Portable post-mix beverage dispenser unit

Claim 2

In a post-mix beverage dispenser system having a water supply, a carbonator tank, at least one syrup container, a CO2 cylinder, a CO2 pressure regulator valve assembly and a beverage dispenser valve assembly, the improvement comprising: first socket means in said Co2 pressure regulator valve assembly for receiving and supporting the discharge end and the weight of said CO2 cylinder, said discharge end being at the bottom of said cylinder when said cylinder is disposed in said first socket means; valve means operatively associated with the discharge end of said cylinder for initiating the discharge of CO2 from said cylinder to said regulator valve assembly when open; valve actuator means in said first socket means for opening said valve means in response to plugging of said discharge end of said CO2 cylinder into said first socket means; and second socket means in said beverage dispenser valve assembly for receiving and supporting a discharge end and the weight of said syrup container, said discharge end of said syrup container being at the bottom of said container when said container is disposed in said second socket means, whereby said at least one syrup container and said at least one CO2 cylinder can be rapidly plugged into said first and second socket means.

Claim 5

The method of claim 2, further including the step of manually pouring water for the post-mix beverage into a water reservoir in said dispenser unit.

Claim 6

In a post-mix beverage dispenser system having a water supply, a carbonator tank, at least one syrup container, a CO2 cylinder, a CO2 pressure regulator valve assembly and a beverage dispenser valve assembly, the improvement comprising: socket means in said CO2 pressure regulator valve assembly for receiving and supporting the discharge end and the weight of said CO2 cylinder, said discharge end being at the bottom of said container when said container is disposed in said socket means; valve means operatively associated with the discharge end of said cylinder for initiating the discharge of CO2 from said cylinder to said regulator valve assembly when open; and valve actuator means in said socket means for opening said valve means in response to plugging of said discharge end of said CO2 cylinder into said socket means.

Claim 7

In a post-mix beverage dispenser system having a water supply, a carbonator tank, at least one syrup container, a CO2 cylinder, a CO2 pressure regulator valve assembly and a beverage dispenser valve assembly, the improvement comprising: socket means in said CO2 pressure regulator valve assembly for receiving and supporting the discharge end and the weight of said CO2 cylinder, said discharge end being at the bottom of said container when said container is disposed in said socket means; valve means operatively associated with the discharge end of said cylinder for initiating the discharge of CO2 from said cylinder to said regulator valve assembly when open; and valve actuator means in said socket means for opening said valve means in response to plugging of said discharge end of said CO2 cylinder into said socket means.

Claim 10

The system of claim 1, wherein said CO2 cylinder has a closed end opposite said discharge end and contains CO2 therein in both a liquid and gaseous phase, and there is further provided elongated tube means extending from said discharge end of said cylinder to a point spaced from said closed end, said tube means providing a passage to said valve means through which only the gaseous phase of CO2 in a region adjacent said closed end may be selectively dispensed from said cylinder.

Claim 11

The method of claim 2, wherein said CO2 cylinder has a closed end opposite said discharge opening and contains CO2 therein in both a liquid and gaseous phase, and there is further provided elongated tube means extending from said discharge opening of said cylinder to a point spaced from said closed end, said tube means providing a passage to said valve through which only the gaseous phase of CO2 in a region adjacent said closed ends may be selectively dispensed from said cylinder.

Claim 12

The system of claim 4 wherein said CO2 cylinder has a closed end opposite said discharge end and contains CO2 therein in both a liquid and gaseous phase and there is further provided elongated tube means extending from said discharge end of said cylinder to a point spaced from said closed end, said tube means providing a passage to said valve means through which only the gaseous phase of CO2 in a region adjacent said closed end may be selectively dispensed from said cylinder.

Claim 13

The method of claim 5 wherein said CO2 cylinder has a closed end opposite said discharge opening and contains CO2 therein in both a liquid and gaseous phase, and there is further provided elongated tube means extending from said discharge openings of said cylinder to a pont spaced from said closed end, said tube means providing a passage to said valve through which only the gaseous phase of CO2 in a region adjacent said closed end may be selectively dispensed from said cylinder.

