WO2002008114A1

WO2002008114A1 - A bubbling display for a dispensing font

Info

Publication number: WO2002008114A1
Application number: PCT/AU2001/000889
Authority: WO
Inventors: Colin Staples; Keith Daly
Original assignee: 3D Displays Pty Ltd
Current assignee: 3D Displays Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2000-07-21
Filing date: 2001-07-20
Publication date: 2002-01-31
Anticipated expiration: 2003-01-21
Also published as: AUPQ892800A0

Abstract

A bubbling display (11) for a dispensing font tower (10) comprises a pair of walls (16, 17) defining a reservoir containing a liquid (18). At least the front wall (16) is transparent. An air manifold (19) introduces air into the bottom of the reservoir to form bubbles which rise through the liquid (18) to create a bubbling or aerated display on the front (10).

Description

A BUBBLING DISPLAY FOR A DISPENSING FONT

This invention relates to a liquid dispensing font having a bubbling display. In particular, the invention is directed to an insert or attachment for a font for dispensing beverages, the insert having a bubbling or aerated display therein.

BACKGROUND ART

Dispensing fonts are commonly used in bars and restaurants to pour liquids, such as beer, soft drinks and other beverages, into glasses. A typical font has a font body in the form of a tower or stand which is normally mounted on a bar or bench. A tube or similar conduit passes upwardly through the tower, and extends laterally outwardly from the top of the body towards the bartender. A tap is mounted to the upper end of the tube. The tap may be a lever-operated faucet or a push-button hand-held unit. The other end of the tube is connected to a source of the liquid to be dispensed, such as a keg of beer or one or more cylinders of soft drinks. These may be located under the bar or in another room.

The tower is normally a plain stainless steel tube, which may have an advertising label fixed thereto.

Another type of dispensing font, commonly used for soft drinks, comprises a T-shaped tower or housing having a plurality of lever-actuated faucets at the top thereof for dispensing different beverages. The faucets are fitted to respective conduits connected to cylinders of soft drinks.

The term "font" as used herein is intended to include a tower, stand or housing having one or more taps or faucets for dispensing liquids, particularly beverages.

It is known that point-of-sale displays are very effective in promoting sales of the advertised product. However, the displays hitherto used on font-type dispensers have generally been limited to passive advertisements such as beer or soft drink labels. Such passive or inactive displays are of limited effect.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved point-of- sale display mechanism for a dispensing font. In particular, it is an object of this invention to provide an aerated or bubbling display for a dispensing font.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In one broad form, the invention provides a display device for a dispensing font, the display device comprising spaced front and rear walls at least partially defining a reservoir therebetween for a liquid, at least part of the front wall being substantially transparent, and aeration means for introducing gas into the liquid in the reservoir to thereby form gas bubbles in the liquid which, in use, travel upwardly through the liquid past the transparent portion of the front wall.

The invention provides an animated display at the point of sale or supply, namely a bubbling liquid display on the dispensing font. The bubbling liquid display may be incorporated in an insert which is removably mounted to the tower of the dispensing font, or may be formed as part of the tower of the dispensing font.

The dispensing font is typically used for pouring beer or soft drinks.

Preferably, the front wall includes an area on which an advertisement or a product label may be mounted. Advantageously, the advertisement or product label is located centrally on the transparent portion of the front wall, so that the bubbles are seen to be travelling past on either side thereof. The bubbling display attracts the customer's attention to the particular product advertised or identified in the advertisement or label, thereby promoting sales of that product. Preferably, the liquid in the reservoir is coloured to match the liquid being dispensed. For example, for a beer dispenser, the liquid is typically amber coloured, whereas for a cola dispenser, the liquid would normally be coloured black or dark brown.

The liquid may be naturally foaming, or have a foaming ingredient added thereto, to promote the formation of a head of foam on the liquid surface. Alternatively, a non-foaming liquid may be used.

In use, the reservoir is "open" so that the introduced gas can escape, and the level of liquid in the reservoir remains substantially constant. For example, the reservoir may be vented to the atmosphere. Alternatively, the reservoir may be mounted in a closed system in which the air above the reservoir is pumped back into the liquid and recirculated continuously. A light source may be provided behind the rear wall to illuminate the bubbles and/or advertising display.

The aeration means suitably comprises an air manifold connected to an air pump. The manifold promotes distribution of gas bubbles across the width of the display. In order that the invention may be fully understood and put into practice, preferred embodiments thereof will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a font tower having a bubbling liquid insert according to one embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the font tower of Fig. 1 , Fig 3. is a part-sectional side elevation of a dispensing font using the tower of Fig. 1 ,

Fig. 4 is a part-sectional perspective view of the insert of Fig. 1 , and

Figs. 5 to 8 are perspective views of font towers having bubbling liquid displays according to other embodiments of the invention. DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a tower for a dispensing font is in the form of a moulded body 10 which is typically made of tough thermoplastic material. However, the tower body 10 may be formed of metal or any other suitable material.

