Abstract:
The present invention relates to a liquid dispensing apparatus comprising a liquid container, a base and an air pressure device; the liquid container has an internal reservoir for containing the liquid and a dispensing conduit connected to a dispensing nozzle; a part of the dispensing conduit may be situated within the reservoir and is adapted to transfer the liquid from the reservoir to the dispensing nozzle; the base has a surface for holding a liquid receiver; the dispensing nozzle of the liquid container may be positioned above the surface of the base so that when the liquid receiver is situated upon the surface, the liquid from the dispensing nozzle will go into the receiver; the air pressure device is designed for creating pressurized air and is mounted in conjunction with the base; the pressurized device is connected with the internal reservoir of the liquid container, whereby upon operation of the air pressure device, pressurized air is supplied to the internal reservoir of the liquid container which causes the liquid within the reservoir to be transferred into and through the dispensing conduit and out of the dispensing nozzle.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to an apparatus for dispensing liquid and more particularly, to a manually operated liquid dispensing system that can dispense a quantity of either a hot or cold liquid into a conventional coffee/tea type of a cup or mug. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     It has been known to construct beverage dispensers using air bottle technology. Air bottles use air pumps to cause air to be pressurized within an interior of the air bottle, which then functions to force the liquid from the air bottle to be dispensed through a dispensing nozzle. Most air bottle beverage dispensers are commonly used in conjunction with a substantial volume of the beverage, such as fifteen to twenty cups of coffee, for example. These types of air bottle beverage dispensers have been used in fast food restaurants, motels, hotels, country clubs and other similar types of public establishments, which cater to large number of customers on a daily basis. There is not known an air bottle dispenser designed for individual use or targeted for use at an individual&#39;s workstation. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a liquid dispensing apparatus comprising a liquid container, a base and an air pressure device. In another embodiment, the liquid container has an internal reservoir for containing the liquid and a dispensing conduit connected to a dispensing nozzle; the dispensing conduit is connected within the reservoir and is used to transfer the liquid from the reservoir to the dispensing nozzle. In still another embodiment, the base has a surface for supporting a liquid receiver; the dispensing nozzle of the liquid container is spaced from the surface of the base so that when the liquid receiver is situated upon the surface, the liquid from the dispensing nozzle will flow into the receiver. In yet another embodiment, the air pressure device is designed for creating pressurized air and is mounted in conjunction with the base; the pressurized device is connected with the internal reservoir of the liquid container, whereby upon operation of the air pressure device, pressurized air is supplied to the internal reservoir of the liquid container which causes the liquid within the reservoir to flow into and through the dispensing conduit and out of the dispensing nozzle. 
     In still yet another embodiment, the apparatus further comprises a liquid receiver designed to rest upon the surface of the base and receive liquid from the dispensing nozzle upon activation of the air pressure device. For purposes of this invention, a liquid receiver can be anything that can retain liquid including, but not limited to, cups, mugs, glasses, etc. In another embodiment, the liquid receiver is removable from the surface of the base. 
     In a further embodiment, the apparatus further comprises a pressurized air transfer conduit for connecting the air pressure device to the internal reservoir of the liquid container. In yet a further embodiment, the apparatus further comprises a plurality of conduit connectors. In a further embodiment, the air pressure device further comprises a device for evenly collapsing the bellows. 
     In still a further embodiment, the air pressure device comprises a bellows. In still a further embodiment, the bellows is collapsible and expandable by a parallelogram linkage arrangement. In still yet a further embodiment, the base has an internal compartment for housing the air pressure device and the base further comprises an external activation mechanism for operating the air pressure device. 
     In yet a further embodiment, the liquid container comprises a removable cap for access to resupplying liquid to within the internal reservoir of the liquid container. In still yet a further embodiment, the dispensing conduit and the dispensing nozzle are removable from the internal reservoir for purpose of cleaning. In still another further embodiment, there is a lid which covers the container with the lid being hingedly connected to a housing to be movable between a closed position and an open position. In still a further embodiment, there is a connecting conduit mounted in the lid which connects with the air transfer conduit with this connecting conduit separating from the air transfer conduit during movement of the lid to an open position. The container can also have a latching mechanism for securing the lid to the housing. 
