US3424346A - Dispenser unit - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 28, 1969 1D. F. FRUEHLING 4 DISPENSER UNIT Filed March 20, 1967 Sheet of 4 n IIVVENTOR R 65 DEL/WAR F. F/PUEHL/IVG 68 1 76 B WZW Jan. 28, 1969 I D. F. FRUEHLING DISPENSER UNIT F iled March 20, 1967 Sheet omlm H III lOO

lNl/E/VTOR DELMA/P FFRUEHL/NG y EH United States Patent 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The dispenser unit including a support frame for accommodating a plurality of metal cans, two sets of piercing devices for piercing each of the can, gas passage means connecting one set of piercing tips to a gas supply holder and pressure regulator, and liquid passage means connecting the other set of piercing tips to product dispensing valves for dispensing the contents of any container under pressure. In one embodiment, separate gas shutoff valves are present for each container so that the containers can be individually removed or replaced without disturbing the pressure in the other containers. A piston type regulator and small puncturable gas pressure supply source are described.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention The field of the present invention is that of beverage dispensers, and particularly dispensers for home beverage consumption. This field generally comprises any dispenser used in association with, but independent of, the containers and which use miniaturized gas cylinders as a pressure source, a fixed or adjustable pressure regulator to provide dispensing pressure and, if desired, maintaining carbonation, and which include means for puncturing the sealed container, as well as valve means for dispensing the product of manipulating the valve.

Description of the prior art In general, prior art dispensing devices for dispensing beer and beverages from large volume containers fall into several different classes. First is the common commercial type of beer and soft drink dispenser, typified in that a large container, such as a full, half, or quarter barrel of beer, or several gallon container of soft drinks is pressurized from a large gas cylinder under the control of a diaphragm reguator, and a product is dispensed from a remote or proximate valve. The beer dispenser units are commonly used in bars and taverns and the soft drink units are commonly used in ball parks, where a professional salesman carries the large heavy unit mounted on his back. These units are large, expensive and cannot be economically justified except on a commercial scale of usage.

Another class of dispenser which is common is with a type in which the dispenser and regulator are built intergrally with a medium-sized container, such as the well known 2% gallon beer or soft drink barrel. These constructions are described for example in US. Patents Nos. 3,232,485, 3,243,085, 3,239,101, and 3,195,788, all issued to John B. Wilson. In such devices, the entire container is returnable and refillable since the expensive regulator is built into the container.

Other known prior art devices use even smaller size containers, which may be specially constructed, but which are nonetheless separate or separable from the dispenser. The Knapp et al. Patent No. 3,006,515, and the Tracy, et a1. Patent No. 3,291,343, illustrate such units. Dispensers such as that described in the Tracy patent have Patented Jan. 28, 1969 achieved significant commercial success, some 300,000 units having been sold to date.

Multiple pack dispensers are known, generally speaking, but many, if not all of these units are more on the order of a cabinet for containing a number of individual, self pressurized containers, such as bathroom cabinet devices for holding aerosol shaving cream, toothpaste, hair spray and the like.

The applicant is not aware of any multiple package dispensers in which a throw away can may be accommodated, punctured, pressurized and the contents dispensed therefrom in a highly simple manner. Such a dispenser offers many advantages. However, since large containers, say of one or two gallons or more, are bulky and hard to handle, and since Women and children have difliculty handling even smaller sizes, prior known, single container units have not been entirely satisfactory for all uses. In addition, it is ditficult to accommodate pressure in large throw-away containers, since such containers have a small surface to volume ratio, and thus lack strength. For example, cans commonly made in the can industry today in the 8, l2 and 13 ounce sizes readily hold pressures up to pounds per square inch (p.s.i.), whereas a one gallon size can, even if made with a relatively thick metal, and having an end with a very deep countersink or chuck wall, may not satisfactorily hold more than 30 psi. Accordingly, the advantages of throw away containers in small or medium, more conveniently sized containers can be combined with the advantages of external pressure supply dispensing, as in the case of draft beer, for example, by the use of a single bodied, single regulator and pressure source type dispenser which holds a plurality of cans. For example, three 46 ounce cans, which may hold soft drinks, beer, single strength juices or fruit and vegetable preparations, or the like, may be accommodated in a single unit.

