U.S. patent application number 16/222390 was filed with the patent office on 2021-05-20 for system and method of use for dispensing liquids from a container.
The applicant listed for this patent is Berg Company, LLC. Invention is credited to Albert H. Dorsey, Ronald F. Faust, Thomas E. Giles, Michael J. Keating, Donald R. Lamond.
Application Number | 20210147137 16/222390 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005565003 |
Filed Date | 2021-05-20 |
View All Diagrams
United States Patent
Application |
20210147137 |
Kind Code |
A9 |
Keating; Michael J. ; et
al. |
May 20, 2021 |
System and Method of Use for Dispensing Liquids from a
Container
Abstract
A method for dispensing a beverage from a bottle that includes
communicating a dispensing authorization message from a control
unit to at least one of a server interface carried by a beverage
server and a pour spout secured to a bottle, wherein the dispensing
authorization message at least one of includes or initiates a
dispensing command, and wherein the pour spout responds to the
dispensing command by opening a spout valve through which a
beverage flows from the bottle and out of the pour spout.
Inventors: |
Keating; Michael J.;
(Hardwick, NJ) ; Lamond; Donald R.; (Haworth,
NJ) ; Faust; Ronald F.; (Cross Plains, WI) ;
Giles; Thomas E.; (Orfordville, WI) ; Dorsey; Albert
H.; (Ocean Grove, NJ) |
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Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Berg Company, LLC |
Monona |
WI |
US |
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Prior
Publication: |
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Document Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20200189837 A1 |
June 18, 2020 |
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Family ID: |
1000005565003 |
Appl. No.: |
16/222390 |
Filed: |
December 17, 2018 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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14221679 |
Mar 21, 2014 |
10155651 |
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16222390 |
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13799649 |
Mar 13, 2013 |
9212041 |
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14221679 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 47/06 20130101;
B67D 3/0077 20130101; B65D 83/543 20130101; B67D 3/0003 20130101;
B67D 3/0041 20130101; B65D 83/525 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B65D 83/52 20060101
B65D083/52; B65D 47/06 20060101 B65D047/06; B67D 3/00 20060101
B67D003/00; B65D 83/54 20060101 B65D083/54 |
Claims
1. A system for dispensing a beverage from a bottle comprising: a
pour spout adapted to be attached to a bottle and having a first
transceiver for wireless communication, a first controller
connected to the first transceiver, and a valve operated by the
first controller to control flow of a beverage from the bottle
through the spout in response to a first message received by the
first transceiver; a server interface adapted to be carried by a
beverage server and comprising a second transceiver for
communicating the first message; and a control unit for
communicating with at least one of the second transceiver of the
server interface and the first transceiver of the pour spout,
wherein the first message is communicated to the pour spout either
directly from the control unit as a pour command, or relayed by the
server interface as a pour command.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the pour spout stores
designations of a brand of beverage, a type of beverage, and a
volume capacity of the bottle.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the pour spout stores a spout
identifier, and the spout identifier is communicated to at least
one of the control unit and the server interface in response to
initiating a beverage dispensing operation.
4. The system of claim 3, wherein upon receiving a spout
identifier, at least one of the pour spout and the server interface
communicates at least one of the spout identifier and server
interface identifier to the control unit.
5. The system of claim 4, wherein upon receiving a spout
identifier, the control unit communicates to at least one of the
pour spout and the server interface, a reply message authorizing or
denying beverage dispensing.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein the server interface includes one
or more components operable to provide indications to the beverage
server carrying the server interface, wherein the one or more
components include at least one of a display that is backlit to a
plurality of selectable colors, an audible annunciator, and a
vibrating motor.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein the server interface comprises an
input device by which the beverage server designates a portion size
of the beverage that is desired to be dispensed, thereby producing
a portion size indication.
8. The system of claim 7, wherein the server interface communicates
the portion size indication to the control unit.
9. The system of claim 7, wherein the portion size indication is
used to derive a pour time interval that defines an amount of time
that the pour spout is to open the valve.
10. The system of claim 1, wherein the server interface stores a
server identifier that identifies the beverage server, and wherein
the server interface communicates the spout identifier to the
control unit in response to initiating a beverage dispensing
operation.
11. A method for dispensing a beverage from a bottle comprising:
communicating a dispensing authorization message from a control
unit to at least one of a server interface that is being carried by
a beverage server and a pour spout secured to a bottle; wherein the
dispensing authorization message at least one of includes or
initiates a dispensing command, and wherein the pour spout responds
to the dispensing command by opening a spout valve through which a
beverage flows from the bottle and out of the pour spout.
12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the pour spout
detecting motion of the bottle into a pouring position, wherein
opening the spout valve is further in response to the bottle being
in the pouring position.
13. The method of claim 11, wherein the dispensing command
designates a nominal pour time interval; and the pour spout opens
the spout valve for a period of time that is derived based at least
in part on the nominal pour time interval, and wherein the control
unit is stationary.
14. The method of claim 13, further comprising sensing by the pour
spout, a temperature of the beverage in the bottle; calculating an
adjusted pour time interval from the nominal pour time interval in
response to the temperature sensed; and opening the spout valve for
a period of time equal to the adjusted pour time interval.
15. The method of claim 13, further comprising, sensing by the pour
spout, an angle to which the bottle is tilted; in response to the
angle sensed, deriving an adjusted pour time interval from the
nominal pour time interval; and opening the spout valve for a
period of time equal to the adjusted pour time interval.
16. The method of claim 12, further comprising periodically
operating the spout valve, when the bottle is detected as being in
a vertical position, without dispensing the beverage, to prevent or
substantially prevent the valve from becoming stuck in a closed
position.
17. A method for dispensing a beverage from a bottle comprising:
sensing a beverage dispensing indication initiated by a beverage
server; in response to sensing a beverage dispensing indication,
communicating a spout identifier from a pour spout attached to a
bottle containing a beverage to be dispensed by the beverage
server, to at least one of a control unit and a server interface;
communicating from at least one of the pour spout and server
interface a request message to the control unit, wherein the
request message contains a server identifier unique to that server
interface; the control unit responding to the request message by
communicating to at least one of the pour spout and the server
interface, authorization or denial for beverage dispensing, wherein
if the authorization is transmitted to the server interface, the
server interface communicates a dispensing command to the pour
spout; and the pour spout responding to the dispensing command by
opening a valve in the pour spout to allow beverage to flow from
the bottle.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein sensing a beverage dispensing
indication comprises one of detecting motion of the pour spout and
activating an input device by the beverage server.
19. The method of claim 17, wherein a spout identifier comprises
designations of a brand of beverage, a type of beverage, and a
volume capacity of the bottle.
20. The method of claim 17, further comprising the server interface
visually displaying a name of the beverage.
21. The method of claim 17, wherein the dispensing command
designates a nominal pour time; and the pour spout opens the valve
for a period of time that is derived from the nominal pour
time.
22. The method of claim 21, wherein the pour spout senses at least
one of a temperature value, a bottle tilt angle value, and a volume
of liquor in the bottle to which the pour spout is attached and
derives an adjusted pour time from the nominal pour time; and opens
the valve for the adjusted pour time.
23. A method for dispensing beverages in bottles comprising: a
beverage server selecting a cocktail via a user input device; in
response to the cocktail that was selected, obtaining a designation
of a plurality of liquor ingredients from an electronic memory in
the user input device and communicating the plurality of liquor
ingredients to a control unit; communicating the designation of the
plurality of liquor ingredients from the control unit to a server
interface carried by the beverage server; sequentially for each of
the plurality of liquor ingredients, the server interface
communicating a dispensing command to a given pour spout attached
to a bottle containing a respective liquor ingredient of the
plurality of liquor ingredients; and the given pour spout
responding to the dispensing command by opening a valve through
which the respective liquor ingredient flows from the bottle.
24. The method of claim 23, further comprising the pour spout
communicating a signal to the server interface to indicate
completion of pouring the respective liquor ingredient.
25. The method of claim 24, further comprising the pour spout
detecting the beverage server holding the bottle to which the pour
spout is attached and in response sending a message to the server
interface, wherein the server interface responds to the message by
communicating the dispensing command.
26. The method of claim 23, further comprising assigning a unique
spout identifier in each pour spout; and wherein each dispensing
command contains the spout identifier of the pour spout attached to
the bottle that contains the respective liquor ingredient.
27. The method of claim 23, further comprising when a dispensing
command is transmitted, the server interface visually displaying a
name of the respective liquor ingredient.
28. The method of claim 23, wherein each dispensing command
designates a volume of liquor or nominal pour time; and the
respective pour spout opens the valve for a period of time that is
derived from the volume of liquor or nominal pour time.
29. The method of claim 28, wherein the pour spout responds to at
least one of a temperature value, a bottle tilt angle value, and a
liquor quantity in the bottle to which the pour spout is attached
by deriving an adjusted pour time from the nominal pour time; and
opens the valve for the adjusted pour time.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation application of U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 14/221,679 filed Mar. 21, 2014, which
is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No.
13/799,649 entitled "Wireless Control System for Dispensing
Beverages from a Bottle," filed on Mar. 13, 2013, both of which are
hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0002] An embodiment of the invention relates to a system and
method of use for dispensing liquids from a container, and in some
embodiments, to a dispensing system that controls the dispersion of
a beverage that flows from a bottle.
