. The beverage container of claim 1 further comprising a spout formed in the top portion, and a handle formed on an exterior surface of the vessel opposite the spout, and wherein the handle is formed on a rear side of the vessel for lifting and pouring, and the spout is formed on a front side of the vessel for directing a controlled outpouring of carbonated beverage through the opening.

3. The beverage container of claim 2 wherein the filling side is defined on the rear side of the vessel.

4. The beverage container of claim 2 wherein the filling side is defined on the front side of the vessel.

5. The beverage container of claim 1 further comprising a target indicia defined on the angled section, wherein target indicia is located at a position such that the carbonated beverage upon entering the vessel contacting the indicia first allows for reduced foam production as the vessel is filled with the carbonated beverage.

6. A method of reducing foam production created in pouring a carbonated beverage into a container, the method comprising the steps of:

(a). placing a beverage container below a tap dispenser of a carbonated beverage delivery system, the tap dispenser configured to selectively emit a stream of carbonated beverage with a downward velocity, said placing step including supporting a base of the beverage container in a generally horizontal position, the beverage container having a vessel defining a front and rear side and sidewalls surrounding an interior space of the vessel and at least one angled section of the sidewalls sized and shaped to form a curved intersection with a bottom floor of the beverage container, the interior space of the vessel having a vertical centerline;

(b). positioning the beverage container below the tap dispenser so that the stream of carbonated beverage initially strikes the angled surface; and

(c). without tipping the beverage container below the tap dispenser, minimizing foam production by gradually slowing the velocity stream of the carbonated beverage along a flow path established by the angled section and the curved intersection that passes through the vertical centerline.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the carbonated beverage delivery system includes a keg and tap system.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein foam produced when filling the beverage container resting flat under the carbonated beverage delivery system is one inch or less.

9. The method of claim 6 further comprising removing the beverage container from the horizontal support surface by manually grasping a handle formed on an exterior surface of the vessel on the rear side of the vessel.

10. The method of claim 6 wherein the angled section is defined on one of the front and rear side of the vessel.

11. The method of claim 6 further comprising a target indicia defined on the angled section, wherein target indicia is located at a position such that the carbonated beverage upon entering the vessel contacting the indicia first allows for reduced foam production as the vessel is filled with the carbonated beverage.

12. A combination standard beverage pitcher and insert device adapted to convert the standard beverage pitcher into a foam-reducing beverage pitcher, the combination comprising:

a beverage pitcher having an interior space defined by a base and sidewalls, a rim formed at the upper edges of the sidewalls, the interior space having a vertical centerline;

an insert device, the insert device including a curved and angled unitary portion configured to be placed generally diagonally within the interior space of the pitcher so as to traverse the vertical centerline above the base;

a hanging feature extending above the curved and angled unitary portion sized and shaped to mount onto the rim of the beverage pitcher;

wherein the curved and angled unitary portion first receives a downward stream of carbonated beverage from a tap dispenser and then decelerates the beverage flow as the flow travels an elongated path through the vertical center line thereby reducing foam production as the carbonated beverage fills the interior space.

13. The combination of claim 12 further comprising a target indicia defined on the angled section, wherein target indicia is located at a position such that the carbonated beverage upon entering the vessel contacting the indicia first allows for reduced foam production as the vessel is filled with the carbonated beverage.