Abstract:
A beverage containment assembly may include a disposable liner assembly for dispensing fluids with a vessel. The liner assembly may comprise a flexible liner configured for the vessel, a flexible tube; and a cuff having an interlock surface. The cuff may be received in at least a portion of the tube thereby securing the liner and the tube. The interlock surface may be configured to provide a seal between at least the cuff and the liner. A method of manufacturing same is further provided.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/533,658 filed Nov. 5, 2014, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/900,102, filed Nov. 5, 2013, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY 
       [0002]    A fluid dispensing assembly, and more particular, a flexible, disposable, and tamper-resistant liner assembly for dispensing fluids with a vessel, and methods of manufacturing and assembling the same. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    A containment assembly such as urns or vessels may be used for holding and serving liquid or beverages. Typical assemblies may be constructed of metal and thus require cleaning after usage. In a restaurant environment, it is generally preferred to clean such vessels at the end of each shift so as to maintain cleanliness. However such a cleaning task requires increased man power and other resources and such is not preferred. 
         [0004]    Another containment assembly uses a plastic bag assembly that is positioned within a containment vessel having a dispensing valve, which in turn is used to deliver beverages to consumers. These bag assemblies may be formed of a two-layer plastic sheet that is heat sealed on three sides with a spout that is heat sealed to an outer surface and over an aperture in one side of the plastic sheet. To fluidly connect with the dispensing value, the typical spout is releasably received into a filament connected to an elongated dispensing tube. As a result, the traditional spout may be physically separated from the elongated dispensing tube by the filament. To dispense beverages, the elongated dispensing tube is passed into the dispensing valve of the containment vessel to be selectively operated by customers. Thus, typical plastic bag assemblies may include excess components thereby unnecessarily increasing material costs and complexity of installation. 
         [0005]    Further, typical bag assemblies are not tamper-resistant. After beverages have been dispensed or at the end of a work shift, the containment assembly should be cleaned by throwing away the plastic bag assembly. However, traditional bag assemblies include a releasable connection between the spout and filament. This releasable connection may be utilized to reuse portions or all of the bag assembly, which may lead to unsanitary conditions. As a result, there is a need for a tamper-resistant liner assembly. 
         [0006]    Moreover, typical bag assemblies made of two-layer plastic sheet are not configured for the shape of the containment vessel. The concern with such designs is that the plastic bag does not uniformly fit within the containment vessel and as such, crevices are created at the base and elsewhere in the bag which tends to trap useful beverages that in turn cannot be released to the consumer for consumption. Thus, beverage product is wasted and such is not very efficient in the restaurant industry. 
         [0007]    Other containment assembly designs employ expensive plastic bags that employ complex valves and dispensing systems that in turn may be used with a vessel. It would be helpful to provide an improved disposable container assembly that has improved functionality, a reduction in the number of working components, yet is more cost competitive for the beverage industry. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    While the claims are not limited to a specific illustration, an appreciation of the various aspects is best gained through a discussion of various examples thereof. Referring now to the drawings, exemplary illustrations are shown in detail. Although the drawings represent the illustrations, the drawings are not necessarily to scale and certain features may be exaggerated to better illustrate and explain an innovative aspect of an example. Further, the exemplary illustrations described herein are not intended to be exhaustive or otherwise limiting or restricted to the precise form and configuration shown in the drawings and disclosed in the following detailed description. Exemplary illustrations are described in detail by referring to the drawings as follows: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of an improved containment assembly; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  illustrates an enlarged perspective view of the  FIG. 1 , for example, including a liner assembly having with a tube, a liner, and a cuff with a flange; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  illustrates an enlarged side view of  FIG. 2 , for example, showing the liner assembly of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  illustrates an enlarged perspective view of a friction cuff, for example, with a flange; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  illustrates an enlarged side view of another liner assembly having a tube, a liner, and a cuff, for example, without a flange. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  illustrates an enlarged perspective view of another cuff, for example, without a flange; 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  illustrates a perspective view of a containment assembly having an alternative liner assembly; 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  illustrates an enlarged perspective view of the liner assembly of  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  illustrates another enlarged perspective view of the liner assembly of  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  illustrates another enlarged perspective view of the liner assembly of  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 11  illustrates a perspective view of an alternative containment assembly; and 
           [0020]      FIG. 12  illustrates a side view of an alternative containment assembly. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0021]    The exemplary assembly may include a rigid vessel such as an urn, a liner such as a flexible fitted liner, a cuff such as a friction cuff configured to be positionable on an inner wall of the liner, a tube such as a flexible tube positionable on an outer wall of the liner, and a spigot that allows for the flexible tubing to be inserted therethrough. The vessel may further include a flow operator that pinches the tube to allow controlled dispensing. 
