# US 2016/0256356 A1 · Time and Volume Restricted Liquid Dispenser > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2016/0256356 A1 - Document ID: US20160256356A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/061,460 - Filed: 2016-03-04 - Published: 2016-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2015-03-06 - Assignees: AlcoLok - Applicants: AlcoLok - Inventors: Thomas Daniel Hood - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20160256356A1 ## CPC - B67D 7/34: Means for preventing unauthorised delivery of liquid - B67D 3/0003: {provided with automatic fluid control means} - B67D 3/0074: {Safety or warning devices} - B67D 3/0077: {Electronic circuitry} - B67D 7/221: {using electrical or electro-mechanical means (B67D7/224 takes precedence)} - B67D 7/302: {using electrical or electro-mechanical means (B67D7/307 takes precedence)} - A61J 7/0445: {for preventing drug dispensing during a predetermined time period} - A61J 7/0481: {working on a schedule basis} - 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) - A61J: CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE ## Abstract A liquid dispensing apparatus includes a tank that includes an opening configured to receive a liquid. The apparatus includes a dispense valve configured to dispense the liquid. The apparatus further includes a touchpad input device configured to receive an input from a user and a liquid dispensing controller configured to determine a dispense rate for dispensing the liquid based on the input received from the user. The apparatus, via the dispense valve, is configured to dispense the liquid at a first dispense rate for a first period of time when a level of the liquid in the tank falls below a first tank level to dispense a first amount of the liquid and to dispense the liquid at a second, different dispense rate for a second period of time when the level of the liquid falls below a second tank level to dispense the first amount of the liquid. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A liquid dispensing apparatus comprising: a tank configured to dispense a liquid, the tank comprising: an opening configured to receive the liquid; and a dispense valve configured to dispense the liquid out of the tank; a touchpad input device configured to receive an input from a user; and a liquid dispensing controller configured to determine a dispense rate for dispensing the liquid based on the input received from the user, wherein the liquid dispensing apparatus, via the dispense valve, is configured to dispense the liquid at a first dispense rate for a first period of time when a level of the liquid in the tank falls below a first tank level to dispense a first amount of the liquid and to dispense the liquid at a second dispense rate for a second period of time when the level of the liquid in the tank falls below a second tank level to dispense the first amount of the liquid, and wherein the first dispense rate differs from the second dispense rate. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tank further comprises a fill valve coupled to the opening, the opening to receive a funnel for input of the liquid to the tank. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a display device configured to display a time remaining until the liquid is available for dispensing. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 3, wherein the touchpad input device is coupled to the display device and comprises a plurality of keys. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 4, wherein the display device is to provide a display based on the input received by the touchpad input device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an indicator light to indicate whether the liquid is available for dispensing. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The liquid dispensing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a cavity base located underneath the dispense valve, wherein the liquid is dispensed within the cavity base. ### Claim 8 A method comprising: receiving, by a processor, via a touchpad input device, user input; determining a level of a liquid in a tank; determining, based on the level, one of a plurality of tank level indicators associated with the level; in response to determining that the level is associated with a first tank level of the plurality of tank level indicators, determining, by the processor, a first dispense rate and a first period of time for dispensing a first amount of the liquid; and in response to determining that the level is associated with a second tank level of the plurality of tank level indicators, determining, by the processor, a second dispense rate and a second period of time for dispensing the first amount of the liquid, wherein the first dispense rate differs from the second dispense rate. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising resetting a timer in response to receiving an indication that a solenoid in a dispense valve has opened to dispense the liquid. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the determining the level of the liquid in the tank is in response to receiving the level of the tank input by the touchpad device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising providing for display on a display device a time remaining until the liquid is available for dispensing. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising: determining that a predetermined amount of the liquid has dispensed; and determining an updated level associated with a third tank level of the plurality of tank level indicators in response to the determining that the predetermined amount of the liquid has dispensed. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the liquid comprises one of an alcoholic beverage or a prescription medication. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the user input comprises a request to dispense the liquid. ### Claim 15 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising: receiving a request to limit the dispensing of the liquid in view of at least one of a dispensing time window, a liquid amount, or a number of pours. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising: receiving user input to set a first passcode; setting the first passcode; receiving user input comprising a second passcode, wherein the second passcode is different than the first passcode; and removing a pour from the number of pours in response to receiving the user input comprising the second passcode. ### Claim 17 A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions which, when executed, cause a processing device to perform operations comprising: receiving, by a processor, via a touchpad input device, user input; determining a level of a liquid in a tank; determining, based on the level, one of a plurality of tank level indicators associated with the level; in response to determining that the level is associated with a first tank level of the plurality of tank level indicators, determining, by the processor, a first dispense rate and a first period of time for dispensing a first amount of the liquid; and in response to determining that the level is associated with a second tank level of the plurality of tank level indicators, determining, by the processor, a second dispense rate and a second period of time for dispensing the first amount of the liquid, wherein the first dispense rate differs from the second dispense rate. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the operations further comprise providing for display on a display device a time remaining until the liquid is available for dispensing. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the operations further comprise receiving a request to limit the dispensing of the liquid in view of at least one of a dispensing time window, a liquid amount, or a number of pours. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the operations further comprise: receiving user input to set a first passcode; setting the first passcode; receiving user input comprising a second passcode, wherein the second passcode is different than the first passcode; and removing a pour from the number of pours in response to receiving the user input comprising the second passcode.