GB2502952A

GB2502952A - A price display apparatus for a beverage dispenser

Info

Publication number: GB2502952A
Application number: GB201208123A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Rory Arthur Brian Forrest; Benjamin Harry Beale
Original assignee: LUCKY DRAW Ltd
Current assignee: LUCKY DRAW Ltd
Priority date: 2012-05-09
Filing date: 2012-05-09
Publication date: 2013-12-18
Also published as: GB201208123D0

Abstract

A display apparatus 10 for displaying, to a prospective consumer, information indicative of the price of a beverage to be dispensed from a dispenser 11, the price of the beverage being variable, comprises a calculation unit for determining, the price of a bevÂerage dispensed from the dispenser based on one or more determining factors, such as time, date, demand, remaining beverage, beverage expiry, identity of customer, and/or a random number. The apparatus also comprises a display in communication with the calculation unit, the display being adapted to display the price determined by the calculation unit, or a representation thereof, to the proÂspective consumer. The apparatus may comprise a housing containing the display, and the communication unit or calculation unit. The housing may be attached to a dispensing font or optic.

Description

A DISPLAY APPARATUS FOR A BEVERAGE DISPENSER

FIELD

The present invention relates to a display apparatus for a beverage dispenser More particularly, the invention relates to a display apparatus for displaying, to a prospective consumer, information indicative of the price of a beverage dispensed from a dispenser.

In particular, the price of the beverage about which the information is display is vari-able.

BACKGROUND

Alcoholic beverage dispensers are found in licensed establishments throughout the world such as bars, restaurants, nightclubs, and so on. Traditionally, a vendor such as a bartender will serve a consumer (i.e. customer) by dispensing a beverage and subse-quently informing the consumer of the price of the beverage before taking payment. It will be recognised that there exists a fundamental problem with this traditional custom insofar as there is usually no immediate display of the beverage price.

Most other products that a consumer might purchase have the price clearly indicated somewhere near, or on them. This information allows the consumer to make a proper judgement as to what product they wish to purchase. This is not the case in licensed establishments, and without asking the vendor beforehand, a consumer will often not know the price of an alcoholic beverage until after it has been dispensed. This can be particularly problematic if the price presented by the vendor is more than the consumer is expecting or prepared to pay.

Furthermore, the traditional form of selling beverages, where the beverage price re-mains fixed, is changing. Increasingly it is becoming common to vary the price of a beverage depending on certain factors. A common example is the promotional tech- nique known as "happy hour", during which the price of a beverage temporarily chang-es for some time. Of course, the price need not vary purely based on the time of day.

Examples of variable pricing strategies include changing the price of a beverage de-pending on the level of consumption of the beverage.

Given how difficult it is to covey to a consumer the price of a beverage, the price of which remains fixed, it will be appreciated just how even more difficult it is to convey to prospective consumers information pertaining to the current price of a beverage if that price varies depending on a number of factors.

Typically, a vendor must list all price information somewhere in the establishment, using boards or disposable menus or the like. When prices vary, this is arduous, wasteful and thus tends to restrict the complexity with which prices may be made to vary.

For example, large signage spaces are required to present large amounts of informa-tion. This may be on walls or on leaflets around the bar. Both techniques are expensive and inconvenient to maintain, especially when they need to be constantly updated.

Often, the signage is perishable: chalk signs must always be re-written; leaflets must al-ways be re-printed. This this can incur great expense, either of time or of money. Even if the display is electronic, this must be updated by the vendor, which can be no more straightforward than re-writing a chalk sign.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To overcome these problems, the present invention provides a display apparatus for displaying, to a prospective consumer, information indicative of the price of a bever-age dispensed from a dispenser, the price of the beverage being variable, the apparatus comprising: a calculation unit for determining, upon request, the price of a beverage dispensed from the dispenser based on one or more determining factors; and a display in communication with the calculation unit, the display being adapted to display the price determined by the calculation unit, or a representation thereof, to the prospective consumer.

By "determining factor" it is meant a factor which itself is distinct from the price of the beverage, but which nevertheless may be used as a basis for setting the price. Key to understanding the term is that the price of the beverage is not fixed, but may vary. The determining factor is that piece of information which enables a variable price to be de-termined at a particular instant.

