Patents by Inventor Robert Clay Groesbeck

Robert Clay Groesbeck 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: 9790079
    Abstract: A dispenser is provided to receive and hold a bag-in-box container on top of a conventional type water cooler and to control the flow of water from the bag-in-box container into a water reservoir of the water cooler to maintain a desired level of water in the water reservoir. Level control of water in the reservoir is provided by controlling the venting of the sealed reservoir to the atmosphere and/or by controlling the flow of water into the reservoir from the water supply line. Venting control can be through use of a hydrophobic membrane or through use of float valves in the vent, and control of flow of liquid into the reservoir from the water supply line can be by a special float valve that allows high flow capacity at low pressures or through discharge of water from the reservoir. The reservoir can be formed as a flow through passage through a mass of temperature adjusting material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Inventor: Robert Clay Groesbeck
  • Patent number: 9738506
    Abstract: An adapter to convert a conventional water cooler designed for use with substantially rigid water bottles as the source of water to use of bag-in-box liquid containers as the source of water includes a holder for removably holding a bag-in-box liquid container in place of the water bottle at the top of the water cooler and a liquid supply line connectable to a bag dispensing fitting of a bag-in-box liquid container positioned in the holder and a water bottle opening cap engaging pin above a water reservoir in the water cooler. Water from the bag-in-box liquid container can flow by gravity from the bag-in-box liquid container through the liquid supply line and the water bottle opening cap engaging pin into the reservoir. A water level controller to control the flow of water from the bag-in-box container into the water reservoir to control the level of water in the reservoir can also be included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Inventor: Robert Clay Groesbeck
  • Publication number: 20160207751
    Abstract: An adapter to convert a conventional water cooler designed for use with substantially rigid water bottles as the source of water to use of bag-in-box liquid containers as the source of water includes a holder for removably holding a bag-in-box liquid container in place of the water bottle at the top of the water cooler and a liquid supply line connectable to a bag dispensing fitting of a bag-in-box liquid container positioned in the holder and a water bottle opening cap engaging pin above a water reservoir in the water cooler. Water from the bag-in-box liquid container can flow by gravity from the bag-in-box liquid container through the liquid supply line and the water bottle opening cap engaging pin into the reservoir. A water level controller to control the flow of water from the bag-in-box container into the water reservoir to control the level of water in the reservoir can also be included.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Inventor: Robert Clay Groesbeck
  • Publication number: 20160083242
    Abstract: A dispenser is provided to receive and hold a bag-in-box container on top of a conventional type water cooler and to control the flow of water from the bag-in-box container into a water reservoir of the water cooler to maintain a desired level of water in the water reservoir. Level control of water in the reservoir is provided by controlling the venting of the sealed reservoir to the atmosphere and/or by controlling the flow of water into the reservoir from the water supply line. Venting control can be through use of a hydrophobic membrane or through use of float valves in the vent, and control of flow of liquid into the reservoir from the water supply line can be by a special float valve that allows high flow capacity at low pressures or through discharge of water from the reservoir. The reservoir can be formed as a flow through passage through a mass of temperature adjusting material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2014
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Inventor: Robert Clay Groesbeck
  • Patent number: 5810185
    Abstract: Prior art bottle closures having a stationary closure member applicable to the top of a bottle and a closure member that is movable relative to the stationary closure member are improved by incorporation, between said closure members, of mutually cooperative, fluid sealing members extending transversely of the pouring axis of the bottle closures and separable therefrom for preventing escape of gaseous ingredients, such as carbonation, of drinkable liquids contained by bottles to which the bottle closures are applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1998
    Inventor: Robert Clay Groesbeck