Claim 14

A post-mix beverage dispensing system comprising: a main cabinet portion having top, front, back, side and bottom walls with open compartments formed therein housing various components of the post-mix beverage system, said compartments including: a water supply compartment for housing a water reservoir and an entrance chute therefor extending to said front wall, a carbonator compartment for housing a carbonator tank, a syrup supply compartment for housing replaceable syrup containers adjacent said front wall, and a CO2 supply compartment for housing a CO2 cylinder adjacent said front wall; said top wall of said main cabinet having openings therein providing access to said water reservoir, entrance chute, carbonator compartment, and said syrup supply compartment; said front wall also having openings therein providing access to said syrup compartment and said CO2 supply compartment; a first access panel normally covering the openings in said front and top walls providing access to said syrup supply compartment; a second access panel normally covering said openings in said top wall providing access to said water compartment and said carbonator compartment; a third access panel at least covering the opening in said front wall providing access to said CO2 supply compartment, said third access panel being movable to uncover said opening in said front wall to provide access to said CO2 supply compartment; water supply conduit means connecting said water reservoir and said carbonator tank; pump means for pumping water from said water reservoir to said carbonator tank; CO2 supply conduit means connecting said CO2 cylinder to said carbonator tank; and a refrigeration system including, a compressor, a condensor, and an evaporator coil, said evaporator coil having a main portion disposed in contact with said water reservoir for cooling said water, a second portion in heat transfer relationship with said carbonator tank, and a third portion in heat transfer relationship with said replaceable syrup containers.

Claim 15

A post-mix beverage dispensing system comprising: a main cabinet portion having top, front, back, side and bottom walls with open compartments formed therein housing various components of the post-mix beverage system, said compartments including: a water supply compartment for housing a water reservoir and an entrance chute therefor extending to said front wall, a carbonator compartment for housing a carbonator tank, a syrup supply compartment for housing replaceable syrup containers adjacent said front wall, and a CO2 supply compartment for housing a CO2 cylinder adjacent said front wall; said top wall of said main cabinet having openings therein providing access to said water reservoir, entrance chute, carbonator compartment, and said syrup supply compartment; said front wall also having openings therein providing access to said syrup compartment and said CO2 supply compartment; a first access panel normally covering the openings in said front and top walls providing access to said syrup supply compartment; a second access panel normally covering said openings in said top wall providing access to said water compartment and said carbonator compartment; a third access panel at least covering the opening in said front wall providing access to said CO2 supply compartment, said third access panel being movable to uncover said opening in said front wall to provide access to said CO2 supply compartment; water supply conduit means connecting said water reservoir and said carbonator tank; pump means for pumping water from said water reservoir to said carbonator tank; CO2 supply conduit means connecting said CO2 cylinder to said carbonator tank; and a refrigeration system including, a compressor, a condensor, and an evaporator coil, said evaporator coil having a main portion disposed in contact with said water reservoir for cooling said water, a second portion in heat transfer relationship with said carbonator tank, and a third portion in heat transfer relationship with said replaceable syrup containers.

Claim 16

A cabinet construction for a post-mix beverage dispenser unit comprising: a main cabinet portion having top, front, back, side and bottom walls with open compartments formed therein for housing various components of the post-mix beverage dispenser, said compartments including: 22. a water supply compartment for housing a water reservoir and an entrance chute therefor extending to said front wall, a carbonator compartment for housing a carbonator tank, a syrup supply compartment for housing replaceable syrup containers adjacent said front wall r and a CO2 supply compartment for housing a CO2 cylinder adjacent said front wall; said top wall of said main cabinet having openings therein providing access to said water reservoir, entrance chute, carbonator compartment, and said syrup supply compartment; said front wall also having openings therein providing access to said syrup supply compartment and said CO2 supply compartment; a first access panel at least covering the opening in said front wall providing access to said syrup supply compartment; a second removable access panel normally covering said openings in said top wall providing access to said water compartment and said carbonator compartment; and a third access panel at least covering the opening in said front wall providing access to said CO2 supply compartment, said third access panel being movable to uncover said opening in said front wall to provide access to said CO2 supply compartment. 23.

Claim 17

A cabinet construction for a post-mix beverage dispenser unit comprising: a main cabinet portion having top, front, back, side and bottom walls with open compartments formed therein for housing various components of the post-mix beverage dispenser, said compartments including: 22. a water supply compartment for housing a water reservoir and an entrance chute therefor extending to said front wall, a carbonator compartment for housing a carbonator tank, a syrup supply compartment for housing replaceable syrup containers adjacent said front wall r and a CO2 supply compartment for housing a CO2 cylinder adjacent said front wall; said top wall of said main cabinet having openings therein providing access to said water reservoir, entrance chute, carbonator compartment, and said syrup supply compartment; said front wall also having openings therein providing access to said syrup supply compartment and said CO2 supply compartment; a first access panel at least covering the opening in said front wall providing access to said syrup supply compartment; a second removable access panel normally covering said openings in said top wall providing access to said water compartment and said carbonator compartment; and a third access panel at least covering the opening in said front wall providing access to said CO2 supply compartment, said third access panel being movable to uncover said opening in said front wall to provide access to said CO2 supply compartment. 23.

