Beverage system, flavouring container, carbonated beverage system and method for preparing flavored beverage

Abstract

A beverage system for dispensing a beverage, a flavouring container, a carbonated beverage system, and a method for preparing a flavored beverage are provided. In one embodiment, a beverage dispensing device includes a housing, a carbonation assembly, a carrier assembly, and one or more flavouring containers. The beverage dispensing device may also include a controller with a UI to allow a user to customize aspects of the beverage. These customizable aspects may include fluid volumes, carbonation levels, flavoring agent types, and / or flavoring doses. Based on customized aspects of the beverage, a beverage dispensing device may dispense an amount of carbonated water or non-carbonated water, and may dispense a certain type and amount of flavouring. Illustrative embodiments of the flavoring container are also provided.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of the invention patent application with application number 202310534034.8, application date May 12, 2023, entitled "Beverage System, Flavoring Container, Carbonated Beverage System and Method for Preparing Flavored Beverage". Technical Field

[0002] A system for dispensing carbonated beverages and / or flavored beverages is provided. Background Technology

[0003] Conventional beverage dispensing devices are used to carbonate water and / or flavor it. Some devices mix carbonated water and flavoring compounds together in the machine and then dispense the resulting mixture into containers. This method can lead to contamination over time unless the device is thoroughly cleaned. Other devices rely on crushing, puncturing, and / or generally destroying flavoring containers to access the flavoring compounds inside. These methods of destroying flavoring containers can create splashes and mess, leading to similar contamination if not thoroughly cleaned.

[0004] Other devices rely on carbonated water in a dedicated container, which is attached to the device and from which the resulting beverage is served. The container may be pre-filled with water and / or flavorings, then secured to the device and pressurized to serve the beverage. However, these devices can generate excessive plastic waste because specially adapted bottles must be manufactured to interface with the device.

[0005] Therefore, there is still a need to provide better beverage dispensing equipment to reduce mess and waste generation. Summary of the Invention

[0006] A beverage system for preparing flavored and / or carbonated beverages is provided. Related equipment and techniques are also provided.

[0007] In one embodiment, a beverage system for preparing a flavored carbonated beverage is provided. The beverage system may have a housing. The housing may include a fluid inlet configured to receive a first fluid from a fluid source and a fluid outlet configured to eject a second fluid. A bracket assembly may be movably mounted on the housing. The bracket assembly may include a cavity configured to hold a flavoring container. The cavity may have a port configured to interact with an inlet on the flavoring container to allow a pump in the housing to introduce at least one gas from the port through the inlet into the flavoring container.

[0008] One or more of the following features may be included in any feasible combination. For example, the at least one gas may include air.

[0009] In another example, the first fluid and the second fluid can be the same.

[0010] In another example, the first fluid could be water.

[0011] In another example, the housing may include a mixing chamber configured to be in fluid communication with a fluid source, and the housing may be configured to be coupled to a pressurized gas source to allow gas to be delivered to the mixing chamber to carbonize a first fluid within the mixing chamber to produce a second fluid.

[0012] In another example, the beverage system may include a pump and a conduit connected to the pump and a port. The pump may be configured to force air to flow along a path. The path may include a conduit, a port, and an inlet into a flavoring container.

[0013] In another example, the cavity may include an alignment channel formed in and extending along its sidewalls. The cavity may be configured to receive a corresponding protrusion on the seasoning container to align the seasoning container with the opening.

[0014] In another example, the cavity may include a hole formed therein and configured to receive a protrusion on the seasoning container, and the cavity may also include at least one protrusion extending from its surface and configured to extend into a portion of the seasoning container. In other aspects, the portion may be a cap attached to the body of the seasoning container.

[0015] In another example, the bracket assembly is movable between an open position for receiving a seasoning container and a closed position in which the bracket assembly prevents the removal of the seasoning container. In some aspects, the bracket assembly is pivotally connected to the housing via a hinge and is movable about the hinge between the open and closed positions.

[0016] In another example, the bracket assembly may include a first separate movable bracket and a second separate movable bracket for holding a first seasoning container and a second seasoning container.

[0017] In another example, the housing is configured to inject a second fluid in a first stream, inject a flavoring agent in the second stream, and wherein the second fluid and the injected flavoring agent form a beverage. In other respects, the first and second streams are substantially parallel. In still other respects, the second stream may have a trajectory at an angle to the trajectory of the first stream. The second stream may be combined with the first stream in flight. In another respect, the housing may include a mixing chamber in fluid communication with a fluid source and coupled to a pressurized gas source to allow gas delivery to the mixing chamber to carbonize the first fluid within the mixing chamber to produce the second fluid.

[0018] In another example, the beverage system may include a removable can that is attached to the housing and has a water reservoir therein.

[0019] In another example, the cavity may include a first cavity, and the bracket assembly may include a second cavity configured to hold a second flavoring container. In some aspects, the beverage system may include a user interface configured to receive at least one input. The at least one input may characterize a selection between spraying flavoring from the first flavoring container and spraying flavoring from the second flavoring container.

[0020] In another example, the opening may be configured to form a vacuum seal around the inlet when the flavoring container is placed in the cavity.

[0021] In another example, the cavity may include at least one protrusion defining a retaining pattern. The retaining pattern may be configured to receive a complementary feature on the condiment container. In other aspects, the retaining pattern may include a digit eight pattern. In yet another aspect, the complementary feature on the condiment container may include two circles of different diameters separated by a space.

[0022] In another embodiment, a beverage system for preparing a flavored carbonated beverage is provided. The beverage system may include a fluid applicator configured to dispense carbonated water and a bracket assembly movably mounted to the fluid applicator. The bracket assembly may be configured to hold at least one flavoring container in a fixed manner. The fluid applicator may include an air pump capable of injecting at least one gas into the flavoring container held in the bracket assembly to dispense flavoring into the at least one flavoring container. The bracket assembly may be configured to form a vacuum seal around at least a portion of the flavoring container before the at least one gas is injected into the flavoring container.

[0023] One or more of the following features may be included in any feasible combination. For example, the at least one gas may include air.

[0024] In another example, the first fluid may include water.

[0025] In another example, the bracket assembly can be configured to hold multiple seasoning containers.

[0026] In another example, the bracket assembly may have a cavity formed therein and may be configured to receive a seasoning container. The bracket assembly may have a channel extending along the sidewall of the cavity and configured to receive a protrusion on the seasoning container.

[0027] In another example, the bracket assembly may include an outlet port formed therein and may be configured to connect to an inlet port on the seasoning container to allow air to be injected into the seasoning container.

