Apparatus for dispensing fluids to a plurality of receptacles simultaneously, equally, and without dripping. A distributing device is used that uses a major-minor channel configuration such that all major channels fill with fluid before the minor channels fill and all minor channels fill before water exits the outlet holes in the bottom of the distributor. A stand is included which supports the fluid to be distributed and which is designed to exactly center common communion trays beneath the distributor for filing. A stretchable transfer tube connects the fluid in the container with the distributor and, when pinched shut, causes fluid to be sucked back up the tube and which in conjunction with the pipette action of the outlet holes prevents drippage after filling. The distributor is round for filing communion cups but may be made in an infinite variety of shapes, all incorporating the major-minor channel configuration, such as rectangular for use in filling a plurality of restaurant glasses or watering trays of plants.

1. Field of the Invention 
This invention pertains to a device which is designed to dispense a variety 
of fluids into individual separate vessels for various uses. The gist of 
the invention is a clear plastic distributor through which fluid passes 
when introduced from above. The fluid is channeled from major/wide to 
minor/narrow channels and ultimately exits through openings or "outlet 
gates" in the bottom of the distributor. The combination of major and 
minor channels prevents non-uniform filling of containers placed below the 
distributor and, in fact, enables each vessel to be filled simultaneously 
and for filling to be stopped uniformly without dripping. In the case of 
utilization of the device for filling a plurality of communion glasses, 
the dripping is stopped by a no-drip cut-off means which interrupts the 
downward flow of the fluid by pressing the stretchable fluid transfer 
means and compressing the same against the side of the device. Since the 
fluid transfer means is of a rubbery stretchable substance, compressing it 
actually results in a upward suction on the end of the transfer tube and 
prevents any dripping whatsoever from occurring. When the major/minor 
channel device is used for other than filling a plurality of communion 
glasses, an ordinary on-off valve is provided since some dripping, even 
though it is minimal, is not a concern when normal drinking glasses are 
filled or plants are watered, etc. 
2. Description of Prior Art 
While there are numerous types and designs of fluid dispensing devices, to 
the best of this inventor's knowledge, there has never been an invention 
such as this designed to uniformly and simultaneously dispense fluid to a 
plurality of communion glasses or other glasses through a distributing 
device which is simultaneous, equal, and does not drip. In this inventor's 
experience, every device that has been designed to attempt to deliver 
uniform and simultaneous amounts of fluid to communion vessels or other 
glasses, has failed in this attempt in that they lack uniformity in 
filling or the device dripped excessively once filling was completed. 
Additionally, previous attempts to develop fluid dispensers of this type 
have involved complicated and expensive machinery with the necessity of 
electric power, in some instances, required to drive the fluid through the 
dispenser. These methods have proved to be unpopular in that they are 
expensive and they do not deliver what is desired, that being simultaneous 
and equal filling of many vessels with no after dripping. Also, prior 
devices were difficult to handle, complicated and expensive to 
manufacture, hard to determine if they were dirty and, if dirty, difficult 
to disassemble and clean. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
This invention consists of a molded plastic multi-vessel fluid dispenser. 
The fluid dispenser consists of three identifiable separate parts. These 
parts are the distributor, the stand, and the no-drip cut-off system. The 
heart of the system is the distributor which is made of a see-through 
polycarbonate, such as lexan. The distributor consists of three basic 
parts, those being the top plate, which is made of 1/8 inch lexan with a 
short piece of lexan tubing extending 2 inches through the center of the 
top and providing access to the distributor for the fluid. The second part 
of the distributor is the center gasket. This center gasket is positioned 
between the top and bottom plate and forms the major and minor channels of 
the device as disclosed in FIGS. 2 and 3 attached hereto, the minor 
channels are more narrow than the major channels and hold less volume of 
fluid than the major channels. As further described herein, the major 
channels will all fill before any of the minor channels will fill. Once 
all the minor channels are filled, all the "outlet gates" will 
simultaneously allow fluid to flow into vessels distributed below. The 
bottom plate contains the outlet gates or holes through which the fluid is 
dispensed. It is possible to combine the center and bottom plates into 
one. 
