GB2441128A

GB2441128A - Drink dispensing apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2441128A
Application number: GB0616664A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Joseph Ryan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-08-22
Filing date: 2006-08-22
Publication date: 2008-02-27
Also published as: GB0616664D0

Abstract

Drink dispensing apparatus for use by an occupant of a vehicle whilst traveling, comprises liquid-tight container for drink; a liquid feed pipe 9 connecting the contents of the container to a mouthpiece 11 for drinking the contents. The dispenser also comprises an electric heater, cooler or a combined heater cooler for selectively heating or cooling the container and having a recess for accommodating the container removably such as to allow conductive thermal transfer to the exterior of the container and thus to its contents. Embodiments of the invention may be used in, for example, a racing car or an aeroplane.

Description

DRINK DISPENSiNG APPARATUS This invention relates to drink dispensing

apparatus for use by an occupant of a vehicle whilst travelling, and to a vehicle including such drink dispensing apparatus as well as to a method of drinking from such a drink dispensing apparatus.

In modem society, people spend increasing periods of time commuting. Due to longer working and commuting times, and the need to spend less time at home, people look for "take away" eating and drinking solutions to help manage their time. Consumption of drinks whilst in motion can be distracting and unsafe. Accordingly the purpose of the present invention is to allow for a vehicle occupant to drink safely and easily, and also to consume the drink at a preferred predetermined temperature.

In a variety of transportation systems on the ground or in the air, the sudden movement of the vehicle can cause spillage of a drink. Travellers also are often restricted by space and can find it difficult safely to hold a drink in an environment with frequent abrupt motion or sudden stopping, again causing spillage. One such example is the movement of an aeroplane during turbulence.

Car drivers also are often seen holding cans of drink or special cups which may be placed in a dash board mounted holder. The common practice is to drink from the can or cup using one hand whilst driving with the other hand, and this creates an unsafe environment by distracting the driver and limiting his ability to react quickly to hazards.

If the driver suddenly needed to use both hands to control the vehicle then he would have to drop the can or cup, and if he did so then this would cause discomfort and danger particularly if the container were to get jammed in the controls, for example underneath a pedal.

A number of solutions have been proposed for drinking in moving vehicles, but none has adequately dealt with the desire to chill or to heat the drink and to keep it at the desired temperature for drinking, whilst dispensing the drink in a convenient and safe way.

Accordingly, in order to overcome or mitigate the advantages described above, the present invention provides drink dispensing apparatus for use by an occupant of a vehicle whilst travelling, comprising: a liquid-tight container for drink; a liquid feed pipe connecting the contents of the container to a mouthpiece for drinking the contents; and an electric heater for selectively heating the container, the heater having a recess for accommodating the container removably such as to allow conductive thermal transfer to the exterior of the contajner.and thus to its contents.

This apparatus allows the drink to be preheated and also to be kept at the desired drinking temperature. Further, it allows the occupant of the vehicle to consume the drink without the need to use his hands, simply by placing the mouthpiece in his mouth.

The invention also provides chink dispensing apparatus for use by an occupant of a vehicle whilst travelling, comprising: a liquid - tight container for drink; a liquid feed pipe connecting the contents of the container to a mouthpiece for drinking the contents; and an electric refrigerator for selectively cooling the container, the refrigerator having a recess for accommodating the container removably such as to allow conductive thermal transfer from the exterior of the container and thus from its contents, and the refligerator further having means for transferring heat to the atmosphere or to a heat sink forming part of the vehicle.

In this case, the apparatus allows for pre-cooling or chilling the drink, and for keeping the drink at the desired lower temperature for consumption.

Further, the invention provides drink dispensing apparatus for use by an occupant of a vehicle whilst travelling, comprising: a liquid-tight container for drinks; a liquid feed pipe connecting the contents of a container to a mouthpiece for drinking the contents; and a combined electric heater-refrigerator for selectively heating or cooling the container, having a recess for accommodating the container removably such as to allow conductive thermal transfer to or from the exterior of the container and thus to or from its contents; the heater-refrigerator having means for transferring heat to the atmosphere or to a heat sink forming part of the vehicle.

in this case, the heater and the refrigerator of the inventions described above are combined into a single electric unit accommodating the container, and electric controls selectively operate the heater or the refrigerator component in order to heat or chill the contents of the container, and allow the contents to reach and stay at a desired temperapre which may be above or below the ambient temperature in the vehicle.

