The present invention is concerned with a beverage or drink dispenser, in particular of the "optic" type for dispensing a measure of a liqueur or spirit or the like.

An optic is a well known device for dispensing a predetermined quantity of a drink, generally a spirit or liqueur, this predetermined quantity being commonly known as a "measure". In most countries, the volume of a measure is set by law, and thus the use of an optic provides a quick and repeatable means by which to dispense such a measure. Optics work adequately with conventional spirits such as vodka, whiskey, gin, etc, all of which have a relatively low viscosity, and thus flow quickly from the reservoir of the optic into the awaiting glass. However, when a conventional optic is used with a drink having a relatively high viscosity, such as a cream liqueur or the like, the efficacy of the optic can be significantly reduced. Due to the higher viscosity of such drinks, a measure within the optic tends to flow with reduced speed from the optic. Although for a single dispense the speed may be only marginally slower than the dispensing of a spirit or the like, it can nonetheless result in an inconvenient delay when used in a busy bar, in particular if a number of such liqueurs are in use.

In addition, a further problem arises when a cream liqueur or the like is used with a conventional optic. Again due to the elevated viscosity of these drinks, over a period of time a build up of a residue of the drink can form on various components of the optic, in particular on the interior thereof, which may eventually result in a blockage within the optic, which is again highly undesirable in a bar situation.

The present invention has therefore been developed with a view to mitigating the above mentioned problems of the prior art. 04

It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a drink dispenser which is adapted to dispense a drink such as a cream liqueur or the like at an acceptable speed.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a drink dispenser which can be quickly and easily cleaned.

The present invention therefore provides a drink dispenser comprising a reservoir for receiving a quantity of the drink, the reservoir having a first opening and a second opening, and at least one vent; a frame carrying at least one air seal and first and second liquid seals, the frame being displaceable between a first position in which the at least one air seal occludes the corresponding at least one vent, the first liquid seal occludes the first opening, and the second liquid seal is positioned to expose the second opening, and a second position in which the at least one air seal is positioned to expose the at least one vent, the first liquid seal is positioned to expose the first opening, and the second liquid seal occludes the second opening.

Preferably, the dispenser comprises an actuator which communicates with the frame in order to effect the displacement thereof.

Preferably, the frame is biased towards the first position.

Preferably, the first and second openings are oppositely disposed to one another.

Preferably, the dispenser comprises a body to which the reservoir is mounted and to which the actuator is slidably mounted.

Preferably, the dispenser comprises a sleeve projecting from the first opening, externally of the reservoir. Preferably, the frame comprises a central limb carrying the first and second liquid seals, and at least a first arm carrying the at least one air seal.

Preferably, the first and second fluid seals each comprise a plug dimensioned to seal the first opening and the second opening respectively.

Preferably, the frame extends through and beyond the second opening.

Preferably, the shaft comprises a resiliently deformable outer sheath.

Preferably, the actuator comprises a Hp for receiving a rim of a container.

Preferably, the reservoir is formed at least partly from a substantially transparent material.

Preferably, the dispenser comprises a coupling located externally of the reservoir, adjacent the at least one air vent, the coupling communicating with at least the first arm in order to be capable of effecting displacement of the frame.

Preferably, the actuator acts on the frame via the coupling.

Preferably, the frame is shaped and dimensioned such that, as the frame is displaced towards the second position, the second opening is occluded before the first opening is exposed.

Preferably, the at least one air seal is displaced externally of the reservoir when the frame is displaced into the second position.

Preferably, the at least one arm has a smaller cross sectional area, adjacent the corresponding air seal, than the corresponding at least one air vent.

Preferably, the actuator acts on the frame at a position distal the first opening. Preferably, the actuator acts on the frame at a position, in use, above the first opening.

As used herein, the term "drink" in intended to mean a beverage such as an alcoholic spirit or liqueur, and is particularly intended to refer to cream based liquors which have a relatively high viscosity.