The second portion of the device is a stand designed to simply and 
accurately center the tray or communion glasses under the distributor 
plate, to hold the container of whatever fluid is to be dispensed above 
the distributor plate and to provide a location for the placement of the 
no-drip cut-off valve. The stand is also made from a see-through 
polycarbonate and is approximately two feet in height. 
The third part of the device is the no-drip cut-off valve which is a 
T-shaped device through which the fluid transfer means is passed. The 
fluid flow from the fluid container may be interrupted instantaneously by 
forcing the cut-off valve to a position wherein the transfer means is 
pinched. This pinching action causes the flow to stop and, as a result of 
the fact that the transfer means stretches, results in a sucking action 
which effectively eliminates any dripping whatsoever. The small size of 
the outlet gates in the distributor results in a "pipette action" which 
also actively resists dripping when flow is stopped. 
It is anticipated that another practical use of the invention is for 
filling other vessels such as restaurant glasses. In that instance, the 
same major and minor channel relationship is employed. The result is that 
when fluid is introduced into the distributing device, fluid will fill the 
major channels before filling all the minor channels, after which fluid 
will simultaneously exit the outlet gates. A difference between the 
restaurant distributor for water or juice, for example, and the communion 
wine distributor is that the restaurant distributor will assume a 
rectangular shape to conform to the shape of common serving trays whereas 
the communion distributor is circular to conform to the shape of the 
communion holder. Additionally, the restaurant distributor will be of 
somewhat larger proportions and will lose some of the pipette action 
employed in the communion distributor and therefore will not totally 
provide the guaranteed no-drip distribution of the communion dispenser. 
Nevertheless, the restaurant distributor will employ the major-minor 
channel system which will enable water and juice glasses to be filled 
simultaneously and equally and limit dripping, once the glasses have been 
filled, to a minimum. The difference in the size of a communion glass and 
a restaurant glass removes the necessity for absolute no-drip performance 
from the distribution of fluid for restaurant glasses and allows the 
installation of a simple on-off valve in place of the T-shaped cut-off 
device and the flexible transfer means. 
It is anticipated that the simultaneous filling action which characterizes 
both the communion distributor and the restaurant distributor could be 
utilized on many various applications in an infinite number of shapes and 
sizes. By way of an additional example, it could be utilized for watering 
plants in nurseries which are grouped together in large trays. 
The characteristics that further describe this device are that no 
disassembly is necessary for cleaning as in other devices. The device may 
be cleaned simply by running water through it or some mild cleaning 
solution and then rinsing with water. Since the device is made of clear 
plastic, it is possible to tell at a glance whether it is clean and no 
disassembly is necessary if cleaning is needed. The device can be produced 
for less than $50.00 in 1984 prices. The device is simple and easily 
handled by one person. 
The object of the invention is to provide a multi-vessel fluid dispensing 
device that insures that filling of vessels will commence and end 
simultaneously without dripping. When the circular distributor described 
above is utilized for dispensing of wine or communion juice, the size of 
the major and minor channels and the outlet gates is such that a pipette 
action results so that, when flow is stopped, all gates stop flowing 
simultaneously and no dripping occurs. This pipette action is supported 
and enhanced by use of the no-drip cut-off device with the stretchable 
transfer means which sucks back when closed off and stretched. When the 
major/minor channel device is used in rectangular shape for filling of 
restaurants glasses, the size of the channels has been somewhat enlarged 
and the size of the outlet gates have been somewhat enlarged to increase 
flow and as a result, some of the pipette action is lost. Nevertheless, 
the employment of the major-minor channel system allows restaurant glasses 
to be filled simultaneously and equally, and limits dripping, once the 
glasses have been filled, to a minimum.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
Referring to the FIGS. 1-A and 1-B, 10 denotes the invention itself 
consisting of a fluid container 12 made of a clear polycarbonate 
substance, such as lexan, said container having been adapted with two 
oppositely positioned handholds 14 and 16 and a downwardly positioned 
dispensing tube 18 approximately one inch long through which fluid in 
fluid container 12 will exit. Connected to the dispensing tube means 18 is 
a transfer means 20 made of flexible tubing, such as surgical tubing, 
designed to connect with the dispensing tube means 18 at the bottom of 
fluid container 12 and provide a means of delivering the fluid downwardly. 
