US3688947A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Liquid dispenser and recorder means
Assignee: McCanns Engineering and Manufacturing Co LLC
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Filing: 1971-05-03
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Granted: 1972-09-05
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Expires: 1991-05-03
Abstract
Abstract A liquor dispenser and recorder means particularly adapted for use in dispensing liquors in public barrooms, wherein a plurality of containers holding various priced liquors are provided with outlet fixtures cooperable with a stationary fixture engaging means, such that each outlet fixture of each container is physically distinctively cooperable with the engaging fixture so as to energize means for dispensing liquor from the respective container and energize an individual counter with respect to the value of the liquor in the respective container. In various embodiments, the manner in which each outlet fixture is physically distinctively cooperable with the engaging fixture may take the form of a variable length which functions to actuate none or one or more switches associated with the fixture to provide the necessary digital information to select the appropriate counter, or circumferential grooves may be provided in the outlet fixtures to cooperate with reoriented switches such that the grooves and the lands or ridges between the grooves effect the actuation or non-actuation of the switches, or a circumferential groove configuration may be utilized in conjunction with light sources and a plurality of photo cells whereby light impinges on the photo cells in combinations providing the desired information. As a variant of the last described encoding means, the grooves may be replaced with reflective circumferential bands about the outlet fixtures positioned to reflect the light from the sources onto only certain of the photo cells to provide the desired information. Means are also provided for securing semi-permanent storage on magnetic or paper tape of the activity of a dispensing station, and, where a plurality of stations are utilized, scanning means are provided for integrating information from each station with additional, but related, digital information entered from a cash register to achieve a semi-permanent record of the complete activity of each station in conjunction with the encoded information from the variously configured outlet fixtures. The semipermanent record may then be processed by a general purpose computer on a scheduled basis to withdraw performance, inventory, cost, etc., information as may be desirable. A more extensive installation in which a plurality of stations and cash registers remote from one another, such as encountered in a large hotel with multiple bars, utilizes direct communication with a general purpose computer to obviate the necessity for preparing the intermediate semi-permanent record.
Inventors
- 👤 Arthur M Reichenberger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 07:41
CPC Classifications
B; B67; B67D; B67D1/00; B67D1/08; B67D1/12; B67D1/1202; B67D1/1234; B67D1/1238; B67D1/10; G; G07; G07F; G07F13/00; G07G; G07G1/00; G07G1/10; B67D1/0801; B67D2001/0811
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
444 words
In a liquid dispensing and recording system, the combination of: a plurality of portable containers; an outlet fixture coupled to each of said containers; a dip tube coupled to each of said outlet fixtures and disposed in a respective one of said containers; each dip tube having an open end disposed to receive liquid at a normally lower interior area of a respective one of said containers; each of said outlet fixtures having a delivery spout extending away from a respective one of said containers; each delivery spout communicating wIth a respective one of said dip tubes; a stationary fixture having an outlet fixture engaging means sealingly engagable by respective spouts of said outlet fixtures; each outlet fixture having first identification means carried by each of said outlet fixtures and adapted to identify the contents of respective containers; said fixture engaging means having second identification means corresponding to and cooperable with said first identification means and adapted to cooperate in identification of said contents; said first identification means being individually distinctive with respect to the contents of each container of said plurality of containers; said first identification means comprising characteristics encoding a plurality of actuating means, each said actuating means having one of two possible states for providing a code identifying the contents of respective containers; said second identification means comprising a plurality of electrical means having two possible states, the state of each of said electrical means being responsive to the state of one of said actuating means for generating an electrical code combination; each of said portable containers being manually selectively and individually movable and engagable relative to said stationary fixture to accomplish identification and dispensation of liquid from each respective portable container; a source of vacuum communicating with said fixture engaging means; valve control means operable by engagement of a selected one of said outlet fixtures with said fixture engaging means; a shutoff valve coupled with said valve control means and operable thereby; said shutoff valve disposed to establish and terminate communication of said source of vacuum with said fixture engaging means; a dispensing cavity communicating with said fixture engaging means and said source of vacuum and having a liquid outlet at its lower portion, whereby liquid is drawn from said container via said dip tube and into said dispensing cavity by said source of vacuum when said valve control means is operated upon engagement of a spout of one of said outlet fixtures with said fixture engaging means; and a recorder means coupled to said second identification means and responsive to said electrical code combination for recording the operation thereof and resultant dispensation of respective liquid from said liquid dispenser.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
444 words
