Bag cooler employing a multi-spike adapter and converter

[0001] This application is a continuation of and uses the priority right of US Patent Application No. 11 / 691,974 of March 27, 2007.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to a fluid dispensing system. The present invention relates in particular to a fluid dispensing system in which the fluid stored in the bag, such as water, is dispensed using a multiple needle piercing device.

2. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART [0003] Conventional household fluid dispensers mainly used for supplying heated or chilled water are usually in the form of free-standing devices that dispense sterile or mineral water from large and rigid water bottles. Rigid water cylinders have a large body part and a narrow neck part with an outlet opening, which are connected to the water dispenser by inverting the cylinder and placing the cylinder outlet opening in the water dispenser chamber. The air introduced into the water cylinder through the outlet opening enables dispensing of water from the inverted cylinder until the water level in the chamber reaches the cylinder outlet opening. Because the water bottle is stiff, after the water level in the cylinder outlet chamber reaches the level, the air cannot continue to flow into the cylinder, so the water remaining in the inverted bottle is kept there due to the difference between the air pressure outside the inverted bottle and the air pressure inside bottle. Water is then dispensed via a channel connected to the valve located at the opposite end of the chamber. When the water level in the chamber drops below the water cylinder outlet, air flows into the water cylinder, allowing water to flow out of the cylinder until the water level in the chamber reaches the cylinder outlet again.

[0004] Conventional home water dispensers are widely used, but they have a number of disadvantages. First, the water cylinders used in a conventional home water dispenser usually contain a large amount of sterile water, typically around 5 gallons. Due to the weight and size of the cylinder containing this amount of water, it is often difficult to turn around and correctly position the cylinder outlet in the chamber without spilling some water.

[0005] Secondly, in order to prevent the water from flowing out of the water cylinder when it is inverted, the water cylinders used in such water dispensers are made of thick and rigid plastic, so that it is possible to maintain the vacuum in the cylinder without falling. a. Because of their cost, water bottles are usually again sterilized and reused. As a result, the costs of delivering empty water bottles back to the supplier for sterilization and reuse are borne by the customer in the form of increased water costs.

[0006] Third, in order to place the outlet of the water bottle in the chamber of the cooling device, the water bottles must have a neck as described above. The presence of a neck, however, increases the difficulty of sterilizing water cylinders, as the neck may limit the ability of sterilizing agents to reach all internal parts of the cylinder, even when using large quantities of sterilizing agents. When thermal sterilization is used, this problem can be eliminated to some extent, but the use of thermal sterilization is generally not possible for plastic cylinders. It is possible to use UV sterilization, but UV sterilization can lead to incomplete results. A particular problem is that when the cylinder in the fluid dispenser is inverted, the outer part of the cylinder neck can come into contact with the liquid, and it is very difficult to maintain the sterility of this part of the cylinder.

[0007] Fourthly, the need to sterilize water cylinders after each use can, over time, lead to plastic cracks or holes in the rigid water bottles. In the event of such a malfunction, when the water bottle is inverted in the water dispenser, air will get into the water bottle allowing uncontrolled water to flow out of the water bottle outlet opening, which can eventually lead to water spilling out of the chamber. Such water spillage may expose the client's property to water damage. [0008] One solution to the problem of leakage of water from the chamber and the need to make cylinders from rigid materials that allow the pressure difference described below is to add a valve in the flow path between the cylinder and the chamber. This valve interrupts the flow of water from the cylinder so that the chamber does not overflow. Such a valve can operate automatically, opening and closing depending on the fluid level in the chamber.

[0009] Subsequent improvements to fluid dispensing systems include using for transporting and dispensing water from a conventional fluid dispensing system ("office cooling device") not cylinders, but bags. Such a system is described, for example, in US Patent Application No. 10 / 940,057 by Macler et al. Macler's application provided a fluid dispensing device from a disposable or reusable bag, thanks to which several benefits associated with it were obtained.

