WO2019057983A2

WO2019057983A2 - Portable beverage dispenser

Info

Publication number: WO2019057983A2
Application number: PCT/EP2018/075880
Authority: WO
Inventors: Timothy Jack HATFIELD
Original assignee: Hatfield Timothy Jack
Priority date: 2017-09-25
Filing date: 2018-09-25
Publication date: 2019-03-28
Also published as: GB201715434D0; GB201802634D0; GB201814411D0; GB2568141A; GB2568141B; WO2019057983A3

Abstract

The present invention relates to a portable and stand-alone device suitable for dispensing foamed liquids such as beverages with a foamed 'head'. In particular, there is provided a portable device for dispensing foamed liquids characterised by comprising: • a container for receiving the liquid to be dispensed; • a reservoir for containing a gas which is substantially insoluble in water and at a pressure above atmospheric; · a foam-dispensing nozzle assembly including a dispensing unit comprising a means for creating a laminar flow of the foamed mixture and/or one or more gas— liquid mixing element(s) located upstream thereof and • a trigger for actuating discharge of the foam from the foam-dispensing nozzle assembly.

Description

PORTABLE BEVERAGE DISPENSER

The present invention relates to a portable and stand-alone device suitable for dispensing foamed liquids such as beverages with a foamed 'head'. It is useful, for example, in dispensing foamed cold-brew coffee, cold tea, novelty cocktails and other cold beverages which would otherwise be served flat. It is also useful for the dispensing of foamed dairy products such as a cream and milk.

Various approaches to the dispensing of foamed cream and beers are known in the art and have been used extensively. Thus, it is known to pressurise otherwise flat beers with carbon dioxide; a gas having a limited but finite solubility in water, by storing them under pressure in steel kegs which are frequently kept cold to further increase or maintain the degree of carbonation. In addition, other in-line carbonisation of drinks is typically employed in restaurants and bars whereby a concentrated syrup of for example a cola or the like is mixed with water and carbon dioxide immediately upstream of a dispensing tap.

US2013270722 describes a carbonation chamber in which gas and liquid are mixed axially in response to a metering member. Other approaches to ensuring the carbon-dioxide and liquid are intimately mixed have been described in inter alia WO2007112892, DE10160397,

DE102004021823, DE199851360, US67124282, DE102008012486, and DE 1034002483.

DE202017005461U1 describes an in-line dispensing nozzle system comprising a pipe section and a tapered outlet spout. The spout is characterized in that, between the inlet side of the pipe and the outlet of the spout, there is provided a component for mixing the beverage and a gas. The system can be used to produce nitrogenized coffee or beer.

One problem with systems of the type described above is that they tend to foul easily thereby necessitating frequent cleaning for reasons of hygiene. For many of these systems, this involves a somewhat intricate dismantlement. It also limits their suitability for dispensing perishable liquids. Another problem is that their size and intricacy makes their usefulness as portable dispensers somewhat problematic. We have now designed a device which overcomes these problems thereby opening up its utility for ad hoc situations such as in the home and at al fresco events. The device, which is stand-alone, i.e. it does not comprise part of an in-line delivery system of the type used in bars or restaurants, can also be made small enough to be easily stored in a domestic refrigerator. Finally, it is versatile enough to be employed as a stand-alone item in coffee shops and cocktail bars alongside or as an adjunct to the conventional cocktail-shaker.

Thus, according to the invention, there is provided a portable device for dispensing foamed liquids characterised by comprising:

• a container for receiving the liquid to be dispensed;

• a reservoir for containing a gas which is substantially insoluble in water and at a pressure above atmospheric;

· a foam-dispensing nozzle assembly including a dispensing unit comprising a means for creating a laminar flow of the foamed mixture and/or one or more gas— liquid mixing element(s) located upstream thereof and

• a trigger for actuating discharge of the foam from the foam-dispensing nozzle assembly. In one embodiment, the container is an elongate flask with a threaded end which may be attached to a lid on which the reservoir, and/or the dispensing unit and/or the trigger may be mounted. Typically, it will be made of metal, an engineering plastic or other robust material able to withstand an internal overpressure. In another embodiment, the lid may further include a pressure-release valve to ensure the device is not over-pressurised.

In one embodiment, the container may be wholly or partially transparent enabling the user to determine the level of liquid within. If desired, the container may be double-walled akin to a vacuum flask thereby enabling the liquid contents to be maintained warmer or colder than ambient temperature.

