Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TITLE OF THE INVENTION
APPARATUS, SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DISPENSING DRINKS, FOOD, AND OTHER
LIQUIDS
Inventor: Edward Showalter, CA.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention:
[0001] The invention relates generally to apparatuses, systems and methods
for making and
dispensing liquids and more particularly to apparatuses, systems and methods
for making and
dispensing drinks and soft serve foods (e.g., soup, yogurt, etc.).
2. Description of the Related Art
[0002] There are several apparatuses, systems and methods for making and
dispensing drinks
available on the market today. However, they have several limitations. For
example, some must use
ice to chill the beverages as they are not equipped with refrigeration systems
to cool the beverages
and/or keep them at a set or selected temperature. Others cannot brew hot
beverages. Others can't
mix beverages. Likewise, other beverage dispensers can't dispense both hot and
chilled beverage
from same spout. To accommodate all beverages, users might have to purchase
four, five, six, seven,
eight or more dispensers. That can be very expensive and also very
inconvenient, to, for example,
store all of those dispensers.
[0003] Some require steel kegs that need to be returned for washing and
refilling. Large amounts
of dollars are spent with water waste, carbon footprint and transportation.
Because of high
transportation costs, it is typically cost prohibitive for a beer brewery to
ship draft beer from one
location to around the world. The same can be true for wineries using wine
steel and/or plastic kegs.
[0004] The global beverage industry can have a negative environmental
impact. For example,
many consumers do not separate materials before putting them into a recycling
bin, rendering it
costly to separate at the recycler. The result is that these materials may
possibly be unrecyclable.
[0005] Thus, there is a need for new and improved apparatuses, systems and
methods for making
and dispensing drinks that solve the problems described above, by giving the
user the versatility,
convenience and the efficiency the user needs, while enabling the user to be
environmentally
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responsible, by providing a one-size-fits-all, all-in-one beverage dispensing
system that is eco-
friendly. That way, the user only needs one apparatus to dispense any
beverage.
[0006] There is also a need for easily recyclable beverage and food
packaging, allowing the user
to dispose of the package in single-stream recycling without the need to
separate materials.
[0007] The aspects or the problems and the associated solutions presented
in this section could
be or could have been pursued; they are not necessarily approaches that have
been previously
conceived or pursued. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated, it should not be
assumed that any of the
approaches presented in this section qualify as prior art merely by virtue of
their presence in this
section of the application.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a
simplified form that
are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not
intended to identify key
aspects or essential aspects of the claimed subject matter. Moreover, this
Summary is not intended for
use as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
[0009] In one exemplary embodiment, a V-friction coupling is provided that
establishes airtight
seal that allows beverage pumps to pump the beverage or food and that also
prevents air
contamination or spoilage of beverage in the provided beverage container or
keg. The air tight seal
also stops beverage spoilage by oxidation or beverage to go flat in taste.
Further, it may prolong the
life of beverage in some cases, like in the case of wine, beer or soda.
Another advantage is that the
same beverage pour spout of the provided dispensers may be operated with hot
or chilled, carbonated
or non-carbonated beverage.
[0010] In another exemplary embodiment, beverage flavor pods are provided,
which could be
coffee, tea, coco, soda, flavored powder for fruit flavored beverage, and so
on, so that the user could
use for example coffee flavored pod in a spout pour housing to mix with soda
for example. Further,
the beverage flavor pods may have a bar code that can be scanned by the
dispenser to retrieve for
example pour instructions. The dispenser may have spikes (e.g., four spikes)
to pierce the pod,
allowing water/beverage to absorb flavor from the pod, and pour resulting
beverage in a user's glass.
[0011] In another exemplary embodiment, the beverage pour housing of the
dispenser can be
used with or without the flavored pod. For example, the user could place a
wine keg in a bay
chamber of the dispenser, set the temperature for that chamber at preferred
level and dispense wine.
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If user decides to remove the wine box from that chamber and install a box of
spring water, the user
can make and dispense hot beverage or cold beverages.
[0012] In another exemplary embodiment, the beverage heater and the pump
are part of top lift
lid of dispenser, such that the beverage pump draws the beverage from the
keg/beverage container
and pushes it through the heater. User however can select hot or chilled
beverage via dispenser's
controls or via smart phone app controls. If chilled beverage is selected, the
beverage heater is not
turned on. If user selects hot beverage, heater turns on making the beverage
hot.
[0013] In another exemplary embodiment, a CO2 control valve selector is
provided allowing for
carbonation to flow into beverage keg, or stopping flow of CO2 gas, allowing
for the dispensing of a
non-carbonated beverage, such as milk or wine.
[0014] In another exemplary embodiment, each chamber of the dispenser is
independently
controlled, so that each chamber can be set to maintain different
temperatures.
[0015] In another exemplary embodiment, the beverage container is a
disposable, one-way
container, made of biodegradable materials. Among other advantages, this
provides the advantage of
lower shipping cost due to less weight of packaging.
[0016] The above embodiments and advantages, as well as other embodiments
and advantages,
will become apparent from the ensuing description and accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] For exemplification purposes, and not for limitation purposes,
aspects, embodiments or
examples of the invention are illustrated in the figures of the accompanying
drawings, in which:
[0018] FIG. 1 illustrates a front sectional view of a drink container,
according to an aspect.
[0019] FIG. 2 illustrates a side sectional view of the drink container from
FIG. 1, according to
an aspect.
[0020] FIGs. 3 - 5 illustrate top sectional views of the drink container
from FIG. 1, depicting
certain aspects, according to several embodiments.
[0021] FIG. 6 illustrates a top-side perspective view of the drink
container from FIG. 1,
depicting certain aspects, according to several embodiments.
[0022] FIG. 7 illustrates a fixed, non-adjustable corner brace for the
drink container from FIG.
1, according to an aspect.
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[0023] FIGs. 8 - 9 illustrate front sectional views of alternative
embodiments of a drink
container.
[0024] FIG. 10 illustrates top views of alternative embodiments of a drink
container.
[0025] FIG. 11 illustrates a side sectional view of a countertop drink
dispenser, according to
several embodiments.
[0026] FIG. 12 illustrates the countertop drink dispenser from FIG. 11 in a
different state.
[0027] FIG. 13 illustrates a front sectional view of a drink dispenser
having two chambers,
according to an aspect.
[0028] FIG. 14 illustrates a front view of a drink dispenser having two
chambers, according to
an aspect.
[0029] FIG. 15 illustrates a top view of a drink dispenser having two
chambers, according to an
aspect.
[0030] FIGs. 16 - 19 illustrate sectional views of male-female couplings,
according to several
embodiments.
[0031] FIG. 20 illustrates a side sectional view of a dispenser system
having a mixer and other
features, according to several embodiments.
[0032] FIG. 21 illustrates a side sectional view of a countertop drink
dispenser having a CO2
line for the beverage glass, and other features, according to several
embodiments.
[0033] FIG. 22 illustrates a side sectional view of a countertop drink
dispenser having a CO2
sensor, and other features, according to several embodiments.
[0034] FIG. 23 illustrates a top view of a drink dispenser having two
chambers, according to
another embodiment.
[0035] FIG. 24 illustrates a top sectional view of a drink dispenser having
four chambers,
according to an aspect.
[0036] FIG. 25 illustrates a front sectional view of a drink dispenser
having four chambers,
according to an aspect.
[0037] FIG. 26 illustrates the perspective view of a drink container
equipped with a coupling
adapter, according to an aspect.
[0038] FIG. 27 illustrates the side sectional view of a spout housing of a
drink dispenser,
according to an aspect.
[0039] FIG. 28 illustrates the process of loading the spout housing from
FIG. 27 with beverage
pods, according to an aspect.
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[0040] FIG. 29 illustrates a side sectional view of a drink container
during filling at factory,
according to an aspect.
[0041] FIG. 30 illustrates a side sectional view of the drink container
from FIG. 29 ready for
shipping, according to an aspect.
[0042] FIG. 31 illustrates a side sectional view of the drink container
from FIG. 30 placed in a
dispenser, according to an aspect.
[0043] FIG. 32 illustrates a side sectional view of the drink container
from FIG. 31 in a different
state, according to an aspect.
[0044] FIG. 33 illustrates a side sectional view of a drink container,
ready for shipping or
storage, according to another embodiment.
[0045] FIG. 34 illustrates a side sectional view of the drink container
from FIG. 33, in use,
according to an aspect.
[0046] FIGs. 35A ¨ 35D illustrate side sectional views of four examples of
a drink container,
having parts such as a water filter, mixing paddles, sloped floor, and an
auger lift, according to an
aspect.
[0047] FIGs. 36A ¨ 36B illustrate side views of a drink container or keg
with a screw-on cap,
two couplings, two safety valves, and well tube, according to an aspect.
[0048] FIG. 36C illustrates a side view of a drink container or keg with a
screw-on cap and
female cylindrical coupling, according to an aspect.
[0049] FIG. 36D illustrates a side view of a drink container or keg with a
V-shape male friction
coupling that may be a part of a factory filling line, according to an aspect.
[0050] FIG. 36E illustrates a perspective view of a drink container or keg
showing examples of
where a V-shaped or cylindrical couplings may be placed, according to an
aspect.
[0051] FIG. 36F illustrates a detailed perspective view of the corner brace
of FIG. 36E.
[0052] FIGs. 37A ¨ 37K show sectional top perspective views of examples of
a bioplastic
pressure relief safety valve, which may be manually adjusted for different
PSI, and may be reset if
activated to release pressure inside of the keg, according to an aspect.
[0053] FIG. 38 illustrates a side sectional view of a keg that may self-
propel beverages or foods
without the need for electricity or carbon dioxide pressure, according to an
aspect.
[0054] FIGs. 39A ¨ 39C illustrate various examples of a keg that may self-
propel liquids or soft-
serve foods with or without an external energy source, according to an aspect.
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[0055] FIG. 40A illustrates an example of layered board that may be used
for the construction of
a keg.
[0056] FIG. 40B illustrates an example of a keg that may self-propel
beverages or foods using
side wall pressure plates, according to an aspect.
[0057] FIG. 40C illustrates an example of a keg that may self-propel
beverages or foods using a
gravity flow sloping floor plate to lift one end of the beverage bag at the
bottom of the keg, according
to an aspect.
[0058] FIG. 40D illustrates a self-emptying keg having a lifting floor
plate, according to an
aspect.
[0059] FIG. 40E illustrates a self-emptying keg having side walls,
according to an aspect.
[0060] FIG. 40F illustrates a self-emptying keg having a moveable top plate
at the top and a
stationary bottom plate, and a flexible hose, according to an aspect.
[0061] FIG. 40G illustrates another example of a self-emptying keg with a
flexible hose
connected to a bottom coupling, according to an aspect.
[0062] FIG. 41A illustrates a self-emptying keg having telescoping legs and
in a filled state,
according to an aspect.
[0063] FIG. 41B illustrate three examples of telescoping legs, according to
an aspect.
[0064] FIG. 41C illustrates an example of a keg in an empty state, with a
frame having legs,
showing the telescoping feature of the legs, according to an aspect.
[0065] FIG. 42A illustrates a motor and motor shaft that may be associated
with the auger screw
conveyer shaft or paddle shaft, according to an aspect.
[0066] FIGs. 42B ¨ 42D illustrate a side top perspective view, a top
perspective view, and a top
plan view, respectively, of an example of a motor coupling having a ridged
cylinder design,
according to an aspect.
[0067] FIG. 42E illustrates a side perspective view of a motor coupling
having a rough surface
funnel design, according to an aspect.
[0068] FIG. 42F illustrates a side perspective view of a motor coupling
having teeth on the
surface for gripping, according to an aspect.
[0069] FIG. 43A illustrates a detailed partial side view of the keg of FIG.
35C, which may
include an alternative example of a top opening and friction coupling,
according to an aspect.
[0070] FIG. 43B illustrates a detailed partial side view of the keg as
shown in FIG. 43A, with a
motor and upper auger coupling associated with the auger, according to an
aspect.
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[0071] FIGs. 44A ¨ 44B illustrate a box, with the top unfolded and
partially folded, respectively,
constructed of bio-cardboard that may make up the outer shell of a keg, which
may have a bio-plastic
bag or bio-plastic bottle inside, according to an aspect.
[0072] FIG. 45A illustrates a partial sectional side view of a keg
connected to a beverage
dispenser by a flexible bio-plastic or rubber hose/tube, according to an
aspect.
[0073] FIG. 45B illustrates a bio-plastic elbow, which may be used where
space is limited in the
beverage dispenser, according to an aspect.
[0074] FIG. 45C illustrates a partial side view of a hose that may be
attached to a screw-on cap,
according to an aspect.
[0075] FIG. 45D illustrates a partial side view of an elbow that may be
used for connecting a
dispenser with a keg, according to an aspect.
[0076] FIG. 46A illustrates a side view of a bottle fitted with a bio-
plastic gate valve pour spout
with a manually operated nozzle, according to an aspect.
[0077] FIG. 46B illustrates a bottle with a bio-plastic screw-on top that
may be used with a
bottle for storing or shipping, according to an aspect.
[0078] FIG. 46C illustrates a male friction coupling pour spout, which may
be V-shaped or
cylindrical, having a gate valve, which may include a petcock valve, and
finger pull tabs, according
to an aspect.
[0079] FIG. 46D illustrates an airtight seal bottle cap and pour spout that
may be used with any
existing bottle, such as, for example, a wine, champagne, or water bottle,
according to an aspect.
[0080] FIGs. 47A ¨ 47C illustrate a side view of a female V-friction
coupling adapter, a detailed
view, and a side view, respectively, of the adapter inside of a bottle,
according to an aspect.
[0081] FIG. 47D illustrates a side view of a bottle with a bio-plastic
bladder bag liner having an
expansion membrane top, such that the opening of the bio-plastic bag liner may
be able to stretch
over the top of any size container, according to an aspect.