[0010] As described in the Macler application, to eliminate the problem of overfilling the chamber due to the fact that the collapsing bag cannot hold the upper space under reduced pressure (as is the case with a rigid cylinder) in the described however, a vent is used to allow flow between the bag and the chamber and to control it. The vent runs parallel to the vertical axis of the cooling device, and the dosing water flows into it until the water level in the vent and the water level in the cooling device are leveled with each other. Such a venting tube equalizes the pressure inside the bag with the pressure in the environment.

[0011] Other solutions for increasing pressure may also relate to problems that have not been solved by the use of a venting tube. First, the breather tube is open to ambient air. Such a violation of the structural isolation of the bag from its surrounding can create problems. One of them is a break in the sealed system, which can create the possibility of contaminating the water flow path. Dirt, liquids or airborne debris can get into the water through the breather. Such contamination is generally unlikely, but in many water systems it is desirable to provide tightly closed water flow paths. It is therefore desirable to solve the pressure problem by using a device to prevent dirt from entering the bag and the water flowing out of the bag in situations other than its dispensing.

A water dispensing system according to the preamble of claim 1 is known from US-2005/0092769.

SUMMARY [0012] The following summary of the invention is intended to provide a basic understanding of certain aspects of the invention. This summary is not intended to identify key or critical elements of the invention or the scope of the invention. The sole purpose of this chapter is to present in a simplified form some concepts of the invention, which is the introduction to a more detailed description, which will be presented later.

[0013] Described herein is, inter alia, a liquid storage and dispensing device having a fluid dispensing system comprising a dispensing base, a closed chamber located in the base, a support located outside the base and providing support for the fluid containing bag, a plurality of needles arranged to pierce the sack when it is supported by a support, the plurality of needles ensures, after piercing the bag, that the air and fluid flow between the chamber and the bag continues, and where at least two needles among the plurality of needles enter the enclosed chamber to varying degrees, and dispensing from the enclosed chamber is enabled by a dispensing valve connected to the enclosed chamber.

[0014] In one embodiment, when the dispensing valve is closed, the fluid in the bag flows through the first needle among the plurality of needles into a closed chamber, and the air in the closed chamber flows through the second needle from the plurality of needles into the bag. In a related embodiment, the maximum volumetric fluid flow rate through the first needle to the chamber is limited to less than the maximum volumetric net fluid flow rate from the chamber through the dispensing valve, taking into account the maximum volumetric fluid flow rate from the bag to the chamber through the fluid channel, so that when dispensing fluid from the chamber through the valve with a maximum net volumetric flow rate, the pressure in the chamber is reduced to less than the pressure outside the fluid dispensing system at a location at the end of the second needle on the opposite side from the end second needle located in the chamber.

[0015] In another embodiment, a plurality of needles are arranged in the support adjacent its point with the smallest height. In another embodiment, the support is made of synthetic resin.

[0016] Another embodiment further includes a bag containing a fluid supported by the support, wherein essentially a seal around each of the multiple needles is provided, each of the multiple needles piercing the wall of the bag here. In one embodiment, said bag is made of a single layer polyethylene sheet. In another embodiment of the bag, before the bag penetrates each of the plurality of needles, an outer protective layer that surrounds the bag is removed from the bag.

[0017] Also described herein is a fluid dispensing system for dispensing fluid from a collapsing bag and comprising a support to support the collapsing bag when dispensing fluid from the bag and having a support surface with a locally smallest height point, wherein the support surface defines a first space adjacent the first side of the support surface and a second space located on the other side of the support surface, opposite to the first side, as well as a plurality of needles, where each of the needles of the plurality of needles is connected to a support, it protrudes essentially from the point of the smallest local height to the first space and has a fluid inlet located on the outer surface of each of the needles, the fluid inlet being connected to a channel within each of the needles through which fluid or air can flow between second space; and where at least two of the needles of the plurality of needles penetrate differently into the second space, wherein during use of the fluid dispensing system the first space and the second space are sealed together in such a way that the only fluid connection between the first space and the second space runs through channels.

