IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,453,806
Granted Patent B1
US 12,453,806 · App. 19/039,707 · Granted Oct 28, 2025

Methods and systems for handling and dispensing fluid

Inventor: Elizabeth Joy Myers (Bainbridge Island, WA)
Assignee: CERES CHILL CO.
A61M1/062A61M2205/3606A61M2205/3633A61M2205/366
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,453,806
App. No.
19/039,707
Granted
Oct 28, 2025
Kind
B1
Abstract

Methods and systems for handling and dispensing fluid are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a method includes dispensing fluid into an inner chamber and inserting the inner container into an outer chamber of an outer container. The method can include dispensing a coolant into the outer chamber of the outer container and coupling an outer container coupler of the outer container to a first coupler of a connector such that the connector defines a gap between the inner container and the outer container. The method can include coupling a second coupler of the connector to a lid coupler of a lid, wherein the lid coupler has the same thread pitch as the inward-facing threads of the outer container coupler of the outer container. The method can include cooling the fluid to a chilled storage temperature and dispensing the fluid out of the inner chamber.

Claims (45)

1. A method of handling and dispensing fluid, the method comprising:

dispensing fluid into an inner container;

inserting the inner container into an outer chamber of an outer container;

dispensing a coolant into the outer chamber of the outer container, wherein the coolant in the outer chamber is configured to cool the fluid;

coupling an outer container coupler of the outer container to a first coupler of a connector such that the connector defines a gap between the inner container and the outer container, wherein the first coupler comprises outward-facing threads configured to engage inward-facing threads of the outer container coupler;

coupling a second coupler of the connector to a lid coupler of a lid, wherein the lid coupler has a same thread pitch and a same diameter as the inward-facing threads of the outer container coupler of the outer container;

cooling the fluid to a chilled storage temperature; and

dispensing the fluid out of the inner chamber.

2. The method of handling fluid of claim 1 , wherein the outer container comprises an insulating structure defined by a double-walled body having a first wall spaced apart from a second wall by a vacuum-sealed gap.

3. The method of handling fluid of claim 1 , wherein the connector defines the gap between an outer wall of the inner container and an inner wall of the outer container, and the coolant is positioned in the gap.

4. The method of handling fluid of claim 1 , further comprising:

maintaining the fluid within the inner container at a chilled temperature for at least six hours.

5. The method of handling fluid of claim 1 , wherein, when the outer container coupler of the outer container is coupled to the first coupler of a connector, a distance between a bottom surface of the outer container and a bottom surface of the inner container is greater than a distance between a side surface of the outer container and a side surface of the inner container.

6. The method of handling fluid of claim 1 , wherein dispensing the coolant into the outer chamber of the outer container comprises dispensing ice into the outer chamber.

7. The method of handling fluid of claim 1 , wherein dispensing the fluid into the inner container the outer container comprises dispensing a volume of fluid of at least 8 oz.

8. The method of handling fluid of claim 1 , further comprising:

uncoupling the second coupler of the connector from the lid coupler of the lid prior to dispensing the fluid out of the inner chamber.

9. A method of handling fluid, the method comprising:

dispensing a first fluid into an inner container;

inserting the inner container into an outer chamber of an outer container;

dispensing a second fluid into the outer chamber of the outer container;

coupling an outer container coupler of the outer container to a first coupler of a connector such that the connector defines a gap between the inner container and the outer container, wherein the first coupler comprises outward-facing threads configured to engage inward-facing threads of the outer container coupler;

coupling a second coupler of the connector to a lid coupler of a lid, wherein the lid coupler has a same thread pitch and a same diameter as the inward-facing threads of the outer container coupler of the outer container;

uncoupling the outer container coupler of the outer container from the first coupler of the connector; and

dispensing the first fluid out of the inner chamber and dispensing the second fluid out of the outer chamber.

10. The method of handling fluid of claim 9 , wherein the outer container comprises an insulating structure defined by a double-walled body having a first wall spaced apart from a second wall by a vacuum-sealed gap.

11. The method of handling fluid of claim 9 , wherein the connector defines the gap between an outer wall of the inner container and an inner wall of the outer container, and the second fluid is positioned in the gap.

12. The method of handling fluid of claim 9 , further comprising:

maintaining the first fluid and the second fluid at a chilled temperature for at least six hours.

13. The method of handling fluid of claim 9 , wherein, when the outer container coupler of the outer container is coupled to the first coupler of a connector, a distance between a bottom surface of the outer container and a bottom surface of the inner container is greater than a distance between a side surface of the outer container and a side surface of the inner container.

14. The method of handling fluid of claim 9 , wherein dispensing the first fluid into the inner container the outer container comprises dispensing a volume of the first fluid of at least 8 oz.

15. A method of handling fluid, comprising:

dispensing a first fluid into an inner container;

inserting the inner container into an outer chamber of an outer container;

dispensing a second fluid into the outer chamber of the outer container;

coupling an outer container coupler of the outer container to a first coupler of a connector such that the connector defines a gap between the inner container and the outer container, wherein the first coupler comprises outward-facing threads configured to engage inward-facing threads of the outer container coupler;

coupling a second coupler of the connector to a lid coupler of a lid, wherein the lid coupler has a same thread pitch and a same diameter as the inward-facing threads of the outer container coupler of the outer container; and

maintaining the first fluid and the second fluid at a chilled temperature for at least six hours.

16. The method of handling fluid of claim 15 , further comprising:

uncoupling the second coupler of the connector from the lid coupler of the lid; and

dispensing the first fluid out of the inner chamber.

17. The method of handling fluid of claim 15 , wherein the outer container comprises an insulating structure defined by a double-walled body having a first wall spaced apart from a second wall by a vacuum-sealed gap.

18. The method of handling fluid of claim 15 , wherein the connector defines the gap between an outer wall of the inner container and an inner wall of the outer container, and the second fluid is positioned in the gap.

19. The method of handling fluid of claim 15 , wherein, when the outer container coupler of the outer container is coupled to the first coupler of a connector, a distance between a bottom surface of the outer container and a bottom surface of the inner container is greater than a distance between a side surface of the outer container and a side surface of the inner container.

20. The method of handling fluid of claim 15 , wherein the second fluid is a coolant comprising ice.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 26, 2025
From: MYERS, ELIZABETH JOY
To: CERES CHILL CO.
Reel/Frame 070632/0753 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 18496750 · Oct 27, 2023
Continuation 17893857 · Aug 23, 2022
Division 16684452 · Nov 14, 2019
Provisional Application 62768867 · Nov 17, 2018
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