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US 8,770,441 B2Granted
Multiple channel single spike for a liquid dispensing system
AssigneeInternational Packaging Innovations, LLC
InventorJeffrey Macler
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A spike for dispensing fluids from a flexible bag, wherein the spike includes multiple fluid channels which transfer liquids from the bag to an enclosed dispensing chamber and air from the enclosed chamber to the bag to permit and control fluid flow within the system.
Claims12
A spike for dispensing a liquid from a bag, the spike comprising:
- a shaft comprising a proximal and distal end and an elongated body therebetween and having an outer surface;
- a puncturing tip at said distal end;
- a first channel internal to said shaft, said first channel having a first fluid inlet on said puncturing tip through which fluid can flow through said first channel when a bag containing a fluid is punctured by said puncturing tip;
- a second channel internal to said spike, said second channel being noncontiguous with said first channel and having a second fluid inlet on said outer surface below said first fluid inlet through which said fluid in said bag can flow through said second channel when said bag is punctured by said puncturing tip;
- a first aperture at said proximal end allowing said fluid to flow through said first channel;
- a second aperture at said proximal end further from said distal end than said first aperture, said second aperture allowing said fluid to flow through said second channel.
3 more elements
A liquid dispensing system comprising:
- a dispensing base;
- an enclosed chamber positioned interior to said dispensing base;
- a support external to said dispensing base, said support providing support for a bag containing liquid;
- a single spike comprising a plurality of noncontiguous internal channels, said single spike being situated to puncture said bag containing liquid when said bag containing liquid is supported by said support and wherein said plurality of noncontiguous internal channels provide continuity of air and fluid flow between said enclosed chamber and said bag containing liquid upon puncturing said bag containing liquid;
- and,
- a dispensing valve connected to said enclosed chamber allowing for dispensing liquid from said enclosed chamber.
3 more elements
A method for dispensing liquid from a collapsible bag containing liquid, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing a bag support capable of supporting a collapsible bag containing liquid during dispensing of liquid from said bag and having a supporting surface defining a first space adjacent to a first side of said supporting surface and defining a second space on a second side of said supporting surface opposite said first side, said second space being an enclosed chamber;
- providing a single spike comprising a puncturing tip and a plurality of noncontiguous internal channels, each channel of said plurality of noncontiguous internal channels having a plurality of apertures on the exterior surface of said spike allowing fluid to flow through said each channel, said single spike connected to said enclosed chamber such that said puncturing tip can puncture said collapsible bag containing liquid supported by said bag support, and a first aperture of said plurality of apertures of said each channel is in said second space;
- supporting said collapsible bag containing liquid with said bag support;
- puncturing said collapsible bag containing liquid with said single spike such that a second aperture of said plurality of apertures of said each channel is in said collapsible bag containing liquid and said liquid flows from said collapsible bag into said enclosed chamber through a first channel of said plurality of noncontiguous channels and air flows from said second space into said collapsible bag through a second channel of said plurality of noncontiguous channels;
- dispensing said liquid from said collapsible bag containing liquid.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.