초록 ▼

A self-contained beverage dispensing apparatus, which is adapted for commercial and/or home use as an alternative to traditional canned beverage service, is provided. In one embodiment, the beverage dispensing apparatus is highly portable and of sufficient dimension to be positioned on a conventiona

A self-contained beverage dispensing apparatus, which is adapted for commercial and/or home use as an alternative to traditional canned beverage service, is provided. In one embodiment, the beverage dispensing apparatus is highly portable and of sufficient dimension to be positioned on a conventional airline beverage cart and stored in an aircraft's cargo storage compartment. In one embodiment, the beverage dispensing apparatus can be selectively locked and secured with a mechanism that will indicate whether any pre-flight tampering has occurred. In one embodiment, the beverage dispensing apparatus is further comprised of at least one beverage dispensing mechanism that can be extended from within the housing for use and later retracted for storage. In one embodiment, the beverage dispensing apparatus can be used with beverage containers with mouths of varying sizes.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A self-contained beverage dispensing apparatus, comprising: (a) a housing having a moveable lid, the lid moveable between an open position wherein an interior of the housing is accessible, and a closed position wherein the lid may be secured to another portion of the housing;

What is claimed is: 1. A self-contained beverage dispensing apparatus, comprising: (a) a housing having a moveable lid, the lid moveable between an open position wherein an interior of the housing is accessible, and a closed position wherein the lid may be secured to another portion of the housing; (b) at least one beverage container disposed in said housing, a removable cap sealably secured to each of said at least one beverage containers; (c) at least one dispensing element mounted to said housing and moveable between a first position inside said housing and a second position at least partially outside said housing, said at least one dispensing element in fluid communication with said at least one beverage container; (d) a control module secured to said housing and comprising a pump in pressurized communication with said at least one beverage container, a power source in electrical communication with said pump, and a switch in electrical communication with said power source, wherein the pump pressurizes said at least one beverage container and causes beverage within said beverage container to move to said at least one dispensing element. 2. The self-contained beverage dispensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein said control module is removable from said housing. 3. The self-contained beverage dispensing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an air passage way interconnecting the pump and the at least one beverage container, and a sensing member associated with said air passage way to monitor pressure in the air passage way and to turn off the pump when the pressure exceeds a predetermined value. 4. The self-contained beverage dispensing apparatus of claim 3, further comprising said sensing member turning on the pump when the pressure in the passage way is less than a predetermined value. 5. The self-contained beverage dispensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power source comprises a rechargeable battery. 6. The self-contained beverage dispensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein said housing further comprises a panel moveable between a first position blocking access to the at least one dispensing element when it is in its first position within said housing and a second position permitting said at least one dispensing element to move to its second position. 7. The self-contained beverage dispensing apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a locking assembly that secures the lid in its closed position and secures the panel in its first position to preclude access to the interior of the housing. 8. The self-contained beverage dispensing apparatus of claim 3 further comprising a fluid passageway interconnecting said at least one beverage container and said at least one dispensing element. 9. The self-contained beverage dispensing apparatus of claim 8, wherein said air and fluid passageways further comprise quick connect/disconnect elements for connecting and disconnecting said air and fluid passageways to said at least one beverage container. 10. The self-contained beverage dispensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein said pump provides a pressure of at least 12 psi. 11. The self-contained beverage dispensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein each said cap further comprises a locking element adapted to secure said cap to said at least one beverage container. 12. The self-contained beverage dispensing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a security member interconnected to said housing and adapted to indicate if unauthorized tampering with said housing has occurred. 13. The self-contained beverage dispensing apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a security member interconnected to said panel, wherein said security member indicates whether or not said panel has been moved from its first position. 14. The self-contained beverage dispensing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a security device attached to said lid and indicative of whether the lid has been opened. 15. The self-contained beverage dispensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least one dispensing element is a tap. 16. The self-contained beverage dispensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein said removable cap is further comprised of an air bleed valve. 