[0082] FIG. 47E illustrates the side view of the bottle with a bio-plastic
bladder bag liner having
an expansion membrane top of FIG. 47D, also having a magazine for holding
extra bladder bag
liners, according to an aspect.
[0083] FIGs. 48A¨ 48C illustrate a bladder liner in various states of being
stretched, which may
be used inside of a water bottle, according to an aspect.
[0084] FIGs. 48D ¨ 48E illustrate side views of examples of a bladder liner
having a V-shaped
neck, according to an aspect.
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[0085] FIG. 48F illustrates a keg having an air pump and rubber balloon
bladder, according to
an aspect.
[0086] FIGs. 49A ¨ 49B illustrate side views of a cylindrical friction
coupling in a coupled state
and uncoupled state, respectively, that may be used with a keg, according to
an aspect.
[0087] FIG. 49C illustrates a side view of another example of cylindrical
friction coupling in an
uncoupled state that may be used with a keg, according to an aspect.
[0088] FIG. 49D illustrates a cylindrical coupling having a female friction
coupling and a
corresponding male friction coupling, with friction plates that may be used
with a keg, according to
an aspect.
[0089] FIG. 49E illustrates a detailed view of the cylindrical coupling of
FIG. 49D showing
friction plates with a gasket, according to an aspect.
[0090] FIG. 49F illustrates a detailed view of the cylindrical coupling of
FIGs. 49A ¨ 49B
having a female bull nose or dolphin nose coupling and a corresponding male
bull nose or dolphin
nose coupling.
[0091] FIG. 50 illustrates a multi-use keg that may include multiple pods,
according to an
aspect.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0092] What follows is a description of various aspects, embodiments and/or
examples in which
the invention may be practiced. Reference will be made to the attached
drawings, and the information
included in the drawings is part of this detailed description. The aspects,
embodiments and/or
examples described herein are presented for exemplification purposes, and not
for limitation
purposes. It should be understood that structural and/or logical modifications
could be made by
someone of ordinary skills in the art without departing from the scope of the
invention. Therefore, the
scope of the invention is defined by the accompanying claims and their
equivalents.
[0093] For the following description, it can be assumed that most
correspondingly labeled
elements across the figures possess the same characteristics and are subject
to the same structure and
function. If there is a difference between correspondingly labeled elements
that is not pointed out,
and this difference results in a non-corresponding structure or function of an
element for a particular
embodiment, example or aspect, then the conflicting description given for that
particular
embodiment, example or aspect shall govern.
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[0094] FIG. 1 illustrates a front sectional view of a drink container,
according to an aspect. FIG.
2 illustrates a side sectional view of the drink container from FIG. 1,
according to an aspect. It should
be understood that while the container 10 will be described herein as a drink
container, its uses may
be expanded to other liquids (e.g., cooking oil, motor oil), pastes or viscous
materials (e.g., liquid
soap, ketchup), or soft serve foods (e.g., soups, smoothies, ice cream,
yogurt, etc.) to take advantage
of its unique features, such as the V-coupling. As shown, the drink container
10 may be a rectangular
box or keg having an exterior surface 23 and an interior surface 24. The drink
container 10 may also
be square. The drink container 10 may be made from biodegradable cardboard or
recyclable plastic
that is strong enough to maintain the container's shape. It should be
understood that the container 10
and all other components described herein may be made from biodegradable
materials. The drink
container 10 may have a spout 12, which, after filling the container with the
drink, is preferably air
tight sealed by a foil seal 19 and more preferably also using a petcock valve
102 (see FIG. 29). The
valve 102 holds the seal until user installs container 10 into the dispenser,
as shown, and as it will be
described in more details later when referring to FIGs. 29 - 32. The foil seal
19 may be removed by a
user by pulling on the seal tab 20. On the outside, the spout 12 may have
threads 13 corresponding
with the threads of a cap 11, such that to allow a user to fasten the cap 11
onto the spout 12 or to
remove it when necessary.
[0095] The container 10 further includes a V-shaped female coupling 15 made
of hard plastic for
example, which communicates at its upper end with the spout 12 and at its
lower end with a beverage
well tube 22. As it will be described in more details later in this
disclosure, the V-shape (e.g., funnel
shape) female coupling 15 is configured to receive a corresponding V-shape
male coupling 15b (see
FIG. 16 for example) to quickly create a friction air tight seal under the
influence of a weight load
applied to the V-shape male coupling.
[0096] A plastic liner bag 14, preferably biodegradable, is also preferably
provided to receive
and hold the drink (e.g., wine) stored in container 10. As shown, the plastic
liner bag 14 is preferably
fasten, using glue for example, to the interior wall 24 of the container 10 at
several fastening
locations 18, including the corners of the container 10. During the removal
(e.g., pumping it out by
suction) of the liquid/drink from box 10, the liner bag 14 may have the
tendency to move away from
the interior wall 24 of container 10, as shown at 14a. Thus, without the
fastening points 18, the liner
bag 14 may clog the well tube 22. The clogging of the well tube 22 is
prevented by the fastening
points 18, and as such, the drink is able to flow easily through the well tube
22 out of container 10.
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[0097] As shown, the container 10 may be equipped with a beverage level
sensor strip 17,
which, as it will be described in more detail later when referring to FIG. 22,
may assist a user in
knowing the level of beverage remaining in the container 10 during use and/or
alert the user to
acquire a new/filled container. Furthermore, the container 10 may be also
equipped with a container
CO2 line 21for use with carbonated beverages. The operation and functions of
these two features of
the container 10 will also be described in more details later in this
disclosure.
[0098] The container 10 may be used as a mini keg ranging in size from, for
example, 1/2
gallons to 2.5 gallons, or 6 or 10 gallons, or it may be used as larger kegs.
The container 10 may be
for example 4 inch wide, 12 inch long and 8 inch high.
[0099] FIGs. 3 - 5 illustrate top sectional views of the drink container
from FIG. 1, depicting
certain aspects, according to several embodiments. FIG. 6 illustrates a top-
side perspective view of
the drink container from FIG. 1, depicting certain aspects, according to
several embodiments. FIG. 7
illustrates a fixed, non-adjustable corner brace for the drink container from
FIG. 1, according to an
aspect. The corner brace may also be provided in an adjustable form, and may
fit into different sizes
of containers. It is known that CO2 (carbon dioxide) and other gases, such as
compressed air are
typically stored/packaged in cartridges or canister cylinders or the like, so
that gas is evenly
distributed on the wall of packaging. This is why cylinder shapes of gas
containers are typically used,
to obtain and maintain equal wall PSI. Right angles in gas containers are
typically avoided also
because, for example, the gas can be trapped in right angle pockets. Round
corners allow the gas to
flow easily out of the container.
[00100] Thus, when the container 10 is intended to be used for example for
carbonated drinks, it
may be constructed with fixed or adjustable interior curved comers (see FIGs.
3-7) that are reinforced
to hold for example up to 35 PSI. This creates a cylinder effect inside the
container/box/keg 10. Thus,
the container 10 may be constructed with right angles on the outside, which
may be useful for
stacking and transportation purposes for example, and round corners on the
inside to accommodate
the equal distribution of the gas inside. In other words, the inside of the
box 10 may be cylinder (see
FIG. 3) or oblong (see FIGs. 4-5) shaped, depending on the configuration of
the outer skeleton of the
container (square, rectangular, etc).
[00101] To reinforce the corners of the container 10 and to obtain the
round corners desired,
plastic 25 and/or corrugated cardboard 26, or a combination thereof,
preferably bio-degradable, may
be used to fill the corners as shown in FIGs. 3-4 and/or to construct fixed or
adjustable braces. The
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fixed or adjustable corner braces may have solid walls made from plastic
and/or cardboard, sample
structures of which are shown in FIG. 5 at 27 and in FIG. 7 at 27a.
[00102] A container may be made with all corners having fixed corner braces
27, 27a, fastened
(e.g., by glue) to them, to obtain inside the cylinder or oblong shape needed
to protect the right angle
interior corners of the container from gas pressure. Thus, for example in FIG.
3, the exterior surface
23of the container has a square shape while the interior surface 24 has a
cylindrical shape.
[00103] Again, the corner braces may also be adjustable to accommodate various
container sizes.
To accomplish this, as shown for exemplification purposes in FIGs. 5-6, they
may be constructed
from a plurality of solid walls 29 made from plastic or cardboard that can
slide with the aid of the
sliding braces 28. The sliding braces 28 also keep the movable walls 29 in
place after their sliding in
or out. The adjustable corner braces offer the advantage of being capable of
being used in different
size boxes. Thus, a manufacturer would need only to manufacture a universal,
one-size-fits-all
adjustable corner brace. It should be observed also that container 10 having a
rectangular (or square)
shape on the outside and round corners on the inside has the advantage of
having more interior
volume than a container/box/keg that is round inside and outside (see FIG.
10). Thus, container 10
can carry more beverage than a container/box/keg that is round inside and
outside. Further, the
manufacturing costs are likely lower for container 10 than a container that is
round inside and
outside.
[00104] It should be noted that, when beverage or CO2, air, or gas is placed
inside bladder 14,
because of the interior box rounded corner construction, the plastic liner or
bladder 14 takes the
shape of a balloon which forms a cylinder like beverage packaging similar to a
traditional steel keg,
plastic soda or beverage bottle, glass bottle, can, etc. The unique rounded
and reinforced corners of
the container 10 prevent collapse of the container's walls and corners.
[00105] At 30 a beverage mixer and at 31 an opening for adding ingredients to
the drink inside
container are depicted. Both elements will be described in detail later in
this disclosure.
[00106] FIGs. 8-9 illustrate front sectional views of alternative
embodiments of a drink container.
The drink container 10a has the V-shape female coupling 15 extending out of
the container, above the
upper surface 32 of the container 10a. The thread element 13 for fastening cap
11 is provided as
shown outside and around the portion 15a of the V-shape female coupling
extending out of the
container. This configuration may be advantageous for, for example, making it
easier for the
corresponding V-shape male coupling to slide into the V-shape female coupling
15, without the
interference of spout 12 (FIG. 1).
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[00107] The drink container 10b has a recess 32b, which has the thread
element 13 on its vertical
surface to enable the receipt and fastening of cap llb for closing the
container 10b. The cap llb may
have a concave portion llba divided by a separator llbb to enable a user to
screw/unscrew cap 11b.
As shown, V-shape female coupling 15 extends upwards only to the bottom of
recess 32b. This
configuration may be advantageous for, for example, maximizing the space
inside drink dispensers'
chambers and for easy stacking of the containers during transportation or
storage. This is facilitated
by the fact that, as shown, the upper surface of cap llb is even in this
configuration with the upper
surface 32 of the container.
[00108] It should be understood that the container alternative embodiments
depicted in FIGs. 8-9
are shown as examples only. Various other similar alternatives may be adopted
without departing
from the scope of the invention. What is important is the V-shape (e.g.,
funnel shape) female
coupling 15, which is configured to receive a corresponding V-shape male
coupling 15b (see FIG. 16
for example) to quickly create a friction air tight seal under the influence
of a weight load applied to
the V-shape male coupling.
[00109] FIG. 10 illustrates top views of alternative embodiments of a drink
container. As
illustrated, the drink container may have various sizes and shapes, such as a
rectangular (or square)
box shape 10, a cylindrical shape 10' and 10" and other shapes as shown in
FIG. 10 for
exemplification purposes. A rectangular box may be adopted for example for a
flat drink, while a
container having round corners (e.g., a cylindrical container) may be adopted
to carry carbonated
drinks, to accommodate the pressurized gas inside as described earlier when
referring to FIGs. 3-7.
To accommodate for the variation in the drink container's sizes and shapes,
while still ensuring
proper alignment between the V-shape female coupling 15 of the container and
the corresponding V-
shape male coupling 15b (see FIG. 16 for example) of a drink dispenser, the
container may be
equipped with a guiding fin 33a to be received by a guiding slot 33b
associated with the interior wall
of the dispenser's chamber which receives the container (see 33 in FIG. 13).
The guiding mechanism
33 including the guiding fin 33a and the guiding slot 33b ensures alignment of
the V-shape couplings
in a direction (Y), while the central location widthwise of the V-shape female
coupling 15 in the
container 10 ensures alignment in another, perpendicular direction (X). The
combined effect is to
ensure proper alignment between the female and male coupling.
[00110] FIG. 11 illustrates a side sectional view of a countertop drink
dispenser, according to
several embodiments. FIG. 12 illustrates the countertop drink dispenser from
FIG. 11 in a different
state. As shown, dispenser 50 may have a housing 51, a front door 54, a top
lid housing 53 and a
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power source 65. Inside the housing 51, dispenser 50 may have one or more
chambers 52 for
receiving one or more containers 10 filled with liquid 75. It should be noted
that front door 54 will
have to be open and top lid housing 53 lifted up (see FIG. 12) high enough,
such that the V-shape
male coupling 15b escapes from the V-shape female coupling 15, in order for
container 10 to be
pushed in or pulled out of dispenser chamber 52 successfully.
[00111] After a container 10 is inserted in chamber 52, front door will
need to be closed, such that
for example a door fin 55 attached to the door can hold the front of container
10 in place. Several
(one is shown only for drawing simplicity) adjustable lateral guide fins 69
(similar to those of a
printer drawer for example) may be provided to ensure that irrespective of the
width of the container
10, the V-shape female coupling 15 is aligned widthwise with the V-shape male
coupling 15b, to
make an air tight seal.
[00112] The guide fins are adjustable on the sides 69 as well as rear/back 71,
to accommodate
different sizes of beverage keg boxes or packaging and ensure that the V-shape
female coupling 15 is
aligned widthwise and lengthwise with the V-shape male coupling 15b, to make
an air tight seal.
