Liquid dispenser

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6186361
  • Patent Number
    6,186,361
  • Date Filed
    Tuesday, February 22, 2000
    25 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, February 13, 2001
    24 years ago
Abstract
A liquid dispenser for use with a disposable liquid supply container and a method of using the dispenser is described. The dispenser regulates the flow of liquid by way of a clamping device which substantially seals the liquid from the ambient air. A support for holding the container in an elevated position above the clamping device contains guide flanges which are used to adjust the area in which the container is positioned in the dispenser to accommodate several volume sizes. The liquid flows from the container by gravity through a connector passage which is regulated by the clamping device. In a preferred embodiment, a cooling device is provided to cool the liquid as it flows from the container.
Description




FIELD OF THE INVENTION




This invention pertains to dispensers for dispensing a liquid food product, such as cream. More particularly, it relates to such a liquid dispenser having a clamping means to regulate liquid flow from the dispenser and a cooling means to cool the liquid to the dispensing point and as it flows from the container.




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




Liquid dispensers are well-known in food service applications. One example of such a liquid dispenser is a cream dispenser. Typically, such dispensers include a dispenser housing, which contains a reservoir for holding the liquid to be dispensed, and a valve assembly for dispensing the cream. Generally, the housing and reservoir are made of stainless steel, plastic, or other durable material acceptable for food contact, and the housing is usually provided with suitable thermal insulation. The reservoir may comprise a container or frame that supports a bag or liner that is pre-filled with the liquid to be dispensed. The liquid stored in the reservoir is cooled in the dispenser by a cooling system, such as a mechanical refrigeration system or refreezable eutectic device.




These existing liquid food dispensers have a number of disadvantages. The metal housings of such dispensers are relatively expensive to manufacture. To use such dispensers having a refillable reservoir, one must fill the reservoir from the carton or other container in which the liquid is packaged.




In the prior application, an inventive cream dispenser was described. The dispenser is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and it is convenient to use and easier to clean than prior art dispensers having storage reservoirs which require cleaning. In addition, it is relatively compact in size yet can dispense cream from multiple storage containers at one time.




The present invention provides an alternative liquid dispenser, which accommodates a variety of container sizes, provides a means for cooling the liquid as it is dispensed from the various containers and yet is still compact and convenient to use. The dispenser of the present invention is also easy to operate, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and easy to clean. It can be operated using as the reservoir a choice of a refillable container or pre-filled disposable container, including a pre-filled bag or liner.




SUMMARY




A liquid dispenser in accordance with the present invention includes a clamping means for regulating the flow of liquid from the dispenser, support means for holding the container in a substantially elevated position above a sliding closure means and connector means having a passage extending from an opening end through the sliding closure means to a discharge end for communicating with the interior of the container to permit the gravity flow of liquid from the container. In a preferred embodiment, a cooling device is positioned between the sliding closure means and the container for cooling the liquid as it passes through the connector.




In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the container can include a container frame for holding a pre-filled bag or liner. Optionally, the liquid dispenser can include adjustable guide means positioned on the support means for adjusting the area in which the container is held to accommodate at least two volume sizes of the container.




The liquid dispenser also includes means for controlling the temperature of the liquid stored in the container when the container is in the loaded position. In a preferred embodiment, the means for controlling the temperature includes a hermetic refrigeration system. In another embodiment, the means for controlling the temperature includes a heat pump, preferably a thermoelectric module. In still another embodiment, the means for controlling the temperature includes a refreezable eutectic cooling device.




The support means of the dispenser can include a housing having a generally horizontal shelf for supporting a platform having means for vertically slidably receiving the container into the loaded position, at least one upwardly projecting container pedestal for contacting a bottom wall of the container when the container is in the loaded position. Preferably, the platform includes a catch basin having an inclined or slanted bottom providing a low drain point and a drain spout positioned therein for diverting liquid condensation accumulated in the catch basin away from the platform. Also it is preferable that the support means includes means for removably receiving the platform so that the platform can be removed for cleaning.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS




These and other features, objects and advantages of the invention will be more fully understood from the following more detailed description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings, in which:





FIG. 1

is a sectional side view of a liquid dispenser in accordance with the invention, showing the relationship of the inventive components and a liquid supply container.





FIG. 2

is a perspective view showing multiple liquid supply containers in loaded positions within a liquid dispenser.





FIG. 3

is an exploded view showing a liquid supply container frame and pre-filled bag in relationship to the support means and clamping means in accordance with the invention.