[0018] Also disclosed herein is a fluid dispensing system comprising a dispensing base, a closed chamber located in the base, a support providing support for the fluid containing bag outside the dispensing base, an element allowing fluid in the bag to flow into the closed chamber, an element for returning air to the bag from the closed chamber, and an element for dispensing fluid from the closed chamber into the space outside the dispensing base.

[0019] Also disclosed herein is a fluid dispensing bag having a non-rigid outer surface and containing fluid sealed in a non-rigid outer surface, the non-rigid outer surface having such low strength that it can be pierced by all of the many dispensing needles after dropping the bag onto needles from a height not exceeding a few inches, and where the non-rigid outer surface forms a seal around each of the plurality of needles after piercing through the needles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0020] Fig. 1 is a perspective side view of one embodiment of a bag cooling system along with one embodiment of a multi-thread adapter and converter.

[0021] Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the multi-needle adapter of Figure 1.

[0022] Fig. 3 is a view of one embodiment of a multi-thread adapter and converter.

[0023] Fig. 4 is a vertical bottom and side view of one embodiment of a multi-thread adapter and converter.

[0024] Figure 5 is a top plan view of one embodiment of a multi-thread adapter.

[0025] Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of one embodiment of the support mechanism and multi-needle adapter that does not require the use of a closed bag support.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0026] It will be understood by those skilled in the art that, although the present description has focused on the storage and dispensing of water, it relates to any liquid requiring mass transport, keeping it free of contaminants, and dispensing in smaller amounts than these in which it is transported.

[0027] Those skilled in the art should also understand that although the description herein mainly describes a multi-needle adapter having two needles, any number of needles can be used to dispense and reduce pressure.

[0028] Referring to Fig. 1, a fluid dispensing system 200 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention that can be used to dispense fluid from a collapsing bag 210 is shown. This embodiment includes a closed chamber 202 into which fluid from the collapsing bag can flow 210 and from which fluid can be dispensed via the tap 220. A support 206 used to support the bag 210 rests on the surface of the dispensing base 208. In an embodiment in which the support 206 allows fluid to be stored, the fluid dispensing system 200 can operate to dispense fluid that has been placed directly in the support 206, however, in a preferred method of delivering fluid to the fluid dispensing system 200, a sealed fluid bag 210 containing fluid is used . Storing fluid in a sealed bag 210 has significant advantages in maintaining fluid quality. If the fluid is delivered in a sealed bag 210, the support 206 itself need not be designed to allow storage of fluid, but it only needs to support the fluid bag 201. In an embodiment in which the support 206 is used to support the fluid bag rather than the actual storage of the fluid, there is considerable design freedom regarding the implementation of the support 206.

[0029] In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the support 206 has a flange 212 extending into the chamber 202. A flange 214, such as an O-ring elastic seal, is connected to the flange 212, which fits tightly to the wall chamber 202. In an alternative embodiment, the seal 214 is connected to the chamber 202 and substantially attached in one position thereto. In any case, after placing the support 206 adjacent the base 208 of the cooling device, the flange extends into the chamber 202, and the seal 214 fits tightly between the chamber 202 and the flange 212, forming a substantially hermetic seal. It will be appreciated that the purpose of the seal shown is to close chamber 202, so it is possible to design more complex systems having the same purpose. For example, in the case of the invention in which the chamber 202 can be separated from the cooling device base 208, both the chamber 202 and the support 206 are sealed to the cooling device base 208 using separate gaskets.

[0030] In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, placing the support 206 on the base 208 of the cooling device with a flange 212 extending into the base 208 of the cooling device, as shown in Fig. 1, creates a hermetic seal between the support 206 and the base 208 of the cooling device, which is the result of the sliding fit provided by the seal 214. Placing the support 206 on the base 208 of the cooling device as shown in Fig. 1 closes the chamber 202 and separates the air space of the chamber 202 from the surrounding air space located outside the support 206 and outside the base 208 of the cooling device. After closing the chamber 202 in this way, a connection for the flow of fluids (including air or water) between the two air spaces, i.e. spaces inside and outside the chamber 202, it is only possible via the dispensing needle 316 or the venting needle 317.

