Liquid pump

Abstract

A liquid pump creates a fountain type of dispenser for a container. The liquid pump includes a top portion, an elongated body and a bottom portion. The bottom portion at least partially includes an electric motor that is designed to draw fluid into the bottom portion when the electric motor is activated. The bottom portion is fluidly connected to the elongated body and the elongated body is fluidly connected to the top portion such that fluid that is drawn into the bottom portion is designed to flow out of the bottom portion and into the elongated body and then out of the elongated body and into the top portion.

1 - 41 . (canceled) 
     
     
         42 . A liquid pump adapted to dispense liquid from a beverage container, said liquid pump including a top portion, an elongated body, a bottom portion, an electric motor and a power supply designed to power said electric motor; said electric motor designed to draw fluid into said bottom portion, through said elongated portion and to said top portion when said electric motor is activated, said bottom portion fluidly connected to said elongated body and said elongated body fluidly connected to said top portion such that fluid which is drawn into said bottom portion can flow out of said bottom portion and into said elongated body and then out of said elongated body and into said top portion, said top portion including a dispenser activator and a dispenser head, said dispenser activator designed to activate said electric motor, said dispenser head designed to enable fluid that flows to said top portion to exist said top portion through said dispenser head. 
     
     
         43 . The liquid pump as defined in  claim 42 , including an electrical connection between said power supply and said electric motor, said bottom portion at least partially includes said electric motor and said top portion at least partially includes said power supply, said electrical connection including at least one electric wire, said at least one electric wire positioned at least partially in said elongated body. 
     
     
         44 . The liquid pump as defined in  claim 43 , wherein said bottom portion fully contains said electric motor and said top portion fully contains said power supply, said portion of said electrical connection positioned in said elongated body isolated from fluid flowing through said elongated body and isolated from fluid in the beverage container when said bottom portion and at least part of said elongated portion is placed in the beverage container. 
     
     
         45 . The liquid pump as defined in  claim 42 , wherein said top portion has a maximum cross-sectional area, said maximum cross-sectional area of said top portion greater than a cross-sectional area of an opening in the beverage container. 
     
     
         46 . The liquid pump as defined in  claim 42 , wherein said top portion has a maximum thickness of up to 4 inches. 
     
     
         47 . The liquid pump as defined in  claim 42 , wherein said top portion includes a movable or removable power supply cover to enable a user to access said power supply located in said top portion. 
     
     
         48 . The liquid pump as defined in  claim 42 , wherein at least a portion of said elongated body is flexible so that said elongate body is at least partially flexible along a longitudinal length of said elongated body. 
     
     
         49 . The liquid pump as defined in  claim 42 , wherein said dispenser activator includes a pivotable tab, said pivotable tab designed to be positioned or positionable below at least a portion of said dispenser head, said pivotable tab biased in a non-activation position. 
     
     
         50 . The liquid pump as defined in  claim 42 , including a connector adaptor designed to connect to a plurality of different sized openings on different beverage containers, said connector adaptor connected to said top portion, said elongated body or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         51 . The liquid pump as defined in  claim 50 , wherein said connector adapter is flexible and includes at least one grasping tab. 
     
     
         52 . The liquid pump as defined in  claim 50 , wherein said connector adapter includes at least one landing rib or step in the interior cavity of the connector adaptor. 
     
     
         53 . The liquid pump as defined in  claim 50 , wherein said connector adapter is designed have a side wall be at least partially rolled up. 
     
     
         54 . The liquid pump as defined in  claim 42 , wherein said dispenser head is movable on said top portion. 
     
     
         55 . The liquid pump as defined in  claim 42 , wherein said bottom portion and said elongated body have a longitudinal length, a ratio of said longitudinal length of aid bottom portion to said elongated body is about 0.5-6:1. 
     