FIG. 4

is an exploded view showing the relationship of a liquid supply container, the adjustable guide means and the clamping means in accordance with the invention.





FIG. 5

is an exploded view of the clamping member for regulating the flow of liquid from the dispenser and the cooling means in accordance with our invention.





FIG. 6

is a partial sectional side view of the clamping member in the closed position.





FIG. 7

is a partial sectional side view showing the relationship of the clamping member and a liquid supply container.





FIG. 8

is a partial sectional side view illustrating the connector of the liquid supply container extending through the clamping member, which is in the open position.





FIG. 9

is a partial sectional side view illustrating the connector of the liquid supply container extending through the clamping member, which is in the closed position.





FIG. 10

is a bottom plan view of the platform of the dispenser.





FIG. 11

is a side elevational view of the platform of the dispenser.





FIG. 12

is a sectional side view of an alternative embodiment of a dispenser in accordance with the invention.











DESCRIPTION




In accordance with the invention,

FIGS. 1 and 2

show a preferred embodiment of a liquid dispenser


20


including a housing


22


having a base


24


, a top


26


and two generally vertical opposing side walls


28


. A generally vertical partition


30


, located approximately midway between the front and rear of the housing


22


, extends transversally between the side walls


28


. A generally horizontal support shelf


39


extends forward from the partition


30


. In this configuration, the housing


22


defines a rear compartment


34


having an opening in the back of the housing


22


, a liquid storage compartment


32


located in the upper portion of the housing above the shelf


39


opening generally toward the top and front of the housing


22


, and a recess


31


located in the lower portion of the housing


22


below the shelf


39


opening toward the front of the housing


22


.




The housing


22


includes a removable vented panel


35


, which covers the rear compartment


34


. A removable drip tray


40


is located in the base


24


in the bottom of the recess


31


. The housing


22


also includes a cover


36


adapted to closely fit the opening of the storage compartment


32


and rotatably attached to the housing top


26


by hinges


37


. In this configuration, the storage compartment


32


is fully enclosed when the cover


36


is in the lowered, closed position. Access to the storage compartment


32


is achieved by lifting the front of the cover


36


thereby rotating the cover


36


on the hinges


37


into an open position. A latch


38


is adapted to latch the cover


36


in the closed position.




The housing


22


is formed so that the base


24


, the top


26


, the cover


36


, the partition


30


and the support shelf


39


are hollow. Such a construction can be achieved by using a rotational molding process to form the housing


22


, preferably from thermoplastic material such as polyethylene. When so constructed, the interior of the housing can be filled with thermal insulating material


114


, such as a spray foam insulating material.




A removable platform


41


is positioned on top of the support shelf


39


. A generally horizontal channel


49


is located in the partition


30


and the side walls


28


adjacent the platform


41


for slidingly receiving the rear edge of the platform


41


and restricting the platform from upward movement. The platform


41


includes a catch basin


42


having an inclined or slanted bottom providing a low drain point and a drain spout


43


which is in overlying relation to the surface of the partition


30


and to a drip tray


40


. The platform


41


includes at least one upwardly projecting container pedestal


47


for contacting a container bottom wall


46


when the container


45


is in the loaded position. In one preferred embodiment, as shown in

FIG. 4

, the platform


41


also includes a plurality of stationary vertical guides


88


and guide means


80


adapted to vertically slidably receive a liquid supply container


45


into a loaded position. In another preferred embodiment, as shown in

FIG. 3

, the platform


41


does not use guide means. In the preferred embodiments, the platform


41


is composed of injection molded thermoplastic.




As illustrated in

FIGS. 2 through 5

, the flow of the liquid from the container


45


is regulated by a clamping member


50


having a generally elongated body and a rectangular faced end


51


. The clamping member


50


is preferably rectangular and made out of plastic, which may be formed by molding, extrusion or any other conventional means known in the art. In a preferred embodiment, a channel


52


extends through the clamping member


50


and is shaped to preferably accommodate either a connector


56


or a cooling member


65


, or both, as described below. A flattened rectangular-shaped gate


53


extends into the channel


52


from one end. Preferably, the gate


53


extends about halfway into the channel


52


as illustrated in FIG.


5


. The clamping member


50


is slidably movable along a horizontal axis by any conventional means known in the art, and preferably by a coil spring


54


attached to a pin


55


as illustrated in FIG.


5


.