     In yet another further embodiment, the apparatus further comprises a pressurized air transfer conduit for connecting the air pressure device to the liquid container and the base further comprises at least one passage leading from the air pressure device to the transfer conduit. In another embodiment, the pressurized air will travel from the air pressure device (bellows) through the channel and then through the transfer conduit and into the reservoir of the liquid container. 
     In still yet another further embodiment, the apparatus further comprises a heat retaining device situated underneath and in contact with the liquid container to retain the temperature of a hot or cold liquid in the liquid container. 
     In still another embodiment, the liquid container comprises insulated walls for retaining the temperature of the liquid within the internal reservoir. In yet another embodiment, the liquid container of the apparatus is situated upon the base and is removable from the base for cleaning purposes. 
     In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a liquid dispensing system comprising: a housing comprising a base and at least two compartments for encasing a liquid container and an air pressure device; the liquid container has an internal reservoir for containing a liquid and a dispensing conduit connected to a dispensing nozzle; the dispensing conduit may be situated within the reservoir and may be adapted to transfer the liquid from the reservoir to the dispensing nozzle; the base further comprising a surface for supporting a liquid receiver; the dispensing nozzle of the liquid container may be positioned above the surface; the liquid container is situated within a first compartment; and the air pressure device for creating pressurized air may be mounted within a second compartment; the air pressure device may be connected with the internal reservoir of the liquid container, whereby upon operation of the air pressure device, pressurized air is supplied to the internal reservoir of the liquid container which causes the liquid within the reservoir to flow into and through the dispensing conduit and out of the dispensing nozzle. 
     In still another embodiment, the system further comprises a liquid receiver designed to rest upon the surface of the base and receive liquid from the dispensing nozzle upon activation of the air pressure device. In yet another embodiment, the liquid receiver has a receiving chamber and the receiving chamber is positioned beneath the dispensing nozzle when the liquid receiver is resting upon the surface of the housing so the liquid will flow by gravity into the receiving chamber. 
     In still yet another embodiment, the system further comprises a pressurized air transfer conduit for connecting the air pressure device to the internal reservoir of the liquid container. For purposes of this invention, the air pressure device is any device that can create pressurized air. In a further embodiment, the air pressure device comprises bellows. In another further embodiment, the air pressure device of the present invention may be manually operated. In still a further embodiment, the air pressure device includes an external activation mechanism for operating the air pressure device. 
     In yet a further embodiment, the liquid container of the system of the present invention comprises a removable cap for access to resupplying liquid within the internal reservoir of the liquid container. In still yet a further embodiment, the dispensing conduit and the dispensing nozzle are disconnectable from a housing to which such are attached for purposes of cleaning. 
     In another embodiment, the beverage dispenser of the present invention utilizes an air bottle which contains an internal reservoir that is capable of supporting a quantity of a liquid to be dispensed, such as between two and ten cups of the liquid. For purposes of this invention, the internal reservoir may be any liquid retaining chamber or cavity. This air bottle is mounted on a supporting base. Connected within the internal chamber of the air bottle is a dispensing conduit, which terminates into a dispensing nozzle. The dispensing conduit and dispensing nozzle are capable of being removed from the air bottle with the air bottle also being disengageable from the base in order to facilitate cleaning of the internal reservoir and resupplying of the heated liquid within the internal reservoir. The dispensing nozzle is positioned so as to dispense a quantity of the liquid within the receiving chamber of a receiving container or liquid receiver. The receiver may be mounted on a receiver surface which is positioned beneath the dispensing nozzle. Contained within the base is an air pressure device, such as a bellows. The bellows is to be manually operated by the user to supply air pressure within the internal reservoir of the air bottle which will cause the liquid to be forced through the dispensing conduit to be dispensed from the dispensing nozzle. 