Guide fins also allow cool air to flow easily around beverage box/keg 10 by
holding box/keg 10
away from the walls of chamber 52.
[00113] The guide fins 69 may have a pin latch 69a (see FIG. 20) fitting in
corresponding holes
69b, to allow guide fin adjustment to be locked in place. Similarly, for
lengthwise alignment of the
two couplings, guiding apertures 70a-70c (see FIG. 11) corresponding with for
example the
standardized lengths of container 10 may be provided, to receive guiding pin
71 behind the back of
container 10.
[00114] It should be noted that a back to front downward slope (e.g., 1/4
inches per each 12
inches) is provided for the floor 74 of chamber 52 (it should be observed that
floor 74 sits higher in
the back with respect to bottom 73 of dispenser 50; this ensures that when
dispenser 50 sits on a
horizontal surface the desired slope of floor 74 is obtained). This means
that, when placed inside
chamber 52, container 10 and its floor 72 will also be inclined downward from
back to front. Thus,
the liquid 75 will have the tendency to flow toward the well tube 22, thus
aiding pump 56 to draw all
or substantially all liquid 75 from container 10.
[00115] A separation between the V-shape female coupling 15 and the V-shape
male coupling 15b
may be observed in FIG. 11 and in other figures of this disclosure. It should
be understood that the
separation is depicted only to properly illustrate the individuality of the
two V-shape couplings.
However, in reality, when the top lid housing 53 is closed as seen in FIG. 11,
there is no separation
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between the V-shape female coupling 15 and the V-shape male coupling 15b. They
engage each other
to create a friction seal. The force necessary to create the friction seal is
preferably provided by the
weight of the top lid housing 53 and of all the elements (e.g., pump 56) house
into it. It should be
understood that the coefficient of friction between the two couplings and the
weight applied to the V-
shape male coupling 15b by the top lid housing 53 and of all of its elements
have to be coordinated
with the pressure necessary to be maintained inside container 10. For example,
for the same
coefficient of friction (e.g., plastic on plastic), a greater weight will be
needed for a greater pressure
needed inside container 10 (e.g. for carbonated drinks).
[00116] The dispenser 50 may be equipped with a replaceable CO2 tank 65,
which, as shown,
may communicate through a CO2 duct 67 with the V-shape male coupling 15b and
further with the
CO2 line 21 of the container 10, when the V-shape male coupling 15b engages
the V-shape female
coupling 15 to create the friction seal described above. Thus, the friction
seal between the two V-
shape couplings also create a friction seal between the CO2 duct 67 and CO2
line 21. The CO2 may
be used to carbonate the beverage 75 inside container 10.
[00117] The dispenser 50 may be also equipped with a refrigeration unit 68
(including a
compressor, and evaporator and a condenser, similar to that of a refrigerator)
for providing cool air
inside chamber 52 for keeping the container 10 and the beverage in it 75 cool.
For this purpose, a seal
61 (e.g., rubber seal) may be provided between the top lid housing 53 and the
chamber 52, so that,
upon closure of the top lid housing 53, the cool air does to escape from the
chamber(s) 52. It should
be understood that the entire chamber 52 will also have to be hermetically
built and the door 54
hermetically closed to keep the cool air inside chamber(s) 52. The top lead
housing 53 may be
lockable with a latch 62b, which can be actuated (e.g., for release purposes)
from a button 62a.
Similar sealing and locking means (not shown) may be provided for the door 54.
[00118] The top lid housing 53 may have as shown the V-shape male coupling
attached to it, so
that the two lift and close together (see FIG. 12). When opening (lifting up)
the top lid housing 53,
again, the V-shape male coupling 15b escapes from the V-shape female coupling
15 of the container
10, so that for example an empty container may be removed by a user from
chamber 52 and a new,
full one inserted therein. This is a quick process by a user and thus an
advantage of this coupling and
dispensing system. A user does not need to go through the cumbersome and time
consuming process
of for example screwing couplings together.
[00119] The top lid housing 53 may be associated with the dispenser housing 51
through a hinge
53a (see FIG. 12), which may facilitate the opening and closing of the top lid
housing 53. A lifting
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shock 76 may also be provided to aid the user in lifting the top lid housing
53. It should be noted that
the CO2 duct 67 may need to be flexible enough, or a flexible joint 67a may
need to be provided,
such that to allow the lifting of the top lid housing 53.
[00120] Referring now to FIG. 11, as shown, the top lid housing 53 may house a
pump 56, which
can draw the liquid 75 from container 10 via well tube 22 and further through
male coupling's pipe
22b and then push it toward drink dispensing/pour spout 57 via spout conduit
22c. It should be noted
that the friction seal between the V-shape couplings 15, 15b, described
earlier, also creates a seal
between well tube 22 and pipe 22b.
[00121] Before reaching the pour spout 57, the liquid 75 (e.g., water) pumped
out by pump 56
may be forced to pass through a beverage pod 58 (e.g., coffee or tea pod).
This offers a myriad of
possibilities to the user. Not only can a user make coffee and tea, but the
user can customize any
drink from the container 10 (e.g., lemon juice) with an aroma or flavor
desired (e.g., strawberry) by
inserting the appropriate flavor pod 58. A pod lid 59 associated with the top
lid housing 53 through a
hinge 60, so that it can be open (see dotted line) or closed, may be provided
for facilitating the
insertion and removal of the beverage/flavor pod 58. The pod lid 59 may have
similar sealing and
locking means (not shown to prevent drawing clutter) as those shown (61, 62a,
62b) and described
earlier for the top lid housing 53.
[00122] The dispenser 50 may have also a power switch 64 and a control panel
63 to give the
option to the user to make several selections (e.g., temperature selection,
carbonated/non-carbonated
drink, etc).
[00123] FIG. 13 illustrates a front sectional view of a drink dispenser
having two chambers,
according to an aspect. A dispenser 50 may have one or more chambers 52. It
should be apparent that
a dispenser 50 that has more than one chamber 52 may receive a container 10 in
each chamber and
thus offer more options to a user. For example, a container may contain flat
cold water, another may
contain a carbonated drink, another may contain a juice, and so on. As stated
earlier when referring to
FIG. 11, one or more chambers 52 may be filled with cold air 68a provided by a
refrigeration system
68 (FIG. 11) to keep the respective drink at a set temperature or at a
temperature selected by a user.
For energy saving purposes, the walls 51a of the dispenser housing 51 may be
thermally insulated.
And again, as shown in FIG. 13 and as stated earlier when referring to FIGs.
11-12, the top lid
housing 53 has to be lifted high enough, such that the V-shape male coupling
15b retreats completely
from the V-shape female coupling 15, in order for the container 10 to be
removed from or inserted
into chambers 52.
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[00124] FIG. 14 illustrates a front view of a drink dispenser having two
chambers, according to
an aspect. FIG. 15 illustrates a top view of a drink dispenser having two
chambers, according to an
aspect. It should be understood that a dispenser may have one chamber only, or
it may have three,
four (see FIG. 24 for example), six or more chambers. It should be noted that
preferably each of the
two chambers 52 has its door to allow for independent replacement of
containers 10 (see FIG. 13). It
should also be noted that, for example, one spout module 57a may be larger to
accommodate the
housing of the flavor/beverage pod 58 and other elements (e.g., heating
elements; see 78 in FIG. 20),
while the other may be smaller (57b). Through the spout 57 of the smaller
spout module 57b, with no
beverage/flavor pod, the user may get the unmodified drink (e.g., juice) from
the respective container
and chamber. It should be apparent that other combinations may be adopted,
such as when both (or
all if more than two), or none of the spouts modules are configured to
accommodate the housing of a
beverage or flavor pod 58, and/or heating. In addition, the spout module(s)
57a may be configured to
also allow for the option of pouring the drink out of container 10 without
adding flavor and/or
heating and/or cooling.
[00125] Further, it should be noted that preferably each chamber 52 of
dispenser 50 has its own
flow controls, or other controls described herein 63a-b, for a user to select
for example how much
drink to pour, and/or temperature control and reader/display 63c-d to display
for example the
temperature in each chamber. Lastly, it should be noted that, as shown in FIG.
11, the refrigeration
unit 68, CO2 tank 66 and power supply 65 are preferably located in the back
portion 77 (FIG. 14) of
housing 51.
[00126]
FIGs. 16-19 illustrate sectional views of male-female couplings, according to
several
embodiments. In FIG. 16 the V-shape female 15 and male 15b coupling is
depicted as earlier
described when referring to the precedent figures. In FIG. 17 an alternative
embodiment is depicted
in which a ridge system 34 may be employed to create the seal between the male
and female
coupling. A ridge 34a may be present all around the interior surface of the V-
shape female coupling
15, and similarly, ridge 34b may be present all around the exterior surface of
the V-shape male
coupling 15b. When the V-shape male coupling 15b descends, as earlier
described when referring to
FIG. 11-12, into the V-shape female coupling 15, as shown, ridge 34b is
preferably configured to
pass ridge 34a, such that the two ridges sit next to each other, to create a
seal. It should be noted also
that the two ridges 34a-b are squeezed between the two couplings
proportionally with the weight
applied to the male coupling. This is because the V-shape (e.g., funnel) is
narrower at the bottom.
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Thus, in this embodiment as well, the seal is stronger if more weight is
applied to the male coupling
15b.
[00127] In FIG. 18, a channel 35a may be present all around the interior
surface of the V-shape
female coupling 15, and a ridge 35b may be present all around the exterior
surface of the V-shape
male coupling 15b. When the V-shape male coupling 15b descends, as earlier
described when
referring to FIG. 11-12, into the V-shape female coupling 15, as shown,
channel 35a is preferably
configured to receive ridge 35b, to lock the couplings and create a seal in
addition to the seal between
the interior surface of the V-shape female coupling 15 and the exterior
surface of the V-shape male
coupling 15b. This embodiment may be preferred when for example the strength
of the seal between
the two couplings has to be controlled. The locking aspect of the channel-
ridge system 35 makes that
possible.
[00128] FIG. 19 is offered as an example to illustrate that the male-female
friction coupling
described herein may have other shapes, besides the V-shapes (e.g., funnel
shape). For example, the
male-female friction couplings may have a U-shape or bullet shape as shown in
FIG. 19. Other
shapes may be adopted, such as cylindrical shape, prism shape, and so on. An
advantage of the V-
shape is that it also aids to guide and center the V-shape male coupling 15b
as it enters the V-shape
female coupling 15. Further, the V-shape coupling lends itself to a tighter
seal. In addition, when, for
example, the male coupling's pipe 22b has a beveled lower end or is extended
with a beveled nose
22bb (see FIG. 16), it can slide inside well tube 22 creating an even tighter
seal, and thus allowing
better suction for the pump 56 (see FIG. 11).
[00129] FIG. 20 illustrates a side sectional view of a dispenser system having
a mixer and other
features, according to several embodiments. As shown, a mix/stir motor 79 may
be part of lift lid
housing 53 and may be placed next to beverage pump 56 and behind the beverage
heater 78. As it is
the case with all the functions and elements of the dispenser 50 described
herein, the mix/stir motor
79 may be controlled via dispenser controls (see for example 63a in FIG. 14)
or a smart phone app
communicating with a computer 82 of the dispenser 50. Upon its actuation,
motor 79 spins a shaft
80. Associated with the shaft 80 two or more drive pins 81 may be provided.
Thus, the motor 79, the
shaft 80 and drive pins 81 will rise together with the top/lift lid housing 53
to allow the insertion of
container 10 into chamber 52. Similarly, they will descend when the lift lid
housing 53 will be
lowered for closing (see FIGs. 11-12), such that the drive pins 81 can engage
the corresponding
apertures 30e of a top fin bar 30f, which can rotate inside a recess 30c at
the top of container 10. It
should be noted that other coupling means between drive shaft 80 and fin bar
30f may be used, such
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as friction/clutch means. The fin bar 30f may be attached to a mix/stir shaft
30a that goes down as
shown into the container 10. The mix/stir shaft 30a may have several rotating
paddle blades 30b to
properly mix/stir beverages, cocktails or soft serve-food, ice cream, yogurt,
soup, smoothie, juice,
cocktails and so on. The rotation of the mix/stir shaft 30a may be eased by
the use of bearings 30d
and 30g. Bearing 30d will preferably be configured to provide also the sealing
level corresponding to
the pressure level desired to be maintained in the container 10 (i.e., higher
pressure for carbonated
drinks).
[00130] As shown, the container 10 may also be equipped with an ingredient
access 31, which
may be closed using an ingredient/screw cap 31b fastenable with the aid of,
for example, threads 31a.
[00131] The screw cap 31b is preferably air tight preventing beverage from
going flat or being
spoiled. When screw cap 31b is opened, there is a possibility that a
carbonated beverage could lose
some of its carbonation. This is not a problem. As soon as top lid 53 and
front doors 54 are closed, a
CO2 sensor 86 (FIG. 22) may be provided to read the carbonation levels in the
beverage container 10
an cause computer 82 to automatically add CO2 to container 10, via direction
valve 85a (see FIG.
21), to re-carbonate to the proper level of carbonation for the beverage type
in the respective
container 10.
[00132] To create a mixed drink (e.g., cocktail, etc), a user may, before
inserting container 10 into
chamber 52, remove ingredient cap 31b from top of box/container 10, which
allows user to add
ingredients (e.g., juice, cut up fruit, etc) into the beverage (e.g., spirit,
etc) present inside container
10. Next, the user would fasten ingredient cap 31b, thus closing ingredient
access 31. Next, a user
would insert container 10 into chamber 52, while lift lid housing 53 is lifted
up (see FIG. 12).
[00133] Next, the user would close the lift lid housing 53, which will
cause drive pins 81 to
engage the apertures 30e of the top fin bar 30f Next, the user would actuate
the motor 80 via
dispenser controls (see for example 63a in FIG. 14) or a smart phone app as
described above. That
would cause the stir shaft 30a and paddles 30b to spin and thus mix the added
ingredient with the
beverage inside container10.
