Patents by Inventor Thomas R. Hecht

Thomas R. Hecht has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9588608
    Abstract: An ADA accessible beverage dispenser having a touch screen for receiving input for controlling the beverage dispenser and a first ADA access panel located within the reach of a user for receiving input from a user and a second ADA access panel displayed in a lower portion of the touchscreen and within the reach of the user for receiving input from the user where the first and second ADA access panels are configured to communicate with the beverage dispenser to control the beverage dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Automatic Bar Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas R. Hecht, Richard A. Martindale
  • Publication number: 20170043915
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide corks and cork systems that find particular use in connection with wireless spouts used for monitoring the amount of liquid poured from liquid containers. It is desirable to be able to use a wireless spout with various differently-sized bottle. Accordingly, the cork features provided can ease removal and replacement of the wireless spouts onto and off of variously sized bottles, and allow the same spout to be re-used with a differently sized bottle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2016
    Publication date: February 16, 2017
    Inventors: James M. Tuyls, Dennis J. Honrine, Thomas R. Hecht
  • Patent number: 9555936
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a screw-on interface for bottle spouts that secures a spout to a bottle in a manner such that wear and/or breakage of the bottle interface from standard usage is minimized. In an embodiment of the invention, the screw-on bottle interface incorporates a stainless steel plate in its threaded collar. This plate prevents damage to both the spout and the screw-on bottle interface when users over-tighten a screw-on bottle interface equipped bottle spout during installation of the spout onto a bottle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Automatic Bar Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard A. Martindale, Thomas R. Hecht
  • Patent number: 9417652
    Abstract: A beverage dispensing apparatus including a lever assembly where the lever assembly has a base and a at least one elongated arm. The base has a bottom configured to mate with a beverage dispensing device, a top side opposite the bottom and apertures penetrating the base from top to bottom configured to align with buttons on the beverage dispensing apparatus. The at least one elongated lever has a top surface, a bottom surface, a first end and a second end configured to extend away from the centerline of the beverage dispensing apparatus. When the lever assembly is installed on a beverage dispensing device, buttons extending from the top of the beverage dispensing device extend up through the apertures and pressed against the bottom surface of the at least one elongated lever, biasing the at least one lever upward and the when the lever is pressed, it pushes against the button of the beverage dispensing apparatus to dispense a beverage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Automatic Bar Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas R. Hecht, Richard A. Martindale, Bret D. Baker
  • Publication number: 20160176696
    Abstract: A beverage dispensing apparatus having a nozzle and multiple fluid lines in fluid communication with the nozzle where the beverage dispensing apparatus has a body with a plurality of apertures, a plurality of buttons, each protruding through a respective one of the apertures and configured to control a flow of fluid through a respective one of the multiple fluid lines, the plurality of buttons having at least one active dispensing button configured to mechanically dispense a fluid and at least one remote dispensing button, and a remote dispensing device located remotely from the body configured to regulate dispensing a fluid through one of the multiple fluid lines so that when the at least one remote button is depressed, the remote dispensing device dispenses a fluid through the fluid line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventors: Thomas R. Hecht, Richard A. Martindale
  • Publication number: 20160159631
    Abstract: Beverage dispensing apparatus, systems, and related methods are provided that have a recirculation loop to cool fluids in a dispensing tube bundle that delivers beverage fluids to a beverage dispensing assembly. A beverage dispensing apparatus includes an adjustable bypass manifold having an adjustable flow restriction that is configurable to enable the use of the beverage dispensing apparatus with different chilled soda recirculation systems. The adjustable bypass manifold includes ports for connection to the recirculation loop and ports for connection to a soda recirculation system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2016
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Inventors: Jim Tuyls, Thomas R. Hecht
  • Publication number: 20160152462
    Abstract: Beverage dispensing apparatus, systems, and related methods are provided that have a recirculation loop to cool fluids in a dispensing tube bundle that delivers beverage fluids to a beverage dispensing assembly. A beverage dispensing apparatus includes an adjustable bypass manifold having an adjustable flow restriction that is configurable to enable the use of the beverage dispensing apparatus with different chilled soda recirculation systems. The adjustable bypass manifold includes ports for connection to the recirculation loop and ports for connection to a soda recirculation system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2016
