GB2575863A

GB2575863A - Beverage dispenser part

Info

Publication number: GB2575863A
Application number: GB1812217.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Lenox Rhule Patrick
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2018-07-26
Filing date: 2018-07-26
Publication date: 2020-01-29
Also published as: GB201812217D0

Abstract

A funnel in the form of toy figurine comprises a body portion (2, fig 1) mounted on four legs 3. A passage 14 is formed through the body. The lower section of the body comprises threading 4 for holding various sized screw out funnel pieces and the upper side of the body has a removable funnel cover (5, fig 1). A mechanical sound producing touch sensitive removable head (6 fig 1) is attached to a jointed rod 10 which slots into a socket 15 in the main body. The head contains a mini audio sound module with speaker 7 and an animatronic mouth 8 movable by animatronic mechanics 11. The figurine is powered by a battery section, and has a battery compartment door on the underside of the head 9. The funnel is attached to a beverage dispenser (fig 8). The figurine may be in the shape of a cow, and the dispenser may serve milk or milk shakes.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a beverage dispenser part, in particular but not exclusively for self service beverage dispensers; additionally, the invention relates to toys and educational products.

PRIOR ART

Beverage dispensers are a common method of providing drinks in a convenient fashion. The customer places a cup under nozzle, and beverage is either automatically or manually directed into the cup. The beverage is usually directed by a nozzle into the cup so that beverage is not wasted. There are a number of problems with conventional designs; the cup may be incorrectly positioned, so that the jet of beverage misses the cup. The user may inadvertently interpose their fingers between nozzle and the cup, leading to the customer's hand becoming wetted by the beverage.

Further, it would be desirable for healthy beverages such as milk to be promoted, particularly to children.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing background, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a beverage dispenser part that overcomes or mitigates the above-mentioned problems, and is also attractive, interesting and educational particularly to children.

The objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterise the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

According to the present invention, there is provided a beverage dispenser part according to the claim 1.

It is noted the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application.

(The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.)

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

The novel features believed to be characteristic of this invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organisation and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1

a) is a side perspective view showing the figurine funnel with head turned toward viewer

b) is an underside perspective showing the removable funnel exit four legs and underside of removable head

c) shows the removable funnel cover

FIG. 2

a) is a cross section side perspective view of the funnel showing the passage through to the outlet portion of the funnel with the screw out funnel piece with the removable head pulled out.

b) is an underside perspective with the removable head pulled out.

FIG. 3

a) front view of removable head

b) back view of removable head

c) side perspective of removable head with jointed rod for insertion into funnel body

d) cross section of side of removable head showing animatronic mouth, mini audio sound module and battery section

e) underside of removable head showing speaker holes and battery compartment door

f) Birdseye perspective of removable head

FIG. 4

a) is a cross section of the side perspective view of the funnel with the removable head in, showing the passage through to the outlet portion of the funnel with the screw out funnel piece, showing the funnel passage cover in place.

b) Birdseye view of the funnel showing the passage cover in place.

c) top and side perspective of the funnel passage cover.

FIG. 5 under and side perspectives of screw out funnel piece:

a) size 1 screw out funnel piece

b) size 2 screw out funnel piece

c) size 3 screw out funnel piece

d) size 4 screw out funnel piece

FIG. 6 is a side cross section of the funnel body accommodating a removable nozzle on the platform of the beverage dispenser.

FIG. 7 shows six variations of the toy from a front perspective

a) is a cross section front perspective view of the funnel showing the passage through to the outlet portion of the funnel with the screw out funnel piece with the removable head pulled out.

b) is a solid perspective view of the funnel showing the funnel cover above the toy body with the removable head pulled out.

c) is a solid perspective view of the funnel showing the funnel cover in place on the toy body with the removable head pulled out, with socket for receiving the jointed rod to attach head to body.

d) is a solid perspective front view of the toy body showing a side cross section of the removable mechanical head inserted in the toy body socket.

e) is a solid front perspective view of the toy showing a solid side perspective of the removable mechanical head inserted in the toy body.

f) is a solid front perspective view of the toy showing a solid front perspective of the removable mechanical head inserted in the toy body.

FIG. 8 shows the beverage dispenser and toy from a front perspective.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiment set forth herein. Rather, this embodiment is provided so that this application will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the true scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout the figures.

The toy of this invention is referred to generally in FIGS. 1-7 by the reference numeral 1 and is intended to provide an amusing and informative fun toy for anyone who may want to own it. This toy funnel shown in FIG. 1 may be used to funnel many types of drinks, liquids or beverages and should not be limited to funnelling beverages of only one thickness or texture.

Referring initially to FIG. 1 the funnel figurine 1 includes a body 2 that has four legs 3, a screw out funnel piece 4 situated on the underside of the body 2, a removable funnel cover 5 that fits the upper surface of the body 2, a mechanical sound producing removable head 6, a speaker 7 on the underside of mechanical sound producing removable head 6, and a moving animatronic mouthpiece 8 battery compartment door 9 under head 6.