As illustrated in

FIGS. 2 through 4

, a connector


56


has an opening end


58


in fluid communication with a discharge end


59


by way of a connecting passage


57


. The opening end


58


is attached to the container


45


. Liquid flowing from the container flows by gravity through the opening end


58


into the passage


57


and, when the connecting passage


57


is open, out the discharge end


59


of the connector


56


into a vessel


60


, as desired. In a preferred embodiment, the connector


56


is a tube made of a flexible material, such as polyvinylchloride or rubber. The diameter of the connector determines the speed of the liquid flow and is preferably less than one-half inch in diameter. The opening end


58


is connected to an opening means


61


of the container


45


as is known in the art. Preferably, the opening means includes a non-flexible tube (not shown) made of plastic or metal extending from the container


45


. The opening end


58


of the connector


56


snugly fits over the tube to form an airtight seal. By this means the connector


56


may be easily disconnected from the tube for cleaning and to replace the connector


56


.




In a preferred embodiment, the connector


56


extends from the container


45


through the channel


52


of the clamping member


50


, as illustrated in FIG.


5


. By this means the clamping member


50


controls the flow of the liquid. When the clamping member


50


is in a closed position (FIG.


9


), the tension of the compressed coil spring


54


urges the gate


53


into the channel


52


to clamp the passage


57


of the connector


56


tightly closed, thereby preventing the gravity flow of the liquid. When the faced end


51


of the clamping means


50


is depressed by a user, as shown in

FIG. 8

, the spring


54


is compressed further and the gate


53


is disengaged from the connector


56


. This opens the passage


57


and permits the gravity flow of the liquid from the container


45


.




In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the liquid retained in the connector


56


is cooled by a thermal plate


65


, which is positioned on top of the platform


41


as shown in

FIGS. 3 and 4

. The plate


65


is preferably made of a metal material and generally shaped in a rectangular, flat form with a protruding extension


67


, as shown in FIG.


5


. The extension


67


preferably corresponds in shape to a channel


68


in the platform


41


and extends through the channel


52


of the clamping member


50


. A passage


70


extending through the protruding extension


67


accommodates the connector


56


so that the connector is pressed against the side of the passage


70


when the clamping member


50


is in the closed position (FIG.


9


). In this manner, liquid retained in the passage


57


of the connector


56


is cooled by the plate


65


. This thermal regulation not only provides a cooled product, but also aids in preventing any microbial growth in the passage


57


.




In a preferred embodiment the protruding extension


67


of the thermal plate


65


contains a slotted channel


72


which extends a short distance, preferably less than halfway into the extension


67


as illustrated in

FIGS. 6 through 9

. The slotted channel


72


is positioned in the same or similar plane as the gate


53


, so that the gate


53


(which extends into the channel


52


of the sliding closure


50


) correspondingly fits into the slotted channel


72


. In operation, as shown in

FIG. 9

, when the clamping member


50


is in the closed position the coil spring


54


holds the gate


53


in a direction toward the slotted channel


72


to clamp or pinch together a portion of the passage


57


of the connector


56


. This prevents the gravity flow of the liquid and also prevents exposure to ambient air of the liquid contained in the connector passage


57


above the pinched portion. As shown in

FIG. 8

, when the faced end


51


of the clamping member


50


is depressed by a user, the spring


54


is compressed further and the gate


53


is disengaged from the connector


56


to open the passage


57


and to permit the gravity flow of the liquid from the container


45


.




The container


45


may be made of any conventional means known in the art, such as a flexible plastic container, a rigid plastic or wax coated paper container, provided that the container is fitted with a connector


56


. A variety of container sizes may be accommodated in the dispenser and held. The container may be a refillable container or it may be a disposable container.





FIG. 3

illustrates one preferred embodiment of the platform


41


and the container


45


. The container


45


comprises a box-shaped frame


150


for holding a disposable plastic bag or liner


152


that contains liquid to be dispensed. The container frame


150


preferably includes a slidably removable wall


154


to allow for loading of the plastic bag


152


into the frame


150


. The removable wall


154


is removed from the frame


150


by sliding it in the direction of arrow A off the frame


150


and is replaced by sliding it onto the frame


150


in a reverse manner. The plastic bag


152


includes a plastic fitment


156


, as is known in the art, to which the connector


56


is mounted so that the interior of the plastic bag


152


is in fluid communication with the interior of the connector


156


. A slot


158


in the bottom of the container frame


150


slidingly receives and holds the fitment


156


so than the connector


56


projects below the bottom of the frame


150


.





