Patents by Inventor Lieven Dirx

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

  • Patent number: 11312609
    Abstract: A kit for dispensing a beverage through a dispense tube comprising a dispense valve, the kit comprising: •—an assembly of a keg (1) and a closure (2), the keg (1) and closure (2) assembly comprising: •a. an inner vent mechanism incorporated in the closure or at the interface of keg and closure, the inner vent mechanism configured to fluidly connect the inner space and intermediate space when an overpressure of predetermined value Poo occurs in the flexible bag; and •b.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Anheuser-Busch InBev S.A.
    Inventors: Vanessa Valles, Lieven Dirx, Daniel Peirsman
  • Patent number: 11198602
    Abstract: A beverage tap installation includes a tap housing defining an inner cavity and a tap head defining a liquid channel having an inlet, outlet, and a valve receiving slot. The tap head includes a valve actuator and a valve actuator operating mechanism. A removable flexible dispense tube has a beverage inlet and outlet, the flexible dispense tube includes a liquid valve lodged in the valve receiving slot and cooperates with the valve actuator. A locking mechanism allows removably mounting the tap head on the tap housing. The flexible dispense tube includes an abutment surface in proximity of the valve and the tap installation having an engaging member on the tap head or the tap installation and abutting the dispense tube when the valve is lodged in the valve receiving slot. The tap head is mounted on the tap housing and the engaging member is provided on the tap housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Anheuser-Busch InBev S.A.
    Inventors: Lieven Dirx, Stijn Vandekerckhove
  • Publication number: 20210347625
    Abstract: A kit for dispensing a beverage through a dispense tube comprising a dispense valve, the kit comprising: •—an assembly of a keg (1) and a closure (2), the keg (1) and closure (2) assembly comprising: •a. an inner vent mechanism incorporated in the closure or at the interface of keg and closure, the inner vent mechanism configured to fluidly connect the inner space and intermediate space when an overpressure of predetermined value Poo occurs in the flexible bag; and •b.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Inventors: Vanessa Valles, Lieven Dirx, Daniel Peirsman
  • Patent number: 11008205
    Abstract: A cooling unit has (a) a cooling cartridge having (i) two foils sealed to one another along a perimeter area delimiting an inner area of the cartridge where a liquid pathway is defined between both foils, the liquid pathway making a fluid communication between an inlet and an outlet of the cooling cartridge; (ii) a web or mesh of material provided between both foils in the inner area of the cooling cartridge in the liquid pathway, the web or mesh of material has contact zones where the foils contact the web or mesh of material in the inner area of the cooling cartridge when the pressure reigning in the inner area equals ambient pressure; (b) a first cooling plate has a first surface and a second cooling plate has a second surface facing the first surface; (c) a cold source suitable for cooling said first and second surfaces, wherein the inner area of the cooling cartridge is positioned between both cooling surfaces; wherein the foils are not or only at distinct locations attached to the contact zones of the w
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Anheuser-Busch InBev S.A.