The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which;

Figure 1 illustrates a front elevation of a preferred embodiment of a drink dispenser according to the present invention;

Figure 2 illustrates a side elevation of the dispenser of Figure 1;

Figure 3 illustrates an exploded perspective view of the drink dispenser of Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 4 illustrates a front elevation of a frame forming an integral part of the drink dispenser of the present invention; and

Figure 5 illustrates a sectioned front elevation of the drink dispenser of the preferred embodiment of the invention.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings, there is illustrated a drink dispenser, generally indicated as 10, for particular application as a "optic" or back bar type dispenser which is typically mounted on a shelf or a stand (not shown), and supports an inverted bottle B thereon, as will be described in detail hereinafter. The dispenser 10 is primarily but not exclusively designed for use with cream liqueur type drinks, or drinks having an elevated or higher than average viscosity. There exists a difficulty in dispensing such drinks with conventional optics (not shown), as the drinks are too viscous to flow properly from such an optic (not shown) in an acceptable time. In addition, the optic (not shown) will tend to clog over time, as a residue of the drink builds up on the working parts of the optic due to the elevated viscosity of the drink.

The dispenser 10 comprises a reservoir 12 for receiving, in use, a predetermined quantity of a fluid or drink, generally known as a measure. It will therefore be appreciated that the volume of the reservoir 12 may be selected in order to suit particular applications or requirements, such as legal requirements in a particular country or the like. The reservoir 12 includes a first opening in the form of an outlet 14 from which, in use, the measure of the drink may be dispensed from the reservoir 12, in addition to a second opening in the form of an inlet 16, through which, in use, the drink can enter the reservoir 12 from the bottle B. To this end, and in conventional fashion, the dispenser 10 comprises a sleeve 18 which projects, externally of the reservoir 12, from the inlet 16. The sleeve 18 is provided with an external and resiliently deformable sheath 20 which forms, in use, a fluid tight seal between the sleeve 18 and the bottle B. The sheath 20 is preferably formed from a rubber or relatively soft polymer or the like. In this way the contents of the bottle B can communicate with the reservoir 12, and with the bottle B inverted in use, gravity will act to displace a measure of the drink from the bottle B into the reservoir 12.

The dispenser 10 further comprises a body 22 which is adapted to carry the reservoir 12, preferably in a removable fashion in order to facilitate cleaning of the reservoir 12, as will be described hereinafter. The body 22 is also adapted such that the reservoir 12, when mounted therein, is suspended from the body 22, in order to allow the reservoir 12 to be visible, both to customers and to staff operating the dispenser 10. This allows the contents of the reservoir to be inspected prior to dispensing, primarily to satisfy a customer that the reservoir is fully filled with the drink, and so a correct "measure" will be dispensed. The dispenser 10 also comprises an actuator 24 which is carried on the body 22 as will be described hereinafter, the actuator 24 being operable to effect the operation of the dispenser 10. The actuator 24 is positioned to be engaged by a rim of a glass (not shown) or the like, whereby the glass is positioned to catch the measure of drink emerging from the outlet 14 in known manner.

Central to the operation of the dispenser 10 is a frame 26 which is located internally of the reservoir 12 during use, the frame 26 being illustrated in isolation in Figure 4. The frame 26 includes a central limb 28 carrying a first liquid seal in the form of a first plug 30 which is adapted to occlude the outlet 14, in addition to carrying a second liquid seal in the form of a second plug 32, oppositely disposed the first plug 30, which second plug 32 is adapted to occlude the inlet 16, as set out hereinafter. The first plug 30 normally seals the outlet 14, as the frame 26 is biased, in use, downwardly into a first position by means of a pair of springs 34 acting thereon, as will be described hereinafter. Thus the dispenser 10 is adapted, when inactive, to seal the outlet 14 in order to prevent drink from being dispensed from the reservoir 12. To this end the first plug 30 includes an o-ring 36 adapted to effect a light yet fluid tight seal with the outlet 14, while the second plug 32 is also provided with a o-ring 38 again adapted to effect a light yet fluid tight seal with the inlet 16. It will of course be appreciated that any other suitable functional equivalent may be provided in place of the combination of plugs 30, 32 and o- rings 36, 38.