Optionally, the calculation unit is adapted to determine the price of the beverage dis-pensed from the dispenser periodically, or at one or more pre-determined intervals of time. Alternatively, the unit is adapted to determine the price on an ad hoc basis, such only upon the instigation of a prospective purchase by a customer.

The display apparatus may further comprise an actuator which, upon actuation, causes the calculation unit to determine the price of the beverage dispensed from the dispens-er The actuator may be a button, a lever or any other suitable component, which may be activated by the prospective customer or the vendor, for example.

In certain embodiments, the calculation unit may further comprise a processor in com-munication with a memory having a look-up table stored thereon, the look-up table containing data associating the price of the beverage with the value of the one or more determining factors.

The processor may further comprise a clock. In that case, the determining factors on which the price of the beverage is based may include the current time of day and/or the current date. This would permit, for example, a prospective consumer to be kept apprised of the price of a beverage, the price of which changes throughout the day, such as during a happy hour'.

The processor may further comprise a counter. In that case, the determining factors on which the price of the beverage is based may include the number of times the bever-age has been dispensed. This may be the total number of times, the number of time since the counter was reset, the number of times the beverage has been dispensed in a predetermined period, or any other suitable number This would permit, for example, a prospective consumer to be kept apprised of the price of a beverage which becomes more expensive as it becomes more popular.

The processor may be adapted to determine the quantity of beverage available to be dispensed. In this case, the determining factors on which the price of the beverage is based may include said remaining quantity. This would permit, for example, a prospec-tive consumer to be kept apprised of the price of a beverage which becomes more expensive as its supply runs low.

The processor may be adapted to determine the time remaining before expiry of a sell-by-date of the beverage being dispensed. In this case, the determining factors on which the price of the beverage is based may include said time remaining. This would permit, for example, a prospective consumer to be kept apprised of the price of a bev-erage which becomes cheaper as the sell-by-date of the beverage approaches.

The display apparatus may further comprise means for establishing the identity of a consumer purchasing the beverage. This means may include any suitable means such as a swipe card or key fob authentication device; a keypad for allowing entry of a PIN or password; a biometric device such as a finger print or retina scanner; and/or a video or audio recognition device. In this case, the determining factors on which the price of the beverage is based may include said identity of the consumer. This would permit, for ex-ample, a prospective consumer to be kept apprised of the price of a beverage which is offered to different consumers at different prices. A beverage may be offered to mem-bers of a club at a discount as compared with non-members, for example.

In certain embodiments, the calculation unit may further comprise means for generat-ing a price of the beverage dispensed from the dispenser.

The means for generating a price may comprise a processor adapted to calculate the price using one or more algorithms. In this case, the determining factors on which the price of the beverage is based may include outputs of said one or more algorithms.

This would permit, for example, a prospective consumer to be kept apprised of the price of a beverage, the price of which varies according to the output of an algorithm having one or more inputs. Inputs to the algorithm may include data corresponding to that stored in the aforementioned look-up table, such as one or more of the aforemen-tioned determining factors. However, other data may be used instead.

The means for generating a price may comprise a random number generator adapted to output one or more random numbers. In this case, the determining factors on which the price of the beverage is based may include said one or more random numbers. This would permit, for example, a prospective consumer to be kept apprised of the price of a beverage, the price of which varies randomly.

The display of the display apparatus may be a digital display, such as an LCD screen.

The display may be adapted to display the price numerically.

Alternatively, the display of the display apparatus may be adapted to display an audio and/or visual representation of the price. By "representation" it is meant information which indicates to the prospective consumer the price of the beverage, but which does not necessarily convey the price using numerals or characters. For example, one chime of a bell may indicate one price, and two chimes may indicate a different price. The use of noises to indicate the price is particularly convenient for those with visual impair- ments. Alternatively, the display may show four glasses to indicate one price, five glass-es to indicate a different price, and six glasses to indicate yet another price. The use of images is particularly convenient for the illiterate. Of course, these particular examples are not limiting; the actual display may use any combination of any number of repre-sentations.

In particular, any combination of the following may be used to provide said audio and/ or visual representation of the price: one or more lights; one or more audio speakers; one or more bells, buzzers, horns and/or whistles; one or more images, said images generated electronically or displayed mechanically.

It will be appreciated that the price of the beverage which is displayed (or of which a representation is displayed) may be any price determined by the vendor, including free of charge.