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0003] A bartender commonly pours liquor from a bottle into a glass
in which a drink is being prepared. A spout is often attached to
the mouth of the bottle to dispense the liquor at a relatively
constant flow rate so that a bartender can "free pour" the liquor
without the need for a measuring device, such as a jigger. Even at
a constant flow rate, the exact amount of liquor poured into each
drink varies among different bartenders, and also varies from drink
to drink poured by the same bartender. Variables such as "pouring
angle" (angle of a bottle relative to vertical when dispensing its
contents); the volume of liquor remaining in a bottle; and the
temperature of the liquor, can each be a factor in the attempt to
achieve a constant flow rate. These variables can affect the
profits derived from a given bottle of liquor; as well as affecting
the taste, and as such the quality, of a mixed drink. In addition,
simple bottle spouts do not provide a mechanism to ensure that each
drink dispensed from a bottle is properly accounted for. Thus, a
bartender may provide free or generous drinks to friends and
preferred customers without accounting to the tavern management. In
response to these conditions, taverns and restaurants have
installed systems for dispensing liquor to provide some
accountability, although such prior systems include numerous
limitations that discourage their implementation, functional usage,
and accuracy.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0004] A system for dispensing a beverage from a bottle comprises a
pour spout adapted to be attached to the bottle, a server interface
adapted to be carried by a person who serves beverages, and a
control unit for wirelessly communicating with the server interface
and pour spout, as well as a Point of Sale (POS) terminal via a
hard wired or wireless connection. The POS terminal records the
domestic currency sale(s) amount(s) to allow dispensed liquor
income to be logged and archived. The pour spout includes a first
transceiver for wireless communication, a controller connected to
the first transceiver, and a valve operable by the controller for
controlling flow of the beverage from the bottle in response to a
first message received by the first transceiver. The server
interface has a second transceiver for wirelessly transmitting the
first message to the first transceiver and optionally for wireless
communication with the control unit, which communication may also
be done via the first transceiver. Throughout this document,
whenever and wherever a reference is made to a wireless
communication between the server interface and the control unit it
shall be understood that the same may alternatively be accomplished
via a wireless communication between the pour spout and the control
unit.
[0005] In one dispensing mode, motion denoting a desire to dispense
the beverage from the bottle is detected. In response to that
motion, the pour spout wirelessly transmits a spout identifier to
the server interface, which responds by either wirelessly
transmitting a request message to a stationary control unit, or by
wirelessly transmitting a size selection message to the pour spout
which in turn transmits the request message to the control unit.
The request message contains a server identifier, which is unique
to that server interface, the spout identifier, and the selected
size. The control unit responds to the request message by
wirelessly transmitting to the server interface, or to the pour
spout, a reply message, hereafter known as a dispensing command,
authorizing beverage dispensing and containing the volume of liquid
to dispense. If the dispensing command was sent to the server
interface, it reacts to the reply message by wirelessly
transmitting the dispensing command to the pour spout. The
dispensing command causes the pour spout to open its valve enabling
the specified volume of the beverage to flow from the bottle.
[0006] In another dispensing mode, the person selects a cocktail
via a user input device which causes a designation of a plurality
of liquor ingredients for that cocktail to be retrieved from an
electronic memory. The designation of the plurality of liquor
ingredients is transmitted wirelessly from the control unit to the
server interface carried by the person, or to the plurality of pour
spouts required to fulfill the cocktail selection, or it is simply
maintained within the control unit as it prepares to respond to
legitimate pour requests (requests to pour an ingredient of the
cocktail) with the appropriate ingredient volume. Each request to
pour an ingredient of the cocktail is can be generated when a
motion denoting a desire to dispense the beverage from the bottle
is detected. The sequence described in the previous section is thus
initiated with the exception that no size selection information is
included.
[0007] In one aspect of the present invention, the dispensing
command designates a nominal pour time interval; and the pour spout
opens the valve for a period of time that is derived from the
nominal pour time interval. For example, the pour spout senses at
least one of a temperature related to the beverage, a bottle tilt
angle and a volume remaining in the bottle. That data is employed
to derive an adjusted pour time interval from the nominal pour time
interval. The valve then is opened for the adjusted pour time
interval.
[0008] A pour spout is provided for dispensing a beverage from a
bottle that has a mouth. The pour spout comprises a bottle adapter
for attaching to the bottle to receive the beverage therefrom. The
pour spout includes a pour spout housing with a chamber into which
a housing inlet and a housing outlet open with the housing inlet
being connected to the bottle adapter for receiving beverage from
the bottle. A valve carriage is moveably received within the
housing chamber and has a carriage flow passage. A resilient first
tube provides a first passageway for beverage to flow from the
housing inlet to the carriage flow passage and a resilient second
tube provides a second passageway for beverage to flow from
carriage flow passage to the housing outlet. A valve is operatively
connected to control flow of the beverage through the housing from
the housing inlet to the housing outlet. A valve actuator is
provided to move valve carriage within the chamber, thereby
operating the valve.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] Embodiments of the system and method are disclosed with
reference to the accompanying drawings and are for illustrative
purposes only. The system and method are not limited in their
application to the details of construction or the arrangement of
the components illustrated in the drawings. The system and method
are capable of other embodiments or of being practiced or carried
out in other various ways. In the drawings:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a diagram of an exemplary beverage dispensing
system;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an exemplary pour spout used
in at least one embodiment of the beverage dispensing system;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a transverse cross sectional view through the pour
spout in a closed state, as taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a transverse cross sectional view through the pour
spout in a plane that is rotated 90.degree. to the cross section
plane of FIG. 3, as taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2;
[0014] FIG. 5 is a transverse cross sectional view through the pour
spout in an opened state;
[0015] FIG. 6 is an exemplary block schematic diagram of an
exemplary control circuit in the pour spout, as taken along line
3-3 of FIG. 2;
[0016] FIG. 7 is an exemplary block schematic diagram of a control
circuit in a server interface that operates the pour spouts in a
plurality of bottles;
[0017] FIG. 8 is an exemplary flowchart of operation of the
beverage dispensing system in a direct pour mode;
[0018] FIG. 9 is an exemplary flowchart of operation of the
beverage dispensing system in a cocktail mode;
[0019] FIG. 10 is a front view of another exemplary pour spout used
in at least one embodiment of the beverage dispensing system;
[0020] FIG. 11 is a rear view of the pour spout of FIG. 10;
[0021] FIG. 12 is a side view of the pour spout of FIG. 10;
[0022] FIG. 13 is a front perspective view of the pour spout of
FIG. 10 with a top cover removed;
[0023] FIG. 14 is a rear perspective view of the pour spout of FIG.
10 with the top cover removed;
[0024] FIG. 15 is a transverse cross sectional view through the
pour spout, as taken along line 15-15 of FIG. 12 with a valve in a
closed position;
[0025] FIG. 16 is a transverse cross sectional view through the
pour spout, as taken along line 16-16 of FIG. 11 with the valve in
a closed position;
[0026] FIG. 17 is a transverse cross sectional view through the
pour spout, as taken along line 16-16 of FIG. 11 with the valve in
an open position;
[0027] FIG. 18 is a front perspective view of the pour spout upper
portion of FIG. 10 with various components removed for clarity;
[0028] FIG. 19 is a rear perspective view of the pour spout upper
portion of FIG. 10 with various components removed for clarity;
[0029] FIG. 20 is a side view of the pour spout upper portion of
FIG. 10 with various components removed for clarity; and
[0030] FIG. 21 is a transverse cross view of a portion of the pour
spout upper portion of FIG. 20.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0031] References herein to directional relationships and movement,
such as top and bottom or left and right, refer to the relationship
and movement of the components in the orientation illustrated in
the drawings, which may not be the orientation of those components
in all situations. In at least some embodiments, the term "directly
connected" as used herein means that the associated components are
connected together by a conduit without any intervening element,
such as a valve, an orifice or other device, which may restrict or
control the flow of fluid beyond the inherent restriction of any
conduit.
[0032] With initial reference to FIG. 1, an exemplary beverage
dispensing system 10 is illustrated that includes a pour spout 12
that is securely inserted into the neck of a bottle 14 that
contains a beverage, such as liquor, to be dispensed. Although only
one bottle and pour spout are shown, it should be understood that a
typical tavern, restaurant, or similar facility, may have a
plurality of bottles, each having a similar or dissimilar pour
spout. As will be described in greater detail, and in at least some
embodiments, the pour spout 12 is controlled by messages received
via a bidirectional first radio frequency link 15 from a server
interface 16 that is carried by each person who is authorized to
dispense beverages from the bottles, and/or via a bidirectional
first radio frequency link 8 from a control unit 18. That person is
referred to herein as a "beverage server" and the server interface
16 is used by the system to identify which beverage server is
dispensing liquor from a bottle. The server interface 16 in the
illustrated embodiment of the dispensing system 10 is shown in the
form of a bracelet that has a wrist strap for fastening the device
on the forearm of the beverage server. Nevertheless, other forms of
the server interface, such as one that fits in a shirt pocket, may
be provided which are adapted to enable the beverage server to
carry the server interface while performing drink dispensing
duties. In at least some embodiments, the server interface 16 also
communicates via a bidirectional second radio frequency link 17
with a control unit 18 ("Base Station") that governs the dispensing
of the beverages. Further, in at least some embodiments, the pour
spout 12 and the control unit 18 may communicate with each other,
at least one of directly or indirectly.
[0033] The control unit 18 is in at least some embodiments,
physically similar to control computers used in previous beverage
dispensing systems, except that it communicates with the server
interface 16, and/or the pour spout 12, via an internal radio
transceiver connected to an antenna 19 (e.g., an internal or
external antenna), in order to dispense a beverage from the bottles
14. In other embodiments, the control unit 18 can include one or
more of various features not available in previous beverage
dispensing systems. In addition, in at least some embodiments, the
control unit 18 includes a microcontroller (i.e., embedded
processor), such as a part number nRF51422 Radio Frequency System
On a Chip (RF SOC), as manufactured by Nordic Semiconductor of
Oslo, Norway; one or more memory storage devices, such as flash
memory for control program storage, a RAM memory for housekeeping,
temporary storage of variables, calculation workspace, etc., and a
serial EEPROM memory for archival storage, etc.; one or more
communication transceivers, such as an ISM Band 2400-2800 MHz
transceiver, which can be integral to the microcontroller (e.g.,
nRF51422 RF SOC), the transceiver being capable of communicating
with numerous other components and over one or more of various
network configurations, such as a multicast wireless sensor
network, for example the ANT+ network protocol as developed by
Dynastream Innovations, Inc. of Alberta, Canada. In addition, the
communication transceivers can include a Bluetooth capable
transceiver and a Wi-Fi capable transceiver.
