AU2003262320A1 - Alcoholic beverage dispenser - Google Patents

Description

-1,AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1990 ORIGINAL COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention title ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE DISPENSER The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing known to me.

ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE DISPENSER FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to beverage dispensing machines. More particularly although not exclusively an apparatus for dispensing alcoholic beverages is disclosed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Often in bars at peak times it is difficult and time consuming for patrons to obtain service. Queues form in front of the beer taps and patrons can become impatient to the point of leaving the premises and taking their business elsewhere. While it is common to provide coin operated drink dispensers for beverages such as soft drinks and coffee liquor laws have prevented their use for alcoholic drinks.

This is because it is unlawful to sell liquor to intoxicated persons and therefore a customer's condition must be appraised by the vendor before a purchase is made. Failure to comply with this law can cause the vendor to incur heavy fines or damages under public liability.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of this invention to ameliorate the aforementioned disadvantage and accordingly a vending point for an alcoholic beverage is disclosed, said vending point including a supply compartment for containers of said alcoholic beverage, breath testing apparatus for measuring the blood alcohol level of an intending purchaser, dispensing apparatus operatively connected to said breath testing apparatus for releasing one of said containers to the purchaser subject to insertion of money or entry of a credit card payment transaction and said blood alcohol level being below a prescribed amount wherein means are provided for returning said money or reversing said transaction and advising the purchaser of rejection in the event that said blood alcohol level exceeds the prescribed amount.

Preferably the breath testing apparatus includes a breath testing port whereby the intending purchaser can blow into said port using a straw or the like.

It is further preferred that the vending point include a visual rejection indicator which when activated refers the purchaser to bar staff for liquor service.

It is further preferred that the vending point be housed in a security cabinet with a facia panel which mounts said breath testing port and rejection indicator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING One currently preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the attached figure 1 which shows a beer vending machine in accordance with this concept.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The vending machine may be housed in a security cabinet 1 with a facia panel 2 across the front. The size of the cabinet is such as to be easily installed in most bar rooms or transported to sporting events for temporary use. In addition to the usual coin and note slots 3, 4 change tray dispensing window 6 and instruction plate 7 found on existing machines there is in accordance with this invention a breath testing port 8, rejection light 9 and straw dispenser 10. A substantial portion 11 of the front of the machine may still be reserved for product presentation and advertising.

In use the machine would be installed in a liquor lounge to provide an alternative to bar service or it may be temporarily located at sporting events or the like. An intending purchaser when approaching the machine would be directed by the instruction plate 7 to remove a straw from the dispenser 10 and then use it to blow into the testing port 8. A known type of commercially available device housed within the cabinet would then analyse the purchaser's blood alcohol level and compare it with an adjustable preset limit which may for example correspond to the maximum allowed for the legal operation of a vehicle. If the blood alcohol is below this limit a dispensing apparatus within the cabinet would be cleared for operation once sufficient coinage, note or perhaps a credit card transaction is entered. If however the intending purchaser's blood alcohol is above said limit the operation of the dispensing apparatus is blocked, any moneys previously inserted into the machine are returned and any credit card transactions reversed. The rejection light 9 would also be illuminated. Preferably this light would advise the purchaser to approach the bar to discuss the rejection with staff or management.

As well as improving customer service during peak hours it is envisaged that many of the disputes and altercations that bar staff currently have to deal with could be avoided as an intoxicated customer would be spared the embarrassment of a face-to-face refusal of service. Also, a machine refusal of service would be less arguable as it would be based on a totally objective measurement rather than an subjective evaluation of a customer's appearance by bar staff.

Further, when installed at sporting events or the like where unruly behaviour can be a problem the blood alcohol rejection threshold of the machine could be lowered accordingly without bar staff having to face abuse from rejected customers. In such cases the machine would be placed in a supervised or restricted area which is out of bounds to minors.

It is also envisaged that a vending machine according to this invention could be adapted to receive a text message from a mobile phone user to enable payment for the beverage on a telephone account. The telephone number would be prominently displayed on the machine facia panel. Upon dialling such number a drink symbol would be appear on the telephone display to be approved by the customer before the drink is vended.

It will thus be appreciated that this invention at least in the form of the embodiment described provides a novel and improved form of dispenser for alcoholic beverages. Clearly however the example disclosed is only the currently preferred form of the invention and a wide variety of modifications may be made following further development work by the inventor.

For example the shape and configuration of cabinet and the layout of the facia panel may be changed according to design preference. Indeed, with some permanent installations the facia panel may mounted directly into a wall for increased security and the remainder of the cabinet omitted. The apparatus may also be adapted to dispense alcoholic beverages other than beer such as wine or spirits.

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Claims (9)

1. A vending point for an alcoholic beverage, the vending point including a supply of containers of said alcoholic beverage, breath testing apparatus for measuring the blood alcohol of a person wishing to purchase said beverage, vending apparatus operatively associated with said breath testing apparatus for releasing one of the containers to said person subject to insertion of money or completion of a credit transaction and said blood alcohol level being below a prescribed amount wherein means are provided for returning said money or reversing said credit transaction and advising said person when said blood alcohol level exceeds the prescribed amount.

2. The vending point as claimed in claim 1 wherein the breath testing apparatus includes a breath testing port into which said person can blow using a straw or similar device.

3. The vending point as claimed in claim 2 wherein said means for advising the person include a visual rejection indicator which advises said person to discuss the rejection with staff or management of the premises in which the vending point is located.

4. The vending point as claimed in claim 3 wherein said vending point is mobile and adapted for temporary installation to service short-term events.

The vending point as claimed in claim 4 wherein said presecribed limit is adjustable in accordance with the locale of operation.

6. The vending point as claimed in claim 5 wherein on occasions when the person is a mobile phone user the vending point is adapted to receive a text message to enable payment for said beverage from a telephone account.

7. The vending point as claimed in claim 6 wherein a telephone number for transmission of the text message is displayed on said said vending point and upon dialling said number a beverage symbol or the like appears on the telephone display to be approved before the credit transaction is completed.

8. The vending point for an alcoholic beverage as claimed in claim 7 wherein said vending point is housed in a security cabinet with a facia panel which mounts an information display, breath testing port and visual rejection indicator.

9. The vending point as claimed in claim 8 wherein said alcoholic beverage is beer, wine and/or spirits. A vending point for an alcoholic beverage, said vending point being substantially as described herein with reference to the drawing. Dated this 17th day of November, 2002 John Charles Parkes By His Patent Attorney MICHAEL ANDERSON-TAYLOR