It will be appreciated that the use of the term "display" does not restrict the display ap-paratus to visual means of display and includes aural or sensory methods as well.

The display apparatus may further comprise a communication unit communicatively coupled to the display and adapted to transmit to and/or receive information from the calculation unit. The communication unit may be of any known type, and may be physi-cally coupled to the display.

The communication unit may receive price information from the calculation unit and send it to the display for display thereon. Alternatively, or in addition, the communica-tion unit may receive information pertaining to the determining factor and send this information to the calculation unit.

The display apparatus may further comprise a housing containing said communication unit and display. The actuator mentioned above may be affixed to the housing.

The calculation unit may form part of a computing device remote from the housing. In this case, the communication unit may be adapted to transmit and/or receive informa- tion from the calculation device via a wired or wireless connection. Wireless connec-tions may include Bluetooth, radio frequency transmissions and so on.

Alternatively, the display apparatus may further comprise a housing containing said cal-culation unit and display. The actuator mentioned above may be affixed to the housing.

The housing may comprise means for attachment to a dispensing font. In particular, the font may be a beer font. Alternatively, the housing may comprise means for attach-ment to an optic dispenser. In particular, the optic dispenser may be a liquor dispenser In a particularly preferred embodiment, the actuator is operably coupled to the dis-penser and adapted to cause the dispenser to dispense said beverage upon actuation of the actuator.

The present invention also provides a dispenser for dispensing a beverage, comprising a display apparatus as set out above.

It is particularly preferred that the beverage is an alcoholic beverage such as may be dispensed in a bar, pub or nightclub, for example. However, this is merely preferred and the invention could be used in the dispensing of any beverage.

As will be appreciated, the present invention permits vendors to manage the pricing of beverages more effectively, and keep prospective customers apprised of the price of such beverages immediately prior to or at the point of purchase and/or dispensing. As a result, vendors will be able to significantly reduce the number of perishable menus re-quired, as well as the numbers of physical signs. Over an extended period of time, this will significantly reduce the cost of providing beverages as well as facilitate the knowl-edge of and information available to the prospective customer

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: figure 1 is a side of a first embodiment of the invention attached to an beer font: figure 2 is an internal view of the embodiment of figure 1; figure 3 is an internal view of another embodiment of the invention; figures 4 to 6 show different embodiments of the invention as deployed on different dispensing units consisting essentially of a beer font; in figure 4, an embodiment of the invention is shown attachment to a beer font: in figure 5, an embodiment of the invention is shown together with a beer font, incorpo-rated into a housing; in figure 6, a further embodiment of the invention is shown, which is incorporated into a housing to which components of a beer font are coupled; figures 7 to 9 show different embodiments of the invention as deployed on different dispensing units consisting essentially of an optic unit; in figure 7, an embodiment of the invention is shown attachment to an optic unit; in figure 8, an embodiment of the invention is shown together with an optic unit, incor-porated into a housing; and in figure 9, a further embodiment of the invention is shown, which is incorporated into a housing to which components of an optic unit are coupled;

Detailed Description of the Invention

Figure 1 shows an example embodiment of a display apparatus 10 attached to a piece of piping on a beer font 11. As shown in figure 2, the apparatus 10 is attached to the beer font 11 by attaching unit 4.

Figure 2 also shows further details of the components of an embodiment of the inven-tion. It includes a display unit 1, which is connected to a calculating unit 3 by wiring 6.

An input device 2 (which may operate automatically, or using a manual input), is con- nected to the calculating unit 3, by wiring 7 A power unit 5 is provided to supply pow-er to the units. The power unit is connected by wiring 9. The entire invention is here housed in its own unit 8.

Of course, the power unit may be attached to mains power, or may be powered by a battery or by an alternating or direct current.

Figure 3 shows a similar embodiment to that of figure 2, but with a different organisa-tion to show how it might be arranged were it to stand upright. The display unit 1 is connected to the calculating unit 3, by housed connecter wiring 6. The input device 2 (which may operate automatically, or using a manual input), is connected to the calcu-lating unit 3, by wiring 71 The power unit 5 here is connected to all the other units by housed connector wiring 10. The entire invention is here housed in its own unit 9.