[0028] In another example, the bracket assembly may include an outlet port formed therein and may be configured to connect to an outlet port on a seasoning container to allow a first fluid within the seasoning container to be ejected from the seasoning container. The outlet port in the bracket assembly may be configured to deliver fluid to a container.

[0029] In another embodiment, a flavoring container for use in a beverage carbonation system is provided. The flavoring container may include a vessel defining an internal hollow chamber. The vessel may have an opening leading to the internal hollow chamber. The flavoring container may also include a cap coupled to the opening of the vessel. The cap may have an inlet valve that can be sealed to retain fluid within the container and is configured to open in response to pressurized air to allow air to be injected into the internal hollow chamber. The cap may also have an outlet valve that can be sealed to retain fluid within the container and is configured to open when the pressure within the internal hollow chamber exceeds a predetermined threshold pressure to allow fluid within the container to flow out through the outlet valve.

[0030] One or more of the following features may be included in any feasible combination. For example, the inlet valve may define a first flow path, and the outlet valve may define a second flow path. The first and second flow paths may be substantially parallel to each other.

[0031] In another example, the inlet valve may define a first flow path, and the outlet valve may define a second flow path. The first and second flow paths may be angled toward each other.

[0032] In another example, the cap may include a first raised collar extending around an inlet valve and a second raised collar extending around an outlet valve. In other aspects, the first and second raised collars may at least partially overlap in a digit eight pattern.

[0033] In another example, the cap may include at least one protrusion. The at least one protrusion may be configured to be received by a complementary holding pattern in a beverage dispensing device.

[0034] In another example, the inlet valve may have a first diameter, and the outlet valve may have a second diameter. The first diameter may be smaller than the second diameter.

[0035] In another example, the cap may include an alignment mechanism configured to orient the cap within a bracket assembly. In some aspects, the alignment mechanism may include a protrusion extending along the outer surface of the cap.

[0036] In another example, the container may be substantially rigid to resist deformation.

[0037] In another example, the container may include multiple ridges disposed in its sidewalls.

[0038] In another example, the inlet valve may be a duckbill valve.

[0039] In another example, the cap may include an end wall extending across the opening into the inner hollow chamber. The outlet valve may be positioned inside the inner hollow chamber, inside the end wall.

[0040] In another example, the outlet valve may be recessed within a raised collar.

[0041] In another example, the container may have an elongated elliptical configuration, and the cap may be offset from the middle portion of the container.

[0042] In another embodiment, a flavoring container is provided. The flavoring container may include a container defining an internal hollow chamber. The container may have an opening leading to the internal hollow chamber configured to contain liquid. The flavoring container may also include an exchange assembly fixedly coupled to and projecting from a top surface of the container and disposed above the opening. The exchange assembly may be configured to seal the internal hollow chamber, and the exchange assembly may include an inlet valve, an outlet valve, and at least one protrusion formed thereon located within the internal hollow chamber. The at least one protrusion may be configured to assist in aligning the exchange assembly into a holder in a beverage carbonation system. The internal hollow chamber may be configured to receive pressurized air through the inlet valve, and the internal hollow chamber may be configured to discharge fluid through the outlet valve in response to receiving pressurized air through the inlet valve.

[0043] One or more of the following features may be included in any feasible combination. For example, the exchange assembly may include a cap having a hollow cylindrical body, with end walls located within the hollow cylindrical body. Inlet and outlet valves may extend across the end walls. In other respects, the end walls may be positioned across a basic central portion of the exchange assembly.

[0044] In another example, the inlet valve may define a first flow path, and the outlet valve may define a second flow path. The first and second flow paths may be substantially parallel to each other.

[0045] In another example, the container may be substantially rigid to resist deformation.

[0046] In another example, the inlet valve may be a duckbill valve.

[0047] In another example, the exchange assembly may include a first collar positioned around an inlet valve and a second collar positioned around an outlet valve. In other aspects, the first and second collars may at least partially overlap in a digit eight pattern.

[0048] In another example, the container may include multiple ridges disposed on its sidewalls.

[0049] In another example, the exchange component may be a discrete element. In other aspects, the exchange component may be formed using an injection molding process.

[0050] In another embodiment, a beverage system for preparing a flavored carbonated beverage is provided. The beverage system may include a housing having a mixing chamber. The housing may be operatively coupled to a fluid reservoir and a pressurized gas source, and the housing may have a flavoring system configured operatively coupled to a flavoring container. The beverage system may further include a processor disposed in the housing and configured to, in response to at least one input, deliver a first fluid from the fluid source to the mixing chamber and a second fluid from the mixing chamber to a container. The processor may also be configured to deliver pressurized air into the flavoring container to spray flavoring agent from the flavoring container into the container. The flavoring agent may be delivered separately from and simultaneously to the container to form a flavored carbonated beverage.

[0051] One or more of the following features may be included in any feasible combination. For example, the seasoning may be delivered to the container at the same time as the second fluid is delivered to the container.

[0052] In another example, the first fluid and the second fluid can be the same.

[0053] In another example, the processor may be configured to deliver gas from a pressurized gas source into a mixing chamber in response to at least one input to form a second fluid as a carbonic acid fluid.

[0054] In another example, the flavoring agent may be delivered to the container along a first flow path spaced apart from a second flow path that delivers a second fluid to the container. In other respects, the first and second flow paths are substantially parallel. In still other respects, the first flow path is at an angle to the second flow path.

[0055] In another example, the input can characterize the amount of carbonation to be delivered to the mixing chamber. In other instances, the amount of carbonation to be delivered is zero.

[0056] In another example, the input can characterize the amount of seasoning to be delivered to the container.

[0057] In another example, the housing may include a bracket configured to removably hold the seasoning container.

[0058] In another example, the flavoring container may include a first flavoring container. The flavoring system may be configured to be operatively coupled to a second flavoring container. In other aspects, the processor may be configured to receive input indicating a selection of one of the first and second flavoring containers, and the processor may be configured to deliver pressurized air into the selected one of the first and second flavoring containers in response to said input.

[0059] In another example, the seasoning container may include an inlet valve and an outlet valve. Pressurized air can be delivered through the inlet valve, and seasoning can be sprayed through the outlet valve.

[0060] In another embodiment, a carbonated beverage system is provided. The carbonated beverage system may include a housing. The housing may include a mixing chamber fluidly coupled to a fluid reservoir and a pressurized gas source. The mixing chamber may be configured to receive a first fluid from the mixing chamber and deliver a second fluid to a first fluid outlet on the housing. The housing may also include a flavoring container. The flavoring container may be configured to hold a flavoring container such that the flavoring container is configured to receive pressurized air from a pump in the housing and is configured to deliver flavoring to a second fluid outlet on the housing. The second fluid outlet may be spaced apart from the first fluid outlet, and the first and second fluid outlets may be positioned above a platform configured to support a beverage container.

