Concentrate holder
View Patent ↗A bag-in-box type of assembly is disclosed where numerous features are provided. One of the features helps to lock the drainage tube of the bag in a predetermined position at the bottom of the box. Another feature is directed to a ramp inside the box that aid drainage of the bag's content, e.g., concentrate for a postmix beverage. Yet a further feature is directed to structures that prevent slippage of the bag when placed on the ramp.
1. A holder for a liquid package with a drainage tube, the holder removably containable inside a liquid dispenser cabinet and comprising:
a box having a rear side wall with an exterior surface configured to be positioned and faced rearwardly in the liquid dispenser cabinet and a bottom side wall connecting to the rear side wall, and a hinged lid that opens to the interior of the box and closes to the bottom side wall of the holder, the hinged lid defining a front wall opposite and parallel to the rear wall, said bottom side wall with an exterior surface configured to be positioned and faced downwardly in the liquid dispenser cabinet, and having an opening sized to accommodate the drainage tube; and
a locking structure on the lid that upon closing of the lid closes adjacent to a portion of the opening to cover said portion of the opening and immobilize the drainage tube inside the opening, the locking structure and the opening in the bottom side wall together forming a tight fit around the drainage tube.
2. The holder of claim 1 , wherein the locking structure projects from the lid.
3. The holder of claim 2 , wherein the lid comprises a latch for locking the lid in closure.
4. The holder of claim 1 , wherein the holder comprises a re-usable box made of a rigid material.
5. The holder of claim 1 further comprising:
a ramp for accommodating the package, wherein the ramp extends at least a portion of a length between the rear side wall and the bottom side wall, the ramp including at least one immobilizing structure that retards the mobility of the package placed on the ramp, the at least one immobilizing structure comprising at least one ridge extending transversely across the ramp.
6. The holder of claim 5 , wherein the ramp is curved.
7. The holder of claim 1 , further comprising a ridge on a side wall and a corresponding groove on an opposite side wall such that, when stacked side by side, the ridge of a first holder fits inside the groove of a second holder.
8. The holder of claim 1 , further comprising a finger grip.
9. The holder of claim 1 , further comprising a magnet disposed inside the holder and positioned for signaling the presence of the holder within the liquid dispenser cabinet.
10. A holder for a liquid package with a drainage tube, the holder removably containable inside a liquid dispenser cabinet and comprising:
a box having a rear side wall with an exterior surface configured to be positioned and faced rearwardly in the liquid dispenser cabinet and a bottom side wall connecting to the rear side wall, and a lid that opens to the interior of the box, the lid defining a front wall opposite and parallel to the rear wall, said bottom side wall with an exterior surface configured to be positioned and faced downwardly in the liquid dispenser cabinet, and having an opening sized to accommodate the drainage tube;
a locking structure on the lid that upon closing of the lid closes adjacent to a portion of the opening to cover said portion of the opening and immobilize the drainage tube inside the opening, the locking structure and the opening in the bottom side wall together forming a tight fit around the drainage tube;
wherein the drainage tube includes a fitment having a groove between two discs, the discs for placement on either side of the bottom side wall about the opening.
11. The holder of claim 10 further comprising:
a ramp for accommodating the package, wherein the ramp extends at least a portion of a length of the rear side wall, the ramp including at least one immobilizing structure that retards mobility of the package placed on the ramp, the at least one immobilizing structure comprising at least one ridge extending transversely across the ramp.