[0034] As will be described, the control unit 18 executes various
functions of the present dispensing system 10. In at least some
embodiments, the control unit 18 is in communication with a
cocktail pad 20 by which the beverage servers may select particular
types of drinks to be served and the specific type of alcohol for
each of the drinks. The connection between the control unit 18 and
the cocktail pad 20 can be achieved in numerous manners, such as
wired and/or wireless connections. The server interface 16, control
unit 18, pour spout 12, and the cocktail pad 20, are in at least
some embodiments, capable of communicating with each other, using
one or more of various communication protocols, such as Bluetooth,
ANT+, WiFi, GAZELL.TM., ISM Band 902-928 MHz, etc.
[0035] In at least some embodiments, the cocktail pad 20 is a
computer implemented device that stores a repertoire of cocktails
and other mixed drinks along with the liquor ingredients for each
cocktail and mixed drink. In at least some embodiments, the
cocktail pad 20 includes a memory device (not shown), a processor
(not shown), and a user interface, such as a touch screen 21 (e.g.,
a resistive or capacitive LCD touch screen) (e.g., Graphical User
Interface (GUI)), by which a beverage server accesses the drink
repertoire and selects a particular drink to be served. In at least
some embodiments, the cocktail pad 20 is a commercially available
device, such as part number 8003472, as manufactured by the Berg
Company of Monona, Wis., U.S.A., although in other embodiments the
cocktail pad 20 can be in the form of a smartphone or tablet, such
as an IPHONE or IPAD, with a suitable application configured to
provide a graphical user interface and to communicate with other
components of the dispensing system 10. In at least some
embodiments, the cocktail pad 20 may be in whole or in part,
integral with the control unit 18. The control unit 18 also may be
connected to, or otherwise in communication with, a point of sale
unit (e.g., a cash register) that is used to tabulate the price to
be charged to the customers being served and to collect their
payment. The control unit 18 also may be in communication with
other devices (via a computer network or other communication
network) such as a central computer that monitors the food and
beverage service at the particular tavern or restaurant. It should
be further understood that in a large establishment, there may be
multiple beverage dispensing systems 10 connected together via that
communication network, or several control units 18 may be connected
together by another communication network.
[0036] FIGS. 2-3 illustrate the exemplary pour spout 12 with a top
cover 8A (see for example, FIGS. 10-12) removed so that the
interior details of the device are visible. The pour spout 12
includes a pour spout upper portion 4 that is secured to or
otherwise formed therewith a pour spout lower portion 6. In at
least some embodiments, the pour spout lower portion 6 is
configured to interface directly with the bottle 14 and the pour
spout upper portion 4 is configured to house various components for
dispensing and communication, as discussed below. In at least some
embodiments, the pour spout 12 includes a bottle adapter 30 that
when inserted into the neck 13 of the bottle 14 provides a liquid
tight seal that prevents liquid from escaping the bottle 14 unless
the pour spout is activated. The bottle adapter 30 may be made of
plastic and/or other materials, and in at least some embodiments,
includes a plurality of rings 31 having different outer diameters
to accommodate (e.g., fit tightly) bottle necks of different sizes,
however, the bottle adapter can have other configurations. The
bottle adapter 30 has an inner beverage passage 32 through which
the beverage in the bottle 14 enters the pour spout. A breather
tube 34 with an air inlet 35 allows air to flow into the bottle to
replace the liquid which flows out through the pour spout 12. In at
least some embodiments, a ball 36 held within a cage 38 forms a
check valve at the distal end of the breather tube 34 to prevent
liquid from entering the breather tube when the bottle is
inverted.
[0037] A tamper-indicator, such as a heat shrink seal, an adhesive
backed paper label or tape, etc. (not shown), may be placed around
the pour spout 12 and a neck 13 of the bottle 14 to detect and
provide a visual indication of unauthorized attempts to remove the
pour spout from the bottle. In at least some embodiments, the
tamper-indicator can be secured to the neck 13 and a feature and/or
accessory component that is affixed to the pour spout 12.
[0038] Alternatively, a sensor in the form of a mechanical switch,
an optical transmitter and reflector, a bottle to pourer proximity
sensor, or other mechanisms known in the art could be used for
indicating, logging, or communicating events of tampering with the
integrity of the bottle to pourer bond. As a consequence, in at
least some embodiments, the only way to pour liquid from the bottle
without providing indication to management of tampering is to use
the dispensing system 10.
[0039] The pour spout 12 has an interior housing 40 with a first
side 41 to which the bottle adapter 30 is attached. That first side
41 has a housing inlet 43 through which liquid from the bottle is
received from the inner beverage passage 32. The opposite second
side 45 of the housing 40 has a nozzle 44 with a housing outlet 47
through which the beverage is dispensed from the pour spout 12. A
spout valve 42 is provided within the housing 40 to control the
flow of the beverage through the pour spout. The spout valve 42 is
located in a chamber 46 within the housing 40 and comprises a valve
carriage 48 that slides within the chamber toward and away from the
housing inlet 43. A biasing element, such as a compression spring
50, biases the valve carriage 48 away from the housing inlet 43 and
toward a stop 52 located on the housing, or alternatively, an
effective stop created when the plunger head 64 contacts the valve
seat 60, thereby restricting the travel of the carriage 48. The
valve carriage 48 has a carriage inlet 54 and a carriage outlet 55,
with a carriage flow passage 56 through which the beverage can
flow. A first tube 58 comprised of a flexible, resilient material,
such as silicone, has one end sealed in a secured manner to the
housing 40 around the housing inlet 43 and another end sealed in a
secured manner to the valve carriage 48 around the carriage inlet
54. Thus the first tube 58 provides a first passageway for liquid
to flow from the housing inlet 43 into the carriage inlet 54. In at
least some embodiments, the first tube 58 has at least one pleat 57
that allows the length of that tube to contract as the valve
carriage 48 slides toward the housing inlet 43 while maintaining
the first passageway open. In at least some embodiments, a similar
second tube 59 is provided that includes one end sealed in a
secured manner to the valve carriage 48 around the carriage outlet
55 and another end sealed in a secured manner to the housing 40
around an opening of the housing outlet 47 in the outlet nozzle 44.
Thus the second tube 59 can provide a second passageway for liquid
to flow from the carriage outlet 55 into the outlet nozzle 44. In
at least some embodiments, the second tube 59 also is fabricated
from a resilient material, such as silicone, and has at least one
pleat 61 that allows the second tube to extend and contract
lengthwise while maintaining the second passageway open.
[0040] A valve seat 60 is formed in the interior surface of the
second tube 59 adjacent the end that is sealed to the outlet nozzle
44. The valve seat is shaped to provide a conforming seal with a
plunger 62, as discussed below. In at least some embodiments, the
valve seat 60 is annular. The valve carriage 48 has a plunger 62
extending therefrom toward the outlet nozzle 44. The plunger 62
includes a head 64, which in the closed state of the pour spout 12
(as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4) engages the valve seat 60 to
prevent liquid flow through the second tube 59. In at least some
embodiments, the head 64 is tapered to provide a seal with the
valve seat 60. Note that in this closed state, the length of the
second tube 59 is contracted because the valve carriage 48 is in a
position that is proximate to the outlet nozzle 44. The compression
spring 50 biases the valve carriage into that position, thereby
forcing the plunger 62 to abut the valve seat 60 and close the
spout valve 42. Alternatively, the valve seat 60 could be located
around the carriage passage 56, adjacent the carriage outlet 55,
and the plunger could be affixed to the valve housing adjacent the
outlet nozzle 44. These variations provide a valve seat in a flow
path between the valve carriage 48 and the outlet nozzle 44 with
the valve seat being engaged by a plunger to close the valve. As a
further alternative, the valve seat and plunger could be provided
between the valve carriage 48 and the inlet 43 of the housing on
the opposite side of the valve carriage. In at least some
embodiments, generically, a valve seat and closure plunger of the
spout valve 42 are provided in the flow path through the housing 40
between the housing inlet 43 and the outlet nozzle 44.
[0041] With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, a pair of actuating
portions 66 and 67, such as machine screws or molded posts, extend
from opposite sides of the valve carriage 48 through vertical
slots, such as slot 71 (FIG. 2), respectively, in the housing 40.
As the actuating portions 66 and 67 travel in the slots, the valve
carriage 48 moves within the housing chamber 46 toward and away
from housing sides 41 and 45. In at least some embodiments, to
assist with the movement of the valve carriage 48 with respect to
the slots, a first guide 73 and a second guide 78 can be provided,
which are secured to, or formed integrally with (see FIGS. 10-21)
the valve carriage 48 to provide a sliding engagement with the
slots. In at least some embodiments, the first guide 73 and second
guide 78 (FIGS. 2 and 4) are secured to the valve carriage 48 by
fasteners, such as screws 79 (as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4). With
additional reference to FIG. 2, the actuating portions 66 and 67
are engaged by a pair of cam plates (i.e., lever arms) 72 and 74,
respectively. The two cam plates 72 and 74 are rotationally mounted
to opposite ends of a shaft 81 (not shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, see 81A
in FIGS. 20 and 21) of an electric motor 75. The electric motor 75
and the cam plates 72 and 74 form an electrically operated valve
actuator 77. When energized, the motor 75 rotates the shaft 81 and
thus the pair of cam plates 72 and 74. As will be described, that
rotation pushes the two actuating portions 66 and 67 within the
slots 70 and 71, driving the valve carriage 48 against the force of
the compression spring 50 and toward the first side 41 of housing
40. That valve carriage motion moves the plunger 62 away from
engagement with the valve seat 60, thereby opening the pour spout
valve 42. In that position of the valve carriage 48 illustrated in
FIG. 5 (and FIG. 17), the first tube 58 becomes longitudinally
compressed while the second tube 59 is longitudinally extended. In
the open state, liquid is able to flow from the bottle 14 through
the beverage passage 32, the first tube 58, the valve carriage 48,
the second tube 59 and the outlet nozzle 44 into a glass 11 or
other container. Additionally, the motor 75 is affixed to the
housing 40 by a clamp 83, this prevents rotation of the motor 75
during actuation of the cam plates 72 and 74.
