Beverage dispensing system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10399837-B2
Application number	US-201715637681-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 29, 2017
Priority date	Jun 29, 2017
Publication date	Sep 3, 2019
Grant date	Sep 3, 2019

Abstract

A beverage dispensing system is provided. The beverage dispensing system can include a nozzle module connected to a beverage dispenser housing. The nozzle module can be vertically and/or horizontally spaced from a beverage dispenser valve and nozzle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A beverage dispenser comprising:
a dispenser housing including a valve retaining housing surface;
a beverage dispensing valve extending from the dispenser housing, the beverage dispensing valve including a dispenser nozzle and a valve housing to attach to the valve retaining housing surface, the beverage dispensing valve being supported on the valve retaining housing surface such that the dispenser nozzle is generally aligned along a first axis; and
a nozzle module including:
a nozzle module housing having a first end abutting an upper end of the dispenser housing and a second end extending from the first end; and
a nozzle module nozzle adjacent the second end such that the nozzle module nozzle is aligned along a second axis that is parallel to and spaced apart from the first axis in a horizontal direction,
wherein the first axis is spaced a first horizontal distance from the valve retaining housing surface and the second axis is spaced a second horizontal distance from the valve retaining housing surface such that the second horizontal distance is greater than the first horizontal distance.

2. The beverage dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the second axis is spaced apart from the first horizontal axis a vertical distance in a range from approximately one inch to approximately 15 inches.

3. The beverage dispenser of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second beverage dispensing valve extending from the dispenser housing, the second beverage dispensing valve including a second dispenser nozzle and a second valve housing to attach to the valve retaining housing surface, the second beverage dispensing valve being supported on the valve retaining housing surface such that the second dispenser nozzle is generally aligned along the first horizontal axis.

4. The beverage dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the nozzle module housing is coupled to the dispenser housing.

5. The beverage dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the nozzle module housing is integral with the dispenser housing.

6. The beverage dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the nozzle module dispenses a premeasured amount of fluid based on a first user input.

7. The beverage dispenser of claim 1 , further comprising:
a base attached to a lower end, the base including a waste collection portion having a receptacle area,
wherein the dispenser nozzle is positioned above the receptacle area to dispense a first fluid into the receptacle area, and
wherein the nozzle module nozzle is positioned above the receptacle area to dispense a second fluid into the receptacle area.

8. The beverage dispenser of claim 7 , wherein the first fluid is an additive ingredient and the second fluid is a branded beverage.

9. The beverage dispenser of claim 7 , the nozzle module further comprising:
a control interface for regulating delivery of the second fluid, the control interface including a switch; and
an electronic control system coupled to the switch and configured to receive electronic control signals from the control interface to regulate the delivery of the second fluid.

10. A nozzle module for a beverage dispenser comprising:
a nozzle module housing having a lower end to attach to a beverage dispenser housing;
a nozzle module nozzle adjacent a second end of the nozzle module housing such that the nozzle module nozzle is configured to be spaced a first horizontal distance from the beverage dispenser housing;
a control interface for regulating delivery of a nozzle module fluid, the control interface including a switch and being coupled to the nozzle module housing; and
an electronic control system coupled to the switch and configured to receive electronic control signals from the control interface to regulate the delivery of the nozzle module fluid,
wherein the beverage dispenser includes a beverage dispenser nozzle spaced a second horizontal distance from the beverage dispenser housing,
such that the first horizontal distance is greater than the second horizontal distance, wherein the beverage dispenser nozzle is positioned above a receptacle area to dispense a first fluid into the receptacle area, and wherein the nozzle module nozzle is positioned above the receptacle area to dispense a second fluid into the receptacle area.

11. The nozzle module of claim 10 , wherein the first horizontal distance is a range from approximately one inch to approximately 10 inches.

12. The nozzle module of claim 10 , wherein the nozzle module nozzle is configured to be spaced a vertical distance from the beverage dispenser nozzle.

13. The nozzle module of claim 12 , wherein the vertical distance is a range from approximately one inch to approximately 15 inches.

14. The nozzle module of claim 10 , wherein the nozzle module is configured to dispense a premeasured amount of fluid based on a first user input.

15. The nozzle module of claim 10 , wherein the nozzle module is configured to dispense a premeasured amount based on a second user input.

Assignees

• Pepsico Inc

Inventors

• Madden Joseph
• Jersey Steven T
• Loomis Scott
• Ubidia Fernando

Classifications

• B67D1/0888 Primary

  Means comprising electronic circuitry (e.g. control panels, switching or controlling means) · CPC title

• B67D1/0085

  electro-mechanical · CPC title

• B67D1/0036

  based on the timed opening of valves · CPC title

• B67D1/16

  Devices for collecting spilled beverages · CPC title

• B67D1/0872

  Aesthetics, advertising · CPC title