[0031] Figures 1 and 3 show different views of a preferred embodiment of the support

206 and various elements connected to it. In the embodiment shown, the cooling element is substantially cylindrical and has vertical side walls 209, a removable top cover 211 and a bottom surface 213 which is stationary relative to the side walls 209 and inclined to a point with a locally smallest height near the geometric center of the bottom surface 213 . The needles 316 and 317 each have an internal fluid channel, which are generally located at a point with the lowest local height. In other embodiments, the point with the locally lowest height need not be close to the geometric center of the bottom surface 213, it may be offset from that center. In an alternative embodiment of the fluid dispensing system, it may also have a support 206 having in its bottom surface 303 more than one point with the smallest local height, each having one or more needles 316 and 317. In this embodiment, each from adapters 300, it can supply fluid to the same chamber 202, or each of them can supply it to a separate chamber 202. It is not necessary to place the adapter 300 at a locally smallest point, but it is advantageous because it facilitates the removal of fluid supported by the base 206, regardless of whether it is stored in the bag 210 or not.

[0032] In one embodiment, the combined mass of fluid and fluid bag is sufficient to cause the bag to pierce through the needles 316 and 317 after placing the sealed fluid bag 210 on the support 206 and on the needles 316 and 317. In alternative embodiments, it may be necessary exert additional force on the bag 210 or the needle to allow the bag to pierce through the needles 316 and 317. For example, such additional force may be exerted on the bag 210 on the bag side that is substantially opposite to the needles 316 and 317. In another example, the needle 316 and 317, which can move relative to the base 208 of the cooling device, may be pressed against the bag 210 from using any mechanism, including a spring pressed by the base 208 of the cooling device. In a preferred embodiment, additional force is obtained by dropping the bag 210 on the needles 316 and 317 from a height of about six inches. In various alternative embodiments, the height from which the bag 210 is dropped on the needles 316 and 317 can vary significantly, and it can reach up to several feet.

[0033] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the bag 210 is in the form of a sealed and flexible bag 210, as shown in Fig. 1. The fluid contained in the bag 210 may be referred to herein as "fluid packed in the bag". The bag 210 may be made of any material suitable for this purpose, but it is preferably made of plastic, such as an organic polymer in sheets, preferably it is also flexible and flexible and does not introduce a rigid fluid shape. The bag 210 may, however, be filled with fluid until the fluid is under pressure, which in the case of a sealed bag essentially provides a lack of flexibility. The sack 210 may also have any suitable construction. The bag 210 to be placed in the cooling device preferably has a wall of a single-layer film. In an alternative embodiment, the bag 210 may be made of several layers of material or in the form of a set of bags arranged one within the other. Such a multilayer bag structure may include a solution commonly referred to in the current state of the art as a protective coating or protective wrapper, or have disinfecting patches or similar elements on the surface. In the case of a bag 210 having a plurality of layers or patches, one or more layers or patches may be removed prior to placing the bag 210 in the cooling device 206.

[0034] In the embodiment shown in Figure 3, the needles 316 and 317 have a cylindrical shank 302 and 303 and a blade 304 and 305. Each of the blades 304 and 305 has a circular cone located at the end of the corresponding shank 302 and 303, with what its radius at the base is the same as the largest radius of the stem 302 and 303 or slightly smaller than it. Due to the contact of the dispensing needle 316 and the venting needle 317 with the bag 210, they pierce the bag 210 by force. In this case, because the material used to make the bag is pierced by the cone blade, the hole made in the bag 210 gradually increases as it is pushed bag 210 for the tapered surface of truncated cones and for shanks 302 and 303. The bag 210 and the needles 316 and 317 are preferably constructed in such a way that after piercing the bag 210 tight sealing of the bag 210 around the needles 316 and 317 is ensured. Such sealing may depend on the materials used and the dimensions of the bag 210 and the needles 316 and 317. Preferred materials and dimensions to achieve such a seal around one spire are described in US Patent No. 10 / 926,604 entitled "Portable Water Cooler for use with Bagged Fluids and Bagged Fluids for use Therewith" of August 25, 2004, which has been fully incorporated herein. applications as a literature source. The methods and systems described therein can easily be applied by those skilled in the art to the needles 316 and 317 without having to carry out too many tests.