    Inventors: Daniel Peirsman, Lieven Dirx
  • Publication number: 20210107781
    Abstract: A beverage tap installation includes a tap housing defining an inner cavity and a tap head defining a liquid channel having an inlet, outlet, and a valve receiving slot. The tap head includes a valve actuator and a valve actuator operating mechanism. A removable flexible dispense tube has a beverage inlet and outlet, the flexible dispense tube includes a liquid valve lodged in the valve receiving slot and cooperates with the valve actuator. A locking mechanism allows removably mounting the tap head on the tap housing. The flexible dispense tube includes an abutment surface in proximity of the valve and the tap installation having an engaging member on the tap head or the tap installation and abutting the dispense tube when the valve is lodged in the valve receiving slot. The tap head is mounted on the tap housing and the engaging member is provided on the tap housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2017
    Publication date: April 15, 2021
    Inventors: Lieven Dirx, Stijn Vandekerckhove
  • Publication number: 20190322517
    Abstract: A cooling unit has (a) a cooling cartridge having (i) two foils sealed to one another along a perimeter area delimiting an inner area of the cartridge where a liquid pathway is defined between both foils, the liquid pathway making a fluid communication between an inlet and an outlet of the cooling cartridge; (ii) a web or mesh of material provided between both foils in the inner area of the cooling cartridge in the liquid pathway, the web or mesh of material has contact zones where the foils contact the web or mesh of material in the inner area of the cooling cartridge when the pressure reigning in the inner area equals ambient pressure; (b) a first cooling plate has a first surface and a second cooling plate has a second surface facing the first surface; (c) a cold source suitable for cooling said first and second surfaces, wherein the inner area of the cooling cartridge is positioned between both cooling surfaces; wherein the foils are not or only at distinct locations attached to the contact zones of the w
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2017
    Publication date: October 24, 2019
    Inventors: Daniel Peirsman, Lieven Dirx
  • Publication number: 20190241420
    Abstract: A dispensing appliance prepares and dispenses a malt based fermented beverage (MBFB) by mixing an MBFB concentrate with a carbonated diluent. The dispensing appliance has a mixing chamber for mixing the MBFB concentrate and the carbonated diluent. The mixing chamber is defined by walls and is divided by a mid-plane normal to a longitudinal axis, X, into an upper portion and a lower portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Publication date: August 8, 2019
    Inventors: Daniel Peirsman, Lieven Dirx
  • Patent number: 6286679
    Abstract: A fixing element (30) retains an article (20) from moving inside a container (10). The container (10) has a base (11) and a cover (19). The fixing element (30) has a tape-like portion (31) that is bent around a corner (21) of the article (20), thus retaining the corner (21) and urging the article (20) against two side walls (15, 16) of the base (11) of the container (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Agfa Gevaert N.V.
    Inventor: Lieven Dirx
  • Patent number: 6199697
    Abstract: A fixing element (30) retains an article (20) from moving inside a container (10). The container (10) has a base (11) and a cover (19). The fixing element (30) has a tape portion (31) that is bent around a corner (21) of the article (20), thus retaining the corner (21) and urging the article (20) against two side walls (15, 16) of the base (11) of the container (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert
    Inventor: Lieven Dirx
  • Patent number: 6044975
    Abstract: A pack (12) of thermal-sensitive sheets, which comprises a stack of sheets (77) bearing each a thermal-sensitive layer on one sheet side, a protective foil (79) in contact with the thermal-sensitive layer of the outermost sheet of the stack, and a rupturable strap (78) encircling the stack of sheets and the protective foil, and attached to such foil by means of a rupturable seal (83).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert
    Inventors: Lieven Dirx, Patrick Van Wynsberge
  • Patent number: 6026955
    Abstract: A method for lighttightly packaging a stack of light-sensitive photographic sheets in a lighttight holder comprising a rectangular tray-like base and a cover therefore, which comprises the steps of:placing one light- and dusttight wrapping foil on said base, said wrapping foil extending beyond the periphery of said base,disposing said stack of sheets onto said wrapping foil so that the wrapping foil becomes displaced in the base and is made to conform to the inner space thereof,placing another light- and dusttight wrapping foil on said loaded stack of sheets,placing a cover on said loaded base, the two wrapping foils protruding between the base and its cover,cutting simultaneously the protruding portions of the wrapping foils, andlighttightly sealing the cover to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert
    Inventor: Lieven Dirx
  • Patent number: 5996991
    Abstract: A pack (12) of thermal-sensitive sheets, which comprises a stack of sheets (77) bearing each a thermal-sensitive layer on one sheet side, a protective foil (79) in contact with the thermal-sensitive layer of the outermost sheet of the stack, and a rupturable strap (78) encircling the stack of sheets and the protective foil, and attached to such foil by means of a rupturable seal (83).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert
    Inventors: Lieven Dirx, Patrick Van Wynsberge
  • Patent number: 5893002
    Abstract: A cassette for daylight-loading a photographic sheet pack in a photographic processor, which sheet pack is of a type comprising a stack of rectangular photographic light-sensitive sheets wrapped in an oversized wrapper, which cassette comprises:a rectangular base (20) with a bottom wall and peripheral walls providing an interior space within which a sheet pack can fit, anda cassette lid (40) fitting on the base and comprising a rectangular (41) frame arranged for lighttightly fitting on the peripheral walls, and a sub-lid (42) lighttightly fitting on the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert
    Inventor: Lieven Dirx
  • Patent number: 5729962
    Abstract: A method for lighttightly packaging a stack of light-sensitive photographic sheets in a lighttight holder comprising a rectangular tray-like base and a cover therefore, which comprises the steps of:placing one light- and dusttight wrapping foil on said base, said wrapping foil extending beyond the periphery of said base,disposing said stack of sheets onto said wrapping foil so that the wrapping foil becomes displaced in the base and is made to conform to the inner space thereof,placing another light- and dusttight wrapping foil on said loaded stack of sheets,placing a cover on said loaded base, the two wrapping foils protruding between the base and its cover,cutting simultaneously the protruding portions of the wrapping foils, andlighttightly sealing the cover to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert N.V.