FIG. 4

illustrates another embodiment of the platform


41


having adjustable guide means to accommodate more than one size of liquid container


45


. In this embodiment, adjustable guide means


80


having guide posts


81


are positioned in openings


82


in the platform


41


. The openings


82


have a corresponding shape to the guide posts


81


of the guide means


80


. The guide means


80


contain three generally vertical side walls positioned in such a manner that a center wall


85


is opposing to the two end walls


84


,


86


as illustrated in FIG.


4


. This configuration of the guide means


80


permits the user to remove the guide means


80


from the platform


41


, turn the guide means


80


and reposition the means


80


in the platform


41


. The adjustable guide means


80


together with stationary guide means


88


provide the means to change the size of the area to be occupied by the container


45


from a larger volume container to a smaller one and to return to an original configuration. An example liquid container and tapping stem suitable for use with this embodiment is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,855,298, issued to Charles F. Teetsel, III.




Referring to

FIG. 2

, a preferred embodiment of the dispenser is adapted to dispense liquid from a plurality of containers


45


at one time. In this embodiment, the storage compartment


32


is sized to accommodate the plurality of containers


45


. The dispenser is adapted to hold a plurality of platforms


41


in the storage compartment


32


. The dispenser also includes a plurality of drain channels


48


, clamping members


50


, cooling pates


65


, connectors


56


, catch basins


42


and drain spouts


43


for providing the structure disclosed above for each of the plurality of containers


45


. The embodiment shown in

FIG. 2

utilizes the platform configuration of FIG.


4


. It will be understood, however, that the platform configuration of

FIG. 3

also may be used for any of the plurality of platforms


41


in the storage compartment.




Temperature control of the storage compartment


32


can be provided by any means known in the art. Referring again to

FIG. 1

, in the preferred embodiment of the dispenser, temperature control of the storage compartment


32


is provided by a conventional hermetic refrigeration system using a compressed gas. This system includes a compressor


160


mounted in the rear compartment


34


on a compressor support


161


and connected, via a refrigerant line


162


, in fluid communication with evaporator coils


164


mounted in the storage compartment


32


. The compressor


160


is connected via another refrigerant line


166


to condenser coils


164


mounted in the rear compartment


34


. An insulating block


167


helps insulate the storage compartment


32


from the rear compartment


34


. An evaporator fan


168


is mounted in the storage compartment


132


adjacent the evaporator coils


164


to circulate air in the storage compartment


32


over the evaporator coils


164


. A condenser fan


169


is mounted in the rear compartment


34


adjacent the condenser coils


164


and is adapted to circulate external air over the condenser coils


164


. The compressor


160


includes a power supply that provides electric power to operate the evaporator fan


168


and the condenser fan


169


as well as the compresser itself. A thermostat


170


includes a control mechanism


172


located outside of the storage compartment in any suitable location that is accessible to the user. The thermostat


170


also includes a temperature sensor


174


, which is located inside the storage compartment


32


and is coupled to the control mechanism


172


via coupling line


176


. In a preferred embodiment, the thermostat


170


is a solid state thermostat. One suitable refrigeration system has been provided by Blissfield Manufacturing Co., of Blissfield, Mich. The refrigerant line


162


and the temperature sensor coupling line


176


are closely fitted through a channel in the insulating block


167


that extends between the storage compartment


32


and the rear compartment


34


. Preferably, the insulating block is made of an insulating material in which it is easy to form such a channel, such as Styrofoam. In this configuration, the temperature of the storage compartment


32


can be controlled by the thermostat control


172


. Temperature control of the storage compartment


32


also is improved by providing thermal insulation


114


in the interior of the base


24


, the top


26


, the cover


36


and the partition


30


of the housing


22


, as discussed above.





FIG. 12

illustrates an embodiment of a dispenser in which temperature control is provided by means including a thermoelectric module


90


adapted to enable transfer of thermal energy between the storage compartment


32


and the external environment of the liquid dispenser


20


. A cold plate


92


is mounted inside the storage compartment


32


on the partition


30


, and a heat sink


96


is mounted inside the rear compartment


34


on the partition


30


. The cold plate


92


is positioned in overlying relation to the catch basin


42


for collecting condensation from the cold plate. A hot side


94


of the thermoelectric module


90


is thermally coupled to the heat sink


96


, and a cold side


93


of the thermoelectric module


90


is thermally coupled to a thermal transfer block


98


, which is closely positioned within a shaft


100


extending through the partition


30


and is also thermally coupled to the cold plate


92


. The cold plate


92


, the thermal transfer block


98


, and the heat sink


96


are composed of material having suitable thermal conductivity, preferably aluminum or copper. Thermal coupling of these elements is enhanced by applying a thermally conductive medium


102


, such as thermal epoxy, thermal grease or thermal pads between the surfaces of the elements where they interface each other and the thermoelectric module


90


.




