US3668888A

US3668888A - Device for frosting drinking glasses

Info

Publication number: US3668888A
Application number: US18254A
Authority: US
Inventors: Donald J Roslonski
Original assignee: FROST A GLASS CORP
Current assignee: FROST A GLASS CORP
Priority date: 1970-03-10
Filing date: 1970-03-10
Publication date: 1972-06-13
Anticipated expiration: 1989-06-13
Also published as: GB1285854A; DE2111542A1

Abstract

A device for frosting drinking glasses including a valve adapted to be connected to a supply of fluid refrigerant and an actuating means for opening the valve. The actuating means includes a movable platform on which a glass to be forsted is adapted to be placed. The platform is moved by pushing the glass thereagainst to thereby open the valve so that refrigerant flows into the glass.

Description

[ June 13, 1972 United States Patent Roslonski Morris.................

[54] DEVICE FOR FROSTING DRINKING GLASSES [72] Inventor:

[73] Assignee:

' [22] Filed:

Taylor Donald J. Roslonski, Pennsauken, NJ.

Frost-A-Glass Corporation, Trenton, NJ.

March 10, 1970 Primary E.raminerMeyer Perlin Assistant Examiner-Ronald C. Capossela Attorney-Birch, Swindler, McKie & Beckett [21]- App1.No.:

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includes a movable platform on which a glass to be forsted is References Cited adapted to be placed. The platform is moved by pushing the glass thereagainst to thereby open the valve so that refrigerant flows into the glass.

UNlTED STATES PATENTS 1,747,598 2/1938 Popp..................... ....25l/DIG.4 2,749,715 6/1956 Tice..0.......................................62/62 9C1aims,lDrawingFigure PATENTEDJUH 1 3 I972 3.668 888 INVENTOR DONALD J. ROSLONSKi BY ATTORNEYS DEVICE FOR FROSTING DRINKING GLASSES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to devices for frosting drinking glasses, and Specifically, to a device for frosting drinking glasses by chilling the Surfaces thereof with fluid refrigerant.

2. Description of the Prior Art Several devices are known for frosting drinking glasses by chilling the surfaces thereof with fluid refrigerant, such as compressed carbon-dioxide gas. Generally, such devices include one or more valves which are connected to a supply of refrigerant and which may be selectively opened to permit the refrigerant to flow into a glass to be frosted. A device of this type is shown in Tice US. Pat. No. 2,587,075. Such devices are relatively easy to operate and are relatively inexpensive to manufacture. However, the prior art frosting devices malfunction frequently because the elements of the valves tend to freeze together. Moreover, such devices apply refrigerant against the inner surface of a glass only so that the entire thickness of the glass must be chilled before frost will form on both the inner and outer surfaces thereof. Thus, while the prior art frosting devices for drinking glasses are relatively easy to operate and are relatively economical, the reliability and efficiency of such devices are less than optimum.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The glass frosting device of the present invention embodies the ease of operation and relatively low cost advantages of the prior art devices, and in addition is both reliable and efficient.

Basically described, the device of the invention comprises; a base; a valve mounted on the base, said valve including a valve body affixed to the base and having a passageway therethrough, a valve pin extending into the passageway from one end thereof and being movable axially thereof, a sealing means disposed within the passageway for hermetically sealing the passageway around the pin adjacent said one passageway end, a seating means disposed within said passageway and defining a seat for the pin adjacent the other end of the passageway to hermetically seal the passageway around the pin adjacent said other passageway end when the pin is seated thereagainst, and a biasing means connected to the pin for urging the pin against the seat so that the valve is normally closed; means connected to the valve body for supplying fluid refrigerant to the passageway intermediate the sealing means and seat; and an actuating means for unseating the pin from the seat against the urging of the biasing means to thereby open thevalve, said actuating means including a platform defining a surface adapted to be contacted by a glass to be frosted, said platform being positioned over the body and having an aperture therethrough aligned with said other passageway end, said platform also being connected to the pin and being movable with respect to the valve body in the direction of unseating the pin from the seat so that when the open end of a glass is placed on said platform surface and the glass is pushed against the platform, the platform is moved in the direction of unseating the pin, to permit refrigerant to flow out of the passageway through said other end thereof and through said platform aperture into the glass, whereby the glass becomes sufficiently chilled to cause ambient water vapor to condense and freeze thereon.