Claim 18

The invention defined in claims 10 or 11, wherein said first access panel means also normally covers said entrance chute and is slidably mounted on said main cabinet portion, and when slid from said normal covering positions, first uncovers said entrance chute and then said syrup compartment.

Claim 19

The invention defined in claims 10 or 11, and wherein said first access panel has a wrap-around portion with surfaces parallel to the corner defined by said top and front walls and is slidable in tracks provided in said top and front walls.

Claim 20

The invention defined in claims 10 or 11, wherein said first access panel means also normally covers said entrance chute and is slidably mounted on said main cabinet portion, and when slid from said normal covering positions, first uncovers said entrance chute and then said syrup compartment said first access panel has a wrap-around portion with surfaces parallel to the corner defined by said top and front walls and is slidable in tracks provided in said top and front walls. and wherein said first access panel means has an extension from said wrap-around portion in the plane of said top wall which covers said entrance chute.

Claim 21

The invention defined in claims 10 or 11, wherein said first access panel means also normally covers said entrance chute and is slidably mounted on said main cabinet portion, and when slid from said normal covering positions, first uncovers said entrance chute and then said syrup compartment. 24.

Claim 22

The invention defined in claims 10 or 11, wherein said first access panel means also normally covers said entrance chute and is slidably mounted on said main cabinet portion, and when slid from said normal covering positions, first uncovers said entrance chute and then said syrup compartment and wherein said first access panel has a wrap-around portion with surfaces parallel to the corner defined by said top and front walls and is slidable in tracks provided in said top and front walls.

Claim 23

The invention defined in claims 1 or 6, wherein said first access panel means also normally covers said entrance chute and is slidably mounted on said main cabinet portion, and when slid from said normal covering positions, first uncovers said entrance chute and then said syrup compartment said first access panel has a wrap-around portion with surfaces parallel to the corner defined by said top and front walls and is slidable in tracks provided in said top and front walls and wherein said first access panel means has an extension from said wrap-around portion in the plane of said top wall which covers said entrance chute.

Claim 24

The invention defined in claims 10 or 11, wherein said second removable access panel is flat with major surfaces thereof parallel to said top wall and latch means are provided for securing the same to said top wall.

Claim 25

The invention defined in claims 10 or 11, wherein said CO2 supply compartment is a cut-out of a vertical corner of said cabinet portion between said front wall and one of said 25. side walls and said third access panel means comprises a hinged door having major planar surfaces at right angles to each other, filling the cut-out of said vertical corner in a closed position.

Claim 26

The invention defined in claims 10 or 11, further comprising a fourth removable access panel normally covering the entire back wall of said main cabinet portion.

Claim 27

The post-mix beverage dispensing system of claim 1, further comprising heat transfer bracket means in direct contact with said third portion of said evaporator coil, said heat transfer bracket means partially enclosing the sidewalls of said at least one syrup container providing heat transfer surface portions in close proximity to opposed surfaces of the sidewalls of said syrup container.

Claim 28

A cabinet construction for a post-mix beverage dispenser unit comprising: a main cabinet portion having top, front, back, side and bottom walls with open compartments formed therein for housing various components of the post-mix beverage dispenser, said compartments including: a water supply compartment for housing a water reservoir and an entrance chute therefor extending to said front wall, a carbonator compartment for housing a carbonator tank, a syrup supply compartment including upwardly facing sockets for receiving the discharge end of replaceable gravity-feed syrup containers adjacent said front wall, and 26. a CO2 supply compartment including an upwardly facing socket for receiving the discharge end of a CO2 cylinder adjacent said front wall; said front wall having openings therein providing access to said syrup supply compartment and said CO2 cylinder adjacent said front wall; access panel means at least covering the openings in said front wall, said access panel means providing access to said syrup supply compartment, CO2 supply compartment and said entrance chute.

Claim 29

A cabinet construction for a post-mix beverage dispenser unit comprising: a main cabinet portion having top, front, back, side and bottom walls with open compartments formed therein for housing various components of the post-mix beverage dispenser, said compartments including: a water supply compartment for housing a water reservoir and an entrance chute therefor extending to said front wall, a carbonator compartment for housing a carbonator tank, a syrup supply compartment including upwardly facing sockets for receiving the discharge end of replaceable gravity-feed syrup containers adjacent said front wall, and 26. a CO2 supply compartment including an upwardly facing socket for receiving the discharge end of a CO2 cylinder adjacent said front wall; said front wall having openings therein providing access to said syrup supply compartment and said CO2 cylinder adjacent said front wall; access panel means at least covering the openings in said front wall, said access panel means providing access to said syrup supply compartment, CO2 supply compartment and said entrance chute.

