# US 8,770,441 B2 · Multiple channel single spike for a liquid dispensing system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,770,441 B2 - Document ID: US8770441B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/738,725 - Filed: 2013-01-10 - Published: 2013-07-25 - Granted: 2014-07-08 - Earliest claimed: 2007-03-27 - Assignees: International Packaging Innovations, LLC - Applicants: International Packaging Innovations, LLC - Inventors: Jeffrey Macler - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8770441B2 ## CPC - B67D 7/08: Arrangements of devices for controlling, indicating, metering or registering quantity or price of liquid transferred (arrangement of flow- or pressure-control valves B67D7/36; computing, calculating, counting G06; coin-freed apparatus for dispensing fluids G07F13/00; prepayment devices for metering liquids G07F15/00) - B65D 33/01: Ventilation or drainage of bags - B67B 7/28: {and associated with receptacle hodlers} - B67D 3/0029: {provided with holders for bottles or similar containers} - B67D 3/0038: {the liquid being stored in an intermediate container prior to dispensing} - B67D 3/0067: {relating to shape or materials, e.g. bag-in-box packages [BIB], pouches} - B67D 3/02: Liquid-dispensing valves having operating members arranged to be pressed upwards, e.g. by the rims of receptacles held below the delivery orifice - B65B 69/0091: {using frames whereby the container is bottom supported} - B67B 7/26: {combined with spouts} - B67D 3/0003: {provided with automatic fluid control means} - B67D 3/0083: {for the liquid container} - B67D 7/06: Details or accessories - B67D 99/00: Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass - 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) - B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES - B67B: APPLYING CLOSURE MEMBERS TO BOTTLES JARS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; OPENING CLOSED CONTAINERS (opening or closing devices attached to, or incorporated in, containers or container closures B65D) - B65B: MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING (bundling and pressing devices for cigars A24C1/44; devices for tensioning and securing binders adapted to be supported by the article or articles to be bound B25B25/00; applying closure members to bottles, jars or similar containers B67B1/00-B67B6/00; concurrent cleaning, filling and closing of bottles B67C7/00; emptying bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels or similar containers B67C9/00) ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The spike as claimed in claim 1, said spike further comprising: said puncturing tip comprising: a generally cone-shaped portion having a base and an opposing truncated tip, said base being sized and shaped for attaching to said first end of said shaft and being attached to said first end; a puncturing shaft having two opposing ends and an elongated body therebetween, a first end of said two opposing ends being sized and shaped to attach to said truncated tip and said first end attached to said truncated tip, and a second end of said two opposing ends being a generally cone-shaped element sized and shaped for puncturing a collapsible bag of liquid. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The spike as claimed in claim 2, wherein said puncturing shaft is generally cylindrical. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The spike as claimed in claim 2, wherein said puncturing shaft is generally a polygonal prism. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The spike as claimed in claim 4, wherein said puncturing shaft is generally a hexagonal prism. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The spike as claimed in claim 1, wherein said shaft is generally cylindrical. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The spike as claimed in claim 1, wherein said shaft is generally a polygonal prism. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The spike as claimed in claim 7, wherein said shaft is generally a hexagonal prism. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The spike as claimed in claim 1, wherein said spike further comprises: said shaft further comprising a generally cylindrical hollow extension having an aperture at each of two opposing ends allowing fluid to flow through said extension, a first end of said two opposing ends being attached to said shaft such that said aperture in said first end generally circumscribes said second fluid inlet. ### Claim 10 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. ### Claim 11 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. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method as claimed in claim 11, said method further comprising the steps of: providing a dispensing valve connected to said second space; opening said dispensing valve to cause said liquid to flow from said second space through said dispensing valve and to cause said liquid to flow from said collapsible bag containing liquid into said second space; dispensing said liquid from said collapsible bag containing liquid.