[0061] One or more of the following features may be included in any feasible combination. For example, the second fluid may be the first fluid.

[0062] In another example, the first fluid outlet can be configured to deliver a second fluid while delivering the flavoring at the second fluid outlet.

[0063] In another example, the first fluid outlet and the second fluid outlet may define fluid flow paths that are substantially parallel to each other.

[0064] In another example, the second fluid outlet may define a fluid flow path that extends laterally to the fluid flow path defined by the first fluid outlet, such that the flavoring flowing out of the second fluid outlet is directed into the path of the carbonated fluid flowing out of the first fluid outlet.

[0065] In another example, the fluid reservoir could be a water tank that is removably connected to the mixing chamber.

[0066] In another example, the housing may include a user interface configured to receive at least one input. The at least one input can control at least one characteristic of the carbonic acid fluid. In other aspects, the at least one characteristic may be at least one of fluid volume and carbonation level.

[0067] In another embodiment, a method for preparing a flavored carbonated beverage is provided. The method may include receiving input from a user at a processor and, in response to the input, delivering gas from a pressurized gas source into a mixing chamber containing a fluid, thereby forming a carbonated fluid. The method may also include delivering the carbonated fluid into a container, and delivering a flavoring agent into the container along a fluid flow path spaced apart from and substantially parallel to the fluid flow path that delivers the carbonated fluid into the container.

[0068] One or more of the following features may be included in any feasible combination. For example, the input may characterize at least one of the following: flavor type, carbonation level, volume of carbonated fluid to be delivered to the container, and volume of flavoring agent to be delivered to the container.

[0069] In another example, the method may include delivering fluid from a fluid storage tank into a mixing chamber in response to the input. In other aspects, the fluid storage tank may be a water tank removably coupled to the mixing chamber.

[0070] In another example, the method may include placing a seasoning container holding the seasoning in a bracket assembly.

[0071] Details of one or more variations of the subject matter described herein are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the following description. Other features and advantages of the subject matter described herein will be apparent from the description and drawings, as well as from the claims. Attached Figure Description

[0072] These and other features will be more readily understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0073] Figure 1A This is a front view of an embodiment of a beverage dispensing device to which a water reservoir is connected;

[0074] Figure 1B The water storage tank was removed. Figure 1A A front perspective view of a beverage dispensing device;

[0075] Figure 1C yes Figure 1B Bottom perspective view of a beverage dispensing device;

[0076] Figure 1D yes Figure 1BA rear perspective view of a beverage dispensing device, showing a door that opens to reveal the CO2 chamber;

[0077] Figure 1E yes Figure 1B A rear perspective view of a beverage dispensing device, in which the door has been removed to expose a CO2 tank housed within the tank cavity;

[0078] Figure 2A yes Figure 1A A front perspective view of the drip tray of a beverage dispensing device;

[0079] Figure 2B The grille has been removed. Figure 2A Front perspective view of the drip tray;

[0080] Figure 3A yes Figure 1A Front perspective view of the reservoir valve seat of the beverage dispensing device;

[0081] Figure 3B yes Figure 3A A side perspective cross-sectional view of the reservoir valve seat;

[0082] Figure 4A yes Figure 1A Front perspective view of the water storage tank;

[0083] Figure 4B yes Figure 1A Bottom perspective view of the water storage tank;

[0084] Figure 4C yes Figure 1A A side cross-sectional view of the valve section of the water storage tank;

[0085] Figure 5A It has a carbonation component Figure 1A A system diagram of a beverage dispensing device;

[0086] Figure 5B According to some embodiments, it includes hybrid components. Figure 5A Left view of the carbonation component;

[0087] Figure 5C yes Figure 5B The left-side view of the mixed components;

[0088] Figure 6A It is a combination of some embodiments Figure 1A Front perspective view of the bracket assembly used in the beverage dispensing device;

[0089] Figure 6B yes Figure 6A A cross-sectional view of the left side of the bracket assembly;

[0090] Figure 6C yes Figure 6A A cross-sectional view of the left side of the bracket assembly;

[0091] Figure 6D yes Figure 6A Side perspective cross-sectional view of the bracket assembly;

[0092] Figure 6E yes Figure 6A Bottom perspective view of the bracket assembly;

[0093] Figure 6F yes Figure 6A A side cross-sectional view of the condiment container placed on the bracket assembly, showing the air lines of the bracket assembly;

[0094] Figure 6G According to some embodiments, two seasoning containers are placed on top. Figure 6A A perspective view of the bracket assembly;

[0095] Figure 6H It is an air pump that is attached to an air line. Figure 6A Cross-sectional view of the bracket assembly;

[0096] Figure 6I yes Figure 6H Left perspective view of the bracket assembly;

[0097] Figure 7A This is a perspective view of one embodiment of a seasoning container;

[0098] Figure 7B It has no cap. Figure 7A A perspective view of the seasoning container;

[0099] Figure 7C yes Figure 7A A perspective view of the seasoning container;

[0100] Figure 7D yes Figure 7A A side cross-sectional view of the seasoning container;

[0101] Figure 7E According to some embodiments Figure 7A A side cross-sectional view of the cap of a condiment container;

[0102] Figure 8A This is a perspective view of a seasoning container according to another embodiment;

[0103] Figure 8B It is a cross-sectional view of a seasoning container having an inlet and an outlet angled relative to each other, according to another embodiment;

[0104] Figure 8CIt is an exploded perspective view of a seasoning container having separate inlet and outlet openings and a lid configured to cover the inlet and outlet;

[0105] Figure 8D It has separate inlet and outlet covers. Figure 8C A disassembled right-side view of the seasoning container;

[0106] Figure 9 This is a front view of the user interface of the beverage dispensing device according to an embodiment;

[0107] Figure 10A It is a system process diagram illustrating the control process;

[0108] Figure 10B yes Figure 10A A system process diagram illustrating the initialization sub-process of the control process;

[0109] Figure 10C yes Figure 10A A system process diagram illustrating the user input sub-processes of the control process;

[0110] Figure 10D yes Figure 10A A system process diagram illustrating the control process of the carbonation subprocess;

[0111] Figure 10E yes Figure 10A A system process diagram illustrating the control process of the flavoring subprocess;

[0112] Figure 11 This is a system process diagram illustrating the carbonation and flavoring processes.

