DESCRIPTION

Field of the invention

The present invention refers to the field of bartender and barman tools and in particular it concerns a device for obtaining liquid mixtures, such as drinks and/or cocktails, acting as a mixer and measuring device for such liquids.

Background of the invention

As it is known, in order to make cocktails and other similar drinks it is necessary to mix, usually with the aid of a shaker, a plurality of liquids in specific doses. For measuring the liquids and for evaluating the exact quantities to use, the barman can use a double measuring cup that is commonly called "jigger".

Such a measuring cup provides two frustoconical portions having different capacity, which are arranged over one another so as to define a typical hourglass- shape; such a shape allows the barman to comfortably grip the measuring cup at the narrower section, so as to pour the liquid, each time, in the portion that is most suitable for the required dosage.

The operation described above can be uncomfortable for the barman, especially considering the fact that a single cocktail can contain numerous ingredients and that such a measuring operation must be repeated a plurality of times for each cocktail that is made.

In order to at least partially avoid such a drawback, measuring cups have been disclosed with at least one of the two portions being divided into sections with a graduated volume. Such a solution makes it possible to simultaneously carry out a series of multiple measuring operations; however, it does not completely solve the problem especially since each of the sections is often insufficient to contain the exact dosage to be used; moreover, each cocktail can contain many ingredients in the same amount and therefore the barman is forced to repeat the measuring operation many times, since there is only one section for each dose.

Moreover, systems are known for automatically mixing drinks in which a series of tanks is associated with automatic means for sucking and extracting different liquids that are conveyed into a single barrel. However, such machines are complex and expensive as well as cumbersome and are therefore not suitable to be installed in most places such as bars, pubs, restaurants, etc. which have limited space and require cheaper solutions, that can also be used by untrained staff.

Summary of the invention

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a device for obtaining liquid mixtures adapted to be used in particular by bartenders and barmen capable of overcoming the aforementioned drawbacks and capable of obtaining, in view of a solution that is inexpensive and easy to use, an innovative and surprising result in terms of saving time and efforts to realise such mixtures, such as drinks and cocktails in particular.

These and other objects are attained by a device having the essential characteristics according to the first of the attached claims. Further important characteristics are indicated in the dependent claims.

Brief description of the drawings

The invention shall now be illustrated through the following description of embodiments thereof, provided solely by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the attached drawings wherein:

figure 1 is a transverse sectional view of a first embodiment of the device according to the invention;

- figures 2a and 2b are respectively a front and top view of an upper element of the first embodiment of the device according to the invention;

figure 2c shows the upper element in a sectional view along the line indicated with X-X in figure 2a;

figure 3a is a top view of a lower element of the first embodiment of the device;

figure 3b shows, in sectional view, along line XI-XI of figure 3a the lower element;

figure 4 is a slight perspective view of a second embodiment of the device according to the invention;

- figure 5a shows in isolation and in a perspective view the upper element of the device of figure 4; figure 5b is a top view of the upper element of figure 4a.

figure 5c is a side view of the upper element of the previous figures from 4 to

4b.

Detailed description of the invention

With reference to the above figures, the device for measuring and mixing liquids is described in particular for preparing drinks and cocktails, comprises two elements which are suitable for being connected/disconnected to/from one another; the elements, when assembled, are associated one above the other according to a pouring direction of the liquid, as will be clear later.

In detail, the device comprises an upper element 1 , V intended, as better observable hereinafter, for measuring liquids and a lower element 2, 2' adapted to be associated in a substantially sealing manner to the upper element.

The upper element comprises a plurality of barrels 10, 10', adapted to contain one or more liquids and dimensioned so as to have different capacities. The single capacity evidently corresponds to a determined amount of liquid.

Each barrel provides at least two openings, of which there are an upper 10b, 10b' and a lower 10a, 10a' one. The upper inlet opening allows to pour liquids into the barrel. The lower opening instead allows to pour the liquids outside of the barrel when the upper element is disengaged from the lower element. Regarding this, the lower opening of each barrel is adapted to be engaged, when the upper and lower elements are assembled to each other, with side shutter means 22a, 22a' of the lower element. The latter are thus adapted to sealingly shut each lower opening so that each barrel can hold the liquid at its inside. As mentioned above, when the upper element is detached from the lower element, the disengagement of the shutter means from the respective openings is simultaneously obtained, allowing the exit of the liquid and a preliminary mixing thereof.

Advantageously, the barrels 10, 10' have a volume such as to contain at most one ounce of liquid, corresponding to a base dose of liquid. The barrels of smaller dimensions shall thus contain sub-multiples of such base dose (i.e. ½, ¼ of an ounce etc.). Obviously, varying the volumes of the barrels, also other measures may be provided here depending on the needs. In particular, the barrels may contain at least one ounce and multiple integers thereof (two, three or four ounces).

Now, with particular reference to figures from 1 to 4, a first embodiment of the device according to the invention is described in detail.

