Supports: cabinet structure – Miscellaneous
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-09
2001-10-23
Cuomo, Peter M. (Department: 3636)
Supports: cabinet structure
Miscellaneous
C248S346040, C312S223100, C206S560000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06305767
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to apparatus useful for holding any one of a plurality of differently configured pumps. More particularly, the invention is directed to apparatus or modular system boards useful for holding any one of a plurality of differently configured pumps so that the pump can be effectively used, for example, in combination with one or more other such held pumps, in the dispensing of beverages and the like applications.
The service of beverages in commercial establishments, such as restaurants, taverns and the like, often involves a series of containers, for example, bag-in-box containers, for different beverages, such as beer, wine and the like, or beverage components, such as flavored syrups and the like. Each of these containers is associated with a pump which provides the beverage or beverage component to a dispensing valve. If, as is often the case, the establishment dispenses a large number of different beverages, the number of pumps, of example, of different sizes and/or configurations, is also large so that the pumps can become difficult to manage and maintain. Also, when two or more containers are used in dispensing a single beverage, an automatic selector valve (ASV) is often placed between the containers and the pump to automatically switch between an empty container and a full container for uninterrupted dispensing of the beverage. Such ASVs can add to the problem of managing and maintaining commercial beverage dispensing systems.
It would be advantageous to provide apparatus which provide ordered arrangements of pumps and, in applicable situations, ASVs, for more effective management and maintenance of pumping, for example, beverage dispensing, systems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Apparatus for holding any one of a plurality of differently configured pumps have been discovered. Such apparatus allow any one of a plurality of differently configured pumps to be held by the apparatus while the pump is in use, for example, in dispensing a beverage or a beverage component. The apparatus are effective in holding pumps of different configurations, for example, from different manufacturers, and/or different sized pumps of similar configurations, for example, from the same manufacturer, so that the user is not constrained to use a specific pump in order to provide for effective management and maintenance of a system of pumps, for example, an eating and/or drinking establishment's beverage dispensing pumps. In addition, the present apparatus preferably are adapted to hold ASVs, thereby further increasing the effectiveness of managing/maintaining beverage dispensing systems.
Although a single one of the present apparatus can be used alone, preferably two or more of these apparatus are used together, for example, coupled together to hold different pumps, or pumps and ASVs, as part of a beverage dispensing system or the like system involving a plurality of pumps. The apparatus may be considered modular system boards or modular pump system boards because each apparatus is a module that can be used alone or included in a multi-module system.
The present apparatus are straightforward in construction, preferably are adapted to be joined or coupled together, for example, at a remote location, thereby reducing or even eliminating on-site assembly and installation labor and costs. In general, the present apparatus facilitate very cost and performance effective management and maintenance of pumps and pumping systems.
In one broad aspect of the present invention, the present apparatus or pump system boards comprise a housing and a plurality of different sets of elements or features located on the housing. Each different set, including one, two or more elements or features, is adapted to at least assist in holding one of a plurality of differently configured pumps to the housing. Thus, the housing, preferably secured to a wall or other structural member, is effective in holding the pump in a stationary place so that it can be easily installed, managed, e.g., monitored, and maintained. Each set of elements or features preferably is exclusive in that element or elements in any given set do not cooperate with the element or elements of any other set in holding a pump to the housing. Preferably, each of the present apparatus is adapted to be linked, coupled or joined together with one or more other such apparatus. These linked systems can be conveniently pre-assembled, for example, remote or away from the places where the systems are to be ultimately used, so as to reduce onsite system assembly and installation time, labor and costs. Such linked systems are very effective in situations where two or more pumps are used, for example, in dispensing beverages from containers, such as bag-in-box containers and the like.
The housing and plurality of different sets of elements or features preferably are of unitary construction and/or preferably are made of polymeric material. Thus, the present apparatus can be molded or otherwise formed into a single piece which is very cost effective, without reducing performance effectiveness.
In one embodiment of the present invention, one of the different sets of elements of the present apparatus includes a first cavity defined by the housing and sized and adapted to receive a portion of one of a plurality of differently configured pumps. A plurality of spaced apart clips extend in the first cavity, for example, from the backwall of the first cavity, and are adapted to hold the received portion of the pump in the first cavity. This set of elements preferably is useful in holding an ASV to the housing. Thus, the first cavity preferably is further sized and adapted to receive a portion of an ASV, and the plurality of spaced apart clips preferably are further adapted to hold the received portion of the ASV in the first cavity.
The apparatus preferably includes 2 to about 6, more preferably 4, of the spaced apart clips. The first cavity may be sized to receive a portion of any one of two or more similarly configured pumps of different sizes, and the plurality of spaced apart clips may be adapted to hold the received portion of any one of two or more similarly configured pumps of different sizes. The ability to hold different sized, similarly configured pumps is an important feature in that the flexibility or usefulness of the apparatus is enhanced.
Each of the spaced apart clips preferably is biased toward the interior of the first cavity and has a free end configured to contact, more preferably grip, the pump a portion of which is received in the first cavity. The plurality of spaced apart clips preferably are unitary with the housing.
In a useful embodiment of the invention, one of the different sets of elements or features includes a second cavity defined by the housing. A cavity clip defines a portion of the second cavity. This second cavity is sized and adapted to receive a portion of one of a plurality of differently configured pumps. The cavity clip is adapted to hold the received portion of the pump in the second cavity.
The cavity clip preferably is biased toward the interior of the second cavity and has a free end configured to contact, more preferably grip, the pump a portion of which is received in the second cavity. The cavity clip preferably is unitary with the housing. In one embodiment, the second cavity has a back wall including a first part and a second part which is positioned rearwardly of the first part. This “uneven” back wall of the second cavity is effective in holding at least one pump to the housing.
In one embodiment of the present invention, one of the different sets of elements or features includes at least one hook and at least one hole spaced apart from the hook. The hook is sized and adapted to receive a portion of one of the plurality of differently configured pumps. The housing may be configured to cooperate with the hook in receiving a portion of the pump. The hole is sized and adapted to receive a portion of a pin member coupled to the pump received by the hook. The combinatio
Babson Brian
Filipek Gregory C.
Jersey Steven T.
Cuomo Peter M.
Michael & Best & Friedrich LLP
Shurflo Pump Manufacturing Company
Vu Stephen
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