The housing 9 may take on any form suitable for housing either the display unit and the calculation unit, or the display unit and a communication unit. The particular form of the housing may vary depending on design.

The assembly 10 may be of any design, and may be used in licensed establishments such as bars, restaurants and nightclubs.

Examples of the types of dispensers with which the invention may be used are the "beer font" 11 (which refers to tap devices from which draught beer is poured in li-censed establishments such as pubs and bars), and the "wine or liquor optic" 14 (which refers to circular-faced measuring pouring devices, usually attached to walls, that sup-port upturned bottles of wine or liquor, in licensed establishments like pubs and bars).

Such dispensers are shown in figures ito 6 and 7 to 9, respectively.

A calculating unit 3, connected by wiring 6, 7, 9, connects to a power unit 5, a display unit 1, and a data input units. These data input devices are for manual raw data input, or programming, algorithm, and calculating function input data, and may be, but are no means bound to be, one unit, as shown in the drawings here presented 2.

The invention calculates the values to be displayed based on one or more determining factors, which may be any of, time, date, number of times a beverage has been dis-pensed, quantity of beverage available to be dispensed, time remaining before expiry of a sell-by-date of the beverage being dispensed; the identity of a consumer purchas-ing the beverage; outputs to one or more algorithms or one or more random numbers.

Other determining factors are also possible, as a skilled person will appreciate.

Implementation of the invention using any of the determining factors listed above would be within the capabilities of a person skilled in the art based on technology known and available at the time of the invention.

The calculations referred to above are determined by programming, calculator func-tions, or algorithms entered through the appropriate input device, and may be changed or updated at the user's discretion.

In one particular embodiment, a look-up table stored in a computer lists data which correlates the price of a beverage to the amounts of beverage remaining to be dis-pensed. Such a look-up table may take the following form: Amount to be dispensed Price 3 litres £1.00 2 litres £2.00 1 litre £3.00 At any given moment, the calculating unit may be asked to determine the price of a beverage. The unit will seek and receive how much beverage remains to be dispensed (the determining factor) and, based on the result, return the price of the beverage. This price may be displayed to the prospective consumer.

Other implementations will occur to a skilled person based on the above example. For example, in place of quantity of beverage, the determining factor may be a random number.

The invention is an augmentation of alcoholic beverage dispensing devices, and as such, can be attached, constructed as part ot or share a housing with an alcoholic bev-erage dispensing device, as the design or situation requires.

For example, figure 6 shows an embodiment in which the font has been deconstructed altogether. A new product has been created that consists of a display assembly accord-ing to the present invention and an alcoholic beverage dispenser as one whole unit 10.

The beverage line (which, on a beer font, brings the beer from the keg to the fountain) 15, the fountain 16 (which, on a beer font, is the spout unit from which the beer ap-pears), the tap lever 17 (which, on a beer font, is used to activate the flow of beer), the display unit 1 (from the invention as here described) are all incorporated into a single design, which is in itself, a further embodiment of the invention.

in Figure 7, the optic unit 14, attaches to the wall 19. The optic unit 19, in turn supports both the wine/liquor bottle 18, and the invention 10.

In Figure 8, the invention 10, and the wine/liquor optic 14, are both encased in a housing 20, that attaches to a wall 19.

In Figure 9, it is the wine/liquor optic that has been completely de-constructed. An- other, whole new, product has been created, that is both our invention and the bever-age dispenser as one unit 10. The optic's intake line 21, and output line 22, are shown (in this case) externally, the display 1 is visible, and these are all parts of one whole design, which is again, in itself the invention 10. The invention 10 supports the bottle 18 and is attached to the wall 19.

The invention permits a vendor to change the specific data on which the determining factor relates, including adjusting the values in the look-up table discussed above. This may be done manually, or automatically.

As will be appreciated by a skilled person, the calculating unit according to the inven-tion contains such hardware as to run software or basic functions sufficient enough to produce a price based on the determining factors mentioned herein.

The display unit of the invention communicates information in whatever way is pre- ferred. This may be numerically, pictorially, audibly. In one preferred embodiment, pic-tures representative of the price of the beverage may be provided on rotating wheels in the form of a bandit machine. Of course, many other ways of displaying the price, or a representation thereof, will occur to the skilled person. This may be determined by design requirements of the beverage dispenser it is attached or incorporated into.