The upper element 1 and lower element 2 have a complementary shape, to promote the fitting insertion by introducing the upper element into the lower element. Advantageously, the upper 1 and lower element 2 have a frusto-conical shape.

The upper element 1 has a bottom wall 1 b and a side wall 1 a rising from said bottom. In the same manner, said lower element has bottom end 2b and a side wall 2a rising from said bottom end. Accordingly to the frusto-conical shape, the bottom portion is defined by the narrower portion of the lower and the upper element. Thanks to this shape the lower element can be fittingly inserted into a shaker.

Considering now the upper element 1 , as described above, the latter provides a plurality of barrels 10 defined by partitioning the upper element into a plurality of channels. The bottom of each barrel is defined by the same unitary bottom wall 1 b of the upper element. The barrels have different capacities determined by mutually different peripheral shapes (i.e. partition walls that define a larger radial cross-section of the barrel determine an increased capacity). The different peripheral shapes provide also the advantage that the different capacities can be easily recognised (each shape is immediately associated to a different capacity).

All the barrels of the upper element have at least one side peripherally defined by the side wall 1 a of the element itself. On such wall the lower opening 10a of the barrel is opened. The lower openings 10a are all opened at the same height along a circumferential path obtained at the narrow bottom end of the upper element. The upper end 10b of the barrels are defined in correspondence of the larger, inlet mouth 1 c of the upper element 1 , opposite to said tapered portion. The bottom of each barrel is defined by the bottom 1 b of the upper element itself.

Referring now to the lower element 2, the bottom 2b is opened, comprising merely an annular rim 200 which extends radially from the lower end of the side wall 2a and encircles a discharging mouth 20. The rim acts as an abutment element for the upper element when the latter is inserted into the lower element. Between the rim and the side wall shutter means are provided in the form of a circular gasket 22 adapted to sealingly intercept the lower openings of the barrels.

When the upper element is coupled with the lower element, the lower ends of the barrels are engaged by the gasket preventing the liquid from falling into the shaker.

The disengagement of the two elements through extraction of the upper element from the lower element leads to the simultaneous disengagement of the gasket 22 from the openings 10a and thus pouring the liquid into the shaker.

In addition, the discharging mouth 20 can be possibly intercepted/covered by a grid, so that the lower element can act also as a filter. On the other hand, the bottom of the lower element can be also completely closed (no discharging mouth formed therein). In this case the mixed liquid, once the upper element is lifted, remains in the lower element that acts directly as a mixing container.

Figures 4 to 5b shown a second embodiment of the device. The shutter means

22' are in this embodiment defined by the same inner surface 22a' of the lower element

2'. The exit of the liquids from the barrels is thus avoided through the simple interference fit between the upper element V in the lower element 2' and by forced contact between the outer wall 1 a' of the upper element and the inner surface 22a' of the lower element. However, a gasket can be associated to the inner surface of the lower element to increase the safety of the sealing effect.

As for the rest, such second embodiment is substantially analogous to the first one described above. The upper element 1 provides indeed a plurality of barrels 10' of different capacity defined by partitioning the element into channels. In order to define the different capacity of each barrel, these have different heights, i.e., they have a bottom 100' arranged at a different height (or with different inclination) in relation with the axial development of the upper element, facing on the bottom 1 b' of the upper element. Accordingly, the lower openings 10a' are opened at different heights of the upper element, depending on the capacity of the single barrel.

Even in this case, the upper element V and lower element 2' are advantageously frusto-conical shaped. Possibly, the lower element may have a closed bottom 20', i.e. be substantially tumbler-shaped; in this latter particular configuration the lower element is not merely a means for shutting/opening the barrels and for conveying the liquids in a different container (such as a shaker), but also directly functions as a container for at least a preliminary mixing of the liquids contained in the barrels.

Alternatively the lower element of this second embodiment can provide a discharging mouth opened on the bottom 20', as in the lower element described with reference to the first embodiment.

As apparent from the above, the device according to the invention has a particularly simple and compact structure and is extremely simple to use, even allowing many liquids to be dosed simultaneously, thus reducing the time needed to prepare cocktails and the operations required by the user.

According to a particularly advantageous aspect of the invention, since there are many barrels of the same size as well as barrels with different sizes, it is possible for the user to simultaneously dose a considerable number of liquids, said amount being sufficient, in most cases, to obtain the desired cocktail.

Of course, by varying the volume of the barrels, other sizes can also be provided according to the requirements. In particular the barrels can contain at least one ounce and integral multiples thereof (two, three or four ounces).

The device moreover allows a first mixing of the liquids during the disengagement of the upper element to the lower element, thus reducing the overall time for preparing the cocktail.

The device is preferably made from a plastic material, although other materials such as metal, etc., can be used. The shutter means are made from rubber or other impermeable material that is capable of offering a suitable liquid seal inside the barrel.

The present invention is not generally limited to the above described and depicted embodiments, but comprises any variations thereof within the scope of the appended claims.