A bag-in-box assembly includes a box and a flexible container filled with a flowable material. The flexible container includes a front panel, a rear panel, and gusseted side panels adjoining the front panel and the rear panel along peripheral seals. Each peripheral seal having an arcuate body seal inner edge (ABSIE) and a tapered seal inner edge extending from each end of a body seal. The ABSIE has a radius of curvature from 1.0 mm to 300.0 mm. The bag-in-box assembly includes a top perimeter, a center perimeter, and a bottom perimeter as well as an aggregate contact length (ACL) at each perimeter. A top ACL is from 50% to 90% of the top perimeter, a center ACL is from 5% to 50% of the center perimeter, and a bottom ACL is from 50% to 90% of the bottom perimeter.

A liquid dispensing system can intelligently dispense liquid from a liquid source to a receptacle via a spout. A controller may be connected to a sensor in a housing of the liquid dispensing system with the housing supporting a liquid dispensing spout connected to a liquid source. The controller can generate, and execute, a liquid dispensing strategy that alters an angle of the liquid dispensing spout with respect to a liquid receptacle to optimize liquid flow into the receptacle.

A refrigerator includes an outer case, an inner case configured to define a storage space, an insulation material between the outer case and the inner case, a tank provided inside the storage space to store liquid, a rear guide provided at a rear through which a supply tube configured to supply liquid to the tank passes, a dispenser provided inside of the storage space to dispense liquid from the tank, and a tube guide embedded in the insulation material between the inner case and the outer case to define a passage through which a discharge tube configured to connect the tank to the dispenser passes.

A tamper-preventing liquid-dispensing tap (1, 1B) with automatic opening includes a first body (4, 4B) having a removal-preventing and tamper-preventing element with sharped edge (4.5, 4B.5); an internal valve or membrane with elastic dome (5) contained in the first body (4); a second driving element (3) contained in and operatively coupled with the valve or membrane (5); and a cap (2, 2B) having integrated sealing elements (2.1, 2.2, 2.6, 2.8; 2B.1, 2B.2, 2B.6, 2B.8) which remain fastened to the cap (2, 2B), which is stably constrained with the first body (4, 4B) forming a single component which cannot be divided, the cap (2, 2B) further operatively coupled with the second driving element (3); wherein the second driving element (3) is designed to be driven by the cap (2) to allow opening and simultaneously breaking the seal elements (2.1, 2.2, 2.6, 2.8; 2B.1, 2B.2, 2B.6, 2B.8) of the tap (1, 1B).

A dispensing tap for liquids containers includes a main containing body equipped on one side with a liquid dispensing end and on the opposite side with an end designed to perform a connection with a container of liquids; a cap for actuating dispensing operations placed above the liquid dispensing end; and a stem for opening and closing the dispensing of liquids, placed inside the dispensing end and operatively coupled to the cap.

According to certain embodiments, a connector for dispensing a liquid from a container comprises a main body connectable to the container and a subassembly being movable relative to the main body between an inactivated position and an activated position. The subassembly comprises inner and outer hollow piercing members. When the main body is connected to the container and the subassembly is moved from the inactivated position to the activated position, the inner hollow piercing member is arranged to pierce a seal of an inner cavity of the container, and the outer piercing member is arranged to pierce a seal of an outer cavity of the container.

A refrigerator water dispenser includes a shelf having a lower surface. A water dispenser tube is disposed adjacent to the shelf for dispensing water into a container. An actuator support is operably coupled to the lower surface of the shelf. A load cell is disposed on the actuator support, wherein the load cell sends a signal in response to movement by the actuator support. A controller is operably coupled to the load cell, wherein the controller activates a water dispensing sequence to dispense water via the water dispenser tube in response to the signal from the load cell.

A consumables monitoring system is in communication with computing means and has a dispenser assembly formed of a dispenser and a mounting unit. The mounting unit and dispenser are arranged such that a plurality of sensors in the mounting unit is able to measure the quantity of consumables in the dispenser, and the dispenser assembly communicates sensor data to the computing means, which thereby monitor the usage of the dispenser. The plurality of sensors have different sensitivities over a range of inputs, wherein system is configured to switch between the sensors depending on the value of the inputs detected. The fact that the mounting unit may engage multiple different types of otherwise stand-alone dispensers provides for a monitoring system that can be used in conjunction with any type of dispenser and consumable. The plurality of dispensers allows for optimum sensitivity across a broad range of dispenser fill levels.

A refrigerator water dispenser includes a shelf having a lower surface. A water dispenser tube is disposed adjacent to the shelf for dispensing water into a container. An actuator support is operably coupled to the lower surface of the shelf. A load cell is disposed on the actuator support, wherein the load cell sends a signal in response to movement by the actuator support. A controller is operably coupled to the load cell, wherein the controller activates a water dispensing sequence to dispense water via the water dispenser tube in response to the signal from the load cell.

A liquid dispenser for dispensing a consumable liquid from a container. The dispenser includes a cabinet configured to receive one or more containers in an inverted position such that liquid is induced by gravity to flow out of an open interior of the container though a dispensing opening. A positive pressure valve assembly is mounted to the dispensing opening of the container prior to insertion of the container into the cabinet. The valve assembly includes a cap connected to the dispensing opening and a discharge tube extending from the cap. A flow restrictor of the valve assembly is positioned to selectively open and close the discharge tube to control the flow of liquid from the container. A one-way valve is positioned between the open interior of the container and a supply of air. The one-way valve allows air flow into the container as the fluid is discharged to maintain a positive pressure within the container.