Referring to FIG. 2, the body 2 of the toy 1 has a passage 14 through the toy leading to the screw out funnel piece 4, which provides a through bore from the upper surface of the body 2 to the underside of the body 2 for the passage of a beverage. The removable funnel cover 5 fits over the passage 14 on the upper side of the body 2 to cover the passage, using a resilient engagement clip. The screw out funnel piece 4 fits securely to the underside of the body 2 so that the interface between the sides of the funnel piece 4 and the inside sides of the passage is substantially watertight.

Also, is shown the removable mechanical head 6 side cross section with jointed rod 10 for insertion into a socket 15 in the toy body 2. Inside mechanical head 6 contains animatronic mouth 8 mechanics 11, mini audio sound module 12 and battery section 13.

Referring to FIG. 3 the head 6 has a moving animatronic mouthpiece 8 operated by mechanics 11, and a mini audio sound module 12 and associated speaker holes 7, the mechanics and sound module being powered by a battery section 13 covered by a battery compartment door 9. The head may also include a movement or vibration sensor, so that movement of the figurine's mouthpiece and production of sound (such as a cow's lowing, synchronised with the opening and closing of the mouthpiece) can be triggered by movement or vibration of the figurine or of the head itself. Alternatively, or additionally, the head could include a proximity movement sensor (such as a PIR sensor) that detects the movement of objects close to the figurine, for example through apertures located at the eyes.

The removable head 6 includes a jointed rod 10 for insertion into toy body 2. The function of the removability is discussed below.

FIG. 4 shows the body 2 with removable funnel cover 5 in place covering the passage 14, which leads to the screw out funnel piece 4.

When the cover 5 is fitted to the body 2 to close the passage 14, the figurine is suitable for children to play with. By moving or shaking the figurine, the mouthpiece and sound producing modules are activated to create interest.

Referring to FIG. 5, the screw out funnel piece 4 has a cylindrical side wall 23 which includes a thread 39 that co-operates with a corresponding thread on the inner surface of passage 14, so that the funnel piece 4 can be removably secured to the body 2 of the figurine. The housing also has a domed portion 24, and at the centre of the funnel piece, a nozzle 25 projects downwards. The nozzle and its aperture 26 is here shown as square, but may be other shapes. The funnel piece can be provided in different sizes as shown here as four progressively smaller sizes in figure 5a through 5d.

Referring to FIG. 6 the body 2 of the toy 1 has a passage 14 through the toy leading to the screw out funnel piece 4, and this passage accommodates a device nozzle 31, to facilitate the passage of liquid though the toy and out of the funnel piece 4. The device nozzle 31 leads to a dispenser such as shown and described in WO 2018/115910. The beverage dispenser includes a shelf surface 32 with a cup receiving area 33. To fit the figurine to the device nozzle 31, the device nozzle is first raised so that the figurine can be placed with the legs 3 resting on the shelf surface 32. When the figurine is positioned, the device nozzle is lowered so that it enters the passage 14 of the main body 2 of the figurine. The main portion of the device nozzle comprises a hollow cylinder, and the outer diameter of the cylinder is a little less than the inner diameter of the figure, so that the device nozzle can easily slide upwards and downwards with respect to the passage 14.

In normal use, the device nozzle 31 is raised by a lifting bracket 46 while a weighted cork 38 is simultaneously raised by a spoke 48 abutting the lifting bracket to allow the beverage to flow through the device nozzle 31. The device nozzle's range of motion keeps the device nozzle engaged with the passage 14, so that the figurine cannot be removed until the device nozzle is completely raised for removal purposes. In order to remove the figurine, the device nozzle must be raised to a position above the normal range of motion, so that it disengages from passage 14.

Referring back to figure lb, one or more legs 3 may include a socket 19 on the end of the leg

3. The shelf surface may have corresponding lug or lugs that engage with these sockets in order to correctly locate the figurine. Equally, the legs may have lugs, and the shelf corresponding sockets, or the ends of the legs themselves could engage with sockets provided on the shelf surface. The legs could be at or near vertical to allow easy engagement if this option is chosen. Further, the legs could be jointed, so that the whole leg or part of the leg can be adjusted to alter the orientation of the leg.

Alternatively or additionally to providing the legs with sockets that co-operate with lugs on the shelf surface, the device nozzle 31 and the passage 14 of the body 2 of the funnel could be formed with non-circular cross-sections, so that rotation of the funnel with respect to the device nozzle is constrained. The device nozzle and the passage could for example be oval.

The nozzle 25 of the funnel piece 4 is situated just above the shelf level of the dispensing device. The size of the cup receiving area 33, and in particular the height of the shelf area 32 above the bottom of the cup receiving area 33, is chosen in relation to the cup to be used, so that the top of the cup is situated just below the nozzle 25. In this way, the likelihood of users, particular children, in interposing their fingers between the nozzle 25 and the inserted cup is reduced, so there is less risk of spillage. The closeness of the nozzle to the top of the cup also reduces the chance that a cup will be mispositioned. The figurine may remain substantially stationary during beverage dispensing, and accommodates the stroke of the device nozzle movement (such as the upward and downward stroke of the nozzle in WO 2018/115910), so that no moving parts are exposed, and the distance between the final liquid dispensing part of the beverage dispenser is now constant during operation.