[0036] The needles 316 and 317 generally have a plurality of fluid inlets 602 or 603 that, after piercing the bag 210 through the needles 316 and 317, allow fluid in the bag 210 to flow into the hollow stems 302 or 303 of the needles 316 and 317. In a preferred embodiment, fluid inlets 602 and 603 are located in the side wall of blades 304 or 305 needles 316 and 317, but in alternative embodiments fluid inlets 602 and 603 can be located anywhere in the needles, including shafts 303 and 304. the embodiment shown in fig. 2 and the inlet 603 of the vent needle 317 is smaller than the inlet 602 of the dispensing needle 316, so that after initial puncturing through the vent needle 317 a minimum amount of fluid flows, while air can freely flow through the vent needle 317 to bag 210. In another embodiment, the vent needle inlet 603 may be located not on the blade 307 but on the side of the vent needle 303, whereby gravity creates less fluid pressure resulting in its flow to the vent needle 317.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, the dispensing nozzle 316 has a substantially longer stem 302 compared to the stem 303 of the vent nozzle 317, but this is not required. Due to this solution, the dispensing stem 302 penetrates deeper into the chamber 202 than the venting stem 303. After initial piercing of the bag 210 and placing it in such a way that fluid can flow out of the bag due to gravity, pressure or other factors, the fluid in the bag 210 flows into the holes in both the needles 316 and 317. Chamber 202 closed at tap 220, it is filled with fluid flowing from both needles 316 and 317. However, this usually occurs mainly through the dispensing nozzle 316, which generally allows easier flow of water than the vent nozzle 317.

[0038] As fluid continues to flow from the bag 210 into the chamber 202, the level of fluid contained in the chamber 202 increases. The water in chamber 202 replaces the air in chamber 202, which causes the air to try to escape from chamber 202. The only hole that is not effectively blocked by water is the vent needle 317, and thus the air generally flows upwards through the needle 317, with some air flowing through the needle 316. Fluid and air flow generally continues through both needles 316 and 317 until fluid accumulating in chamber 202 reaches the end point of dispensing stem 302, at which point air can no longer flow into dispensing needle 316. Because no vacuum exists in the bag 210, but water still flows, and more air is introduced into the vent needle 317. Once the water reaches the bottom of the bleed nipple 317, air can no longer flow out of the chamber 202. At this point, some air remains in the chamber 202. Water continues to flow into chamber 202, which causes the residual air pressure to increase, which cannot flow out of chamber 202 when the water level rises. This pressure finally equalizes due to the effect of gravity and external pressure on the water entering the chamber 202, after which, after equalizing, the water flow stops. The middle stage of this process is shown in Figure 1.

[0039] After piercing the sealed bag 210 through the needles 316 and 317, the fluid outflow path from the chamber 202 through the needles 316 and 317 is sealed to the external environment surrounding the base 208 of the cooling device. Thus, after piercing the bag 210, there is no connection between the external environment and the chamber 202. The vent needle 317 then becomes the only channel providing pressure equalization with the chamber 202 and providing air flow to the bag 210.

[0040] Therefore, if the pressure in the chamber 202 is less than the pressure exerted by the bag 210, the fluid still flows into the chamber 202. The pressure in the chamber 202, however, begins to increase. The fluid flows into the chamber 202, and the pressure in the chamber increases until the pressure in the chamber equalizes the water pressure in bag 210. At this point, due to pressure equalization, the flow from bag 210 to chamber 202 stops.