         [0022]    The assembly may be configured to allow for sanitary dispensing of beverages for human consumption. The assembly may be configured such that the beverage may bypass the urn or the spigot for easy cleaning. Instead, the assembly may be configured such that the liquid is handled by the the liner, cuff, and tube thereby minimizing or preventing contact between the liquid from the vessel. 
         [0023]    With reference to  FIGS. 1-2 , a containment assembly  100  may include a vessel  110  and a liner assembly  120 . The vessel  110  may include any liquid or beverage dispenser such as a beverage or tea urn. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the liner assembly  120  may include a tube  130 , a liner  140  such as a flexible liner, and a cuff  160  such as a rigid cuff with or without a flange. The liner  140  may be specially dimensioned and configured to match an internal cavity of the vessel  110  and the liner  140  and vessel  110  may include a tapered bottom portion to facilitate flow of liquid therefrom, as discussed in more detail below. 
         [0024]    The liner assembly  120  may be configured to provide a seal between the liner  140  and the tube  130 , for example, using cuff  160 . Cuff  160  may include a unitary or one piece component configured to secure the liner  140  and tube  130  together. The liner assembly  120 , using the cuff  160 , may utilize an interlock such as a friction interlock. The interlock may provide a permanent or tamper-resistant connection between any portions of liner assembly  120 , for example, being destroyed in response to disassembly. For example, the liner  140  and the tube  130  may be connected with the interlock. To provide this seal, the cuff  160 , such as a circular spacer with or without a flange, may be positioned inside the tube  130  thereby outwardly expanding a diameter of an inner surface of the tube  130 . The liner  140  may be positioned between the tube  130  and liner  140 . Thus, the cuff  160  may outwardly push the liner  140  against an inside surface of the tube  130  thereby providing a seal such as a liquid tight seal. As a result, the cuff  160  provides a unitary or one piece component that secures the liner  140  relative to the tube  130  thereby eliminating unnecessary components. Accordingly, the interlock may provide a fluid tight structure or seal thereby reducing leakage of liquid along the liner assembly  120  and may provide a permanent or tamper-resistant connection between the cuff  160 , liner  140 , and tube  130  that may not be removed without at least partially destroying at least a portion of the liner  140 . 
         [0025]    Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 5 , the liner assembly  120  may include the liner  140  interposed between the tube  130  and the cuff  160 . The cuff  160  may include an inner surface having a passage for receipt of liquid from the liner  140  and an outer surface that is dimensioned and configured to be received in and outwardly stretch an inner surface of the tube  130 . The cuff  160  may be configured to be positioned with an axial force along the tube  130  and may be configured to expand the tube  130  thereby placing an outward force against the liner  140  and toward the inner surface of tube  130 . In reaction, the tube  130  may place an inward force against the liner  140  and toward the outer surface of the cuff  160 . Thus, the liner assembly  120  may be cold-formed with the axial force, outward force, inward force, or a combination thereof, thereby creating an interlock between the tube  130 , liner  140 , and cuff  160 . Accordingly, the liner  140  may be held between the tube  130  and the cuff  160  thereby providing a permanent or tamper-resistant connection between the cuff  160 , liner  140 , and tube  130  that may not be removed without at least partially destroying at least a portion of the liner  140 . 
         [0026]    The liner assembly  120  may be configured for a permanent or tamper-resistant connection between tube  130 , liner  140 , and cuff  160 , for example, being at least partially destroyed in response to disassembly. For example, the liner assembly  120  (e.g., liner  140  and/or tube  130 ) may be configured to at least partially destruct, rip or tear in the event of disassembly thereby providing a permanent or tamper-resistant liner assembly  120  in response to disassembly. Alternatively, the tube  130 , liner  140 , and cuff  160  may be connected using an adhesive or heat seal thereby providing a permanent or tamper-resistant liner assembly  120 , for example, being at least partially destroyed in response to disassembly. In addition, liner assembly  120  may utilize any other destructive interlock between the tube  130 , liner  140 , and cuff  160  that results in at least partial destruction of at least one of the tube  130 , liner  140 , and cuff  160  during disassembly. Thus, the liner assembly  120  may be configured to provide a permanent or tamper-resistant connection, for example, being at least partially destroyed in response to disassembly. 