[0042] In at least some embodiments, electrically activated
mechanisms other than an electric motor can be used to perform the
function of the valve actuator 77. For example, an external
solenoid could have an armature that is mechanically coupled to the
valve carriage, or the valve carriage can be made of a magnetically
permeable material with an electromagnetic coil extending around
the exterior of the housing 40 to create a magnetic field that
moves the valve carriage 48 to an open state or closed state. In at
least some embodiments, other types of spout valves may be used to
control the flow of liquid between the housing inlet 43 and the
outlet nozzle 44 with the present dispensing system 10. Further, in
at least some embodiments, other types of pour spouts 12, such as a
pour spout with a transceiver configured to communicate with at
least one of the control unit 18, server interface 16, and/or
cocktail pad 20 can be interfaced and utilized with the dispensing
system 10.
[0043] Referring again to FIG. 2, a printed circuit board 80 is
attached to the housing 40 and includes one or more electronic
circuits (e.g., pour spout control circuit 90, as discussed below)
for operating the motor 75 and performing other functions of the
pour spout 12 described herein. In addition, one or more additional
circuit boards (e.g., circuit board 85A shown in FIG. 16) can be
provided that house one or more of various components, such as a
first radio receiver 98, as discussed below. The use of multiple
circuit boards (e.g., circuit board 80 and 85A) can serve to
prevent electrical interference generated from a source of power,
such as battery 88A, by distancing the first radio transceiver 98
from the power source. Further, multiple circuit boards can be
connected via one or more of various ways, such as using a flex
circuit or ribbon cable 91A (see FIGS. 13 and 14).
[0044] In at least some embodiments, a sensor lever 82 is attached
to an exposed end of the motor shaft 81 and rotates with the shaft
81, while in other embodiments, the sensor lever 82 can be secured
to or integrally formed with one or both of the cam plates 72 and
74. The sensor lever 82 passes through or is otherwise in
communication with a valve position sensor 84, such as an
electro-optical sensor or photo-interrupter (for example, a part
number Rohm RPI-0128, as manufactured by Rohm Semiconductor of San
Diego, Calif.) that produces an electrical signal having two states
indicating whether the pour spout valve 42 is opened (open state)
or closed (closed state). In one embodiment sensor lever 82 can be
configured to cause photo-interruption when the valve is in the
fully open and fully closed position. In another embodiment sensor
lever 82 can alternately be configured to cause photo-interruption
in the mechanically transitioning position between the valve fully
open or fully closed positions. In at least one embodiment, as
shown in FIGS. 16, 17, and 20, the sensor lever 82A is attached to
the cam plate 74A and is notched to provide a pair of spaced apart
tabs 86A, which are sensed by the sensor 84A as the cam plate 74A
is actuated.
[0045] FIG. 6 schematically illustrates a pour spout control
circuit 90 that is provided, at least in part, on the printed
circuit board 80, (some of the various components of the pour spout
control circuit 90 can be provided on one or more additional
circuit boards). The pour spout control circuit has a first
controller 92, such as a microcomputer, that includes analog to
digital converters, input circuits, output circuits, and an
internal memory 93 for storing a control program and data for use
by the control program. In at least some embodiments, the control
program is configured to operate the pour spout 12 consistent with
the methods and operations described below. Data utilized by the
control program can be stored in the memory 93 during a programming
session, or can be entered as needed in some cases via a component
of the dispensing system 10, such as the server interface 16, the
cocktail pad 20, etc. The memory 93 stores a spout identifier that
identifies the particular pour spout 12 where the memory 93 is
installed. The spout identifier may be simply a unique number
assigned to the particular pour spout 12 and/or may identify the
specific beverage in the bottle to which the particular pour spout
is attached. As an example of a spout identifier, the memory 93 has
a first storage location that contains a designation of the brand
of beverage and a second storage location that stores the
particular type of beverage in the associated bottle. For example,
the beverage brand may be "Johnnie Walker" and the type of beverage
may be "Black Label Scotch Whiskey". In at least some embodiments,
the beverage brand and the type of beverage may be designated by
alphanumeric characters or by numerical values assigned to the
brand and beverage type to encode them with less memory space
utilized. Other types of designators have been contemplated. A
third storage location within the pour spout memory 93 can contain
a designation of the volume capacity of the bottle, i.e., the
quantity of beverage when the bottle is full. A fourth storage
location within the pour spout memory 93 might contain the quantity
of beverage dispensed since the pour spout was placed (programmed)
onto the bottle. A fifth storage location can be provided within
the pour spout memory 93 which can contain the viscosity of the
beverage contained within the bottle 14. A sixth storage location
within the pour spout memory 93 might contain the profile of the
bottle 14 as it relates to its shape and the effects of the same
one the rate of flow given various depths of the liquid within the
bottle 14. A seventh storage location within the pour spout memory
93 might contain the nominal flow rate of the beverage within the
bottle. Numerous other storage locations within the pour spout
memory 93 can be designated to store additional data.
Alternatively, in another embodiment, the spout identifier may
simply be a numerical value assigned to that pour spout, in which
case the control unit 18 or server interface (16) stores a table
which relates that numerical value to the brand, type of beverage,
viscosity of beverage, bottle profile, nominal flow rate and volume
capacity of the associated bottle. In addition, in at least some
embodiments, one of or all of the spout identifier, the brand of
beverage, the type of beverage, viscosity of beverage, bottle
profile, the volume capacity of the bottle, and the quantity of
beverage dispensed since the pour spout was placed onto the bottle,
can be included in a single memory storage location or in two or
more locations in the pour spout memory 93.
[0046] In at least some embodiments, the first controller 92
includes one or more input circuits (as noted above), which are
configured to receive signals from various components, such as a
temperature sensor 94 and a plurality of accelerometers 96
configured to detect motion along three orthogonal axes of the pour
spout 12. The signal from the valve position sensor 84 can also be
provided to one of the input circuits of the first controller 92.
Using one or more output circuits, the first controller 92 is
connected to a motor driver 95 that controls the motor 75 and is
further coupled to a light emitter 99 (FIG. 6), such as a light
emitting diode (LED), to provide an indication to the beverage
server when the dispensing system 10 has selected the associated
bottle for use. The pour spout 12 can include a plurality of light
indicators 99 to annunciate to the beverage server information
about the state of the pour spout 12. In at least some embodiments,
the pour spout 12 includes four light indicators 99. The light
indicators 99 can be positioned so as to be visible through an LED
lens 87A (see FIG. 13).
[0047] The first controller 92 is connected, via one or more input
circuits and output circuits, to a radio transceiver 98 that has an
antenna 97, such as a Radio Frequency (RF) transceiver, for
communicating with one or more components of the dispensing system
10, such as the server interface 16 (FIG. 1), as will be described.
As used herein a radio transceiver is a device that includes a
transmitter and a receiver. In at least some embodiments, a flow
sensor could be incorporated to measure fluid flow through the pour
spout 12 and further connected to the first controller 92. In such
an embodiment, the amount of liquor being dispensed from the bottle
14 would be the measured variable in a closed loop servo control
with a setpoint being a derived time period defining the dispensed
volume of beverage. In such a closed loop servo system, servo
control, such as provided by a Proportional Integral Derivative
(aka PID) algorithm, or any subset of such, could be employed by
the first controller 92 to control opening and closing of the spout
valve 42.
[0048] With reference to FIG. 7, the server interface 16 has an
interface control circuit 100 comprising a second controller 102,
such as a microcomputer, that has input circuits and output
circuits, and an internal memory 103 for storing a control program
and data used by the control program. In at least some embodiments,
the memory 103 also stores a unique identifier, such as a number or
a person's name, assigned to that particular server interface 16
which serves to identify the beverage server to whom the interface
is assigned. That unique identifier is referred to herein as the
"server identifier." The server interface 16 can further include a
plurality of selector switches, such as the selector switches 108.
In at least some embodiments, four selector switches 108 are
provided on the server interface 16. The selector switches 108 can
be used to designate a server selectable portion of the beverage to
be dispensed. More particularly, the buttons can be used to select
one of a plurality of portions sizes, such as a small size portion,
a regular size portion, a large size portion, or an extra-large
size portion. A plurality of nominal pour time intervals (i.e.,
time periods) during which the spout valve 42 is to be in an open
state to provide a selected portion size may be stored in a
beverage data table, provided in the internal memory 103. The
beverage data table can include an array of numbers associated with
beverage types and pour times. The selector switches 108 can be
actuated individually, sequentially, or simultaneously to initiate
various unique functions or settings. In an alternate embodiment,
the selector switches may be touch screen icons on the touch screen
21 acting as the GUI of the server interface 16.