[00134] As shown in FIG. 20, the dispenser 50 may be equipped with cup
controls sensors 84a-b
that, via for example light beam 84c, can read if a beverage
container/cup/glass 83 is in place for
automatic pour when, for example, user sets dispenser 50 to pour at a certain
time, in commercial use
setting or home use. For example, the night before user goes to bed, user may
set dispenser 50 via
dispenser controls (see for example 63a in FIG. 14) or a smart phone app to
pour coffee and/or
chilled orange juice at 7:00 am. If the glass/container 83 is in place to
receive the beverage, dispenser
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50 will pour the beverage at 7:00 am. Further, computer 80 may be configured
to notify user via your
smartphone app or flashing light on control panel and/or audio signal that
beverage is ready.
[00135] FIG.
21 illustrates a side sectional view of a countertop drink dispenser having a
CO2
line for the beverage glass, and other features, according to several
embodiments. As shown, the CO2
from the CO2 tank 66 may be passed through a direction valve 85a (e.g., a
solenoid valve)
electrically-actuable for example by computer 82 based on for example
instructions received from a
user via controls 63 or a scanner 90 of a bar code 89 on pod 58 (see FIG. 22).
The direction valve 85a
may send CO2 either to glass/cup 83 via cup CO2 line 85 or to container 10 via
container CO2 line
21. This versatility of dispenser 50 is very important. For example, let's say
that the container 10 is
filled with spring (flat) water, to make coffee, tea or other non-carbonated
drinks using drink/flavor
pod 58. If now the user wants a glass 83 of carbonated water, user can for
example press the
appropriate control 63 to send CO2 just into the glass of water 83, leaving
container 10 with non-
carbonated water.
[00136] FIG.
22 illustrates a side sectional view of a countertop drink dispenser having a
CO2
sensor, and other features, according to several embodiments. Again, as
mentioned earlier when
referring to FIG 20, a CO2 sensor 86 (FIG. 22) may be provided to read the
carbonation levels in the
beverage container 10 an cause computer 82 to automatically add CO2 to
container 10, via direction
valve 85a (see FIG. 21), to re-carbonate and maintain the proper level of
carbonation for the
beverage type in the respective container 10.
[00137] The CO2 sensor 86 may be connected to a male CO2 sensor strip 86b,
which may reside
as shown inside V-shape male coupling 15b. During the coupling of the female
and male V-shape
couplings 15, 15b as earlier described herein, the male CO2 sensor strip 86b
is preferably configured
to connect with a CO2 sensor strip 86a, with which container 10 may be
equipped, if, for example,
the beverage 75 inside container 10 is a carbonated beverage.
[00138] The dispenser 50 may have a smart beverage volume pour flow control
valve 88 (e.g., a
solenoid valve) controlled by computer 82, so that for example the user can
set, from controls 63 or a
smartphone app, the volume of beverage desired to be poured in user's cup 83
(FIG. 21). Dispenser
50 may also have a beverage volume level sensor 87 which may communicate with
computer 82 to
alert the user when for example beverage volume is low in container 10. The
alert may be
communicated to user via user's smart phone app and/or visual and/or audio
alert signal on/from the
front of control panel 63. The beverage volume sensor 88 may be connected to a
male volume sensor
strip 87b which may reside as shown inside V-shape male coupling 15b.
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[00139] During the coupling of the female and male V-shape couplings as
earlier described
herein, the male volume sensor strip 87b is preferably configured to connect
with the beverage level
sensor strip 17 of container 10. Again, as stated earlier when referring to
FIG. 1, the container 10
may be equipped with a beverage level sensor strip 17, which may assist a user
as described above,
in knowing the level of beverage remaining in the container 10 during use
and/or alert the user to
acquire a new/filled container.
[00140] As shown in FIG. 22, each beverage flavor pod 58 may have a scannable
bar code 89.
The dispenser 50 may have a bar code scanner 90 that can read the bar code 89
and then
communicate the data to the computer 82. The bar code 89 may contain data
regarding to, for
example, what kind of beverage to pour: hot, cold, carbonated, non-carbonated,
ounces of beverage,
and so on. In addition, the bar code may contain data of interest to user,
such as nutrition data, which
computer 82 may communicate to user, for example, on a display (see for
example 63c-d, FIG. 14) of
the dispenser 50 and/or on user's smart phone.
[00141] Preferably, all bay chambers 52 have a floor 74 that can slide out on
roller wheels 91
(FIG. 22), similarly to, for example, a kitchen cabinet drawer. This feature
of dispenser 50 allows
easier loading of beverage container 10 into chamber 52. For example, top lid
53 may not be able to
open to a 90 degree angle because of various restrictions, such as the upper
kitchen cabinets, when
dispenser 50 is used on a kitchen countertop. However, as described earlier,
top lid 53 will lift/open
enough to disconnect the male and female V-shape couplings, 15b, 15, allowing
a beverage box 10 to
slide into chamber 52 when front cabinet door 54 is open. However, for
example, some beverage
boxes 10 that are heavy or with for example irregular or odd shapes may need
to be top loaded and
adjusted into bay chamber guide fins 69, 71 (FIG. 11) to ensure proper
alignment of the V-shape
couplings 15, 15b. Therefore, preferably, all cabinet floors 74 slide outward
of bay chambers 52.
[00142] FIG. 23 illustrates a top view of a drink dispenser having two
chambers, according to
another embodiment. As stated earlier in this disclosure, each dispenser 50
may have one, two or
more chambers 52. In this embodiment two chambers are shown, each having an
independent CO2
supply via CO2 lines 67 from CO2 tanks 66. As described earlier when referring
to FIGs. 21-22, the
CO2 supply is controlled via a directional/smart valve 85a by computer 82. In
this embodiment, as
shown, each spout housing 57a may accommodate a beverage pod 58. Thus, the
dispenser 50
provides the versatility the user may need, such as pouring via each of the
spouts 57 hot or cold,
carbonated or non-carbonated beverage, which pouring user can control from
control panel 63 or a
smartphone app as described earlier.
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[00143] FIG. 24 illustrates a top sectional view of a drink dispenser
having four chambers,
according to an aspect. This dispenser can be used as a larger floor model or
countertop model. This
is an example of a dispenser 50 having four chambers 52 and configured to fit
a corner space, such
that pouring can be done from two sides, left and front in this example. This
two-side access may be
advantageous in a commercial setting for example, when the dispenser may be a
floor model
accommodating larger containers/kegs.
[00144] FIG. 25 illustrates a front sectional view of a drink dispenser
having four chambers,
according to an aspect. What should be noted here that the dispenser 50 may be
configured such that
to provide the option of pouring at the same time via two spouts 57 from each
beverage container 10.
Thus, eight glasses could be filled at the same time. This arrangement may be
advantageous in a
commercial setting for example, when a bartender needs to serve several
customers at the same time.
This dispenser can also be used as a larger floor model or as countertop
model, too.
[00145] FIG. 26 illustrates the perspective view of a drink container
equipped with a coupling
adapter, according to an aspect. The cost of a commercial size container/keg
10 as described herein,
versus the cost of traditional stainless steel kegs is significantly lower.
This is because the container
is preferably made from biodegradable materials and as such is a one-way keg.
There is no need
to return the container/keg 10 to the drink manufacturer. Further, there is no
need to or expense with
washing the keg. The container 10 can simply and safely be discarded after
use. Thus, besides
making the container 10 work with the dispenser 50 disclosed herein, there may
be a need to make
container 10 having the V-shape female coupling 15 and all of its other
elements disclosed herein
work also with traditional keg system tri-clove fitting used in beer and wine
industry today. This is
simply because for example some user would not want to incur the expense
associated with the
replacement of their existing keg systems. For this purpose, a coupling
adapter 97 may be provided,
which can be configured to adapt to any existing keg systems, the uniqueness
being the adapter's V-
friction male coupling 15b, creating a friction seal with the V-friction
female coupling 15 of
container 10 as described earlier in this disclosure.
[00146] The coupling adapter 97, as shown in FIG. 26 may include a strap 95,
made from
stainless steel for example, and having hinges 93 on all four corners of
container 10 and snap
closed/open buckles 94 on one of the corners, to close/lock the strap 95.
Preferably, eight hinges 93
total are provided. As shown, the coupling adapter 97 may include a
traditional keg system coupling
92 (tri-clove) on top, so that existing line couplings can fasten into it. The
traditional coupling 92
communicates preferably with a V-shape male coupling 15b placed underneath of
strap 95 and
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secured by it after entering the V-shape female coupling 15 of container 10. A
plate 96 may also be
provided to provide depth and to reinforce the fastening of the traditional
keg coupling 92 to the
adapter strap 95. The corner hinges 93, snap closed/open buckles 94 and strap
95 create pressure on
the underside V-shape male coupling 15b to create the friction seal with the V-
shape female coupling
15 of the container 10.
[00147] FIG. 27 illustrates the side sectional view of a spout housing of a
drink dispenser,
according to an aspect. FIG. 28 illustrates the process of loading the spout
housing from FIG. 27
with beverage pods, according to an aspect. So far in this disclosure,
reference was made to a spout
housing 57a of dispenser 50 accommodating one beverage or flavor pod 58 (see
FIG. 15 for
example). In FIGs. 27-28 it is illustrated that the spout housing 57a may be
adapted to accommodate
two beverage/flavor pods, 58a, 58b, preferably in a stacked arrangement as
shown. Similarly, it
should be understood that spout housing 57a may be adapted to accommodate
three or more pods,
stacked similarly as shown in FIGs. 27-28.
[00148] To accommodate two pods 58a-b in a stacking arrangement as shown, the
spout housing
57a has to have the appropriate height. Further, the pod lid 59 preferably
have two protrusions 98,
such that, upon closure of pod lid 59, the two protrusions 98 push down onto
the flange 100a located
at the top of a preferably perforated basket 100. The pod lid 59 may be locked
into the spout housing
frame 101 via a latch 59a. At its bottom, the basket 100 preferably has two
double spikes 99b that can
pierce the upper pod 58b and the lower pod 58a. As shown the two double spikes
99b have an upper
end extending into the basket 100 and a lower end extending away from the
bottom of basket 100.
[00149] Thus, to use two pods, a user may first place the lower
beverage/flavor pod 58a into the
spout housing 57a and on top of lower spikes 99a located at the bottom of
spout housing 57a and
oriented upwards as shown. The sharpness of the lower spikes 99a may be such
that to prevent the
piercing of the bottom of lower pod 58a yet. Next, the user may place the
upper beverage/flavor pod
58b into the basket 100. Next, the basket 100 with upper pod 58b may be
lowered on top of lower
pod 58a. The sharpness of the double spikes 99b may be such that to prevent
the piercing of the top
of lower pod 58a and bottom of upper pod 58b yet.
[00150] Next, user can push down to close and lock pod lid 59. This will cause
upper spikes 99c
attached to the pod lid 59 to pierce the top of upper pod 58b and upper
portion of double spikes 99b
to pierce the bottom of upper pod 58b. Further, this will cause the
protrusions 98 to push onto flange
100a of basket 100, and thus, to push basket 100 downward, causing the lower
portion of double
spikes 99b to pierce the top of lower pod 58a, and, because the basket 100
will push the lower pod
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58a downward, causing the lower spikes 99a to pierce the bottom of lower pod
58a. Thus, now the
beverage from spout conduit 22c may flow through upper beverage/flavor pod 58b
and then through
lower beverage/flavor pod 58a, before reaching user's cup 83 via spout 57.
[00151] To facilitate the flow, basket 100 has preferably a square shape
(in cross-section), while
the pods are preferably of round shape. This would allow more space at the
corners of the basket 100
for the beverage to flow. In addition, as shown, to also facilitate the flow,
the basket wall and bottom
may be perforated and the bottom of basket 100 may also have a flow opening
100b.
[00152] Now, because of the two-pod configuration, the user can add to the
existing beverage
(e.g., water, juice, beer, wine, spirit, etc) in the container 10 any two
flavors or beverages users want
(e.g., tea, coffee, soft drink (e.g., PepsiTM, CokeTM), cherry flavor, etc) to
create their own
concoction.
[00153] It should be understood that when the spout housing 57a is configured
to accommodate
only one beverage/flavor pod 58a, the height of the spout housing 57a is
smaller, such that the upper
spikes 99c can reach the top of pod 58a upon closure of pod lid 59.
[00154] FIG. 29 illustrates a side sectional view of a drink container
during filling at factory,
according to an aspect. It is well known that certain drinks such as wine are
sensitive to air. For
example, the taste of the drink may be negatively affected if air is allowed
to mix with the drink.
Further, air may contain chemical and/or biological elements that may
contaminate the drink inside
container 10. To prevent this, container 10 may be equipped with means that
can be selectively
engaged to prevent the air from entering container 10 and spoil the drink
inside it. For example,
container 10 may be equipped with a valve (e.g., a petcock valve) 102, which
can close and open the
well tube 22 of container 10.
[00155] As shown for exemplification purposes, if this approach is adopted,
the well tube 22 may
be extended above the upper surface 23 of container 10, to accommodate a
placement of the valve
102 such that it can be easily accessed by a user for example. Thus, when
container 10 is to be filled
at the factory, lever 102a of valve 102 may be moved up for example, to open
the valve 102, and thus
well tube 22 (see valve opening 102b being aligned with well tube 22), such
that liquid/beverage can
be inserted in container 10 by factory equipment 103. It should be noted that
preferably, in order to
prevent air from entering container 10, valve 102 should be opened after the
air tight friction seal is
achieved between the V-shape female coupling 15 of container 10 and the V-
shape male coupling 15b
(similar to that of dispenser 50) with which the factory equipment 103 is
preferably equipped.