Fluid container 12 rests upon a platform 22 created by the right angle 
bend at the top of upright 24. Said upright is supported by brace 26 which 
supports said platform 22 from underneath and is itself supported by a 
stand cross brace 28 that provides rigidity to the foot 30 of the stand. 
The platform 22 has two oppositely attached polycarbonate restraining pegs 
32 and 34 which act in conjunction with downwardly positioned dispensing 
tube means 18 to prevent the filled fluid container 12 from slipping from 
platform 22. Said downwardly positioned dispensing tube means 18 fits into 
groove 36 in platform 22 and helps lock fluid container 12 in position in 
conjunction with restraining pegs 32 and 34 and prevent sideway motion of 
said fluid container. The upward end of the transfer means 20 is attached 
over the downwardly positioned dispensing tube means 18 and said transfer 
means 20 then extends downwardly behind brace 26 and through an opening 38 
in brace 26. Said transfer means 20 then comes forward of brace 26 and 
passes through the center of the no-drip cut-off valve 40 illustrated in 
FIGS. 4 and 5. When said no-drip cut-off valve 40 is in its outwardly 
extended position, the transfer means 20 is free and open and capable of 
passing fluid from fluid container 12 downwardly. However, when the 
no-drip cut-off valve 40 is pushed horizontally back towards upright 24, 
the transfer means 20 is compressed against brace 26 which results in the 
blockage of fluid from fluid container 12 and prevents said fluid from 
passing downward any further. The transfer means 20 then attaches to an 
upwardly pointing reception means 42 thereby completing the connection 
between fluid container 12 and the distributor 44. 
In the illustrated embodiment shown in FIG. 3, distributor 44 is shown in 
an exploded view. Distributor 44 consists of a top plate 46 which contains 
upwardly pointing reception means 42. Top plate 46 is secured to stand 
cross brace 28 and does not move or rotate. The center of the distributor 
44 is the center gasket 48 which contains major channels 50 and minor 
channels 52. When fluid leaves fluid container 12 and passes through 
downwardly positioned dispensing tube 18 and enters fluid transfer means 
20, it will pass through upwardly pointing receiver means 42 and enter the 
major channels 50 of center gasket 48. Once all of said major channels 50 
are filled, the minor channels 52 will commence filling. Once all of said 
minor channels 52 have been filled, fluid will then commence exiting from 
outlet gates 54 in bottom plate 56. 
In the illustrated embodiment in FIG. 2, center gasket 48 is shown in plan 
view illustrating major channels 50 and minor channels 52 configured to 
distribute fluid to forty communion cups disposed beneath distributor 44. 
FIG. 3 shows a center gasket 48 designed with major channels 50 and minor 
channels 52 configured to distribute fluid to thirty-five communion cups 
disposed beneath distributor 44. It is clear that any number of cups may 
be served with this design with a simple modification of major and minor 
channel branches. In fact, fewer cups may be served simply by covering 
outlet gates 54 with tape. 
In use, the device 10 enables a standard communion tray to be disposed 
beneath the fluid container 12 in an accurate position to receive fluid 
into each of the vessels contained in said tray by the simple means of 
pushing the tray underneath the distributor 44 up against the foot 30. 
