Beverage dispensing assembly preventing micro-organism reflux

Abstract

Beverage dispensing assembly 200 comprising a beverage container 201 with a container body 202 defining a beverage chamber arranged for holding a beverage; a dispenser 230 with a dispensing opening for dispensing the beverage; and a dispensing line extending between the beverage chamber and the dispensing opening to form a flow path enabling a flow of beverage from the beverage chamber to the dispensing opening. The dispensing line comprises a first dispensing line part 211 attached to the container body 202 and a separate second dispensing line part 220 attached to the dispenser 230, the first and the second parts fluid tightly coupled to each other with detachable coupling means 210. The first dispensing line part defines an upstream flow path section arranged to at least reduce a microorganism migration rate from a downstream flow path section in the second dispensing line part into the beverage chamber.

1 . A beverage dispensing assembly, comprising a beverage container with a container body defining a beverage chamber arranged for holding a beverage, particularly an alcohol free beverage such as alcohol free beer; a dispenser, particularly a faucet with a tapping handle, with a dispensing opening for dispensing the beverage; and a dispensing line extending between the beverage chamber and the dispensing opening to form a flow path enabling a flow of beverage from the beverage chamber to the dispensing opening, the dispensing line comprising a first dispensing line part attached to the container body and a separate second dispensing line part attached to the dispenser, the first and the second parts fluid tightly coupled to each other with detachable coupling means, wherein the first dispensing line part defines an upstream flow path section for flow of beverage from the beverage chamber to the coupling means, and the second dispensing line part defines a downstream flow path section for flow of beverage from the coupling means to the dispensing opening of the dispenser, wherein the upstream flow path section in the first dispensing line part is arranged to at least reduce a microorganism migration rate from the downstream flow path section into the beverage chamber. 
     
     
         2 . The beverage dispensing assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the upstream flow path section in the first dispensing line part comprises a beverage flow channel for flow of beverage through the first dispensing line part in a downward or horizontal flow direction from the beverage chamber to the coupling means. 
     
     
         3 . The beverage dispensing assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the first dispensing line part is sealingly attached to the container body such that entry of microorganisms into the beverage chamber through an attachment interface between the container body and first dispensing line part is prevented. 
     
     
         4 . The beverage dispensing assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the upstream flow path section comprises a bend extending downwards in a flow direction from the beverage chamber to the coupling means. 
     
     
         5 . The beverage dispensing assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein the bend defines an at least almost 360° degrees turn in the upstream flow path section, and preferably is provided as a looping in the first dispensing line part. 
     
     
         6 . The beverage dispensing assembly according to  claim 5 , wherein the first dispensing line part comprises a plurality of loops consecutively provided along the upstream flow path section. 
     
     
         7 . The beverage dispensing assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein the loopings define a spiraling section of the flow path. 
     
     
         8 . The beverage dispensing assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the upstream flow path section comprises a yeast trap. 
     
     
         9 . The beverage dispensing assembly according to  claim 1 , comprising cooling means arranged for cooling the beverage prior to dispensing thereof at the dispensing opening, wherein the cooling means are arranged for cooling at least the upstream flow path section in the first part of the dispensing line such that a migration rate of microorganisms through the flow path section into the beverage container is reduced. 
     
     
         10 . The beverage dispensing assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein the cooling means comprise a housing defining an inner cooling chamber, at least the upstream flow path section of the dispensing line provided in the inner cooling chamber for cooling thereof at a temperature of the inner cooling chamber. 
     
     
         11 . The beverage dispensing assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein the cooling means are arranged to cool the upstream flow path section of the dispensing line to a temperature of 6° C. or below, preferably to 4° C. or lower, more preferably to between 0° C.-3° C. 
     
     
         12 . The beverage dispensing assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the first part of the dispensing line comprises a flexible tube, the flexible tube arranged in a bend extending downwards in a flow direction from the beverage chamber to the coupling means, wherein the bend preferably defines an almost 360° degrees turn in the upstream flow path section, and preferably is provided as a looping in the flexible tube. 
     
     
         13 . The beverage dispensing assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein the flexible tube is attached with one end to the container body and at an opposite end is arranged for coupling to the second part of the dispensing line. 
     
     
         14 . The beverage dispensing assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the first part of the dispensing line is preassembled to the container body with a coupling different from the coupling to the second part of the dispensing line. 
     
     
         15 . The beverage dispensing assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein coupling means between the first part of the dispensing line and second part of the dispensing line prevent a direct coupling of the second part of the dispensing line to the container body. 
     
     
         16 . The beverage dispensing assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the beverage container contains a beverage having an alcohol by volume percentage of 2% or less, preferably 1.2% or less, and more preferably 0.5% or less. 
     
     
         17 . The beverage dispensing assembly according to  claim 16 , wherein the beverage is essentially free of alcohol. 
     
     
         18 . The beverage dispensing assembly according to  claim 17  wherein the beverage is an alcohol-free malt beverage, for example, alcohol-free beer, or an alcohol-free fermented fruit beverage, for example, alcohol-free cider. 
     
     
         19 . A beverage dispensing system comprising a beverage dispensing assembly according to  claim 1  and comprising one or more further beverage containers each further beverage container comprising a flexible tube attached to a container body, the flexible tube arranged to be coupled to the second part of the dispensing line of the beverage dispensing assembly, wherein the beverage container of the beverage dispensing assembly is interchangeably coupled with a flexible tube as the first part of the dispensing line to the second part of the dispensing line so as to allow an exchange of beverage containers with flexible tube in the system. 
     
     
         20 . A beverage container for use in a beverage dispensing assembly in accordance with  claim 1 , comprising a container body defining a beverage chamber holding a beverage and comprising a flexible tube as the first part of a dispensing line, with one end sealingly attached to the container body such that beverage can flow from the beverage chamber into the flexible tube while entry of microorganisms into the beverage chamber through an attachment interface between the container body and the flexible tube is prevented, and an opposite end of the flexible tube arranged for coupling to the second part of the dispensing line. 
     
     
         21 . The beverage container according to  claim 20 , wherein the container body and the flexible tube are preassembled with the opposite end of the flexible tube being closed off by a removable seal prior to use. 
     
     
         22 . A fluid conduit for use as a first dispensing line part in a beverage dispensing assembly according to  claim 1 , comprising a hollow conduit body, particularly a tube, defining a flow path for flow of beverage through the hollow conduit body between one end of the conduit body and an opposite end of the conduit body, wherein the flow path is provided with a plurality of loops consecutively provided along the flow path. 
     
     
         23 . The fluid conduit according to  claim 22 , wherein the loops are provided as a spiraling section of the flow path. 
     
     
         24 . The fluid conduit according to  claim 22 , wherein the flow path comprises a yeast trap. 
     
     
         25 . The fluid conduit according to  claim 22 , wherein the flow path is provided with a filter and/or valve arranged to restrict passage of microorganisms through the flow path. 
     
     
         26 . The fluid conduit according to  claim 22 , wherein the hollow conduit body is formed by a tube having a length of at least 5 cm. 
     
     
         27 . The fluid conduit according to  claim 22 , wherein both ends of the conduit body are provided with a seal for sealing the flow path prior to use.