Carbonated fluid dispenser with ultrasonic foaming mechanism

Abstract

The embodiment relates to beverage dispensing, and more particularly to the dispensing of a beverage, from a beverage container into a vessel, providing a portion of the beverage as foam atop the dispensed beverage. To avoid the reduction of absorbed carbon dioxide in a carbonated beverage, increased atmospheric pressure is employed to move the beverage from the container through the apparatus and into the vessel. An oscillating means provides a sonic wave through a conduit and the liquid therein; the sonic wave initiates the reaction between the carbon dioxide and the ingredients in a carbonated beverage to cause the liquid to foam prior to dispensing into the vessel.

Claims

1. An apparatus for producing foam from beer while dispensing said, beer comprising: a power source; and at least one switch; and a control circuit; and a pump; and an ultrasonic transducer; and a seal; and a beverage container containing beer and having one open end; and a first conduit having a proximal end engaged with said pump, and a distal end passing through said seal and into said beverage container; and a second conduit having a proximal end for inserting into said beer, passing through said seal having potion that is proximal to said ultrasonic transducer and having a distal end exiting the apparatus; wherein the apparatus is positioned over the open end of said beverage container and the seal, providing a seal between said one open end beverage container and the apparatus; and the first conduit passing from said pump, through said seal, through said open end of said beverage container into said beverage container, further providing the proximal end of the second conduit within the beer; and said at least one switch providing power from said power source to said control circuit, sending power to said pump thus pumping air, and providing increased pressure in the pressure in the beverage container wherein the transference of the liquid through the second conduit and to the distal end exiting the apparatus; and upon engagement of an additional switch, said control circuit continues sending power to said pump while sending power and so engaging said ultrasonic transducer, thus providing oscillating waves through the liquid flowing through said second conduit, proximal to said ultrasonic transducer causing the beer to foam as it leaves the distal end of the conduit; thus dispensing both beer and foamed beer.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the beer is provided in a beverage container that is a glass bottle.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the beer is provided in a beverage container that is a can.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) To assist those of skill in the art in making and using the disclosed beverage dispenser and associated methods, reference is made to the accompanying figures, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective drawing of the embodiment,

(3) FIG. 2 is a partial section, perspective drawing of the embodiment of FIG. 1,

(4) FIG. 3 is a partial section, exploded, perspective drawing of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION

(5) As discussed in greater detail below, an apparatus and method providing dispensed liquid and dispensed, foamed liquid is described. In general, the embodiment is placed atop a beverage container, the embodiment having a first conduit that enters the air space in the container without entering the liquid and a second conduit that is inserted into the liquid. The embodiment has a sealing means for engaging with the opening of the beverage container. With the embodiment engaged with the opening of a beverage container and creating a fluid-tight, or in this case, an air-tight seal, over the open side of the container, a control switch may be moved in a first direction wherein a pump moves air through the first conduit, and so increases the air pressure inside the container. The increased air pressure in the container moves the beverage by the property of displacement, through the second conduit wherethrough it flows through the housing of the embodiment where it is dispensed into a vessel such as a beer glass. When the lever is moved to a second position, a high frequency oscillation means produces a sonic wave through the conduit and hence through the liquid being dispensed. The high frequency produces a fine, dense foam that floats on top of the dispensed beverage.

(6) Referring to FIG. 1, an example embodiment 600 comprises a housing 615 that removably engages with a beverage container 630 by way of a sealing means 650. The housing further comprises a switch 625 and a nozzle 617 which has a distal opening 619. The switch 625 may be a three position switch, having two active positions and an neutral position. The neutral position of a three position switch is also referred to as the off-position.

(7) Turning now to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 a partial section view is shown in FIG. 2 and a partial section, exploded view is shown in FIG. 3. The housing 616 contains a power source 621 that provides electricity to the internal components including a control circuit 622 that receives signals from the switch 625 and controls a pump 620 and an oscillator 622. The housing is engaged with an elastomeric sealing means 650 that has an opening 652 having tapered sides 654 that provide a seal around the opening of the beverage container 630. The tapered sides 654 provide a seal to various size container openings. The sealing means 650 has two openings proximal to the center of the sealing means, one opening 656, provides a means of passing a first conduit 609 through, and another opening 658 provides a means of passing a second conduit 618 through.

(8) The first conduit 609 is engaged with the pump 620 such that air is pumped through the conduit and into the beverage container 630. As the switch 625 is moved to a first active position, a signal is sent to the control circuit 622 that, in turn, provides power from the power source 621 to the pump 620 that subsequently pumps air into the beverage container. As air is pumped into the beverage container 630, liquid 624 is moved by displacement through the second conduit 618. A portion of the second conduit 618 is proximal to the oscillator 622.

(9) Liquid flowing through the second conduit 618 moves from the beverage container 630, past the oscillator 622 after which it proceeds through the nozzle 617 where it is dispensed through the distal opening 619 into a vessel such as a glass 626.

(10) When the user chooses to create a foamed liquid from a carbonated beverage such as beer, the lever 625 is moved to the second active position that signals the control circuit 622 to continue providing power to the pump 620 thus continuing the flow of the liquid through the second conduit 618 and further signals the control circuit 622 to provide power to the oscillator 622. The oscillator 622 produces an oscillatory wave through the conduit 618 and hence through the liquid. The oscillatory wave agitates the liquid, increasing the reaction between the carbon dioxide and the proteins and starches in a liquid containing such proteins and starches, thus producing foam 630 that floats on top of the dispensed liquid 628. When the beverage has been dispensed, the lever 625 is moved to a neutral position thus signaling the control circuit to cease powering components thus turning the device off.

(11) Although embodiments describe liquid under pressure, one skilled in the art can understand that the invention may also work with liquid flowing through a conduit at ambient pressure.

(12) A more complete understanding of the components, processes, and apparatuses disclosed herein can be obtained by reference to the accompanying figures. These figures are intended to demonstrate the present disclosure and are not intended to show relative sizes and dimensions or to limit the scope of the disclosed embodiment(s). In particular, the figures provided herein are not necessarily to scale and, in certain views, parts may be exaggerated for clarity.

(13) Although specific terms are used in the following description, these terms are intended to refer only to particular structures in the drawings and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. It is to be understood that like numeric designations refer to components of like function.

(14) The term “about” or “approximately” when used with a quantity includes the stated value and also has the meaning dictated by the context. For example, it includes at least the degree of error associated with the measurement of the particular quantity. When used in the context of a range, the term “about” or “approximately” should also be considered as disclosing the range defined by the absolute values of the two endpoints. For example, the range “from about 2 to about 4” or “from approximately 2 to approximately 4” also discloses the range “from 2 to 4.”

(15) While example embodiments have been described herein, it is expressly noted that these embodiments should not be construed as limiting, but rather that additions and modifications to what is expressly described herein also are included within the scope of the invention. Moreover, it is to be understood that the features of the various embodiments described herein are not mutually exclusive and can exist in various combinations and permutations, even if such combinations or permutations are not made express herein, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.