Conveniently, the fluid refrigerant is compressed carbondioxide which is readily available at relatively low cost.

With the foregoing in mind, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved device for frosting drinking glasses.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a device as described in the preceding object which is reliable and efficient.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent upon a consideration of the following detailed descrip tion of a preferred embodiment thereof given in connection with the following drawings, wherein like reference numerals identify like elements throughout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The single FIGURE is a vertical sectional view of the device of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The glass frosting device of the invention as shown in the drawing is designated by reference numeral 10. Device 10 includes a base 12 having a hollow, substantially cup-shaped interior and a circular peripheral flange 14. Base 12 is adapted to be placed on a table or counter and supported by flange 14. Disposed centrally of base 12 is a collar 16.

Device 10 also includes a valve 18 having asubstantially cylindrically shaped valve body 20. The lower end of body 20 is disposed within and affixed to collar 16. An axially extending passageway 22 extends through body 20 from the upper end to the medial portion thereof, and an axially extending recess 24 extends from the medial portion of the body to the lower end thereof. As shown in the drawing, the lower end of passageway 22 communicates with the upper end of recess 24. A valve pin 26 extends from recess 24 into passageway 22 through the lower end of the passageway. Passageway 22 is hermetically sealed about pin 26 by a pair of resilient O-rings 28 disposed adjacent the upper and lower ends of the passageway. The upper end of passageway 22 is defined by a nozzle 30 which is connected to the upper end of body 20 and which defines at the lower end thereof a seat 31 for the upper end of pin 26. Seat 31 hermetically seals the upper end of passageway 32 around pin 26 when the pin is seated thereagainst, as shown in the drawing.

Valve 18 also includes a biasing means for urging pin 26 against seat 31 so that the valve is normally closed. The biasing means includes a plug 22 removably mounted in the lower end of recess 24, a collar 34 disposed in the upper portion of recess 24 and movable axially thereof, and a compression spring 36 interposed between plug 32 and collar 34. The lower end of pin 26 is secured to collar 34 so that spring 36 urges the upper end of the pin against seat 31. As shown in the drawing, when pin 26 is seated against seat 31, collar 34 is spaced slightly below the lower end of passageway 22 so that the pin is positively held against the seat by spring 36. A stop member 38 is affixed to the upper surface of plug 32 to limit the downward movement of collar 34 and therefore of pin 26. Stop 38 is of sufficient length to prevent the upper end of pin 26 from moving below the O-ring 28 disposed adjacent the lower end of passageway 22 so that lower end of the passageway remains sealed about the pin at all times.

One end of a conduit 40 is connected to valve body 20 and communicates with a port 41 in the body which opens into passageway 22 intermediate O-rings 28. The other end of conduit 40 is adapted to be connected to a supply of fluid refrigerant, such as tank of compressed carbon-dioxide. Thus, when pin 26 is unseated from seat 31, refrigerant flows upwardly through passageway 22 and out of the passageway through the upper end thereof.

Device 10 also includes a means for actuating valve 18. Such means comprises a platform 46 which is mounted within base 12 over valve 18. The upper surface of platform 46 is adapted to be contacted by the open end of a glass to be frosted, such as a drinking glass 48. Platform 46 has an aperture 50 therethrough which is aligned with the upper end of passageway 22. Thus, when valve 18 is opened refrigerant flows upwardly out of passageway 22 and through aperture 50 into glass 48. The lower portion of platform 46 is substantially frusto-conically shaped and has a cylindrical bore 52 therein. The upper portion of valve body 20 is received within bore 52, and platform 46 is movable axially of the body. The lower end of platform 46 is defined by a circular flange 53 having a plurality of axially extending slots 54 therein.

