# US 11,027,961 B2 · Apparatus, systems and methods for dispensing drinks, food, and other liquids > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,027,961 B2 - Document ID: US11027961B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/846,176 - Filed: 2020-04-10 - Published: 2021-04-01 - Granted: 2021-06-08 - Earliest claimed: 2014-12-30 - Applicants: Edward Showalter - Inventors: Edward Showalter - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11027961B2 ## CPC - B67D 1/0804: {Shape or materials} - A47J 31/407: {with ingredient-containing cartridges; Cartridge-perforating means} - A47J 31/46: Dispensing spouts, pumps, drain valves or like liquid transporting devices - B01D 35/027: rigidly mounted in or on tanks or reservoirs (B01D35/04 takes precedence) - B01D 35/30: Filter housing constructions - B01F 23/2361: within small containers, e.g. within bottles - B01F 27/112: with arms, paddles, vanes or blades - B01F 27/906: with fixed axis - B01F 35/3204: {Motor driven, i.e. by means of an electric or IC motor} - B01F 35/511: provided with liners, e.g. wear resistant or flexible liners - B01F 35/7137: {Piercing, perforating or melting membranes or closures which seal the compartments} - B67D 1/0001: {by squeezing collapsible or flexible storage containers (B67D1/0462 takes precedence)} - B67D 1/0004: {the beverage being stored in a container, e.g. bottle, cartridge, bag-in-box, bowl} - B67D 1/0005: {the apparatus comprising means for automatically controlling the amount to be dispensed} - B67D 1/0021: {the components being mixed at the time of dispensing, i.e. post-mix dispensers} - B67D 1/0043: {Mixing devices for liquids} - B67D 1/0418: {comprising a CO2 cartridge for dispensing and carbonating the beverage} - B67D 1/0425: {comprising an air pump system} - B67D 1/0431: {power-operated} - B67D 1/0462: {Squeezing collapsible or flexible beverage containers, e.g. bag-in-box containers} - B67D 1/0858: {using compression systems} - B67D 1/0864: {in the form of a cooling bath} - B67D 1/0871: {Level gauges for beverage storage containers (level indicators in general G01F)} - B01F 2101/14: Mixing of ingredients for non-alcoholic beverages; Dissolving sugar in water - B01F 2101/15: Mixing of beer ingredients - B01F 2101/16: Mixing wine or other alcoholic beverages; Mixing ingredients thereof - B67D 1/0057: {Carbonators} - B67D 1/0078: {Ingredient cartridges} - B67D 1/0809: {Opening means, e.g. means for assisting the opening} - B67D 1/0829: {Keg connection means} - B67D 1/0841: {Details} - B67D 1/0888: {Means comprising electronic circuitry (e.g. control panels, switching or controlling means)} - B67D 1/10: Pump mechanism (in general F04) - B67D 1/125: {Safety means, e.g. over-pressure valves} - B67D 1/1252: {Gas pressure control means, e.g. for maintaining proper carbonation (for beer engines B67D1/025)} - B67D 2001/0097: {using a pump} - B67D 2001/0098: {using a gas} - B67D 2001/0811: {provided with coded information} - B67D 2001/0821: {having different compartments for different components} - B67D 2001/0827: {Bags in box} - B67D 2001/0828: {in pressurised housing} - B67D: DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (cleaning pipes or tubes or systems of pipes or tubes B08B9/02; emptying or filling of bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels, or similar containers, not otherwise provided for B67C; water supply E03; pipe systems F17D; domestic hot-water supply systems F24D; measuring volume, volume flow, mass flow or liquid level, metering by volume G01F; coin-freed or like apparatus G07F) - A47J: KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) - B01F: MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING (mixing paints B44D3/06) ## Abstract Systems for filling and dispensing free-flowing contents into and out of a container, the container comprising: a top and a bottom, a plurality of vertical walls extending between the bottom and the top, an ice portal disposed in the top, the ice portal having a removable cap for filling an ice chamber with ice, a removable container cap, a tube vertically disposed in the container cap, the tube extending between a beverage bag and a gate valve above the container cap, an air hose disposed in the container cap parallel with the tube, an air bag attached to a bottom end of the air hose, the air bag being adjacent to the beverage bag, such that a volume between the bags and an interior of the plurality of vertical walls is the ice chamber, and a beverage flow portal protruding longitudinally from a side of the gate valve. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for filling a beverage bag with free-flowing contents from an external device, the system comprising a container and an attachable filler assembly removably associated with the container, the beverage bag being disposed within the container, the container comprising: a top and a bottom; a plurality of vertical walls extending between the bottom and the top; at least one ice portal disposed in the top, the at least one ice portal having a removable cap for filling an ice chamber within the container with ice; a removable container cap, the removable container cap forming a central part of the top; a tube vertically disposed in the container cap, the tube extending between the beverage bag and a gate valve shaft above the container cap; an air hose disposed in the container cap parallel with the tube; an air bag attached to a bottom end of the air hose within the container, the air bag being adjacent to an outer surface of the beverage bag, such that a volume between the air bag, the beverage bag and an interior of the plurality of vertical walls forms the ice chamber; and a beverage flow portal protruding longitudinally from a first side of the gate valve shaft; the attachable filler assembly being adapted to attach to a mouth of the beverage flow portal, such that the beverage bag is filled with the free-flowing contents from the external device through the mouth. