A BEVERAGE FONT ASSEMBLY FOR BEING MOUNTED ON A BAR COUNTER OF A DRINKING ESTABLISHMENT AND A METHOD OF MONITORING A BEVERAGE FONT ASSEMBLY MOUNTED ON A BAR COUNTER IN A DRINKING ESTABLISHMENT

Abstract

The present invention relates to a beverage font assembly (10) for a drinking establishment. The beverage font assembly (10) comprises a beverage font (16) mounted on a bar counter (24) having a customer side and an operator side. The beverage font includes a tapping head (17) having a spout (18) and a handle (20). The beverage font (16) is connectable to a tapping line extending to a beverage container. The handle (20) is operable between a non-beverage dispensing position and a beverage dispensing position. In the non-beverage dispensing position, the beverage may not flow from the container to the spout (18). In the beverage dispensing position, the beverage may flow from the container to the spout (18). The beverage font assembly further comprises a projection screen (14) mounted on the beverage font. The projection screen (14) is visible from the customer side of the beverage font. The beverage font assembly further comprises a video projector (12) for projecting an image onto the projection screen (14).

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. A beverage font assembly for a drinking establishment, said beverage font assembly comprising: a beverage font mountable on a bar counter and defining an operator side and a customer side opposite the operator side, the beverage font including a tapping head facing the operator side, the tapping head having a spout and a handle and being connectable to a tapping line extending through the beverage font to a beverage container which includes a beverage, the handle being operable between a non-beverage dispensing position, in which the beverage is prevented from flowing from the beverage container via the tapping line and the tapping head to the spout, and a beverage dispensing position, in which the beverage may flow from the container via the tapping line and the tapping head to the spout; a projection screen mounted on the beverage font so as to be visible from the customer side of the beverage font when the beverage font is mounted on a bar counter; and a video projector mounted on the beverage font and configured for projecting an image onto the projection screen.

17. The beverage font assembly according to claim 16, wherein the projection screen is mounted on the handle and is visible from the customer side of the beverage font when the handle is in the non-beverage dispensing position.

18. The beverage font assembly according to claim 16, wherein the projection screen is mounted adjacent the handle.

19. The beverage font assembly according to claim 16, wherein the projection screen is mounted between the handle and the user side of the beverage font.

20. The beverage font assembly according to claim 16, wherein the projection screen is transmissive of light.

21. The beverage font assembly of claim 16, wherein the projection screen is reflective of light.

22. The beverage font assembly according to claim 16, wherein the video projector is positioned in a dust-proof and waterproof location within the beverage font.

23. The beverage font assembly according to claim 16, wherein the video projector is positioned in a dust-proof and waterproof location outside the beverage font.

24. The beverage font assembly according to claim 16, wherein the beverage font includes a light guide.

25. The beverage font assembly according to claim 24, wherein the light guide is selected from the group consisting of one or more of mirrors, prisms, lenses, light pipes, and optical fibers.

26. The beverage font assembly according to claim 24, further comprising a secondary projection screen, wherein the light guide is adjustable such that the video projector is operable to project an image onto the secondary projection screen when the handle is in the beverage dispensing position.

27. The beverage font assembly according to claim 23, wherein the dust-proof and waterproof location is below the beverage font.

30. The beverage font assembly according to claim 16, wherein the video projector is located between 1 cm and 500 cm from the projection screen.

31. The beverage font assembly according to claim 30, wherein the video projector is between 5 cm and 50 cm from the projection screen.

32. The beverage font assembly according to claim 16, wherein the video projector is controlled wirelessly.

33. The beverage font assembly according to claim 16, wherein the video projector is accessible via the Internet.

34. The beverage font assembly according to claim 16, wherein the video projector is controlled by the handle.

35. A method of assembling a beverage font assembly in a drinking establishment, said method comprising the steps of: mounting a beverage font on a bar counter of the drinking establishment, the mounted beverage font defining an operator side and a customer side opposite the operator side, the beverage font including a tapping head facing the operator side, the tapping head having a spout and a handle, the beverage font being connectable to a tapping line extending through the beverage font to a beverage container which includes a beverage, the handle being operable between a non-beverage dispensing position, in which the beverage is prevented from flowing from the container via the tapping line and the tapping head to the spout, and a beverage dispensing position, in which the beverage is permitted to flow from the container via the tapping line and the tapping head to the spout; mounting a projection screen on the beverage font so as to be visible from the customer side of the beverage font; and locating a video projector in the drinking establishment for projecting an image onto the projection screen.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0048] FIG. 1 is a beverage font assembly including a video projector and a projection screen.

