A tap is described for delivering liquids from a container: including: a main body to be placed at the delivery end of the container; a valve inserted between a lower fastening body and the main body, which includes slits to ensure the air-tightness allowing liquids to pass only when opening the tap; the lower fastening body to be placed on the delivery end of the container; and an upper plug placed over the main body; the main body includes a tamper evident warranty ring integrated and removable when first opening the tap; and the upper plug is assembled on the main body and anchored to the warranty ring integrated in the main body.

A dispensing system includes a liquid dispensing tap and an associated or integrated measuring cap/cup. The dispensing tap and cap/cup are configured such that the cap/cup is assembled with the tap prior to installation onto a container, and stays assembled with the tap during installation onto the container at the filling line, and which can later be removed for use and then reattached to the tap or container after use by the consumer.

A tap assembly for dispensing fluid from a flexible container includes a gland for connecting with the container, the gland having an inlet and an outlet. A tap is in fluid communication with the outlet of the gland. An incision device is fixed with respect to the tap to rotate with a corresponding rotation of the tap, the incision device located at the inlet of the gland, and positioned fully within the gland in a first rotational position and generally outside of the gland in a second rotational position. An indent and/or rib and/or molded sidewall is positioned on the gland or the tap and a corresponding detent and/or rib and/or tap flange is positioned on an opposite of the tap or the gland such that the tap is rotatable between the first rotational position and the second rotational position and the indent and the detent and/or molded sidewall prevents further rotation.

A liquid dispenser has a base with a container section, a top with an elongated neck and a spout, and a push-open valve at the spout's end. An outer section of the valve engages a portion of a receptacle to depress the valve relative to the spout and open the valve and allow fluid to flow from the container through the spout and the valve into the receptacle. The push-open valve is held against the spout with a collar, and a spring biases the valve to its closed position. The top includes an air inlet, and a tube extends from the air inlet to the topside of the base and proximate to a strainer. A bladder can be placed within the interior of the liquid dispenser, and a lid and/or thin-film membrane can seal the base or bladder for storage of mixed drinks or a premix powder or solution.

A tap assembly with a hollow tap body which defines a dispensing chamber leading to an outlet arrangement. A valve assembly with a valve element is provided to selectively open an inlet into the dispensing chamber. A push button is provided which operates the valve assembly, and which defines an operating chamber, with the push button movable into the operating chamber. A connecting member is provided extending from the push button through the operating chamber. A seal is provided to prevent liquid passing from the dispensing chamber to the operating chamber.

Systems and methods for preparing and dispensing food contents, typically molten chocolate. In one aspect, a method for treating chocolate includes placing a quantity of chocolate in a pressure-controllable environment; heating the quantity of chocolate to a temperature of about 115 degrees Fahrenheit; decreasing the pressure of the pressure-controllable environment to about 5 Torr; and holding the pressure of the pressure-controllable environment at about 5 Torr for a predetermined period of time. Additional steps may include decreasing the pressure of the pressure-controllable environment to about 5 Torr at an average rate of about 8 Torr per minute; heating the quantity of chocolate to a temperature of about 115 degrees Fahrenheit may occur at a rate of about 2 degrees Fahrenheit per minute; and/or heating the quantity of chocolate to a temperature of about 115 degrees Fahrenheit may occur at a rate of no more than 1 degree Fahrenheit per minute.

An appliance for making a drink individually. The appliance includes a plurality of containers. Each container includes a vessel and a head screwed onto the vessel. A base defines a plurality of housings each receiving a container, and being provided with a housing outlet and a pressurizing inlet connected with a drain valve and a pressurizing valve of the container, respectively. A funnel is mounted under the housing outlets. Structure transfers by pressurization, into the funnel, ingredients contained in the containers housed in the housings. The vessel and the head of at least one container include polarizing surfaces of the vessel and of the head, respectively, configured to form, together, a container polarizing surface that can cooperate with a housing polarizing surface to ensure a predetermined positioning of the container with respect to the housing.

An automatic animal watering assembly includes a base that has a bowl section therein and a receiver section. A container is removably inserted into the receiver section of the base. The container contains water and the container releases the water into the bowl section. The container has an opening extending through a top end of the container for filling the container. A plug is movably positioned within the container. The plug is positionable in a closed position and an open position. A lid is hingedly coupled to the top end of the container. A lever is pivotally coupled to the container and the plug rests on the lever. The lever lifts the plug when the lever is lifted and the lever lowers the plug when the lever is lowered. The lever is in mechanical communication with the lid such that the lid lowers and lifts the lever.

The bag side connector for a BIB package comprises: an element (10) having a longitudinal axis (12) and including a flange (14) with an upper and a lower face, wherein a first collar (16) protrudes from the upper face, so that a cylindrical chamber (18) is defined, a second collar (20) protrudes from the lower face, and the flange (14) has at least one through hole (22) in the area delimited by the second collar (20); and an internal valve device including an obturator (24) slidable along said axis (12) and a third collar (26) protruding from the lower face of the flange (14) coaxially and internally in respect of the second collar (20) and externally in respect of the area with at least one through hole (22), wherein said obturator (24) has a foot (30) suitable for contacting a distal edge (32) of the third collar (26) to form a leak-tight seal, and a top wall (34) from which an actuating pin (36) protrudes and extends through a center bore (38) of the flange (14). The connector further comprises an external valve device arranged in the chamber (18) and suitable for allowing/interrupting the fluid communication between the chamber (18) and the at least one (through hole (22) in dependence on the pressure existing in the chamber (18).

An automatic animal watering assembly includes a base that has a bowl section therein and a receiver section. A container is removably inserted into the receiver section of the base. The container contains water and the container releases the water into the bowl section. The container has an opening extending through a top end of the container for filling the container. A plug is movably positioned within the container. The plug is positionable in a closed position and an open position. A lid is hingedly coupled to the top end of the container. A lever is pivotally coupled to the container and the plug rests on the lever. The lever lifts the plug when the lever is lifted and the lever lowers the plug when the lever is lowered. The lever is in mechanical communication with the lid such that the lid lowers and lifts the lever.