# US 2021/0276854 A1 · Refrigerated dispenser conversion system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0276854 A1 - Document ID: US20210276854A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/810,035 - Filed: 2020-03-05 - Published: 2021-09-09 - Earliest claimed: 2020-03-05 - Assignees: Wandering Bear Inc. - Applicants: Wandering Bear Inc. - Inventors: Matthew Bachmann; Benjamin Gordon; David Finger - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210276854A1 ## CPC - B67D 1/0841: {Details} - B67D 1/0862: {in the form of a cold plate or a cooling block} - B67D 1/0004: {the beverage being stored in a container, e.g. bottle, cartridge, bag-in-box, bowl} - B67D 1/10: Pump mechanism (in general F04) - B67D 2001/0097: {using a pump} - B67D 2210/00031: Housing - B67D 2210/00036: for use with or in refrigerators - B67D 2210/00049: Pipes - 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) ## Abstract A refrigerated beverage dispenser conversion system includes an electric pump configured for being mounted within an interior of a refrigerated beverage dispenser, the electric pump having an inlet and an outlet. An inlet barb is operatively connected to the electric pump at the inlet, and an inlet hose is operatively connected to the inlet barb at a first end of the inlet hose. The inlet barb and the inlet hose are sized to engage an outlet of a container disposed within the refrigerated beverage dispenser to bring the container in fluid communication with the electric pump. An outlet barb is operatively connected to the electric pump at the outlet and sized for operatively connecting to an outlet hose in fluid communication with an outlet of the refrigerated beverage dispenser. The outlet barb is differently sized from the inlet barb, such that the refrigerated beverage dispenser conversion system is configured to bring the container in fluid communication with the outlet of the refrigerated beverage dispenser. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A refrigerated beverage dispenser conversion system, the conversion system comprising: an electric pump having an inlet and an outlet; an inlet barb operatively connected to the electric pump at the inlet, an inlet hose operatively connected to the inlet barb at a first end of the inlet hose, the inlet barb and the inlet hose being sized to engage an outlet of a container disposed within a refrigerated beverage dispenser to bring the container in fluid communication with the electric pump; an outlet barb operatively connected to the electric pump at the outlet of the electric pump and sized for operatively connecting to an outlet hose in fluid communication with an outlet of the refrigerated beverage dispenser; wherein the outlet barb is differently sized from the inlet barb, such that the refrigerated beverage dispenser conversion system is configured to bring the container in fluid communication with the outlet of the refrigerated beverage dispenser. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The refrigerated beverage dispenser conversion system of claim 1, further comprising a quick connect spear operatively connected to the second end of the inlet hose, the quick connect spear being configured for being received in a fitting at the outlet of the container such that the container is in fluid communication with the electric pump. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The refrigerated beverage dispenser conversion system of claim 2, further comprising a clamp fixing the second end of the inlet hose to the quick connect spear. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The refrigerated beverage dispenser conversion system of claim 1, wherein the outlet barb is smaller in internal diameter than the inlet barb. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The refrigerated beverage dispenser conversion system of claim 1, further comprising a button disposed on the electric pump configured for actuating the electric pump. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The refrigerated beverage dispenser conversion system of claim 1, wherein the refrigerated beverage dispenser and the refrigerated beverage dispenser conversion system are devoid of a nitrogen tank or a carbon dioxide (CO2) tank. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The refrigerated beverage dispenser conversion system of claim 1, wherein the electric pump is configured to be positioned within an interior of the refrigerated beverage dispenser. ### Claim 8 A method of converting a refrigerated beverage dispenser, the method comprising: locating an electric pump, an inlet barb connected with an inlet of the electric pump, and an inlet hose connected to the inlet barb at a first end of the inlet hose within an interior of a refrigerated beverage dispenser; operatively connecting a second end of the inlet hose with an outlet fitting of a bag-in-box container holding a non-carbonated beverage such that the container is in fluid communication with the electric pump; operatively connecting an outlet hose in fluid communication with an outlet of the refrigerated beverage dispenser located external to the refrigerated beverage dispenser with an outlet of the electric pump, thereby bringing the bag-in-box container in fluid communication with the outlet of the refrigerated beverage dispenser. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the electric pump, the inlet barb, and the inlet hose are connected with each other prior to placing the electric pump, the inlet barb, and the inlet hose within the interior of the refrigerated beverage dispenser. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the outlet hose has a different internal diameter than the inlet hose. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising connecting an outlet barb to the outlet hose and fitting the outlet barb in the outlet of the electric pump to bring the outlet hose in fluid communication with the electric pump, the outlet barb having a different internal diameter than the inlet barb. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the outlet barb is connected with the electric pump prior to placing the electric pump in the refrigerated beverage dispenser. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein connecting the outlet barb to the outlet hose is performed prior to fitting the outlet barb in the outlet of the electric pump. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the refrigerated beverage dispenser is a kegerator having a tap handle mounted to a draft tower external to a refrigerator, and the outlet hose is connected with the draft tower upon receipt of the kegerator from a manufacturer or retailer of the kegerator. ### Claim 15 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the refrigerated beverage dispenser is a kegerator having a tap handle located external to refrigerator, the electric pump being configured such that actuating the tap handle from an off position to a dispensing position actuates the electric pump to deliver non-carbonated beverage from the container toward the outlet. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising connecting a power cord to the electric pump and threading the power cord through an existing aperture provided in a wall of the refrigerator. ### Claim 17 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein operatively connecting the second end of the inlet hose with the outlet fitting of the container includes operatively connecting the second end of the inlet hose near a bottom of the container, such that gravity directs contents of the container toward the outlet fitting of the container. ### Claim 18 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising inserting a quick connect spear connected to the second end of the inlet hose prior to connecting the inlet hose with the container, and engaging the quick connect spear with the outlet of the container so as to connect the inlet hose with the container. ### Claim 19 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein operatively connecting the inlet barb to the inlet hose includes placing a clamp over the inlet hose at a section of the inlet hose where the inlet hose connects with the inlet barb. ### Claim 20 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein operatively connecting the second end of the inlet hose with the outlet of the container includes operatively connecting the second end of the inlet hose to a side of the container located opposite from a side of the container facing the electric pump.