The invention also provides a vehicle having a source of electricity, for example from the car battery-generator combination, and an area for acconimodating at least one occupant, as well as at least one drink dispensing apparatus as described above, housed in the vehicle at above head height for the occupant and connected to the electricity source for powering the heater or the refrigerator or the heater-refrigerator as the case may be. By disposing the container at above head height, the contents of the container may be drunk through the liquid feed pipe under gravity, reducing the effort that the passenger is required to put into the action of drinking, and avoiding the need for any pump or the like for dispensing the drink. Preferably there is a valve in the mouthpiece for preventing the loss of liquid when the person is not drinking.

The invention also provides a method of drinking from such a drink dispensing apparatus whilst seated in such a travelling vehicle, comprising placing the mouthpiece in the mouth and drinking the contents of the container through the liquid feed pipe under gravity flow from the container.

The invention allows for a traveller to consume a drink at any chosen time and at any chosen temperature, without being distracted from driving for example, and without the danger of spillage. In the case of aeroplane passengers for example, it can be a great advantage not to have to leave drinking cups or cans on the seat back shelf or on the floor of the cabin: they are always at risk of spillage, and they also restrict the ability of the seated passenger to stand up and leave the seat, or to allow an adjacent passenger to leave the seat.

In order that the invention may be better understood, preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view from below of drinks dispensing apparatus embodying the invention in the roof of a vehicle; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a drink container forming part of the apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a front view of a car steering wheel incoiporatirig electric controls for the drink dispensing apparatus; Figure 4A is a rear view of a car showing a rollover bar incorporating drink-dispensing apparatus embodying the invention; Figure 4B is a side view of part of a racing car showing a driver using drink-dispensing apparatus embodying the invention integrated into the rollover bar; Figure 4C is a variation of the embodiment of Figure 4B in which the drinks container projects from the rollover bar; and Figure 5 is a view of part of the passenger cabin of an aeroplane illustrating a further embodiment of the invention.

With reference to Figures 1 and 2, drink-dispensing apparatus embodying the invention is recessed into the roof 1 of the car or other vehicle. The interior liner of the roof 1 has a rectangular opening through which is fitted a combined electric heater-refrigerator unit 2 which is generally rectangular in plan view and rectangular when viewed from either end as shown in Figure 2. The electric heater-refrigerator unit 2 has a rectangular-section recess 3 for accommodating a replaceable liquid-tight container 30 for drink. The liquid tight container 30 is a tight fit within the recess, to provide efficient thermal transfer through the five walls of the container between the heater-refrigerator unit 2 and the contents of the container.

In the preferred embodiment, the heater-refrigerator unit 2 has a metal housing, and the replaceable liquid tight container 30 is of plastics material and is disposable.

When it is fully recessed into the heater-refrigerator unit 2, the container 30 is in mating engagement by means of retaining clips 5, 6 at each end. At the left hand end, the heater-refrigerator unit 2 is formed with retractable retaining clips 5 which are operable by a press release button 4. These two retaining clips 5 engage into a pair of corresponding depressions 7 in the i.iquid tight container 30; when the press release button 4 is operated, the clips 5 retract towards the left and the left hand end of the container 30 drops down. The right hand end of the container has a depression 8 for mating with a fixed retaining clip 6 projecting from the recess 3. When the button 4 has been depressed and the container has dropped clear of the retaining clips 5, the right hand end of the container also slides clear of the fixed retaining clip 6, allowing the entire contajner 2 to be removed downwardly. The container may then be replaced with a like container by pushing it upwards into the recess 3 and engaging the clips 5, 6 with the corresponding depressions 7, 8.

The press release button 4 is positioned separately from any electrical control switches, to avoid confusion by the occupant of the vehicle.

The container 30 has an integrally-formed liquid feed pipe 9 depending from its lower major surface as shown in Figure 2; the pipe is also preferably of plastics material. The pipe 9 is sufficiently long that its end can easily reach the mouth of a seated occupant in the vehicle. A mouthpiece 11 is formed, preferably integrally, at the end of pipe 9.