Claim 30

A cabinet construction for a post-mix beverage dispenser unit comprising: a main cabinet portion having top, front, back, side and bottom walls with open compartments formed therein for housing various components of the post-mix beverage dispenser, said compartments including: a water supply compartment for housing a water reservoir and an entrance chute therefor extending to said front wall, a carbonator compartment for housing a carbonator tank, a syrup supply compartment for housing replaceable syrup containers adjacent said front wall, and a CO2 supply compartment for housing a CO2 cylinder adjacent said front wall; said top wall of said main cabinet having openings therein providing access to said water reservoir, entrance chute, carbonator compartment, and said syrup supply compartment; 27. said front wall also having openings therein providing access to said syrup supply compartment and said CO2 supply compartment; and access panel means at least covering the openings in said front wall, said access panel means providing access to said syrup supply compartment, CO2 supply compartment and said entrance chute. 28.

Claim 31

A cabinet construction for a post-mix beverage dispenser unit comprising: a main cabinet portion having top, front, back, side and bottom walls with open compartments formed therein for housing various components of the post-mix beverage dispenser, said compartments including: a water supply compartment for housing a water reservoir and an entrance chute therefor extending to said front wall, a carbonator compartment for housing a carbonator tank, a syrup supply compartment for housing replaceable syrup containers adjacent said front wall, and a CO2 supply compartment for housing a CO2 cylinder adjacent said front wall; said top wall of said main cabinet having openings therein providing access to said water reservoir, entrance chute, carbonator compartment, and said syrup supply compartment; 27. said front wall also having openings therein providing access to said syrup supply compartment and said CO2 supply compartment; and access panel means at least covering the openings in said front wall, said access panel means providing access to said syrup supply compartment, CO2 supply compartment and said entrance chute. 28.

Claim 32

A post-mix, carbonated beverage dispenser apparatus comprising: a) a cabinet having front, side, back, top and bottom walls; b) a carbonator; c) a manually refill-able water reservoir within the cabinet for supplying water to said carbonator, said water reservoir having entrance opening means contiguous to said front wall for receiving a manually introduced water supply; d) at least one replaceable flavor concentrate container disposed contiguous to said front wall; e) at least one replaceable CO2 cylinder disposed contiguous to said front wall for supplying CO2 gas to said carbonator; f) access means for the water entrance opening means, flavor concentrate container, and CO2 cylinder, permit-ting water, flavor concentrate containers and CO2 cylinders to be introduced into said cabinet at the front wall thereof; and g) a dispensing station at said front wall for delivering a post-mix, carbonated beverage formed from a mixture of flavor concentrate and carbon-ated water.

Claim 33

A post-mix, carbonated beverage dispenser apparatus comprising: a) a cabinet having front, side, back, top and bottom walls; b) a carbonator; c) a manually refill-able water reservoir within the cabinet for supplying water to said carbonator, said water reservoir having entrance opening means contiguous to said front wall for receiving a manually introduced water supply; d) at least one replaceable flavor concentrate container disposed contiguous to said front wall; e) at least one replaceable CO2 cylinder disposed contiguous to said front wall for supplying CO2 gas to said carbonator; f) access means for the water entrance opening means, flavor concentrate container, and CO2 cylinder, permit-ting water, flavor concentrate containers and CO2 cylinders to be introduced into said cabinet at the front wall thereof; and g) a dispensing station at said front wall for delivering a post-mix, carbonated beverage formed from a mixture of flavor concentrate and carbon-ated water.

Claim 34

The apparatus of claim 24, wherein said water reservoir is disposed adjacent said back wall of said cabinet and a conduit connects said reservoir to said entrance opening means.

Claim 35

The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said conduit slopes downwardly from said entrance opening means to said water reservoir. 29.

Claim 36

The apparatus of claim 24, wherein three of said flavor concentrate containers are disposed contiguous to said front wall.

Claim 37

The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said flavor concentrate containers have substantially flat sidewalls and are supported side-by-side, parallel to said front wall above said dispensing station.

Claim 38

The apparatus of claim 24, wherein said dispensing station includes a valve assembly for each flavor concentrate container and a dispensing nozzle for each valve assembly.

Claim 39

The apparatus of claim 28, wherein said dispensing station includes a valve assembly for each flavor concentrate container and a dispensing nozzle for each valve assembly.

Claim 40

The apparatus of claim 30, wherein said dispensing station includes a recess in said front wall below said syrup concentrate containers into which said dispensing nozzles extend and a support surface at the bottom of said recess for drinking containers to be filled with the carbonated beverage.