Liquid beverage dispenser

Dispenser for liquids requiring use of one hand, particularly useful for motorists, has a collapsible plastic bag with a delivery spout enclosed in an insulated casing adapted for mounting on the ledge above the dashboard of a vehicle. Swivelled to the device is a cup holder which positions the cup under the spout for dispensing liquid and away from the spout for convenient removal and replacement of the cup. Only one hand is required to activate the spout, swivel the holder, and grasp the cup. The bag may be refilled as required either through the spout with the bag in the casing or by opening the casing and removing the bag.

This invention relates to a new and improved liquid beverage dispenser. 
More particularly, the invention relates to a dispenser preferably mounted 
near the driver of a vehicle such as an automobile, truck, camper, boat or 
the like, distinguished by the fact that it requires the use of only one 
hand. Thus, particularly when the driver is unaccompanied by a passenger, 
it is unnecessary to stop the vehicle in order to pour hot or cold liquids 
from a container such as a vacuum bottle or ordinary bottle. 
Another feature of the invention is the fact that available components are 
used and assembled in the device. Thus the device uses a collapsible 
plastic bag to contain the liquid. Such a bag is used in packaging wine 
and contained within a corrugated paperboard box. The wine bag has a valve 
which may be used in the present invention. Thus no special valve or vents 
for the container are required. Additionally, air does not enter the bag 
and hence deterioration of taste of the liquid is reduced. 
Another conventional device used is a holder for the cup. This holder is of 
the type conventionally attached to the sill of an automobile window. In 
the present invention the holder is attached by a swivel arrangemenent. 
Another feature of the invention is the fact that the device is temporarily 
attached to the ledge above the dashboard of a vehicle. Hence it can 
readily be removed for filling or cleaning. When in place the container 
does not block the vision of the driver. It is attractive in appearance. 
It may be covered with an antiglare surface. 
Conventional automobile ledges slant toward the interior of the vehicle. 
Hence the device when installed drains automatically. The interior of the 
container for the bag is sloped toward the center, further to facilitate 
proper drainage of the entire contents of the bag. 
The container may be of a heat insulating material such as plastic foam. 
This maintains the liquids hot or cold for reasonable periods of time.

The device of the present invention may be used in a number of 
environments. A preferred use is installed on the ledge 11 above the 
dashboard of an automobile. Such ledge 11 frequently slopes 
downwardly-rearwardly and this facilitates drainage of liquid in the 
device. 
Within the device is a bag 12 similar or identical to those used in the 
interior of containers for wine of the type packaged inside a corrugated 
paperboard container. Such bags have a spout 13 of a type which may be 
actuated by gripping the ring with the fingers and pushing in the exposed 
valve actuator with the thumb, all with one hand. The liquid flows through 
an opening (not shown) on the bottom. The bag 12 is shown in its filled 
condition FIG. 2 having rounded top, bottom and ends. The spout 13 is 
preferably at the lowest point of the bag when it is in installed 
condition so that so long as there is any liquid remaining it will flow 
out through the spout 13. Bag 12 is conventionally of a flexible plastic 
material which may be metallized on its exterior to reduce heat loss. 
The bag 12 is installed within an insulated container 14 preferably of a 
foam plastic construction (e.g., Styrofoam) either removably or 
permanently. One preferred form of container 14 is hereinafter described 
in detail. 
Fixed to the container 14 or its support is a lug 16 extending out 
horizontally in about the plane of the spout 13. In a preferred embodiment 
there may be two lugs 16, one on each side. The apertured lugs 16 support 
a cup holder consisting of a ring 17 fixed to a vertical riser 18 which 
has a foot 19 at the bottom to prevent the cup from falling through the 
ring 17. At the upper end of riser 18 is a horizontal stretch 21 which is 
also apertured. Pivot pin 22 passes through the aligned apertures in the 
horizontal stretch 21 and lug 16. A tapered cup 24 of disposable material 
(e.g., Styrofoam) or a permanent cup of ceramics fits in and is supported 
by the ring 17. The cup 24 is inserted in the ring 17 and the cup holder 
is pivoted so that the cup is under the spout 13. Liquid is then dispensed 
from the bag 12 through actuation of the spout 13 and drains into the cup. 
The horizontal stretch 21 may then be pivoted from the position of FIG. 1 
to a position where the cup is located closer to the driver of the vehicle 
and is out from under the spout 13. 
Directing attention now to details of the container 14, it may consist of a 
top 26 which is streamlined on its exterior and is recessed on the 
underside complementary to the top of the bag 12 when the latter is full. 
Bottom 27 preferably has a flat underside and its upperface is recessed 
complementary to the bottom of a full bag 12. A notch 28 is formed in the 
front of bottom 27 to accommodate the spout 13. Various means may be used 
to fasten the top 26 and 27 together. If the bag 12 is to be permanently 
installed therein, the two halves may be secured by glue or other 
permanent means. As shown in FIGS. 2-4, top straps 31 fit across the top 
of the upper portion 26 and, front and rear, have downwardly extending 
ends 32. Bottom fastening straps 33 fit under the bottom of the lower half 
27 and have upward extending ends 34 which interfit with ends 32 to secure 
the halves 26 and 27 together. 
One means to mount the device on the ledge 11 is illustrated in FIG. 2. 
Thus mating pieces of Velcro-like fastening material may be used. Pieces 
37 are glued or otherwise affixed to the ledge 11. The matching pieces 36 
are affixed to the underside of the container 14, preferably to the 
underside of the straps 33. 
In the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 2-4, when it is necessary to 
refill the bag 12, either the fastener materials 36 may be disconnected 
from the fastener materials 37 and the entire container 14 removed or, 
alternatively, the top 26 may be removed from the bottom 27 by 
disconnecting the ends 32 from the ends 34. 
As shown in FIG. 5, the straps 31, 33 are eliminated. Brackets 41 which are 
of an inverted U-shape, fit over the forward edge of bottom 27a. In this 
modification the fastener element 36 is fixed to the bottom of half 27a by 
various means such as the use of adhesive. 
In use, the bag 12 is filled through the spout 13. The spout is removable 
for cleaning and the bag may be filled with the spout removed. The bag 12 
is then installed in the recess in the bottom 27 and the top 26 applied, 
the ends 32 interfitting with the end 34. As has previously been stated, 
in some instances the bag 12 is permanently installed inside the container 
14. The cup holder is then attached by inserting the pivot 22 through the 
stretch 21 and one of the lugs 16, whichever is preferred. 
When the user wishes to dispense part of the contents of the bag 12, he 
swings the cup holder so that the cup 24 is under the spout 13 and pushes 
the actuator inward. As liquid is dispensed, atmospheric pressure forces 
the bag 12 into a more compact form, depending upon the quantity of liquid 
dispensed. Thus air does not enter the bag and the contents are not 
deteriorated. By reason of the sloping cavities in the top 26 and bottom 
27 and the fact that the ledge 11 tilts and that the spout 13 is at the 
lowest point in the bag 12, the entire contents may be dispensed. 
When the bag 12 is empty, either the entire container 14 may be removed 
from the ledge 11 and brought to a point where new liquid can be inserted 
through the spout 13 or the top 26 may be opened, permitting the bag 12 to 
be removed for refilling.