This mouthpiece 11 also preferably includes a liquid valve (not shown), arranged to allow the passage of liquid through the mouthpiece only under suction from the user's mouth. This prevents dripping from the contents of the container when the occupant is not drinking from it. An elasticatecl band 10 is formed on the side of the liquid feed pipe 11, to clip the pipe to the side of the occupant's head so as to help retain the mouthpiece near the mouth, facilitating the location of the mouthpiece when it is desired to drink from the container. Alternatively, it will be appreciated that various forms of attachment may be used to secure the pipe either to an appropriate place in the vehicle or to part of the occupant's clothing or body.

The liquid tight container is normally supplied full of drink such as fruit juice or cola, tea or coffee or the like. The container is provided with an appropriate lining for preserving the quality of the drink, and is sealed appropriately. Various conventional systems for breaking the seal maybe employed, and for example it may be appropriate to provide the seal in the mouthpiece. In some circumstances, it may be appropriate to separate the pipe 9 from the container 30 until such time as the container is to be used, whereupon the end of the pipe 9 may be used to puncture a sealed portion of the container, in the maimer of the conventional plastics straw in a cardboard carton with plastics membrane, whilst retaining the end of the pipe securely in place in an opening in the container (not shown).

In order to allow the free flow of the contents of the container 30 under gravity for drinking, a bleed valve (not shown) is preferably provided on the upper surface of the container, to allow atmospheric air to enter the container to replace the drink that is consumed. This keeps the interior of the container at atmospheric pressure.

Alternatively, the container may be formed of a material which is sufficiently flexible to shrink its volume during coasumption, again to keep the interior pressure similar to atmospheric pressure and avoid resisting the outflow of the drink.

The combined heater-refrigerator unit 2 includes an electric heater coil assembly (not shown) for heating the wall around the recess 3, in order to heat the walls of the container. It also contains a refrigerator unit which is arranged to cool the lining of the recess 3. The refrigerator component dumps the heat either by heating atmospheric air pumped through the unit, or else by heating a heat sink (not shown) connected for efficient thermal transfer to the roof of the vehicle. Heated air pumped through the refrigerator component may be vented into the roof shell or into the interior cabin of the vehicle, relying then on the vehicle's climate control system.

It will be appreciated that as an alternative the heater-refrigerator unit 3 could be replaced with just an electrical heater, or with just an electrical refrigerator.

The drink dispensing apparatus has a thermally-insulative housing (not shown) formed around its external surfaces, for maintaining the desired temperature which may be above or below the ambient temperature. In the case of the refrigerator unit, this thermally-insulative housing is arranged so that it does not interfere with the removal of heat to the air fan or to the heat sink, as the case may be.

The heater or refrigerator or combined heater-refrigerator unit is supplied with electrical power from the vehicle through an electric control system (not shown).

The control system incorporates switches for the activation of the heater and/or the refrigerator as appropriate, and these switches may be operated by the vehicle occupant using corresponding electric buttons 13 and 14 shown in Figure 3 on the vehicle steering wheel 12. In this example, button 13 controls the chilling of the container using the refrigerator and button 14 controls the heating of the container using the heater. The control system preferably also includes an electronic timer, to limit the duration of power supply to either the heater or the refrigerator. Preferably also the control system includes thermostatic control of the temperature of the container, by sensing the temperature of the recess 3. This allows the system to maintain the temperature of the drink in the container at the desired chilled or heated temperature, by periodically activating the heater or the refrigerator as appropriate. It will be appreciated that the thermal insulation of the container can never be perfect, so occasional heating or chilling will be necessary if there is a substantial delay between loading the drinks container and drinking it.

The desired temperature of the drink for consumption may be predetermined, either by the vehicle occupant inputting information to the control system, or else by the container itself having an encoded portion which may be read by the control system through the interface with the recess 3. For example, the wall of the container could be provided with a row of indentations or projections which may be sensed by mechanical sensors in the heater-refrigerator unit 2, the data being supplied to the control system to determine the temperature under thermostatic control. Alternatively, the encoding and reading may be done magnetically or optically, in a similar way that for example casino gambling chips are encoded and read electrically or optically.

