Liquid toppings dispensing system

• US 9,751,447 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2015
• Issued: 09/05/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kona Ice, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Kona Ice, Inc.
• Inventors: Lamb, Tony
• Primary Examiner(s): JACYNA, J CASIMER
• Application Number:
  US14/870,439
• Publication Number:
  US 20160121778A1
• Time in Patent Office: 706 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/0257 the object being a vending stall, restaurant or food kiosk
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0889 Supports

Abstract

A mobile confectionary apparatus includes a vehicle with at least one upstanding side wall. An interior space may be surrounded by the upstanding side wall. An opening may extend through the side wall. A liquid toppings dispensing system is adjustably positionable adjacent to the side wall and includes a first plurality of liquid dispensers configured to dispense at least one liquid topping. The liquid toppings dispensing system is pivotable relative to the side wall between a first position and a second position. The liquid toppings dispensing system is located externally of the side wall in each of the first and second positions.

Claims

1. A mobile confectionary apparatus, comprising:

a vehicle including at least one upstanding side wall;

an interior space surrounded by the at least one upstanding side wall and configured to receive at least one person;

an opening extending through the at least one upstanding side wall and through which an item may be passed from the interior space to outside of the vehicle; and

a liquid toppings dispensing system including a housing being positioned adjacent to, and opposing, the at least one upstanding side wall and including a plurality of liquid dispensers configured to dispense at least one liquid topping onto the item, each of the plurality of liquid dispensers being in fluid communication with at least one reservoir holding the at least one liquid topping, with the liquid toppings dispensing system being located externally of the at least one upstanding side wall and spaced entirely laterally therefrom by a gap.

2. The mobile confectionary apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of liquid dispensers is arranged along an axis that is generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the liquid toppings dispensing system.

3. The mobile confectionary apparatus of claim 1 further comprising at least one tube extending from the at least one reservoir and being coupled to at least one of the plurality of liquid dispensers.

4. The mobile confectionary apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is a truck.

5. The mobile confectionary apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is a trailer.

6. The mobile confectionary apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a cover member configured to cover the plurality of liquid dispensers.

7. The mobile confectionary apparatus of claim 1, further comprises a catch basin supported by the housing and located beneath the plurality of liquid dispensers.

8. The mobile confectionary apparatus of claim 1, wherein the liquid toppings dispensing system is mounted so as to be pivotable relative to the at least one upstanding side wall.

9. The mobile confectionary apparatus of claim 8, wherein the liquid toppings dispensing system is pivotable relative to the at least one upstanding side wall between a first position and a second position such that, in the first position, the liquid toppings dispensing system is displaced away from the at least one upstanding side wall and, in the second position, an axis of the plurality of liquid dispensers is located generally parallel to the at least one upstanding side wall.

10. The mobile confectionary apparatus of claim 3, further comprising at least one port in the at least on upstanding side wall through which the at least one tube extends to couple the at least one reservoir to the at least one of the plurality of liquid dispensers.

11. The mobile confectionary apparatus of claim 9, further comprising at least one hinge supported by the at least one upstanding side wall and defining an axis about which the liquid toppings dispensing system is pivotable between the first position and the second position.