Drink supply container valve assembly

• US 7,416,097 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2006
• Issued: 08/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Beverage Works, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Beverage Works, Inc.
• Inventors: Tanner, Roger, Ramsey, Christopher Paul, Crisp, Harry Lee III
• Primary Examiner(s): Zeender; F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shaawat; Mussa A
• Application Number:
  US11/419,412
• Publication Number:
  US 20060196892A1
• Time in Patent Office: 830 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 222/399
• 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 drink supply container valve assembly connectable to a drink supply container for a beverage dispensing apparatus of a refrigeration device. The drink supply container valve assembly has a support connectable to an end of the container, a gas inlet valve mounted to the support, and a drink supply outlet valve mounted to the support.

Claims

1. A drink supply container valve assembly connectable to a drink supply container for a beverage dispensing apparatus of a refrigeration device, the drink supply container having a first end, a second end and a liquid-holding space located between the first end and the second end, the drink supply container configured to be mounted in a portion of the refrigeration device such that the first end is located below the second end, the refrigeration device configured to support a gas supply line which provides a source of pressurized gas, the drink supply container valve assembly comprising:

a support connectable to the first end, the support having an end portion and a side wall extending from the end portion, the support defining a plurality of openings, each one of the openings being in fluid communication with the liquid-holding space when the support is connected to the first end;

a gas inlet valve mounted to the end portion of the support adjacent to, and in communication with, one of the openings, the gas inlet valve having a portion configured to sealingly engage the gas supply line such that the gas inlet valve is predisposed to have a closed condition which is changeable to an open condition in response to the gas inlet valve being fluidly connected to the gas supply line of the source of pressurized gas; and

a drink supply outlet valve mounted to the end portion of the support adjacent to, and in communication with, another one of the openings, the drink supply outlet valve having a rotatable outer part, the rotatable outer part having a substantially cylindrical exterior surface including a plurality of engagement members disposed substantially about a perimeter of the exterior surface, the engagement members being engagable by an actuator member, the drink supply outlet valve being operable to output a portion of a liquid contained in the liquid-holding space as a result of;

(a) the drink supply outlet valve being opened;

(b) the gas inlet valve being opened; and

(c) pressurized gas from the source applying a pressure to the liquid in the liquid-holding space.

2. The drink supply container valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the gas inlet valve is a self-resealable valve.

3. The drink supply container valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the gas inlet valve has at least one biasing member predisposing the gas inlet valve to have the closed position.

4. The drink supply container valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the gas inlet valve includes at least one flexible wall which forms said open position and said closed position.

5. The drink supply container valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the gas inlet valve includes a securing member which attaches the gas inlet valve to the end portion of the support, the securing member having a locking member which affixes the gas inlet valve to a portion of the end portion of the support.

6. The drink supply container valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the gas inlet valve includes a body defining a pressurizable cavity.

7. The drink supply container valve assembly of claim 6, wherein the gas inlet valve includes a plurality of flexible walls connected to the body, each of the flexible walls having a plurality of edges.

8. The drink supply container valve assembly of claim 7, wherein the flexible walls have a shape which causes the edges to be biased toward each other.

9. The drink supply container valve assembly of claim 1, wherein:

(a) the drink supply outlet valve has an open position and a closed position; and

(b) the drink supply outlet valve includes a first member and a second member which co-act to form the open position and the closed position.

10. The drink supply container valve assembly of claim 9, wherein the first member includes a fluid director configured to direct drink supply flowing from the drink supply container.