A fan


110


is mounted in the rear compartment


34


adjacent the heat sink


96


and is adapted to move air over the heat sink


96


. A power supply


112


provides electric power to operate the fan


110


and the thermoelectric module


90


. In this configuration, the temperature of the storage compartment


32


can be controlled by regulating the power to the thermoelectric module


90


using conventional means, preferably a thermistor mounted in the cold plate


92


, a feedback loop and power supply control circuitry. Temperature control of the storage compartment


32


is improved by providing thermal insulation


114


in the interior of the base


24


, the top


26


, the cover


36


and the partition


30


of the housing


22


, as discussed above. The desired temperature control may be achieved with only one thermoelectric module


90


. Alternatively, multiple thermoelectric modules


90


can be used for improved thermal transfer capacity.




Again referring to

FIG. 3

, in operation, a container of liquid


45


is loaded into the dispenser


20


by moving the container


45


downward into contacting relation with the container pedestals


47


of the platform


41


. When so loaded, connector


56


will extend through the channel


68


of the platform


41


, out the cooling plate


65


and through the channel


52


of the sliding closure forming a communication from the interior of the container


45


to a vessel


60


to receive the liquid. After the container


45


is placed in this loaded position, the upper end of the container


45


is opened or punctured to allow entry of air into the container


45


to enable the liquid to flow freely when dispensed. Likewise, the container


45


shown in

FIG. 4

is loaded by positioning the container


45


within the guides


88


and adjustable guide means


80


and by moving the container


45


downward into contacting relation with the container pedestals


47


of the platform


41


.




Referring to

FIGS. 8 and 9

, liquid is dispensed from the container


45


and out of the connector


56


by pushing the clamping means


50


toward the dispenser


20


to coil the spring


54


causing the gate end


54


of the gate


53


to release the pressure on the connector


56


, thereby allowing gravitational flow of liquid from the container


45


through the connector


56


to the vessel


60


. When the slide means


50


is released by the user, the coil spring


54


uncoils causing the gate end


54


to compress the connector


56


and restrict the flow of liquid. When the container


45


is empty, it can be removed by horizontally sliding the clamping means


50


away from the dispenser


20


and removing the container


45


and the connector


56


attached thereto, from the platform


41


. Any leakage of liquid from the container


45


when it is removed will drain into the catch basin


42


, through the drain spout


43


and into the drip tray


40


. The empty container


45


can be disposed of after it is removed from the dispenser and replaced with a new full container after replacement of the stem


50


and the tube


58


.




To facilitate cleaning of the dispenser, the platform


41


, the connector


56


and the clamping means


50


may be removed from the housing


22


and disassembled. For convenience, the connector


56


may be disposed of, rather than cleaned, and replaced with a connector


56


.




The above-described structure possesses several advantages. It is convenient to use and clean because, among other reasons, the liquid dispenser can utilize disposable containers, the platform


41


, the connector


56


, and the clamping means


50


can be easily dissasembled for cleaning and the connector


56


can be disposable. Generally, only the container


45


and the connector


56


, both of which can be disposable, come into extensive contact with the liquid, thereby reducing cleaning and maintenance requirements. The dispenser can be constructed of relatively inexpensive materials. Moreover, the disclosed dispenser structure is compact in size and can dispense liquid from multiple containers at one time.




Although our invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that various modifications and adaptations to those embodiments are possible. For example, the liquid dispenser, the thermoelectric module


90


and associated elements may be configured to heat the storage compartment


32


, rather than cool it. In yet another alternative configuration, the storage compartment


32


may be cooled by providing a eutectic cooling device removably mounted inside the storage compartment


32


as the temperature control means. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not necessarily be limited to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.



