WO2002003000A1

WO2002003000A1 - Glass chiller

Info

Publication number: WO2002003000A1
Application number: PCT/GB2001/002784
Authority: WO
Inventors: Stephen Jemphrey
Original assignee: S J International Limited
Priority date: 2000-07-01
Filing date: 2001-06-22
Publication date: 2002-01-10
Also published as: AU2001266155A1; GB0016074D0

Abstract

A glass chiller comprises a unit (10) having a stand (12) for supporting an upturned drinking glass (14). The stand (12) mounts a gas expansion valve nozzle (15) for communication with a supply of liquefied gaseous medium. The unit (10) has a surround (16) upstanding from around the stand (12). The surround (16) increases in height from the front of the unit (10) rearwardly. The unit (10) is mounted on a support (22) incorporating a ledge clamping device (24) to enable the unit (10) to be clamped to a projecting edge of, for example, a bar counter. The support (22) extends upwardly behind the unit (10) and its upper part projects partially over the stand (12) in a display of three tongues, the outer two similarly projecting downwardly and serving to restrict access of a glass to centrally of the stand (12) and the central tongue (26B) preventing access from above.

Description

GLASS CHILLER

This invention relates to a glass chiller for chilling drinking vessels particularly but not only, stemmed glasses for white wine and tumblers for soft drinks, or beer or lager

In the beverage market, the public make continuous demands for improved customer service By achieving a chilled effect on drinking glasses, this invention should increase the perceived value and quality of a drinks product by increasing its visual impact and overall presentation

Accordingly, the present invention is a glass chiller comprising a unit having a stand for supporting an upturned drinking glass, the stand mounting a gas expansion valve nozzle for communication with a supply of liquefied gaseous medium, the unit having a surround upstanding from around the stand The surround preferably increases in height from the front of the unit rearwardly

Preferably, the stand has a series of ribs proud of its surface to support a glass off the surface The series of ribs desirably include longer and shorter ribs arranged alternatively Each of the longer ribs beneficially terminate adjacent to the nozzle in an upward protuberance

Preferably also, the unit is mounted on a support incorporating a ledge clamping device to enable the unit to be clamped to a projecting edge of, for example, a bar counter The support desirably extends upwardly behind the unit and its upper part projects partially over the stand in a display of three tongues, the outer two similarly projecting downwardly and serving to restrict access of a glass to centrally of the stand and the central tongue beneficially preventing access from above

Preferably further the supply of liquefied gaseous medium is obtained from a bottle of Carbon Dioxide gas The bottle is preferably installed in an insulated cabinet and connected through a pipe line to the nozzle The insulated cabinet beneficially has a heating element with operation governed from a control box, the element having a thermal cut-out at thirty degrees Centigrade.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Fig. 1 is a front view of a glass chiller according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the chiller;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the chiller;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a unit of the chiller;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view on the line IV-IV of the unit shown in Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a front view of an insulated cabinet for a bottle of gaseous medium, the cabinet being shown with an access door open.

Referring to the drawings, a glass chiller comprises a unit 10 having a stand 12 for supporting an upturned drinking glass 14, the stand 12 being oriented substantially horizontally. The stand 12 mounts a dispenser in the form of a gas expansion valve nozzle 15 for communication with a supply of liquefied gaseous medium. The unit 10 has a surround 16 upstanding from around the stand 12. The surround 16 increases in height from the front of the unit 10 rearwardly.

The stand 12 has a series of ribs 18 proud of its surface to support a glass 14 off the surface. The series of ribs 18 includes five longer and five shorter ribs arranged alternately. Each of the longer ribs 18 and the stand surface terminate adjacent to the nozzle 15 in an upward protuberance 20 and 21 respectively. The unit may be vacuum formed from sheet plastics material.

The unit 10 is mounted on a support 22 incorporating a ledge clamping device 24 to enable the unit 0 to be clamped to a projecting edge of, for example a bar counter. The support 22 extends upwardly behind the unit 10 and its upper part projects partially over the stand 12 in a display of three tongues. The outer two tongues 26A similarly project downwardly as shown and serve to restrict access of a glass 14 to centrally of the stand 12 and^'the central tongue 26B preventing access from above such that access to the stand is only through the front. The purpose of the tongues is for health reasons to prevent the user, intentionally or unintentionally, being able to place his/her head near the nozzle 15 to whiff a release of gas.

The supply of liquefied gaseous medium is obtained from a bottle 28 of Carbon Dioxide gas. An ON/OFF mechanism is provided to the front of the stand to release short escapes of gas through the nozzle 15. The mechanism includes a solenoid valve 36. The pipe line (not shown) extends from the bottle 28 to the port 28A in valve mounting 28B. If, for safety reasons, the bottle of gas requires to be positioned remotely from the unit 10, the bottle 28 is installed in an insulated cabinet 30 and connected through a pipe line to the nozzle 15. The insulated cabinet 30 has an access door 31 and on a rear wall has a heating element 32 with operation governed from a control box 34 mounted on top of the cabinet 30. The element 32 has a thermal cut-out at thirty degrees Centigrade. Any other suitable gaseous medium can be used.

In use, an upturned glass 14 is inserted into the chiller through the front and positioned over the nozzle 15 and the mechanism is activated to cause a blast of gas into the glass. The blast is of a pressure not sufficient to dislodge the glass from the stand and with the ribs supporting the rim of the glass off the surface, the gas can escape through the gaps between the ribs.

Variations and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention described above and as claimed hereinafter.

Claims

1. A glass chiller comprising a unit having a stand for supporting an upturned drinking glass, the stand mounting a gas expansion valve nozzle for communication with a supply of liquefied gaseous medium, the unit having a surround upstanding from around the stand.

2. A glass chiller as claimed in Claim 1 , wherein the surround increases in height from the front of the unit rearwardly.

3. A glass chiller as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the stand has a series of ribs proud of its surface to support a glass off the surface.

4. A glass chiller as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the series of ribs include longer and shorter ribs arranged alternately.

5. A glass chiller as claimed in Claim 4, wherein each of the longer ribs terminate adjacent to the nozzle in an upward protuberance.

6. A glass chiller as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the unit is mounted on a support incorporating a ledge clamping device to enable the unit to be clamped to a projecting edge of a bar counter.

7. A glass chiller as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the support extends upwardly behind the unit and its upper part projects partially over the stand in a display of three tongues, the outer two similarly projecting downwardly and serving to restrict access of a glass to centrally of the stand and the central tongue beneficially preventing access from above.

8. A glass chiller as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the supply of liquefied gaseous medium is obtained from a bottle of Carbon Dioxide gas.

9. A glass chiller as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the bottle is installed in an insulated cabinet and connected through a pipe line to the nozzle.

10. A glass chiller as claimed in Claim 9, wherein the insulated cabinet has a heating element with operation governed from a control box, the element having a thermal cut-out at thirty degrees Centigrade.

11. Means for remotely installing a bottle of liquefied gaseous mediums from a dispenser including positioning the bottle in an insulated cabinet having a heating element with operation governed from a control box, the element having a thermal cut-out at thirty-degrees centigrade, the bottle being connected to the dispenser through a pipe line.

12. A glass chiller substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.