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[00156] It should be understood that valve 102, at the factory or when in the
dispenser, may be
opened or closed manually by a user, automatically through a mechanical
leverage system (not
shown), or, if the valve 102 is a solenoid valve, it could be actuated
electrically (e.g., automatic
command by computer 82).
[00157] It should be noted that all the other elements and functions of the
container 10 disclosed
herein remain otherwise the same if not conflicting with the modification(s)
depicted in FIGs. 29-32
(raised well tube and coupling; valve on well tube). It should be further
noted that all the elements
and functions of dispenser 50 disclosed herein remain otherwise the same, with
the exception of
slight modifications that would be apparent to one of ordinary skills in the
art, that may be needed to
accommodate the raised well tube and valve and/or the presence of a valve.
[00158] FIG. 30 illustrates a side sectional view of the drink container
from FIG. 29 ready for
storage and/or shipping, according to an aspect. After container 10 is filled
at the factory, valve 102 is
preferably closed, by for example turning lever 102a down (see FIG. 30), such
that to prevent air
from entering via well tube 22 into container 10. Next, factory V-shape male
coupling 15b is
disconnected. Next, container 10 is preferably sealed with foil seal 19 (see
FIGs. 1-2) and with cap
11, fastenable using threads 13 for example. The filled container 10 can now
be shipped and/or
stored.
[00159] FIG. 31 illustrates a side sectional view of the drink container
from FIG. 30 placed in a
dispenser, according to an aspect. When the filled container 10 arrives at the
user, foil seal 19 (see
FIGs. 1-2) and cap 11 may be removed and container 10 may be placed in the
chamber 52 of a
dispenser 50 as earlier described herein, while the valve 102 is still closed
(see FIG. 31).
[00160] As described, the dispenser 50 (see FIG. 11 for example) preferably
has a corresponding
V-shape male coupling 15b, associated preferably with the top lid housing 53
of dispenser 50. After
the airtight seal between the V-shape female coupling 15 and V-shape male
coupling 15b is
established as earlier described, valve 102 may be opened (see FIG. 32) by for
example turning lever
102a upward as shown. The opening 102b of valve 102 is again aligned with the
well tube 22 and
thus pump 56 can draw the beverage from container 10 and pour it into user's
glass 83 (see FIG. 20
for example).
[00161] It should be noted that this is a complete closed loop process, from
the beverage factory
to user, preventing air from spoiling or contaminating the beverage inside
container 10. Again, FIG.
32 illustrates a side sectional view of the drink container from FIG. 31 in a
different state (i.e., valve
102 open), according to an aspect.
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[00162] FIG. 33 illustrates a side sectional view of a drink container,
ready for shipping or
storage, according to another embodiment. As shown the drink container 10, may
be adapted to be
used for example for a picnic or a pool party, without the need of using a
dispenser 50 described
earlier in this disclosure. To that end, it should be noted that container 10
may have two bags inside,
14 and 103. Liner bag 14 was described earlier when referring for example to
FIGs. 1-2. The inner
bag 103 is sealed at the top as shown to a shortened well tube 22 and it is
the bag that holds the
beverage 75.
[00163] Container 10 may be equipped also with an air valve 104 (e.g., a
typical bicycle air
valve), which may be used to pump air in the space 109 between the liner bag
14 and inner bag 103,
and thus force out the beverage 75 inside the inner bag 103. Any commonly
available air pump (e.g.,
hand air pump, tire pump or compressor, etc) may be used to connect to air
valve 104 and pump air
in space 109. It should be understood that if container 10 is hermetically
built, such as to prevent the
escape of the air from its inside, liner bag 14 may be eliminated in this
embodiment. It should be
noted that well valve 102 is closed at this time, to prevent air from entering
inside inner bag 103 and
thus prevent spoilage or contamination of beverage 75, as earlier described
when referring to FIG.
29-32.
[00164] FIG. 34 illustrates a side sectional view of the drink container
from FIG. 33, in use,
according to an aspect. Again, container 10 as described when referring to
FIG. 33 is configured to
be used without a dispenser 50. This may be very useful for example for
limited budget parties, such
as family picnics or pool parties, student parties, and so on. As shown in
FIG. 34, when a user wishes
to use container 10, user may first remove cap 11 (FIG. 33) and replace it
with the picnic coupling
105. As shown, the picnic friction coupling 105 may include a male coupling's
pipe 22b, a V-shape
male coupling 15b and a picnic cap 11b.
[00165] The picnic friction coupling 105 may be fastened to the container 10
by simply screwing
picnic cap lib onto the threads 13. It should be noted that an air tight seal
is created between V-shape
male coupling 15b of the picnic coupling 105 and the V-shape female coupling
15 of the container
10, as earlier described in this disclosure. Next, the user may connect one
end of a hose 107, using
joint 106, to the upper end of male coupling's pipe 22b. The other end of hose
107, as shown, may
have a beverage valve 108 associated with it. The beverage valve 108, may have
a gate 108c, which
may be lifted to allow beverage flow to picnic beverage spout 109, by pressing
down a lever 108a,
which is loaded with a spring 108b, to cause the lever 108a to return upon its
release, and close the
gate 108c.
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[00166] Next, the user may open well valve 102, such that well valve opening
102a is aligned
with the male coupling's pipe 22b. It should be noted that because of the
previously established air
tight seal between the V-shape couplings 15 and 15b, air will be prevented
from entering inner bag
103 and beverage 75.
[00167] Next, the user may connect an air pump (shown as 120 in FIG. 38) to
air valve 104, and
use the pump to push air in the space 109, between the inner bag 103 and liner
bag 14. The pumped
air in the space 109 will press against inner beverage bag 103, propelling
beverage 75 outward via
male coupling's pipe 22b and hose 107. Beverage can now be poured via picnic
spout 109 by simply
pressing down lever 108a of beverage valve 108.
[00168] It should be understood that the order of the above steps is just an
example. The user may
for example pump the air inside container 10 at home, and then, when at the
picnic site, open well
valve 102 and pour the beverage by opening picnic valve 108.
[00169] It should be understood that picnic container 10 can be reusable,
disposable and/or
recyclable. Same may be true for the picnic friction coupling 105, hose 107
and/or picnic valve 108.
[00170] It should be noted that while this disclosure emphasized the use of
the described systems
and methods for dispensing drinks, similarly, they can be used for dispensing
other liquids (e.g.,
liquid soap, soft serve foods, ice cream, yogurt, etc.).
[00171] The beverage container 10 disclosed herein can be made from cardboard,
plastic, glass,
metal or any combination of these or other suitable materials.
[00172] User may enter type of beverage and/or use by expiration date, via
control panel or smart
phone app, when installing new beverage box and packaging. Dispenser's
computer 82 may then
automatically calculate expiration date taking into account longer life of
beverage because of airtight
male and female V-friction coupling and/or not taking the beverage container
in and out as it is the
case when using a standard refrigerator. For example, open soda, wine, beer,
will go flat after a short
period when using a standard refrigerator. As another example, milk going in
and out of refrigerator
shortens beverage life. The airtight system and process disclosed herein
extends the life of beverage.
[00173] It should be noted that the dispenser controls 63 of each chamber 52
or the smart phone
app described earlier in this disclosure, which may be used for example to
remotely set beverage
pour, may be configured to control a variety of functions and display a
variety of data, such as:
beverage chamber temperature control setting (each chamber may be individually
controlled for
temperature); chamber temperature reading display; beverage selection (e.g.,
carbonated or non-
carbonated; hot as in coffee or cold as in soda); beverage low volume alarm;
beverage expiration date
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controls alarm; beverage container in place ready to pour (communicates to
users that a mug, glass,
cup, travel container or pitcher is in place to receive beverage; if no
beverage container is in place
dispenser will not dispense selected beverage); two station control valve and
sensor for flow
direction to pour spout (this multiple pour control allows one beverage keg
box, packaging to supply
beverage to move than one pour spout); auto select beverage, hot or cold (a
hot beverage selection,
causes pump to circulates beverage from chamber through element heating coils
to heat beverage
before entering cabinet housing where flavor pods are positioned, allowing
flavored beverages, such
as coffee, tea, hot cocoa, or even hot milk to be poured); CO2 PSI pressure
control selector switch
and gauge system showing PSI; child lock out control preventing children from
pouring soda or
energy drinks without parent permission; displaying what type of beverage is
in which chamber after
user enters beverage type (e.g., beer, lite beer, red wine, white wine, milk,
soda, diet soda, water,
coconut water, energy drink, orange juice, and so on); in a commercial
setting, dispenser (see FIG.
25) may be set up to self-serve driver's license reading for age appropriate
alcohol requirements
(reader determines if self-serve customer is old enough to purchase alcohol;
it can also accept self-
serve customers credit card or beverage ticket for automated payment for
beverage to relieve long
beverage line at big event venues such as sporting events and concerts).
[00174] FIGs. 35A ¨ 35D illustrate side sectional views of four examples of a
drink container 10,
according to an aspect. As shown, the drink container 10 may be a rectangular
box or keg. The keg
may be constructed of plant-based bio-plastic, bio-cardboard, regular plastic,
regular cardboard, or
steel. The keg 10 is preferably constructed from biodegradable materials.
[00175] FIG. 35A illustrates a keg 10 that may be used for water or another
beverage that does
not need to be mixed or stirred. A well tube 22 may extend down into the keg
10, through which
liquids or soft serve foods may be drawn.
[00176] FIG. 35B illustrates a keg 10 with a mix/stir shaft 30a that may be
used for beverages
that may need to be stirred or mixed, such as, for example, juices, energy
drinks, chocolate milk, pre-
mixed cocktails, coffee, tea, lemonade, and so on. The mix/stir shaft 30a may
extend down as shown
into the container 10. The mix/stir shaft 30a may have several rotating paddle
blades 30b to properly
mix/stir beverages, cocktails or soft serve-food, ice cream, yogurt, soup,
stews, pasta, rice and meat,
poultry, fish, smoothies, juice, cocktails and so on.
[00177] FIG. 35C illustrates a keg 10 that may be used for soft serve foods
such as, for example,
ice cream, yogurt, soups, stews, macaroni and cheese, and so on. The keg 10
may include a mix/stir
shaft 30a having paddle blades 30b and may have an auger conveyor/lifting silo
110, which may be
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capable of vertical or horizontal ushering of the food or liquid. The keg 10
may also have a sloped
floor 125, which may assist in guiding the soft serve foods to the auger
conveyor/lifting silo 110. The
keg 10 may also include horizontal ushering 125-a to move soft serve food.
[00178] FIG. 35D illustrates a keg 10 that may be used for dispensing tap
water, or water found
at, for example, a camping site. The keg 10 may be fitted with a biodegradable
water filter 111, such
that water is poured into the keg 10 through the filter 111 and the keg 10 may
then be closed with a
removable cap 11. After water is poured into the keg 10 through the filter
111, it may be drawn out
through the well tube 22. The well tube 22 may also include a second water
filter (not shown), for
added protection. The biodegradable water filter 111 may be single use or
multiple use. An advantage
of the single use filter may be that using the same water filter for an
extended period of time may be
unhealthy, and may collect impurities. The keg 10 may be constructed in sizes
ranging from 1/2 gallon
or smaller to 10 gallons or larger.
[00179] It should be understood that a keg may include a plurality of
chambers, each of which
may include the components shown in FIGs. 35A ¨ 35D. Each chamber may house a
different type of
liquid or food, and may include various components for mixing, for example. As
an example, a keg
may include two or four chambers with a beverage in some and soft serve food
in the other
chambers. The various chambers may be used with a dispenser, which may include
a bar code reader,
a microphone for voice commands, or a user ID scanner, for example. The
various chambers may
include barriers in between, such that heat or cold are shielded from other
nearby chambers.
[00180] FIGs. 36A ¨ 36B illustrate side views of a drink container or keg with
a screw-on cap,
two couplings, two safety valves, and well tube 22, according to an aspect.
The keg 10 may include a
pressure relief safety valve 133, and another pressure relief safety valve 113-
a at the pour spouts 57.
The keg 10 may also include an air valve 104. Again, the user may connect one
end of a hose 107,
using joint 106, to the upper end of male coupling's pipe 22b. The other end
of hose 107, as shown,
may have a beverage valve 108 associated with it. The keg may include two pour
spouts 57, a pour
spout at the top, and another pour spout at the bottom.
[00181] FIG. 36C illustrates a side view of a drink container or keg 10 with a
screw-on cap 11
and female cylindrical coupling 215, according to an aspect. The cylindrical
coupling 215 may be a
U-shaped channel as shown, which may accommodate a bull-nose male coupling
(not shown), for
example. The channel may have a concave bottom, or may have a flat horizontal
level bottom, as
shown. The keg may also include an air valve 104 for, again, pumping air in
the space 109 between
the liner bag 14 and inner bag 103, and thus force out the beverage 75 inside
the inner bag 103.
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[00182] FIG. 36D illustrates a side view of a drink container or keg 10 with a
V-shape male
friction coupling 15-b that may be a part of a factory filling line, according
to an aspect. The V-shape
male friction coupling may be used with a cylindrical female coupling 215. The
lid and coupling may
also be a male cylindrical coupling 215-b which may correspond to a female
cylindrical coupling 215
as shown in FIG. 36C, according to an aspect.
[00183] FIG. 36E illustrates a perspective view of a drink container or keg 10
showing examples
of where a V-shaped or cylindrical coupling may be placed, according to an
aspect. The female
coupling for a receiving a corresponding male coupling, shown by 215-a, may be
either V-shaped or
cylindrical. The keg 10 may also include handles 132. The keg 10 may also
include at least a corner
brace 132-a (with some portions not shown for visual clarity, shown in more
detail in FIG. 36F),
which may be provided at one corner of the keg 10 or more than one corner.
[00184] FIG. 36F illustrates a detailed perspective view of the corner
brace 132-a of FIG. 36E.