A further embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure 4A, which is an end view of a car having a rollover bar 15. In this case, the liquid tight container is in the form of a cariridge 3A which may be slotted into the top portion of the rollover bar 15, as shown, allowing the liquid feed pipe 9 to drop down the side of the rollover bar such that the mouthpiece is adjacent to the occupant's face.

In the case of a racing car as shown in Figure 4B, the liquid tight container is in the form of a cartridge 3B sunk into the rollover bar 15, as in the embodiment of Figure 4A, and the liquid feed pipe 9 is shown in use by the racing driver, passing under his helmet 16.

In the variant shown in Figure 4C, the cartridge 3c is not wholly recessed, but sits proud of the rollover bar 15 and is tapered to allow slip streaming.

Part of an aeroplane passenger cabin is shown in Figure 5, in which two rows of passenger seats 18 are shown schematically beneath a row of overhead lockers 17. In this case, the control circuitry for the heater and/or refrigerator is controlled by buttons in the arm rests 19. The liquid tight container 3D is recessed into the base of the overhead locker compartment 17, as shown, allowing the liquid feed pipes 9 to drop down to the level of each passenger's head. Electric power is supplied to rows and columns of such drink dispensing apparatuses, along the length and width of the passenger cabin; only two sets of apparatus are shown by way of illustration. Each liquid tight container is replaceable upon consumption, with whichever drink is selected by the passenger. Accordingly, a range of containers with different contents may be supplied on the conventional trolley to the occupants of the seats 18. These containers may be pre-heated or pre-chilled, and the heater and/or refrigerator unit in the drink dispensing apparatus may then be used to maintain the desired temperature, for anything up to the length of the flight.

It will be appreciated that many variants of the embodiments described above will also be practicable. For example the buttons for controlling the switching on and off the heater or refrigerator may be placed at any suitable location in the vehicle, such as on the dashboard of a car, but preferably remote from the press release button 4 where this is provided. The liquid feed pipe could be part of the replacement drink cartridge system, or else it could be part of the pemanentlyinstaJled apparatus, and reused with different containers.

The liquid tight container could have a bleed valve for admitting air, or else it could be arranged to be pierced at its top only once installed. This air intake hole or valve would need to be in the top of the unit, to reduce the risk of leakage. In order to allow the container or cartridge to collapse as the drink is consumed, a rubberised diaphragm at one end of the cartridge could be used, and this would be drawn inwards during Consumption.

Radio interference suppressors may be provided around the parts of the refrigerator unit which emit electromagnetic interference. This would be provided to comply with the requirements of the vehicle which may for example have radio equipment.

It is envisaged that drinks containers may be dispensed from supermarkets and petrol stations and of course from the trolley in an aeroplane. For use in an aeroplane, the containers could be pre-ordered by the passengers, and loaded into the recesses above those passengers' seats accordingly before they take their seats.

The drinks dispensing apparatus could be installed in alternative high level locations in a vehicle, for example in a sun visor. The liquid feed pipe would normally have some slack in its length to allow reasonable head movement, but it is considered appropriate also to provide a quick release cut-off point in the pipe with a sealing mechanism to allow for sudden or violent movements. A simple non-return liquid valve could be used at the cut-off point, for this purpose. This would reduce the potential hazard of the pipe obstructing the occupant in an emergency.

Whilst it is envisaged that gravity feed would be sufficient, a small electric pump may be provided to assist the flow of the liquid through the mouthpiece.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. Drink dispensing apparatus for use by an occupant of a

vehicle whilst travelling, comprising: a liquid-tight container for drink; a liquid feed pipe connecting the contents of the container to a mouthpiece for drinking the contents; and an electric heater for selectively heating the container, the heater having a recess for accornnodating the container removably such as to allow conductive thermal transfer to the exterior of the container and thus to its contents.

