IP Library Granted Patent US 12,275,632
Granted Patent B2
US 12,275,632 · App. 18/453,800 · Granted Apr 15, 2025

Liquid food dispenser system and method

Inventors: Timothy Peter Doelman (Glencoe, IL); Vincent A. Baxter (Temecula, CA)
Assignee: fairlife, LLC
B67D1/1277B65D47/242B65D47/244B67D1/0082B67D1/0462B67D1/0864B67D1/1245B67D1/1252B67D2001/0828B67D2210/0006B67D2210/00062
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,275,632
App. No.
18/453,800
Granted
Apr 15, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system and method for dispensing fluids is introduced. A preferred embodiment comprises a sealed tank, a bag containing fluid inside the sealed tank, an outlet for dispensing the liquid in the bag, and a pressure generating device to create pressure in the sealed tank.

Claims (30)

1. A method for dispensing a beverage, the method comprising:

placing a serving container on a nozzle that extends through a counter-top, wherein a check valve disposed on a bottom of the serving container mates with the nozzle;

filling the serving container with a liquid beverage, wherein the liquid beverage flows from a pressurized container up through the nozzle and into the serving container, wherein the filling comprises opening the nozzle and pressurizing the pressurized container, wherein pressurizing the pressurized container comprises enabling an air pump coupled to the pressurized container; and

rinsing the check valve after the filling the serving container, wherein the rinsing comprises causing water to flow from the nozzle through the check valve.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the filling commences with an operator request.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising removing the serving container from the nozzle.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising rinsing the bottom of the serving container during the removing.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the rinsing removes substantially all remaining liquid beverage from the bottom of the serving container.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the filling comprises filling the serving container from the bottom of the serving container.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the check valve is at least partially electromechanically opened.

8. A method for dispensing a beverage, the method comprising:

engaging a nozzle on a first side of a counter-top with a check valve on a container, wherein the check valve comprises a flow diverter, a spring, and a valve ball;

opening the nozzle and the check valve; and

enabling an air pump coupled to a pressurized container, the pressurized container being connected to the nozzle, wherein the beverage moves from a second side of the counter-top, through the nozzle and the check valve from the pressurized container, the second side being opposite the first side.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the enabling commences with an operator request.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the check valve is located on a bottom of the container.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the check valve is electromechanically opened.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the check valve is opened using a combination of electromagnetic and nozzle forces.

13. The method of claim 8 , further comprising rinsing a bottom of the container during a removing of the container.

14. A method for dispensing a beverage, the method comprising:

placing a container on a counter-top, wherein a check valve of the container mates with a nozzle of the counter-top, and wherein an interior of the container is open to ambient atmosphere;

pressurizing a liquid container connected to the nozzle, wherein the pressurizing is performed at least in part with an air pump;

dispensing a liquid beverage from the liquid container to the container through the nozzle; and

rinsing a bottom of the container after the dispensing.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the dispensing commences with an operator request.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the check valve is located on a side of the container.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the check valve is located on the bottom of the container.

18. The method of claim 14 , wherein the rinsing removes substantially all remaining liquid beverage from the bottom of the container.

19. The method of claim 14 , wherein the dispensing the liquid beverage dispenses the liquid beverage from a side of the liquid container.

20. The method of claim 14 , wherein the check valve is at least partially electromechanically opened.

Continuity (11)
Division 17408891 · Aug 23, 2021
Division 16744843 · Jan 16, 2020
Division 16531531 · Aug 5, 2019
Division 15894571 · Feb 12, 2018
Division 14169708 · Jan 31, 2014
Division 13903658 · May 28, 2013
Division 13453996 · Apr 23, 2012
Division 12307723
Provisional Application 60912626 · Apr 18, 2007
Provisional Application 60819178 · Jul 7, 2006
Related Publication 20230391604A1 · Dec 7, 2023
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