     In another further embodiment, the present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a liquid dispensing apparatus comprising: providing an apparatus comprising a liquid container having an internal reservoir for containing a liquid and a dispensing conduit connected to a dispensing nozzle; the dispensing conduit being situated within the reservoir and being adapted to transfer the liquid from the reservoir to the dispensing nozzle; a base having a surface for holding a liquid receiver; the dispensing nozzle of the liquid container being positioned above the surface; and an air pressure device for creating pressurized air being mounted in conjunction with the base; the air pressure device being connected with the internal reservoir of the liquid container, whereby upon operation of the air pressure device, pressurized air is supplied to the internal reservoir of the liquid container which causes the liquid within the reservoir to be transferred into and through the dispensing conduit and out of the dispensing nozzle. In still another further embodiment, the method further comprises: filling the internal reservoir with liquid and placing a liquid receiver onto the surface of the base; and activating the air pressure device and allowing pressurized air to enter the internal reservoir and cause the liquid within the reservoir to flow through the dispensing conduit and out of the dispensing nozzle and into the liquid receiver. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the present invention. These drawings are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate one or more embodiments of the present invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present invention. 
     FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the liquid dispensing apparatus of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a transverse cross-sectional view through the liquid dispensing apparatus of the present invention showing the dispensing apparatus in its dormant, non-dispensing position; 
     FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the dispensing apparatus in the dispensing position; 
     FIG. 3 a  is a view of the latching mechanism that is associated with the lid of the liquid dispensing apparatus of the present invention showing the latching mechanism in the unlatched position which will permit movement of the lid of the liquid dispensing apparatus to the open position, which is shown in FIG. 4; and 
     FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view through the liquid dispensing apparatus of the present invention with the lid in the open position, which permits removal of a liquid container for purposes of cleaning and resupplying a hot liquid into the liquid container. 
    
    
     Among those benefits and improvements that have been disclosed, other objects and advantages of a this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention and illustrate various objects and features thereof. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various forms. The figures are not necessary to scale, some features may be exaggerated to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention. 
     Referring particularly to the drawings, there is shown one form of liquid dispensing apparatus of this invention which is commonly referred to as an air bottle  10 , which has a substantially planar platform  12 . Normally the platform  12  will be constructed of plastic. Exteriorly mounted on the platform  12  are a plurality of foot pads  32 . These foot pads  32  are to rest on a supporting surface, which is not shown, which would normally comprise a table. Mounted on the interior surface of the platform  12  is a plastic foam cradle  14 . Resting, but not fixedly secured thereto, on the foam cradle  14  is a liquid container referred as an air bottle  16 . The foam cradle  14  not only provides a nesting surface for the air bottle  16  but also assists in retaining heat or cold of a hot or cold beverage that is contained within the reservoir  24  of the air bottle  16 . The air bottle  16  is deemed to be of conventional construction and is formed of an outer wall which is integrally connected to an inner wall  20 . In between the outer wall  18  and the inner wall  20  is an air space  22  which is to function as a heat insulator. The air space  22  could also be filled with a material that would be intended to deter the escape of heat from within the internal chamber  24  of the air bottle  16 . The internal chamber or reservoir  24  is designed to be filled or partially filled with a hot liquid  26 . A typical hot liquid would be coffee or tea. It is to be understood to be within the scope of this invention that instead of a hot liquid  26  being utilized, there may be utilized a cold liquid or even a room temperature liquid. The outer wall  18  includes a protuberance  28  which is normally formed during manufacture of the air bottle  16  if it is constructed of blown glass. This protuberance  28  can be used as a positioner to abut against the foam cradle  14  and therefore inform the user that the air bottle  16  is in its proper location on the foam cradle  14 . 