[0113] It should be noted that the accompanying drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. The drawings are intended only to depict typical aspects of the subject matter disclosed herein and should therefore not be considered as limiting the scope of this disclosure. Detailed Implementation

[0114] Certain illustrative embodiments will now be described to provide a general understanding of the principles of the structure, function, manufacture, and use of the apparatuses and methods disclosed herein. One or more examples of these embodiments are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Those skilled in the art will understand that the apparatuses and methods specifically described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings are non-limiting illustrative embodiments, and that the scope of the invention is limited only by the claims. Features shown or described in connection with one illustrative embodiment may be combined with features of other embodiments. Such modifications and variations are intended to be included within the scope of the invention.

[0115] Furthermore, in this disclosure, components with the same name in embodiments generally have similar features; therefore, in a particular embodiment, not every feature of every component with the same name is necessarily fully described. Additionally, if linear or circular dimensions are used in the description of the disclosed systems, apparatus, and methods, such dimensions are not intended to limit the types of shapes that can be used in conjunction with such systems, apparatus, and methods. Those skilled in the art will recognize that equivalents of such linear and circular dimensions can be readily determined for any geometry.

[0116] A beverage dispensing device is provided, which can carbonate and / or flavor and dispense a beverage. The device can receive user input at a user interface, and this input can include customized options for producing the beverage, including fluid volume, carbonation level, flavoring type, and flavoring strength. Upon receiving input, the carbonation system can produce carbonated water using water from a water reservoir (or other source) coupled to the device and carbon dioxide from a carbon dioxide tank (or other source) coupled to the device. The amounts of water (or other fluid) and carbon dioxide to be used to produce the beverage can be determined based on the received user input. The device can also receive one or more flavoring containers at a bracket assembly, each flavoring container being selectable by the user for dispensing to flavor the newly produced carbonated water. During the dispensing process, pressurized air can be introduced into the flavoring containers via an inlet, and the flavoring can be sprayed via an outlet. The carbonated water and flavoring can be sprayed from separate nozzles into a drinking glass (or other receiving vessel, such as a travel mug), where the carbonated water and flavoring mix together. In other embodiments, the beverage may contain non-carbonated water and flavoring to form a non-carbonated flavored beverage. In some embodiments, the flavoring agent may be applied at an angle relative to the flow of the applied carbonated water, such that the carbonated water and the flavoring agent combine in flight before reaching the drinking glass.

[0117] For reference Figure 1A-1E This illustration shows an illustrative embodiment of a beverage dispensing device 10. The beverage dispensing device 10 generally includes a housing assembly 100 in which a carbonation component (not shown) is disposed, a bracket assembly 180 configured to hold one or more flavoring containers 200, and a controller (also called a processor, not shown) having a user interface (UI) 300 for receiving instructions from a user. A fluid reservoir 130 is coupled to the housing assembly 100 and configured to contain fluid to be delivered to the carbonation component. The housing assembly 100 may also include a drip tray 110 configured to support a container for collecting the fluid, such as a glass. In operation, the user can provide various inputs to the UI, and the beverage dispensing device 10 can dispense carbonated or non-carbonated water as needed, and optionally dispense flavorings to flavor carbonated or non-carbonated fluids.

[0118] like Figure 1A-1EAs shown, the illustrated housing assembly 100 includes a housing 102 having an elongated, upright, hollow body with a top end 102a and a bottom end 102b, a left side 102c, a right side 102d, a front side 102e, and a rear side 102f. In the illustrated embodiment, the housing is elongated elliptical, and the shape of the housing 102 is longer from the front side 102e to the rear side 102f than from the left side 102c to the right side 102d. The front side 102e is shown to have a flat facade, and the rear side 102f is shown to have a rounded, convex facade, while each of the left side 102c and the right side 102d is substantially flat. However, the housing 102 can have any shape, and therefore, in various embodiments, the shape of the housing 102 can vary to include additional or flat components, or other forms besides those shown. The housing 102 can be sized to suit the internal components of the beverage dispensing device 10, as discussed in further detail below. The housing 102 may be made of any suitable material or a combination of materials, and may include various metals (e.g., stainless steel, aluminum), plastics, glass or other suitable materials known to those skilled in the art, either alone or in combination.

[0119] The bottom side of the housing 102 may provide a flat base for the beverage dispensing device 10, and the bottom side may include a support or foot 103 to provide additional stability. The foot 103 may be in any form, and in one embodiment, such as... Figure 1C As shown, the support feet are provided around the outer edge of the bottom side 102a. To prevent the housing 102 from sliding on the surface, the support feet 103 may be made of a high-friction material such as rubber, or have a portion with high friction.

[0120] As further shown, housing 102 includes a head assembly 120 located on the upper portion of the front side 102e of housing 102. The head assembly 120 may be substantially cylindrical in shape and includes a top side 120a aligned with the top side 102b of housing 102 and a bottom side 120c including various openings for dispensing fluid for producing a beverage. Between the top side 120a and the bottom side 120c is an outer surface 120b that defines the rounded form of the cylindrical head assembly 120. The head assembly 120 may contain components of a mixing assembly configured to carbonate a fluid (e.g., water), which can then be dispensed from the bottom side. Furthermore, the head assembly 120 may be configured to receive one or more flavoring containers 180 for producing a beverage. The outer surface 120b of the head assembly 120 may include a UI 300 for receiving input for operating the device. The mixing assembly, fluid dispensing, and beverage production, including through operation of the UI 300, will be discussed in more detail below.

[0121] Figure 1DA CO2 chamber 104 according to the illustrated embodiment is shown. The CO2 chamber 104 is an opening in the housing that receives a CO2 source used in the carbonation process. In the illustrated embodiment, the CO2 chamber 104 is located in the rear left side 102c of the housing 102, but the CO2 chamber 104 may be in other locations. The CO2 chamber 104 can be closed by a door 106, such as... Figure 1E As shown in the illustration, door 106 extends upward from the bottom side 102a and follows the contour of the left side 102c into the rear side 102f. Door 106 may be attached to housing 102 in some way, such as via hinges or by magnets, or may be engaged using other techniques known in the art. In the illustrated embodiment, door 106 may be completely removed from housing 102, but may be secured to housing in any of a variety of ways, for example, by a plurality of magnets (not shown) disposed in door 106 and housing 102. A cutout 106a may be formed in housing 102, allowing a user to grip and remove door 106 while maintaining a uniform shape throughout housing 102.

[0122] Door 106 is movable between a closed position (closing CO2 chamber 104) and an open position (opening CO2 chamber 104). When door 106 is in the open position, a CO2 source can be accessed. In the illustrated embodiment, the CO2 source is in the form of a canister 161, which will be described in more detail below.