In a liquid dispensing and recording system, the combination of: a plurality of portable containers; an outlet fixture coupled to each of said containers; a dip tube coupled to each of said outlet fixtures and disposed in a respective one of said containers; each dip tube having an open end disposed to receive liquid at a normally lower interior area of a respective one of said containers; each of said outlet fixtures having a delivery spout extending away from a respective one of said containers; each delivery spout communicating wIth a respective one of said dip tubes; a stationary fixture having an outlet fixture engaging means sealingly engagable by respective spouts of said outlet fixtures; each outlet fixture having first identification means carried by each of said outlet fixtures and adapted to identify the contents of respective containers; said fixture engaging means having second identification means corresponding to and cooperable with said first identification means and adapted to cooperate in identification of said contents; said first identification means being individually distinctive with respect to the contents of each container of said plurality of containers; said first identification means comprising characteristics encoding a plurality of actuating means, each said actuating means having one of two possible states for providing a code identifying the contents of respective containers; said second identification means comprising a plurality of electrical means having two possible states, the state of each of said electrical means being responsive to the state of one of said actuating means for generating an electrical code combination; each of said portable containers being manually selectively and individually movable and engagable relative to said stationary fixture to accomplish identification and dispensation of liquid from each respective portable container; a source of vacuum communicating with said fixture engaging means; valve control means operable by engagement of a selected one of said outlet fixtures with said fixture engaging means; a shutoff valve coupled with said valve control means and operable thereby; said shutoff valve disposed to establish and terminate communication of said source of vacuum with said fixture engaging means; a dispensing cavity communicating with said fixture engaging means and said source of vacuum and having a liquid outlet at its lower portion, whereby liquid is drawn from said container via said dip tube and into said dispensing cavity by said source of vacuum when said valve control means is operated upon engagement of a spout of one of said outlet fixtures with said fixture engaging means; and a recorder means coupled to said second identification means and responsive to said electrical code combination for recording the operation thereof and resultant dispensation of respective liquid from said liquid dispenser.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
78 words
The liquid dispensing and recording system of claim 1 in which said first identification means comprises the length of said delivery spout of each of said outlet fixtures, and said second identification means includes a plurality of switches, each said switch being provided with an actuator of such length and orientation that the actuation of each individual switch responds to a different minimum length of said delivery spout, the combination of actuated switches generating said electrical code combination.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
97 words
The liquid dispensing and recording system of claim 1 in which said first identification means comprises at least one circumferential groove about said delivery spout of each of said outlet fixtures, and said second identification means includes a plurality of switches, each said switch being provided with an actuator of such length and orientation that the actuation of each individual switch is responsive to the absence of a circumferential groove in said delivery spout at the position at which its corresponding said actuator abuts said delivery spout, the combination of actuated switches generating said electrical code combination.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
163 words
The liquid dispensing and recording system of claim 1 in which said first identification means comprises circumferential bands having selectively light transmitting and light non-transmitting characteristics, and said second identification means comprises: A. light emitting means directed toward said circumferential bands; B. a plurality of light responsive means for assuming a first electrical characteristic when light impinges thereon and a second electrical characteristIc when no light impinges thereon, each of said light responsive means being oriented with respect to one of said circumferential bands and to said light emitting means such that said first electrical characteristic is assumed by a given band when the corresponding one of said circumferential bands has light transmitting characteristics and said second electrical characteristic is assumed by a given band when the corresponding one of said circumferential bands has light non-transmitting characteristics; and C. means for translating the combination of said first and second characteristics assumed by said plurality of light responsive means into said electrical code combination.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The liquid dispensing and recording system of claim 4 in which said light transmitting circumferential bands consist of bands of light reflecting material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
The liquid dispensing and recording system of claim 1 in which dip tube includes a flexible portion intermediate along its length such that said open end thereof gravitationally seeks the lowest possible point, limited by its length, within the respective one of said containers in which it is disposed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
The liquid dispensing and recording system of claim 1 which includes: A. a plurality of said stationary fixtures; B. a general purpose computer having information output means; and C. means coupling each of said stationary fixtures to said general purpose computer for providing information input thereto.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 7 which further includes transaction information encoding means utilized in conjunction with each of said stationary fixtures for entering supplementary information into said general purpose computer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system of claim 7 in which said means coupling each of said stationary fixtures to said general purpose computer comprises a scanner and apparatus for preparing a semi-permanent record for subsequent reading into said computer.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-09-05 | 1976-03-06 | 1976-09-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-09-05 | 1980-03-06 | 1980-09-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-09-05 | 1984-03-06 | 1984-09-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |