Mixing device

Abstract

To provide a mixing device that can be suitably used at home, in a small-sized restaurant, or the like.SOLUTION: A mixing device 1 includes: a first attachment part including a main discharge port; a second attachment part including a secondary discharge port having a sectional area different from the main discharge port; a main pipe line 41 disposed communicably with the main discharge port; a secondary pipe line 52 disposed communicably with the secondary discharge port; and a pour-out port 2 in which outlets of the main pipe line and the secondary pipe line are disposed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a mixing container, and more particularly, to a mixing device for mixing a plurality of types of liquids in a predetermined ratio.

Background Art

[0002] In the field of beverages, it is common to mix a plurality of types of liquids. For example, in various cocktails including highballs, liquor is mixed with non-alcoholic liquids such as syrup and soda. In soft drinks as well, a stock solution such as concentrated syrup may be mixed with water or the like.

[0003] Since the flavor of a beverage in which a plurality of types of liquids are mixed varies greatly depending on the mixing ratio of the liquids, it is important that each liquid is mixed in the ratio according to the recipe in order to make it taste good. Regarding this point, Patent Document 1 describes a beverage dispenser including a base beverage tank and a syrup tank. When this beverage dispenser is operated, the liquid in the base beverage tank and the liquid in the syrup tank are poured out in a predetermined ratio, so that cocktail beverages such as sour can be provided at a stable mixing ratio.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] The beverage dispenser described in Patent Document 1 is mainly assumed to be used in restaurants and is not suitable for home use. Also, even in a restaurant, in the case of being extremely small-scale, etc., there is a possibility that the expiration date will come before the base beverage or syrup is used up and it will have to be discarded, and it is not suitable in the same way.

[0006] In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a mixing device that can be suitably used in households, small-scale restaurants, and the like.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] The present invention is a mixing device comprising a first attachment portion having a main pouring outlet, a second attachment portion having a sub-pouring outlet with a different cross-sectional area from the main pouring outlet, a main pipe line provided communicably with the main pouring outlet, a sub-pipe line provided communicably with the sub-pouring outlet, and a spout where the outlets of the main pipe line and the sub-pipe line are arranged. The first attachment part is provided at a position closer to the spout than the second attachment part. The second attachment part has a plurality of sub-outlets, and the sub-pipeline is configured to be able to switch the communicating sub-outlets. A flexible tube is connected to the sub-pipeline and extends to the spout. The end of the tube on the spout side is passed through a guide, and the displacement when switching the sub-outlet is suppressed.

Effects of the Invention

[0008] The mixing device according to the present invention can be suitably used in households, small-scale restaurants, and the like.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a mixing device 1 according to the present embodiment. The mixing device 1 includes a base 10 and a cover 80 that covers the upper portion of the base 10.

[0011] FIG. 2 is a view showing the mixing device 1 as viewed from below. The base 10 has a first attachment portion 20 to which a first container is attached and a second attachment portion 30 to which a second container is attached.

[0012] The first attachment portion 20 has a cylindrical peripheral wall 21 that extends downward. A thread or a thread groove is provided on the inner surface of the peripheral wall 21. Thus, the first attachment portion 20 is configured to be attached by screw fitting a commercially available plastic bottle with the cap removed as the first container. In the base 10, two through holes, an air hole 22 and a first outlet (main outlet) 23, are provided in a portion surrounded by the peripheral wall 21.

[0013] The second attachment portion 30 has a cylindrical peripheral wall 31 that extends downward. A thread or a thread groove is provided on the inner surface of the peripheral wall 31. In the present embodiment, a dedicated container described later is attached to the second attachment portion 30 by screw fitting, but by having the same structure as the peripheral wall 21, it may be configured to be able to screw fit a commercially available plastic bottle. In the base 10, three through holes, an air hole 32, a second outlet (sub-outlet) 33, and a third outlet (sub-outlet) 34, are provided in a portion surrounded by the peripheral wall 31.

[0014] Although both the second outlet 33 and the third outlet 34 are sub-outlets, their cross-sectional areas are different. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the cross-sectional area of the second outlet 33 is larger than the cross-sectional area of the third outlet 34.

