US 12,419,454 B2
Liquid dispensing apparatus and methods
David Phillip Starkey, Sandy, UT (US); Alyssa Marie Kuhn, Sandy, UT (US); and Michael Morgan Starkey, Kent, OH (US)
Assigned to Avanelle Ventures LLC, Sheridan, WY (US)
Filed by Avanelle Ventures LLC, Sheridan, WY (US)
Filed on May 23, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/200,696.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/344,712, filed on May 23, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0371731 A1, Nov. 23, 2023
Int. Cl. A47J 31/00 (2006.01); A47J 31/44 (2006.01); A47J 31/46 (2006.01)
CPC A47J 31/005 (2013.01) [A47J 31/4407 (2013.01); A47J 31/461 (2018.08); A47J 31/462 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A liquid dispensing apparatus, comprising:
(a) a container including a downwardly extending wall portion that defines a bottom opening through which a liquid in the container is dispensed;
(b) a valve;
(c) an actuator connected to the valve for controlling dispensing of the fluid from the container, the actuator being movable along an axis between a dispensing position, in which liquid from the container is dispensed, the valve being open when the actuator is in the dispensing position, and a non-dispensing position, in which liquid from the container is not dispensed, the valve being closed when the actuator is in the non-dispensing position, and the actuator in the non-dispensing position being located further from the container than when in the dispensing position; and
(d) a spring biasing the actuator in a direction away from the container;
(e) wherein the liquid dispensing apparatus further comprises a locking mechanism for precluding the actuator from transitioning from the non-dispensing position toward the dispensing position; and
(f) wherein the locking mechanism comprises downwardly extending tabs that engage an annular portion of the actuator and block displacement of the actuator from the non-dispensing position toward the container;
(g) wherein the actuator includes openings for accommodating passage therethrough of the tabs; and
(h) wherein the actuator is rotatable about the axis between an unlocked position in which the openings are aligned with the tabs and an unlocked position in which the tabs are aligned with the openings.