Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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BEVERAGE DISPENSER
Technical Field
[0001] This application pertains to containers and related apparatus for
consumption of beverages.
Background of the Invention
[0002] Containers for storing and pouring liquids, especially water, date back
near
the beginning of civilization. Myriad sizes, shapes and varieties are known.
In
modern times, all sorts of beverages, e.g. water, juice, beer, coffee drinks,
etc. are
packaged and sold in various containers, often made of aluminum, polymeric
materials (plastics) or glass. Removable lids, "pop tops" and such are known
for
opening the container to enable pouring a liquid from the container into a
drinking
vessel or directly into the mouth of the consumer. Sometimes consumers use a
drinking straw to withdraw liquid from a container. All of these methods and
apparatus pertain to one individual drinking from a container; an essentially
personal,
individual activity. That said, it is well known of course for people to
gather in
homes, bars and other venues to engage in social intercourse while drinking,
especially while drinking alcoholic beverages, but each person drinks from his
own
container.
[0003] A very different but socially important tradition of the Middle East is
the art
of hookah smoking. The hookah, also referred to as a narghile or narghila,
sheesha,
hubble-bubble, or water-pipe, has long inspired great discussions of politics,
religion,
and the daily events. In social gatherings, a hookah with a single hose is
sometimes
used. A narghile is placed in the center of a group and, after puffing on the
mouthpiece, smokers pass the hose around to the next person in the circle,
generally chatting all the while in a friendly, cordial atmosphere. Often, a
hookah is
used that has multiple hoses, say three or four, so that each smoker has his
own
mouthpiece, and passing it around is unnecessary.
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[0004] The popularity of the hookah has increased dramatically in recent
years,
mainly due to the social nature of hookah smoking. In the United States, where
life is
frenetic, it certainly contributes to the smoker's integration in his or her
social
environment in a brotherly peaceful act of solidarity. Smoking, however, is
now
known to present serious health risks to the user, and to those around her.
Smoking
has recently been banned in many public places such as shops, restaurants and
buses in the United States and abroad.
[0005] The need remains for methods and apparatus that support and encourage
relaxed social gatherings and, in particular, that enable small group social
activities
such as imbibing.
Summary
[0006] Embodiments of the invention include a beverage container, and a
plurality
of hoses arranged for a small group of people gathered around the container to
drink
a beverage from the container, each person using one of the hoses. In some
embodiments, the container is made of a ceramic or glass, and it may have a
distinctive shape and or surface ornamentation. Preferably, the container is
reminiscent of a middle eastern hookah. In one presently preferred embodiment,
at
least one of the hoses includes a pump for dispensing a predetermined volume
of
the beverage, e.g. a shot, through the hose to the user. One or more check
valves
prevent fluid flow back into the container.
[0007] Additional aspects and advantages will be apparent from the following
detailed description of preferred embodiments, which proceeds with reference
to the
accompanying drawings.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus for consumption of a
liquid in
accordance with the present invention.
[0009] FIG. 2A illustrates a stopper and hoses in another embodiment of the
invention.
[0010] FIG. 2B is a partially sectional view of a distal end portion of a hose
showing an internal check valve and mouthpiece.
[0011] FIG. 3A is a perspective view illustrating actuation of a pump to
discharge
liquid through a mouthpiece in accordance with another aspect of the
invention.
[0012] FIG. 3B illustrates refilling the pump by releasing it to its inherent
shape.
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[0013] FIG. 3C is a perspective view showing use of a hose and associated pump
to discharge a predetermined shot of liquid into the mouth of a user.
[0014] FIG. 4A is an enlarged, partially cross-sectional view showing detail
of a
pump and mouthpiece check valve.
[0015] FIG. 4B illustrates a user squeezing the pump to discharge its fluid
contents out of the mouthpiece.
[0016] FIG. 5 illustrates another embodiment of a stopper and hoses in
accordance with the invention, including a smooth, hollow, rigid liner
disposed in
each hose aperture.
Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments
[0017] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a presently preferred embodiment of a
beverage dispenser in accordance with the present invention. The beverage
dispenser is designed to enable a plurality of persons to drink a beverage
from a
common container. It can be used by one person, or by more than one person.