Suitably, the reservoir is attached to the container directly or via the lid; for example by means of a threaded coupling optionally provided with an O-ring seal or the like. By this means, the reservoir can be detached from the device as required for the purpose of refilling or re- pressurising. In one preferred embodiment, the reservoir comprises an outer housing capable of withstanding pressure and adapted to receive one or more separate cartridges of pressurised gas which after use can then be recycled or simply thrown away. Typically, such cartridges will comprise a piercing zone of weakness to release the gas into the container when the housing and/or cartridge is connected to the lid. In one embodiment, this can be achieved by providing the seating on the container or lid to which the housing is attached with a means for piercing the zone of weakness; for example a hollow needle or spigot. In another embodiment, this piercing means will create a fluid communication between the cartridge and container and will optionally include a non-return pressure-valve which will close the line of communication when the internal pressure of the container and the cartridge are equalised. By this means, the pressure in the container may be topped-up as required; multiple cartridges of lower pressure applied in series to create an overall higher pressure within the container or the device transported without the cartridge or housing being attached. In this latter case, the housing may then simply be replaced by a screw-cap.

In one embodiment, the piercing zone of weakness is adapted to be resealable when the cartridge is detached from the container or lid. In another embodiment, the reservoir may be provided with a pressure regulation device to ensure that the container is not over-pressurised and/or to ensure that the same pressure is applied to the container in each dispensing cycle. By this means a consistency in the quality of the foam at the outlet is maintained for each dispensing.

Suitably, the compressed gas employed in the reservoir or cartridge is one which has a low solubility in the liquid contents of the container. Examples include air, nitrogen, nitrous oxide carbon dioxide or mixtures thereof. In one preferred embodiment, the gas employed is nitrogen, air or a mixture thereof.

Turning to the foam-dispensing nozzle assembly, in one embodiment this is hollow and is attached to the lid by means of a screw-thread. The dispensing unit enables the dispensing of the foamed liquid from the nozzle assembly to a suitable external vessel, typically a glass or cup. It generally comprises a suitable outlet, or nozzle, by which the foamed liquid can exit the nozzle assembly. Suitably, the nozzle assembly will comprise a housing tapered in the direction of its outlet and will comprise a means for creating a laminar flow of the foamed mixture and/or one or more gas-liquid mixing element(s) located upstream thereof. The means for creating the laminar flow will suitably comprise a perforated element enabling multiple streams of the gas/liquid mixture to be dispensed as a foam under conditions of laminar flow. In another, it will also include a flow-directing insert. In one example, this perforated element will be located immediately upstream of the nozzle by means of a seating which enables it to be easily removed for cleaning. In one embodiment, this element may be a perforated disc of metal, plastic or ceramic with associated perforations large enough to facilitate laminar flow but small enough to prevent particulate matter of significant size to exit the device. Turning to the gas-liquid mixing element(s), in one embodiment these may comprise one or more Venturi mixers where acceleration of liquid flow through a hollow tubing (e.g. by means of a variable bore size) can be used to induce gas introduction and mixing by means of suction. In another, the elements may comprise Coanda mixers. In yet another example, these elements may comprise one or more jet-mixing elements akin to an aerator of the type used in household taps to aerate or mix hot and cold water streams. In one embodiment, such element(s) comprise hollow perforated plastic inserts which are arranged in series along the axis of liquid flow and located in the body of the assembly thereby making them easily removable for cleaning or replacement purposes. In another embodiment, the gas-liquid mixer(s) and means for creating the laminar flow are located in separate sub-components of the foam-dispensing nozzle assembly which are adapted to connect one another; e.g. by means of a screw thread or snap-fit.

In one embodiment, the device may include a particle filter between the container and the foam- dispensing nozzle assembly to filter out coffee grounds or similar sediments found in other beverages.