Summary of the invention In view of the shortcomings referred to above, which characterized prior known dispensers, an object of the present invention is to provide a multi-pack dispenser with a single regulator.

Another object is to provide a multi-pack, single-regulator type dispenser with individual product valves, and which can therefore dispense various or differing products or flavors from the same dispenser.

An additional object is to provide a dispenser in which individual cans may be removed and replaced without disturbing the pressure in, or product flow from, the other containers in the dispenser.

The present invention overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art and achieves its objects and advantages by providing a liquid dispenser unit, including a frame for receiving a plurality of cans, a first set of piercing tips for piercing the cans, a second set of piercing tips also adapted to pierce the cans, means for accommodating a pressurized gas and for regulating the pressure thereof; a product discharge valve which can be operated manually, gas passages connecting the first set of tips with the pressure regulator, and product passages connecting the second set of tips with the product valve, so that cans placed in the dispenser can be pierced and the products therein discharged under a constant pressure under the control of the manually operated product valve.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention, including those inherent therein, and the manner of their attainment, will become more apparent when considered in conjunction with a description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, contained in the following specification and claims, and as shown in the drawings below, in which like reference numerals denote corresponding parts throughout.

3 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of One embodiment of the liquid dispenser unit of the present invention, which accommodates a plurality of cans;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view showing a dispenser unit of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of a gas taken along lines 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the dispenser shown in FIG. 2, taken along lines 4-4 thereof;

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view of a portion of the dispenser taken along lines 55 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view of another embodiment of the dispenser unit of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view of a gas control valve, taken along lines 77 of FIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings, the dispenser unit is shown generally to include a frame assembly 22 and product valve assembly 24, a tumbler shelf 26 and a plurality of containers 28 disposed in position of use in the unit.

Referring now to FIG. 2, it will be seen that a cartridge holder and pressure regulator assembly 30 is provided for supplying gas pressure to the containers.

FIG. 2 also shows that this embodiment comprises legs 32, a bottom wall 34 of which the tumbler shelf 26 is an extension, a vertical front wall 36, vertical rear wall 38, horizontal top wall connected to the front and rear walls 36 and 38, locking means in the form of a bolt and wing nut 42, and a cover hinge 44 joining the top wall 40 to the rear walls 38. An intermediate horizontal guide member 46 is provided, for reasons which will appear later herein.

Disposed in the top wall 40 are three piercing tips 48 surrounded by rubber sealing gaskets 50. A gas passage 52 is connected to the interiors of the tips 48, and this passage, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, includes a vertical section 54 in which a valve actuator 56 is located. The vertical section 54 terminates in a rubber or like resilient sealing gasket 58.

Referring to FIG. 3, it will be seen that a mounting block 60 supports a valve body 62, which terminates in an upwardly extending nose portion 64 adapted to a register with the seal 58, a valve seat 66, disposed at the bottom of valve body 62 is adapted to receive a valve head 68 when the valve stem 70 mounted in the body 62 moves upward in response to the force of the spring 74. When the cover unit 40 is closed, that is, when it is in the position shown in FIG. 3, the actuator 56 depresses the stem 70, releasing the head 68, and allowing the gas to pass from the regulator extension 76 through the passages 78 which surround the stem 74. In this manner, gas coming from the regulator 30 to the regulator extension 78 passes through passages 52 and down to the tips 48, and into the cans 28 situated therebelow.

Referring now to FIG. 2, it can be seen that the bottom wall 34 includes a plurality of wells 80 which may be formed, at least in part, from the auxiliary guide member 82. The wells 80 include therein small discontinuous protuberances, beads or nibs 84 which are adapted to snap over the lower double seam of a container 28 to hold it in position.

Disposed in the wells 80 are 3 lower piercing tips 86 having sharpened points or edges 88. A soft rubber or like seal 90 surrounds each tip 86 and surmounts a firmer bottom seal 92. Product passage means in the form of flexible tubes 94 connect the tips 86 to the product outlet 96.

