Liquid delivery system that automatically delivers liquid from a plurality of containers

• US 6,059,146 A
• Filed: 07/29/1998
• Issued: 05/09/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Great Spring Waters of America, Inc. (Nestle SA)
• Original Assignee: The Perrier Group of America Inc. (Nestle SA)
• Inventors: Ballone, Michael P., Kristiansen, Keith C., Meisner, Edward H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Douglas, Steven O.
• Application Number:
  US09/124,433
• Time in Patent Office: 650 Days
• Field of Search: 222/145.1, 222/65, 222/64, 222/66, 222/67
• US Class Current: 222/145.1
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 2039/009 Multiple outlets
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 3/04 Methods of, or means for, filling the material into the containers or receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0009 the beverage being stored in an intermediate container connected to a supply
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2001/0818 arranged in series

Abstract

A system for delivering liquids from a plurality of containers. The system has a dispenser which holds the containers in a generally side by side relationship. A unit of the system is connected to each of the containers for sequentially dispensing the liquid held by the containers to a reservoir for receiving such liquid. The unit has conduits which are connected to the openings of the container and which extend into and have openings therein at different depths in the reservoir for the sequential dispensing of the liquid from the containers into the containers. A delivery system unit is connected to the reservoir for providing the liquid to one or more outlets. The containers are removable from the system as they become empty and are replaceable with fresh ones, to thereby allow the system to continue to deliver liquid, such as bottled water.

Claims

1. A system for delivering liquid held in containers, comprising:

a dispenser for holding a plurality of containers in a generally side by side and adjacent relationship, and for releasing the containers when the containers generally are empty and are ready to be replaced by new containers;

a dispensing unit connected to each of the containers for sequentially dispensing the liquid from the containers held by said dispenser, said dispensing unit including a plurality of conduits, each conduit being coupled to an opening of one of the plurality of containers; and

a reservoir connected to the containers by said dispensing unit, the reservoir including a chamber, the reservoir receiving the liquid sequentially dispensed by said unit and holding the liquid ready for use, each conduit emptying into the chamber.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the containers have openings therein for the flow of liquid therethrough, and wherein said dispenser includes receptacles positioned above said reservoir for releasably holding the containers with their openings positioned in the direction of said reservoir.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said conduits have openings for the sequential dispensing of the liquid from the containers into said reservoir and wherein at least one of said conduits has an opening which is located at a different depth from the openings of the other conduits.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said receptacles hold the containers at the same height above said reservoir, and wherein said conduits are of different lengths and said openings therein are at the ends of said conduits.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein said receptacles hold the containers at different heights above said reservoir, and wherein said conduits are of the same length and said openings therein are at the ends of said conduits.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said system further comprises a unit connected to said reservoir and at least one outlet for delivering liquid from said reservoir upon demand by and to said outlet.

7. The liquid delivery system of claim 6, wherein said delivery unit is connected to a plurality of outlets for delivering liquid upon demand by any or all of said outlets.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the liquid flows from the reservoir to the at least one outlet via gravity.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the liquid flows from the reservoir to the at least one outlet via a pump.

10. The liquid delivery system of claim 1, wherein said system includes a device operatively connected to said reservoir which indicates when the level of the liquid in said reservoir reaches a predetermined level.

11. The liquid delivery system of claim 10, wherein said system includes a device operatively connected to said reservoir which halts the further flow of liquid from said reservoir when the level of the liquid in said reservoir drops below a predetermined level.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the liquid is water.

13. A system for delivering liquids held in containers having openings for the flow of liquid therefrom, comprising:

a dispenser for releasably holding the containers in a generally side by side and adjacent relationship with the containers'"'"' openings positioned to discharge liquids therefrom;

a reservoir spaced from the containers'"'"' openings, the reservoir including a chamber, the reservoir receiving and holding the contents of the containers;

a unit having conduits which are connected at one end to the openings in the containers and which extend into said chamber and wherein said other ends have openings therein at different depths for sequentially dispensing the liquids from the containers into said chamber as said openings of said conduits in said chamber become uncovered as the liquid level therein sequentially drops below said conduit openings;

a unit operatively connected to said reservoir and an outlet for delivering liquid from said reservoir upon demand to said outlet; and

a device operatively connected to said reservoir which indicates when the level of the liquid in said reservoir drops to a predetermined level, to thereby allow for the removal of generally emptied containers releasably held by said dispenser and for replacement of the generally emptied containers with filled ones.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the liquid is water.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the liquid flows from the reservoir to said outlet via gravity.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the liquid flows from the reservoir to said outlet via a pump.