Finally, the trigger mechanism is one which conveniently is hand-operated, for example by squeezing, and operable to control ingress of the gas and/or liquid into the dispensing unit and/or egress of the gas-liquid mixture from the foam-dispensing assembly. The device of the present invention can be used for dispensing any of the beverages described in the preamble above. This list is provided for exemplification purposes only and therefore not be regarded as exhaustive. For example, the device can also be used to rejuvenate flat beer and the like. In one embodiment, the device is especially useful for dispensing cold- brewed coffee; preferably where the average particle size of the fines within the coffee brew are less than a hundred microns. In another embodiment, it is also useful in producing foamed tea, coffee or other cold beverages which have been augmented with various flavourings; for example with spices, herbs or the like which have been introduced into the container along with the beverage or one of its components before the device is used. In yet another embodiment, it has been found that foamed dairy products such as foamed cream or milk can easily be produced when the dispensing nozzle assembly is used separately; especially using nitrogen gas which has previously been problematic. This makes the device and the foam-dispensing nozzle assembly very environmentally friendly and particularly suitable for use in coffee shops and other retail outlets selling foamed dairy drinks. Somewhat unexpectedly, use of nitrogen as the mixing gas produces consistent and highly stable foam even when the downstream means for creating laminar flow is omitted.

The device of the present invention will now be exemplified by the attached Figure which shows a sectional view of a cold-brew coffer dispenser whose components are manufactured out of stainless steel.

In this Figure, 1 comprises a threaded flask containing a high-quality filtered cold-brewed coffee (fines <25 microns). Its nozzle assembly 7 is generally tapered towards its top and attached by a screw-thread/O ring arrangement (not shown) to lid 2. Attached to 2 by a further threaded connector (also not shown) is housing 3 which is adapted to be a snug-fit for a generally tubular metal cartridge 4 containing nitrous oxide or nitrogen gas at high pressure. The threaded connector includes a needle tube which has pierced a piercing zone of weakness on 4 enabling pressurised gas to flow into 1 until the pressures are equalised. Also attached to 2 is trigger 5 which when actuated by squeezing enables pads to cease bearing on the orifices in release valve 8 comprising a banjo fitting screwed into sealing adapter 6. 6 is screwed into nozzle assembly 7 which may include a perforated plate, flow-directing elements and a tape aerator element of the type described above (not shown).

Claims

Claims:

1. A portable device for dispensing foamed liquids characterised by comprising: · a container for receiving the liquid to be dispensed;

• a foam-dispensing nozzle assembly including a dispensing unit comprising a means for creating a laminar flow of the foamed mixture and/or one or more gas— liquid mixing element(s) located upstream thereof and

• a trigger for actuating discharge of the foam from the foam-dispensing nozzle assembly.

2. A portable device as claimed in claim 1 characterised in that the reservoir, foam- dispensing nozzle assembly and trigger are attached to a lid which is attachable to the container by means of a screw-thread.

3. A portable device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 characterised in that the reservoir comprises an outer housing adapted to receive an inner disposable cartridge containing pressurised gas.

4. A portable device as claimed in claim 3 characterised in that the lid further comprises a needle connector adapted to pierce a piercing zone of weakness in the cartridge.

5. A portable device as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4 characterised in that the cartridge is adapted to be resealable.

6. A portable device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5 characterised in that the gas-liquid mixing element(s) comprise at least one of a Venturi mixer, a jet mixer or a Coanda mixer.

7. A portable device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 characterised in that the gas- liquid mixing element(s) comprises one or more hollow perforated aerator inserts arranged along the axis of liquid flow.

8. A portable device as claimed in any of the preceding claims characterised in that the gas- liquid mixing element(s) and the means for creating a laminar flow are contained within the foam-dispensing nozzle assembly and removable therefrom.

9. A portable device as claimed in claim 8 characterised in that the gas-liquid mixing element(s) and the means for creating a laminar flow are arranged in separate subcomponents of the foam dispensing nozzle assembly which are adapted to connect to one another.

10. A portable device as claimed in any of the preceding claims characterised in that the container is a double walled vacuum flask.

11. Use of a foam-dispensing nozzle assembly including a dispensing unit comprising a means for creating a laminar flow of the foamed mixture and/or one or more gas— liquid mixing element(s) located upstream thereof to dispense foamed liquid.

12. Use according to claim 11 wherein the foamed liquid is foamed cold-brewed coffee having residual fines whose average particle size is less than one hundred microns.

13. Use according to claim 11 wherein the foamed liquid is foamed dairy product which is dispensed using nitrogen or air.

14. Use of a portable device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 10 to dispense beverages or dairy products or to rejuvenate flat beer.

15. Use as claimed in claim 14 characterised in that the beverage is cold-brewed coffee having residual fines whose average particle size is less than one hundred microns.

16. Use as claimed in either claim 14 or 15 characterised in that the beverage is one which has been augmented by flavourings introduced into the container.