These tubes 94 extend through the vertical front wall 36 and into the product valve assembly 24. The product valve assembly 24 comprises an outer stationary member 98, a lower spring support 100, and a spring 102 which valve unit,

biase's'a fnovable valve body 104 upwardly so that the lower, semi-circular surface of the tube opening 106 thereof pinches the tube 94 between the body 104 and a transverse rod 108. A shroud 110 covers the outlet end 96 of tube 94, and suitable fasteners 112 (FIG. 5) hold the assembly 24 in position.

Referring to FIG. 5, it will be seen that downward pressure on the top surface 114 of a valve body 104 will move the lower surface of the opening 106 out of contact with the hose 94, while overcoming the force of the spring 102, thereby allowing product to flow out the end 96 of the tube 94. The rod 108 extends across all three openings 106 in the valve bodies 104.

Referring again to FIG. 2, it can be seen that intermediate horizontal guide member 46 includes circular guide openings 118 which are preferably the same size as the wells 80 and which are disposed above the wells 80 and aligned therewith. An opening 120 for the tubes 94 and a support member 122 for the regulator 30 are provided in the guide member 46 which is held in place by suitable means in the form of screws 124.

In the use of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 4, and 5, the fastener 42 is loosened, the cover 40 is raised and cans 28 are inserted through the openings 118 into the wells 80. The cans are seated in the well 80 with the bottom seams held in place by a discontinuous bead 84 extending inwardly only a few thousandths of an inch. This bead is preferably in the form of a ridge or several nibs spaced apart along the side walls of the wells 80. The top surfaces 88 of the piercing tips 86 piercing the bottoms of the cans, and the cans are held in place in a liquid-tight relation. Thereafter, the top 40 is lowered and locked in place by the fastener 42. This action simultaneously moves the valve stem 70 (FIG. 3) downwardly through the passage 52 and thence to the interior of the cans 28, the tips 48 having pierced the cans and become sealed by reason of the seals 50. A downward push of the top surface 114 of the valve body 104 releases the pressure between the rod 108 and the bottom surface of the opening 106 of the valve body 104, opening the product passage 94 and allowing product to flow out the end 96 of the tube 94. By pushing any one of the valve bodies 104, the product contained in the corresponding can will be dispensed.

Operation of the pressure regulator will be referred to further herein.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show a modified form of the dispenser unit of the present invention. In this embodiment, the frame and top cover assemblies are similar, but the locations of the pressure regulator and the piercing tips differ from those shown in the first embodiment. Thus, the dispenser unit 20a includes a frame assembly 22a 9. product valve assembly 24a and tubular shelf 26a and a plurality of containers 28a disposed in position of use in a dispenser. The gas regulator unit 30a is shown to be attached to and disposed beneath a bottom wall 34a. The regulator 30a includes a piston housing section 126, a cylinder housing section 128 and a cap and piercing tip assembly 130. A gas cartridge 132 supplies pressure thereto, and the gas escapes through the port 134 and into the gas passage means 52a, in the form of plastic or metal tubes.

The pressure regulator 30a referred to herein, as well as the pressure regulator 30 referred to in the first embodiment, are well known in the art, and comprise means for housing a miniature gas cartridge and regulating the pressure of the gas emerging therefrom by means of a piston operated valve, and allowing the gas to exit at a desired low pressure to a gas port or outlet. Regulators of this type are illustrated, for example, in the Tracy, et al. Patent No. 3,291,343, issued Dec. 13, 1966, and in Tracy, et al. Application Ser. No. 496,585, filed Oct. 15, 1965, now Patent No. 3,352,457, both application and patent belonging to the assignee of the applicant herein.

This patent and this application illustrate a regulator in which the pressure responsive means is a piston, but it will beiunderstood that a diaphragm type regulator operpiercing tip assembly is placed over the cylinder 128 after a cartridge 132 has been inserted therein, and after the cap 130 is manipulated, the pressure is released from the cartridge 132 and passes into the gas passages 52a, in the manner referred to herein.