11. A drink supply container valve assembly connectable to a drink supply container for a beverage dispensing apparatus of a refrigeration device, the drink supply container having a first end, a second end and a liquid-holding space located between the first end and the second end, the drink supply container configured to be mounted in a portion of the refrigeration device such that the first end is located below the second end, the refrigeration device configured to support a gas supply line which provides a source of pressurized gas, the drink supply container valve assembly comprising:

a support connectable to the first end, the support having a mount surface defining a plurality of openings, each one of the openings being in fluid communication with the liquid-holding space when the support is connected to the first end;

a gas inlet valve mounted to the mount surface of the first end adjacent to, and in communication with, one of the openings, the gas inlet valve having at least one flexible wall, a portion of the flexible wall being configured to sealingly engage the gas supply line such that the flexible wall is flexible between;

(a) a first position forming a seal; and

(b) a second position defining a passageway, the flexible wall being predisposed to have a closed condition, the closed condition changeable to an open condition in response to the gas inlet valve being fluidly connected to the gas supply line of the source of pressurized gas; and

a drink supply outlet valve mounted to the mount surface of the first end adjacent to, and in communication with, another one of the openings, the drink supply outlet valve having a rotatable outer member, the rotatable outer member having a substantially cylindrical exterior surface including a plurality of engagement members disposed substantially about a perimeter of the exterior surface, the engagement members being engagable by an actuator member, the drink supply outlet valve being operable to output a portion of a liquid contained in the liquid-holding space as a result of;

(a) the drink supply outlet valve being opened;

(b) the gas inlet valve being opened; and

(c) pressurized gas of the source applying a pressure to the liquid in the liquid-holding space.

12. The drink supply container valve assembly of claim 11, wherein the gas inlet valve includes a body defining a pressurizable cavity.

13. The drink supply container valve assembly of claim 12, wherein the gas inlet valve includes a plurality of flexible walls connected to the body, each of the flexible walls having a plurality of edges.

14. The drink supply container valve assembly of claim 11, wherein the drink supply outlet valve has a fluid director configured to direct drink supply flowing from the drink supply container.

15. A drink supply container valve assembly connectable to a drink supply container for a beverage dispensing apparatus of a refrigeration device, the drink supply container having a first end, a second end and a liquid-holding space located between the first end and the second end, the drink supply container configured to be mounted in a portion of the refrigeration device such that the first end is located below the second end, the refrigeration device configured to support a gas supply line which provides a source of pressurized gas, the drink supply container valve assembly comprising:

a support connectable to the first end, the support having a mount surface and a wall configured to connect the support to the first end of the drink supply container, the mount surface defining a plurality of openings, each one of the openings being in fluid communication with the liquid holding space when the support is connected to the first end;

a gas inlet valve mounted to the mount surface adjacent to, and in communication with, one of the openings, the gas inlet valve having a portion configured to sealingly engage the gas supply line such that the gas inlet valve is predisposed to have a closed condition which is changeable to an open condition in response to the gas inlet valve being fluidly connected to the gas supply line of the source of pressurized gas; and

a drink supply outlet valve mounted to the mount surface adjacent to, and in communication with, another one of the openings, the drink supply outlet valve having a first part and a second part, the second part being rotatably coupled to the first part, the second part having a seal portion and a plurality of engagement portions, the seal portion being moveable between;

(a) a predisposed first position wherein the another opening is sealed; and

(b) a second position wherein the another opening is unsealed, the engagement portions being engagable by an actuator member, the drink supply outlet valve being operable to output a portion of a liquid contained in the liquid-holding space as a result of;

(a) the drink supply outlet valve being opened;

(b) the gas inlet valve being opened; and

(c) pressurized gas of the source applying a pressure to the liquid in the liquid-holding space.

16. The drink supply container valve assembly of claim 15, wherein the wall of the support includes at least one thread configured to removably connect the support to the first end of the drink supply container.

17. The drink supply container valve assembly of claim 15, wherein the gas inlet valve includes a body defining a pressurizable cavity.

18. The drink supply container valve assembly of claim 17, wherein the gas inlet valve includes a plurality of flexible walls connected to the body, each of the flexible walls having a plurality of edges.

19. The drink supply container valve assembly of claim 15, wherein the drink supply outlet valve has a fluid director configured to direct drink supply flowing from the drink supply container.