Membrane seal and knife combination for a post-mix beverage dispensing system

Claim 2

An opening device to be used in a post-mix beverage dispenser, together with a disposable syrup container, said container having a neck portion with an opening sealed by a rupturable membrane from which said syrup will flow when said membrane is ruptured, said device comprising a cylindrical piercing means surrounded by a cylindrically-shaped socket member, said socket member having a discharge port at the bottom thereof, said piercing means and socket member forming an annular compartment surrounding said discharge port defined by the outer wall of said cylindrical piercing means and the inner wall of said socket member for receipt of the neck of said container and drainage means through said outer wall of said piercing means for permitting syrup flow from said annular compartment to said discharge port, said piercing means having an angular truncated cutting edge with a pyramidal piercing element on the apex thereof, said socket member being provided with a seal for securely receiving the neck of said syrup container into the compartment formed between said piercing means and socket member.

Claim 3

The opening device of claim 1, wherein said truncated cutting edge is so designed that the blade portion thereof will circumscribe about a 240° section in said rupturable membrane.

Claim 4

The opening device of claim 1, wherein said drainage means comprises a slot through the wall of said cylindrical piercing means.

Claim 5

The opening device of claim 1, wherein said slot extends from said cutting edge to said discharge port of said socket member.

Claim 6

A gravity flow, post-mix beverage dispenser comprising in combination: a disposable syrup container terminating at one end in a neck sealed by a rupturable membrane and at the other end in a recessed vent opening having means for sealing said opening, and an opening device for said syrup container which comprises a cylindrical piercing means surrounded by a cylindrically-shaped socket member, said socket member having a discharge port at the bottom thereof, said piercing means and socket member forming an annular compartment surrounding said discharge port defined by the outer wall of said piercing knife and the inner wall of said socket member for receiving the neck of said container and drainage means through said outer wall of said piercing means for permitting syrup flow from said annular compartment to said discharge port, said piercing means having an angular truncated cutting edge with a pyramidal piercing element on the apex thereof, said piercing means being provided for displacing said rupturable membrane upon the insertion of the neck of the container into said compartment.

Claim 7

A gravity flow, post-mix beverage dispenser comprising in combination: a disposable syrup container terminating at one end in a neck sealed by a rupturable membrane and at the other end in a recessed vent opening having means for sealing said opening, and an opening device for said syrup container which comprises a cylindrical piercing means surrounded by a cylindrically-shaped socket member, said socket member having a discharge port at the bottom thereof, said piercing means and socket member forming an annular compartment surrounding said discharge port defined by the outer wall of said piercing knife and the inner wall of said socket member for receiving the neck of said container and drainage means through said outer wall of said piercing means for permitting syrup flow from said annular compartment to said discharge port, said piercing means having an angular truncated cutting edge with a pyramidal piercing element on the apex thereof, said piercing means being provided for displacing said rupturable membrane upon the insertion of the neck of the container into said compartment.

Claim 8

The dispenser of claim 5 wherein said drainage means comprises a slot through the wall of said cylindrical piercing means.

Claim 9

The dispenser of claim 6, wherein said slot extends from said cutting edge to said discharge port of said socket member.

Claim 10

An opening device to be used in a post-mix beverage dispenser, together with a disposable syrup container, said container having a neck portion with an opening sealed by a rupturable membrane from which said syrup will flow when said membrane is ruptured, said device comprising a cylindrical piercing means surrounded by a cylindrically-shaped socket member, said socket member having a discharge port at the bottom thereof, said piercing means and socket member forming an annular compartment surrounding said discharge port defined by the outer wall of said cylindrical piercing means and the inner wall of said socket member for receipt of the neck of said container and drainage means through said outer wall of said piercing means for permitting syrup flow from said annular compartment to said discharge port, said piercing means having a cutting edge with a blade portion and a flat blunt portion, said blade portion puncturing said membrane along an arc commensurate therewith to form a flap and said blunt portion precluding the puncturing of a portion of said membrane opposite thereto to form a hinge, whereby said flap is folded about said hinge against said inner wall of said socket member, said socket member being provided with a seal for securely receiving the neck of said syrup container into the compartment formed between said piercing means and socket member.

Claim 11

An opening device to be used in a post-mix beverage dispenser, together with a disposable syrup container, said container having a neck portion with an opening sealed by a rupturable membrane from which said syrup will flow when said membrane is ruptured, said device comprising a cylindrical piercing means surrounded by a cylindrically-shaped socket member, said socket member having a discharge port at the bottom thereof, said piercing means and socket member forming an annular compartment surrounding said discharge port defined by the outer wall of said cylindrical piercing means and the inner wall of said socket member for receipt of the neck of said container and drainage means through said outer wall of said piercing means for permitting syrup flow from said annular compartment to said discharge port, said piercing means having a cutting edge with a blade portion and a flat blunt portion, said blade portion puncturing said membrane along an arc commensurate therewith to form a flap and said blunt portion precluding the puncturing of a portion of said membrane opposite thereto to form a hinge, whereby said flap is folded about said hinge against said inner wall of said socket member, said socket member being provided with a seal for securely receiving the neck of said syrup container into the compartment formed between said piercing means and socket member.

Claim 12

The opening device of claim 8, wherein said drainage means comprises a slot through the wall of said cylindrical piercing means.

