Comestible fluid rack and rail apparatus and method

Abstract

Some embodiments of the present invention provide a support adapted to support a comestible fluid container on a comestible fluid container rack, and a container rack having such a support. The support can include a first portion extending from a stretcher of the comestible fluid container rack and a second portion extending substantially laterally from the first portion to support the comestible fluid container thereon.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This is a continuation patent application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 773,110 filed on Feb. 4, 2004, which is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 211,883 filed on Aug. 1, 2002 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,834,768, both of which are incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Racks of many different configurations are currently available in the food and beverage industry. A number of such racks are employed to store any type of beverage container, including without limitation bottles, boxes, crates, bags, kegs, barrels, and other containers capable of holding fluid. By way of example only, racks are often employed to support syrup containers used in post-mix beverage blending. As is well known in the art, the syrup in such containers is pumped, drained, or otherwise removed from the containers and is often mixed with water or water and gas to yield a post-mix beverage. In those cases...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides a comestible fluid container rack that can be expanded and adjusted to meet the needs of different users. The rack can be stacked upon each other or disassembled for easy storage and reassembly. The rack modules can be moved and secured to different positions along a rail, allowing for flexibility in mounting comestible fluid dispensing components. The rack includes supports for holding comestible fluid containers, and the supports can be moved to different positions to accommodate different sizes of containers. The rack can also include a bracket for releasably mounting valves and other fluid dispensing system components. The rack can be adapted to support a comestible fluid container by adding or removing rack modules. The rack can also include telescoping rails and movable brackets for easy mounting and flexibility in positioning the containers. The rack can also include front and rear lateral stretchers for added support. Overall, the present invention provides a flexible and adjustable comestible fluid container rack that can meet the needs of different users.

Problems solved by technology

Currently available comestible fluid container racks are often inadequate for the needs of many users, and even for the process of dispensing comestible fluid from containers on such racks (e.g. in post-mix preparation and in the preparation of other types of beverages).

Problems and limitations with conventional comestible fluid container racks include the inability to change the capacity of such racks (whether by changing the size of a rack or by easily and readily adding to the rack), inadequate provisions for mounting or organizing components associated with the dispense of comestible fluid from the containers, and rack designs that are difficult and time-consuming to set up, disassemble, and / or transport.

The mounting and arrangement of such components in comestible fluid storage and dispensing systems also presents problems and limitations well known in the art (regardless of whether a rack as described above is employed).

By way of example only, these problems and limitations include haphazard and disorganized systems and systems in which systems components are difficult and time-consuming to service, replace, and maintain.

In some cases, it can be difficult for a user or other party to even identify which components in the system are associated with which other components.

Images