[0123] As described above, housing 102 may include components that can be... Figure 2A-2B A closer look at the drip tray 110 reveals that it extends from the lower portion of the front side 102e below the head assembly 120. The drip tray 110 can have any shape or form, and in the illustrated embodiment, it is flat and round, corresponding to the size of the head assembly 120. In some embodiments, the drip tray 110 may be integrally formed with the housing 102, while in other embodiments, it may be completely removed from the housing 102. Removing or excluding the drip tray 110 allows for the placement of a taller receiving dish below the head assembly 120. This also allows for a shorter overall system 10' with a head assembly that has a lower bottom, while still accommodating the same dish height that the system 10 and the drip tray 110 can accommodate.

[0124] The drip tray 110 shown includes a recess 112 defining a central cavity 113, and a grid 114 placed on the recess 112 and covering the central cavity 113. The grid 114 includes a plurality of holes. During operation of the beverage dispensing device 10, the recess 112 can be used to capture and retain splashed or dripping fluid that can pass through the holes in the grid 114 and be collected within the central cavity 113. The drip tray 110 can be made of any material similar to the housing 102, and can be the same material as the housing or a different material. The recess 112 and the grid 114 can also be made of the same material or a different material. The recess 112 and the grid 114 can be removed from the housing to allow a user to discard any collected fluid. In some embodiments, the system 110 can drain fluid into the drip tray 110 for various purposes, allowing fluid to leave the system 10 as needed without causing a mess.

[0125] As indicated above, the fluid reservoir 130 can be coupled to the housing 100 for storing fluid to be delivered to the system. Figures 3A-3B A reservoir valve seat 116 is shown, configured to connect the fluid reservoir 130 to a carbonation system. The reservoir valve seat 116 extends outward from the right side 102d of the housing 102 at the same level as the bottom side 102a. In this way, the reservoir valve seat 116 provides additional support to prevent tilting of the beverage dispensing device 10. In other embodiments, the reservoir valve seat 116 may be located at the rear side 102e, the left side 102c, or any other location. The reservoir valve seat 116 may be in the form of a hollow housing 118 with an upwardly extending valve 119. The upwardly extending valve 119 may be received by a corresponding valve structure located on the bottom side of the water reservoir. Figure 3B A valve 119 is also shown that connects to a water line 154 inside the reservoir valve seat 116. This line 154 allows fluid to be delivered to the carbonation assembly 150, which will be discussed in more detail later.

[0126] Figures 4A-4B A water reservoir 130 according to an illustrative embodiment is shown. The water reservoir 130 is typically a container for holding fluids such as water and may interface with a reservoir seat 116, thereby enabling fluid communication between the water reservoir 130 and a beverage dispensing device 10 for the production and dispensing of beverages. The water reservoir 130 may have any shape and may be designed to complement the shape and size of the housing 102. For example, both the water reservoir 130 and the housing 102 may have flat sides to minimize the overall coverage of the system. In the illustrated embodiment, the water reservoir 130 is shown in the form of a can and has a main container 132, a handle 134, and a removable cap 136. The bottom side 132a of the container 130 is recessed, and a support 133 extends around the periphery of the bottom side 132a.

[0127] A valve structure 140 is located on the bottom side 132a and is received by an upwardly extending valve 119 of the reservoir valve seat 116. The valve structure 140 includes a central plug 142 housed within a central valve chamber 144. A valve shield 146 is located within the water reservoir 130, surrounding the upper portion of the central plug 142. The valve shield 146 is mounted to the water reservoir 130 and blocks direct access to the central plug while still allowing fluid flow through the valve structure 140. When not received by the upwardly extending valve 119, the central plug 142 is biased downwards to a closed position within the central valve chamber 144 to retain fluid in the water reservoir 130. When the valve structure 140 is received by the upwardly extending valve 119, the central plug 142 can move upwards to an open position within the central valve chamber 144 to allow fluid to flow from the water reservoir 130 through the valve structure 140 and into the remainder of the beverage dispensing device 10.

[0128] Figures 5A-5C An illustrative carbonation assembly 150 is shown. The carbonation assembly 150 is housed within a housing 102 and is used to produce carbonated water for use in beverages. The shown carbonation assembly 150 generally includes a water line 152, a gas line 160, and a mixing assembly 170. The mixing assembly 170 receives water from the water line 152 and gas (in the form of CO2) from the gas line 160 to produce carbonated water.

[0129] Water line 152 is connected to water reservoir 130 and may also include any one of valve structure 140, valve seat 116, water line 154, water pump 156, and flow meter 157. Water line 154 extends from valve seat 116 through the interior of housing 102 to mixing assembly 170. Near the connection point with mixing assembly, a first check valve 158a and a second check valve 158b may be provided, which selectively allow water to flow into mixing assembly 170 and prevent water from flowing back out of mixing assembly 170. Upstream of the second check valve 158b is purge pump 159, which can be used to send pressurized air to mixing assembly 170 to purge stagnant water and carbonated water in mixing assembly 170 when not in use. Water pump 156 and flow meter 157 may also be provided in water line 154. Pump 156 operates to pump water from water reservoir 130, through valve seat 116, through water line 154, and into mixing assembly 170. Flow meter 157 measures the amount and / or rate of water flowing through water line 152 and into mixing assembly 170 to accurately measure the amount needed to produce the beverage. In various embodiments, instead of using flow meter 157, a sensor may be placed within the mixing assembly to measure the total volume of fluid entering mixing chamber 172. Such a sensor may be a float sensor or other component used to measure volume.

[0130] Gas line 160 may include any of the following: CO2 tank 161 or equivalent source, regulator 164, gas solenoid 166, and gas line 162. Gas line 162 extends from CO2 tank 161 to mixing assembly 170. Similar to water line 152, gas line 160 may include a gas check valve 168 at its connection point with mixing assembly 170, which selectively allows gas to flow into mixing assembly 170 and prevents backflow from assembly 170 into gas line 160. As mentioned above, CO2 tank 161 is located within CO2 chamber 104 and supplies carbon dioxide to the beverage dispensing device. CO2 tank 161 may be a replaceable unit containing pressurized carbon dioxide, and when tank 161 is empty, tank 161 can be replaced to maintain a carbon dioxide supply for future operation. The canister 161 can be connected to a regulator 164, which is accessible to a gas solenoid 166, which can be actuated to open and close a passage for carbon dioxide along the gas line 160 and into the mixing assembly 170.