         [0027]    The liner assembly  120  may include the cuff  160  with a flange  164  as shown in  FIG. 4  or without a flange  164  as shown in  FIG. 6 . The cuff  160  may include a rigid cuff, for example, configured to resist bending of the flange  164  and maintain a passage therethrough. Further, the flange  164  may be configured to maintain the liner  140  in an outward position relative to the tube  130 , for example, to resist blockage of the passage of the cuff  160 . To maintain the outward position, the flange  164  may be configured to releasably contact or push against the liner  140  or may be adhered or heat sealed thereto. Alternatively, the cuff  160  may be without a flange  164 , for example, to allow relative inward movement of the liner  140 . 
         [0028]    As mentioned above, the liner  140  may be affixed (e.g., permanently) relative to the cuff  160  and tube  130 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the liner assembly  120  may include an optional adhesive  150  (e.g., a food grade adhesive) thereby permanently adhering the tube  130 , liner  140 , and cuff  160  together. Alternatively, the liner  140  may be affixed relative to the cuff  160  and tube  130  using a heat seal thereby permanently fusing the tube  130 , liner  140 , and cuff  160  together. 
         [0029]    As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 6 , the cuff  160  may include an interlock surface  162 . The interlock surface  162  may be configured to provide or facilitate the interlock between the cuff  160 , liner  140 , and tube  130 . The interlock surface  162  may include a plurality of protrusions interposed by a plurality of recesses, thereby resulting in an increased surface area and a higher coefficient of friction. For example, this may create a plurality of ridges with alternating valleys as shown in  FIG. 4 . As another example, the interlock surface  162  may include a plurality of pores as shown in  FIG. 5 . Alternatively, the interlock surface  162  may be smooth. Thus, the interlock surface  162  may facilitate the interlock and resulting seal between the cuff  160 , liner  140 , and tube  130 . 
         [0030]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , the dimensions of the liner  140  are configured to allow for a minimum amount of liner material to be used for the specific vessel  110  that is being lined. This reduces the number of folds created when the liner is installed into the vessel and filled, thus improving drainage of the liquid product. The liner  140  may be constructed from a tube of flexible material having one end sealed closed. The tube  130  is attached to the liner  140 , which may occur proximal to the sealed end of the liner  140  at a point configured to assist in draining the beverage product in its entirety from the liner  140 . Further, the liner  140  may be dimensioned and configured to provide an optimum size to reduce material usage and improve draining with respect to the vessel  110 . In addition, the liner  140  may be optimized or dimensioned according to a vessel length, a vessel height, a vessel opening perimeter or circumference, and a spigot location relative to a length and a width of the vessel  110 . 
         [0031]    The liner  140  may be made from flat tubing, gusseted tubing, or a flexible pouch having opposed sidewalls that may be optionally connected at peripheral edges. The liner  140  may be any shape configured to form-fit to the vessel  110 . The liner  140  may be configure to be stretched over the top edge of the vessel  110 , for example, to keep the liner  140  from sliding down inside of the vessel  110  upon being filled. 
         [0032]    Methods of manufacturing the liner  140  are contemplated. Methods may include converting raw material into roll stock and converting the roll stock into individual liners  140 . The raw material may be in the form of roll stock, for example, dimensioned according to a vessel length and a vessel width of the vessel  110 . The roll stock may then be converted by cutting (e.g., using heat or a cutter) the liner  140  to an optimum liner length (e.g., a vessel height of vessel  110 ) thereby resulting in an end open at the top of the liner  140  and a bottom of the liner  140  that is sealed. 