[0015] FIG. 3 is a view showing the upper structure of the mixing device 1, showing it except for some parts. Above the first attachment part 20, a first pipeline member 40 is attached. The first pipeline member 40 has a main pipeline 41 and an air pipeline 42. A flexible tube 43 made of silicone or the like is connected to the main pipeline 41 and extends to the pouring port 2 of the mixing device 1 (see also Fig. 1). That is, the outlet of the main pipeline 41 is arranged at the pouring port 2. The air pipeline 42 is open to the atmosphere. The first pipeline member 40 is fitted into a groove 11a provided in a peripheral wall 11 that extends upward from around the base 10 and can slide relative to the base 10. Thereby, the first pipeline member 40 can be switched between a state where the main pipeline 41 communicates with the first pouring outlet 23 and the air pipeline 42 communicates with the air hole 22, and a non-communicating state where the first pipeline member 40 closes the air hole 22 and the first pouring outlet 23 by sliding movement.

[0016] Above the second attachment part 30, a second pipeline member 50 is attached. The second pipeline member 50 has a disk-shaped base 51 and a sub-pipeline 52 provided on the base 51. The base 51 has a through hole 51a provided at the center of the disk shape, an arc-shaped through groove 51b, and a lever 51c protruding outward from the disk shape. The base 51 is arranged on the base 10 such that a shaft 12 protruding upward from the base 10 passes through the through hole 51a and an air hole 32 protruding upward from the base 10 passes through the through groove 51b. Thereby, the second pipeline member 50 can rotate relative to the base 10 within an angular range that does not interfere with the air hole 32 about the shaft 12, and is configured to be able to switch between a state where the second pouring outlet 33 communicates with the sub-pipeline 52 and a state where the third pouring outlet 34 communicates with the sub-pipeline 52. A flexible tube 53 made of silicone or the like is connected to the sub-pipeline 52 and extends to the pouring port 2 of the mixing device 1. That is, the outlet of the sub-pipeline 52 is arranged at the pouring port 2.

[0017] FIG. 4 is a view showing the mixing device 1 with the cover 80 removed. The guide 60 attached on the first pipeline member 40 prevents the first pipeline member 40 from deviating outside the groove 11a by sandwiching the first pipeline member 40 between it and the base 10. The tube 53 reaches the spout 2 through the internal space of the guide 60. A stopper 70 is attached to the shaft 12. The stopper 70 prevents the second pipeline member 50 from coming off the shaft 12 by sandwiching the second pipeline member 50 between it and the base 10.

[0018] The operation during the use of the mixing device 1 according to the present embodiment configured as described above will be described. First, the first container and the second container containing the liquids to be mixed are attached to the first attachment portion 20 and the second attachment portion 30. For example, when making a highball, as shown in FIG. 5, as the first container, a PET bottle Pb containing carbonated water is threadedly fitted and attached to the first attachment portion 20, and as the second container, a dedicated container 100 containing whiskey is attached to the second attachment portion 30. As shown in FIG. 5, when the heights of the first container and the second container are significantly different, as shown in FIG. 6, an adapter 101 may be attached to the lower container (in this case, the dedicated container 100). By doing so, the heights of the first container and the second container can be made even, and the container to which the mixing device 1 is attached can be stably placed on a table or the like.

[0019] The user operates the lever 51c to communicate the desired outlet formed in the second attachment portion 30, that is, either the second outlet 33 or the third outlet 34, with the sub-pipeline 52. For example, when more whiskey is desired, the second outlet 33 having a relatively large cross-sectional area is communicated with the sub-pipeline 52.

[0020] When the user tilts the mixing device 1 and the container with the pouring spout 2 facing downward, air flows into the PET bottle Pb and the dedicated container 100 from the air holes 22 and 32 respectively. Along with this, the liquid in the PET bottle Pb flows through the first outlet 23 into the main pipeline 41, and the liquid in the dedicated container 100 flows from the connected outlet into the sub - pipeline 52. Each liquid further flows out from the pouring spout 2 through the tubes 43 and 53.

[0021] The ratio of the amounts of liquid coming out from the tubes 43 and 53 generally becomes a predetermined value depending on the shape and dimensions of the main pipeline 41 and the sub - pipeline 52, the cross - sectional area of the connected outlets, etc. In this embodiment, when the sub - pipeline 52 communicates with the second outlet 33, the ratio of the amount of liquid coming out from the tube 43 to the amount of liquid coming out from the tube 53 is approximately 3:1, and when the sub - pipeline 52 communicates with the third outlet 34, it is set to be approximately 4:1. Therefore, the user can simply pour the liquid mixed in a predetermined ratio into a glass or the like by just tilting the mixing device 1 and the container towards the glass or the like for drinking.