     Surrounding the air bottle  16  is a sheet material housing  30 . Typically, this housing  30  will also be constructed of plastic. The housing  30  includes a hinge  34  to which is pivotally connected a sheet material lid  36 . The lid  36  is pivotable as indicated by arrow  33  from the closed position to the open position, as shown in FIG.  4 . Fixedly mounted against the interior surface of the lid  36  is a connecting conduit  38 . The connecting conduit  38  terminates at each end in flexible connectors  40  and  42 . The flexible connectors  40  and  42  function to achieve a liquid tight seal between conduit  62  and cap  90  when in the closed position and yet permit the disengagement of the connecting conduit  38  from the cap  90  and conduit  62  when in the open position. Also formed within the interior surface of the lid  36  is a hole  44 . Mounted within the hole  44  is a coil spring  46 . Also mounted within the hole  44  and abutting against the coil spring  46  is the inner end of a pin  48 . Pin  48  has a chamfered outer end  50  and a hole  52  located intermediate the ends of the pin  48 . The aft edge of the hole  52  is slanted forming a chamfer  54 . 
     Also hingedly mounted by the hinge  34  is an inner wall  56 . The inner wall  56  includes an enlarged opening  58 . The inner wall  56  also includes a conduit connector  60 . Connecting with the conduit connector  60  is a length of flexible conduit  62 . 
     Typically, the conduit  62  will be of a rubber or plastic material. Integrally formed on the inner wall  56  is an upstanding wall  64 . The upstanding wall  64  includes a hole  66 . Also mounted on the inner wall  56  is an elongated rod  70 . The rod  70  has mounted thereon a ring  68 . The elongated rod  70  is mounted within an appropriate opening formed within the inner wall  56 . The inner wall  56  also includes a dispensing opening  72 . The elongated rod  70  terminates at its inner end in a bevel  74 . 
     Mounted on the inner wall  56  surrounding the enlarged opening  58  is a rubber or plastic gasket  76 , which is to be used to form a liquid tight seal with the air bottle  16 . When the inner wall  56  is pivoted to a right angled position similar to the position shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings of the lid  36 , the air bottle  16  is capable of being removed from within the housing  30 . The internal chamber  24  of the air bottle  16  can then be cleaned and can be resupplied of a quantity of the hot liquid  26 . The air bottle  16  would then normally be reinserted back within the housing  30  and the inner wall  56  then normally moved to the position shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings. There may be a latch (not shown) provided between the inner wall  56  and the housing  30  that is located diametrically opposite the hinge  34  and directly adjacent the elongated rod  70 . 
     The user then is to insert within the internal chamber  24  a dispensing conduit  78 . The dispensing conduit  78  includes a vertical member  80 , which terminates at its lower end in a screen  82 . A ball  86  is to be locatable against the seat  82  which will function to prevent reverse flow of the liquid  26  from the dispensing conduit  78  back into the internal chamber  24 . Upper movement of the ball  86  is prevented by a protuberance  88 . The vertical member  80  is fixedly mounted to a cap  90 . Cap  90  is designed to slip through the enlarged opening  58  and fit within the access opening  92  in a snug fit manner within the air bottle  16 . Included within the cap  90  is a short conduit  94 . The cap  90  also includes an internal passage  96 . The internal passage  96  is connected to a dispensing nozzle  98 . 
     With the vertical member  80  inserted within the internal chamber  24 , and the cap  90  snugly retained within the access opening  92 , and the dispensing nozzle  98  connecting with the dispensing opening  72 , the lid  36  can then be moved from the open position, shown in FIG. 4, to the closed position, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. When doing so, the flexible connector  42  forms a liquid-tight fit with the short conduit  94 . Just prior to complete closing movement of the lid  36 , the outer end  50  of the pin  48  will ride over the upstanding wall  64  until the upstanding wall  64  will come into contact with the interior surface of the lid  36 . In this position, the outer end  50  will then engage with the hole  66 . At this time, the lid  36  is now latched to the inner wall  56  and is fixed thereto. 
