The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 23, 1995
Filed:
Sep. 13, 1993
James V Broussalian, Sepulveda, CA (US);
John W Gilliom, Wooster, AR (US);
Baskin-Robbins USA, Co., Glendale, CA (US);
Abstract
A dispenser for frozen soft serve confections comprises a refrigerated dispensing cabinet. One or more rigid cartridges containing frozen soft serve confection are releasably mounted within the interior of the dispensing cabinet. Each cartridge uses compressed air to urge the frozen confection from the cartridge through a valve assembly. A valve assembly comprises a valve body that defines a passageway that connects an inlet opening at the cartridge with an outlet opening outside the dispensing cabinet. A valve for alternatively blocking or permitting flow of frozen confection through the passageway is provided at the outlet opening. The valve can include a piston that is moved between the opened and closed positions by a lever. The valve can also include an inflatable bladder that is alternatively inflated or deflated by compressed air that flows through a push button switch. When inflated, the flow of frozen confection is prevented and when deflated, flow is permitted. If a bladder valve is used, a leak detection system senses any leak in the compressed air system and operates a pressure switch to simultaneously block further flow of compressed air to the cartridge and depressurized the cartridge to prevent the contents of the cartridge from spilling.