The dispenser 10 is configured such that displacement of the actuator 24 upwardly, by virtue of pressing a rim of a glass thereagainst, effects a corresponding upward displacement of the frame 26 towards a second position, in which the drink within the reservoir 12 may be dispensed from the outlet 14, as a result of the first plug 30 being displaced into a position exposing the outlet 14. In the preferred embodiment illustrated, the dimensions and travel distances are designed to ensure that the second plug 32 has engaged and sealed the inlet 16 before the first plug 30 has cleared and therefore exposed the outlet 14, thereby preventing "flow-through" from the bottle B to the outlet 14, as such "flow-through" may be prohibited by law. The interaction of the actuator 24 and the frame 26 is described in detail hereinafter. In order to further improve the action of the dispenser 10, in particular when used with a drink of elevated viscosity, the reservoir 12 is provided with a pair of air vents 40 which may be selectively exposed, in particular when the frame 26 is displaced towards the second position, in order to allow air to enter the reservoir 12 from the exterior, when the contents of the reservoir 12 are being dispensed from the outlet 14, in order to replace the drink issuing from the reservoir 12, and therefore increase the speed at which the drink can issue from the reservoir 12. In order to effect this selective exposure/occlusion of the air vents 40, the frame 26 is provided with a pair of arms 42 which branch outwardly and upwardly from the central limb 28. Each arm 42 carries an air seal in the form of an o-ring type seal 44 at an upper portion of the arm 42, which seals 44 are located, with the frame 26 in the first position, within the respective air vent 40 in order to occlude same in an air tight manner. When the frame 26 is displaced from the first position into the second position, each seal 44 is displaced upwardly out of the respective air vent 40 in order to clear same, at which point a respective lower portion 46 of each arm 42 will be disposed within the respective air vent 40. However, the lower portions 46 are each provided with an x-shaped or ribbed cross section, as can be seen from Figure 4, which allows air to freely enter the reservoir 12 via the air vents 40, despite the presence of the lower portion 46 within the respective air vent 40. It will of course be appreciated that the shape/dimension of the lower portions 46 may be of any suitable configuration which maintains this functionality of allowing air to pass thereby. It should also be appreciated that a single air vent 40, and corresponding single arm 42, could be provided in place of the pair of air vents 40 and arms 42. However, as described hereinafter, the arms 42 serve as the point at which the frame 26 is connected, indirectly, to the actuator 24, and thus the use of a pair of the arms 42 provides a more stable or balanced displacement of the frame 26 between the first and second positions, by the actuator 24.

It should also be appreciated that the arms 42 are configured, by virtue of the careful positioning of the seals 44 and the dimensions of the lower portions 46, to only exposed the air vents 40 once the second plug 32 has occluded the inlet 16. If this were not the case, then the pressure head exerted by the drink within the bottle B would, with the frame 26 in the first position, force drink from the reservoir out through each of the air vents 40. Thus each air vent 40 is, in the preferred embodiment illustrated, tubular in form in order to allow the seals 44 to remain in contact therewith during the initial movement of the frame 26 from the first position towards the second position. This delay in the exposure of the air vents 40 could of course be achieved in a number of other ways.

Referring in particular to Figure 3, and in order to initially insert the frame 26 within the reservoir 12, the reservoir 12 is of two part form, comprising a base 48 which is preferably formed from a transparent material, and a cap 50 mounted, in use, in sealing engagement to the base 48. It can be seen from Figure 3 that the base 48 defines the outlet 14, while the cap 50 defines the inlet 16, and the pair of air vents 40. The cap 50 also defines the sleeve 18, which is formed integrally therewith. The cap 50 is hollow in construction, and receives a plate like coupling 52 therein, which coupling 52 is provided with a pair of spaced apart apertures 54, which correspond in position to the pair of air vents 40, such that the pair of apertures 54 may be brought into close register with the pair of air vents 40. Each arm 42 is provided with a one way or non return stud 56 at the free end thereof, which studs 56 are complimentary in dimension to the apertures 54. In this way, when the dispenser 10 is initially assembled, the frame 26 is located within the base 48, and the cap 50 is then pressed onto the base 48 in order to close the reservoir 12. As the cap 50 is advanced onto the base 48, the pair of arms 42, and in particular the studs 56, will pass through the air vents 40 and come into contact with the apertures 54. By applying further pressure, such as to force the cap 50 onto the base 48, the pair of studs 56 will be forced through the apertures 54, to be locked in place therein, as can be seen in Figure 5. This interlocking arrangement firmly connects the frame 26 to the coupling 52.