[0131] Both water line 152 and gas line 160 lead to a mixing assembly 170, which can be used to generate carbonated water (or other fluids) from water (or other fluids) input via water line 152 and gas line 160. In the illustrated embodiment, the mixing assembly 170 is disposed within a head assembly 120, and the mixing assembly may include a mixing chamber 172, an agitator 173, a motor 174, an applicator valve 176, and a nozzle 178. The specific arrangement of the mixing assembly 170 may vary, as may its relationship to other components housed within the housing 102 and its relationship to the housing 102 itself. In the illustrated embodiment, the agitator 173 is disposed within the mixing chamber 172, and the motor 174 is disposed below the mixing chamber 172. The applicator valve 176 is located on the lower side of the mixing chamber 172, which leads to the nozzle 178. The nozzle 178 may be located within the bottom side 120a of the head assembly 120 and may applicate carbonated water and / or still water (or another fluid) for a beverage.

[0132] The mixing chamber 172 may include an emergency pressure relief valve 179, a pressure sensor 175a for measuring the internal pressure of the mixing chamber 172, and a temperature sensor 175b for measuring the internal temperature of the mixing chamber 172. The temperature sensor 175b may be an NTC, a thermistor, a thermocouple, or any other type of sensor capable of measuring temperature. Additionally, the mixing chamber 172 may include an exhaust solenoid 172a and a back pressure relief valve 172b, each of which can be actuated to regulate the internal pressure of the mixing chamber 172, for example, to release pressure from the mixing chamber 172 before the application of carbonated fluid at the end of the carbonation process. The carbonation process will be described in detail below.

[0133] For reference Figure 6A-6IAccording to one embodiment, a holder assembly 180 and a flavoring container 200 are shown. The holder assembly 180 can hold at least one flavoring container 200, the flavoring container including a flavoring agent that can be dispensed and combined with carbonated or non-carbonated water (or other fluids) to produce a flavored beverage.

[0134] The bracket assembly 180 may be located within the head assembly 120 and is shown as having a left bracket 182L and a right bracket 182R each capable of holding a condiment container 200L, 200R. In other embodiments, different numbers of brackets may be used to hold different numbers of condiment containers. The left bracket 182L and the right bracket 182R may be structurally identical but mirror images of each other, therefore only one bracket 182R will be described. The bracket 182R may be attached to the head assembly 120 via a pivot hinge 183a and a cam structure 183b arranged in a cam groove 183c, which allows the bracket to move between a raised position and a lowered position. For example, as Figure 6A As seen, the left bracket 182L is in the raised position, while the right bracket 182R is in the lowered position. When the bracket 182R is in the lowered position, the seasoning container 200R can be inserted therein. The bracket assembly may also include a biasing element, such as a spring 183d, which can bias the bracket assembly to the raised position.

[0135] A retainer 184 rests on the bracket 182R itself and is sized to hold the condiment container 200R. The retainer 184 may be in the form of a rounded recess, shaped to receive a cap for the condiment container. The retainer may also include a bonding groove 184a extending from the rounded recess along the sidewall of the retainer. The groove 184a may be sized to receive a complementary portion of the condiment container to properly align the condiment container 200 within the bracket 182R. The bonding groove 184a may also be referred to as an alignment channel. Within the groove 184a, a retaining latch 185 may be present in the form of a spring-loaded extension configured to receive and retain a complementary recess on the condiment container 200. The retainer 184 may also include a retaining protrusion 184b located within the groove, providing additional area for frictional engagement of the condiment container 200 when held in the bracket 182R. Figure 6A and 6BThe image shows the retaining protrusion 184b in the form of a rounded triangular shape projecting outward from the retaining support 184. However, the retaining protrusion 184b can have any shape or form, for example, conforming to a complementary and compatible portion on a condiment container (e.g., condiment container 200 or 200' described below) or more specifically, the cap of a condiment container (e.g., 204, 204' described below). The retaining protrusion 184b can also serve as a component to prevent certain condiment containers from interfacing with the holders 182L, 184R. The retaining protrusion 184b can be raised beyond the retaining support 184, such that the condiment container (e.g., condiment container 200, 200') must have features corresponding to the complementary and compatible pattern in order to be properly placed within the holder (e.g., 182L, 182R) and thus facilitate proper dispensing of the condiment. The complementary and compatible pattern can be located on the cap of the condiment container, as will be described in more detail below. A condiment container lacking a complementary pattern to retain the protrusion 184b may be obstructed from properly interfacing with a bracket (e.g., 182L, 182R). The protrusion 184b and the complementary portions on the cap or other parts of the condiment container can be constructed (e.g., machined) to have varying degrees of fit (e.g., tightness) when joined together, taking into account the desired tolerances of the parts.

[0136] The retainer 184 may also include an inlet receiver 186 and an outlet receiver 188 alignable with an inlet 210 and an outlet 212 located on the condiment container 200. The inlet receiver 186 has a circular gasket 186a that can be sealed around the inlet 210 to create an insulated path for airflow into the placed consumable 200. In particular, as... Figure 6F As seen, the air line 189R is disposed within the bracket 182R and away from the inlet receiver 186. The air line 189R may extend through the hinge 183a of the bracket 182R and ultimately lead to the air pump 190R disposed within the head assembly 120. The air pump 190R may also be located elsewhere in the device 10, such as within the housing assembly 100. In this way, when the flavoring container is placed on the bracket 182R, the air pump 190R is in fluid communication with the flavoring container 200 via the air line 189R and the inlet receiver 186. The outlet receiver 188 may be an opening aligned with the outlet 212 and providing a path for dispensing the flavoring stored in the flavoring container 200. When fluid is dispensed from the placed flavoring container 200, the fluid exits through the outlet 212 and passes through the outlet receiver 188, which is a simple opening. The dispensed fluid can be received from the outlet receiver through a vessel such as a drinking glass. The placement and application process will be described in more detail below.

[0137] Figure 6H and 6IA bracket assembly 180 is shown in which seasoning containers 200L and 200R are held. Brackets 182L and 182R are shown having corresponding air lines 189R and 189L extending upwards and connected to corresponding air pumps 190R and 190L. In operation, air pumps 190R and 190L can be used to introduce pressurized air through air lines 189R and 189L into the placed seasoning containers 200R and 200L, as will be described in more detail below.

[0138] Figures 7A-7E An embodiment of a flavoring container 200 is shown. The flavoring container 200 is configured to contain a flavoring agent that can be mixed with carbonated or non-carbonated water to produce a flavored beverage.

[0139] The illustrated flavoring container 200 includes a container body 202, a cap 204, and a foil seal (not shown). The container body 202 can have any shape, but in the illustrated embodiment, the container body 202 has an extruded oval shape. The container body 202 includes a base 202a, sidewalls 202b, and a top 202c. The sidewalls 202b are shown having a plurality of ridges 203 formed therein, which may increase the grip of the flavoring container 200 and / or provide structural reinforcement. An opening 206 is located in the top 202c and is angled to one side, the opening leading to a hollow internal chamber 208 defined by the container body 202. The top 202c may be angled toward the opening 206 to help empty the hollow internal chamber 208 during dispensing operations. The flavoring is stored within the hollow internal chamber 208, and the flavoring may be in any form, such as a liquid, syrup, powder, solid, or another compound.