     When it is desired to disengage the lid  36  and move such to the open position shown in FIG. 4, the user manually applies pressure against the elongated rod  70  moving such in an upward direction and causing bevel  74  to come into contact with the chamber  54 . Continual upward movement of the elongated rod  70  will cause the pin  48  to move longitudinally compressing of coil spring  46  and dislocating the outer end  50  from the hole  66 . This position is shown in FIG. 3 a  of the drawings. Movement of the lid  36  to the open position, which is approximately ninety degrees displaced from the closed position, is then permitted, as is shown in FIG.  4 . The dispensing conduit  78  can then be removed as indicated by arrow  93  from the connection with the air bottle  16 . 
     The inner end of the flexible conduit  62  is mounted on a conduit connector  100 . Conduit connector  100  has an internal passage  102 , which connects by an O-ring  104  to a passage  106 . Passage  106  is formed within a receiving container base  108 . The passage  106  connects with a hole  110 , which is formed within a flexible walled bellows  112 . Typically, construction of the bellows  112  would be a rubber composition. Located directly adjacent the hole  110  but formed within the platform  12  is an air hole  114 . The air hole  114  is closed by a flapper valve  116 . The bellows  112  is mounted within internal chamber  118  of the receiving container base  108 . Movement of the bellows  112  from the collapsed position shown in FIG. 1 to the expanded position shown in FIG. 2 will cause flapper valve  116  to be unseated and air will enter the bellows  112  through air hole  114 . 
     Located against the upper surface of the bellows  112  is a plate  120 . The plate  120  has a pair of diametrically opposed depending ears  122 . To each ear  122  is mounted a pair of links  124  and  126 . The outer end of the links  124  and  126  are connected to member  128  which is fixedly mounted to the receiving container base  108 . The plate  120  is integrally connected to a handle  130 . The handle  130  protrudes exteriorly through a slot  132  formed within the receiving container base  108 . 
     The upper surface of the receiving container base  108  includes a resting surface  134 . On the resting surface  134  there is to be located a receiving container  136 . The receiving container  136 , which resembles a coffee cup or mug, has a handle  138  and a receiving chamber  140 . The receiving container  136  is located on the resting surface  134  which positions the receiving chamber  140  directly beneath the dispensing nozzle  98 . 
     When the user desires to supply a consumable portion  142  of a hot liquid  26  within the receiving chamber  140 , the user manually presses down on the handle  130  in the direction of arrow  144 . This will cause the plate  120  to move against the bellows  112  with the plate being maintained in a horizontal position at all times due to the parallelogram linkage arrangement formed by links  124  and  126 . It is to be understood that there are actually two sets of the links  124  and  126  with each pair of links  124  and  126  being connected to an ear  122 . This horizontal movement of the plate  120  insures that the bellows  112  is evenly collapsed and can be totally compressed to the position shown in FIG.  3 . The air that is contained within the bellows  112  is forced through the passage  106 , the flexible conduit  62 , through the connecting conduit  38 , through the short conduit  94  and into the internal chamber  24 . This pressurized air will be applied against the surface of the hot liquid  26  causing some of the hot liquid  26  to be moved past the ball  86  to within the vertical member  80  through the dispensing nozzle  98  to be then deposited within the receiving chamber  140 . With each depression of the lever  130 , a small quantity of the liquid  26  will be squirted into the receiving chamber  140  forming the consumable portion  142 . When the consumable portion  142  achieves the desired amount, according to the individual&#39;s desires, then further depression of the lever  130  is not continued. The receiving container  136  is then to be physically separated from the resting surface  134  by grasping of the handle  138  and moving such to the desired location in order to consume the consumable portion  142  within the receiving container  136 . 
     When it is desired to resupply more of the hot liquid  26  within the receiving container  136 , the receiving container  136  is again located on the resting surface  134  and the depressing procedure of the handle  130  is to be repeated. 
     Numerous modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the attendant claims attached hereto, this invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically disclosed herein.