Patents Examined by Lien Ngo
  • Patent number: 8807395
    Abstract: A beverage dispensing system is disclosed, typical of prior art beverage dispensing systems, in that it is designed to dispense fluids, such as syrup and/or soda and water, from a bar gun. The bar gun is connected by a multiplicity of lines to a manifold and flow control assembly. The manifold and flow control assembly, in turn, receives a number of different fluids, typically syrup, water and soda, under pressure from a number of different pressurized containers. Applicants' novel system includes schematics, typically in the form of adhesive labels, applied to the dispensing system, typically on the manifold and flow control assembly, which schematics illustrate the button arrangement on the handle, and the inlet port layout on the handle, and relate the same, using words, symbols or a combination, to indicia identified ports on the manifold and flow control assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Schroeder Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: A. A. Jud Schroeder, David Santy, Deborah Absalon
  • Patent number: 8807401
    Abstract: A sealing arrangement is intended for a flexible package. The sealing arrangement includes a circumferential sealing device which may be disposed about an opening in the package. An openable access device is provided for insertion in the opening of the package. The sealing device is disposed about the access device for urging the package against the access device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Lindén International AB
    Inventor: Michael Taylor
  • Patent number: 8807398
    Abstract: A dispenser includes a replaceable liquid container. A nozzle cap is arranged to at least partly enclose a foam pump during storage, transport and use of the replaceable liquid container. The nozzle cap is integral with the replaceable liquid container and is displaceable in the first direction so as to activate the foam pump in said first direction. The first end surface of the nozzle cap includes a dispensing opening aligned with the foam pump through which a quantity of liquid in the form of a foam is discharged upon activation of the foam pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: SCA Hygiene Products AB
    Inventors: Robin Sundberg, Per Möller
  • Patent number: 8794485
    Abstract: A system for dispensing a beverage includes a conical inner sleeve configured to receive a mixture of beverage components, a first blade, and a blade arm. An outer shell receives the first blade, blade arm, and the inner sleeve. A top couples the inner sleeve and outer shell in a fixed position. A tap module includes a tap handle and a tap control. The tap handle restricts and allows beverage flow through a beverage port. The tap control detects whether the tap handle is in a first position or a second position. The tap control prevents a motor from operation while the tap handle is in the first position and engages the motor while the tap handle is in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Inventors: Malcolm Lunn, Larry Kiliszewski, Brett Triola
  • Patent number: 8789726
    Abstract: A tapping device, comprising a container with at least one beverage valve and a connecting device for connection to and operation of the beverage valve, wherein cooling means are provided for cooling the connecting device, wherein for instance the container is filled with fermented beverage, in particular beer, and/or the connecting device is at least partly included in a cooled space. A cooling line or cooling jacket is optionally provided around said connecting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Heineken Supply Chain B.V.
    Inventor: Roelof Anton Segers
  • Patent number: 8783527
    Abstract: A system for storing and monitoring a pressurized fluid includes a pressurized fluid source and a plurality of fluid lines in communication with the supply line of a fluid dispensing system. The fluid lines are configured to selectively permit the passage of the pressurized fluid when the pressure of the source (e.g., a tank) reaches a predetermined threshold value. Specifically, the tank includes a high pressure line, an intermediate pressure line, and a low pressure or reserve line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Advanced Carbonation Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Michael Alan Scott
  • Patent number: 8777067
    Abstract: The beverage dispensing system includes a dispensing faucet defining a flow path, a valve head in the flow path movable between a closed position in sealed contact with a valve seat, and an open position. An actuator is manually movable to operate the faucet, and a biasing element is cooperable with the actuator and valve head such that an initial movement of the actuator will automatically cause sufficient energy to be stored or loaded in the biasing element for moving the valve head to the open position but without doing so. Occurrence of a subsequent predetermined event such as a further movement of the actuator will cause the stored energy to be automatically released to rapidly or nearly instantaneously move the valve head to the open position. As a result, no instruction or skill is required to operate the faucet to uniformly dispense pressurized beverages such as draught beer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Inventors: James A. Trulaske, Stephen M. Schmitt
  • Patent number: 8770444
    Abstract: A fluid material dispensing kit including a pouch, provided with a flexible casing and a dispensing case provided with a cover that is to be mounted onto a base. The cover includes an upper recess that has a manually flexibly deformable wall mounted thereon. The wall has a dispensing opening, and the cover is provided with a lower reinforcement that defines, with the wall, a pumping chamber. The reinforcement has a supply opening. The distribution opening and supply opening are provided with, respectively, an output valve and an input valve. The pouch has, built therein, a coupling provided with a well that is sealably covered by the casing of the pouch, and the reinforcement includes a nipple that is to be placed into the well. The nipple is set up so as to enable the perforation of the casing during the placement thereof into the well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Rexam Dispensing SMT S.A.S.