The corner brace 132-a may include sliding portions 132-b for extending or
adjusting the size of the
brace such that the corner brace may be used in different sizes or models of
kegs, for example. The
sliding portions 132-b may be locked into place with a pin 132-c, for example,
or any other suitable
means. The corner brace may also include teeth 132-d (not shown in all areas
for visual clarity) for
the sliding portions 132-b to grip with the main corner brace 132-a.
[00185] FIGs. 37A ¨ 37K show sectional top perspective views of examples of a
bioplastic
pressure relief safety valve 113, preferably biodegradable, which may be
manually adjusted for
different PSI, and may be reset if activated to release pressure inside of the
keg, according to an
aspect. The resetting may be automatic, and the pressure relief safety valve
may "self-reset." As an
example, the weight of the top of the safety valve may cause the top portion
to be pushed downwards
when not forced upwards by pressure inside of the keg. As another example, an
actuator within the
keg may reset the safety valve cap, and may do so when a sensor detects that
the safety valve has
been used to relieve pressure. As another example, the resetting may be
performed manually by the
user. Upon resetting, the safety valve may be configured to maintain the same
PSI as previously, or a
different PSI. More than one safety valve may be used in one container. For
example, one safety
valve may be used to release excess pressure in the beverage cavity of the keg
10 where the beverage
is stored, and a second safety valve may be in an air cavity where air
pressure is used to self-propel
the beverage from the keg 10. The pressure relief safety valve 113 may be
constructed in a variety of
ways, and preferably constructed from the same material as the keg. An
advantage may be that this
aids in the ease of recycling, and single-stream regenerative recycling may be
possible with the
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components of the safety valve, including springs and rubber bands,
constructed entirely of the same
bio-plastic material, for example. The user may recycle the entire container
without separation of its
parts.
[00186] FIGs. 37A¨ 37B illustrate side views of a pressure relief safety
valve 113-a in a closed
sealed position and activated open position, respectively, according to an
aspect. High pressure may
force the valve open, by raising the lid 114 into the activated open position
of FIG. 36B to release the
excess high pressure. The lid 114 may include spring hinges 115 that may hold
arms 116 against the
side of the valve 113-a. The arms 116 may clip onto a padded or ridged area
117 attached to the side
of the valve 113-a. The inside of the valve 113-a housing may have ridges 118,
which may create a
friction hold for the lid 114, which may extend down into the housing by a
shaft 114-a. The lid 114
may also have hooks 114-b which may hook into the ridges 118, holding the lid
114 in place. This
may also help to hold the lid 114 against seal rings 119. As an example,
either the hooks 114-b or the
ridges 118 may be flexible, such that the hooks 114-b may move upwards or
downwards past the
ridges 118 as needed.
[00187] FIGs. 37C ¨ 37D illustrate a side view in a closed state and front
view in an open state,
respectively, of a pressure relief safety valve 113-b, according to an aspect.
The keg may include two
pressure relief safety valves, such that one may be for releasing air and
another may be for releasing
gas resulting from fermentation. As an example, a pressure relief safety valve
113-b may include a
long hook or rod 114-c that may hook into the ridges 118, holding the lid 114
in place. Again, as the
long hook 114-c or the ridges 118 may be flexible, such that the long hook 114-
c may move upwards
or downwards past the ridges 118 as needed.
[00188] FIG. 37E ¨ 37F illustrate a side view and a front view, respectively,
of another example
of a pressure relief safety valve 113-c, according to an aspect. The pressure
relief safety valve 113-c
may include ridges 118 along the sides of the walls, which may catch a rod to
keep the safety relief
valve open or closed in a desired open or closed position.
[00189] FIG. 37G illustrates a front view of another example of a pressure
relief safety valve
113-d, according to an aspect. The hooks 114-c of the safety valve may be
raised and lowered by
springs 114-d.
[00190] FIG. 38 illustrates a side sectional view of a keg 10 that may self-
propel beverages or
foods 75 without the need for electricity, according to an aspect. An
advantage may be that additional
expense for electricity may not be needed, and the keg may thus be portable.
The keg may also
reduce the carbon footprint by not using electricity or gas to propel a
beverage. A user may pump an
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air pump handle 120, which may force air into the keg in the space 109,
between the inner bag 103
(also "beverage bag") and liner bag 14. The pumped air in the space 109 will
press against inner
beverage bag 103, propelling beverage 75 outward via well tube 22. The air bag
may keep air in the
air bladder chamber, which may create air pressure against the beverage bag.
As air pressure is
increased, the pressure may push the beverage 75 up through the V-friction
coupling 15. The air
pump 120 may be held in place by straps 122, and may be built in to the keg
and may be a part of the
keg. The air pump 120 may have an intake hole 121 which provides the air
needed for the air pump
plunger action to fill the air bag inside of the keg. An air exit hole 123 and
air pump gate flap 124
may restrict air from leaking out of the air bladder, which may maintain
pressure against the beverage
bag. This may aid in strong propulsion of the beverage. One-way air flow may
also be provided by
the air gate flap 124 as shown, or by a one-way air valve, or ball valve air
lock, for example. As an
example, the keg 10 may have an outer liner bag 14, or the outer shell may be
rigid. The outer liner
bag 14 may create a hermetically sealed chamber and may be connected to the
keg's inner walls by
glue or any other suitable means, and the keg may also include safety pressure
relief valves 113. As
an example, the keg may include a plastic, solid container instead of an outer
liner bag, with a
beverage bag 103 inside of it. As the beverage is emptied from the beverage
bag 103, the beverage
bag 103 will be reduced in volume and may slide up the wall of the keg,
forcing the beverage
towards the opening in the female V-friction coupling 15, or cylindrical
coupling (as shown in FIG.
49A as 215). Again, the plastic liner bag 14 is preferably fastened, using
glue for example, to the
interior wall (as shown as 24 in FIG. 2) of the container 10 at several
fastening locations 18,
including the corners of the container 10. An air nipple or air valve 104 may
be used in order to
automatically keep air pressure in the air chamber at a constant automated
pressure. The air nipple or
valve 104 may be used in a keg with or without an air pump 120. It should be
understood that the keg
may be used with or without an electric air compressor, or with or without a
hand air pump.
[00191] FIGs. 39A ¨ 39C illustrate various examples of a keg 10 that may self-
propel liquids or
soft-serve foods with or without an external energy source, according to an
aspect. The keg 10 may
include a pour spout opening 57 (not shown in FIG. 39B for clarity), which may
accommodate a V-
or cylindrically-shaped friction coupling (not shown for clarity). The keg may
have a sloped floor
125 directing liquids or foods to the pour spout opening and an auger
conveyer/lifting silo 110. As
shown in FIG. 39A, the sloped floor 125 may be in a V-shape such that the
liquid or food is directed
to the center point of the pour spout. The sloped floor 125 may be fixed or
may move. As shown in
FIG. 39B, the interior of the keg 10 may be cone-shaped as shown by 125-a to
direct food or liquids
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towards the auger screw conveyor 110. As shown in FIG. 39C, the sloped floor
may also be raised by
a spring 128. To lift and create a sloped adjustable floor inside of the keg
10 for gravity flow of
liquids or foods, the bottom plate may increase its slope as the liquids or
foods are drained from the
keg. The lifting pressure may be created by the rubber bands or springs to
lift the bottom plate. The
examples of kegs shown in FIGs. 39A ¨ 39B may need an external energy source
to power the auger,
and the example of the keg shown in FIG. 39C may not need an external energy
source.
[00192] FIG. 40A illustrates an example of layered board 150 that may be used
for the
construction of a keg 10. The layered board 150 may be constructed from bio-
plastic, wood,
cardboard, steel, or any other suitable materials. The layered board 150 may
be used as a lifting
pressure plate, and may be used to hold the top plate of the keg 10, coupled
together for lifting
strength. The layered board 150 (shown without layers in FIGs. 40B ¨ 40D for
clarity) may form the
top of the keg 10.
[00193] FIG. 40B illustrates an example of a keg 10 that may self-propel
beverages or foods
using side wall pressure plates 24-a, according to an aspect. The side wall
pressure plates 24-a may
be bio-plastic or any other suitable material. The keg 10 may include a V-
shaped or cylindrical
friction female coupling 215-a for receiving a corresponding male coupling.
The coupling 215-a may
include a safety relief valve 113-a and may include a petcock valve 102. It
should be understood that
all friction couplings may include a safety relief valve 113-a and may include
a petcock valve 102.
The side-to-side propulsion may be achieved by the side wall pressure plates
24-a pressing against
the beverage bag 103. To assist the side wall pressure plates 24-a sliding
along the top and bottom of
the keg 10, the side wall pressure plates 24-a may be fitted with, for example
wheels 140, or as
another example, skis (not shown). The side wall pressure plates 24-a may also
be assisted in sliding
by fitting into guide pins (not shown), or be free floating, as shown. Side-to-
side propulsion may also
be achieved by springs 151 applying pressure to the beverage bag 103, which
may be, for example, a
plastic bag, or a balloon bladder, which may be similar to a water balloon.
The springs 151 may push
between the outer walls of the keg 10 and the side wall pressure plates 24-a.
A second bio-plastic
outer side wall 24-b (shown on the right side of FIG. 40B only for clarity)
may be needed on the
inside of the keg wall to press against the side wall pressure plates 24-a
inside of the keg wall.
[00194] FIG. 40C illustrates an example of a keg 10 that may self-propel
beverages or foods
using a gravity flow sloping floor plate 152 to lift one end of the beverage
bag 103 at the bottom of
the keg 10, according to an aspect. The floor plate 152 may be lifted, such
that the elevation may
create a sloping floor to direct the liquid or food in the beverage bag 103
towards the pour spout 57,
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which may also include a safety relief valve 113-a and may include a petcock
valve 102. The floor
plate may be lifted using elastic bands 139 which may be bio-rubber or any
other suitable material.
The elastic bands 139 may be attached to eyehooks 139-a, which may be round as
shown, or may any
other suitable shape. The elastic bands 139 may, through pressure, lift the
sloping floor plate 152 as
the weight of the beverage bag 103 decreases when beverage is removed from the
container. When
the floor plate 152 is lifted, the beverage bag 103 may be pressed against a
stationary top plate 152-c,
to help release the bag's contents.
[00195] FIG. 40D illustrates a self-emptying keg 10 having a lifting floor
plate 152-a, according
to an aspect. The lifting floor plate 152-a may be positioned at the bottom of
the keg 10 as a bottom
plate, and may be raised and push the contents of the beverage bag 103 by
pressure applied by elastic
bands 139-a, which may be connected to eye hooks 139-a, as discussed when
referring to FIG. 40C.
The eye hooks 139-a may be attached to the top plate 152-c on the other end of
the keg, which may
be stationary. The weight of the beverage inside of the beverage bag 103 may
be lessened as the
petcock valve 102 of the coupling 215-a is opened, and thus the lifting floor
plate 152-a may be
raised. Again, when the lifting floor plate 152-a is raised, the beverage bag
103 may be pressed
against a stationary top plate 152-c, to help release the bag's contents.
[00196] FIG. 40E illustrates a self-emptying keg 10 having side walls 24-a,
according to an
aspect. The keg 10 may contain a bio-plastic bladder-type bag 103 upon which
the side walls 24-a
may push from two sides, to evenly push liquid or beverage out from the
friction coupling 215-a,
which may be associated with a pour spout for pouring out the contents of the
keg. The two side
walls 24-a may be held together by elastic bands 139 hooked into eye hooks 139-
a, for example, and
be held in place by the inner bag 103 The side walls 24-a may then squeeze
together as the contents
of the inner bag 103 are released and the volume of the bag 103 decreases. The
side walls 24-a may
be on skis 140-a in order to facilitate sliding across the bottom of the keg
10. As another example,
wheels 140 (as shown in FIG. 40B) may also be used for the side walls 24-a.
[00197] FIG. 40F illustrates a self-emptying keg 10 having a moveable top
plate 152-c at the top
and a stationary bottom plate 152-a, and a flexible hose 180, according to an
aspect. Again, the keg
may include a V-shaped or cylindrical friction female coupling 215-a for
receiving a
corresponding male coupling. The coupling 215-a may include a safety relief
valve 113-a (as seen in
FIG. 40B) and may include a petcock valve 102. Similar to the keg shown in
FIG. 40D, the beverage
bag 103 may be pressed downwards onto the bottom plate 152-a, by the downward
force of the top
plate 152-c moving downwards. The top plate 152-c and the bottom plate 152-c
may be held together
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by eye hooks 139-a and bands 139 (shown only in rear of FIG. 40F for visual
clarity, and also shown
in the example of FIG. 40G) such that the keg 10 may self-propel the contents
of the bag 103 as it is
emptied. As the top plate 152-c presses downwards on the bag 103, the contents
of the bag may be
propelled through a flexible hose 180, which may be attached to the bag 103 at
a joint or hole 181.
The hose 180 may then connect to a female coupling 215-a through which the
contents of the bag
103 may be dispensed. The flexible hose 180 may, as an example, connect to a
coupling at the top of
the keg 10 with another outer flex hose, which may connect to a gate valve (as
shown in FIG. 40G).
As shown as an example, the flexible hose 180 may be included inside of the
keg 10.
[00198] FIG. 40G illustrates another example of a self-emptying keg 10 with a
flexible hose 180
connected to a bottom coupling 215-a, according to an aspect. Again, the keg
10 may self-propel by a
downward-pressing top plate 152-c, for example, exerting pressure onto a bag
103. The downward
pressure may push a beverage or food out of a coupling petcock valve 215-a,
which may be located
towards the bottom of the keg 10. The coupling 215-a may have a flexible hose
180 attached to it,
through which a beverage or food may be dispensed as the weight of the bag 103
contents are pushed
down by gravity and by the downward force of top plate 152-c. With the
assistance of the force of
gravity, less pressure tension is required on the rubber bands 139. The bands
139 and eyehooks 139-a
may be provided at one end of the keg 10 or may be provided at more than one
end of the keg 10
(shown only in rear of FIG. 40G for visual clarity). The end of the hose 180
may be attached to a
pour spout having a gate valve, which may then dispense a food or beverage
into a cup 181. As an
example, the bag 103 may be capable of holding 10 gallons, the weight of which
may be
approximately 90 pounds with downward pressure. With downward movement instead
of upward,
less tension may be exerted on the bands 139. As shown as an example, the
flexible hose 180 may be
outside of the keg 10.
