Patents Assigned to Automatic Bar Controls, Inc.
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Patent number: 6220484Abstract: A beverage dispensing device includes a dispensing spout disposed at the mouth of a bottle. A single-piece, disposable security strap is used to secure the spout to the bottle to prevent unauthorized removal of the spout to dispense drinks. The spout has a distal portion with a spout opening and a proximal shoulder larger in cross-sectional than the distal portion. The security strap includes a strap ring having an opening configured to surround and capture the proximal shoulder of the spout. The strap further includes at least a pair of connecting portions extending from the strap ring. Each connecting portion has an affixing member at an end. At least one of the affixing members has a self-adhering surface for adhering to the exterior of the bottle. To dispense the beverage, the strap is broken and discarded.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 1999Date of Patent: April 24, 2001Assignee: Automatic Bar Controls, Inc.Inventor: Richard A. Martindale
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Patent number: 6220835Abstract: A piston is movable to reciprocate in a chamber. The piston has a transfer check valve which permits condiment flow only in a direction from an inlet side of the chamber to an outlet side of the chamber. The inlet side of the chamber includes an inlet coupled to a condiment source. The outlet side of the chamber includes an outlet with an outlet check valve. When the piston is moved from the outlet side to the inlet side of the chamber, the transfer check valve is open to permit condiment flow from the inlet side to the outlet side of the chamber, and the outlet check valve is closed to accumulate condiment therein. Upon accumulation of a desired amount of condiment in the outlet side of the chamber, the piston is moved from the inlet side to the outlet side of the chamber. During that time, the transfer check valve is closed and the outlet check valve is open to dispense the accumulated condiment in the outlet side of the chamber. At the same time, condiment is flowed into inlet side of the chamber.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 1999Date of Patent: April 24, 2001Assignee: Automatic Bar Controls, Inc.Inventors: Juha K. Salmela, Charles E. Bennett, Antonio J. Jepson
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Patent number: 6112946Abstract: This invention provides a system and a method of economically and efficiently dispensing frozen beverages within a desired range of consistency in a continuous manner suitable for large-scale high-volume usage. A sensor is used to monitor the level of the beverage in a container for providing the frozen beverage. The beverage is cooled by a cooling device which has a cooling capacity. A flow regulating device is used to regulate the flow rate of the beverage to the container. A controller is coupled with the sensor and the flow regulating device to regulate the flow rate of the beverage in response to the monitored beverage level and the cooling capacity of the cooling device. When properly tuned to match the cooling capacity of the cooling device with the flow rate of the beverage into the container, the controller maintains the desired consistency of the frozen beverage, while automatically refilling the beverage container to within a desired range of levels.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 1999Date of Patent: September 5, 2000Assignee: Automatic Bar Controls, Inc.Inventors: Charles E. Bennett, Antonio J. Jepson, Richard A. Martindale
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Patent number: 6082587Abstract: The invention relates to a condiment dispensing system for dispensing condiment and the like which includes a gas operated pump for moving condiment(s) from a condiment source to a delivery nozzle through a condiment conduit which includes a draw-back valve to prevent condiment buildup on the delivery nozzle. A gas-operated pump is controlled at the delivery nozzle to effect delivery of the condiment.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 1999Date of Patent: July 4, 2000Assignee: Automatic Bar Controls, Inc.Inventors: Richard A. Martindale, Antonio J. Jepson, Charles Bennett, Juha Salmela
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Patent number: 5996846Abstract: The invention relates to a condiment dispensing system for dispensing condiment and the like which includes a gas operated pump for moving condiment(s) from a condiment source to a delivery nozzle through a condiment conduit which is valveless to thus prevent splatter of the delivered condiment due to entrained gas. A gas-operated pump is controlled at the delivery nozzle to effect delivery of the condiment.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 1997Date of Patent: December 7, 1999Assignee: Automatic Bar Controls, Inc.Inventor: Richard A. Martindale
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Patent number: 5950867Abstract: The invention provides a system and method of dispensing heated condiment from a condiment source. The condiment is flowed through a heater hose, and the temperature of the condiment is controlled within a predetermined range by sensing the temperature of the condiment in the hose and controlling the operation of the heater hose to maintain the temperature of the condiment within the predetermined range which results in the dispensing of condiment at a desired temperature.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 1997Date of Patent: September 14, 1999Assignee: Automatic Bar Controls, Inc.Inventors: Richard A. Martindale, Antonio J. Jepson, James M. Tuyls, Matthew Thomas Straddeck