Thus it will be appreciated that linear displacement of the coupling 52 within the cap 50 will effect displacement of the frame 26 within the reservoir 12. The coupling 52 is provided with a pair of laterally extending tabs 58, one on either side of the coupling 52, which in use are seated within, and project slightly beyond, a corresponding pair of slideways 60 formed in the sidewall of the cap 50. The tabs 58 and slideways 60 co-operate to enable the coupling 50 to be slideably displaced up and down within the cap 52. In order to prevent the coupling 52 from separating from the cap 50, a top plate 62 is secured onto the cap 50, thereby retaining the coupling 52 within the cap 50. The coupling 52 is therefore displaceable between a first position, being seated adjacent the air vents 40 and inlet 16, and a second position adjacent or abutting the top plate 62. The springs 34, in the preferred embodiment illustrated, are mounted between the top plate 62 and the coupling 52, in order to bias the coupling 52 into the first position. The coupling 52 therefore acts as a intermediary between the actuator 24 and the frame 26, as described hereinafter. It should be appreciated that the frame 26 could be connected to the coupling 52 by other means, while the springs 34 could be replaced with functionally equivalent biasing means (not shown) operable to bias the coupling, and therefore the frame 26, towards the first position.

The actuator 24 comprises a central leg 64 which, in use, is slideably mounted within a guideway 66 formed in the body 22, as clearly visible in Figure 3. The guideway 66 enables the actuator 24 to be slideably displaced relative to the body 22, while simultaneously allowing the leg 64 to be substantially recessed within the body 22, such as to fit snugly behind the base 48 of the reservoir 12. The leg 64 terminates in a ring 68 which is shaped and dimensioned for sliding engagement within the upper portion of the body 22. The inner profile of the ring 68 corresponds to the outer profile of the cap 50, in order to enable the reservoir 12, and in particular the cap 50, to be disposed within the ring 68, with the base 48 therefore projecting downwardly from the ring 68. The ring 68 is provided with a pair of oppositely disposed notches 70 which are shaped and dimensioned to receive the pair of tabs 58 projecting from the coupling 52 through the cap 50. Thus when the dispenser 10 is fully assembled, the actuator 24 is mounted for sliding engagement relative to the body 22, with suitable stops (not shown) or the like being provided in order to limit the linear displacement of the actuator 24, in order to prevent same from being displaced out of register with the body 22. The reservoir 12, within which is located the frame 26, is also mounted to the body 22, but is fixed in position relative thereto by means of a spring retaining clip (not shown) or the like, which may preferably be removed or disconnected from the reservoir 12 in order to allow the removal of the reservoir 12 from the body 22, primarily for cleaning purposes.

In use the dispenser 10 is arranged in an upright position, with the bottle B being inverted and secured thereto via the sleeve 18, as illustrated in Figure 5. The drink within the bottle B will therefore flow through the sleeve 18 to fill the reservoir 12. In standby or inactive mode, the frame 26 is spring biased into the first position as illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 5, such that the outlet 14 is occluded by the first plug 30, thereby preventing the flow of drink from the reservoir 12. The reservoir 12 is fixed to the body 22, while the actuator 24 is slideably mounted to the body 22, with the ring 68 being slidealy mounted around the cap 50, below the pair of tabs 58, which are engaged within the corresponding notches 70. In order to dispense a measure from the reservoir 12 of the dispenser 10, the rim of a glass (not shown) is seated against a lip at the free end of the leg 64, and used to depress upwardly the actuator 24. This results in the actuator 24 being slideably displaced upwardly relative to the body 22, and thus the ring 68 is also displaced upwardly, carrying the coupling 52 upwardly therewith, via the tabs 58 and notches 70. It will therefore be appreciated that this upward displacement of the actuator 24 will effect the upward displacement of the frame 26, via the coupling 52. As the frame 26 is displaced from the first position, against the action of the springs 34, the second plug 32 will reach and consequently occlude the inlet 16, thereby preventing any more of the drink entering the reservoir 12 from the bottle B. Continuing displacement of the frame 26 will result in the first plug 30 being displaced out of the outlet 14, in order to allow the measure of drink within the reservoir 12 to be displaced therefrom via the outlet 14.

