Lancer Partnership, Ltd

The Coca-cola Company

Lancer Corporation

John D Santy, Jr

Alfred A Schroeder

Darren W Simmons

William S Credle, Jr

William A Edwards

David S Rowley

Steven C Gamper

Randeep Singh Grewal

Michael J Angelica

A locking apparatus for securing at least one component to an anchoring component piece includes an abutment plate for contact with the anchoring component piece and a plate contactor notch disposed on the abutment plate for contact with at least one component. In particular, the plate contactor notch includes a clutching surface for contact with at least one component. The locking apparatus further includes a slide aperture disposed on said abutment plate for facilitating attachment of the abutment plate to the anchoring component piece. The slide aperture, in turn, includes a slide aperture correction slot for facilitating resilient displacement of the abutment plate as well as includes a slide aperture mounting slot for receiving a mounting screw that attaches the abutment plate to the anchoring component piece. As such, the slide aperture mounting slot facilitates variable positioning of the abutment plate with respect to the anchoring component piece via a ratcheting motion between a receiving position and a locking position, thereby, ultimately, attaching at least one component piece to the anchoring component piece.

Locking apparatus for a beverage dispenser

A modular flow controller for controlling fluid flow, including a flow control assembly for establishing a desired flow rate. The flow control assembly includes a flow adjustment interface rendered in a substantially horizontal position for receiving a control input to establish a flow rate. The modular flow control assembly includes a valve assembly in operational engagement with the flow control assembly for discharging a desired quantity of fluid from the modular flow controller. The modular flow controller is preferably applied to a beverage dispenser's dispensing valve assembly, wherein the dispensing valve assembly includes a faucet plate. Accordingly, due to the configuration of the modular flow controller, it is unnecessary to secure the modular flow controller to the faucet plate for operation thereof. The modular flow controller includes a drink integrity locking unit for preventing access to a flow adjustment interface. The modular flow controller may include a back block interface element for linking the modular flow controller to a back block. The modular flow controller may include a fitting lock for a fluid carrying element, such as standard fittings, couplings as well as beverage fluid lines. The fitting lock, in turn, includes a body and a sliding element in cooperative engagement with the body for securing the fluid carrying element to the body. The modular flow controller may include a coil assembly to restrict fluid flow. The coil assembly, in turn, includes an actuator retainment lip extending outwardly for supporting an actuator element within a plunger chamber.

Enhanced flow controller for a beverage dispenser

A beverage dispenser nozzle assembly for increasing availability of drink flavors dispensed therefrom, includes a first, a second, and a third beverage fluid line for carrying a first beverage fluid, a second beverage fluid, and a third beverage fluid therein, respectively. A dispensing nozzle unit linked with the first, the second, and the third beverage fluid lines is provided for receiving and combining the third beverage fluid with the first and/or the second beverage fluids, thereby producing a desired drink for discharge by the nozzle assembly. This single dispensing nozzle unit thus accommodates a large number of beverage fluid lines, thereby enhancing the availability of drink flavors dispensed from the nozzle assembly. Moreover, the nozzle assembly includes a multi-port fitting device and a swivel fitting device for facilitating coupling of a dispensing nozzle unit with a large number of beverage fluid lines.

Nozzle assembly for a beverage dispenser

In a beverage dispensing nozzle, a cap member includes first, second, and third beverage syrup inlet ports coupled to a respective first, second, and third beverage syrup sources and a mixing fluid inlet port coupled to a mixing fluid source. An inner housing including a chamber is coupled to the cap member. A first annulus disposed within the chamber of the inner housing defines a first annular beverage syrup channel with the inner housing, wherein the first beverage syrup inlet port communicates beverage syrup to the first annular beverage syrup channel for discharge from the beverage dispensing nozzle in an annular flow pattern. A second annulus disposed within the chamber of the inner housing defines a second annular beverage syrup channel with the first annulus, wherein the second beverage syrup inlet port communicates beverage syrup to the second annular beverage syrup channel for discharge from the beverage dispensing nozzle in an annular flow pattern. A third annulus disposed within the chamber of the inner housing defines a third annular beverage syrup channel with the second annulus, wherein the third beverage syrup inlet port communicates beverage syrup to the third annular beverage syrup channel for discharge from the beverage dispensing nozzle in an annular flow pattern. The first annulus, the second annulus, and the third annulus align to define an irregularly shaped beverage syrup outlet that manipulates the annular flow pattern of the beverage syrup to prevent beverage syrup carryover. An outer housing coupled to the cap member defines an annular mixing fluid channel with the inner housing, wherein the mixing fluid inlet port communicates mixing fluid to the annular mixing fluid channel for discharge from the beverage dispensing nozzle in an annular flow pattern that contacts exiting beverage syrup to mix therewith outside the beverage dispensing nozzle.

Multiple flavor beverage dispensing air-mix nozzle

In a beverage dispensing nozzle, a cap member includes a first beverage syrup inlet port coupled to a first beverage syrup source and a mixing fluid inlet port coupled to a mixing fluid source. The cap member further includes a flavor additive port coupled to a flavor additive source. An inner housing including a chamber is coupled to the cap member. A first annulus disposed within the chamber of the inner housing defines a first annular beverage syrup channel with the inner housing, wherein the first beverage syrup inlet port communicates beverage syrup to the first annular beverage syrup channel for discharge from the beverage dispensing nozzle. The first annulus further includes a flavor additive passageway, wherein the flavor additive inlet port communicates flavor additive to the flavor additive passageway for discharge from the beverage dispensing nozzle. An outer housing coupled to the cap member defines a mixing fluid channel with the inner housing, wherein the mixing fluid inlet port communicates mixing fluid to the annular mixing fluid channel for discharge from the beverage dispensing nozzle in an annular flow pattern that contacts exiting beverage syrup and flavor additive to mix therewith outside the beverage dispensing nozzle.

Growing community of inventors

San Antonio, TX, United States of America

John D Santy, Jr