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Patent number: 5906296Abstract: The invention relates to a condiment dispensing system for dispensing condiment and the like which includes a gas operated pump for moving condiment(s) from a condiment source to a delivery nozzle through a condiment conduit which includes a draw-back valve to prevent condiment buildup on the delivery nozzle. A gas-operated pump is controlled at the delivery nozzle to effect delivery of the condiment.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 1996Date of Patent: May 25, 1999Assignee: Automatic Bar Controls, Inc.Inventors: Richard A. Martindale, Antonio J. Jepson, Charles Bennett, Juha Salmela
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Patent number: 5624056Abstract: The invention relates to a condiment dispensing system for dispensing condiment and the like which includes a gas operated pump for moving condiments from a condiment source to a delivery nozzle through a pinch valve that operates to close and open the delivery flow path in response to and absence of gas pressure. A swipe valve to clean the delivery nozzle is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 1995Date of Patent: April 29, 1997Assignee: Automatic Bar Controls, Inc.Inventor: Richard A. Martindale
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Patent number: 5042692Abstract: A beverage dispensing apparatus includes a beverage dispensing head wherein a rigid plate is disposed over a mixing fluid valve stem and a plurality of base fluid valve stems. The plate has an opening located over each base fluid valve stem for receiving the associated base fluid valve stem therethrough. The plate has a rigid surface disposed over the mixing fluid valve stem. A mixing fluid button contacts the rigid surface of the plate so that, when the mixing fluid button is depressed, only the mixing fluid is dispensed. A first base fluid button covers the opening in the plate disposed over its associated base fluid valve stem. The first base fluid button also contacts the plate so that, when the button is depressed, the button depresses both the base fluid valve stem and the plate. The plate, in turn, depresses the mixing fluid valve stem.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 1990Date of Patent: August 27, 1991Assignee: Automatic Bar Controls, Inc.Inventors: Mojtaba Valiyee, William A. Martindale, Richard A. Martindale
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Patent number: 4986449Abstract: A beverage dispensing apparatus includes a beverage dispensing head wherein a rigid plate is disposed over a mixing fluid valve stem and a plurality of base fluid valve stems. The plate has an opening located over each base fluid valve stem for receiving the associated base fluid valve stem therethrough. The plate has a rigid surface disposed over the mixing fluid valve stem. A mixing fluid button contacts the rigid surface of the plate so that, when the mixing fluid button is depressed, only the mixing fluid is dispensed. A first base fluid button covers the opening in the plate disposed over its associated base fluid valve stem. The first base fluid button also contacts the plate so that, when the button is depressed, the button depresses both the base fluid valve stem and the plate. The plate, in turn, depresses the mixing fluid valve stem.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 1988Date of Patent: January 22, 1991Assignee: Automatic Bar Controls, Inc.Inventors: Mojtaba Valiyee, William A. Martindale, Richard A. Martindale
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Patent number: 4732300Abstract: A beverage dispensing apparatus for dispensing premixed carbonated beverages from a single beverage dispensing head, the premixed beverages being supplied to a dispenser head by conduits connected to individual premixed beverage sources. The dispenser head consists of a handle having an upper surface portion. The dispenser head has a plurality of channels therethrough, each connected at one end to the conduit and discharging the premixed beverage at the other end. The channel has a tapered portion, which is generally parallel to the upper surface of the dispenser head. A valve is received within the tapered portion and includes a stemmed poppet having a stem at one end and a biasing member which urges the poppet toward the taper so as to seal the valve. The valve is actuated by an obtusely angled lever, having a first portion generally parallel to the first surface of the dispenser head and a second portion, operatively coupled to and essentially perpendicular to the poppet stem.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 1987Date of Patent: March 22, 1988Assignee: Automatic Bar Controls, Inc.Inventors: Mojtaba Valiyee, William A. Martindale, Richard A. Martindale
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Patent number: D309232Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 1986Date of Patent: July 17, 1990Assignee: Automatic Bar Controls, Inc.Inventors: Mojtaba Valiyee, William A. Martindale, Richard A. Martindale
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Patent number: D390421Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 1996Date of Patent: February 10, 1998Assignee: Automatic Bar Controls, Inc.Inventor: Richard A. Martin
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Patent number: D392509Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 1996Date of Patent: March 24, 1998Assignee: Automatic Bar Controls, Inc.Inventor: Richard A. Martindale
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Patent number: D401477Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 1997Date of Patent: November 24, 1998Assignee: Automatic Bar Controls, Inc.Inventor: Richard A. Martindale
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Patent number: D407260Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 1997Date of Patent: March 30, 1999Assignee: Automatic Bar Controls, Inc.Inventor: Richard A. Martindale