[00199] The beverage bag 103 of FIGs. 40B ¨ 40G may be of an elastic type
material that may
expand. The elasticity may add propulsion force, which may help to lift or
push the beverage towards
the pour spout 57 or coupling 215-a. The keg 10 may have multiple pour spouts
57 such that the user
may position the keg 10 in different ways. No external energy source may be
needed to propel or
dispense a beverage or food from the container when pressure is applied to the
beverage bag 103.
[00200] It should be understood that any keg 10 may include any combination of
couplings,
pressure relief safety valves, mixing paddles, and any other feature described
herein.
[00201] FIG. 41A illustrates a self-emptying keg 10 having telescoping legs
129 and an accordion
outer shell 10-a, in a filled state, according to an aspect. A keg having
telescoping legs may or may
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not have an accordion outer shell 10-a. It should be understood that the keg
10 having telescoping
legs 129 may also include any of the other features described herein, such as,
for example, a coupling
215, and elastic bands 139 and eyehooks 139-a. The keg may include atop plate
152-c and a bottom
plate 152-d. The plates may squeeze the inner bag 103 that may contain a
liquid or food. As the top
plate 152-c and bottom plate 152-d work together, the inner bag 103 may be
squeezed evenly to push
all of the contents of the inner bag. The telescoping legs 129 may allow for
the keg to be collapsible,
to be stored and shipped flat. For example, the outer shell 10-a may be
flattened or collapsed by
using the accordion folds, and then the keg may also be folded into a smaller
shape by folding along
seams such as seam 153. The telescoping legs 129 may act as stanchion posts,
supporting the
structure of the keg 10, by connecting to the top plate and the bottom plate
inside of the keg 10. In
another example, posts that are fixed in length may be used in place of the
telescoping legs 129.
When fully extended, the legs 129 may be used to support the vertical stacking
of the keg when it is
full of products such as beverages or food. The keg 10 may be constructed of
any suitable material
that may be folded or collapsed, and again, may include seams for collapsing
the keg 10, such as at
153. The outer shell 10-a of the box may expand similarly to an accordion, due
to its accordion-like
folds (shown on two edges of outer shell only for clarity), when the legs
telescope and extend. When
the legs collapse, the accordion box may compress. Thus, the accordion box and
telescoping legs
may assist in the keg taking up less space than a traditional steel or plastic
keg. As an example, a keg
may be constructed by folding full folds of box sides over one another, such
that an entire side of
the keg 10 has two layers of cardboard or any other suitable material the keg
may be constructed
from. Multiple pieces of the adhesive used to secure the folds may be
overlapping with each other for
added durability.
[00202] FIG.
41B illustrate three examples of telescoping legs 129-a ¨ 129-c, according to
an
aspect. The telescoping legs may be constructed in a variety of ways as shown,
or in any other
suitable design. The legs may also be fixed as an alternative to telescoping.
The legs may be
constructed from any suitable materials, such as metal, cardboard, bamboo, and
so on. The
telescoping legs 129-a ¨ 129-c may be locked into a desired length by fitting
pegs or pins (not
shown) that may be pushed into a hole 129-d. The pegs or pins may be spring-
loaded and may snap
or lock into place when inserted into a hole 129-d. The legs may be extendable
without being
telescoping, such as, for example, by having accordion folds, or any other
suitable means.
[00203] FIG. 41C illustrates an example of a keg 10 in an empty state, with a
frame having legs,
showing the telescoping feature of the legs, according to an aspect. The
telescoping legs 129 may be
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used for collapsing or folding the keg 10 such that the keg may be shipped or
stored in a flat state, in
an accordion box or flat packed in a folding box.
[00204] FIG. 42A illustrates a motor 79 and motor shaft that may be associated
with the auger
screw conveyer shaft or paddle shaft, according to an aspect. Motors may be
connected to shafts or
fixtures that they are to drive by hard connections. These type of connections
may not be quick
release or quick engage. Some other types of motors may be connected to a
clutch, which may wear
down after prolonged usage. The coupling may be made with a friction shaft fin
134 ("fin" or "fin
pin"). The friction motor to shaft coupling may be a pin-fin friction coupling
wherein the driving fin
shaft may either slide into two pins on the end of the auger or paddle shaft,
or the opposite may occur
where the driving shaft may have two pins. The top of the fin 134 may be
beveled to a pointed or
triangular tip, as shown. An advantage of the beveled tips of the fin and pin
may be that the fin and
pin are prevented from butting together. If this occurs, then friction
coupling cannot be completed.
The motor driving shaft and the work-utility shaft may be free-wheeling, able
to move and rotate to
the side, which may allow the wedges to drive past each other to create a
friction coupling. Another
advantage may be that the container of food or drink in the keg 10 may be
quick-change, and easily
removed by the user so that it may be replaced with a new one. Another
advantage may be that the
inclusion of paddles within the keg itself may reduce mess and the need for
cleaning, as a beverage
or food may no longer need to be transferred into a separately container that
has paddles.
[00205] FIGs. 42B ¨ 42D illustrate a side top perspective view, a top
perspective view, and a top
plan view, respectively, of an example of a motor coupling 135-a having a
ridged cylinder design,
according to an aspect.
[00206] FIG. 42E illustrates a side perspective view of a motor coupling
having a rough surface
funnel design, according to an aspect. The motor 79 may through the coupling
135-b drive the auger
silo 110.
[00207] FIG. 42F illustrates a side perspective view of a motor coupling
having teeth on the
surface for gripping, according to an aspect. The coupling, powered by a motor
79, may drive a
paddle shaft 30a.
[00208] FIG. 43A illustrates a detailed partial side view of the keg 10 of
FIG. 35C, which may
include an alternative example of a top opening and friction coupling 215,
according to an aspect.
[00209] FIG. 43B illustrates a detailed partial side view of the keg 10 as
shown in FIG. 43A, with
a motor 79 and upper auger 110-a coupling associated with the auger 110,
according to an aspect.
The motor 79 may be associated with a fin pin 134, which may connect with an
upper auger 110-a.
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The upper auger 110-a may be the driving auger, and may drive the auger 110.
The friction coupling
may be a vertical slot and may be cylindrical, with a sleeve where the top fin-
pump male friction
coupling glides into the sleeve slot 154 of the keg 10, similar to a male
coupling into a female
coupling. The wide opening of the fin male vertical coupling may be needed to
allow the auger screw
conveyer 110 to move in and out of the keg and connect to the lifting auger
screw conveyor, and may
also allow the driving auger to connect to the lifting auger in the keg.
[00210] FIGs. 44A ¨ 44B illustrate a box 131, with the top unfolded and
partially folded,
respectively, constructed of bio-cardboard that may make up the outer shell
131 of a keg, which may
have a bio-plastic bag or bio-plastic bottle inside (shown only in FIG. 44B
for clarity), according to
an aspect. The bio-cardboard keg may be printed with eco-friendly ink and eco-
friendly glue or tape
strips. Where adhesive is pre-applied to the box flaps or folds, as shown by
131-a and 131-b, a
protective film may be placed over it and removed when the adhesive is needed.
The protective film
may be biodegradable. An advantage of the box may be that the beverage
contained inside may be
protected from UV sunlight. An advantage of the adhesive may be that boxes may
be flat-packed for
storage or shipping and later easily assembled. An advantage of having
overlapping strips of adhesive
131-a and 131-b may be that the strength of the box is increased. The boxes
may be constructed such
that a user may assemble the boxes when needed, and may be folded along seams
and glued or taped
together with pre-applied glue or tape strips, for example. The folds of the
box may overlap such that
the strength of the box is increased. The box may include telescoping legs (as
shown by 129-a in
FIGs. 41B ¨ 41C) that allow for the box to be collapsed flat, and then re-
assembled by the user. An
advantage may be that a separate tape dispenser and/or knife for tape is not
needed by the user.
[00211] FIG. 45A illustrates a partial sectional side view of a keg 10
connected to a beverage
dispenser by a flexible bio-plastic or rubber hose/tube 107, according to an
aspect. The bio-plastic
friction coupling of the hose/tube 107 on the keg 10 may be pushed on or
pulled off
[00212] FIG. 45B illustrates a bio-plastic elbow 130, which may be flexible,
which may be used
where space is limited in the beverage dispenser, connecting a dispenser 50
with a keg 10, according
to an aspect. An advantage may be that the elbow allows flow of liquids where
a hose/tube 107 may
restrict liquid flow if bent at an angle. The keg 10 may include a straight
twist lock coupling as part
of the pump housing or as part of the keg pour spout opening.
[00213] FIG. 45C illustrates a partial side view of a hose 107 that may be
attached to a screw-on
cap 11, according to an aspect. The hose 107 may allow for both horizontal and
vertical product flow.
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[00214] FIG. 45D illustrates a partial side view of an elbow 130-a that may be
used for
connecting a dispenser 50 with a keg 10, according to an aspect. A fixed
vertical elbow piece 130-b
may allow for vertical product flow, and a bent elbow 130-a may be used for
horizontal and vertical
product flow between a dispenser 50 and a keg 10. Individual pieces used for
connecting a dispenser
50 with a keg 10 may snap together and lock, for example, or may be connected
by any other suitable
means.
[00215] FIG. 46A illustrates a side view of a bottle 127 fitted with a bio-
plastic pour spout with a
manually operated nozzle 138 having a gate valve 108, according to an aspect.
The pour spout may
be connected to a bio-plastic or bio-rubber hose 107 which may be connected to
a screw on male V-
friction coupling which may be received by a corresponding female V-friction
coupling. The male
coupling may include a petcock valve 102. This gate valve 108 pour spout 138
with gate valve 108
may be used with any keg whether the keg operates by gravity flow or self-
propulsion. A keg or
water bottle may also use a bio-plastic bladder bag liner ("bladder bag,"
"bladder bag liner," "balloon
bladder," or "bladder liner") 133 inside of the keg or water bottle, to create
a self-propulsion system.
The keg or bottle using a rubber balloon self-propulsion system may be capable
of holding 1/2 gallon
to 10 gallons, for example, and or may be shaped and sized like small bottle
and be capable of
holding 12 ounces to 24 ounces, for example. The bio-plastic pour spout may be
used with any
existing bottle or container in standard market packaging.
[00216] FIG. 46B illustrates a bottle 127 with a bio-plastic screw-on top that
may be used with a
bottle 127 for storing or shipping, according to an aspect. The bottle may
include a petcock valve,
and may include a rubber balloon bag 133 for self-propulsion.
[00217] FIG. 46C illustrates an airtight seal such as a male friction
coupling pour spout, which
may be V-shaped or cylindrical, having a gate valve, which may include a
petcock valve 102, and
finger pull tabs 127-a for pulling over a spout, according to an aspect. The
hose may include a bio-
plastic ribbed surface, such as, for example, ribbed ridges, to accommodate a
tight connection of the
hose to the fitting, and may be pulled over another container, such as, for
example, the opening and
threads of a bottle neck, and may be used, for example, with any existing
bottle such as for soda,
water, beer, wine, and so on.
[00218] FIG. 46D illustrates an airtight seal bottle cap and pour spout 136
that may be used with
any existing bottle, such as, for example, a wine, champagne, or water bottle,
according to an aspect.
The bottle cap pour spout 136 may include a gate valve 108 and a lever 137 for
manual operation of
the spout. The pour spout 136 may also include finger pull tabs 127-a.
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[00219] FIGs. 47A¨ 47C illustrate a side view of a female V-shaped or
cylindrical friction
coupling adapter 97-a, a detailed view, and a side view, respectively, of the
adapter 97-a inside of a
bottle 127, according to an aspect. The female V-shaped or cylindrical
friction coupling adapter 97-a
may accommodate any size beverage container opening, such as, for example, a
milk carton, 2 liter
soda bottle, juice bottle, and so on. The hard V-shape coupling 15 may have a
well tube 22-a attached
to it, which may be telescopic. The female V-friction coupling 15 funnel may
have a rubber boot or
stretchable expansion membrane 126 that may stretch over the top of the neck
of a container (shown
as 127 in FIG. 47C), fitting snugly over the neck and giving a perfect seal.
An advantage may be that
the existing shape of bottles may not need to be altered and existing bottles
may be able to use this
coupling. Bottlers may, at the time of packaging, insert the adapter 97-a
after filling the bottle, or
users may insert it after removing a storage cap. This may allow users to use
any existing packaging
inside of the dispenser, by allowing the male V-friction coupling that is a
part of the pump lead or
pour spout housing to connect to existing bottles or other packaging via the
female V-friction
coupling. The adapter 97-a may also be a permanent part of bottle packaging.
The adapter 97-a may,
on the expansion membrane 126, include finger pull tabs 127-a which may aid in
putting the adapter
on a bottle, or pulling it off a bottle. An adapter with a stretchable
expansion membrane 126 may also
be used with, for example, aluminum cans and may assist in the opening of the
cans, and the
stretchable expansion membrane 126 may be used to keep a beverage airtight. As
an example, a
carbonated beverage may be covered using an expansion membrane 126 thus
reducing the
carbonation loss in the beverage.
