This specification relates to the field of beverage dispensing apparatus. More specifically, this application is directed toward systems and methods of an O-ring retaining apparatus for use in a bar gun.
Various systems exist to dispense beverages in retail establishments, bars, or restaurants. Included among these are what are termed in the industry various bar-gun apparatus. These systems dispense a beverage by transporting it from a storage location where it may be under pressure, to a flow control manifold rigidly attached to a bar or countertop, into a flexible tubing system to a dispenser apparatus or assembly, which may be called a bar gun. A user may actuate a control, for example a depressible button, on the bar gun to dispense one or more beverages or fluids into a container for consumption. Such bar guns include O-rings to limit leakage of the various fluids out of the bar gun.
Bar-gun apparatus are well-known in the art. U.S. Pat. No. 8,770,442 to Santy et. al shows an exemplary apparatus and method with approaches for the design of a valve stem to retain an O-ring in a bar gun for dispensing, which is incorporated by reference.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,418,888 to Schroeder et. al, shows an exemplary bar gun apparatus with approaches for the design of a backing plate that guides a valve stem for a valve in a bar gun, which is incorporated by.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,387,829 to Schroeder et. al, shows an exemplary bar gun apparatus with approaches for the design of a nozzle assembly to be attached to the end of a bar gun, which is incorporated by reference.
The present disclosure describes improved systems and methods directed toward the use of an O-ring retaining apparatus for use in a beverage dispensing apparatus such as a bar gun. The novel systems and methods in this disclosure enable a user of a bar gun to increase reliability of the O-ring seals in a bar gun, reducing leakage, reducing maintenance, and increasing service life of the bar gun.
Various embodiments of improved systems and methods of using an O-ring retaining apparatus in a beverage dispensing apparatus such as a bar gun will now be described with more particular reference to the attached figures. Hereafter, details are set forth by way of example to facilitate discussion of the disclosed subject matter. It should be apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art, however, that the disclosed embodiments are exemplary and not exhaustive of all possible embodiments.
A first embodiment of a system and method of using an O-ring retaining apparatus in a bar gun is shown in
As an additional feature, it may be possible to permanently or semi-permanently affix or prevent tampering or removal of the retaining plates 103 by various means. For example, the screws 104 shown in
Other means of rigidly attaching, permanently or semi-permanently affixing, or preventing tampering or removal of the O-ring retaining plates 103 are possible. For example, instead of screws being used to hold down the retaining plates, a portion of the body of the bar gun handle may protrude up through the screw holes in the retaining plates 103. These protrusions may comprise posts of the material of construction of the body of the bar gun handle, such as food grade plastic. During manufacture, once the retaining plate is installed, the posts may permanently deformed, such as by high heat, thus making it difficult to remove the retaining plate. If a retaining plate is removed, it cannot be permanently reinstalled, and its prior removal will be evidence during subsequent inspection. In this embodiment, the retaining plates serve an anti-tamper feature in addition to retaining the O-rings in place during operation.
A second embodiment of a system and method of using an O-ring retaining apparatus in a bar gun is shown in
A person of ordinary skill will recognize that the semi-flexible O-ring retaining clips 203 may additionally be permanently or semi-permanently affixed to the body 201 of bar gun handle 200. For example, after installation the O-ring retaining clips 203 may be affixed to the body 101 of the bar gun handle 100 by heat welding or by glue, epoxies, or other by chemical adhesives.
A person of ordinary skill will further recognize that the disclosed O-ring retaining plate 103 and O-ring retaining clip 203 are not restricted to bar gun handles with only six valves, but that many alternatives are possible, including the number of valves. Similarly, a person of ordinary skill will recognize that the disclosed O-ring retaining plates and O-ring retaining clips are not restricted to a bar gun handle with a control panel with only five buttons. Possible alternatives may include a control panel of any multiplicity of buttons.
While the subject of this specification has been described in connection with one or more exemplary embodiments, it is not intended to limit the claims to the particular forms set forth. On the contrary, the appended claims are intended to cover such alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be included within their spirit and scope.
This application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 17/099,580, filed on Nov. 16, 2020, and entitled “O-Ring Retaining Apparatus For A Bar Gun,” which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/936,194, filed Nov. 15, 2019, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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5042692 | Valiyee | Aug 1991 | A |
8272536 | Valiyee et al. | Sep 2012 | B2 |
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8459505 | Martindale et al. | Jun 2013 | B2 |
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Entry |
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Wunder-Bar Mark 4 Post-Mix Beverage Dispenser Manual, printed from the internet https://www.wunderbar.com/assets/upload/documentation/M4_English_Manua_2000_504.pdf. |
International Search Report and Written Opinion dated Feb. 5, 2021 issued in PCT App. No. PCT/US2020/060787 (16 pages). |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20220388830 A1 | Dec 2022 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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62936194 | Nov 2019 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 17099580 | Nov 2020 | US |
Child | 17807477 | US |