EP1234798A1

EP1234798A1 - Beverage promotion device

Info

Publication number: EP1234798A1
Application number: EP02251195A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Kenneth Gordon Potts
Original assignee: Hi-Gene Dispense Ltd
Current assignee: Hi-Gene Dispense Ltd
Priority date: 2001-02-26
Filing date: 2002-02-21
Publication date: 2002-08-28
Also published as: GB0104684D0

Abstract

A point of sale beverage promotion device (1) comprising a metallic chamber (2) located at a portion of the device (1). Liquid coolant outlet connection (4) to the chamber are provided, whereby upon introduction into, and circulation of, coolant within the chamber (2), ice crystals (8) may be generated on external surfaces of the chamber (2), and a representation (3) of a distinctive feature appropriate to the beverage being promoted, projecting from the chamber, such that over a portion of the external surface of such representation (3), ice crystals (8) are also generated as a result of heat migration to the chamber (2). As a beverage dispensing device, a rigid support structure (11) adapted to be secured to a support surface such as a bar top (14), and consisting of, or incorporating, a thermal insulation layer or membrane.

Description

Field of the Invention

This invention relates in one aspect to a beverage promotion device and, in another aspect, to a beverage dispensing device.

Background of the Invention

In the dispensing of draught beverages and, in particular, alcoholic beverages such as beer, lager, stout, cider, etc, from a font normally comprising an upright pedestal with a top section carrying at least one dispensing tap appropriate to the beverage(s) to be dispensed from the font, plastic piping conveying the beverage(s) passes upwardly through the pedestal, and it is known to chill the pedestal internally to cause the formation of ice crystals externally on the pedestal.

Object of the Invention

A basic object of the invention is the provision of an improved device.

Summary of a First Aspect of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a point of sale beverage promotion device comprising:
(i) a chamber;
(ii) liquid coolant inlet and outlet connections to the chamber, whereby upon introduction into, and circulation of, coolant within the chamber, ice crystals may be generated on an external surface of the chamber, and
(iii) a representation of a distinctive feature appropriate to the beverage being promoted, projecting from the chamber, such that over a portion of the external surface of such representation, ice crystals are also generated as a result of heat migration from the representation to the chamber.

Summary of a Second Aspect of the Invention

According to a second aspect of the invention, of independent significance, there is provided a beverage dispensing device comprising:
(i) a rigid support structure adapted to be secured to a support surface such as a bar top, and consisting of, or incorporating, a thermal insulation layer or membrane,
(ii) a chamber mounted on a portion of the support structure with inlet and outlet connections for liquid coolant to cool the chamber such that ice crystals form on an external surface of the chamber, and
(iii) a representation of a distinctive feature appropriate to the beverage projecting from the chamber, such that ice crystals also form on a portion of the external surface of such representation by heat migration from the representation to the chamber.

Advantage(s) of the Invention

The two aspects of the invention provide a device whereby, with the representation of the distinctive feature taking the form of say a pint glass, filled with the beverage being promoted, ice crystals are formed, not only on the base, but also on a lower portion of the 'glass' to convey the impression of an ice-chilled beverage to a prospective customer.