Said foot is designed to accurately space the tray concentrically beneath 
distributor 44. A single alignment marker 58, a hole drilled through 
distributor 44, is all that is needed to complete the accurate location of 
communion glasses beneath distributor 44. Once the communion tray is 
located accurately, the no-drip cut-off valve 40 is pushed back towards 
the upright 24 closing off the transfer means 20. Fluid is then introduced 
into fluid container 12 and then the no-drip cut-off valve 40 is pulled 
outwardly away from upright 24 and fluid then completes its travel from 
fluid container 12 through transfer means 20 into the upwardly pointing 
receiver 42, passes into major channels 50 and then into minor channels 52 
of center gasket 48 of distributor 44 and ultimately passes simultaneously 
through outlet gates 54 into glasses contained in a communion tray 
previously placed below said distributor 44. In approximately 3 to 5 
seconds, the communion glasses will have been filled and when the no-drip 
cut-off valve 40 is pressed towards the upright 24, fluid is immediately 
prevented from passing through transfer means 20 and because said transfer 
means 20 is of a flexible nature said transfer means is stretched and 
actual upward suction is created on the outlet gates 54 in distributor 44 
and that, in conjunction with the fact that the outlet gates are of such a 
size as to prevent dripping through pipette action, prevents any dripping 
whatsoever. 
One preferred embodiment is described by a support frame made of clear 
plastic, such as lexan, with an upright piece 1/4 inch by 35/8 inches by 
22 inches, with a base piece 1/2 inch by 25/8 inches by 24 inches and with 
a brace 1/4 inch by 21/2 inches by 12 inches so that a standard communion 
glass tray fits directly underneath the outlet gates. And, further, where 
the flexible transfer means is made of surgical tubing and where the 
distributing device for use with communion glasses is made off two 10 inch 
circular clear plastic, such as lexan, disks 1/16 inch thick and one 10 
inch disk 1/8 thick, the 1/8 inch disk being utilized to make the top 
plate of the distributing device, the top plate having a 5/8 inch outside 
diameter and 3/8 inch inside diameter piece of plastic 2 inches long fixed 
to the center of the top plate as an upwardly pointing reception means to 
which the end of the transfer means is attached. Further, the two 1/16 
inch pieces of lexan being utilized to make the center gasket with major 
and minor channels and the bottom plate utilized to make the plurality of 
outlet gates located at the end of each minor channel may be glued 
together with an adhesive such as methylene chloride glue. Also, the 
device is provided with a hole in the front of the distributor with which 
alignment of communion trays is completed. 
In addition to the illustrated embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-A, 1-B, 2, and 
3, the distributor 44 may be configured so that it is rectangular in shape 
(as shown in FIG. 3A), as opposed to circular, in order that it may be 
used in conjunction with filling trays of restaurant glasses or watering 
trays of plants in a nursery, etc. Nevertheless, the same properties of 
the distributor device 44 are present, that is, an upwardly pointing 
receiver means 42, and major channels 50 and minor channels 52 in which 
fluid will fill all the major channels first and then the minor channels 
and then will exit through outlet gates distributed below the minor 
channels. Fluid will then fill the fluid glasses or other items 
distributed beneath the distributor and fluid will be stopped by use of a 
simple on-off valve. In this instance, however, due to the larger volume 
to be passed, outlet gates 54 will be slightly larger and will retain most 
of pipette action described above, but some drippage will occur. 
Nevertheless, the employment of the major-minor channel system ensures 
that filling will occur simultaneously and equally and limits drippage to 
a minimum. 
Thus, according to this invention, a plurality of communion glasses may be 
filled when positioned below the device and when the distributor used is 
that designed for such purpose. These communion glasses will be 
simultaneously, uniformly and quickly filled without any after filling 
dripping occurring as described in the Figures. Not only does the 
invention provide a means to insure simultaneous, dripless filling of 
communion glasses but also provides for simultaneous, uniform filling of 
restaurant glasses or watering trays of plants when utilizing a larger 
distributor in rectangular shape. While such a distributor may drip 
somewhat, this problem is not as critical when filling restaurant glasses 
or watering plants and the major-minor channel system functions to limit 
even the small amount of dripping that may occur in that instance. 
While the invention has been described in connection with the preferred 
embodiment, it is not intended to limit the invention to the particular 
forms set forth, but, on the contrary, it is intended to cover 
alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the 
spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.