Referring further to FIG. 6, it will be seen that front and rear vertical walls 36, 36a support a top unit 40a, which is held in place, at one end, by fastener means in the form of a bolt and nut assembly 42a, and at the other end thereof by hinge 44a. .An. intermediate horizontal guide member 46a extends between the front and rear walls 36a, 38a, and is located in position by fasteners 124a. This guide 46 a contains a plurality of guide openings 118a. The bottom wall 34a includes a plurality of wells 80, which are formed, at least in part, from an auxiliary guide member 82a. Snap locking nibs 84a or the like are spaced apart on the side walls of the wells 80 and are provided for snapping over the bottom seam of a can 2 841 110 lock it in position in thewells 80.

Three lower piercing tips 86a are located in the wells 80, each having a'pointed piercing tip 88a and being surrounded by a soft rubber or like seal 90a, which in turn surmounts a bottom seal 92a. Product passage tips 92a are connected to each of the piercing tips 86a.

These tubes 94a extend through the vertical front wall 36 and into the product valve assembly 24, which comprises an outer stationary member 98a, a lower spring support 100a and a spring 102a for biasing a movable valve body 104a upwardly so that the lower, semi-circular surface of the tube opening 106 pinches the tube 94 between the valve body 104 and a transverse rod 108. A shroud 110a covers the outlet end 96a of the tube 94a.

The product valve assembly for the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 is similar to that shown in FIG. 5, which relates to the first embodiment, and operation thereof is the same as the operation of the valve assembly 24, described above.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, gas passage elbows 136 are provided for directing the gas from passages 52a into the individual gas valve assemblies 138, each of which contains a valve body 140, inlet and out et gas passages 142, 144, a valve stem 146, a valve actuator 148, a valve head 150 and a seat 152. The head 150 is urged against the seat 152 by a spring 154. A seal 156 is provided for the stem 146. A gas piercing tip 158 extends through the seals 90a, 92a, as does the valve actuator 148.

In the operation of this embodiment, after the gas cartridge 132 is inserted and pierced, the gas passage 52a is pressurized, but gas cannot flow through the gas piercing tips 158, since the springs 154 hold the heads 150 against the seats 152. However, when a can 28a is inserted, the seal 90a is depressed to seal the bottom of the can, then the edge 88a of the product piercing tip 86a pierces the can. The gas piercing tip 158 also pierces the can bottom, and, as the can moves downwardly, the valve actuator 148 is depressed. The elements of the valve assembly 138 are arranged so that when the bottom of the can is locked into place by the beads 84a the valve 138 is opened. Thus, in this preferred embodiment, the can is sealed from the bottom, pierced, locked in place, and pressurized, in that order. Closing the cover 30a on top of the cans helps maintain the cans in place, but if the locking rib or bead 84a is designed appropriately, it is not strictly necessary in accordance with the present invention, that the top, or even the remaining guide and side members 36a, 38a, 118a of the device be present. If these members are partially or completely omitted, the valve assembly 24, or its equivalent, may be disposed in any other desired location, and supported by any suitable well known means.

If the present invention is used with beer, soft drinks, or the like the pressure is regulated appropriately, preferably to 6 to 14 p.s.i., and carbon dioxide is used.

If other types of products are dispensed, it may be desired to use gas which is less soluable in the product, is chemically inert, or possesses other desirable characteristics. Thus, the gas cartridge 132 may contain air, nitrogen, nitrous oxide, or a halocarbon gas (such as Freon brand fluorocarbons). The illustrated valve assembly 24 is a simple and economical assembly, but other equivalent units are known in the dispenser art, and it is anticipated such units may be used with the present invention.

The gas and product tubes and passages 52, 52a, 94, 94a, are shown as comprising rubber or plastic tubing or passage ways drilled in the frame unit. It will be obvious that other equivalent constructions may be substituted for the embodiment described.

