US 5,295,519 A · Hygienic liquid dispensing system including feed tube or probe for opening and resealing coaxial cap

Abstract

A hygienic liquid dispensing system includes a coaxial cap to close the opening of an inverted liquid container enclosing drinking water or other potable liquid. The cap has a lid portion to overlie and sealingly close the opening and an annular skirt portion extending axially away from the lid to surround a portion of the container neck. The lid portion is provided with an axially inwardly extending recess including an outer sleeve and an inner plug portion connected thereto. An upstanding probe or feed tube is dimensioned for forcible insertion into the recess for separating the plug portion from the sleeve to permit the discharge of liquid from the container. A removable mounting apparatus is also provided to fit on the upper portion of a water cooler cabinet and defines an annular ring for supporting the shoulder of an inverted bottle or container thereon. The mounting apparatus also defines a tapered entry portion having a closed inner wall extending downwardly and inwardly from the annular ring for receiving the neck and cap of the inverted container therein.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A liquid container support and hygienic delivery system for dispensing drinking water or other potable liquid into a dischargeable reservoir open at its upper end and housed within a cabinet from an inverted container having a substantially rigid body with a radially directed shoulder portion merging into a generally cylindrical depending neck defining an opening comprising, in combination,

mounting means adapted to fit on the upper portion of said cabinet and defining an annular ring for supporting said shoulder portion of said inverted container thereon, said mounting means also defining a tapered entry portion having a substantially closed inner wall extending downwardly and inwardly from said annular ring for receiving said inverted container neck therein, said entry portion having a lower end and a length greater than that of said container neck when said inverted container shoulder portion is supported on said annular ring,
means coupled to said entry portion for sealingly closing said open upper end of said reservoir and for supporting an upstanding probe dimensioned to penetrate into said container neck to provide a hygienic flow path for delivering liquid from said inverted container into said reservoir,
said liquid container being provided with a coaxial cap circumferentially surrounding at least an outer axial portion of said neck and having an internal recess therein including a sleeve portion and a sealing plug portion connected thereto, said sleeve portion and said plug portion being integrally formed with a frangible connection therebetween including an area of reduced wall thickness, said upstanding probe being disposed for entry into said recess to separate said plug from said sleeve when said container is inverted and lowered onto said support ring, said frangible connection being adapted to be ruptured and said plug portion axially separated from said sleeve portion upon the forcible insertion of said probe into said recess in order to permit the discharge of liquid from said container.

removable mounting means adapted to fit on the upper portion of said cabinet and defining an annular ring for supporting said shoulder portion of said inverted container thereon, said removable mounting means also defining a tapered entry portion having a substantially closed inner wall extending downwardly and inwardly from said annular ring for receiving said inverted container neck therein, said entry portion having a lower end and a length greater than that of said container neck when said inverted container shoulder portion is supported on said annular ring,
means coupled to said entry portion for sealingly closing said open upper end of said reservoir and for supporting an upstanding feed tube dimensioned to penetrate into said container neck to provide a hygienic flow path for delivering liquid from said inverted container into said reservoir,
said liquid container being provided with a coaxial cap circumferentially surrounding at least an outer axial portion of said neck and having an internal recess therein including a sleeve portion and a sealing plug portion connected thereto, said upstanding feed tube being disposed for entry into said recess to axially separate said plug portion from said sleeve portion when said container is inverted and lowered onto said support ring in order to permit the discharge of liquid from said container, said plug portion being formed with internal gripping means therein and said feed tube being formed with complementary external gripping means for securing said plug portion on said feed tube when said feed tube is inserted in said recess and said plug portion is axially separated from said sleeve portion, said plug portion also being dimensioned to sealingly fit within said sleeve portion when said inverted container is lifted off said support ring and said feed tube is withdrawn from said recess.

removable mounting means adapted to fit on the upper portion of said cabinet and defining an annular ring for supporting said shoulder portion of said inverted container thereon, said removable mounting means also defining a tapered entry portion having a substantially closed inner wall extending downwardly and inwardly from said annular ring for receiving said inverted container neck therein, said entry portion having a lower end and a length greater than that of said container neck when said inverted container shoulder portion is supported on said annular ring,
means coupled to said entry portion for sealingly closing said open upper end of said reservoir and for supporting an upstanding probe dimensioned to penetrate into said container neck to provide a hygienic flow path for delivering liquid from said inverted container into said reservoir,
said liquid container being provided with a coaxial cap circumferentially surrounding at least an outer axial portion of said neck and having an internal recess therein including a sleeve portion and a sealing plug portion connected thereto, said upstanding probe being disposed for entry into said recess to axially separate said plug portion from said sleeve portion when said container is inverted and lowered onto said support ring in order to permit the discharge of liquid from said container, said plug portion being formed with internal gripping means therein and said probe being formed with complementary external gripping means for securing said plug portion on said probe when said probe is inserted in said recess and said plug portion is axially separated from said sleeve portion, said plug portion also being dimensioned to sealingly fit within said sleeve portion when said inverted container is lifted off said support ring and said probe is withdrawn from said recess.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Hygienic liquid dispensing system including feed tube or probe for opening and resealing coaxial cap

Life of this patent

Hygienic liquid dispensing system including feed tube or probe for opening and resealing coaxial cap

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17