[0140] A cap 204 may be attached to a container body 202 at an opening 206 to close the hollow inner chamber 208. In the illustrated embodiment, the cap 204 snaps onto the container body 202; however, any removable or non-removable connection known in the art may be used, such as threads, welding, adhesives, etc. The illustrated cap 204 may be circular and may have a cylindrical outer wall 205 defining an opening therethrough. An end wall 204a extends across the opening and may be positioned at the middle portion of the cylindrical outer wall 205. A collar 218 may be located on the outer surface of the cap 204 and surround an outlet 212, the collar serving to provide additional structure to the outlet and to provide an easier point of contact to the carrier assembly when the condiment container is held in the carrier assembly. An alignment tab 207 may be provided on the outer side of the cap 204, the alignment tab projecting radially outward from the cap 204 and extending along the length of the cap. The alignment tab 207 enables proper alignment and orientation with the carrier assembly, as explained above. The alignment tab may include a clip detail 207a that engages with a retaining snap 185 to hold the consumable 200 within the bracket assembly 180. The cap 204 may also include an inlet 210 and an outlet 212 positioned in an end wall 204a. The inlet 210 may be a generally hollow, elongated tubular form projecting from opposite sides of the end wall 204a, and may have a diameter less than, greater than, or equal to the diameter of the outlet 212. The cap 204, including the inlet 210 and outlet 212, may be arranged and designed to be received by a bracket (e.g., brackets 182L, 182R) having protrusions on the cap 204 that correspond to and complement features on the bracket, such as retaining protrusion 184b.

[0141] On the outer portion of the cap 204 opposite to the hollow inner chamber 208, the inlet 210 may be in the form of a cylindrical extension protruding from the end wall 204a of the cap 204, and on the inner portion of the cap 204 located within the inner chamber 208, the inlet 210 may include an inlet valve 214 to allow fluid to flow through the cap 204 and into the hollow inner chamber 208. The inlet valve 214... Figure 7EThe valve is shown in the form of a duckbill valve, but any suitable type of valve can be used. Therefore, the inlet 210 can form a cylindrical inlet path 216, and due to the shape and structure of the inlet 210, the cylindrical inlet path 216 can have a radius R1 in the outer portion of the cap 204, which is smaller than the radius R2 in the inner portion of the cap 204. Similarly, the outlet 212 can include a hollow tubular structure in the form of a collar 218 extending outward from the end wall 204a; however, the outlet 212 can be significantly shorter than and larger than the inlet 210. The outlet 212 can include a valve 212a biased to a closed configuration extending across it; however, the valve can be configured to open when the pressure difference across the outlet 212 exceeds a predetermined pressure. When the valve 212a is in the intermediate position, it is shown positioned slightly inward relative to the end wall 204a, but the valve can be positioned flush with or slightly outward from the end wall 204a. In the illustrated embodiment, the valve 212a is a slotted valve; however, any suitable type of valve can be used.

[0142] Although inlet valve 214 and inlet path 216 are in Figure 7D and 7E The outer edge 205 is shown as extending beyond the outer edge 205, but it may also have a shorter form to be more recessed into the cap 204. This allows the outer edge 205 to substantially protect the inlet valve 214, inlet path 216, and inlet 210 during transport, handling, and use.

[0143] The seasoning container 200 may also include a stopper seal (not shown) disposed between the container 202 and the cap 204 to aid in sealing the hollow inner chamber 208. The stopper seal may be particularly useful if the hollow inner chamber 208 has increased internal pressure, for example, during dispensing operations.

[0144] A foil seal (not shown) may be adhered to the upper portion of the outer wall 205 to cover the entire cap 204, including the inlet 210 and outlet 212. In this way, the foil seal provides an airtight seal for the flavoring to extend its shelf life and maintain freshness. The foil seal may also cover only the inlet 210 and / or the outlet 212. The foil seal may be peeled off by the user before first use.

[0145] The flavoring container 200 can be made of various materials, including plastics, resins, metals, rubber, etc. These materials can be environmentally friendly, such as recycled and reclaimed plastics, fibers, and other materials known in the art, in order to limit the waste generated by the operation of the beverage dispensing device 10.

[0146] Figures 8A-8D Various embodiments of the seasoning container 200 are depicted. Illustrative embodiments may include features and characteristics similar to those of the seasoning container 200, and therefore, to avoid unnecessary redundancy, they may not be described again. Figure 8AIn the illustrative embodiment, the seasoning container 200' includes a cap 204'. The cap 204' further includes an alignment pattern 220'. The alignment pattern 220' may be in the form of a protrusion on the cap 204', which may include a collar 218' or other features described above, or be separate from the collar or other features. As depicted, the alignment pattern 220' is in the shape of a number eight, shown as a collar substantially connected around both the inlet 210' and the outlet 212'. A holder (e.g., holders 182L, 182R) may have a cavity with a complementary number eight-shaped recess for receiving the alignment pattern 220' on the container. As explained above, the recess may be at least partially defined by a retaining protrusion 184b, such that the recess and the pattern are complementary to each other. The inclusion of this alignment pattern 220' provides further stability when the seasoning container 200' is held within the holder assembly 180. Alignment pattern 220' may also take the form of a notch or any other surface feature that helps align the condiment container with the holder (e.g., holder 182L, 182R) while preventing the alignment and retention of other types of containers that may lack complementary features.

[0147] Figure 8B An illustrative embodiment of a seasoning container 200" including a container 202" and a cap 204" is depicted. The cap 204" may have an inlet 210" and an outlet 212" angled relative to each other. Thus, when the seasoning container 200" is placed in a holder (e.g., holders 182L, 182R) and seasoning is dispensed therefrom, the seasoning can be sprayed at an angle relative to the flow of fluid (e.g., carbonated water) dispensed from the nozzle 178 from the outlet 212". In this way, the seasoning and fluid dispensed from the nozzle 178 can mix in flight, rather than in a container such as a drinking glass.

[0148] Figure 8C and 8D An illustrative embodiment of a flavoring container 200"' with separate openings for an inlet 210"' and an outlet 212"' is depicted. These separate openings are defined as an inlet opening 206a"' and an outlet opening 206b"', each disposed within the container 202"'. The inlet opening 206a"' and the outlet opening 206b"' may be covered by a single cap 204"', as... Figure 8D As seen, it may be covered by separate inlet caps 204a"' and outlet caps 204b"'.