    Inventor: Lieven Dirx
  • Patent number: 5710963
    Abstract: A toner powder bottle having a base, a top, and intermediate side walls. A powder discharge opening is formed in the base. The bottle includes a bayonet connection for cooperating with a corresponding bayonet connection of a bottle receiving member to which the toner bottle is connected in use. Finger recesses are formed in the side walls adjacent the top, the finger recesses including lateral and axial function edges to facilitate axial and rotational manipulation of the bottle to enable connection of the bottle to the bottle receiving member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1998
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert N.V.
    Inventor: Lieven Dirx
  • Patent number: 5649411
    Abstract: A stack of photographic sheets is arranged between two rectangular sheets of lighttight wrapping foil. The foil sheets are of a size larger than the stack so that their side margins project laterally exteriorly of the stack in sandwiched relation to form flaps on all sides of the stack. The flaps are initially lighttightly closed, e.g. sealed together, along their peripheral margins. The wrapped stack is lighttightly enclosed within a package having a base and a cover. The base has upstanding side walls arranged in a rectangle large enough to contain the wrapped stack and may include a solid bottom wall. The cover is light-impervious and has margins overlying the top edges of the base side walls in lighttight clamping contact therewith with inner regions of the projecting sheet flaps gripped therebetween to lighttightly close said flaps inwardly of their edges. The initial closure along the flap margins can now be removed to free edges of the flaps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 22, 1997
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert N.V.
    Inventor: Lieven Dirx
  • Patent number: 5600361
    Abstract: A storage box (10, 12) for a dye ribbon cassette (33) which is provided with a laterally outwardly extending handle (28, 29) at each lateral side allowing easy gripping of the cassette, said storage box being a generally rectangular enclosure having a top, bottom, two side walls and a rear wall, a front opening (18) giving access to the box and a door (19) for closing such opening, and a slot (22) in each side wall extending up from the front end of the box in the direction of the rear wall, the height and the configuration of said slots being such as to allow insertion of a cassette in the storage box through its front opening while the handles fit in said slots, the outside portion of the handles remaining outside of the box thereby allowing gripping of the cassette.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1997
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert N.V.
    Inventor: Lieven Dirx
  • Patent number: 5547298
    Abstract: An improved package for supply and take-up spools of dye ribbon for use with the cassette of a thermal printer in which the ribbon spools include a part, e.g. a flange, shaped for engagement with a correspondingly shaped socket in the carton holding the spools during transport etc. to thereby prevent relative rotation of the spools while within the carton.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1996
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert N. V.
    Inventors: Paul Wouters, Lieven Dirx
  • Patent number: D991726
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Anheuser-Busch InBev S.A
    Inventors: Lieven Dirx, Craig Jones, Jonathan Ashbridge, Tim Whateley, Adam Haworth
  • Patent number: D996133
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Anheuser-Busch Inbev S.A.
    Inventors: Lieven Dirx, Craig Jones, Jonathan Ashbridge, Tim Whateley, Adam Haworth