Refractometer for distinguishing sugar-sweetened beverages from artificially-sweetened ones

A process of determining whether or not a beverage is sugar free or sugar containing using a refractometer having a prism and prism face at one end and an eyepiece with a viewing port at the other end and a diffuser movably positionable into a prism-contacting position and a prism-separated position, and a light barrier positioned between said prism face and said eyepiece said process comprising:

• moving said diffuser into a prism-separated position;
• placing a drop of said beverage on said prism face;
• moving said diffuser into a prism-contacting position thereby spreading said drop into a thin layer;
• exposing said diffuser to a light source;
• and
• viewing through said viewing port to determine whether or not light is present through said viewing port.

A process of determining whether or not a beverage is sugar free or sugar containing using a refractometer having a prism and prism face at one end and a light source at the other end and a diffuser movably positionable into a prism-contacting position and a prism-separated position and a light barrier positioned between said prism face and said eyepiece, said process comprising:

• moving said diffuser into a prism-separated position;
• placing a drop of said beverage on said prism face;
• moving said diffuser into a prism-contacting position thereby spreading said drop into a thin layer;
• energizing said light source;
• and
• viewing at said prism face to determine whether or not light is present at said prism face.

A battery operated refractometer for determining whether or not a beverage contains sugar or not, said refractometer comprising:

• a frame;
• a transparent elongated member having a central axis, a prism end, a remote end and an elongated body protected from entrance by external light, said elongated member having an upper surface and a lower surface and a prism formed along said upper surface, a light barrier extending upwardly from said lower surface said prism having a prism face;
• a light source held by said frame adjacent said remote end;
• means for energizing said light source to emit light into said remote end;
• and
• a diffuser having a prism-mating face and positionable in a first position where said prism-mating face is removed from said prism face and a second position wherein said prism-mating face is adjacent said prism face.

A refractometer for determining whether or not a sample of liquid contains sugar or not comprising:

• an elongated transparent member having a central body having a prism end, a viewing end, an external surface having an upper surface, a lower surface and a light barrier in said central body of said elongated transparent member;
• a prism formed in said elongated transparent member at said prism end, said prism having a prism face;
• an eyepiece at said viewing end, said eyepiece having a viewing port;
• and
• a diffuser having a prism-mating face and positionable in a first position where said prism-mating face is removed from said prism face and a second position wherein said prism-mating face is adjacent said prism face.