         [0033]    Furthermore, methods of assembling the liner assembly  120  are contemplated. A method may include positioning the cuff  160  (e.g., a friction cuff) over a locating stud of an assembly tool or platform, positioning the liner  140  over at least a portion of the cuff  160  and locating stud, and pushing tubing  130  over at least a portion of the liner  140 , cuff  160 , and locating stud, thereby outwardly expanding the tube  130  and puncturing the liner  140 . In use, puncturing the liner  140  allows fluid to flow from the liner  140  through the cuff  160 , and into the tube  130 . As such, the tube  130 , liner  140 , and cuff  160  may be held together (e.g., permanently) by an inward force from the elasticity of the tube  130  and a friction force between the tube  130 , liner  140 , and cuff  160 . Alternatively or in addition, any or all of tube  130 , liner  140 , and cuff  160  may be held together (e.g., permanently) using an adhesive or a heat seal therebetween. Accordingly, the liner assembly  120  may be configured with layers having an order from inside to outside as follows: the cuff  160  (e.g., a friction cuff), the liner  140 , and the tubing  130  (e.g., flexible tube). In addition, a method may further include removing the liner assembly  120  from the assembly tool or platform and packing the liner assembly  120  for distribution. 
         [0034]    Referring to  FIGS. 7-10 , an assembly  200  may include a vessel  110  and a liner assembly  120 . The vessel  110  may include a support surface  170 . The liner assembly  120  may include a liner  210  (e.g., a fitted flexible liner), a tube  220  (e.g., a flexible tubing), and a heat seal  230 . The liner  210  may include a single piece heat sealed liner dimensioned and figured for the vessel  110 . The liner  210  may be directly attached to a tube  220  with the heat seal  230 . The heat seal  230  may provide a permanent or tamper-resistant connection, for example, being at least partially destroyed in response to disassembly. The heat seal  230  may be created by using a heat probe. The heated probe may push the liner  210  into an inner surface of the tube  220  thereby sealing an outer surface of the liner  210  at the point at which the liner  210  contacts the inner surface and end of the tube  220 . 
         [0035]    The liner  210  may be dimensioned and configured to allow for a minimum amount of liner material to be used for the specific vessel  110  being lined. This may reduce the number of folds created when the liner  210  is installed into the vessel  110  and filled, thus improving drainage of the liquid or product. The liner  210  may be constructed from a tube  220  of flexible material having one end sealed closed. The tube  220  and liner  210  may be permanently attached, which may occur proximal to the sealed end of the liner  210  at a point configured to assist in draining the product in its entirety from the liner  210 . The liner  210  may then placed over a locating board with heat probe for sealing. The tube  220  may then be placed above the heat probe and a foot operated pedal may then pushes the heat probe through a hole in the locating board thereby forming the heat seal  230 . Accordingly, the liner assembly  120  may include the layers from inside to outside as follows: liner  210 , heat seal  230 , and tube  220 . 
         [0036]    Referring to  FIGS. 11 and 12 , an assembly  300  may include the vessel  110  and the liner assembly  120  The liner  140 , the vessel  110 , or both the liner  140  and vessel  110  may be configured with a tapered structure, for example as a bottom of the liner  140  and/or the support surface  170  of the vessel  110 . For example, the tapered structure may optimize utilization of fluid in the liner  140  by urging fluid toward the tube  130 . The tapered structure may include any structure configured to urge liquid toward the tube  130  of the liner assembly  120  and/or spigot of the vessel  110 . The tapered structure may include any number of tapered surfaces as part of the vessel  110  or liner  140  that are configured to angle or slope liquid toward the spigot of the vessel  110 . The tapered structure may include two tapered surfaces forming a v-shape (e.g., along a lengthwise, central axis of the vessel  110 ) as shown in  FIG. 11 , may be tapered downwards from a first end (e.g., a backend) to a second end (e.g., a front end) of the vessel  110  as shown in  FIG. 12 , or may be a combination thereof. For example, the bottom of liner  140  or the support surface  170  of vessel  110  may include the tapered structure. Moreover, the liner  140  may have any number of gussets or may be heat sealed to form a tapered structure as shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 . As such, the vessel  110  and liner  140  may be configured to taper fluid out of the liner  140  and toward the tube  130  thereby optimizing usage of the fluid. 
         [0037]    It will be appreciated that the aforementioned method and devices may be modified to have some components and steps removed, or may have additional components and steps added, all of which are deemed to be within the spirit of the present disclosure. Even though the present disclosure has been described in detail with reference to specific embodiments, it will be appreciated that the various modifications and changes can be made to these embodiments without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as set forth in the claims. The specification and the drawings are to be regarded as an illustrative thought instead of merely restrictive thought.