Granted Patent B2

US 12,291,443 · App. 18/323,116 · Granted May 6, 2025

Inventors: William W. Segiet (Bethel, CT); Alex L. Gray (Valhalla, NY); Fernando A. Ubidia (Ludlow, MA); Aaron M. Stein (Ludlow, MA); John F. Lewis (Ludlow, MA)

Assignee: PepsiCo, Inc.

B67D1/0888B67D1/0882B67D1/0894B67D1/1279B67D3/0074B67D3/0077G06Q20/3278G07F13/025G07F13/065G07F13/10B67D2001/0811H04Q2213/13095

Abstract

Claims (38)

1. A beverage dispensing system, comprising:

a dispensing system housing; and

a contactless beverage dispenser coupled to the dispensing system housing, the contactless beverage dispenser comprising:

a valve configured to dispense the beverage;

a valve housing;

a lever backing coupled to the valve housing; and

communications electronics disposed within the contactless beverage dispenser, the communications electronics comprising:

a wireless transceiver disposed within the lever backing and configured to communicate with a container wireless transceiver of a beverage container; and

a circuit board disposed within the valve housing.

2. The beverage dispensing system according to claim 1 , further comprising the beverage container.

3. The beverage dispensing system according to claim 1 , wherein the contactless beverage dispenser is coupled to and extends out from a front side of the dispensing system housing.

4. The beverage dispensing system of claim 1 , further comprising a second contactless beverage dispenser disposed horizontally next to the contactless beverage dispenser.

5. The beverage dispensing system of claim 4 , wherein the second contactless beverage dispenser comprises:

a second valve configured to dispense a second beverage; and

second communications electronics disposed within the second contactless beverage dispenser, the second communications electronics comprising:

a second wireless transceiver configured to communicate with the container wireless transceiver of the beverage container; and

a second circuit board.

6. A contactless beverage dispenser configured to couple to a dispensing system housing, the contactless beverage dispenser comprising:

a valve configured to dispense a beverage;

a valve housing;

a lever backing coupled to the valve housing; and

communications electronics disposed within the contactless beverage dispenser, the communications electronics comprising:

a wireless transceiver disposed within the lever backing and configured to communicate with a container wireless transceiver of a beverage container; and

a circuit board disposed within the valve housing;

wherein the contactless beverage dispenser is configured to dispense the beverage without contact between the beverage container and the contactless beverage dispenser.

7. The contactless beverage dispenser of claim 6 , wherein the wireless transceiver is configured to transmit and receive a signal from a container wireless transceiver of the beverage container, and wherein the circuit board is configured to control the operation of the contactless beverage dispenser.

8. The contactless beverage dispenser of claim 7 , wherein the communications electronics are configured to determine whether the beverage container is a compatible container.

9. The contactless beverage dispenser of claim 8 , wherein the communications electronics are configured to determine whether the beverage container is within a predetermined distance of the valve.

10. The contactless beverage dispenser of claim 8 , wherein the valve is configured to dispense the beverage in response to the communications electronics determining that the beverage container is a compatible container.

11. The contactless beverage dispenser of claim 9 , further comprising a motion sensor configured to detect motion, wherein the wireless transceiver is configured to transmit an electronic signal in response to the motion sensor detecting motion.

12. A beverage dispensing system, comprising:

the contactless beverage dispenser of claim 6 coupled to the dispensing system housing;

a second contactless beverage dispenser coupled to the dispensing system housing.

13. The beverage dispensing system of claim 12 , wherein the second contactless beverage dispenser comprises:

a second valve configured to dispense a second beverage; and

second communications electronics disposed within the second contactless beverage dispenser, the second communications electronics comprising:

a second wireless transceiver configured to communicate with the container wireless transceiver of the beverage container; and

a second circuit board.

Assignments (3)

Continuity (7)

References Cited (387)