2. Drink dispensing apparatus for use by an occupant of a vehicle whilst travelling, comprising: a liquid -tight container for drink; a liquid feed pipe connecting the contents of the container to a mouthpiece for drinking the contents; and an electric refrigerator for selectively cooling the container, the refrigerator having a recess for accommodating the container removably such as to allow conductive thermal transfer from the exterior of the container and thus from its contents, and the refrigerator further having means for transferring heat to the atmosphere or to a heat sink forming part of the vehicle.

3. Drink dispensing apparatus for use by an occupant of a vehicle whilst travelling, comprising: a liquid-tight container for drinks; a liquid feed pipe connecting the contents of a container to a mouthpiece for drinking the contents; and a combined electric heater-refrigerator for selectively heating or cooling the container, having a recess for accommodating the container removably such as to allow conductive thermal transfer to or from the exterior of the container and thus to or from its contents; the heater-refrigerator having means for transferring heat to the atmosphere or to a heat sink forming part of the vehicle.

4. Drink dispensing apparatus according to any preceding claim, comprising a thermally-insulative housing for the electric heater or refrigerator or heater-refrigerator, as the case may be, 5. Drink dispensing apparatus according to any preceding claim, in which the mouthpiece comprises a valve responsive to mouth suction to open and thereby to allow the flow of liquid.

6. Drink dispensing apparatus according to any preceding claim, in which the liquid feed pipe has an external attachment for releasably securing the pipe to the occupant to hold it ready for easy access by the occupant's mouth.

7. Drink dispensing apparatus according to any preceding claim, in which the container and the recess have mating formations for releasably coupling the container operatively to the recess.

8. Drink dispensing apparatus according to any preceding claim, in which the heater or refrigerator or heater-refrigerator, as the case may be, has a mechanical release control adjacent the recess for releasing the container from the recess.

9. Drink dispensing apparatus according to any preceding claim, in which the liquid feed pipe is formed integrally with the container.

10. Drink dispensing apparatus according to any preceding claim, in which the container and the liquid feed pipe are of plastics material.

11. Drink dispensing apparatus according to any preceding claim, in which the container is filled with a drink.

12. Drink dispensing apparatus according to any preceding claim, in which the container has a bleed valve for admitting air as the liquid contents are drained.

13. A vehicle having a source of electricity and an area for accommodating at least one occupant, and at least one drink dispensing apparatus according to any preceding claim, housed in the vehicle at above head height for the occupant and connected to the electricity source for powering the heater or the refrigerator or the heater-refrigerator as the case may be.

14. A vehicle according to Claim 13, comprising control circuitry for switching electric power selectively to the heater or refrigerator or heater-refrigerator as the case maybe.

15. A vehicle according to Claim 14, in which the control circuitry is responsive to the temperature of the container.

16. A vehicle according to Claim 14 or Claim 15, in which the control circuitry has a timer for limiting the duration of the electric power supply.

17. A vehicle according to Claim 14, 15 or 16, in which the control circuitry comprises a switch operable by the occupant.

18. A vehicle according to Claim 17, in which the vehicle is a wheeled automotive vehicle and the drink dispensing apparatus is housed within a rollover bar.

19. A vehicle according to Claim 17 in which the vehicle is an aircraft, and the drink dispensing apparatus is housed in an overhead compartment of a passenger cabin.

20. A vehicle according to Claim 17, in which the drink dispensing apparatus is housed within its roof.

21. A method of drinking from a drink dispensing apparatus according to any of Claims I to 12 whilst seated in a travelling vehicle according to any of Claims 13 to 20, comprising placing the mouthpiece in the mouth and drinking the contents of the container through the liquid feed pipe under gravity flow from the container.

22. A method according to Claim 21, comprising replacing a container in the recess with a like container full of drink.

23. A method according to Claim 21 or Claim 22, in which the drink dispensing apparatus is in accordance with Claim I or Claim 3 and comprising using the heater or the heater-refrigerator to pre-heat the drink in the container.

24. A method according to Claim 21 or Claim 22, in which the drink dispensing apparatus is in accordance with Claim 2 or 3 and comprising using the refrigerator or the heater-refrigerator to pre-cool the drink in the container.

25. Drink dispensing apparatus substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

26. A method of drinking whilst travelling in a vehicle, substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

27. A vehicle with drink-dispensing apparatus, substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.