Platform 46 is connected to pin 26 by a plurality of arms 42 only one of which is shown in the drawing) which are secured to collar 34. Arms 42 extend radially outwardly from collar 34 through a corresponding plurality of openings 44 in the side of body 20 which extend axially of the body and communicate with recess 24. Arms 42 are engaged by slots 54 in the lower end of platfonn 46 so that the platform is supported by the arms. Thus, by pushing glass 48 against platform 46, arms 42 and collar 34 are moved downwardly to thereby unseat pin 26 from seat 31 and open valve 18.

Device further includes a shroud 56 which is mounted on base 12 and surrounds platform 46. Shroud 56 has an opening in the upper end thereof opposite platform 46 so that glasses may be placed on and removed from the upper surface of the platform. A plurality of concave recesses 58 formed in the upper surface of platform 46 in proximity to aperture 50 cooperate with shroud 56 to circulate and retain refrigerant in the environment immediately surrounding glass 48. Thus, after the refrigerant flows into the glass from the upper end of passageway 22, it flows out of the glass through recesses 58 and is retained in the environment immediately surrounding the glass by shroud 56. The upper lip of the shroud is curved inwardly to promote circulation of the refrigerant against the outer surface of the glass. Platform 46 has one or more ports 60 therein and base 12 has one or more ports 62 therein for the egress of refrigerant from the device after the refrigerant has become heated by absorbing heat from glass 48 and the ambient air in the environment immediately surrounding the glass.

The operation of device 10 will be apparent from the foregoing description. A glass 48 to be frosted is placed on the upper surface of platform 46 and pushed against the platform. Downward movement of the platform opens valve 18 as described above so that refrigerant flows into the glass from the upper end of passageway 22 and then through recesses 58 into the environment immediately surrounding the glass. in this manner both the inner and outer surfaces of the glass are chilled at the same time. Thus, it is not necessary for the entire thickness of the glass to become chilled before frost is formed on the outer surface thereof. The ambient water vapor in the air condenses and freezes on both the inner and outer surfaces of the glass very quickly so that efficient use is made of the refrigerant. Also, the positive manner in which pin 26 is seated and unseated prevents the elements of valve 18 from freezing together resulting in reliable operation of the valve for an indefinite period of time.

While the foregoing constitutes a detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention it is recognized that various modifications thereof will occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the scope of the invention is to be limited solely by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A device for frosting a drinking glass comprising:

a base;

a valve mounted on said base, said valve including a valve body affixed to said base and having a passageway therethrough, a valve pin extending into said passageway from one end thereof and being movable axially thereof, a sealing means disposed within said passageway for hermetically sealing the passageway around said pin adjacent said one passageway end, a seating means disposed within said passageway and defining a seat for said pin adjacent the other end of the passageway to hennetically seal the passageway around the pin adjacent said other passageway end when the pin is seated thereagainst, and a biasing means connected to said pin for urging the pin against said seat so that the valve is normally closed;

means connected to said valve body for supplying fluid refrigerant to said passageway intermediate said sealing means and seat;

an actuating means for unseating the pin from said seat against the urging of said biasing means to thereby open the valve, said actuating means including a platform defining a surface adapted to be contacted by a glass to be frosted, said platform being positioned over said valve body and having an aperture therethrough aligned with said other passageway end, said platform also being connected to said pin and being movable with respect to said body in the direction of unseatmg the pin so that when the open end of a glass is placed on said platform surface and the glass is pushed against the platform, the platform is moved in the direction of unseating the pin to permit refrigerant to flow out of the passageway through said other end thereof and through said platform aperture into the glass, whereby the glass becomes sufficiently chilled to cause ambient water vapor to condense and freeze thereon;

means on said platform surface for permitting refrigerant to flow out of the glass into the environment immediately surrounding the glass so that after refrigerant flows into the glass it flows into said environment to thereby chill both the inner and outer surfaces of the glass; and

a shroud surrounding said platform for retaining refrigerant in said environment and having an opening therein opposite said platform through which a glass may be placed on and removed from said platform surface.