In addition, the frame members are shown in the drawings as being steel, but since these components are not highly stressed, it is contemplated that plastic or other material may be substituted therefor, and a snap-on clip or the like may replace the fastener 42, 42a. The locking heads or nibs 84 are preferably integrally formed in the Wells in a plastic framed unit. Suitable plastic materials, such as A.B.S. (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene), Delrin brand acetal plastic, or a suitable acrylic or olefin plastic, such as polymethyl methacrylate or polypropylene may also be used.

Two different systems of gas control are illustrated, one of which pressurizes all the cans simultaneously, and one of which pressurizes them individually. Either embodiment may use either form of gas control. Thus, it is desirable, but not essential, the gas cartridge may be removed and replaced independently of the manipulation of the cans, and that the cans be removable individually, but these requirements are only preferred, and not strictly necessary in accordance with the present invention.

It will thus be seen, from the above description, and from the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the drawings, that the present invention provides a new and useful dispenser unit having a number of novel advantages and characteristics, including those hereinbefore pointed out and others which are inherent therein. I contemplate that certain changes and variations may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A liquid dispenser unit, comprising, in combination,

(a) Frame means for accommodating a plurality of can type containers therein, and, attached to said frame means,

(b) A first set of piercing tips for piercing each of said cans,

(c) A second set of piercing tips for piercing each of said cans,

(d) A gas pressure supply holder, including pressure regulator means therein,

(e) Manually operable product discharge control valve means,

(f) Gas passage means connecting said first set of tips with said pressure regulator means, said gas passage means comprising an individual gas passage for each tip and which further includes, for each piercing tip of said first set of piercing tips, valve means for closing said individual gas passage means, said valve means being normally biased to a closed position, said value means further including actuating means for contacting cans placed in said unit and thereby opening said valve means when a can is positioned in said dispenser unit, and

(g) Product passage means connecting said second set of tips with said control valve means, whereby cans may be placed in said dispenser and pierced by both sets of tips and whereby product contained in said can may be dispensed from said valve means under gas pressure from said regulator means.

2. A dispenser unit as defined in claim 1 in which first and second sets of piercing tips include resilient means for forming a gas-tight and a liquid-tight seal, respectively, between said tips and cans contained in said unit.

3. A dispenser unit as defined in claim 1 which further includes valve means for closing said gas passage means when said cover unit is open, and for opening said gas passage means when said cover unit is in a closed position.

4. A liquid dispenser unit, comprising in combination,

(a) Frame means for accommodating a plurality of can type containers therein, said frame means including a bottom wall member having a plurality of can-accommodating wells for locating said cans in a desired position in said dispenser, said wells including locking means being adapted to engage a container seam to lock a container in place in said well, and attached to said frame means,

('b) A first set of piercing tips for piercing each of said cans,

(c) A second set of piercing tips for piercing each of said cans,

(d) A gas pressure supply holder, including pressure regulator means therein,

(e) manually operable product discharge control valve means,

(f) Gas passage means connecting said first set of tips with said pressure regulator means, and

(g) Product passage means connecting said second set of tips with said control valve means, whereby cans may be placed in said dispenser and pierced by both sets of tips, and whereby product contained in said can may be dispensed from said valve means under gas pressure from said regulator means.

5. A dispenser unit as defined in claim 4 in which said frame means includes a movable cover unit having one set of said piercing tips fixedly attached thereto.

6. A dispenser unit as defined in claim 4 in which said frame means includes at least one horizontally extending guide member having a plurality of openings being substantially the same size as the size of cans to be accommodated in said units, for locating and aligning said cans in a desired position in said frame means.

7. A dispenser unit as defined in claim 4, wherein said second set of piercing tips is disposed in said bottom wall member.

8. A dispenser unit as defined in claim 4, wherein both said first and second sets of piercing tips are disposed in said bottom wall member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 757,611 1/ 1904 Gildemeyer 222-82 2,710,115 6/1955 Chandler 222-82 X 2,899,106 8/1959 Weinert 222-82 3,195,779 7/1965 Nicko 222-82 3,200,994 8/ 1965 Levinson et al. 222-82 3,352,457 11/1967 Tracy et al. 222-52 FOREIGN PATENTS 535,172 4/ 1941 Great Britain.

ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner.

-HADD S. LANE, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 222-82, 86,

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