[0049] In at least some embodiments, the server interface 16
includes at least one accelerometer 101, which provides an input
signal to the second controller 102 to indicate when the beverage
server rapidly moves the server interface 16. A display 104, such
as a liquid crystal display, is provided on the server interface
16, with an output of the second controller 102 being connected
thereto to drive the display 104. The display 104 communicates with
the second controller 102 to provide information or selections to
the server. Such information can include various selections and
other information conveyed using alpha-numeric or other characters
or indicia. One or more visual and/or audible indicators can be
provided on the server interface 16, such as a pair of light
emitters 107 and 109 (e.g., light emitting diodes), which are
connected to outputs of the second controller 102 to provide visual
indications of different operating conditions. In an alternate
embodiment, a vibrating component could be utilized to alert the
server wearing the interface that some action is necessary (e.g. a
cocktail has been ordered by a food server). A second radio
transceiver 105, with an antenna 106, is connected to an
input/output circuit of the second controller 102. As shown in FIG.
7, the second radio transceiver 105 communicates with the pour
spout 12 via the first radio frequency link 15 and with the control
unit 18 via the second radio frequency link 17. This may be
accomplished by using different radio frequencies for each link 15
or 17 or by sending different indicator codes in each transmitted
message to designate whether the control unit 18 or a pour spout 12
is the intended message recipient. Instead of radio frequency links
and radio transceivers other types of wireless communication
signals, such as light beams, and transmission devices can be
employed for wireless communication between various components of
the beverage dispensing system. Further, as noted above, such
communication can be accomplished via one or more of a plurality of
transmission protocols (e.g., Spread-Spectrum Frequency Hopping,
WiFi (802.11), Bluetooth, etc.).
[0050] Both the server interface 16 and the pour spout 12 are
powered by one or more batteries, such as battery 88A (see FIG. 16)
and may have a removable battery (e.g., rechargeable or
disposable), or a battery that is hard wired to the control circuit
90 and which is inductively rechargeable at a central recharging
station, which can be conveniently located in the tavern or
restaurant where they are principally utilized. In at least some
embodiments, an inductive charging coil 89A (see FIG. 16) is
provided in the pour spout 12 to interface with an inductive
charging station (not shown). The coil 89A is connected at least
indirectly with the battery 88A (see FIG. 16), such as via the
control circuit 90. To annunciate when the charge on the battery is
at or below a certain level, the respective device can produce a
visual or audible indication, or communicate the charge state via
radio transmission to alert the control unit 18 of battery
status.
[0051] In each control circuit 90 and 100, the controller, radio
transceiver, and other components may be provided on a single
integrated circuit, such as a model nRF51422 System on Chip (SoC)
produced by Nordic Semiconductor ASA of Oslo, Norway. However,
other commercially available Radio Frequency Systems on a Chip (RF
SOC) such as the Texas Instruments RF SoC family or Chipcon family,
Analog Device ADuCRF family, or Bluetooth 4 Low Energy (BLE) may
also be used.
[0052] The dispensing system 10 can be configured to include a
plurality of modes of operations. In at least some embodiments, the
dispensing system 10 has two modes of operation, namely, (1) a
direct pour mode in which the beverage server picks up a beverage
bottle and begins pouring a drink, and (2) a cocktail mode in which
the beverage server selects the desired mixed drink on the cocktail
pad 20 and is guided by the dispensing system 10 in selecting
different liquor ingredients to use in preparing the mixed
drink.
[0053] Various direct pour modes can be provided, although one
embodiment of a direct pour mode is depicted by the exemplary flow
chart 200 illustrated in FIG. 8, and will be described below with
additional reference to other FIGS. (e.g., 1, 6, and 7). In this
flow chart the server interface 16 is used to relay messages
between the pour spout 12 and the control unit 18. Alternatively
the pour spout 12 may communicate directly with the control unit
18, in which case the server interface 16 is used simply to add
information to the pour request. With that said the description of
the method depicted by the exemplary flow chart 200 continues as
follows. The direct pour mode can be initiated in a plurality of
ways, although in at least some embodiments, it is initiated by the
beverage server pressing one of the drink size selector buttons 108
on the server interface 16, or by rapidly moving the server
interface 16, where the movement is detected by the accelerometer
101. In at least some embodiments, movement of the server interface
16 to within a near horizontal angle, such as the server rotating
the server interface 16 to an angle conducive to viewing the
interface display screen 104 (e.g., parallel to a floor surface)
can be used as a stimulus to initiate the direct pour mode. One or
more of the aforesaid actions may be utilized to wake-up the server
interface from a sleep state. During operation, the control program
executed by the second controller 102 determines at step 201
whether one of the selector switches 108 has been actuated. Four
selector switches 108 are used to denote whether a small, regular,
large, or extra-large size portion of a selected beverage is
desired to be dispensed. If activation of one of the selector
switches 108 is detected, the program advances to step 203 at which
the server interface 16 awakens and displays an indication of the
selection on the display screen 104. If one of the selector
switches 108 is not detected, the program advances to step 202 at
which the second controller 102 inspects the signal from the
accelerometer 101. That accelerometer signal indicates whether the
beverage server has rapidly moved the server interface 16 in order
to awaken it. In that case, direct pour mode defaults to the
regular size portion and advances to step 203, although other sizes
could be configured as the default. If such rapid motion is not
detected at step 202, the program execution returns to step 201 and
maintains a sleep state.
[0054] Assuming that the beverage server has awakened the server
interface 16 and the execution has advanced to step 203, the
beverage server then grabs the particular bottle 14 containing the
beverage that is desired to be dispensed. That bottle then is
inverted over the glass 11 or another receiving container. At step
204, the inversion of the bottle 14 is detected by accelerometers
96 in the pour spout 12 (e.g., three accelerometers--one for each
axis, X, Y, Z), thereby providing one or more pour signals to the
first controller 92 in FIG. 6. The first controller 92 responds by
transmitting a pour request message via the first radio frequency
link 15 at step 206. That request message may contain various
pieces of information, including the spout identifier, which can be
retrieved from the pour spout memory 93.
[0055] At step 208, upon receiving the pour request message, the
server interface 16 extracts the name of the beverage from that
message and presents the name on the display 104. Then at step 210,
the second controller 102 accesses its memory 103 to obtain the
server identifier for the person to whom the respective server
interface 16 has been assigned. That server identifier, the spout
identifier, and the desired portion size are transmitted as a
beverage dispensing request via the second radio frequency link 17
to the control unit 18, and/or another component of the dispensing
system 10. Thereafter, the software executed by the control program
on the server interface 16 waits at step 212 for a response from
the control unit 18 authorizing the dispensing of that particular
beverage by the pour spout 12.
[0056] The receipt of the dispensing request causes the control
unit 18 to obtain a price and volume stored in the memory of the
control unit for the specified portion size of the designated
beverage. The server identifier, type of beverage, and volume of
the beverage, and the related price are then transmitted to the
point of sale unit 22 for entry into the bill for the items being
served to the associated customer. This information may be encoded
in what is commonly referred to as a price look-up (PLU) number,
although other types of encoding can be utilized. It should be
understood that upon serving all the drinks ordered by that
customer, the beverage server can print the bill at the point of
sale unit 22. After the transaction has been entered, the point of
sale unit 22 approves the dispensing transaction by sending an
approval message to the control unit 18. In response to the
approval message, the control unit 18 sends a request reply message
with the volume to be dispensed via the second radio frequency link
17 to the server interface 16, which in effect approves the
beverage dispensing request.
[0057] If a predefined amount of time has passed after sending a
beverage dispensing request, where the server interface 16 has not
received a request reply message from the control unit 18, the
direct pour mode branches from step 214 to step 216. Alternatively,
the server interface 16 may receive a reply message from the
control unit 18 that expressly denies the beverage dispensing
request. In either event, the server interface 16 concludes that
the beverage dispensing was not approved. The second controller 102
activates the red light emitter 107 to indicate to the beverage
server that the transaction has been denied. An alphanumeric or
graphic message to that effect also may be presented on the display
screen 104 of the server interface 16. The display screen 104 may
be backlit to different selectable colors, or the server interface
16 may have a vibrating motor that is operated to indicate the
denial to the person carrying the server interface. In addition,
the sever interface 16 may utilize an audible annunciator, such as
a speaker, to provide indications. Those indications remain active
for a predefined period of time after which the direct pour mode
200 terminates without dispensing any beverage from the bottle
14.
[0058] Otherwise, upon receiving a request reply message indicating
approval from the control unit 18 at step 214, the direct pour mode
advances to step 218 at which the server interface 16 sends a
dispensing command message via the second radio transceiver 105 to
the respective pour spout 12. That dispensing command message
contains the spout identifier that was previously received by the
server interface 16 from the associated pour spout 12. The spout
identifier indicates which pour spout at the serving station is to
be activated and thus which pour spout is to receive and respond to
this pour command message.
[0059] Various beverages have different viscosities, for example,
gin and whiskey have a viscosity similar to that of water, while
certain liqueurs have a greater viscosity and pour slower. Thus
different beverages have different nominal flow rates which are
used to calculate the pour time intervals during which to open the
pour spout valve 42 in order to dispense the desired portion size
of that beverage. In at least some embodiments, the appropriate
nominal flow rates for a particular beverage may be stored either
in the beverage data table, which can be located in the memory 93
of the associated pour spout 12, or in the control unit 18, that
also stores the price and nominal volume data for that beverage. As
price data can change for temporary periods (e.g., discounted happy
hour times, special rates for private parties, etc.), the price
data is typically stored in the control unit 18 or the point of
sale unit 22, in at least some embodiments, the price data can be
stored in another component of the dispensing system 10, or in
another component that is in communication with the dispensing
system 10. When the volume, optionally in the form of a nominal
pour time interval, is stored in the control unit 18, the volume or
nominal pour time interval to use is sent from the control unit 18
to the server interface 16 in the request reply message and then
relayed to the pour spout 12 in the dispensing command message.
Alternatively, the volume or nominal pour time interval to use can
also be sent from the control unit 18 directly to the pour spout
12. In at least some embodiments, the volumes or nominal pour time
intervals can be stored in a beverage data table in the memory 103
of the server interface 16.
