Lever-switching multiple fluid-input beverage dispenser

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10676337-B2
Application number	US-201715598213-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 17, 2017
Priority date	May 23, 2016
Publication date	Jun 9, 2020
Grant date	Jun 9, 2020

Abstract

A beverage dispensing apparatus including at least one multiple lever-switching assembly where the lever assembly has a plurality of levers and valves configured to dispense fluids, flavorings, syrups, and optionally pressurized gas through one or more channels in each of the assemblies. The levers are part of a mechanical hydraulic system, that is not reliant on electrical connections to control or regulate the dispensing of fluids. Each set of levers can operate independently or in combination with other levers on the assembly, and can further actuate individual valves or more than one valve within the body of each assembly.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A lever-switching beverage dispenser assembly comprising:
a beverage dispenser valve unit, having a plurality of channels passing through the beverage dispenser valve unit, wherein each of the plurality of channels has one end directed toward a nozzle;
a plurality of valves, wherein at least one valve is positioned within each of the plurality of channels passing through the beverage dispenser valve unit; and
a plurality of levers, each lever mechanically coupled to at least one of the plurality of valves and operable to open or close the at least one of the plurality of valves
wherein a first lever of the plurality of levers is mechanically coupled to a first valve and a second valve of the plurality of valves so that a user directly pressing down on the first lever causes the first valve to dispense a first beverage component and causes the second valve to dispense a second beverage component in order for a first beverage comprising the first and second beverage components to be dispensed through the nozzle, and
wherein a second lever of the plurality of levers is mechanically coupled to the first valve and a third valve of the plurality of valves so that the user directly pressing down on the second lever causes the first valve to dispense the first beverage component and causes the third valve to dispense a third beverage component in order for a second beverage comprising the first and third beverage components to be dispensed through the nozzle,
wherein the plurality of levers comprise three or more levers each mechanically coupled with at least one positioning pin to at least one valve located within the beverage dispenser valve unit, and
wherein any lever of the three or more levers is operable both independently and in combination with any other lever of the three or more levers.

2. The lever-switching beverage dispenser assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of channels passing through the beverage dispenser valve unit each have an open end of the channel in a rear face of the beverage dispenser valve unit.

3. The lever-switching beverage dispenser assembly of claim 1 , comprising two or more channels passing through the beverage dispenser valve unit.

4. The lever-switching beverage dispenser assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first lever is configured to not actuate the third valve.

5. The lever-switching beverage dispenser assembly of claim 1 ,
wherein the first lever is mechanically coupled to the first valve and the second valve so that the user directly pulling up on the first lever causes the first valve to dispense the first beverage component and causes the second valve to dispense the second beverage component in order for the first beverage comprising the first and second beverage components to be dispensed through the nozzle, and
wherein the second lever is mechanically coupled to the first valve and the third valve so that the user directly pulling up on the second lever causes the first valve to dispense the first beverage component and causes the third valve to dispense the third beverage component in order for the second beverage comprising the first and third beverage components to be dispensed through the nozzle.

6. A beverage dispensing system, comprising:
a beverage tower, comprising:
one or more fluid reservoirs; and
a pressurized gas source;
at least one lever-switching beverage dispenser assembly, comprising:
a beverage dispenser valve unit comprising five channels passing therethrough toward a nozzle, wherein each of the five channels is in fluid communication with either any one of the fluid reservoirs or the pressurized gas source;
five valves, wherein one of the five valves is located within each of the five channels, wherein the five valves are located within respective channels between an actuating plate and a lower plate of the beverage dispenser valve unit; and
a plurality of levers, each lever mechanically coupled to at least one of the five valves,
wherein a first lever of the plurality of levers is mechanically coupled to a first valve and a second valve of the five valves so that a user directly pressing down on the first lever causes the first valve to dispense a first beverage component and causes the second valve to dispense a second beverage component in order for a first beverage comprising the first and second beverage components to be dispensed through the nozzle, and
wherein a second lever of the plurality of levers is mechanically coupled to the first valve and a third valve of the five valves so that the user directly pressing down on the second lever causes the first valve to dispense the first beverage component and causes the_third valve to dispense a third beverage component in order for a second beverage comprising the first and third beverage components to be dispensed through the nozzle.

7. The beverage dispensing system of claim 6 , wherein the five channels passing through the beverage dispenser valve unit each have an open end of the channel in a rear face of the beverage dispenser valve unit.

8. The beverage dispensing system of claim 6 , wherein at least one of the plurality of channels is fluidly connected to a flavoring or syrup source.

9. The beverage dispensing system of claim 6 , wherein at least one of the plurality of channels is fluidly connected to a pressurized fluid source.

10. The beverage dispensing system of claim 6 , wherein the first lever is configured to not actuate the third valve.

11. The beverage dispensing system of claim 6 , wherein the at least one lever-switching dispenser assembly comprises three lever-switching beverage dispenser assemblies positioned 120 degrees from each other around and extending from a circular body of the beverage tower.

12. The beverage dispensing system of claim 6 ,
wherein the first lever is mechanically coupled to the first valve and the second valve so that the user directly pulling up on the first lever causes the first valve to dispense the first beverage component and causes the second valve to dispense the second beverage component in order for the first beverage comprising the first and second beverage components to be dispensed through the nozzle, and
wherein the second lever is mechanically coupled to the first valve and the third valve so that the user directly pulling up on the second lever causes the first valve to dispense the first beverage component and causes the third valve to dispense the third beverage component in order for the second beverage comprising the first and third beverage components to be dispensed through the nozzle.

13. A beverage dispensing system, comprising:
a beverage tower, comprising:
one or more fluid reservoirs; and
a pressurized gas source;
a lever-switching beverage dispenser assembly, comprising:
a beverage dispenser valve unit having a plurality of channels passing therethrough toward a nozzle, wherein each of the plurality of channels is in fluid communication with either any one of the fluid reservoirs or the pressurized gas source;
a plurality of valves, wherein one valves is located within each of the plurality of channels; and
three or more levers each mechanically coupled with at least one positioning pin to at least one valve located within the beverage dispenser valve unit,
wherein a first lever of the three or more levers is mechanically coupled to a first valve and a second valve of the plurality of valves so that a user directly pressing down on the first lever causes the first valve to dispense a first beverage component and causes the second valve to dispense a second beverage component in order for a first beverage comprising the f

Assignees

• Automatic Bar Controls Inc

Inventors

• Hecht Thomas R

Classifications

• B67D1/06

  Mountings or arrangements of dispensing apparatus in or on shop or bar counters (shop or bar counters per se A47F9/00) · CPC title

• B67D2001/0094

  Valve mountings in dispensers · CPC title

• B67D1/0051

  for mixing outside the nozzle · CPC title

• B67D1/1477

  Devices for assisting tap handling, e.g. levers · CPC title

• B67D2001/0089

  operated by lever means · CPC title