Compressed gas cartridge dispensing system allowing interchangeable use of different capacity compressed gas cartridges and novel storage feature

A compressed gas dispensing system for dispensing compressed gas from compressed gas cartridges comprising:

• a dispenser means for dispensing compressed gas from any of a group of compressed gas cartridges;
• the compressed gas cartridges of the group each having a body having a first end with a neck that has a puncturable end cap and a second end;
• the group of compressed gas cartridges comprising at least two compressed gas cartridges that differ from each other in length and/or body diameter;
• the compressed gas cartridges of the group having capacities at least ranging from about 14 ml to about 21 ml of water;
• the neck of each of the compressed gas cartridges of the group having a generally cylindrical non-threaded neck portion with a maximum external diameter less than a minimum female thread minor diameter for a U.S.A. (INCH) STANDARDS ⅜-24 thread;
• the dispenser means having a lance housing means;
• the lance housing means having a generally cylindrical bore with an open end for receiving the non-threaded neck portion of the neck of any of the compressed gas cartridges of the group and a piercing lance means within the bore for piercing the puncturable end cap of any neck of the compressed gas cartridges of the group;
• the bore of the lance housing means having a sealing means for forming a seal with an end face of the puncturable end cap of the neck of any of the compressed gas cartridges of the group having the puncturable end cap pierced with the piercing lance means;
• the bore of the lance housing means having a diameter substantially equal to a U.S.A. (INCH) STANDARDS ⅜-24 female thread minor diameter for receiving therein for lancing the non-threaded neck portion of any of the compressed gas cartridges of the group;
• a cartridge retaining container means having a first bore therein for receiving any of the compressed gas cartridges of the group;
• the first container bore having a first open end for receiving therein the lance housing means;
• the first container bore having a second end;
• the cartridge retaining container means having end wall means at the second end of the first container bore for engaging the second end of any of the compressed gas cartridges of the group that is housed within the container means with the neck of the compressed gas cartridge within the bore of the lance housing means;
• and
• adjustable securing means for adjustably securing the cartridge retaining container means to the dispenser means for piercing the puncturable end cap of the neck of any of the compressed gas cartridges of the group received within the bore of the lance housing means by adjusting the depth to which the lance housing means extends into the cartridge retaining container means from a first depth that will pierce the puncturable end cap on a longest of the compressed gas cartridges of the group that is housed within the cartridge retaining container means to a second depth that will pierce the puncturable end cap on a shortest of the compressed gas cartridges of the group that is housed within the cartridge retaining container means.