System and Method for Interfacing with, and Controlling, Beverage Dispensing Containers

Abstract

The inventive system and method advantageously enable superior adaptive connection of containers for storing and dispensing beverages to various dispensing systems, and more particularly to systems and methods for interfacing with, and controlling the flow of liquid from, various beverage storage/dispensing containers that comprise any of a variety of dispensing interface components. In at least one embodiment of the present invention, the inventive configurable releasable dispensing interface coupling adapter is configured to achieve a pressurized seal with a connected beverage storage/dispensing container, to accomplish connection with a pressurization-based beverage dispensing system or equivalent thereof.

1 . A selectively adjustable and configurable releasable dispensing interface coupling adapter, for coupling with, and controlling, beverage containers that each include one of a plurality of different selectively operable dispensing components, the dispensing interface coupling adapter comprising:
 an adapter housing;   first releasable coupling means for securely coupling to at least one plural selectively operable beverage container dispensing component;   second releasable coupling means for securely coupling to a dispensing conduit; and   control means for selectively controlling, to a predetermined degree, said at least one plural selectively operable beverage container dispensing component, to selectively enable flow of beverage from the beverage container into said dispensing conduit.   
     
     
         2 . The configurable releasable interface coupling adapter of  claim 1 , wherein said first releasable coupling means is configured for forming a pressurized seal with said at least one plural selectively operable dispensing component. 
     
     
         3 . The configurable releasable interface coupling adapter of  claim 1 , wherein said second releasable coupling means is configured for forming a pressurized seal with said dispensing conduit. 
     
     
         4 . The configurable releasable interface coupling adapter of  claim 3 , wherein said second releasable coupling means comprises an o-ring fitting. 
     
     
         5 . A selectively adjustable and configurable releasable dispensing interface coupling adapter, for coupling with, and controlling, beverage containers that each include one of a plurality of different dispensing interfaces, the dispensing interface coupling adapter:
 an adapter housing;   first releasable coupling means for securely coupling to at least one plural beverage container dispensing interface;   second releasable coupling means for securely coupling to a dispensing conduit; and   configuration means for selectively configuring said first releasable coupling means to ensure formation of a secure coupling connection with any of a plurality of different beverage container dispensing interfaces.   
     
     
         6 . The configurable releasable interface coupling adapter of  claim 5 , wherein said second releasable coupling means is configured for forming a pressurized seal with said dispensing conduit. 
     
     
         7 . The configurable releasable interface coupling adapter of  claim 6 , wherein said second releasable coupling means comprises an o-ring fitting.