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the container further comprises a filter housing disposed within the tube, the filter housing having a filter and a removable cap encapsulating the filter within the filter housing, such that the free flowing contents filling the beverage bag can pass through the filter. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the beverage bag is attached to the tube and wherein the air bag is attached to the bottom end of the air hose each attachment being via a female connector coupling and a male connector coupling pair, the male connector coupling fitting into the female connector coupling, such that the beverage bag and the air bag are each sandwiched between the male and the female connector couplings. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the container further comprises an air pump bellows connected to a top end of the air hose, such that compression of the air pump bellows pumps air into the air bag. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the container further comprises: a gate valve slidably disposed within the gate valve shaft, the gate valve sliding upwardly for opening of the beverage flow portal; and a gate valve stopper inserted through a second side of the gate valve shaft and into the gate valve for preventing a complete removal of the gate valve from the gate valve shaft, such that air is prevented from entering the beverage bag. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the container further comprises an ice chamber portal disposed through one of the plurality of vertical walls, the ice chamber portal extending between the ice chamber and a pour spout on an exterior surface of the one of the plurality of vertical walls, the pour spout having a water filter, a nozzle and a pushbutton adapted to cause a releasing of any melted ice out of the ice chamber through the pour spout. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the attachable filler assembly comprises: a threaded coupling removably attachable to the mouth of the beverage flow portal; and a flexible hose extending between the threaded coupling and a friction coupling, the friction coupling being configured to form an airtight connection with a male coupling of the external device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, wherein the friction coupling further comprises a pair of support clips, wherein a support strap extends between the pair of support clips, such that the support strap can fit around the male coupling. ### Claim 9 A system for dispensing free-flowing contents out of a beverage bag, the system comprising a container and an attachable dispenser assembly removably associated with the container, the beverage bag being disposed within the container, the container comprising: a top and a bottom; a plurality of vertical walls extending between the bottom and the top; at least one ice portal disposed in the top, the at least one ice portal having a removable cap for filling an ice chamber within the container with ice; a removable container cap, the removable container cap forming a central part of the top; a tube vertically disposed in the container cap, the tube extending between the beverage bag and a gate valve shaft above the container cap; an air hose disposed in the container cap parallel with the tube; an air bag attached to a bottom end of the air hose within the container, the air bag being adjacent to an outer surface of the beverage bag, such that a volume between the air bag, the beverage bag and an interior of the plurality of vertical walls forms the ice chamber; and a beverage flow portal protruding longitudinally from a first side of the gate valve shaft; the attachable dispenser assembly being adapted to attach to a mouth of the beverage flow portal, such that the free-flowing contents are dispensed out of the beverage bag through the mouth, and the attachable dispenser assembly comprising a pour spout assembly adapted to release the free-flowing contents. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the container further comprises a filter housing disposed within the tube, the filter housing having a filter and a removable cap encapsulating the filter within the filter housing, such that the free flowing contents dispensed out of the beverage bag can pass through the filter. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the beverage bag is attached to the tube and wherein the air bag is attached to the bottom end of the air hose each attachment being via a female connector coupling and a male connector coupling pair, the male connector coupling fitting into the female connector coupling, such that the beverage bag and the air bag are each sandwiched between the male and the female connector couplings. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the container further comprises an air pump bellows connected to a top end of the air hose, such that compression of the air pump bellows pumps air into the air bag, the air within the air bag applying pressure onto the beverage bag to cause the dispensing of the free-flowing contents. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the container further comprises: a gate valve slidably disposed within the gate valve shaft, the gate valve sliding upwardly to open the beverage flow portal; and a gate valve stopper inserted through a second side of the gate valve shaft and into the gate valve for preventing a complete removal of the gate valve from the gate valve shaft, such that air is prevented from entering the beverage bag. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the container further comprises an ice chamber portal disposed through one of the plurality of vertical walls, the ice chamber portal extending between the ice chamber and a pour spout on an exterior surface of the one of the plurality of vertical walls, the pour spout having a water filter, a nozzle and a pushbutton adapted to cause a releasing of any melted ice out of the ice chamber through the pour spout. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the attachable dispenser assembly further comprises a threaded coupling removably attachable to the mouth of the beverage flow portal and a flexible hose extending between the threaded coupling and the pour spout assembly. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the pour spout assembly comprises: a barrel tube having a first end and an opposite second end, the first end being attached to a flexible hose; a nozzle attached to the second end of the barrel tube; a gate valve disposed vertically through a top of the barrel tube, the gate valve having a top end and a bottom end; a swivel attached on the top of the barrel tube near the first end; an actuator arm positioned on the swivel at a center of the actuator arm, the actuator arm also being attached to the top end of the gate valve via a swivel ball, such that engagement of the actuator arm raises the gate valve and releases the free-flowing contents out of the nozzle; and a spring band extending vertically between the top of the barrel tube near the second end and a distal end of the actuator arm. ### Claim 17 A container configured to house free-flowing contents in a beverage bag, the beverage bag being disposed within the container, the container comprising: a top and a bottom; a plurality of vertical walls extending between the bottom and the top; at least one ice portal disposed in the top, the at least one ice portal having a removable cap for filling an ice chamber within the container with ice; a removable container cap, the removable container cap forming a central part of the top; a tube vertically disposed in the container cap, the tube extending between the beverage bag and a gate valve shaft above the container cap; an air hose disposed in the container cap parallel with the tube; an air bag attached to a bottom end of the air hose within the container, the air bag being adjacent to an outer surface of the beverage bag, such that a volume between the air bag, the beverage bag and an interior of the plurality of vertical walls forms the ice chamber; and a beverage flow portal protruding longitudinally from a first side of the gate valve shaft. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The container of claim 17, further comprising a filter housing disposed within the tube, the filter housing having a filter and a removable cap encapsulating the filter within the filter housing, such that the free-flowing contents flowing through the tube can pass through the filter. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The container of claim 17, further comprising: a gate valve slidably disposed within the gate valve shaft, the gate valve sliding upwardly for opening of the beverage flow portal; and a gate valve stopper inserted through a second side of the gate valve shaft and into the gate valve for preventing a complete removal of the gate valve from the gate valve shaft, such that air is prevented from entering the beverage bag. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The container of claim 17, further comprising an ice chamber portal disposed through one of the plurality of vertical walls, the ice chamber portal extending between the ice chamber and a pour spout on an exterior surface of the one of the plurality of vertical walls, the pour spout having a water filter, a nozzle and a pushbutton adapted to cause a releasing of any melted ice out of the ice chamber through the pour spout. ### Claim 21 (depends on 17) The container of claim 17, wherein each vertical wall of the plurality of vertical walls is flat, such that an outside of the container has a rectangular shape, such that each vertical wall can contain an advertisement. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The container of claim 21, wherein corners of an inside of the container are round shaped to accommodate the filling of the ice chamber with a maximum amount of the ice.