[0041] Fluid in chamber 202 can now be dispensed via valve 220. When the valve 220 is opened to allow fluid to be dispensed from chamber 202, the fluid level in chamber 202 decreases until finally the fluid level in chamber 202 is below the inlet of the vent nozzle 317. During dispensing, the pressure in chamber 202 decreases from the equilibrium value (no flow), thus allowing fluid to flow again from bag 210 to chamber 202. As long as the volumetric fluid flow through the needles 316 and 317 is less than the volumetric fluid flow through the tap, the level fluid in chamber 202 decreases as fluid is dispensed. As long as the volumetric flow of fluid flowing from the tap 220 (i.e. from chamber 202) is greater than the total volume flow of fluid entering the chamber 202 through the dispensing needle 316, the pressure in chamber 202 is also reduced.

[0042] When the tap 202 is finally closed, the reduced pressure in the chamber 202 adds up to the total force causing fluid to move from the bag 210 to the chamber 202. The fluid is moved through the dispensing needle 316 not only by gravity, but also the pressure on the bag 210 from outside causes fluid to pass through the dispensing needle 316 into chamber 202. The chamber 202 in which the pressure has been reduced during dispensing is advantageous from the point of view of emptying the bag 210 of the fluid as much as possible, since the reduced pressure in the chamber 202 results in a greater net force to push fluid out of the bag 210. As noted above, these forces move fluid from bag 210 into chamber 202 until the forces are equalized. When bag 210 is emptied of fluid, the negative pressure in the chamber draws air from bag 210 to chamber 202, which causes the bag to collapse and drain all remaining water to the needle 316.

[0043] In the event of a puncture through the needles 316 and 317 of a new fluid bag 210, a transient increase in pressure may occur in the chamber 202, especially when the bag 210 is dropped on the needles 316 and 317, as in the preferred embodiment discussed above. .

[0044] In the embodiment disclosed herein, one dispensing needle 316 and one vent needle 317 is used, however, those skilled in the art are aware of the possibility of using a varying number of needles 316 and 317, as well as a proportion between them. For example, more than one dispensing needle 316 may be used in the adapter 300, which is intended to inter alia increase water flow during dispensing. In another embodiment of the adapter 300, it is possible to combine the functions of the dispensing needle 316 and the venting needle 317 in one nozzle having two stems of different lengths, which aims, among others, to reduce the number of places where the bag 210 is pierced, while providing a solution to the problem associated with due to pressure. In another embodiment, a plurality of venting needles 317 may be used in the adapter 300 to provide easier pressure relief.

[0045] A fluid dispenser with a multi-needle adapter 300 according to the present invention may be manufactured as a new device or it may be possible to manufacture parts thereof to connect with other already existing elements in order to obtain the overall embodiment of the present invention. In particular, it is possible to manufacture a support 206 matching the existing base 208 of the cooling device having a chamber 202. When manufacturing support 206 to connect it to the existing cooling device base 208, the design of support 206 may take into account the use of various components of the existing cooling device base 208 or other components of the dispensing system connected thereto, for example, all components designed to isolate the chamber 202 from the influence of the external environment.

[0046] After piercing the water bag 210, the vent needle 317 and the multi-needle adapter 300 can provide the bag-dispensing system to form a sealed system. In contrast to the tubular vent, in which the equalization of external pressure is obtained by means of an external opening, the water flow path in a multi-needle system is generally tightly closed. Until the tap 220 is opened, air and water can only flow between the chamber 202 and the bag 210. There is no fluid stagnation in the vent needle 317 and it cannot be contaminated from external sources. Due to the fluid pressure downstream of the venting needle 317, the fluid flowing out of the venting needle 317 after the initial puncture of the bag must not substantially return back to the bag 210 and contaminate it.

[0047] Thanks to the multi-needle adapter 300, the goal of solving the flow problem due to pressure without the need for external modifications of the support 206 is also achieved. Unlike the venting system, the multi-needle adapter is located at the support 206 and does not need to be visible. By solving the flow problem due to pressure using a multi-needle adapter, the bag and cooling device maintain their structural integrity.