Referring to FIG. 7a, the head 6 and funnel cover 5 may be removed from the body 2.

This allows the body and removable funnel piece of the figurine to be washed, while keeping liquids away from the battery and electronic components of the mouthpiece and sound producing module.

Referring to FIGS 7b to 7e, the funnel cover 5 and/or head 6 can then be fitted to the body 2. Referring to FIG. 7f, the jointed rod allows the orientation of the head to be adjusted.

Referring to FIG 8, when the lifting bracket 46 has been raised to lift the spoke 48 thereby raising the weighted cork 38, beverage is released from the dispenser to flow through the device nozzle 31, and from the end of the device nozzle into the passage 14 of the figurine. The beverage flow 40 is then directed and channelled by the screw out funnel piece 4 so that a stream of beverage flows out of the aperture 26 of the funnel nozzle 25. The stream of beverage that exits the funnel nozzle 25 is thus directed accurately into the cup 45 or container placed beneath the figurine, reducing the possibility of a user's fingers being interposed between the figurine and the cup, and also reducing the possibility of any of the beverage stream missing the cup.

The figurine thus can function both as a toy, providing educational benefit with regard to the anatomy of a cow and where milk comes from, as well as providing the functional benefits practical of a funnel. When removed from the beverage dispenser, the toy can be played with as a toy cow, and yet be utilised for funnelling milk or other liquids into the desired receptacles. The figurine also provides an attraction when disposed in the beverage dispenser, inducing children to drink the beverage being dispensed, typically in this case being milk or a milk containing product.

The head underside may have an on and off switch/button and or setting adjust function to control the function of the sounds and mouth movement, and holes to emit the sound which is produced by the mini sound module; for example, the sounds and mouth movement could be operated solely in response to the movement or vibration sensor being activated, solely by the proximity movement sensor, or both sensors together; further, the movement or vibration sensor and the proximity movement sensor could be set so that activation of one sensor elicits different sounds or animatronic movements to activation of the other sensor.

The figurine may be turned off when disposed on the beverage dispenser, but alternatively it may be activated, in which case the movement of the device nozzle with respect to the figurine is sufficient (depending on the chosen sensitivity of the figurine's sensors) to activate the sound producing module and the animatronic mouthpiece of the figurine, thus providing amusement to those operating the beverage dispenser to obtain drinks.

Further, the interchangeable nature of the head means that heads and bodies of different colourations or other characteristics can be supplied. Additionally, modules with personal recording capabilities which allow the user to record sounds themselves and have that sound played back when the figurine's sensors are activated.

Claims

Claims:

1. A funnel for a beverage dispenser which is shaped as a figurine and may also be used as a toy, comprising:

a body with a passage having an inlet and an outlet upheld balanced on four legs a nozzle for reducing the outlet size a battery powered head having a sound module and animatronics inside the head respectively capable of moving the mouth and producing sound in response to touch and/or vibration and/or external motion the head being removably attached to the body by a jointed rod a lid member that fits to the body over the inlet for covering the body passage

2. A funnel for a beverage dispenser according to claim 1 wherein the body includes four legs on which the funnel can stand.

3. A funnel for a beverage dispenser according to claim 2 wherein at least one of the legs includes a hole or notch on the lower surface.

4. A funnel for a beverage dispenser according to any previous claim wherein the bore of the passage has a non-circular cross section.

5. A funnel for a beverage dispenser according to any previous claim wherein the nozzle is detachable.

6. A funnel for a beverage dispenser according to any of claim 5 wherein the nozzle attaches to the body of the funnel by means of a screw thread.

7. A funnel for a beverage dispenser according to any previous claim wherein there is included a recording module which allows the user to record sound, which can then be played by the sound producing module.

8. A beverage dispensing system, comprising a beverage dispenser including an outlet, and a funnel according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the funnel may be attached to the beverage dispenser, such that the outlet of the beverage dispenser removable nozzle cooperates with the inlet of the funnel to create a fluid path from the outlet of the beverage dispenser to the nozzle of the funnel, and the nozzle is lower than the outlet of the beverage dispenser.

9. A beverage dispensing system according to claim 8, wherein the beverage dispenser includes a shelf surface, and the legs of the funnel rest on this surface.

10. A beverage dispensing system according to claims 9, wherein the hole or notch provided in at least one leg of the funnel cooperates with a corresponding profile on the shelf surface.

11. A beverage dispensing system according to any of claims 8 to 10, wherein different funnels of various sizes are provided.

12. A beverage dispensing system according to any of claims 8 to 11, wherein different nozzles of various outlet aperture diameters are provided.

13. A beverage dispensing system according to any of claims 8 to 12, wherein the movement of the beverage dispenser outlet during operation is capable of activating the sound module and animatronics inside the head of the funnel.

14. A beverage dispensing system according to any of claims 8 to 13, wherein outlet of the beverage dispenser removable nozzle has a non-circular outer diameter.