    Publication date: June 2, 2016
    Inventors: Jim Tuyls, Thomas R. Hecht
  • Publication number: 20160153708
    Abstract: Beverage dispensing apparatus, systems, and related methods are provided that have a recirculation loop to cool fluids in a dispensing tube bundle that delivers beverage fluids to a beverage dispensing assembly. A beverage dispensing apparatus includes an adjustable bypass manifold having an adjustable flow restriction that is configurable to enable the use of the beverage dispensing apparatus with different chilled soda recirculation systems. The adjustable bypass manifold includes ports for connection to the recirculation loop and ports for connection to a soda recirculation system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2016
    Publication date: June 2, 2016
    Inventors: Jim Tuyls, Thomas R. Hecht
  • Publication number: 20160137479
    Abstract: A manifold for a liquid dispensing system has at least two layers. The first layer has multiple through holes along its thickness direction, and one or more fluid channels perpendicular to the thickness direction. The second layer has one or more through holes along its thickness direction, each communicating with one of the through holes of the first layer. The second layer also has one or more fluid channels perpendicular to the thickness direction. The fluid channels each have an inlet at the edge of the respective layer and an outlet at one of the through holes. The second layer also has one or more holes defining valve bores. A valve in each of the valve bores controls flow of a liquid to a respective one of the fluid channels of the second layer. Also provided are a liquid dispensing system and a method of manufacturing a manifold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2016
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Inventor: Thomas R. Hecht
  • Publication number: 20160060091
    Abstract: A cover assembly for a bar gun with an upper elongated body having a top wall, a right side wall, a left side wall, a front wall, the upper body being shaped and adapted to contain the bar gun and to extend about and surround a nozzle extending from the bar gun. The cover assembly also has an aperture penetrating the top wall for access to buttons on the top of the bar gun.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2015
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Inventors: Thomas R. Hecht, Richard A. Martindale
  • Publication number: 20160060090
    Abstract: A beverage dispensing apparatus for dispensing one or more beverage components where the beverage dispensing apparatus has a body and at least one button protruding out through the body, the at least one button adapted to dispense a beverage from the beverage dispensing apparatus. The beverage dispensing apparatus also has at least one sensing element attached to the at least one button and at least one sensor attached to the body and aligned with at least one sensing element such that when the at least one button is depressed into the body to dispense a beverage, the at least one sensor interacts with the at least one sensing element to sense that the at least one button is depressed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Inventors: Thomas R. Hecht, Richard A. Martindale
  • Patent number: 9271604
    Abstract: A manifold for a liquid dispensing system has at least two layers. The first layer has multiple through holes along its thickness direction, and one or more fluid channels perpendicular to the thickness direction. The second layer has one or more through holes along its thickness direction, each communicating with one of the through holes of the first layer. The second layer also has one or more fluid channels perpendicular to the thickness direction. The fluid channels each have an inlet at the edge of the respective layer and an outlet at one of the through holes. The second layer also has one or more holes defining valve bores. A valve in each of the valve bores controls flow of a liquid to a respective one of the fluid channels of the second layer. Also provided are a liquid dispensing system and a method of manufacturing a manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Automatic Bar Controls, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas R. Hecht
  • Publication number: 20160031695
    Abstract: Disinfecting devices and related methods are provided that apply germicidal ultraviolet light to disinfect dispensing components of food and beverage dispensers. A disinfecting holster for a bar gun includes a support surface configured to interface with a bar gun to support the bar gun when stowed in the holster, a housing coupled with the support surface and surrounding a dispensing nozzle of the bar gun when the bar gun is stowed in the holster, and an ultraviolet light source configured to emit germicidal ultraviolet light onto the nozzle. The housing substantially contains the ultraviolet light within the housing during the application of the ultraviolet light to the dispensing nozzle. The ultraviolet light can be periodically applied to maintain the nozzle in a disinfected state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2015
    Publication date: February 4, 2016
    Inventors: Thomas R. Hecht, Richard A. Martindale
  • Publication number: 20160029686
