A container is provided to contain a liquid to be used in a liquid dispenser that is space-saving and enables checking of the amount of remaining liquid, a refilling operation, and maintenance to be readily performed. A stock solution container in which a concentrated stock solution is to be contained and that is to be used in a beverage dispenser to eject a beverage constituted by the concentrated stock solution and a diluent includes: a containing portion having a bag shape and is to contain the concentrated stock solution; and an ejecting portion for ejecting the concentrated stock solution to the outside, the ejecting portion being provided to protrude from the containing portion. An ejection port is provided at a leading end of the ejecting portion, and the concentrated stock solution is ejected from the ejection port as the containing portion deforms based on an external force.

An apparatus for dispensing a heated liquid foodstuff, in particular a hot drink, such as preferably coffee, has a heating device for the liquid foodstuff and a dispensing nozzle. The liquid foodstuff is dischargeable from a pressurised receptacle and a pressure reducing device is arranged before the heating device.

The vehicular water-dispensing system is a water dispensing system adapted for use in a vehicle. Water is stored within a reservoir located in the trunk of the vehicle and may be pumped through a filter to one of two retractable hoses. One retractable hose is provided on each side of the dashboard and the retractable hoses may be pulled out of the dashboard to use. Each retractable hose terminates with a mouthpiece. When either retractable hose is released that hose is pulled back into the dashboard. When not in use, the retractable hoses are wound around spring-loaded reels. The vehicular water-dispensing system may further comprise a refrigeration system adjacent to the reservoir to chill the water.

Examples disclosed herein relate to conduits, devices, systems and methods, which may include a hollow element including an inner surface and an outer surface which allows for a passage of one or more of one or more fluid elements and one or more gaseous elements, a constraining element with one or more openings and one or more non-open elements, one or more blocking elements configured to stop the passage of the at least one of the one or more fluid elements and the one or more gaseous elements when the one or more blocking elements are in a first position relative to the one or more openings, and a movement device configured to move the one or more blocking elements to a second position relative to the one or more openings which allows for the passage of the one or more fluid elements and the one gaseous elements through the one or more openings in the constraining element.

A smart inventory management system is described for a dispensing and blend-in-cup beverage platform including a container having an information tag that is configured to store unique information specific to a particular product, a reader configured to read the stored information from the information tag, a control board configured to host a software based decision engine which is configured to interpret the information specific to a particular product and to control one or more system components based at least in part on the information, a pump controlled by the control board and configured to pump beverage concentrates out of the containers in order to dispense the beverage concentrate into a beverage holder, and a check valve located between an opening on the container and the pump, the check valve configured to provide backflush prevention of foreign solutions into the container.

An electronic cigarette vaporizer comprises a hollow vaporizer housing and a vaporizing device sleeved inside the vaporizer housing; wherein the vaporizer housing has a mouthpiece end and an opening end arranged with a connecting device for connection with the battery component, a mouthpiece is arranged in a center of the mouthpiece end, a vapor outlet tube extending in an inward direction from the mouthpiece to a middle portion of the vaporizer housing is arranged; wherein the vaporizing device is disposed in the vaporizer housing at one side where the opening end is formed, and comprises a vapor tube sleeve, a throttle lid, a heating unit, a vaporizing base and an electrode lid, which are arranged in turn towards the outer side from the inner side, and the throttle lid is provided with throttle orifices for directly communicating the liquid storage chamber and the end portions of the liquid guiding strip.

A nozzle (10) and associated methods are provided in which a base fluid flows by a check valve (22) and is directed by a plurality of flow directors (42) into a diluent flow path. The check valve (22) closes the flow of base fluid when the base fluid is no longer demanded.

Disclosed is a water dispenser. The water dispenser includes a water outlet component; a water cooling module for accessing a water source, an output port of the water cooling module being communicated with the water outlet component through a first water pump; and/or a water heating module, an input port of the water heating module accessing the water source through a second water pump, an output port of the water heating module being communicated with the water outlet component, the water outlet component accessing the water source through the second water pump.

A portable, self-contained beverage apparatus includes a container assembly having a known storage capacity for storing a consumable liquid, and a dispensing assembly disposed within the container assembly that dispenses variable, non-zero quantities of additives into the consumable liquid. The dispensing assembly includes multiple apertures structured and arranged to retain vessels containing the additives to be dispensed into the consumable liquid. The beverage apparatus also includes a level sensor disposed within the container assembly that determines a consumable liquid level of the consumable liquid stored in the container assembly. In certain embodiments, one or more positive displacement pumping mechanisms are configured to pump additive liquid from additive containers into a beverage chamber.

Disclosed are various embodiments for dispensing and tracking beverages. An identifier associated with a user can be read by an identification device. Beverage availability information for the user can be determined. The beverage availability information can specify categories of beverages that the user is authorized to dispense. Valves can be selected that correspond to the authorized beverage categories. The valves can be enabled to allow the user to dispense beverages from the authorized beverage categories. The quantity of beverages dispensed can be tracked.