[0060] The pour time intervals are noted as being "nominal" because
the rate at which the beverage flows from the bottle is a factor of
the beverage temperature, the angle at which the beverage server
inverts the bottle, and the quantity of liquor remaining in the
bottle. For some mixed drinks, a liquor ingredient, such as gin,
may be refrigerated for a certain type of drink and thus be at a
lower temperature than another bottle of the identical brand of gin
that is not refrigerated for other types of drinks. Thus, the
control circuit 90 for the pour spout 12 has a temperature sensor
94 that enables the first controller 92 to know the present
temperature of the beverage. A first lookup table stored within
memory 93 provides data defining how the pour time interval for the
respective beverage is affected by temperature, thereby enabling
the first controller 92 to adjust the nominal pour time for
temperature variation. The accelerometers 96 also enable the first
controller 92 to determine the pouring position of the bottle, such
as the angle to which the beverage server has tilted the bottle for
pouring. When the bottle is aligned vertically, the beverage flows
from the pour spout 12 at a faster rate than when the bottle merely
is tilted to a 45.degree. angle with respect to vertical. A second
lookup table stored within memory 93 provides data defining how the
pour time interval for the respective beverage is affected by the
bottle tilt angle, thereby enabling the first controller 92 to
adjust the nominal pour time for tilt angle variation. The quantity
of beverage remaining in the bottle also affects the actual pour
time, i.e., the greater the quantity, the greater the fluid
pressure and thus the greater the flow rate. Therefore, the first
controller 92 uses the amount of beverage dispensed during each
pour to track the quantity remaining in the bottle. A third lookup
table within memory 93 provides data defining how the pour time
interval is affected by the quantity of the beverage remaining in
the bottle, thereby enabling the first controller 92 further to
adjust the nominal pour time. The result of this processing is an
adjusted pour time interval. In at least some embodiments, any one
of or all of the first, second, and third lookup tables can be
stored in another component of the dispensing system 10 and
accessed as needed.
[0061] After the first controller 92 has received the information
to provide a desired pour, the first controller 92 produces an
output signal which activates the motor driver 95 which responds by
energizing the motor 75, which rotates the cam plates 72 and 74
(FIGS. 2 and 4). The cam plates 72 and 74 push the actuating
portions 66 and 67, thereby sliding in the valve carriage 48 within
the housing 40. The motion of the valve carriage 48 moves the
plunger 62 away from the valve seat 60 opening a path for the
beverage to flow from the bottle out of the nozzle 44 and into the
glass 11 or other container. The motor is de-energized when the
valve is fully open to save battery power. The motor 75 and its
gearbox provide sufficient resistance to hold the spout valve 42
open against the force of the compression spring 50. The first
controller 92 has an internal timer that measures the amount of
time during which the spout valve 42 is open and when the adjusted
pour time interval expires, the motor 75 is reversed in direction.
At that time, the compression spring 50 moves the valve carriage 48
until the plunger 62 once again engages the valve seat 60 closing
the fluid path through the pour spout 12, terminating the flow of
the beverage from the bottle 14. The motor can be de-energized when
the valve is fully closed to save battery power.
[0062] On some occasions, the beverage server may make two or more
identical drinks at the same time. In that situation, the beverage
server, while holding the bottle 14 in the inverted position,
shakes the bottle up and down rapidly, which motion is detected by
the accelerometers 96 in the pour spout 12. In the direct pour
mode, this rapid movement triggers the process to move to step 206,
where the first controller 92 sends another pour request to the
server interface 16. Eventually the direct pour mode 200 terminates
with the beverage server placing the bottle in the normal upright
position, which is sensed by the accelerometers 96 of the pour
spout control circuit 90.
[0063] With reference to FIG. 9, the dispensing system 10 can be
configured to operate in various types of cocktail modes, with one
embodiment of a cocktail mode provided in exemplary flow chart 300.
In this flow chart the server interface 16 is used to relay
messages between the pour spout 12 and the control unit 18.
Alternatively the pour spout 12 may communicate directly with the
control unit 18, in which case the server interface 16 is used
simply to add information to the pour request. With that said the
description of the method depicted by the exemplary flow chat 300
continues as follows. In cocktail mode, the beverage server is
guided through mixing several liquor ingredients to make a
particular cocktail. To mix a cocktail in this mode, the beverage
server selects the desired cocktail from a list presented on the
touch screen 21 of the cocktail pad 20, or otherwise enters data to
search for the cocktail from a database of cocktail recipes stored
on the cocktail pad 20 or otherwise accessible by the cocktail pad
20. The cocktail mode commences with the beverage server signing
into the cocktail pad 20. In at least some embodiments, the signing
in can occur by entering an employee number or selecting the
server's name from a list displayed on the touch screen 21. Then at
step 302, the beverage server uses the touch screen 21 to scan the
list of cocktails to locate the one that is desired and to select
it. Typically the cocktail mode is used to prepare drinks that have
a number of different liquor ingredients, for example, a Long
Island Iced Tea contains vodka, tequila, rum, gin, and triple sec
along with sweet and sour mix and a splash of cola.
[0064] A drink selection message, containing the beverage server's
identifier, the name of the selected cocktail, the list of
ingredients in that cocktail, and a volume or nominal pour time
interval for each ingredient is communicated from the cocktail pad
20 to the control unit 18 at step 304. Upon receiving that message,
the control unit looks up the price of the cocktail in a table
stored in its memory. The control unit 18 then sends a transaction
notice message containing the beverage server identifier, the
cocktail name, and the price to the point of sale unit 22. The
point of sale unit 22 adds that cocktail to a list of items on the
bill for the customer being served. At step 306, the control unit
waits for approval of the transaction, and if the transaction is
approved, a reply message, which effectively authorizes the
dispensing transaction, is sent back to the control unit 18. If a
reply message is not received within a predefined amount of time
(e.g., 5 seconds, 30 seconds, etc.) after sending the transaction
notice message, the control unit 18 concludes that the transaction
has been denied and the cocktail mode branches to step 308.
Alternatively, the control unit 18 may receive a reply message from
the point of sale unit 22 that expressly denies the beverage
dispensing transaction. In either event, an indication of the
denial is sent to and displayed on the cocktail pad 20 and the
server interface 16 for the respective beverage server, before the
cocktail mode ends.
[0065] Upon receiving an approval reply message from the point of
sale unit 22, the cocktail mode moves from step 306 to step 310 at
which the control unit 18 uses the server identifier to send a
transaction message (e.g., via the second radio frequency link 17)
to the server interface 16 that is assigned to the requesting
beverage server. The transaction message contains the identity of
the cocktail to be prepared, the list of liquor ingredients, and
for each ingredient, both the spout identifier and designation of
the nominal pour time interval. In at least some embodiments, when
the server interface 16 receives a message containing the
associated server identifier and an approval code for the cocktail
mode, the data contained in that message is extracted and stored in
the memory 103. At step 311, the server interface 16 sends a
message to the pour spout 12 for each bottle 14 containing one of
the liquor ingredients. Each of those messages, sent via the first
radio frequency link 15, instructs the pour spout control circuit
90 in the respective spout to activate its light emitter 99 which
visually identifies the associated liquor bottle among all the
bottles at the serving station. In at least some embodiments, other
means of identifying bottles can be provided.
[0066] Next at step 312, the cocktail mode waits for the server to
grab one of the liquor bottles on the ingredient list. The
inversion (e.g., tilting) of the bottle by the server is detected
by the one or more accelerometers 96 in the attached pour spout 12,
which causes the first controller 92 in the pour spout to send a
wireless message to the server interface 16 at step 314. That
message identifies the pour spout 12 and its associated liquor
bottle to the server interface 16. At this point the pour spout 12
may send a pour request message to the control unit 18.
[0067] Then at step 316, the server interface 16, or the control
unit 18, checks whether the liquor in the identified bottle is on
the list of ingredients for the cocktail being mixed. If not, the
process moves to step 318 at which a red light emitter on the
server interface 16 is illuminated to indicate selection of an
incorrect bottle by the server. The process then returns to step
312 to await selection of a proper bottle. If at step 316, the
identified bottle was found to contain a liquor ingredient of the
cocktail, the process moves to step 320. At that time, an
activation message containing the volume or the nominal pour time
interval for that liquor ingredient is sent wirelessly to the
inverted pour spout 12. Once the designated pour spout 12 receives
that activation message, the spout valve 42 opens for the
designated nominal pour time interval.
[0068] As described previously with respect to the direct pour
mode, the pour spout control circuit 90 also senses the temperature
of the beverage in the bottle and the angle at which the bottle has
been tilted (e.g., relative to vertical). The pour spout control
circuit 90 keeps track of the quantity of liquor remaining in the
bottle. Those three variable factors affect the rate at which fluid
flows through the pour spout 12. Therefore, the first controller 92
uses the sensed temperature, the tilt angle and the remaining
liquor quantity to adjust the nominal pour time interval, as
received or as calculated given the volume and nominal flow rate,
to ensure that the proper quantity of beverage is dispensed under
those variable conditions. That action produces an adjusted pour
time interval, which is used to control the duration of the open
state of the spout valve 42.
[0069] The first controller 92 then operates the motor 75 to open
the spout valve 42 and begins measuring the amount of time that the
spout valve is held open. When that amount of time equals the
adjusted pour time interval, the motor 75 is activated to close the
valve. The first controller 92 then deactivates the light emitter
99 on the pour spout. Then at step 322, closure of the spout valve
42 is communicated by the first radio transceiver 98 via the first
radio frequency link 15 to the server interface 16, or to the
control unit 18, and the server interface 16 or the control unit 18
marks the liquor ingredient as having been poured. Then at step
324, the server interface 16 or the control unit 18 checks the
cocktail ingredient list to determine if another ingredient remains
to be poured. If there is another such ingredient, the cocktail
mode returns to step 312 where the process waits for the server to
invert another liquor bottle on the ingredient list for the
selected cocktail. The process repeatedly loops through steps
312-324 until all the liquor ingredients have been poured to
prepare the mixed drink, at which time the cocktail mode ends at
step 326.
