REFRIGERATOR HAVING A VALVE ENGAGEMENT MECHANISM OPERABLE TO ENGAGE MULTIPLE VALVES OF ONE END OF A LIQUID CONTAINER

• US 20060196887A1
• Filed: 05/22/2006
• Published: 09/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Beverage Works, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Beverage Works, Inc.
• Inventors: Tanner, Roger, Ramsey, Christopher Paul, Crisp, Harry Lee III
• Granted Patent: US 7,918,368 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 222/129.1
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2002/00 Food compositions, function of food ingredients or processes for food or foodstuffs
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0021 the components being mixed at the time of dispensing, i.e. post-mix dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0034 for controlling the amount of each component
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0043 Mixing devices for liquids
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0052 by means for directing respective streams together
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/006 Conventional carbonators
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0079 having their own dispensing means
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0412 the whole dispensing unit being fixed to the container
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/08 Details
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0801 of beverage containers, e.g. casks, kegs
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0878 Safety, warning or controlling devices B67D1/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0888 Means comprising electronic circuitry (e.g. control panels, switching or controlling means)
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0889 Supports
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/12 Flow or pressure control devices or systems , e.g. valves, gas pressure control, level control in storage containers
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2001/0812 Bottles, cartridges or similar containers
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2001/0814 for upside down use
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/00036 for use with or in refrigerators

Abstract

A refrigerator having a container support configured to removably support at least one liquid container having an end with a gas inlet valve and a liquid outlet valve. The refrigerator has at least one gas line and at least one gas inlet valve engager positionable adjacent to such end of the liquid container, and the gas inlet valve engager is configured to be fluidly connected to the gas inlet valve of such end of the liquid container. The refrigerator has at least one liquid outlet valve engager positionable adjacent to such end of the liquid container. The refrigerator has at least one electrical line operatively coupled to the liquid outlet valve engager.

Claims

1. A refrigerator comprising:

a housing having a refrigeration compartment;

at least one door supported by the housing, the door providing access to the refrigeration compartment;

a container support supported by the housing, the container support configured to removably support at least one liquid container, the liquid container having;

(a) a first end having a liquid outlet valve and a gas inlet valve; and

(b) a second end, the liquid container configured to;

(i) be supported by the container support in a first position such that the first end is located below the second end; and

(ii) contain a volume of liquid;

at least one gas line supported by the housing;

at least one gas inlet valve engager supported by the housing at a second position, the gas inlet valve engager being fluidly connected to the gas line, the second position of the gas inlet valve engager being adjacent to the first end of the liquid container when the liquid container has the first position, the gas inlet valve engager configured to be fluidly connected to the gas inlet valve when the liquid container has the first position;

at least one liquid outlet valve engager supported by the housing at a third position, the liquid outlet valve engager being movable, the third position of the liquid outlet valve engager being adjacent to the first end of the liquid container when the liquid container has the first position; and

at least one electrical line supported by the housing, the electrical line operatively coupled to the liquid outlet valve engager.

2. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the container support has a container support wall, the container support wall having an inner wall, the inner wall defining an opening which is configured to receive a portion of the first end of the liquid container.

3. The refrigerator of claim 2, wherein the liquid container has a body between the first end and the second end, the container support having a plurality of side walls connected to the container support wall, the side walls defining a space configured to receive the body of the liquid container.

4. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the gas inlet valve engager has a gas conduit.

5. The refrigerator of claim 4, wherein the gas conduit has a stopping member.

6. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein a portion of the gas inlet valve engager extends along a substantially vertical axis, the first end and the second end of the liquid container being positionable along the vertical axis when the liquid container is supported by the container support.

7. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the gas inlet valve is configured to receive a portion of the gas inlet valve engager.

8. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the liquid outlet valve engager has a device selected from the group consisting of a gear, an extension piston, a pin and a rod.

9. The refrigerator of claim 8, which has an actuator operatively coupled to the liquid outlet valve engager, the actuator having a device selected from the group consisting of a motor and a solenoid.

