Beverage dispenser
OwnerJeffery Summersinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus are disclosed for a small group to drink a beverage, such as an alcoholic beverage. A container preferably made of glass or ceramic material holds the beverage and includes at least one aperture. A plurality of flexible hoses are provided, each hose of sufficient length for installation extending through the aperture so that a proximal end of each hose is located inside the container to access the beverage and a distal end of each hose is located outside the container for a corresponding use to drink from the container by applying suction. A preferred embodiment also includes a shot pump on the hose to dispense a predetermined volume of the beverage to the user in response to a squeeze and release action.
Claims30
An apparatus for consuming a beverage, the apparatus comprising:
- a container having an aperture;
- a plurality of hoses for installation extending through the aperture so that a proximal end of each hose is located inside the container and a distal end of each hose is located outside the container;
- and
- a stopper sized for fitting engagement in the aperture;
- the stopper including a plurality of hose apertures each sized for receiving a respective hose extending through the hose aperture.
An apparatus for consuming a beverage, the apparatus comprising:
- a container having an aperture;
- a plurality of flexible hoses, each of sufficient length for installation extending through the aperture so that a proximal end of each hose is located inside the container and a distal end of each hose is located outside the container;
- each hose including an internal check valve to prevent backflow of fluid from the distal end toward the proximal end of the hose;
- a stopper sized for fitting engagement in the aperture;
- and
- the stopper including a plurality of hose apertures each sized for receiving a respective hose extending therethrough in fitting engagement in the hose aperture.
A method of dispensing a potable liquid to a plurality of users comprising the steps of:
- obtaining a container having a selected liquid therein and having an aperture for accessing the interior volume of the container;
- determining a selected number of users;
- selecting a stopper that is sized for engagement in the aperture and that has a number of hose apertures through it equal to or less than the number of users;
- for each hose aperture in the stopper, installing a flexible hose extending through the hose aperture;
- and then
- installing the stopper in fitting engagement in the aperture in the container, so that each hose has a proximate end extending into the liquid in the container and a distal end outside the container.
An apparatus to facilitate small group consumption of a beverage comprising:
- a stopper for engagement in a mouth of a bottle containing a beverage;
- the stopper including a plurality of hose apertures extending through the stopper;
- a plurality of hoses each sized to fit through one of the hose apertures;
- and
- a plurality of mouthpieces each connectable to an end of one of the hoses substantially without leakage;
- wherein
- at least one of the hoses or at least one of the mouthpieces includes a check valve to permit fluid flow in only one direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.