The tower body 10 is typically mounted to a bar or serving bench (not shown) in use. An insert 11 is removably mounted to the front of the tower body 10 (i.e. the side which normally faces the customer). The insert can be provided with a flat central portion 12 adapted to receive a static advertising sign, such as a label, badge or the like. The dispensing font is shown in more detail in Fig. 3. A tube (not shown) extends upwardly through the tower body 10 and terminates in a spout 13 extending laterally and rearwardly from the top of the tower body. The other end of the tube is connected to a source of the liquid to be dispensed, such as a keg of beer or a canister of soft drink, located in a suitable remote position such as under the bar or bench, or in a coldroom. A faucet 14 is connected to the spout 13. The faucet is operated by a lever 15. These dispensing components are well known in the art, and need not be described in detail in this application. The insert 11 is shown in more detail in Fig. 4. The insert is mounted to the front (i.e. the customer side) of the dispensing font, and comprises spaced front and rear walls 16, 17 which define a reservoir therebetween containing a liquid 18. Front wall 16 is transparent, and rear wall 17 is preferably opaque or translucent, or coated with an opaque layer or translucent layer. The liquid 18 is typically coloured to simulate the liquid being dispensed. For example, the liquid may be amber coloured to simulate beer, or dark coloured to simulate cola. Although the liquid 18 within the insert simulates the liquid being dispensed, it is isolated from that liquid and does not pose any contamination problem. An air manifold 19 is located at a lower part of the insert 11. The air manifold 19 is connected by a tube 20 to an air pump or similar source of gas (not shown). Air pumped through the tube 20 is distributed by the air manifold 19 to form an array of bubbles across a substantial portion of the width of the insert 11. (The manifold can have an air diffuser (not shown) connected to it for this purpose, or the manifold can comprise a row of air vents in the rear wall 17). These bubbles rise through the liquid 18, and around the label 12.

An air vent 21 is provided at the top of the reservoir. In this manner, the gas introduced into the reservoir is vented to the atmosphere, and the pressure and the level of liquid within the reservoir remain substantially constant. Alternatively, the air vent 21 may be connected to the air pump so that the air is circulated in a substantially closed system. A foaming ingredient may be added to the liquid 18, to create a head of foam on the liquid, if desired.

To accentuate the bubbles rising through the liquid and/or the display 12, a lamp 18 may be provided behind the insert 11 as shown in Fig. 3. This lamp is connected to a power source by electrical wire(s) 23.

In use, the bubbling or aerated liquid display on the dispensing font tower attracts the customer's attention, and consequently draws the customer's attention to the brand or label 12 shown in the middle of the display. Thus, this particular brand or label is foremost in the customer's mind when ordering a beverage, and it is more likely that the customer will order that particular brand of beverage.

The foregoing describes only one embodiment of the invention, and modifications which are obvious to those skilled in the art may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the lever 15 may be operatively associated with the air pump such that, when the lever 15 is pulled, the air pump output is momentarily increased to produce a flush of bubbles through the bubbling display insert 11. This creates the illusion of increased liquid flow through the insert when the dispenser is in use. A microswitch can be mounted near the lever for this purpose. The microswitch is activated when the lever is pulled, and causes a greater air flow to be output by the air pump e.g. by switching the pump to a higher speed.

Further, instead of a separate removable insert 11, the bubbling display may be formed as a permanent part of a font tower or stand 10 as shown in the embodiments of Figs. 5and 6, or as attachments as shown in the embodiment of Figs. 7 and 8.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A display device for a dispensing font, the display device comprising spaced front and rear walls at least partially defining a reservoir therebetween for a liquid, at least part of the front wall being substantially transparent, and aeration means for introducing gas into the liquid in the reservoir to thereby form gas bubbles in the liquid which, in use, travel upwardly through the liquid past the transparent portion of the front wall.

2. A display device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the display device is formed as an insert removably mountable to the font.

3. A display device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the font has a housing including a tower portion, the display device forming a permanent part of the tower portion.

4. A display device as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a light source located behind the rear wall for illuminating the liquid and the bubbles therein.

5. A display device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the aeration means includes an air manifold for distributing the gas bubbles substantially across the width of the transparent part of the front wall.

6. A display device as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising an air outlet located on the rear wall above the liquid for venting the space in the reservoir above the liquid.

7. A display device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the liquid is a foaming liquid.

8. A display device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the dispensing font is adapted to dispense a coloured liquid, the liquid in the reservoir being coloured to substantially match the liquid dispensed by the font.

9. A display device as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising means responsive to the operation of the font to increase temporarily the gas output of the aeration means.

10. A font for dispensing one or more liquids, the font comprising a body having an aerated display thereon, the display including a reservoir for a liquid, the reservoir being formed by at least one wall, at least a portion of which is transparent, and a pump having an outlet in fluid communication with the reservoir, the pump being adapted to pump gas into the liquid near the bottom of the reservoir to thereby form bubbles in the liquid, which, in use, travel upwardly through the liquid past the transparent portion of the front wall.