Foam reducing container

Abstract

A foam reducing container for reducing the level of foam created when pouring a carbonated liquid into the container. The foam reduction container generally includes the container body having sidewalls extending from a base and the sidewalls defining at least one impact sloped wall for receiving a beverage poured from a delivery system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A beverage container of the type filled with a liquid beverage from a tap dispenser, the liquid beverage of the type prone to generate foam when agitated, said beverage container comprising:
 a base, an interior floor formed on top of said base,   sidewalls extending upwardly from said base to form an interior space above said interior floor to receive and hold a quantity of the liquid beverage, a rim defined along a top portion of said sidewalls through which the liquid beverage enters and exits said interior space, a vertical centerline passing generally centrally through said interior space,   said sidewalls including a filling portion, said filling portion extending from adjacent said rim obliquely through said vertical centerline to directly receive a downward stream of liquid beverage from the tap dispenser, said filling portion including a curved intersection adjacent an interior floor to progressively decelerate a downward stream of liquid beverage prior to colliding with an opposite portion of said sidewalls.   
     
     
         2 . The beverage container of  claim 1  further comprising a spout formed in said rim of said sidewalls, and a handle formed on an exterior surface of said sidewalls opposite said spout. 
     
     
         3 . The beverage container of  claim 2  wherein said handle is disposed along said filling portion. 
     
     
         4 . The beverage container of  claim 2  wherein said spout is disposed directly above said filling portion. 
     
     
         5 . The beverage container of  claim 1  further including target indicia on said filling portion, said target indicia being located at a position between said rim and said curved intersection. 
     
     
         6 . A method of reducing foam production while pouring a carbonated beverage into a container, the method comprising the steps of:
 placing a beverage container below a tap dispenser of a carbonated beverage delivery system, the tap dispenser configured to selectively emit a stream of carbonated beverage with a downward velocity, said placing step including supporting a base of the beverage container in a generally horizontal position, the beverage container having an interior space through which a vertical centerline passes, the sidewalls include a filling portion extending obliquely through the vertical centerline,   positioning the beverage container below the tap dispenser so that the stream of carbonated beverage initially strikes the filling portion; and   without tipping the beverage container below the tap dispenser, minimizing foam production by gradually slowing the velocity stream of the carbonated beverage along a flow path established by the filling portion as the carbonated beverage passes through the vertical centerline of the interior space.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the carbonated beverage delivery system includes a keg and tap system. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6  further comprising removing the beverage container from the horizontal support surface by manually grasping a handle formed on an exterior surface of the beverage container. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6  wherein said positioning step includes aiming the stream of carbonated beverage emitted from the tap at a target indicia appearing on the filling portion. 
     
     
         10 . A combination standard beverage pitcher and insert device adapted to convert the standard beverage pitcher into a foam-reducing beverage pitcher, the combination comprising:
 a beverage pitcher having an interior space defined by a base and sidewalls, a rim formed at the upper edges of said sidewalls, said interior space having a vertical centerline;   an insert device, the insert device including a filling portion configured to be placed generally diagonally within said interior space of the pitcher so as to traverse said vertical centerline above said base;   a hanging feature extending above said filling portion for mounting onto the rim of the beverage pitcher;   wherein said filling portion first receives a downward stream of carbonated beverage from a tap dispenser and then decelerates the beverage flow as the flow travels through said vertical center line thereby reducing foam production as the carbonated beverage fills said interior space.   
     
     
         11 . The combination of claim  12  further comprising a target indicia defined on said filling portion, wherein target indicia is located at a position such that the carbonated beverage upon entering said interior space and contacting said target indicia reduces foam production as said interior space fills with the carbonated beverage.