Where more than one person are using the container, each of them can drink
from it
concurrently, meaning that each of them takes a sip of beverage from the
container,
from time to time, during the same general time frame. They can also drink
from it
simultaneously, i.e., where all of the users take a drink from the common
container at
exactly the same time.
[0018] In the illustrated embodiment of Fig. 1, the container 10 is made of
glass
or any other water impermeable rigid or semi-rigid material. Glass or ceramic
materials are preferred. The container may be transparent or not, and
preferably is
adorned with decorative surface ornamentation (not shown). Any potable liquid
can
be dispensed using the container 10, such as water, juice or wine. The system
described here
[0019] The container can be filled and sealed prior to shipment and sale, for
example by a beverage manufacturer, bottler, or wholesaler. It can then be
resold
at retail to consumers in a market, bar, restaurant, kiosk, sporting venue,
etc.
Preferably, the container would be sold together with the associated
stopper(s),
hoses and such as described herein. Alternatively, a user could purchase an
empty
container and the related apparatus as described herein and fill it himself
with a
selected beverage. Among other things, the invention is useful for a small
group of
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adults to share an alcoholic beverage. However initially obtained, the
container
preferably is washable and reusable, although it can also be disposable.
[0020] In one embodiment, container 10 is fitted with a stopper 12, made of
cork,
rubber or other suitable material for sealing the beverage within the
container 10 to
avoid spilling. For reasons explained later, even if the container is knocked
over
from the upright position shown, little or no beverage will escape. The
stopper 12
includes a plurality of holes extending through it to accommodate dispenser
hoses,
through which the beverage is to be dispensed to the users. (Where a filled
container moves through commerce prior to use, it will of course be sealed
initially,
for example with a stopper or the like that has no holes.) In one embodiment,
each
hole in the stopper 12 is sized to fit a single hose 14. Each hose 14 is made
of a
flexible, water impermeable material such as rubber tubing. Both the stopper
12 and
the hoses 14 preferably are made of a cleanable, reusable material. In this
way,
after the beverage is consumed, the container 10 and related paraphernalia can
be
cleaned and then reused.
[0021] As illustrated in Fig. 1, a plurality of hoses 14 extend through
corresponding holes in the stopper 12. In one embodiment, the container 10 may
have a volume on the order of one=or two liters although the particular volume
is not
critical. It could be sized to hold several liters in which case the number of
hoses
might be increased to accommodate a larger number of users, on the order of
eight
or ten. Smaller versions of the container might be outfitted with just two or
three
hoses. The particular number of hoses is not critical.
[0022] In any event, the hoses preferably have a length to make it convenient
for
users who are gathered around the container to partake of the beverage through
the
user's respective hose. Each user preferably assigned her own hose for
hygienic
purposes. Thus, for example, each hose might have a length on the order of 12
to
36 inches, although the length is not critical. In a presently preferred
embodiment,
each tube has an inside diameter of approximately 5/16's of an inch. The
distal end
of each hose preferably is fitted with a mouth piece 18 described further
below. We
refer to the distal end of the hose as the opposite end of that which is
inside the
container 10 during use.
[0023] In another embodiment, the hose is bisected into two parts. A first
part
extends generally from the stopper down into the container. A second part,
disposed
entirely outside the container, extends from the stopper to the distal
(mouthpiece)
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end. The first and second parts are in fluid communication with one another
within
or adjacent the stopper so that fluid from the container can flow through the
first part
of the hose and into the second part of the hose toward the user.
[0024] In another embodiment, an "extension hose" can be provided to
effectively
lengthen either a unitary or a two-part primary hose. When an extension hose
is
fitted to the distal end of the primary hose, the mouthpiece is relocated to
the distal
end of the extension hose. In other embodiments, a mouthpiece can be
integrally
formed with a hose or extension hose.
[0025] Referring again to Figure 1, one or more of the hoses can be outfitted
with
a pump 20. The function of the pump 20 is to dispense a predetermined volume
of
beverage, for example a "shot" through the tube and into the mouth of a user.
A
"shot" is a commonly known measure for alcoholic beverages on the order of one
and one-half fluid ounces. The shot pump 20 is described in further detail
below with
reference to Figures 2 and 3. As shown in Fig. 1, the shot pump is installed
along a
hose generally adjacent to the distal end although the spacing from the distal
end is
not critical.