17. The self-contained beverage dispensing apparatus of claim 11, wherein said at least one dispensing element is a beverage gun. 18. The self-contained beverage dispensing apparatus of claim 12, wherein said security member is a wire and lead seal assembly. 19. The self-contained beverage dispensing apparatus of claim 12, wherein said security member interconnects said lid and another portion of said housing. 20. A portable beverage dispensing apparatus for use in connection with mobile beverage service on commercial airlines comprising: (a) a housing designed to rest upon a top surface of a rolling cart; (b) a plurality of beverage containers disposed in the housing; (c) at least one beverage dispensing element in fluid communication with the plurality of beverage containers; (d) a control module associated with the housing and adapted to regulate fluid pressure among the plurality of beverage containers and the at least one beverage dispensing element; wherein the control module, the at least one beverage dispensing element, and the plurality of beverage containers can be selectively locked within the housing. 21. The portable beverage dispensing apparatus of claim 20, wherein the plurality of beverage containers comprises four beverage containers. 22. The portable beverage dispensing apparatus of claim 20, wherein the at least one beverage dispensing element comprises four beverage nozzles, one associated with each beverage container. 23. The portable beverage dispensing apparatus of claim 20, wherein said control module comprises a pump, a rechargeable power source, an electric motor and a pressure sensor associated with said pump, wherein said electric motor is operable to turn on the pump if the pressure is less than a predetermined value and to turn off the pump if the pressure is above a predetermined value. 24. The portable beverage dispensing apparatus of claim 20, wherein the control module is removable from said housing. 25. The portable beverage dispensing apparatus of claim 20, wherein the beverage containers are commercially available two liter plastic bottles. 26. The portable beverage dispensing apparatus of claim 20, wherein the housing has a width of no greater than 14 inches and a length of no greater than 34 inches so that the housing fits on the top surface of the rolling cart. 27. The portable beverage dispensing apparatus of claim 20, wherein the housing has a length of no greater than 18 inches, a width of no greater than 14 inches, and a height of no greater than 15 inches so that the housing fits within a cargo storage compartment of an aircraft. 28. The portable beverage dispensing apparatus of claim 20, wherein the at least one beverage dispensing element is a beverage gun. 29. The portable beverage dispensing apparatus of claim 20, wherein the plurality of beverage containers are serially connected in fluid communication. 30. The portable beverage dispensing apparatus of claim 20, wherein the housing is selectively secured by a security indicator mechanism for identifying unauthorized access to an interior of the housing or indicating that the housing is a fake. 31. The portable beverage dispensing apparatus of claim 30, wherein the security indicator mechanism is a paper seal. 32. The portable beverage dispensing apparatus of claim 30, wherein the security indicator mechanism is a wire and seal assembly. 33. A beverage dispensing device, comprising: (a) a housing having an inner surface and an outer surface; (b) a security member interconnected to the outer surface of the housing, wherein the security member is adapted to indicate any tampering with the housing prior to use; (c) at least one dispensing mechanism encased by and in slidable communication with the housing; (d) a pressurized line system in fluid communication with the at least one dispensing mechanism; and (e) at least one container connection member in fluid communication with the at least one dispensing mechanism and the pressurized line system; and wherein the at least one container connection member is further comprised of an air bleed valve. 34. A beverage dispensing device, comprising: (a) a housing having an inner surface and an outer surface; (b) a security member interconnected to the outer surface of the housing, wherein the security member is adapted to indicate any tampering with the housing prior to use; (c) at least one dispensing mechanism encased by and in slidable communication with the housing; (d) a pressurized line system in fluid communication with the at least one dispensing mechanism; (e) at least one container connection member in fluid communication with the at least one dispensing mechanism and the pressurized line system; and wherein the at least one container connection member is further comprised of a pliable outer member to accept varying sized throats of beverage containers. 35. A self-contained beverage dispensing device, comprising: (a) a housing having an interior cavity of sufficient dimension to encase at least four 2 liter bottles; (b) four dispensing mechanisms, each movable from a stored position to an accessible position; (c) a control module powered by a rechargeable battery and activated by an interconnected switch; (d) a lid interconnected to the housing for accessing the at least four 2 liter bottles; (e) four caps in fluid communication with the four dispensing mechanisms via fluid lines and in pneumatic communication with the control module via air lines; and wherein the control module pressurizes the air lines and fluid lines to a pre-determined pressure and then is shut off by a valve; further wherein the four caps are each further comprised of an air bleed valve to selectively relieve the pressure in each respective 2 liter bottle.