10. A refrigerator comprising:

a housing having a refrigeration compartment;

at least one door supported by the housing, the door providing access to the refrigeration compartment;

a container support supported by the housing, the container support configured to removably support at least one liquid container, the liquid container having;

(a) a first end having a liquid outlet valve and a gas inlet valve; and

(b) a second end, the liquid container configured to;

(i) be supported by the container support in a first position such that the first end is located below the second end; and

(ii) contain a volume of liquid;

at least one gas line supported by the housing;

at least one gas inlet valve engager supported by the housing at a second position, the gas inlet valve engager being fluidly connected to the gas line, the second position of the gas inlet valve engager being adjacent to the first end of the liquid container when the liquid container has the first position, the gas inlet valve engager configured to be fluidly connected to the gas inlet valve when the liquid container has the first position;

at least one liquid outlet valve engager supported by the housing at a third position, the liquid outlet valve engager being movable, the third position of the liquid outlet valve engager being adjacent to the first end of the liquid container when the liquid container has the first position;

at least one electrical line supported by the housing, the electrical line operatively coupled to the liquid outlet valve engager;

at least one actuator operatively coupled to the liquid outlet valve engager; and

a support member supported by the housing, the support member configured to support a beverage collector.

11. The refrigerator of claim 10, wherein the container support has a container support wall, the container support wall having an inner wall, the inner wall defining an opening which is configured to receive a portion of the first end of the liquid container.

12. The refrigerator of claim 11, wherein the liquid container has a body between the first end and the second end, the container support having a plurality of side walls connected to the container support wall, the side walls defining a space configured to receive the body of the liquid container.

13. The refrigerator of claim 10, wherein the gas inlet valve engager has a gas conduit, the gas conduit having a stopping member.

14. The refrigerator of claim 10, wherein a portion of the gas inlet valve engager extends along a substantially vertical axis, the first end and the second end of the liquid container being positionable along the vertical axis when the liquid container is supported by the container support.

15. The refrigerator of claim 10, wherein the gas inlet valve is configured to receive a portion of the gas inlet valve engager.

16. The refrigerator of claim 10, wherein:

(a) the liquid outlet valve engager has a device selected from the group consisting of a gear, an extension piston, a pin and a rod; and

(b) the actuator has a device selected from the group consisting of a motor and a solenoid.

17. A refrigerator comprising:

a housing having a refrigeration compartment;

at least one door supported by the housing, the door providing access to the refrigeration compartment;

a container support supported by the housing, the container support configured to removably support at least one liquid container, the liquid container having;

(a) a first end having a liquid outlet valve and a gas inlet valve; and

(b) a second end, the liquid container configured to;

(i) be supported by the container support in a first position such that the first end is located below the second end; and

(ii) contain a volume of liquid, the container support having a container support wall, the container support wall having an inner wall, the inner wall defining an opening which is configured to receive a portion of the first end of the liquid container;

at least one gas line supported by the housing;

at least one gas inlet valve engager supported by the housing at a second position, the gas inlet valve engager being fluidly connected to the gas line, the second position of the gas inlet valve engager being adjacent to the first end of the liquid container when the liquid container has the first position, the gas inlet valve engager configured to be fluidly connected to the gas inlet valve when the liquid container has the first position;

at least one liquid outlet valve engager supported by the housing at a third position, the liquid outlet valve engager being movable, the third position of the liquid outlet valve engager being adjacent to the first end of the liquid container when the liquid container has the first position;

at least one electrical line supported by the housing, the electrical line operatively coupled to the liquid outlet valve engager;

at least one actuator operatively coupled to the liquid outlet valve engager; and

a support member supported by the housing, the support member configured to support a beverage collector.

18. The refrigerator of claim 17, wherein the liquid container has a body between the first end and the second end, the container support having a plurality of side walls connected to the container support wall, the side walls defining a space configured to receive the body of the liquid container.

19. The refrigerator of claim 17, wherein a portion of the gas inlet valve engager extends along a substantially vertical axis, the first end and the second end of the liquid container being positionable along the vertical axis when the liquid container is supported by the container support.

20. The refrigerator of claim 17, wherein the gas inlet valve is configured to receive a portion of the gas inlet valve engager.