[0022] For example, when making a highball with a glass containing ice, if whiskey and carbonated water are separately put into the glass, they do not mix evenly in the glass, and a concentration unevenness occurs. Even if stirred with a muddler or the like, due to the presence of ice, it is difficult to stir, and it takes a certain amount of time to become uniform. On the other hand, when using the mixing device 1, since the two types of liquid coming out from the pouring spout 2 are already mixed, even when pouring into a glass with ice or the like, a uniform beverage can be easily made without stirring.

[0023] When the first pipeline member 40 is slid, it is also possible to stop the liquid from coming out of the first container and pour only the liquid in the second container. Thus, it can also handle situations such as adding only liquor to strengthen the cocktail when the first - made cocktail is not enough, or pouring only liquor into an empty glass for a straight drink for the second glass.

[0024] In the mixing device 1 of the present embodiment, since the first attachment portion 20 can attach a commercially available plastic bottle, commercially available mineral water or carbonated water filled in the plastic bottle can be used as it is after removing the cap, which is suitable for household use. Also, for the syrup and liquor to be mixed, since it is only necessary to put the necessary amount from the original bottle into the dedicated container 100 each time and attach it to the second attachment portion 30, it is easy to use up, and waste due to expiration can be significantly reduced. Therefore, it is easy to use even in small-scale restaurants and eateries.

[0025] Furthermore, since the tip of the tube 53 connected to the sub-pipeline 52 is passed through and supported by the guide 60, even if the base end of the tube 53 is displaced by the operation of the lever 51c, the tip does not follow and the position is stable. As a result, the pouring direction of the liquid from the second container can be stabilized.

[0026] In addition, since the first attachment portion 20 to which the first container with a large mixing amount is attached is provided at a position closer to the spout 2 than the second attachment portion 30, the stability when placed with the container attached is good.

[0027] As described above, although one embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and configurations such as changes and combinations within the scope not departing from the gist of the present invention are also included. Some changes are exemplified below, but these are not all, and other changes are also possible. These changes may be appropriately combined two or more at a time.

[0028] · The support method of the container in the first attachment portion and the second attachment portion is not limited to the screw fitting described above, and various engagement or fitting structures can be adopted.

[0029] · The spout of the second attachment portion may be one or three or more. Furthermore, two or more spouts of the first attachment portion may be provided and configured to be selectable.

[0030] ·By providing three or more mounting portions for mounting the container, it may be configured to be able to mix three or more types of liquids.

Explanation of Signs

[0031] 1 Mixing device 2 Pouring port 10 Base 20 First mounting portion 23 First pouring outlet (main pouring outlet) 30 Second mounting portion 33 Second pouring outlet (sub-pouring outlet) 34 Third pouring outlet (sub-pouring outlet) 41 Main pipeline 52 Sub-pipeline 100 Dedicated container (container) 101 Adapter

Claims

1. a first mounting portion having a main pouring outlet; a second mounting portion having a sub-pouring outlet with a cross-sectional area different from that of the main pouring outlet; a main pipeline provided to be communicable with the main pouring outlet; a sub-pipeline provided to be communicable with the sub-pouring outlet; a spout where the outlets of the main pipeline and the sub-pipeline are arranged; comprising; the first mounting portion is provided at a position closer to the spout than the second mounting portion; the second mounting portion has a plurality of the sub-pouring outlets; the sub-pipeline is configured to be able to switch the communicating sub-pouring outlets; a flexible tube is connected to the sub-pipeline and extends to the spout; the end of the tube on the spout side is passed through a guide, and the displacement when switching the sub-pouring outlet is suppressed; Mixing device.

2. the first mounting portion is configured to be able to mount a commercially available plastic bottle with the cap removed; The mixing device according to Claim 1.

3. the main pipeline is slidably mounted on a base where the first mounting portion is provided; configured to be able to switch between a state of being in communication with the main pouring outlet and a non-communicating state; The mixing device according to Claim 1.

4. a container configured to be attachable to the second mounting portion; an adapter attachable to the container; further comprising; The mixing device according to Claim 1.

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