EP0319348A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Convertible beverage dispenser
Assignee: Coca-Cola Co
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Filing: 1988-12-05
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2008-12-05
Abstract
Abstract A compact multiflavor, convertible beverage dispenser (10) that can be installed in any one of several different orientations so as to be able to fit in almost any available space. This dispenser can operate frontways or sideways and has a dispense module (14) separable from a refigeration module (12) to go on top of a counter with the refrigeration module going below. The dispenser can use either figals or bag-in-box (with built-in syrup pumps) and can be easily modified to dispense different numbers of beverages.
Inventors
- 👤 William S. Credle, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-10 01:59
CPC Classifications
B; B67; B67D; B67D99/00; B67D1/00; B67D1/0042; B67D1/0057; B67D1/0069; B67D1/0074; B67D1/0015; B67D1/0021; B67D1/06; A; A47; A47J; A47J2201/00; B67D2210/00; B67D2210/00028; B67D2210/00031; B67D2210/00034; B67D2210/00099; B67D2210/00104
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
125 words
A unitary, convertible postmix beverage dispenser comprising: (a) a refrigeration module and a separate dispense module, said refrigeration module having a refrigeration module housing and said dispense module having a dispense module housing; (b) removable connecting means for connecting said housings together to operate as a one-piece unit and for separating said housings from each other to operate as a two-piece unit; (c) means for connecting a water line in said refrigeration module to a water line in said dispense module; (d) means for connecting a syrup line in said refrigeration module to a syrup line in said dispense module; (e) said refrigeration module including a refrigeration unit and a carbonation unit; and (f) said dispense module including a selector button and a dispensing valve.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
125 words
A unitary, convertible postmix beverage dispenser comprising: (a) a refrigeration module and a separate dispense module, said refrigeration module having a refrigeration module housing and said dispense module having a dispense module housing; (b) removable connecting means for connecting said housings together to operate as a one-piece unit and for separating said housings from each other to operate as a two-piece unit; (c) means for connecting a water line in said refrigeration module to a water line in said dispense module; (d) means for connecting a syrup line in said refrigeration module to a syrup line in said dispense module; (e) said refrigeration module including a refrigeration unit and a carbonation unit; and (f) said dispense module including a selector button and a dispensing valve.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said housings are separated and wherein said water line connecting means and said syrup line connecting means are long, flexible lines such that said refrigeration module can be placed below a counter and said dispense module can be placed above said counter.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 1 or 2 wherein said syrup line connecting means includes a plurality of syrup lines, and wherein said dispense module includes a plurality of selector buttons.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said syrup line connecting means includes a plurality of syrup lines, and wherein said dispensing valve is a multiflavor valve.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 4 wherein said multiflavor valve includes a single mixing nozzle and a plurality of separate flow control modules, each flow control module including a solenoid controlled on-off valve and a flow control.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
40 words
The apparatus as recited in any preceding claim wherein said housings are removably connected together and said water line and syrup line connecting means are mating fittings on the respective water and syrup lines in the refrigeration and dispense modules.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
17 words
The apparatus as recited in any preceding claim wherein said refrigeration module includes a built-in syrup pump.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 7 including a plurality of said built-in syrup pumps.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
72 words
The apparatus as recited in any preceding claim wherein said dispense module includes a dispense section and a hollow section, said sections each having a rear wall facing said refrigeration module when said housings are connected together, said rear walls having openings therein and means for connecting said sections together with said rear walls facing each other when said housings are separated, whereby said openings are hidden in said separated dispense module.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
20 words
The apparatus as recited in any preceding claim including means for changing the number of selector buttons and syrup lines.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
35 words
The apparatus as recited in any preceding claim wherein said dispense module includes a longer sidewall and a shorter frontwall, and including means for locating said selector button on either said sidewall or said frontwall.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 11 including a plurality of said selector buttons.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
143 words
A method for dispensing beverages comprising: (a) providing a unitary, convertible beverage dispenser including a refrigeration module and a separate dispense module, said refrigeration module having a refrigeration module housing and said dispense module having a dispense module housing, (b) connecting a water line in said refrigeration module to a water line in said dispense module; (c) connecting a syrup line in said refrigeration module to a syrup line in said dispense module; (d) providing a selector button and a dispensing valve in said dispense module; (e) connecting said housings together when it is desired to operate said convertible dispenser as a one-piece countertop unit; and (f) disconnecting said housings from each other when it is desired to operate said dispenser as a two-piece unit, placing said refrigeration module below said countertop and placing only said dispense module on top of said countertop.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
143 words
A method for dispensing beverages comprising: (a) providing a unitary, convertible beverage dispenser including a refrigeration module and a separate dispense module, said refrigeration module having a refrigeration module housing and said dispense module having a dispense module housing, (b) connecting a water line in said refrigeration module to a water line in said dispense module; (c) connecting a syrup line in said refrigeration module to a syrup line in said dispense module; (d) providing a selector button and a dispensing valve in said dispense module; (e) connecting said housings together when it is desired to operate said convertible dispenser as a one-piece countertop unit; and (f) disconnecting said housings from each other when it is desired to operate said dispenser as a two-piece unit, placing said refrigeration module below said countertop and placing only said dispense module on top of said countertop.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
74 words
The method as recited in claim 13 wherein said dispenser has a notched corner dispensing station and wherein said dispenser has a longer frontwall and a narrower sidewall, and wherein said housings are connected together and said selector buttons are on said frontwall adjacent said notched corner dispensing station, and including the step of moving said dispenser to face sideways on said countertop and moving said selector buttons from said frontwall to said sidewall.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
72 words
The method as recited in claim 13 or 14 wherein said dispense module includes a dispense section and a separate hollow section, said sections each having a rear wall facing said refrigeration module when said housings are connected together and said rear walls having openings therein, and including the step of connecting said sections together with their rear walls facing each other when said housings are separated, whereby said openings are hidden.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
71 words
The method as recited in claim 13, 14 or 15 wherein said dispensing valve is a multiflavor valve including a single mixing nozzle and a plurality of separate flow control modules, each flow control module including a solenoid controlled on-off valve and a flow control, and including the step of changing the number of beverages to be dispensed by changing the number of said flow control modules in said dispense module.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
117 words
A flow control module comprising: (a) a body having a liquid flow passageway therethrough from an inlet port to an outlet port; (b) a flow control chamber in said body with a piston-spring flow control element therein, said chamber having an inlet and an outlet in said passageway; (c) a control valve chamber in said body in fluid communication with said passageway, a valve element adapted to seat on a valve seat, and a solenoid mounted on said body and having an armature connected to said valve element, for controlling the on-off flow through said flow control module; and (d) said inlet port and outlet port being on opposite faces of said body and having parallel axes.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
117 words
A flow control module comprising: (a) a body having a liquid flow passageway therethrough from an inlet port to an outlet port; (b) a flow control chamber in said body with a piston-spring flow control element therein, said chamber having an inlet and an outlet in said passageway; (c) a control valve chamber in said body in fluid communication with said passageway, a valve element adapted to seat on a valve seat, and a solenoid mounted on said body and having an armature connected to said valve element, for controlling the on-off flow through said flow control module; and (d) said inlet port and outlet port being on opposite faces of said body and having parallel axes.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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