Automatic Liquid Dispensing Device

1. Field of the Invention

The instant invention relates generally to liquid food product containers and more specifically it relates to an automatic dispensing device.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Numerous liquid food product containers have been provided in prior art that are adapted to hold various types of liquid food products, so that they can be portioned out therefrom. While these units may be suitable for the particular purpose to which they address, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention as heretofore described.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide an automatic dispensing device that will overcome the shortcomings of the prior art devices.

Another object is to provide an automatic dispensing device that will dispense all types of liquid food products which are stored in biodegradable plastic bags thus eliminating handling, air contamination and the need for refrigeration.

An additional object is to provide an automatic dispensing device in which a much safer food product usage is given to the general public by eliminating bacteria growth which causes contamination and spoilage by air contact.

A further object is to provide an automatic dispensing device that is simple and easy to use.

A still further object is to provide an automatic dispensing device that is economical in cost to manufacture.

Further objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that changes may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described within the scope of the appended claims.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the instant invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view with parts broken away of the food bag and hose.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an upper pressure plate and lower pressure plate being placed against the food bag and the sleeve in phantom before insertion into the housing.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the first embodiment taken in the direction of arrow 4 in FIG. 1 with parts broken away and in section.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a portion of the hose sealing member as indicated by arrow 5 in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the instant invention.

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of one of the hose sealing members taken along line 7--7 in FIG. 6.

Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, FIGS. 1 and 4 illustrate an automatic dispensing device 10 comprising a housing 12 having an open top 14. A lid 16 fits over the open top 14 of the housing 12. A structure 18 is for retaining the lid 16 to the housing 12. A bag 20, as best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3 is provided with a liquid food product 22 therein, such as ketchup or mustard. A hose 24 on the top of the bag 20 has a sealed end 26 extending through one side of the lid 16. A facility 28 within the housing 12 is for compressing the bag 20 placed therein. Paraphernalia 30 within the lid 16 is for releasing the liquid food product 22 through the hose 24 after the sealed end 26 is removed from the hose 24.

The housing 12 is cylindrical shaped having a bottom wall 32 and an upstanding hollow body 34. The lid 16 is cylindrical shaped having a downwardly extending collar 36 to fit into the open top 14 of the housing 12. A flared out lip 38 sits upon the hollow body 34 and a side aperture 40 is for exiting the hose 24.

The retaining structure 18 is a pair of clamps 42 extending between the lid 16 and opposite sides 44 of the hollow body 34 of the housing 12. The bag 20 is a cylindrical shaped collapsible plastic barrel-shaped sack 46. A carry handle 47 is on top of the collapsible plastic barrel-shaped sack 46. A sleeve 49, shown in phantom in FIG. 3, is sized to slide over the collapsible plastic barrel-shaped sack 46, so as to fit into the follow body 24 of the housing 12 and then the sleeve 49 can be removed therefrom. The hose 24 is an elongate flexible tube 48 having a plug seal 50 at its distal free end.

The compressing facility 28 includes a compression spring 52 placed onto the bottom wall 32 within the hollow body 34 of the housing 12. A lower pressure plate 54 is placed between the top of the compression spring 52 and the bottom of the collapsible plastic barrel-shaped sack 46. An upper pressure plate 56 is placed between the top of the collapsible plastic barrel-shaped sack 46 and the collar 36 of the lid 16. When the clamps 42 are engaged to hold the lid 16 to the housing 12, the spring 52 will be compressed to cause the collapsible plastic barrel-shaped sack 46 to be squeezed forcing the liquid food product 24 up through the flexible tube 48.

The liquid food product releasing paraphernalia 30 is a grasping mechanism 58 built into the lid 16 which pinches the tube 48 to prevent the liquid food product 24 to exit therefrom until the grasping mechanism 58 is manually operated to disengage with the tube 48. The grasping mechanism 58, as best seen in FIG. 5, consists of a stationary Jaw 60 in the lid 16 adjacent the side aperture 40. A moveable jaw 62 is pivotable at 64 in the lid 16 and adjacent the side aperture 40. A lever arm 66 is on the moveable jaw 62 and extends upwardly at a slight angle out from the lid 16, so as to operate the moveable jaw 62. A handle 68 on the lid 16 is directly under the lever arm 66. A return spring 70 extends between the moveable jaw 62 and the lid 16, so that the moveable Jaw 62 will normally pinch the tube 48 against the stationary Jaw 60, until the lever arm 66 is manually pressed downwardly towards the handle 68, to lift the moveable jaw 62 away from the stationary Jaw 60.

An alternate automatic dispensing device 10a is shown in FIG. 6 and comprises a plurality of box-shaped housings 12a in side by side relationships, each having an open top 14a. A plurality of lids 16a are provided, with each hinged to one housing 12a to cover the open top 14a. A plurality of latch mechanisms 18a are also provided, with each to retain each lid 16a to each housing 12a. A plurality of bags 20a are also provided, with a liquid food product 22 within each bag 20a. A plurality of hoses 24a are also provided, with each connected to each bag 20a having a sealed end (not shown) extending through a front side of each housing 12a. A facility 28a is within each housing 12a, for compressing each bag 20a placed therein. Paraphernalia 30a on each hose 24a and shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, is for releasing the liquid food product 22 through the hose 24a after the sealed end is removed from the hose 24a.

10 automatic dispensing device

10a alternate automatic dispensing device

12 housing for 10

12a box-shaped housing for 10a

14 open top of 12

14a open top of 12a

16 lid for 12

16a lid for 12a

18 retaining structure between 12 and 16

18a latch mechanism between 12a and 16a

20 bag in 12

20a bag in 12a

22 liquid food product in 20 and 20a

24 hose for 20

24a hose for 20a

26 sealed end of 24

28 compression facility in 12

28a compressing facility in 12a

30 liquid food product releasing paraphernalia

30a liquid food product releasing paraphernalia

32 bottom wall of 12

34 upstanding hollow body of 12

36 downwardly extending collar on 16

38 flared out lip on 16

40 side aperture in 16

42 clamp on 16

44 side of 34

46 collapsible plastic barrel-shaped sack for 20

47 carry handle on 46

48 flexible tube for 24

49 sleeve

50 plug seal for 26

52 compression spring

54 lower pressure plate

56 upper pressure plate

58 grasping mechanism for 30

60 stationary jaw

62 moveable jaw

64 pivot

66 lever arm on 62

68 handle on 16

70 return spring

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods differing from the type described above.

While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.