    Inventors: Eric Rossignol, Pierre Dumont
  • Patent number: 8770443
    Abstract: A foam pump is disclosed which includes a fluid cylinder, an air cylinder, and a mixing chamber. The mixing chamber includes a fluid throughflow axis, a fluid inlet and an air inlet. The fluid cylinder and the air cylinder both include a stroke axis which is substantially normal to the fluid throughflow axis. The fluid cylinder is adapted to draw a fluid therein in a priming stroke and to pump the fluid into the mixing chamber through the fluid inlet in a dispensing stroke. The air cylinder is adapted to draw air therein in a priming stroke and to pump the air into the mixing chamber through the air inlet in a dispensing stroke. The fluid inlet and the air inlet face in substantially opposite directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Brightwell Dispensers Limited
    Inventors: Etienne Vincent Bunoz, Jeremy Rossall
  • Patent number: 8770448
    Abstract: Drop dispenser for releasing a pharmaceutical liquid in drop form, with a housing, a liquid storage and a discharge opening, which penetrates a wall of the housing and to which an outlet valve is assigned, for extracting the liquid. The discharge opening is surrounded by a drop-formation area on the outside of the housing, wherein this drop-formation area, at least in an outer region with respect to an alignment of the drop dispenser with the discharge opening pointing vertically downwards, has a shape tapering downwards and towards the discharge opening. The drop dispenser allows the release of drops with a constant size and shortens drying time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Aptar Radolfzell GmbH
    Inventor: Matthias Wochele
  • Patent number: 8770446
    Abstract: A system and method for dispensing a predetermined portion of a beverage or drink additive using a cost effective portion control valve that replaces electrical components with mechanical components. The present invention dispenses a controlled portion of a beverage when a lever is activated. A magnetically coupled linkage system can control the exact amount of fluid dispensed. A valve block contains a beverage input, a beverage outlet, and a valve seal. A lever arm is connected to the valve seal and connected to a magnetic housing containing a valve magnet. A yoke pivots about the valve block where the yoke contains a yoke magnet aligned to interface with the valve magnet. A lever arm return spring is connected to the lever arm and the valve block to bias the lever arm return spring to a resting position. As the yoke pivots beyond a predetermined distance, the yoke magnet separates from the valve magnet allowing the lever arm to return to the resting position closing the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Cornelius, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott E. Sevcik, Andrew Tobler
  • Patent number: 8763864
    Abstract: A fluid dispenser comprising: a fluid reservoir (1) provided with an opening (10); and a dispenser member (2, 3, 4, 5, 6), such as a pump or a valve, mounted on the opening (10) of the reservoir, the member forming a fluid chamber (C) that is provided with an inlet valve (28, 43), an outlet valve (47, 511), and a lip (42) that is movable in leaktight sliding in a cylinder (27) between a rest position and a depressed position, so as to cause the volume of the chamber (C) to vary, and the fluid in the chamber to be driven through the outlet valve towards a dispenser orifice (50); said container being characterized in that, in the proximity of the depressed position, the inlet valve defines a first escape path (F1) that puts the reservoir (1) into communication with the chamber (C), the chamber, in the proximity of the depressed position, communicating with the outside through a second escape path (F2) that passes via the outlet valve and the dispenser orifice so that, in the proximity of the depressed position,
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Aptar France SAS
    Inventor: Frederic Duquet
  • Patent number: 8763862
    Abstract: A dispensing assembly for dispensing a mixture of fluids is provided. In some embodiments, the dispensing assembly includes a first valve for selectively permitting fluid flow to a mixing chamber in which a second fluid is introduced, wherein the valve is actuated between open and closed positions responsive to fluid pressure downstream of the mixing chamber. In such embodiments, the fluid pressure downstream of the mixing chamber can change based upon whether fluid is dispensed from a spray gun, wand, nozzle, or other dispensing head of the dispensing assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Diversey, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven E. Schiller, Paul Larson, James L. Bournoville
  • Patent number: 8757439
    Abstract: A beverage storage apparatus including an outer container housing an internal flexible and collapsible bladder serving to hold the beverage and a means to regulate the pressure of gas in a head space between the outer container and the internal bladder. The apparatus can further dispense fluid such as beverages whereupon the bladder is under pressure to assist in dispensing the fluid and by use of an appropriate gas maintain the composition of the beverage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Inventor: Ambrosios Kambouris
  • Patent number: 8757452
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a dispenser for attachment to a liquid container may include one or more of the following features: (a) a tubular valve body of a generally hollow form having a liquid outlet port on one end of the valve body capable of coupling to the liquid container, the valve body further including an air vent opening and a liquid vent opening located on an opposite side of the valve body, (b) an integral lid with the valve body slidingly disposed on the opposite side of the valve body and coupled to be moved between a liquid blocking and a liquid dispensing position, and (c) a liquid seal coupled to the integral lid capable of positioning within a liquid vent opening and an air seal coupled to the integral lid capable of positioning within an air vent opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: David S. Smith America, Inc.