[0049] FIG. 2A is a beverage font assembly with a mirror.

[0050] FIG. 2B is a beverage font assembly with a mirror and a projection screen on the font.

[0051] FIG. 2C is a beverage font assembly having an integrated screen on the font.

[0052] FIG. 3A is a beverage font assembly with a projection screen on the handle.

[0053] FIG. 3B is a beverage font assembly with a light tube and a projection screen.

[0054] FIG. 3C is a beverage font assembly having a video projector mounted in the ceiling.

[0055] FIG. 3D is a beverage font assembly having a video projector behind the screen.

[0056] FIG. 4A is a beverage font assembly having a movable mirror when non-dispensing.

[0057] FIG. 4B is a beverage font assembly having a movable mirror when dispensing.

[0058] FIG. 5A is a beverage font assembly having a second screen when non-dispensing.

[0059] FIG. 5B is a beverage font assembly having a second screen when dispensing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0060] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a beverage font assembly 10 including a video projector 12 and a projection screen 14. An image 15, preferably being a video having a commercial message, is projected on the projection screen 14. The beverage font assembly is for use with a beverage dispensing system including pressurized beverage containers (not shown) and comprises a font 16, which is to be mounted on a bar counter (not shown) of a drinking establishment (not shown). The font 16 is also known as column, stanchion, rod etc. due to its upright position. The font 16 is typically located at a central location within the drinking establishment to catch the eyes of the customer. The projecting screen 14 is visible to the customer and not necessarily visible to the beverage dispensing system operator. Drinking establishment is here to be understood as encompassing mainly commercial establishments such as bars, pubs, cafs, canteens, restaurants, etc., however, it may occasionally also include private homes etc.

[0061] The font 16 comprises a tapping head 17 having a spout 18 under which the operator would hold a beverage glass (not shown) during dispensing. The spout 18 is connected via a valve (not shown) and a tapping line (not shown) which are both within the font 16 to a pressurized beverage container which may be located below the bar counter or even in the cellar. The tapping head 17 of the font 16 further comprises a handle 20 which is controlling the valve (not shown). The handle 20 may assume a non-beverage dispensing position (the presently shown position), in which the handle is substantially upright and the valve (not shown) remains closed, and a beverage dispensing position, in which the handle 20 is swung into a substantially horizontal or at least non-upright position and the valve (not shown) opens to allow beverage (not shown) to flow from the pressurized beverage container (not shown) to the beverage glass held below the spout 18.

[0062] The video projector 12 is mounted on the font 16 in a substantially dust- and water-proof housing. The video projector may be of the pocket video projector type which is typically used in private homes and smaller conference rooms for various kinds of video presentations. The handle 20 comprises a projection screen of the reflective type for receiving an image from the video projector 12. The image may be a still image or a moving animation or video. The video projector 12 and the projection screen 14 should be mounted such that the image from the video projector 12 is correctly projected onto the projection screen 14 when the handle is in the upright non-beverage dispensing position. The light intensity of the projector should be adapted to the ambient light in the drinking establishment. Various font designs exist, such as straight fonts and curved fonts, and the font may also include two or more spouts and handles, each of which may have an associated video projector and projection screen. The projection screen may be a simple white or plate made of plastic, polyester, fabric or similar material allowing a clear projected image to appear.

[0063] FIG. 2A shows a side view of a beverage font assembly 10.sup.II with a mirror 22. In this way, the video projector 12 may be located within the font 16 and protected from dust and liquids. The video projector 12 may e.g. be located under a transparent cover. The video projector 12 may be cooled via the beverage cooling system (not shown) which is typically constituted by a cooling hose (not shown) inside the font or alternatively via a separate fan (not shown). The video projector 12 thus projects an image onto the mirror 22, which is reflected onto the projection screen 14. Further, it is evident that the mirror 22 may be replaced by similar optical devices such as prisms. The present font 16 is mounted on a bar counter 24.