[0026] Fig. 2A shows a stopper 22 having three holes through it for
accommodating hoses. As noted, the stopper can be formed to accommodate any
desired of users; preferably it would have between two and eight such holes
and
corresponding hoses. In this embodiment, one of the hoses has a pump.
[0027] Fig. 2B is a cross-sectional view of the distal end region of a typical
hose.
In Fig. 2B, the hose 24 has a mouthpiece 26 installed on a distal end thereof
and
further includes an internal flange or check valve 28. In one embodiment, the
flange
is arranged to arrange backwash of beverage into the container 10 during use.
The
flange allows fluid flow in one direction only; namely, toward the distal end
of the
hose 24.
[0028] Fig. 3A is a cross-sectional view of a distal portion of a hose 30. In
this
example, a shot pump 32 is provided for dispensing a predetermined volume of
beverage out of the mouthpiece 34. The volume so dispensed is determined by
the
volume of the bulbous region 36 of the shot pump. The mouthpiece 34, which may
be cleanable and/or disposable, includes an interior flange 40 also known as a
check
valve which will allow fluids (both air and liquid) to flow in one direction
only; again,
toward the user. In initial operation, a user squeezes the bulbous region 36
to a
compressed condition, thereby forcing the air out of the volume 36. The hose
check
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valve 38 prevents the air from traveling down the hose toward the container.
Accordingly, the air is forced through the check valve 40 and out through the
mouthpiece 34.
[0029] Then, the user releases the bulb 36 which, because of the resiliency of
the
bulb material, allows it to return to its original size and shape, as
illustrated in Figure
3B. The resiliency of the bulb, and the laws of physics, cause it to pull
fluid into the
bulb to fill the space as it expands to its original shape. The check valve 40
prevents
fluid (air or liquid) from flowing into the bulb through the mouthpiece 34.
However,
the flange 38 permits the flow of fluid out of the beverage container 10 and
into the
bulb 36 as shown in Figure 3B. Accordingly, an amount of beverage flows into
the
bulb approximately corresponding to the volume of the bulb. One might say that
the
shot pump is now refilled or "loaded."
[0030] Referring next to Figure 3C, when ready, a user holds the mouthpiece 34
in her mouth and then she (or an assistant) squeezes the bulb, thereby
discharging
the volume of beverage held in the bulb 36 into her mouth via mouthpiece 34.
As
noted, other users may be consuming beverage from the same container 10 at the
same time and, one or more of them may be using a shot pump in like fashion.
[0031] Fig. 4A is an enlarged, partially cut away view showing detail of the
check
valve 40 inside of the mouthpiece 34. The check valve in one embodiment is
formed
of an opposed pair of flaps 42A and 42B which are impermeable to fluids, but
nonetheless flexible and resilient. Accordingly, in use, when a fluid is
pulled through
the hose toward the mouthpiece, either by suction applied by the user or due
to
squeezing the shot pump, or both, the opposed flaps of the check valve will
separate
allowing the fluid to flow there through, as shown in Figure 4B. On the other
hand,
any fluid flow in the direction toward the container will cause the resilient
flaps to
come together thereby sealing of the distal end of the hose to prevent such
fluid flow.
Thus, the reader will appreciate that the subject beverage dispenser can be
used at
home, or in a bar or in a restaurant or other location wherever people engage
in
social interaction that includes drinking beverages.
[0032] In one embodiment, the beverage container 10 (Fig. 1) is made of glass
and has a distinctive shape and/or surface ornamentation, or coloring, so that
it
when empty, it can be carried away as souvenir. Figure 5 illustrates another
embodiment of a stopper and two hoses in accordance with the invention,
including
a smooth, hollow, rigid liner disposed in each hose aperture to facilitate
insertion of
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the hose. The liner can extend outside the stopper, as illustrated, or it can
be sized
flush with the top and bottom surfaces of the stopper. The hoses can be sized
to fit
over the liner, above and below the stopper, in which case the hose is
bisected.
Alternatively, the hose can fit into and through the liner, as shown.
[0033] It will be obvious to those having skill in the art that many changes
may be
made to the details of the above-described embodiments without departing from
the
underlying principles of the invention. The scope of the present invention
should,
therefore, be determined only by the following claims.