Preferred or Optional Features of the Invention

The representation of a distinctive feature appropriate to the beverage is a beverage container.
The representation of a distinctive feature appropriate to the beverage is an orange, if orange juice is the beverage to be dispensed.
The support structure is of synthetic plastics material.
The support structure comprises two skins with an interposed membrane of synthetic plastics foam.
The support structure comprises a back plate intended, in use, to be located vertically and an integral, lower support shelf projecting forwardly of the back plate and on which, the chamber is seated, with the representation located against the back plate.
In the embodiment where the representation is a beverage container, the container and the chamber are semi-circular in plan.
The chamber is metallic.
The chamber is located at a lower portion of the point of sale beverage promotion device, or on a lower portion of the rigid support structure.
The representation is of synthetic plastics.
The representation of the container takes the form of a glass, a can or a tankard or a portion thereof.
The liquid coolant is a mixture of water and ethylene glycol.
The liquid coolant is supplied from a chilling unit incorporating an electric motor and pump.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention will now be described in greater detail, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a front elevation of a device in accordance with the invention; and
Figure 2 is a side elevation of Figure 1.
In the drawings, a point of sale beverage promotion device 1 comprises a metallic chamber 2 located at a lower portion of the device 1, with a representation 3 of a distinctive feature appropriate to the beverage being promoted - typically in the form of a beer glass - constituting an extension of the chamber 2 and partly of synthetic plastics material. The chamber 2 is provided with liquid coolant connection 4 and 6, for coolant supply and return pipes (not shown) connected to a chilling unit (not shown).
The temperature of the coolant entering the chamber 2 is so arranged that ice crystals 8 form over a lower zone 9, embracing not only the chamber 2, but also a lower portion of the representation 3 of the beer glass , due to heat migration from the surface of the representation 3 and the chamber 2. Above the zone 9, is a zone 10 of the representation 3 which is so distant from the chamber 2 as to be free of ice crystals 8, so that prospective customers can view a beverage 11 through the representation 3.
The device 1 is mounted on a rigid support structure 12 comprising two skins of synthetic plastics material with an interposed membrane of synthetic plastics foam to provide a back plate 13 and a support shelf 14 projecting forwardly of the back plate 13, on which shelf 14 the chamber 2 is seated, with the support structure 12 secured to a bar top 15 by manually operable screw clamps (not shown).
The device 1 is rendered a dispensing device by the provision of a dispensing tap 16, with a beverage supply pipe (not shown).

Claims

A point of sale beverage promotion device characterised in that the device (1) comprises:

(i) a chamber (2),

(ii) liquid coolant inlet and outlet connection (4) to the chamber (2), whereby upon introduction into, and circulation of, coolant within the chamber (2), ice crystals (8) are generated on an external surface of the chamber (2) at a sufficiently low temperature, and

(iii) a representation (3) of a distinctive feature appropriate to the beverage being promoted, projecting from the chamber (2), such that over a portion (9) of the external surface of such representation (3), ice crystals (8) are also generated as a result of heat migration from the representation (3) to the chamber (2).
A beverage dispensing device characterised in that the device comprises:

(i) a rigid support structure (12) adapted to be secured to a support surface such as a bar top, and consisting of, or incorporating, a thermal insulation layer or membrane,

(ii) a chamber (2) mounted on a portion of the support structure (12) with an inlet and outlet connection (4) for liquid coolant to cool the chamber (2) such that ice crystals (8) form on an external surface of the chamber (2), and

(iii) a representation (3) of a distinctive feature appropriate to the beverage projecting from the chamber (2), such that ice crystals (8) also form on a portion (9) of an external surface of such representation (3) by heat migration from the representation to the chamber.
A device as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterised in that the representation (3) of a distinctive feature appropriate to the beverage is a beverage container or portion thereof.
A device as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterised in that the representation (3) of a distinctive feature appropriate to the beverage is that of an orange, if orange juice is the beverage to be dispensed.
A device as claimed in Claim 2 or Claims 3 or 4 when appended to Claim 2, characterised in that the support structure (12) is of synthetic plastics material.
A device as claimed in Claim 5, characterised in that the support structure (12) comprises two skins with an interposed membrane of synthetic plastics foam.
A device as claimed in Claim 2, and any one of Claims 3 - 6 when appended to Claim 2, characterised in that the support structure (12) comprises a back plate (13) intended, in use, to be located vertically and an integral, lower support shelf (14) projecting forwardly of the back plate (13) and on which, the chamber (2) is seated, with the representation (3) located against the back plate.
A device as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that the chamber (2) is metallic, and the representation (3) is of synthetic plastics.
A device as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that the chamber (2) is located at a lower portion of the point of sale beverage promotion device (2), or on a lower portion of the rigid support structure (12).
A device as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that the liquid coolant is a mixture of water and ethylene glycol.