[0070] For certain cocktails, such as the Long Island Iced Tea,
non-alcoholic beverages such as a carbonated soda or an ingredient
that is not contained in a bottle may be utilized. The beverage
dispensing system 10 can indicate those additional ingredients
either via the cocktail pad 20 or the display 104 on the server
interface 16.
[0071] The cocktail mode has been described in the context of the
list of liquor ingredients and designations of the volume or
nominal pour time interval for each ingredient of the selected
mixed drink being transmitted to the server interface 16 in a
single message from the control unit 18. The server interface 16
controls the sequential activation of each of the pour spouts 12
for the liquor ingredients. Alternatively, the control unit 18 can
control dispensing each liquor ingredient and send separate
dispensing messages to the server interface 16 or directly to the
pour spout 12 for each liquor ingredient sequentially as each
ingredient has been dispensed. Each such dispensing message
contains the spout identifier associated with one liquor ingredient
and the designation of the volume or nominal pour time interval for
that liquor ingredient. Further, in at least some embodiments, the
pour spout 12 can communicate directly with the control unit 18 to
exchange at least some of the aforementioned information.
[0072] When a bottle houses a relatively sticky beverage, such as a
cordial that is served infrequently, an associated spout valve can
become stuck shut. The present dispensing system 10 can mitigate
this problem by periodically exercising the spout valve 42 even
though the beverage is not sought to be dispensed. The control unit
18 stores a list of spout identifiers for pour spouts that are
susceptible to valve sticking. Periodically, such as once a week,
the control unit 18 enters a valve exercise mode in which each of
those spout identifiers is sequentially obtained from that list and
used to send an exercise command either directly to the associated
pour spout 12 or to the pour spout via a server interface 16 that
is in use. Upon receiving the exercise command, the first
controller 92 of the respective spout control circuit 90 determines
the present position of the bottle, as stored previously based on
signals from the accelerometers 96. If the bottle is in the upright
position, i.e., the neck facing upward, the first controller 92
commands the motor driver 95 to energize the motor 75 and open the
spout valve for a brief period of time, e.g., a fraction of a
second.
[0073] Referring to FIGS. 10-21 (as described above), another
exemplary pour spout 12A, used in at least some embodiments of the
beverage dispensing system 10 is illustrated. It is to be
understood that the pour spout 12A includes in at least some
embodiments, components that perform the same or substantially the
same functions and methods as the components described above with
regard to the pour spout 12 and flow charts 200 and 300, with the
components from the pour spout 12A being identified, for
convenience, with the same number as the components of pour spout
12, but with an "A" added to the number (e.g., 14 and 14A). In at
least some embodiments, various components of the pour spout 12A
can be identical to the components of the pour spout 12, while
other components can include some variance in size and function.
Additionally, the pour spout 12A can include additional components
not described that serve to assist with the functionality of the
pour spout 12A. Further, two or more components identified with
pour spout 12 can be combined to form a single component in pour
spout 12A that performs the functions of the two or more
components, or vice-versa. In at least some embodiments, some
elements of the pour spout 12A identified in FIGS. 10-21 may not
have corresponding numbers identified from the pour spout 12
illustrated in FIGS. 1-9, although the lack of a corresponding
number should not be considered as a necessary exclusion of a
corresponding element from pour spout 12, or vice versa.
[0074] It should be appreciated that the present disclosure is
intended to encompass numerous embodiments as disclosed herein and
further described by the following:
[0075] (i). A system for dispensing a beverage from a bottle
comprising:
[0076] a pour spout adapted to be attached to a bottle and having a
first transceiver for wireless communication, a first controller
connected to the first transceiver, and a valve operated by the
first controller to control flow of a beverage from the bottle
through the spout in response to a first message received by the
first transceiver;
[0077] a server interface adapted to be carried by a beverage
server and comprising a second transceiver for communicating the
first message; and
[0078] a control unit for communicating with at least one of the
second transceiver of the server interface and the first
transceiver of the pour spout, wherein the first message is
communicated to the pour spout either directly from the control
unit as a pour command, or relayed by the server interface as a
pour command.
[0079] (ii). The system (i), wherein the pour spout stores
designations of a brand of beverage, a type of beverage, and a
volume capacity of the bottle.
[0080] (iii). The system of any one of (i)-(ii), wherein the pour
spout stores a spout identifier, and the spout identifier is
communicated to at least one of the control unit and the server
interface in response to initiating a beverage dispensing
operation.
[0081] (iv). The system of any one of (i)-(iii), wherein upon
receiving a spout identifier, at least one of the pour spout and
the server interface communicates at least one of the spout
identifier and server interface identifier to the control unit.
[0082] (v). The system of any one of (i)-(iv), wherein upon
receiving a spout identifier, the control unit communicates to at
least one of the pour spout and the server interface, a reply
message authorizing or denying beverage dispensing.
[0083] (vi). The system of any one of (i)-(v), wherein the server
interface incudes one or more components operable to provide
indications to the beverage server carrying the server interface,
wherein the one or more components include at least one of a
display that is backlit to a plurality of selectable colors, an
audible annunciator, and a vibrating motor.
[0084] (vii). The system of any one of (i)-(vi), wherein the server
interface comprises an input device by which the beverage server
designates a portion size of the beverage that is desired to be
dispensed, thereby producing a portion size indication.
[0085] (viii). The system of any one of (i)-(vii), wherein the
server interface communicates the portion size indication to the
control unit.
[0086] (ix). The system of any one of (i)-(viii), wherein the
portion size indication is used to derive a pour time interval that
defines an amount of time that the pour spout is to open the
valve.
[0087] (x). The system of any one of (i)-(ix), wherein the server
interface stores a server identifier that identifies the beverage
server, and wherein the server interface communicates the spout
identifier to the control unit in response to initiating a beverage
dispensing operation.
[0088] (xi). A method for dispensing a beverage from a bottle
comprising:
[0089] communicating a dispensing authorization message from a
control unit to at least one of a server interface that is being
carried by a beverage server, and a pour spout secured to a bottle;
wherein the dispensing authorization message at least one of
includes or initiates a dispensing command, wherein the pour spout
responds to the dispensing command by opening a spout valve through
which a beverage flows from the bottle and out of the pour
spout.
[0090] (xii). The method of (xi), further comprising the pour spout
detecting motion of the bottle into a pouring position, wherein
opening the spout valve is further in response to the bottle being
in the pouring position.
[0091] (xiii). The method of any one of (xi)-(xii), wherein the
dispensing command designates a nominal pour time interval; and the
pour spout opens the spout valve for a period of time that is
derived based at least in part on the nominal pour time interval,
and wherein the control unit is stationary.
[0092] (xiv). The method of any one of (xi)-(xiii), further
comprising sensing by the pour spout, a temperature of the beverage
in the bottle; calculating an adjusted pour time interval from the
nominal pour time interval in response to the temperature sensed;
and opening the spout valve for a period of time equal to the
adjusted pour time interval.
[0093] (xv). The method of any one of (xi)-(xiv), further
comprising, sensing by the pour spout, an angle to which the bottle
is tilted; in response to the angle sensed, deriving an adjusted
pour time interval from the nominal pour time interval; and opening
the spout valve for a period of time equal to the adjusted pour
time interval.
[0094] (xvi). The method of any one of (xi)-(xv), further
comprising periodically operating the spout valve, when the bottle
is detected as being in a vertical position, without dispensing the
beverage, to prevent or substantially prevent the valve from
becoming stuck in a closed position.
[0095] (xvii). A method for dispensing a beverage from a bottle
comprising:
[0096] sensing a beverage dispensing indication initiated by a
beverage server;
[0097] in response to sensing a beverage dispensing indication,
communicating a spout identifier from a pour spout attached to a
bottle containing a beverage to be dispensed by the beverage
server, to at least one of a control unit and a server
interface;
[0098] communicating from at least one of the pour spout and server
interface a request message to the control unit, wherein the
request message contains a server identifier unique to that server
interface;
[0099] the control unit responding to the request message by
communicating to at least one of the pour spout and the server
interface, authorization or denial for beverage dispensing, wherein
if the authorization is transmitted to the server interface, the
server interface communicates a dispensing command to the pour
spout; and the pour spout responding to the dispensing command by
opening a valve in the pour spout to allow beverage to flow from
the bottle.
[0100] (xviii). The method of (xvii), wherein sensing a beverage
dispensing indication comprises one of detecting motion of the pour
spout and activating an input device by the beverage server.
[0101] (xix). The method of any one of (xvii)-(xviii), wherein a
spout identifier comprises designations of a brand of beverage, a
type of beverage, and a volume capacity of the bottle.
[0102] (xx). The method of any one of (xvii)-(xix), further
comprising the server interface visually displaying a name of the
beverage.
[0103] (xxi). The method of any one of (xvii)-(xx), wherein the
dispensing command designates a nominal pour time; and the pour
spout opens the valve for a period of time that is derived from the
nominal pour time.
[0104] (xxii). The method of any one of (xvii)-(xxi), wherein the
pour spout senses at least one of a temperature value, a bottle
tilt angle value, and a volume of liquor in the bottle to which the
pour spout is attached and derives an adjusted pour time from the
nominal pour time; and opens the valve for the adjusted pour
time.
[0105] (xxiii). A method for dispensing beverages in bottles
comprising:
[0106] a beverage server selecting a cocktail via a user input
device;
[0107] in response to the cocktail that was selected, obtaining a
designation of a plurality of liquor ingredients from an electronic
memory in the user input device and communicating the plurality of
liquor ingredients to a control unit;
[0108] communicating the designation of the plurality of liquor
ingredients from the controlunit to a server interface carried by
the beverage server;
[0109] sequentially for each of the plurality of liquor
ingredients, the server interface communicating a dispensing
command to a given pour spout attached to a bottle containing a
respective liquor ingredient of the plurality of liquor
ingredients; and the given pour spout responding to the dispensing
command by opening a valve through which the respective liquor
ingredient flows from the bottle.