Claims
  • 1. A liquid dispenser for use with a removable liquid supply container, the liquid dispenser comprising:a. clamping means for regulating the flow of liquid from the dispenser and substantially sealing the liquid in the container from ambient air; b. support means for holding the container in a substantially elevated position above the clamping means, the support means having guide means for adjusting an area in which the container is positioned in the dispenser to accommodate at least two volume sizes of the container; and c. connector means having a passage extending from an opening end through the clamping means to a discharge end, the connector means for communicating with the interior of the container to permit the gravity flow of liquid from the container and out of the discharge end.
  • 2. The liquid dispenser according to claim 1 wherein the clamping means further comprises a sliding member for clamping a portion of the passage of the connection means in a closed position to prevent the flow of the liquid from the dispenser and to disengage the portion of the passage to permit the flow of the liquid from the dispenser in an open position.
  • 3. The liquid dispenser according to claim 2 wherein the sliding member includes a channel that accommodates the passage of the connector means.
  • 4. The liquid dispenser according to claim 3 wherein the dispenser further comprises a cooling plate positioned between the clamping means and the liquid supply container, the cooling plate used to cool the liquid exiting from the container through the passage of the connector means.
  • 5. The liquid dispenser according to claim 4, wherein the cooling plate comprises a metallic plate with a protruding knob which correspondingly fits into the channel of the clamping means to position the plate between the clamping means and the container.
  • 6. The liquid dispenser according to claim 5, wherein the protruding knob of the plate comprises an opening to accommodate the passage of the connector means.
  • 7. The liquid dispenser according to claim 1 wherein the guide means comprises at least two opposing peripheral flanges positioned on the support means, one of the flanges being stationary and the other flange being removable to adjust the area to be occupied by the container to the at least two volume sizes of the container.
  • 8. A liquid dispenser for use with a removable liquid supply container, the liquid dispenser comprising:a. clamping means for regulating the flow of liquid from the dispenser and substantially sealing the liquid in the container from ambiant air; b. support means for holding the container in a substantially elevated position above the clamping means, the support means having guide means for adjusting an area in which the container is positioned in the dispenser to accommodate at least two volume sizes of the container; c. connector means having a passage extending from an opening end through the clamping means to a discharge end, the connector means for communicating with the interior of the container to permit the gravity flow of liquid from the container and out of the discharge end; and d. cooling means positioned between the clamping means and the liquid supply container, the cooling means used to cool the liquid exiting from the container through the passage of the connector means.
  • 9. The liquid dispenser according to claim 8 wherein the clamping means further comprises a sliding mechanism which is spring activated to clamp a portion of the passage of the connection means in a closed position to prevent the flow of the liquid from the dispenser and to disengage the portion of the passage to permit the flow of the liquid from the dispenser in an open position.
  • 10. The liquid dispenser according to claim 9 wherein the sliding mechanism comprises a channel which accommodates the passage of the connector means.
  • 11. The liquid dispenser according to claim 8, wherein the cooling means comprises a metallic plate with a protruding knob which correspondingly fits into the channel of the clamping means to position the plate between the clamping means and the container.
  • 12. The liquid dispenser according to claim 11, wherein protruding knob of the plate comprises an opening to accommodate the passage of the connector means.
  • 13. The liquid dispenser according to claim 8 wherein the guide means comprises at least two peripheral flanges positioned on the support means, one of the flanges being stationary and the other flange being removable to adjust the area to be occupied by the container to the at least two volume sizes of the container.
  • 14. A method for regulating the flow of liquid from a liquid supply container comprising the steps of:a. positioning a liquid supply container on support means for holding the container of the liquid dispenser, the support means having guide means for adjusting an area in which the container is positioned to accommodate at least two volume sizes of the container; b. opening a clamping means of the dispenser for regulating a gravity flow of a liquid from the dispenser through a connector means for communicating with the interior of the container and into a selected vessel; and c. cooling the liquid of the gravity flow as it leaves the container.
  • 15. The method according to claim 14 wherein the opening step further comprises applying tension to a sliding mechanism of the clamping means to move the sliding mechanism from a closed position to an open position to regulate the gravity flow of the liquid.
  • 16. The method according to claim 14 wherein the guide means used in the positioning step further comprises at least two peripheral flanges positioned on the support means, one of the flanges being stationary and the other flange being removable to adjust the area to be occupied by the container.
RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 09/225,257, filed Jan. 4, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,026,988, which is a division of U.S. Ser. No. 08/811,135, which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 08/292,732, filed Aug. 18, 1994, now abandoned.

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Continuations (1)
Number Date Country
Parent 08/292732 Aug 1994 US
Child 08/811135 US
Continuation in Parts (1)
Number Date Country
Parent 09/225257 Jan 1999 US
Child 09/510936 US