Abstract: A beverage container includes a flexible inside container and a rigid outside container. The flexible container can retain a liquid and seal the liquid from environmental air, while the surrounding rigid container facilitates handling and pouring in a form factor that reproduces the look and feel of a conventional wine bottle. A one-way valve permits pouring from the flexible container while preventing ingress of atmospheric oxygen or other contaminants. In particular, the one-way valve can be configured to retain a beverage within the flexible container until an exit path for the beverage through the valve is filled with liquid to seal the exit path and effectively eliminate any return path for ingress of air. To create a bottle-like pouring experience, the valve may automatically open to allow for the pouring of fluid when the bottle is tilted, and the valve may automatically close at the end of a pour.

Abstract: A beverage container includes a flexible inside container and a rigid outside container. The flexible container can retain a liquid and seal the liquid from environmental air, while the surrounding rigid container facilitates handling and pouring in a form factor that reproduces the look and feel of a conventional wine bottle. A one-way valve permits pouring from the flexible container while preventing ingress of atmospheric oxygen or other contaminants. In particular, the one-way valve can be configured to retain a beverage within the flexible container until an exit path for the beverage through the valve is filled with liquid to seal the exit path and effectively eliminate any return path for ingress of air. To create a bottle-like pouring experience, the valve may automatically open to allow for the pouring of fluid when the bottle is tilted, and the valve may automatically close at the end of a pour.

Abstract: A dispenser system for a fluid container includes a two-stage valve having a chamber disposed in-between an active valve and a passive valve. The chamber and related components may be configured to encourage recapture and sealing of pooled fluid in the chamber under a variety of usage scenarios. The chamber may include a reservoir to recapture fluid that has pooled within the spout when the container is angled for a pour. At the same time, a number of channels may divert outbound fluid flow around the chamber during pouring to ensure that this recapture reservoir is not over-filled with fluid during high-flow-rate pouring scenarios. These two techniques may be used alone, or in combination to simultaneously address recapture of statically and dynamically disposed fluid within the spout.

Abstract: A magnetic robot includes a chassis and at least one track assembly associated with the chassis. The track assembly has a linear series of non-circulating magnet modules displaceably mounted with respect to the chassis. A driven track circulates about the magnet modules and travels on guide portions of the magnet modules.

Abstract: A beverage dispenser includes a number of features providing enhanced functionality for a user, e.g., functionality beyond what might be found in traditional beverage dispensers. By way of example, an improved beverage dispenser may read data relating to contents, display information and graphics about the contents on a display panel, control and monitor dispensed fluids and so forth. A beverage dispenser instrumented in this manner may also be connected through a network to remote resources in order to augment local information and provide a rich, interactive user experience.

Abstract: A magnetic robot includes a chassis and at least one track assembly associated with the chassis. The track assembly has a linear series of non-circulating magnet modules displaceably mounted with respect to the chassis. A driven track circulates about the magnet modules and travels on guide portions of the magnet modules.

Abstract: A beverage container includes a flexible inside container and a rigid outside container. The flexible container can retain a liquid and seal the liquid from environmental air, while the surrounding rigid container facilitates handling and pouring in a form factor that reproduces the look and feel of a conventional wine bottle. A one-way valve permits pouring from the flexible container while preventing ingress of atmospheric oxygen or other contaminants. In particular, the one-way valve can be configured to retain a beverage within the flexible container until an exit path for the beverage through the valve is filled with liquid to seal the exit path and effectively eliminate any return path for ingress of air. To create a bottle-like pouring experience, the valve may automatically open to allow for the pouring of fluid when the bottle is tilted, and the valve may automatically close at the end of a pour.

Abstract: A magnetic robot includes a chassis and at least one track assembly associated with the chassis. The track assembly has a linear series of non-circulating magnet modules displaceably mounted with respect to the chassis. A driven track circulates about the magnet modules and travels on guide portions of the magnet modules.

Abstract: A magnetic robot includes a chassis and at least one track assembly associated with the chassis. The track assembly has a linear series of non-circulating magnet modules displaceably mounted with respect to the chassis. A driven track circulates about the magnet modules and travels on guide portions of the magnet modules.