[0064] FIG. 2B shows a side view of a beverage font assembly 10.sup.III with a mirror 22 and a projection screen 14 mounted on the font 16 instead of on the handle 20. The projection screen 14 may e.g. be mounted on a holder 26 which is in turn mounted on the font 16 either in front of the handle 20 or beside the handle 20. In this way, the image remains visible when the handle 20 is swung away from the upright position, i.e. to the dispensing position.

[0065] FIG. 2C shows a beverage font assembly 10.sup.IV having an integrated screen 14 on the font 16. The video projector 12 is located within the font 16 and the projection screen 14 is of the transmissive type and thus the video projector 12 is illuminating the projection screen 14 from behind. There is thus no risk for any interference of the light beam between the video projector 12 and the projecting screen 14.

[0066] FIG. 3A shows a beverage font assembly 10.sup.v with a projection screen 14 on the handle 20 similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. The video projector 12 is located within the font 16 and illuminates the projection screen 14 directly.

[0067] FIG. 3B is a beverage font assembly 10.sup.VI with a light tube 28 and a projection screen 14 on the font 16. The video projector 12 is in the present embodiment located within the bar counter 24. The light beam from the video projector 12 is led via the light tube 28 to the top of the font 16 to project the image onto the projection screen 14. The light tube 28 may be replaced by other suitable light guides such as one or more optical fibres.

[0068] FIG. 3C shows a beverage font assembly 10.sup.VII having a video projector 12 mounted in the ceiling or adjacent the ceiling of the drinking establishment. A position adjacent the ceiling avoids the risk of spillage of beverage into the video projector 12.

[0069] FIG. 3D shows a beverage font assembly 10.sup.VIII having a video projector 12 behind the projection screen 14. The present embodiment is similar to the embodiment shown in connection with FIG. 3C except that the video projector 12 is located in the ceiling or adjacent the ceiling of the drinking establishment behind the projection screen instead of in front of the projection screen 14 and that the projection screen 14 is transmissive instead of reflective.

[0070] FIG. 4A is a beverage font assembly 10.sup.1X having a movable mirror 22 when non-dispensing. When the beverage dispensing system is in the non-beverage dispensing position, i.e. the handle 20 is upright, the mirror 22 is as well upright and redirects the beam from the video projector 12 inside the font 16 to project an image onto the projection screen 14.

[0071] FIG. 4B is a beverage font assembly 10.sup.IX having a movable mirror 22 when dispensing. When the beverage dispensing system is in the beverage dispensing position, i.e. the handle 20 is swung into the non-upright position, the mirror 22 is as well swung into a tilted position in order to redirect the beam from the video projector 12 inside the font 16 to project an image onto the projection screen 14 which is now tilted along with the handle 14. When the handle 20 is returned to the upright position, the mirror 22 is tilted back to its original angle along with the projection screen 14 and the video projector 12 again projects the image on the upright projection screen 14.

[0072] FIG. 5A is a beverage font assembly 10.sup.x having a second screen 30 when non-dispensing. When the beverage dispensing system is in the non-beverage dispensing position, i.e. the handle 20 is upright, the video projector 12 is projecting an image on the projecting screen 14 which is mounted on the handle 20. The second projecting screen 30 which is located behind the projecting screen 14 is thus not illuminated.

[0073] FIG. 5B is a beverage font assembly 10.sup.X having a second screen when dispensing. When the beverage dispensing system is in the beverage dispensing position, i.e. the handle 20 is swung into the non-upright position, the projection screen 14 is swung along with the handle 20 and tilted out of the way of the projection beam from the video projector 12. The beam from the video projector 12 thus instead projects a larger image on the second projection screen 30 located behind the projection screen 14. When the handle 20 is returned to the upright position, the video projector 12 again projects the image on the projection screen 14.

[0074] The above described embodiments describe specific realizations according to the present invention showing specific features; however, it is apparent to the skillful individual that the above described embodiments may be modified, combined or aggregated to form numerous further embodiments.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0075] 10. Beverage dispensing assembly

[0076] 12. Video projector

[0077] 14. Projection screen

[0078] 15. Image

[0079] 16. Font

[0080] 17. Tapping head

[0081] 18. Spout

[0082] 20. Handle

[0083] 22. Mirror

[0084] 24. Bar counter

[0085] 26. Holder

[0086] 28. Light pipe

[0087] 30. Second projection screen