    Abstract: Disinfecting devices and related methods are provided that apply germicidal ultraviolet light to disinfect dispensing components of food and beverage dispensers. A disinfecting holster for a bar gun includes a support surface configured to interface with a bar gun to support the bar gun when stowed in the holster, a housing coupled with the support surface and surrounding a dispensing nozzle of the bar gun when the bar gun is stowed in the holster, and an ultraviolet light source configured to emit germicidal ultraviolet light onto the nozzle. The housing substantially contains the ultraviolet light within the housing during the application of the ultraviolet light to the dispensing nozzle. The ultraviolet light can be periodically applied to maintain the nozzle in a disinfected state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2015
    Publication date: February 4, 2016
    Inventors: Thomas R. Hecht, Richard A. Martindale
  • Publication number: 20160023804
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide corks and cork systems that find particular use in connection with wireless spouts used for monitoring the amount of liquid poured from liquid containers. It is desirable to be able to use a wireless spout with various differently-sized bottle. Accordingly, the cork features provided can ease removal and replacement of the wireless spouts onto and off of variously sized bottles, and allow the same spout to be re-used with a differently sized bottle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Inventors: James M. Tuyls, Dennis J. Honrine, Thomas R. Hecht
  • Publication number: 20160022849
    Abstract: Disinfecting devices and related methods are provided that apply germicidal ultraviolet light to disinfect dispensing components of food and beverage dispensers. A disinfecting holster for a nozzle of a beverage dispensing handle includes a housing adapted to receive a nozzle of a beverage dispensing handle and an ultraviolet light source bent around the housing to surround at least a portion of the housing. The ultraviolet light source generates and emits germicidal ultraviolet light onto the nozzle. The housing substantially contains the ultraviolet light within the housing during the application of the ultraviolet light to the dispensing nozzle. The ultraviolet light can be periodically applied to maintain the nozzle in a disinfected state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Inventors: Thomas R. Hecht, Richard A. Martindale
  • Publication number: 20160009540
    Abstract: A beverage dispensing mixing nozzle for mixing a multi-component beverage mixture. The nozzle has a disruption plate for slowing and dispersing a dispensed fluid into an adjacent expansion region. The disruption plate and floor of the expansion region have turbulence-inducing surfaces to aid in mixing the fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2015
    Publication date: January 14, 2016
    Inventors: Thomas R. Hecht, Richard A. Martindale, Bret D. Baker
  • Publication number: 20160009538
    Abstract: A beverage dispensing apparatus including a lever assembly where the lever assembly has a base and a at least one elongated arm. The base has a bottom configured to mate with a beverage dispensing device, a top side opposite the bottom and apertures penetrating the base from top to bottom configured to align with buttons on the beverage dispensing apparatus. The at least one elongated lever has a top surface, a bottom surface, a first end and a second end configured to extend away from the centerline of the beverage dispensing apparatus. When the lever assembly is installed on a beverage dispensing device, buttons extending from the top of the beverage dispensing device extend up through the apertures and pressed against the bottom surface of the at least one elongated lever, biasing the at least one lever upward and the when the lever is pressed, it pushes against the button of the beverage dispensing apparatus to dispense a beverage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2014
    Publication date: January 14, 2016
    Inventors: Thomas R. Hecht, Richard A. Martindale, Bret D. Baker
  • Publication number: 20160010763
    Abstract: A holster for mounting a bar gun to a surface, the bar gun having a nozzle and a handle magnet. The holster has an elongated mounting plate having a top side, bottom side, first end and second end, and an aperture located between the first end and second end where the aperture penetrates the mounting plate from the top side to the bottom side and is configured to receive the nozzle of the bar gun. A holster magnet is fixed to the mounting plate adjacent the aperture between the aperture and the second end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2015
    Publication date: January 14, 2016
    Inventors: Thomas R. Hecht, Richard A. Martindale, Bret D. Baker
  • Patent number: 9192191
    Abstract: Disinfecting devices and related methods are provided that apply germicidal ultraviolet light to disinfect dispensing components of food and beverage dispensers. A disinfecting holster for a bar gun includes a support surface configured to interface with a bar gun to support the bar gun when stowed in the holster, a housing coupled with the support surface and surrounding a dispensing nozzle of the bar gun when the bar gun is stowed in the holster, and an ultraviolet light source configured to emit germicidal ultraviolet light onto the nozzle. The housing substantially contains the ultraviolet light within the housing during the application of the ultraviolet light to the dispensing nozzle. The ultraviolet light can be periodically applied to maintain the nozzle in a disinfected state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Automatic Bar Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas R. Hecht, Richard A. Martindale