It will be appreciated that the invention may be put into effect using one calculation unit per display, or using a plurality of displays connected to a single calculation unit.

Preferably, an alcoholic beverage dispenser comprises one display unit per alcoholic beverage dispenser (as to avoid confusion as to which price is for which beverage.

The skilled person will appreciate that the preferred embodiments of the invention may be modified without departing from the scope of the invention, as defined by the ap-pended claims.

Claims

BCLAIMS1. A display apparatus for displaying, to a prospective consumer, information indica-tive of the price of a beverage dispensed from a dispenser, the price of the beverage being variable, the apparatus comprising: a calculation unit for determining, upon request, the price of a beverage dispensed from the dispenser based on one or more determining factors; and a display in communication with the calculation unit, the display being adapted to dis-play the price determined by the calculation unit, or a representation thereof, to the prospective consumer.
2. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the calculation unit is adapted to deter-mine the price of the beverage dispensed from the dispenser periodically, or at one or more pre-determined intervals of time.
3. The display apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an actuator which, upon actuation, causes the calculation unit to determine the price of the beverage dispensed from the dispenser
4. The display apparatus of any one of claims ito 3, wherein the calculation unit further comprises a processor in communication with a memory having a look-up table stored thereon, the look-up table containing data associating the price of the beverage with the value of the one or more determining factors.
5. The display apparatus of claim 4, wherein the processor further comprises a clock, and wherein the one or more determining factors includes the current time of day and/or the current date.
6. The display apparatus of claim 4, wherein the processor further comprises a counter, and wherein the one or more determining factors includes the number of times the beverage has been dispensed, or the number of times the beverage has been dis-pensed in a predetermined period.7 The display apparatus of claim 4, wherein the processor is adapted to determine the quantity of beverage available to be dispensed; and wherein the one or more deter-mining factors includes said quantity.8. The display apparatus of claim 4, wherein the processor is adapted to determine the time remaining before expiry of a sell-by-date of the beverage being dispensed; and wherein the one or more determining factors includes said time remaining.9. The display apparatus of claim 4, further comprising means for establishing the identity of a consumer purchasing the beverage; and wherein the one or more deter-mining factors includes said identity.10. The display apparatus of any one of claims ito 3, wherein the calculation unit further comprises means for generating a price of the beverage dispensed from the dis-pens e r.11. The display apparatus of claim 10, wherein the means for generating a price com-prises a processor adapted to calculate the price using one or more algorithms; and wherein the one or more determining factors includes outputs of said one or more al-gorithms.12. The display apparatus of claim 10, wherein the means for generating a price com-prises a random number generator adapted to output one or more random numbers, and wherein the one or more determining factors includes said one or more random numbers.13. The display apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the display is a digital dis-play, such as an LCD screen, and is adapted to display the price numerically.14. The display apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the display is adapted to display an audio and/or visual representation of the price.15. The display apparatus of claim 14, wherein the display comprises any combination of the following to provide said audio and/or visual representation of the price: one or more lights: one or more audio speakers; one or more bells, buzzers, horns and/or whistles; one or more images, said images generated electronically or displayed mechanically.16. The display apparatus of any preceding claim, further comprising a communica-tion unit communicatively coupled to the display and adapted to transmit to and/or receive information from the calculation unit.17. The display apparatus of any preceding claim, further comprising a housing con-taining said communication unit and display.18. The display apparatus of claim 17. wherein the calculation unit forms part of a computing device remote from the housing, and wherein the communication unit is adapted to transmit and/or receive information from the calculation device via a wired or wireless connection.19. The display apparatus of any one of claims ito 16, further comprising a housing containing said calculation unit and display.20. The display apparatus of any one of claims 17 to 19, wherein the housing compris-es means for attachment to a dispensing font.21. The display apparatus of any one of claims 17 to 19, wherein the housing compris-es means for attachment to an optic dispenser.22. The display apparatus of any one of claims 17 to 21, when dependent upon claim 3, wherein the actuator is affixed to the housing.23. The display apparatus of claim 22, wherein the actuator is operably coupled to the dispenser and adapted to cause the dispenser to dispense said beverage upon ac-tuation of the actuator.24. A dispenser for dispensing a beverage, comprising a display apparatus according to any preceding claim.25. A display apparatus substantially as described herein, with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.