Container for liquid dispenser with automatic shut off

• US 4,895,194 A
• Filed: 09/02/1988
• Issued: 01/23/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: McCann's Engineering & Manufacturing Company LLC (Ali Holding Srl)
• Original Assignee: McCann's Engineering & Manufacturing Company LLC (Ali Holding Srl)
• Inventors: Verley, Donald, Holoubek, Andrew J., McCann, Gerlad P.
• Primary Examiner(s): CUSICK, ERNEST
• Application Number:
  US07/241,819
• Time in Patent Office: 508 Days
• Field of Search: 141/98, 141/94, 141/95, 141/96, 141/1, 141/192, 141/198, 141/360-362, 141/369, 141/370, 141/372, 141/373, 141/83, 141/86
• US Class Current: 141/198
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/1238 comprising means for detecting the liquid level in vessels to be filled, e.g. using ultrasonic waves, optical reflexion, probes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 141/01 Magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 206/818 Magnet

Abstract

A drink dispenser assembly used for filling receptacles when placed into a position to receive liquid dispensed from a nozzle comprises a valve which is controlled by a solenoid connected to an electric circuit, a switch operated at the will of the operator to actuate the electric circuit and the solenoid to open the valve and initiate a filling cycle, an assembly operative to suspend the receptacle below the nozzle, and an arm positioned proximate the receptacle when the receptacle is placed into a position to receive liquid, the arm operative to sense the filled condition of the receptacle and deactuate the electric circuit and the solenoid to close the valve and terminate the filling cycle.

Claims

1. A liquid container for use with a dispensing apparatus comprising:

a cup with a top opening for accepting liquid, the cup having a top portion and a bottom portion; and

a first stripe on said cup located in the top portion near the top opening of said cup, said first stripe adapted for being electrically contactable to liquid within said cup and to a contact point outside said cup wherein a sensing means communicating with said contact point may sense liquid in contact with said first stripe to determine when liquid in said cup has reached a given level.

2. A liquid container according to claim 1 wherein said first stripe is located on an outer surface of said cup, said first stripe adapted for being contactable to liquid in said container by overflowing liquid which contacts said stripe.

3. A liquid container according to claim 1, wherein said first stripe is located on an inner surface of said cup adapted such that liquid filling said cup may contact said stripe.

4. A liquid container according to claim 1 wherein first said stripe is integrally included in the side of said cup and adapted such that liquid filling said cup may contact said first stripe, said first stripe being adapted to be electrically contactable externally to said cup.

5. A liquid container according to claim 1 further comprising a second stripe at the bottom of said cup wherein said second stripe is adapted to be electrically connected to said first stripe and and electrically contactable to a support for said cup.

12. A receptacle according to claim 1 wherein said first stripe is located on an outer surface of said container adapted such that overflowing liquid may contact said first stripe.

6. A receptacle for a dispensing apparatus comprising:

a container having a means for accepting dispensed material, the container having a top portion and a bottom portion; and

a first stripe on said container located in the top portion near the top of said container, said first stripe adapted for being electrically contactable to material within said container and to a contact point outside said container wherein a sensing means communicating with said contact point may sense material in contact with said first stripe to determine when material in said container has reached a given level.

7. A receptacle according to claim 6 wherein said first stripe is locate don an outer surface of said container adapted such that overflowing material may contact said first stripe.

8. A receptacle according to claim 6 wherein said first stripe is located on an inner surface of said container and adapted such that material filling said container may contact said first stripe.

9. A receptacle according to claim 6 wherein said first stripe is integrally included in a side of said container and adapted such that material filling said cup may contact said first stripe and said first stripe may be electrically contactable to the contact point externally to said container.

10. A receptacle according to claim 6 further comprising a second stripe at a bottom of said container wherein said second stripe is electrically connected to said first stripe and adapted to be electrically contactable to a support for said container.

11. A receptacle for a dispensing apparatus comprising:

a container with an opening for accepting liquid, the container having a top portion and a bottom portion; and

a first stripe on said container located in the top portion near a top of said container, said first stripe adapted for being electrically contactable to liquid in said container and to a contact point outside said container wherein a sensing means communicating with said contact point may sense liquid in contact with said first stripe to determine when liquid in said container has reached a given level.

13. A receptacle according to claim 11 wherein said first stripe is located on an inner surface of said container adapted such that liquid filling said container may contact said first stripe.

14. A receptacle according to claim 11 wherein said first stripe is integrally included in a side of said container and adapted such that liquid filling said container may contact said stripe and said first stripe may be electrically contactable to the contact point externally of said container.

15. A receptacle according to claim 11 further comprising a second stripe at a bottom of said container wherein said second stripe is electrically connected to said first stripe and adapted to be electrically contactable to a support for said container.