Liquid dispensing, disposable container for use with a beverage dispenser

Claim 2

A liquid dispensing system adapted to draw liquid contents from a disposable container open at a rim at one end comprising a lid having a closure wall and having a skirt made of a flexible material designed to fit over the open end of the container and form a seal about the open container end, a nipple connected to the closure wall and extending from the wall away from the container, said nipPle being normally closed and remaining closed under the head of the liquid in the container when the container is oriented with its open end facing down, a rigid backup plate disposed against the closure wall of the lid and adapted to lie over the rim of the open end of the container when the lid is mounted on said container so as to prevent inward movement of said closure wall, said nipple carrying means for connecting the nipple to a duct for conveying the liquid to a desired location.

Claim 3

A system as defined in claim 1 further characterized by venting means forming part of the lid for venting the container.

Claim 4

In combination with the system of claim 2, pump means connected to one of the nipple and venting means for creating a differential pressure between the interior of the container and the outside of the nipple causing the nipple to open and liquid to flow through it.

Claim 5

In the combination of claim 3, said venting means being a second nipple connected to the closure wall and extending into the container and through the backup plate and being exposed to the atmosphere, said second nipple being normally closed and opening when the pressure within the container reaches a preselected value below atmospheric so as to allow air to enter the container.

Claim 6

In the combination of claim 3, said pump means being a vacuum pump connected to said first-mentioned nipple for reducing the pressure about the outside of the nipple.

Claim 7

A liquid dispensing system as described in claim 1 further characterized by a sleeve forming part of the backup plate and extending into the nipple for supporting it, a bead formed on the sleeve and forming a corresponding bead on the nipple when the plate is assembled with the sleeve in the nipple, a fitting for receiving the nipple and forming a seal with its outer surface, said fitting being capable of connecting the nipple to a duct for conveying the liquid to a desired location, and a seal in the inside of the fitting for gripping the bead on the nipple when the container is mounted with the nipple in the fitting.

Claim 8

A liquid dispensing system comprising a cylindrical drum for containing liquids, open at one end and closed at the other, a lid having a closure wall extending over the open end and having a skirt engaging the cylindrical wall of said drum, said lid sealing the open end closed, a nipple extending outwardly from the closure wall of the lid and having a closure biased to a closed position when the atmospheric pressure within the drum and outside the closure are equal and maintaining its closed position under the head of a liquid in the container when the drum is oriented with the lid down, pump means secured to the lid for creating a greater pressure in the drum than outside the closure causing flow of the liquid from the drum through the nipple, a means comprising a unidirectional flow valve for communicating with the interior of said drum to permit simultaneous adjustment of pressure in said drum when said pump means is operative to cause flow through said nipple, said lid being made of flexible rubber-like material and said nipple being formed as an integral part thereof, and a rigid plate disposed against the closure wall of the lid and operatively engaging the open end of the drum.

Claim 9

A liquid dispensing system comprising a cylindrical drum for containing liquids, open at one end and closed at the other, a lid having a closure wall extending over the open end and having a skirt engaging the cylindrical wall of said drum, said lid sealing the open end closed, a nipple extending outwardly from the closure wall of the lid and having a closure biased to a closed position when the atmospheric pressure within the drum and outside the closure are equal and maintaining its closed position under the head of a liquid in the container when the drum is oriented with the lid down, pump means secured to the lid for creating a greater pressure in the drum than outside the closure causing flow of the liquid from the drum through the nipple, a means comprising a unidirectional flow valve for communicating with the interior of said drum to permit simultaneous adjustment of pressure in said drum when said pump means is operative to cause flow through said nipple, said lid being made of flexible rubber-like material and said nipple being formed as an integral part thereof, and a rigid plate disposed against the closure wall of the lid and operatively engaging the open end of the drum.

Claim 10

A liquid dispensing system as described in claim 7 further characterized by a sleeve connected to the plate and extending into the nipple, said nipple having converging sides and a slit at the end which forms the closure.

Claim 11

A liquid dispensing system as described in claim 7 further characterized by said means comprising a unidirectional flow valve being formed on the lid for allowing air to bleed into the drum when its internal pressure is less than atmospheric.

Claim 12

A liquid dispensing system as described in claim 9 further characterized by a fitting receiving the nipple internally with the drum in an inverted position and with the lid down, and said pump means including a suction pump secured to the fitting and reducing the pressure outside the closure to open it.

Claim 13

A liquid dispensing system as described in claim 9 further characterized by said means comprising a unidirectional flow valve comprising a second nipple formed as part of the lid and extending into the drum.

Claim 14

A liquid dispensing system as described in claim 11 further characterized by said pump means being connected to the second nipple for pressurizing the interior of the drum.

Claim 15

A beverage dispenser comprising, a housing, a container for carrying liquid flavor syrup, said container having one open end and a closed end, means for mounting said container on said housing, a lid having a closure wall extending over the opened end and having a skirt engaging the wall of said container, said lid sealing the opened end closed and being removable from said container, a check valve extending outwardly from the closure wall of the lid and having a closure in a closed position when the atmospheric pressure within the container and outside the closure are equal and maintaining its closed position under the head of syrup in the container when the container is oriented with the lid facing down, electrically operated pump means interconnected with the lid for creating a greater pressure in the container than outside the closure causing flow of the liquid from the container through the check valve, and means comprising a unidirectional flow valve for communicating with the interior of said container to permit simultaneous adjustment of pressure in said container when said pump means is operative to cause flow through said check valve.

Claim 16

A beverage dispenser comprising, a housing, a container for carrying liquid flavor syrup, said container having one open end and a closed end, means for mounting said container on said housing, a lid having a closure wall extending over the opened end and having a skirt engaging the wall of said container, said lid sealing the opened end closed and being removable from said container, a check valve extending outwardly from the closure wall of the lid and having a closure in a closed position when the atmospheric pressure within the container and outside the closure are equal and maintaining its closed position under the head of syrup in the container when the container is oriented with the lid facing down, electrically operated pump means interconnected with the lid for creating a greater pressure in the container than outside the closure causing flow of the liquid from the container through the check valve, and means comprising a unidirectional flow valve for communicating with the interior of said container to permit simultaneous adjustment of pressure in said container when said pump means is operative to cause flow through said check valve.

Claim 17

A beverage dispenser in accordance with claim 13 and further comprising said check valve comprising a nipple having a closure biased to said closed position, said pump means comprising a duct and suction pump, a discharge nozzle for dispensing a beverage connected to the duct, and a fitting on the housing for receiving the nipple in sealed relationship when the container is mounted on the housing.