Claim 13

The opening device of claim 9, wherein said slot extends from said blunt portion to said discharge port of said socket member.

Claim 14

A gravity flow, post-mix beverage dispenser comprising in combination: a disposable syrup container terminating at one end in a neck sealed by a rupturable membrane and at the other end in a recessed vent opening having a cap for sealing said opening, and an opening device for said syrup container which comprises a cylindrical piercing means surrounded by a cylindrically-shaped socket member, said socket member having a discharge port at the bottom thereof, said piercing means and socket member forming an annular compartment surrounding said discharge port defined by the outer wall of said piercing means and the inner wall of said socket member for receiving the neck of said container and drainage means through said outer wall of said piercing means for permitting syrup flow from said annular compartment to said discharge port, said piercing means having a blade portion and a blunt portion, said blade portion puncturing said member along an arc commensurate therewith to form a flap, and said blunt portion precluding the puncturing of a portion of said membrane opposite thereto to form a hinge, whereby said flap is folded about said hinge against said inner wall of said socket member.

Claim 15

A gravity flow, post-mix beverage dispenser comprising in combination: a disposable syrup container terminating at one end in a neck sealed by a rupturable membrane and at the other end in a recessed vent opening having a cap for sealing said opening, and an opening device for said syrup container which comprises a cylindrical piercing means surrounded by a cylindrically-shaped socket member, said socket member having a discharge port at the bottom thereof, said piercing means and socket member forming an annular compartment surrounding said discharge port defined by the outer wall of said piercing means and the inner wall of said socket member for receiving the neck of said container and drainage means through said outer wall of said piercing means for permitting syrup flow from said annular compartment to said discharge port, said piercing means having a blade portion and a blunt portion, said blade portion puncturing said member along an arc commensurate therewith to form a flap, and said blunt portion precluding the puncturing of a portion of said membrane opposite thereto to form a hinge, whereby said flap is folded about said hinge against said inner wall of said socket member.

Claim 16

The dispenser of claim 11, wherein said drainage means comprises a slot through the wall of said cylindrical piercing means.

Claim 17

The dispenser of claim 12, wherein said slot extends from said blunt portion to said discharge port of said socket member.

Claim 18

An opening device to be used in a post-mix beverage dispenser, together with a disposable syrup container, said container having a neck portion with an opening sealed by a rupturable membrane from which said syrup will flow when said membrane is ruptured, said device comprising a cylindrical piercing means surrounded by a cylindrically-shaped socket member, said socket member having a discharge port at the bottom thereof, said piercing means and socket means forming an annular compartment surrounding said discharge port defined by the outer wall of said cylindrical piercing means and the inner wall of said socket member, for receipt of the neck of said container and drainage means through said outer wall of said piercing means for permitting syrup flow from said annular compartment to said discharge port, said piercing means having a cutting edge on a top end thereof.

Claim 19

An opening device to be used in a post-mix beverage dispenser, together with a disposable syrup container, said container having a neck portion with an opening sealed by a rupturable membrane from which said syrup will flow when said membrane is ruptured, said device comprising a cylindrical piercing means surrounded by a cylindrically-shaped socket member, said socket member having a discharge port at the bottom thereof, said piercing means and socket means forming an annular compartment surrounding said discharge port defined by the outer wall of said cylindrical piercing means and the inner wall of said socket member, for receipt of the neck of said container and drainage means through said outer wall of said piercing means for permitting syrup flow from said annular compartment to said discharge port, said piercing means having a cutting edge on a top end thereof.

Claim 20

The opening device of claim 14, wherein said drainage means comprises a slot through the wall of said cylindrical piercing means.

Claim 21

The opening device of claim 15, wherein said slot extends from said cutting edge to said discharge port of said socket member.

Claim 22

A gravity flow, post-mix beverage dispenser comprising in combination: a disposable syrup container terminating at one end in a neck sealed by a rupturable membrane and at the other end in a recessed vent opening having means for sealing said opening, and an opening device for said syrup container which comprises a cylindrical piercing means surrounded by a cylindrically-shaped socket member, said socket member having a discharge port at the bottom thereof, said piercing means and socket member forming an annular compartment surrounding said discharge port defined by the outer wall of said piercing means and the inner wall of said socket member for receiving the neck of said container and drainage means through said outer wall of said piercing means for permitting syrup flow from said annular compartment to said discharge port, said piercing means having a cutting edge on a top end thereof.

Claim 23

A gravity flow, post-mix beverage dispenser comprising in combination: a disposable syrup container terminating at one end in a neck sealed by a rupturable membrane and at the other end in a recessed vent opening having means for sealing said opening, and an opening device for said syrup container which comprises a cylindrical piercing means surrounded by a cylindrically-shaped socket member, said socket member having a discharge port at the bottom thereof, said piercing means and socket member forming an annular compartment surrounding said discharge port defined by the outer wall of said piercing means and the inner wall of said socket member for receiving the neck of said container and drainage means through said outer wall of said piercing means for permitting syrup flow from said annular compartment to said discharge port, said piercing means having a cutting edge on a top end thereof.

Claim 24

The dispenser of claim 17, wherein said drainage means comprises a slot through the wall of said cylindrical piercing means.

Claim 25

The dispenser of claim 18, wherein said slot extends from said cutting edge to said discharge port of said socket member.