System, apparatus, and method of dispensing a liquid from a semi-bulk disposable container
First Claim
1. Apparatus for dispensing a liquid from a disposable container, said disposable container having an inlet/outlet opening, and a closure sealably secured to said inlet/outlet opening, said apparatus comprising a shroud for receiving said disposable container and a frame for receiving said shroud, said shroud and said frame withstanding pressurization forces exerted on said container upon internal pressurization thereof, said shroud having a first and a second portion telescopically interfitting with one another, and a stopper assembly fitted to said inlet/outlet of said disposable container and being held in place relative to said disposable container by said shroud, said stopper assembly having means for internally pressurizing said container, means for discharging liquid from said disposable container under pressure, and means for sealing said stopper assembly relative to said disposable container upon internal pressurization of said disposable container.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system, appartatus, and method of dispensing a liquid (e.g., a beverage, a soft drink concentrate, or other flowable liquid-like material) from a semi-bulk container. The system comprises a liquid impervious container having at least one opening therein. The container is installable within a pressure containment vessel of open construction and a fitting is sealingly secured within the opening. This fitting has a port adapted to be connected to a source of pressurized gas so as to admit gas under pressure into the container and to pressurize the liquid within the container. The fitting further has a dip tube which extends down into the liquid so that liquid may be dispensed from the container via the dip tube under pressure. The pressure containment vessel withstands the internal pressurization forces within the container thus permitting the use of an inexpensive, disposable container.
98 Citations
27 Claims
- 1. Apparatus for dispensing a liquid from a disposable container, said disposable container having an inlet/outlet opening, and a closure sealably secured to said inlet/outlet opening, said apparatus comprising a shroud for receiving said disposable container and a frame for receiving said shroud, said shroud and said frame withstanding pressurization forces exerted on said container upon internal pressurization thereof, said shroud having a first and a second portion telescopically interfitting with one another, and a stopper assembly fitted to said inlet/outlet of said disposable container and being held in place relative to said disposable container by said shroud, said stopper assembly having means for internally pressurizing said container, means for discharging liquid from said disposable container under pressure, and means for sealing said stopper assembly relative to said disposable container upon internal pressurization of said disposable container.
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15. In a container having an inlet/outlet opening, said container being adapted for pressure dispensing of a liquid from therewithin, and in a containment means for receiving said container and for supporting said container when internally pressurized, wherein the improvement comprises:
- a closure sealably secured to said inlet/outlet opening, said containment means including a shroud for receiving said container and a frame for receiving said shroud, said containment means further including a stopper assembly cooperable with said closure including a liquid dispensing and gas pressurization means, said liquid dispensing and gas pressurization means being puncturably insertable through said closure so that with said stopper assembly positively held against axial movement relative to said container by said containment means and upon internal pressurization of said container, internal pressurization forces within said container seal said closure relative to said stopper assembly and permit the pressurized discharge of liquid from within said container via said liquid dispensing and gas pressurization means.
- View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. Method of dispensing a liquid from a disposable container of liquid impervious construction and having an inlet/outlet opening, said disposable container being adapted to be inserted in means for withstanding pressurization forces exerted on the disposable container upon internal pressurization thereof, said pressure withstanding means comprising a telescoping shroud receiving said container and a frame means for receiving said shroud with said container therein, said method comprising the steps of:
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inserting said disposable container in said shroud; fitting a stopper assembly to said inlet/outlet opening, said stopper assembly having means for dispensing liquid under pressure from within said container and means for internally pressurizing said container; inserting said shroud with said container therein into said frame means; restraining said stopper assembly against axial movement relative to said disposable container; and internally pressurizing said disposable container via said gas pressurization means thereby to effect self-sealing of said inlet/outlet closure relative to said stopper and to effect the dispensing of liquid from within said disposable container via said liquid dispensing means. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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- 19. A system for dispensing of a liquid from a disposable container containing a supply of liquid therein, said disposable container having at least one opening, said system comprising means sealably engageable with said at least one opening for permitting pressurization of said liquid within the container and for pressure dispensing of said liquid from within the container, and pressure containment means for receiving and for withstanding pressure forces exerted on said disposable container during internal pressurization thereof, said pressure containment means comprising a shroud having a first portion thereof adapted to receive at least one portion of said disposable container and having another portion thereof adapted to receive the other portion of said disposable container so that upon internal pressurization of said disposable container, said shroud supports said disposable container against the internal pressurization forces exerted thereon, said pressure containment means further comprising a frame adapted to receive said shroud for preventing substantial axial movement of the shroud portions relative to one another upon internal pressurization of the disposable container.
Specification