Simultaneously, the pair of seals 44 will be displaced out of the pair of air vents 40, thereby allowing air to enter the reservoir 12 to replace the drink being simultaneously dispensed therefrom, thereby greatly increasing the speed at which the beverage can be dispensed via the outlet 14, by equalising the pressure between the reservoir 12 and the exterior. In the absence of the air vents 40, as the drink within the reservoir 12 were dispensed therefrom, a negative pressure would be created in the head space being formed above the drink in the reservoir 12, which negative pressure would slow down the flow of the drink from the outlet 14. This, in combination with the elevated viscosity of cream liqueurs or the like, would give an unacceptable rate of flow from the outlet 14.

Once the contents of the reservoir 12 is dispensed in the glass (not shown), the glass can be disengaged from against the leg 64, thus allowing the frame 26 to be spring biased back into the first position. At this point the first plug 30 will again seal the outlet 14, while the second plug 32 will have moved back down out of the inlet 16, enabling a fresh measure of the drink in the bottle B to fill the reservoir 12, enabling the process to be repeated again as required. Unlike with a conventional optic, which normally has a three legged frame located below the outlet, the actuator 24 acts on the frame 26 at a position distal or separate from the outlet 14, by means of the coupling 52, in order to avoid the actuator 24 being contacted by the drink as it is dispensed from the outlet 14. This prevents any residue from forming on the actuator 24, in particular the leg 64, which is beneficial from both an aesthetic and a hygiene perspective.

As mentioned above, the reservoir 12 is preferably removably mounted to the body 22, in order to facilitate ease of cleaning thereof. This is particularly desirable when a beverage of elevated viscosity is being dispensed via the dispenser 10, as prolonged use may result in a residue forming on one or more parts of the dispenser 10, in particular the interior of the reservoir 12, and the frame 26. Thus the spring retaining clip (not shown) or the like is disconnected from between the reservoir 12 and the body 22, in order to allow the reservoir 12 to be slideably removed from the body 12, by drawing the reservoir 12 up and out of the body 22. At this point the reservoir 12 can be cleaned by any suitable means, without requiring the entire dispenser to be dismounted from the working location thereof. It can be seen that in the preferred embodiment illustrated the central limb 28 of the frame 26 extends into a flattened finger 72 which projects through and beyond the sleeve 18, in order to be accessible from the exterior of the reservoir 12. The flattened nature of the finger 72 ensures that it does not cause a blockage or obstruction during operation of the dispenser 10, as the finger 72 will be located within the neck of the bottle B. When the reservoir 12 is removed from the body 22, the finger 72 can be gripped and drawn against the action of the springs 34, in order to easily displace the frame 26 between the first and the second positions. This will therefore allow water or other cleaning fluid to be run through the interior of the reservoir 12, in order to effect the cleaning thereof.

Finally, the dispenser 10, and in particular the body 22, is be provided with a lug 74 in order to facilitate the mounting of the dispenser 10 to any suitable support (not shown). Any other suitable means (not shown) may of course be provided in order to allow the dispenser 10 to be fixed in a working position.

The present invention therefore provides a simply yet effective dispenser 10 which is suitable form use with drinks of elevated viscosity, while also being entirely suitable for more conventional spirits or the like. The dispenser 10 is also adapted to allow the reservoir 12 to be quickly and easily cleaned, without requiring dismounting of the dispenser 10.