Can tossing cooler
AssigneeBeerMe LLC
InventorAnthony Barrett Sinclair
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A beverage dispensing apparatus includes a container for storing beverage containers, a launch assembly with a launch arm pivotable about a fulcrum having a beverage container receiving end and a drive end, a single-motor-driven cam with variable radius, constant radius, and drop-off regions, the launch arm engaging the cam, and a biasing member coupled to the drive end. Rotation through the variable radius region tensions the biasing member to store energy. The constant radius region maintains tension without continuous motor power. Further rotation of the cam to the drop-off region releases stored energy to pull the drive end, pivoting the launch arm to propel the beverage container.
Claims20
A beverage dispensing apparatus, comprising:
- a container configured to store a plurality of beverage containers;
- a launch assembly including:
- a launch arm pivotable about a fulcrum and having a beverage container receiving end and a drive end;
- a cam driven by a single motor and having a cam profile with a variable radius region, a constant radius region, and a drop-off region, wherein the launch arm engages the cam to move the launch arm;
- and
- a biasing member coupled to the drive end of the launch arm;
- and
- wherein rotation of the cam through the variable radius region tensions the biasing member to store energy, and wherein the constant radius region maintains the biasing member in a stable tensioned state without continuous motor power, and wherein further rotation of the cam to the drop-off region of the cam profile releases stored energy from the biasing member to pull the drive end of the launch arm, thereby pivoting the launch arm about the fulcrum to propel a beverage container from the beverage container receiving end of the launch arm.
A method of dispensing a beverage container, comprising:
- loading a beverage container into a cradle of a launch arm;
- rotating a cam with a single motor to move a portion of the launch arm through a variable radius region of the cam, thereby tensioning a biasing member coupled to the launch arm;
- holding the biasing member in a tensioned state by positioning the portion of the launch arm in a constant radius region of the cam without continuous motor power;
- and
- releasing stored energy from the biasing member by rotating the cam to move the portion of the launch arm through a reduced radius region of the cam, thereby pivoting the launch arm to propel the beverage container.
A beverage dispensing apparatus, comprising:
- an insulated container having a body and a lid with an aperture;
- a load assembly configured to store and feed beverage containers toward a launch position;
- a launch assembly disposed within the insulated container and including:
- a launch arm pivotable to propel a beverage container through the aperture;
- a single motor;
- a cam coupled to the single motor and engaging the launch arm;
- and
- a biasing member configured to store energy when the cam rotates to a first position and release energy when the cam rotates to a second position to pivot the launch arm.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.