[0110] (xxiv). The method of (xxiii), further comprising the pour
spout communicating a signal to the server interface to indicate
completion of pouring the respective liquor ingredient.
[0111] (xxv). The method of any one of (xxiii)-(xxiv), further
comprising the pour spout detecting the beverage server holding the
bottle to which the pour spout is attached and in response sending
a message to the server interface, wherein the server interface
responds to the message by communicating the dispensing
command.
[0112] (xxvi). The method of any one of (xxiii)-(xxv), further
comprising assigning a unique spout identifier in each pour spout;
and wherein each dispensing command contains the spout identifier
of the pour spout attached to the bottle that contains the
respective liquor ingredient.
[0113] (xxvii). The method of any one of (xxvii)-(xxvi), further
comprising when a dispensing command is transmitted, the server
interface visually displaying a name of the respective liquor
ingredient.
[0114] (xxviii). The method of any one of (xxiii)-(xxvii), wherein
each dispensing command designates a volume of liquor or nominal
pour time; and the respective pour spout opens the valve for a
period of time that is derived from the volume of liquor or nominal
pour time.
[0115] (xxix). The method of any one of (xxiii)-(xxviii), wherein
the pour spout responds to at least one of a temperature value, a
bottle tilt angle value, and a liquor quantity in the bottle to
which the pour spout is attached by deriving an adjusted pour time
from the nominal pour time; and opens the valve for the adjusted
pour time.
[0116] (xxx). A pour spout for dispensing a beverage from a bottle,
the pour spout comprising: a bottle adapter for attaching to a
bottle to receive a beverage from the bottle;
[0117] a housing having a chamber into which a housing inlet and a
housing outlet open, the housing inlet connected to the bottle
adapter for receiving the beverage;
[0118] a valve carriage moveably received within the chamber and
having a carriage passage;
[0119] a resilient first tube providing a first passageway for
beverage to flow from the housing inlet to the carriage
passage;
[0120] a resilient second tube providing a second passageway for
beverage to flow from the carriage passage to the housing
outlet;
[0121] a valve operatively connected to the valve carriage to
control flow of the beverage through the housing from the housing
inlet to the housing outlet; and
[0122] a valve actuator for moving the valve carriage within the
chamber to operate the valve between an open state and a closed
state.
[0123] (xxxi). The pour spout of (xxx), further comprising a
compression spring that biases the valve carriage toward closing
the valve.
[0124] (xxxii). The pour spout of any one of (xxx)-(xxxi), wherein
the first tube and the second tube expand and contract
longitudinally as the valve carriage moves within the chamber.
[0125] (xxxiii). The pour spout of any one of (xxx)-(xxxii),
wherein the first tube and the second tube each has at least one
pleat.
[0126] (xxxiv). The pour spout of any one of (xxx)-(xxxiii),
wherein the valve comprises a valve seat formed in one of the first
tube and the second tube; and a plunger attached to the valve
carriage.
[0127] (xxxv). The pour spout of any one of (xxx)-(xxxiv), wherein
the valve actuator comprises a motor operatively connected to move
the valve carriage.
[0128] (xxxvi). The pour spout of any one of (xxx)-(xxxv), wherein
the valve actuator comprises a motor with a shaft, and a cam plate
attached to the shaft and engaged with an actuating portion of the
valve carriage.
[0129] (xxxvii). The pour spout of any one of (xxx)-(xxxvi),
further comprising a control circuit that has a receiver configured
to receive a wireless signal requesting a valve actuation, and
where the control circuit is further configured to operate the
valve actuator in response to receiving the wireless signal.
[0130] (xxxviii). The pour spout of any one of (xxx)-(xxxvii),
further comprising a control circuit that includes a temperature
sensor, wherein the control circuit operates the valve actuator to
open the valve for a period of time that is determined, at least in
part, in response to the temperature sensed by the temperature
sensor.
[0131] (xxxix). The pour spout of any one of (xxx)-(xxxviii),
further comprising a control circuit that determines an angle to
which the bottle has been tilted and operates the valve actuator to
open the valve for a period of time that is determined, at least in
part, in response to the determined angle.
[0132] (xl). The pour spout of any one of (xxx)-(xxxix), further
comprising an accelerometer that produces a signal from which the
control circuit determines the angle.
[0133] (xli). The pour spout of any one of (xxx)-(xl), wherein at
least one of the first tube and the second tube are contoured to
allow for compression in length, without generating a substantial
restriction therethrough.
[0134] (xlii). A pour spout for dispensing a beverage from a
bottle, the pour spout comprising: a bottle adapter for insertion
into a bottle to receive a beverage;
[0135] a housing having a chamber into which a housing inlet and a
housing outlet open, the housing inlet connected to the bottle
adapter for receiving the beverage;
[0136] a valve carriage moveably received within the chamber and
having a carriage inlet and a carriage outlet, the carriage outlet
in fluid communication with the carriage inlet;
[0137] a first tube attached to the housing and the valve carriage
to provide a first passageway for beverage to flow from the housing
inlet to the carriage inlet;
[0138] a second tube attached to the housing and the valve carriage
to provide a second passageway for beverage to flow from the
carriage outlet to the housing outlet;
[0139] wherein one of the first tube and the second tube has a
valve seat, and wherein the valve carriage has a plunger that
selectively engages and disengages the valve seat as the valve
carriage moves within the chamber; and a valve actuator for moving
the valve carriage within the chamber in response to a control
signal, thereby operating the valve between an open state and a
closed state.
[0140] (xliii). The pour spout of (xlii), further comprising a
compression spring biasing the valve carriage toward the valve
seat.
[0141] (xliv). The pour spout of any one of (xlii)-(xliii), wherein
the first tube and the second tube expand and contract
longitudinally as the valve carriage moves within the chamber.
[0142] (xlv). The pour spout of any one of (xlii)-(xliv), wherein
the first tube and the second tube each has at least one pleat.
[0143] (xlvi). The pour spout of any one of (xlii)-(xlv), wherein
the valve actuator comprises a motor with a shaft, and a cam plate
attached to the shaft and engaging an actuating portion of the
valve carriage.
[0144] (xlvii). The pour spout of any one of (xlii)-(xlvi), further
comprising a control circuit having a receiver configured to
receive a wireless signal requesting a valve actuation, and where
the control circuit is further configured to operate the valve
actuator in response to receiving the wireless signal.
[0145] (xlviii). The pour spout of any one of (xlii)-(xlvii),
further comprising a control circuit that includes a temperature
sensor, wherein the control circuit operates the valve actuator to
open the valve for a period of time that is determined, at least in
part, on the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor.
[0146] (xlix). The pour spout of any one of (xlii)-(xlviii),
further comprising a control circuit that determines an angle to
which the bottle has been tilted and wherein the control circuit
operates the valve actuator to open the valve for a period of time
that is determined, at least in part, in response to the determined
angle.
[0147] (l). The pour spout of any one of (xlii)-(xlix), further
comprising an accelerometer that produces a signal from which the
control circuit determines the angle.
[0148] (li). The pour spout of any one of (xlii)-(l), further
comprising an accelerometer that produces a signal communicated to
the control circuit to provide an indication of motion of the
bottle.
[0149] (lii) The pour spout of any one of (xlii)-(li), wherein at
least one of the first tube and the second tube are contoured to
allow for compression in length, without generating a substantial
restriction therethrough.
[0150] (liii). A pour spout for dispensing a beverage from a
bottle, the pour spout comprising: a bottle adapter for attaching
to a bottle to receive a beverage from the bottle;
[0151] a housing having a chamber into which a housing inlet and a
housing outlet open, the housing inlet connected to the bottle
adapter for receiving the beverage;
[0152] a valve carriage moveably received within the chamber and
having a carriage passage;
[0153] a resilient first tube providing a first passageway for
beverage to flow from the housing inlet to the carriage
passage;
[0154] a resilient second tube providing a second passageway for
beverage to flow from the carriage passage to the housing
outlet;
[0155] a valve operatively connected to the valve carriage to
control flow of the beverage through the housing from the housing
inlet to the housing outlet;
[0156] a valve actuator for moving the valve carriage within the
chamber to operate the valve between an open state and a closed
state;
[0157] a control circuit having a receiver adapted to receive a
wireless signal requesting valve actuation, and wherein the control
circuit is further adapted to operate the valve actuator to an open
state in response to receiving the wireless signal; and an
accelerometer that produces a signal from which the control circuit
determines an angle to which the bottle has been tilted and wherein
the control circuit operates the valve actuator to actuate the
valve to an open state for a period of time that is determined, at
least in part, in response to the determined angle.
[0158] The foregoing description was primarily directed to one or
more embodiments of the invention. Although some attention has been
given to various alternatives within the scope of the invention, it
is anticipated that one skilled in the art will likely realize
additional alternatives that are now apparent from disclosure of
embodiments of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the
invention should be determined from the following claims and not
limited by the above disclosure. In addition, while the principles
of the system and method of use for dispensing liquids from a
container have been described above in connection with regard to
one or more embodiments, it is to be clearly understood that this
description is made only by way of example and not as a limitation
on the scope of the system and method of use. It is specifically
intended that the system and method of use for dispensing liquids
from a container not be limited to the embodiments and
illustrations contained herein, but include modified forms of those
embodiments including portions of the embodiments and combinations
of elements of different embodiments as come within the scope of
the following claims. In addition, the various methods of use
described herein can include additional steps not described herein
or can omit steps described herein. Further, the various steps can
be performed in a different order than described herein.
* * * * *