[00220] FIG. 47B illustrates another example of a telescopic well tube of the
adapter 97-a. The
telescoping friction sleeve 22-a may slide to extend or retract and may be
held in place by side-to-
side friction. The telescopic well tube 22-a may include friction ridges 22-b
along the sides, which
may be flexible, and may assist in holding the well tube 22-a in position at a
desired length. The
friction ridges 22-b may also be used with a friction fin 22-c, for example,
or may be used without a
friction fin. A friction fin 22-c may be used as a larger flexible stopper for
holding the well tube 22-a
in place.
[00221] FIG. 47C illustrates a standard bottle 127 with its cap removed. The
expansion
membrane 126 of the adapter 97-a may allow any existing container to be
adapted to use the V-
shaped coupling. An existing bottle 127 may be placed into the dispenser, and
the female adapter
may be used with the coordinating male V- or cylindrical-shaped friction
coupling of the dispenser.
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Again, the well tube 22-a of the adapter 97-a may include friction ridges 22-b
which may assist in
holding the well tube at a desired position.
[00222] FIG. 47D illustrates a side view of a bottle 127 with a bio-plastic
bladder bag liner 133
having an expansion membrane top 126, similar to the adapter 97-a of FIG. 47A,
such that the
opening of the bio-plastic bag liner 133 may be able to stretch over the top
of any size container 127,
such as a bottle, growler, and so on, according to an aspect. The bio-plastic
bag 133 may be thermally
protective such that it may withstand temperatures below the freezing point of
water and above the
boiling point of water. A balloon bladder 133 may be stretched over top of a
plastic bottle, with a
snap or screw on cap placed on top, with a bio-rubber nipple in the top. The
balloon bladder 133 may
be used with, for example, a baby bottle, which may also be used with a double
cap, having a top cap
and a bottom cap. The bottom cap may have a female V-friction coupling, and
the top cap may have
a male V-friction coupling that may go into the female V-friction coupling
when the top cap is
screwed or snapped on over the bottom cap. The female cap may have friction
tabs, which may be
nipples that the balloon bladder top opening can stretch over. The nipple may
create a friction hold
and air barrier. The friction nipples may be around the bottom and sides of
the coupling. A removable
baby bottle nipple may go onto the top cap. A rubber flange may stop the
nipple from pulling off into
the baby's mouth, which may prevent choking.
[00223] FIG. 47E illustrates the side view of the bottle 127 with a bio-
plastic bladder bag liner
133 having an expansion membrane top 126 of FIG. 47D, also having a storage
unit 155 for holding
extra bladder bag liners 133, according to an aspect. The storage unit 155 may
be screwed on to the
bottle 127 by threads 166 or attached by any other suitable means, and may
hold extra bladder bag
liners 133 such that the user may be able to keep extras with the container or
bottle 127 and may not
need to search for them.
[00224] It should be understood that any container that may use a bio-plastic
bladder bag or
rubber balloon bladder may also include a magazine or holder for spare bags,
which may be attached
to the container by any suitable means. The user may store extra bags in this
magazine or holder,
such that they can easily find replacement bags.
[00225] FIGs. 48A ¨ 48C illustrate a bladder liner in various states of being
stretched, which may
be used inside of a water bottle or keg of any size such as 1/2 gallon to 10
gallons, according to an
aspect. Personal water bottles having a narrow neck may be difficult to clean.
An advantage of a
bladder liner 133-a may be that the liner may be disposable, such that water
scum or bacteria does
not accumulate inside of the bottle. The balloon liner may be made of bio-
plastic material, and may
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be stretched over the top of the container. The flexibility may allow one type
of liner to be used for a
variety of sizes of containers or bottles and may also allow for self-
propulsion in personal bottles.
The balloon liner may also expand when being filled with a beverage, such that
the elasticity of the
liner may help to self-propel a beverage out when a user takes a drink. As an
example, the self-
emptying may be used for individuals with mobility issues, or athletes in
competitive situations who
are not able to tilt their head back to drink.
[00226] FIGs. 48D ¨ 48E illustrate side views of examples of a bladder liner
133-b having a V-
shaped neck 133-c, according to an aspect. The V-shaped neck 133-c may aid in
fitting the bladder
liner or rubber balloon into any type of container for allowing the container
to self-propel its
contents.
[00227] FIG. 48F illustrates a keg 10 having an air pump 120 and rubber
balloon bladder 133,
according to an aspect. The air pump 120 may be used to pump air into the
space within the keg to
propel liquid or food out of the flexible bladder 133. It should be understood
that any keg may be
constructed to be able to use a balloon bladder 103 to hold liquid or food,
such that the balloon
bladder 133 may be replaceable with a new bladder at any time.
[00228] FIGs. 49A ¨ 49B illustrate side views of a cylindrical friction
coupling, having a male
coupling 215-a and female coupling 215 in a coupled state and uncoupled state,
respectively, that
may be used with a keg, according to an aspect. In order to assist in an
airtight seal, the male
cylindrical coupling 215-a may be inserted into the female cylindrical
coupling 215 and also may
slide into a channel sleeve 167 that is deeper inside of the female
cylindrical coupling 215. The
channel sleeve 167 may be even with the leading edge of the female cylindrical
coupling 215. An
advantage may be that the cylindrical coupling may be more adaptive to the
operation of the petcock
valve and auger shaft, which may allow for better control of soft serve food,
for example. The
coupling may also be a rounded bull nose type coupling, as shown by 215-b,
which may be in a U-
shape, for better airtightness.
[00229] The cylindrical coupling may include metal plates where a metal-to-
metal seal may take
place, between a stainless steel male cylindrical coupling and a female
stainless steel cylindrical
coupling. The components may also be constructed from polymer plastic
materials, for example, and
may have flexible semi-plastic rubber seals where the male and female
components meet.
[00230] FIG. 49C illustrates a side view of another example of cylindrical
friction coupling with
a female friction coupling 215 and a corresponding male friction coupling 215-
a in an uncoupled
state that may be used with a keg 10, according to an aspect. The coupling may
for example snap and
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lock into place into a receiving channel. Snap pins 215-d may fit into snap
pin cavities 215-e.
Flexible rubber washers which may be constructed from rubber, for example, may
be placed at the
top of the channel to create an airtight barrier. Pins may also be used or a
sleeve in the channel to
create airtightness.
[00231] FIG. 49D illustrates a cylindrical coupling having a female
friction coupling 215 and a
corresponding male friction coupling 215-a, with friction plates 170 that may
be used with a keg 10,
according to an aspect. With the use of the friction plates 170, the male
coupling may not need to go
into the female coupling, and instead, a seal may be provided by weight and
friction. As another
example, instead of a seal taking place with the sides of the male and female
couplings, the airtight
seal may be caused by a side shaft gasket plate on the male coupling and a
bottom rubber seal or
gasket at the end of the male coupling adjacent to a female flat plate. The
friction plates 170 may be
sandwiched between other elements in order to ensure a tighter seal, such as,
for example, a gasket
169, a rubber seal 168, or any other suitable means for an airtight seal. The
two friction plates 170
may be pressed together by weight, and the gasket 169 and rubber seal 168 may
be flexible. The
presence of the friction plates 170 may also allow for the channel of the
female coupling 215 to be
smaller.
[00232] FIG. 49E illustrates a detailed view of the cylindrical coupling of
FIG. 49D showing
friction plates with a gasket 169, according to an aspect. The gasket 169 may
allow for a tighter seal
of the coupling. The bottom seal created by the friction plate 170 is also
shown, and the rubber seal
168 at the top of the channel.
[00233] FIG. 49F illustrates a detailed view of the cylindrical coupling of
FIGs. 49A ¨ 49B
having a female bull nose or dolphin nose coupling 215-c and a corresponding
male bull nose or
dolphin nose coupling 215-b. The bull nose or dolphin nose shape may allow for
better guiding of the
male friction coupling 215-b while entering the female bull nose or dolphin
nose friction coupling
215-c. The rounded U-shape of the bull nose or dolphin nose may have more
surface area at the point
than a V-shaped point, which may allow for a better and tighter seal. The
better and tighter seal by a
bull nose or dolphin nose may also prevent liquids from spilling out around
the point of contact. An
advantage may be that the airtightness may extend the shelf life of liquids or
foods contained within
the keg. Another advantage may be that a bull nose type coupling is universal
and may be used with
many different types of kegs or containers, and may allow the user of an auger
conveyer within the
container for a more even flow of the liquid or food inside.
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[00234] FIG. 50 illustrates a multi-use keg 10-a that may include multiple
pods ("pods" or
"chambers") 404-a ¨ 404-d, according to an aspect. As shown as an example, one
multi-use keg 10-a
may, as an example, include four pods 404-a ¨ 404-d. A pod 404-a may include a
chamber 402
having a petcock gate valve 102 (shown only in pod 404-a for visual clarity),
and may include two
petcock valves 102, which may be automatically opened by, for example, a
stepper motor and may
regulate flow of the keg contents. The gate valve may allow added flavor
ingredients to flow from the
main reservoir of the keg 10-a into a second reservoir chamber for mixing,
which may be, as an
example 1/2 ounce to 2 ounces in capacity. The gate valve may include a fin
102-a, which may jut out
as a plate, and may be at a 90 degree angle to the gate valve 102, and may
perform the action of a
handle at the end of the petcock valve.
[00235] Each pod 404-a ¨ 404-d may also include an auger to assist in keeping
product
thoroughly mixed, as shown in FIG. 35C. An auger may be omitted for liquids,
or may be included
when using a keg 10-a for thicker foods.
[00236] The keg 10-a may include a lift lid that may be secured or opened with
any suitable
means, such as, for example, a hinge with a push button locking latch, for
opening a pod 404-a and
inserting a beverage or food to be dispensed.
[00237] The keg 10-a may include at least a scannable tag 172 for reading or
providing data or
information about the contents of the keg 10-a. The scannable tag 172 may be
similar to the
scannable bar code (shown by 89 in FIG. 22), and may, for example, be tags
such as bar codes, QR
codes, radio-frequency identification (RFID) near field communication (NFC),
and any other similar
machine-readable data. The scannable tag 172 may therefore be able to provide
information about the
contents of each chamber 404-a to a dispenser, for example, such as, for
example, ingredients, the
amount of sugar, recipes including the contents of the chamber, volume of each
ingredient, and so on.
The information contained in the scannable tag may be read by a scanner on a
dispenser of the food
or beverage (such as, for example, a scanner shown by 90 in FIG. 22).
[00238] It should be understood that any of the materials used for
constructing the keg may be
biodegradable, such as, for example, bio-plastic that may be recycled by
single-stream recycling
processes.
[00239] It should be understood that a friction coupling in any of the above
examples may be V-
shaped or cylindrical, the male and female couplings corresponding with one
another.
[00240] It may be advantageous to set forth definitions of certain words and
phrases used in this
patent document. The term "couple" and its derivatives refer to any direct or
indirect communication
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between two or more elements, whether or not those elements are in physical
contact with one
another. The term "or" is inclusive, meaning and/or. The phrases "associated
with" and "associated
therewith," as well as derivatives thereof, may mean to include, be included
within, interconnect
with, contain, be contained within, connect to or with, couple to or with, be
communicable with,
cooperate with, interleave, juxtapose, be proximate to, be bound to or with,
have, have a property of,
or the like.
[00241] Further, as used in this application, "plurality" means two or more. A
"set" of items may
include one or more of such items. Whether in the written description or the
claims, the terms
"comprising," "including," "carrying," "having," "containing," "involving,"
and the like are to be
understood to be open-ended, i.e., to mean including but not limited to. Only
the transitional phrases
"consisting of' and "consisting essentially of," respectively, are closed or
semi-closed transitional
phrases with respect to claims.
[00242] If
present, use of ordinal terms such as "first," "second," "third," etc., in the
claims to
modify a claim element does not by itself connote any priority, precedence or
order of one claim
element over another or the temporal order in which acts of a method are
performed. These terms are
used merely as labels to distinguish one claim element having a certain name
from another element
having a same name (but for use of the ordinal term) to distinguish the claim
elements. As used in
this application, "and/or" means that the listed items are alternatives, but
the alternatives also include
any combination of the listed items.
[00243] Throughout this description, the aspects, embodiments or examples
shown should be
considered as exemplars, rather than limitations on the apparatus or
procedures disclosed or claimed.
Although some of the examples may involve specific combinations of method acts
or system
elements, it should be understood that those acts and those elements may be
combined in other ways
to accomplish the same objectives.
[00244] Acts, elements and features discussed only in connection with one
aspect, embodiment or
example are not intended to be excluded from a similar role(s) in other
aspects, embodiments or
examples.
[00245] Aspects, embodiments or examples of the invention may be described as
processes,
which are usually depicted using a flowchart, a flow diagram, a structure
diagram, or a block
diagram. Although a flowchart may depict the operations as a sequential
process, many of the
operations can be performed in parallel or concurrently. In addition, the
order of the operations may
be re-arranged. With regard to flowcharts, it should be understood that
additional and fewer steps
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may be taken, and the steps as shown may be combined or further refined to
achieve the described
methods.
[00246] If means-plus-function limitations are recited in the claims, the
means are not intended to
be limited to the means disclosed in this application for performing the
recited function, but are
intended to cover in scope any equivalent means, known now or later developed,
for performing the
recited function.
[00247] If any presented, the claims directed to a method and/or process
should not be limited to
the performance of their steps in the order written, and one skilled in the
art can readily appreciate
that the sequences may be varied and still remain within the spirit and scope
of the present invention.
[00248] Although aspects, embodiments and/or examples have been illustrated
and described
herein, someone of ordinary skills in the art will easily detect alternate of
the same and/or equivalent
variations, which may be capable of achieving the same results, and which may
be substituted for the
aspects, embodiments and/or examples illustrated and described herein, without
departing from the
scope of the invention. Therefore, the scope of this application is intended
to cover such alternate
aspects, embodiments and/or examples. Hence, the scope of the invention is
defined by the
accompanying claims and their equivalents. Further, each and every claim is
incorporated as further
disclosure into the specification.