    Inventors: James L. Richards, Loren L. Brelje
  • Patent number: 8757437
    Abstract: A gas line leakage monitor for beverage dispensing system is configured to prevent unintended environmental discharge of a beverage dispensing gas such as CO2. The monitor includes a gas inlet coupled to the source of gas and a gas outlet coupled to the dispensing portions of the system. The monitor includes a flow sensor detecting when gas is flowing through the monitor. The monitor includes a timer coupled to the flow sensor and tracking the amount of time that the flow sensor detects at least each episode of un-interrupted flow of gas through the monitor. The monitor includes a shut-off valve coupled to the timer for stopping the flow of gas through the monitor and to the system's dispensing portions when the timer indicates an episode of un-interrupted gas flow through the monitor meets a pre-set threshold. The monitor includes a manual reset for opening the shut-off valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Bevtech, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel E Schneider
  • Patent number: 8746507
    Abstract: A method and system for managing the dispensing of beverages from an automatic beverage dispensing unit. The beverages may be comprised of a single or multiple ingredients, including a first plurality of liquids, a second plurality of liquids, and/or a combination of one or more first and second plurality of liquids. In addition, garnishes and sides may be included in the beverage. The beverages are dispensed according to a pouring schema. The pouring schema may be a beverage recipe and may be preprogrammed by a system manager, or alternatively, be chosen by a consumer during operation of the system. The first plurality of liquids may include liquors and the second plurality of beverages may include mixers which are mixed with the liquors to create the beverage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Smart Bar USA LLC
    Inventors: William Metropulos, Tim Knecht
  • Patent number: 8740014
    Abstract: A dose counter for use with an inhaler comprising a container for medicament equipped with a reciprocal actuation means to dispense a dose of medicament therefrom, the dose counter comprising: a fixed ratchet member, a trigger member constructed and arranged to undergo reciprocal movement coordinated with the reciprocal movement between the actuation means and the container, said reciprocal movement comprising an outward stroke and a return stroke, a counter member constructed and arranged to undergo a predetermined counting movement each time a dose is dispensed, the counter member being biased towards the ratchet and trigger members and being capable of counting motion in a direction generally orthogonal to the direction of reciprocal movement of the trigger member, the counter member comprising: a first region for interaction with the trigger member which comprises at least one inclined surface which is engaged by the trigger member during its outward stroke causing the counter member to undergo counting m
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Graham R. Purkins, Lee A. Kristensen, Sarah Jones, David J. Greenleaf
  • Patent number: 8727186
    Abstract: A product delivery mechanism for a beverage dispensing system that dispenses flavor/ingredients and ice into a serving cup for mixing and/or blending. The product delivery system includes a gas operated pump for moving the flavor/ingredients from a product source to a dispensing nozzle above the serving cup. A gas restrictor is connected to an exhaust port of the pump to regulate gas flow rate and product flow rate so as to prevent splashing at the cup while operating the pump well within its rated pressure limits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: The Delfield Company, LLC
    Inventors: Harry Edward Wing, Donald Earl Hale, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8720744
    Abstract: The invention relates to a closeable opening device (1) made of a spout fitting (2), a cutting element (3), and a screw cap (4), optimized for assembly and use. To this end, the spout fitting (2) and cutting element (3) are produced as semi-finished goods (5). The cutting element (3) comprises an upper edge (33) at the cylindrical part (30), having recesses (36) distributed uniformly around the circumference. The screw cap (4) comprises ring wall segments (46) on the inner underside of the cover surface thereof, designed diametrically opposite the recesses (36). The upper edge (33) and the ring wall segments (46) slide against each other during assembly, until the ring wall segments (46) engage in the recesses (36) in a form-fit manner. A stable form-fit connection thus exists between the two said parts, allowing greater torque to be transmitted without the problems known from the state of the art occurring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Dan Barron