     
         56 . A liquid pump adapted to dispense liquid from a beverage container, said liquid pump including a top portion, an elongated body, a bottom portion, a connector adaptor, an electric motor, a power supply designed to power said electric motor and an electrical connection between said power supply and said electric motor;
 said electric motor designed to draw fluid into said bottom portion, through said elongated portion and to said top portion when said electric motor is activated, said bottom portion fluidly connected to said elongated body and said elongated body fluidly connected to said top portion such that fluid that which is drawn into said bottom portion can flow out of said bottom portion and into said elongated body and then out of said elongated body and into said top portion, said bottom portion at least partially including said electric motor, said top portion at least partially including said power supply, said electrical connection including at least one electric wire, said at least one electric wire positioned at least partially in said elongated body, said portion of said electrical connection positioned in said elongated body isolated from fluid flowing through said elongated body and isolated from fluid in the beverage container when said bottom portion and at least part of said elongated portion is placed in the beverage container, said top portion including a dispenser activator and a dispenser head, said dispenser activator designed to activate said electric motor, said dispenser head designed to enable fluid that flows to said top portion to exist said top portion through said dispenser head, said dispenser activator includes a pivotable tab, said pivotable tab designed to be positioned or positionable below at least a portion of said dispenser head, said pivotable tab biased in a non-activation position, at least a portion of said elongated body is flexible so that said elongate body is at least partially flexible along a longitudinal length of said elongated body, said bottom portion and said elongated body have a longitudinal length, a ratio of said longitudinal length of aid bottom portion to said elongated body is about 0.5-6:1, said a connector adaptor designed to connect to a plurality of different sized openings on different beverage containers, said connector adaptor connected to said top portion, said elongated body or combinations thereof.   
     
     
         57 . A method for converting a container into a container having a fountain drink dispense comprising:
 a. providing liquid pump adapted to dispense liquid from a beverage container, said liquid pump including a top portion, an elongated body, a bottom portion, an electric motor, a power supply designed to power said electric motor and an electrical connection between said power supply and said electric motor; said electric motor designed to draw fluid into said bottom portion, through said elongated portion and to said top portion when said electric motor is activated, said bottom portion fluidly connected to said elongated body and said elongated body fluidly connected to said top portion such that fluid that which is drawn into said bottom portion can flow out of said bottom portion and into said elongated body and then out of said elongated body and into said top portion, said top portion including a dispenser activator and a dispenser head, said dispenser activator designed to activate said electric motor, said dispenser head designed to enable fluid that flows to said top portion to exit said top portion through said dispenser head, said bottom portion at least partially including said electric motor and said top portion at least partially including said power supply, said electrical connection including at least one electric wire, said at least one electric wire positioned at least partially in said elongated body;   b. placing said bottom portion and at least a portion of said elongated body through an opening in the beverage container until said top portion is positioned on or above the opening in said container; and,   c. actuating said dispenser activator so that power from said power supply energies said electric motor to cause fluid in the container to be drawn into said bottom portion through one or more openings in said bottom portion, through said bottom portion and into said elongated portion, through said elongated portion and into said top portion, and out through said dispenser head.   
     
     
         58 . The method as defined in  claim 57 , wherein said step of actuating said dispenser activator including positioning a glass or cup under an opening in said dispenser head while simultaneously moving the glass or cup into contact with said dispenser activator, which contact by said glass or cup causes said actuation of said dispenser activator. 
     
     
         59 . The method as defined in  claim 57 , wherein said dispenser activator includes a pivotable tab, said pivotable tab designed to be positioned or positionable below at least a portion of said dispenser head, said pivotable tab biased in a non-actuation position. 
     
     
         60 . The method as defined in  claim 57 , wherein said liquid pump includes a connector adaptor designed to connect to a plurality of different sized openings on different beverage containers, said connector adaptor connected to said top portion, said elongated body or combinations thereof, and including the step of placing at least a portion of said connector adaptor about said opening in said beverage container so as to removably secure said top portion to said beverage container. 
     
     
         61 . The method as defined in  claim 60 , wherein said connector adapter is flexible and includes at least one grasping tab, said elongated body at least partially formed of a flexible material so that said elongate body is at least partially flexible along a longitudinal length of said elongated body.