2. A device as recited in claim 1, wherein said flow permitting means comprises at least one concave recess in said platform surface in proximity to said platform aperture.

3. A device as recited in claim 2, wherein said shroud is mounted on said base.

4. A device as recited in claim 1; wherein said valve body is substantially cylindrically shaped and said passageway extends axially therethrough with said other passageway end disposed at one end of said valve body and said one passageway end disposed at the medial portion of said valve body; and wherein said valve body has an axially extending recess therein communicating with said passageway and extending from said one passageway end to the other end of said valve body; and wherein said biasing means is disposed in said valve body recess.

5. A device as recited in claim 4, wherein said biasing means includes a plug removably mounted in said valve body recess at said other valve body end a collar disposed in said valve body recess and being movable axially thereof said collar being affixed to said valve pin, and a compression spring interposed between said plug and said collar for urging said collar toward said one valve body end to thereby urge said pin against said seat.

6. A device as recited in claim 5; wherein said valve body has at least one axially extending opening in the side thereof communicating with said valve body recess; and wherein said actuating means further includes an arm secured to said collar, extending through said valve body opening and connected to said platform.

7. A device as recited in claim 4; wherein the portion of said platform opposite said platform surface is substantially frustoconically shaped and has a cylindrical bore therein; and wherein a portion of said valve body is disposed within said platform bore.

8. A device as recited in claim 1; wherein said base has a hollow, substantially cup-shaped interior; and wherein said valve and platform are disposed in said base interior.

9. A device as recited in claim 8, wherein each of said platform and said base have at least one port therein for the egress of refrigerant from the device.

Claims

1. A device for frosting a drInking glass comprising: a base; a valve mounted on said base, said valve including a valve body affixed to said base and having a passageway therethrough, a valve pin extending into said passageway from one end thereof and being movable axially thereof, a sealing means disposed within said passageway for hermetically sealing the passageway around said pin adjacent said one passageway end, a seating means disposed within said passageway and defining a seat for said pin adjacent the other end of the passageway to hermetically seal the passageway around the pin adjacent said other passageway end when the pin is seated thereagainst, and a biasing means connected to said pin for urging the pin against said seat so that the valve is normally closed; means connected to said valve body for supplying fluid refrigerant to said passageway intermediate said sealing means and seat; an actuating means for unseating the pin from said seat against the urging of said biasing means to thereby open the valve, said actuating means including a platform defining a surface adapted to be contacted by a glass to be frosted, said platform being positioned over said valve body and having an aperture therethrough aligned with said other passageway end, said platform also being connected to said pin and being movable with respect to said body in the direction of unseating the pin so that when the open end of a glass is placed on said platform surface and the glass is pushed against the platform, the platform is moved in the direction of unseating the pin to permit refrigerant to flow out of the passageway through said other end thereof and through said platform aperture into the glass, whereby the glass becomes sufficiently chilled to cause ambient water vapor to condense and freeze thereon; means on said platform surface for permitting refrigerant to flow out of the glass into the environment immediately surrounding the glass so that after refrigerant flows into the glass it flows into said environment to thereby chill both the inner and outer surfaces of the glass; and a shroud surrounding said platform for retaining refrigerant in said environment and having an opening therein opposite said platform through which a glass may be placed on and removed from said platform surface.

3. A device as recited in claim 2, wherein said shroud is mounted on said base.

5. A device as recited in claim 4, wherein said biasing means includes a plug removably mounted in said valve body recess at said other valve body end, a collar disposed in said valve body recess and being movable axially thereof, said collar being affixed to said valve pin, and a compression spring interposed between said plug and said collar for urging said collar toward said one valve body end to thereby urge said pin against said seat.

7. A device as recited in claim 4; wherein the portion of said platform opposite said platform surface is substantially frusto-conically Shaped and has a cylindrical bore therein; and wherein a portion of said valve body is disposed within said platform bore.