[0149] The illustrative embodiments of the seasoning containers 200, 200', 200" and 200"' are depicted as having specific features and feature arrangements; however, the features and feature arrangements described herein are applicable to any embodiment and are interchangeable with any embodiment.

[0150] For reference Figure 9 The diagram illustrates a UI 300 that can be used to operate the beverage dispensing device 10. The UI 300 can be used to interface with a controller (not shown). The UI 300 is shown located on the head assembly 120; however, the UI can be located anywhere on the beverage dispensing device 10, such as on the housing 102. Furthermore, the beverage dispensing device 10 can also be remotely operated, for example, via a remote application on a computer, smartphone, or other similar device.

[0151] The UI 300 can receive input to operate and control various aspects of the beverage production process. For example, users can select and control parameters of their desired beverage, such as liquid volume, carbonation level, flavoring selection, and flavor intensity. Liquid volume relates to the overall size of the beverage. Carbonation level involves the amount of carbon dioxide dissolved in the water, which affects how "foamy" the beverage is. Flavoring selection involves the type of flavoring added to the beverage, such as lemon, lime, etc. Flavor intensity involves the amount of flavoring added to the beverage.

[0152] The UI 300 is shown to have a central display 302 in the form of a circular screen. The central display 302 also functions as a dial for moving between options. Above and below the central display 302 are indicators 304, which can be illuminated and correspond to the content selected by the user at the central display. For example... Figure 9 As depicted, above the central display 302 is an indicator 304a related to the carbonation level. Indicator 304a is labeled "Foaming" and features an image of bubbles. Indicator 304a also includes a gauge that illuminates according to the level selected by the user. If the user selects the maximum carbonation level, the gauge will be fully filled, while if the user selects a carbonation level that is equal to or less than half, the gauge will be half full. Separate indicators 304b and 304c are also shown for "Flavor Intensity" and flavor type. Flavor intensity is associated with indicator 304b, the word "Flavor Intensity," and an image of a slice of citrus fruit. Indicator 304c indicates the flavor type as "1" or "2," corresponding to the selection between the left and right flavor container.

[0153] The previously described components of the beverage dispensing device 10 can operate together to produce and dispense custom beverages. In an illustrative process, preparing a beverage with the beverage dispensing device 10 may involve several processes, including water preparation, gas preparation, flavoring container preparation, and customization at UI 300. After these preparations and customizations are completed, the beverage dispensing device 10 can then be operated as needed to mix and dispense carbonated water and flavorings.

[0154] Water preparation may involve filling water reservoir 130 with water and then placing water reservoir 130 onto valve seat 116. This ensures that the water in water reservoir 130 is now ready to be drawn during the carbonation process. Gas preparation may involve adding or replacing the CO2 tank 161 in CO2 chamber 104 when it is depleted. This may require opening door 106 and hooking the new tank 161 to the gas regulator so that the carbon dioxide in tank 161 can be used during the carbonation process.

[0155] Loading the flavoring container 200 into the carrier assembly 180 allows the flavoring stored within the container 200 to be added to the beverage for flavoring. The carrier 182 can be moved to a lowered position by applying a force to overcome a spring bias that holds the carrier assembly in the raised position, and the flavoring container 200 can be oriented such that all features of the cap 204 are aligned within the retaining support 184. The alignment tab 207 slides downward into the engagement groove 184a, causing the retaining snap 185 to engage and secure the flavoring container 200. The inlet 210 can be received by an inlet receiver, which forms an hermetically sealed area around the inlet 210. The outlet 212 can be aligned with an outlet receiver that positions the outlet 212 above the opening in preparation for flavoring dispensing. Once the flavoring container 200 is secured in the carrier 182, the carrier 182 can be moved to the raised position. A second flavoring can also be added to another carrier assembly.

[0156] If the cap 204 includes an alignment pattern 220', similar to the number 8 pattern shown on the cap 204' in Figure 7, the alignment pattern 220' can be further relied upon to guide the seasoning container 200' into the proper position within the bracket assembly 180d.

[0157] Once the above preparation steps are completed as needed, a drinking glass or other vessel (not shown) can be placed on the drip tray 110 below the outlet receiver 188 of the nozzle 178 and the holder assembly 180. At UI 300, various aspects of the beverage can be selected, including fluid volume, carbonation level, flavoring type, and flavoring strength. Fluid volume can be selected by the user in preset sizes, such as 8 fluid ounces, 10 fluid ounces, 12 fluid ounces, etc. The fluid volume can also be precisely selected by the user, even including fractional fluid ounces, or can be selected in another unit, such as milliliters. After selecting the desired volume, UI 300 prompts the user for the next input. The carbonation level can be selected by the user in a preset size, which can be presented to the user as a grade, such as 0-5, where "0" can indicate no carbonation, and "5" indicates the maximum amount of carbonation soluble in water. Other carbonation levels can be assigned to the presented number, or the presented number can vary, i.e., presenting the user with 1-10 instead of 0-5. The flavoring type can be selected to provide a choice between the flavoring container stored in the left tray 182L and the flavoring container stored in the right tray 182R. If an unflavored beverage is desired, the user can also choose to skip the flavoring selection, or the user can select both the left flavoring container 200L and the right flavoring container 200R. The flavoring strength can be selected by the user to customize the amount of flavoring dispensed from the flavoring container 200. More flavoring will produce a richer beverage. In some embodiments, if both the left flavoring container 200L and the right flavoring container 200R are selected for flavoring dispensing, the flavoring strength can be selected individually for each flavoring container 200L, 200R, resulting in potentially the same amount of each flavoring or different amounts of each flavoring. The beverage dispensing device 10 can determine the default amount of flavoring to be added based on a selected fluid volume and / or a selected carbonation level. The user can accept the default amount of flavoring, or can change the default amount of flavoring to a custom amount.

[0158] Once any or all of the above selections have been made, the user can select the “Start” button to begin the dispensing process. In some embodiments, the central display 302 may function as the start button, and in other embodiments, the start button may be located elsewhere on the beverage dispensing device 10 or on a remote application. Although the inputs are presented here in a specific order, the user can enter the inputs in any desired order, or may also be able to select only some inputs before initiating the dispensing process. For example, the user may select the option to dispense the beverage without omitting one or all selections, or may even omit carbonation and / or flavoring entirely.

[0159] When a user initiates a dispensing process, the beverage dispensing device 10 coordinates several processes to properly produce and dispense the desired beverage. These processes may include, for example, mixing and / or flavoring processes, depending on the user's selection.

[0160] The mixing process typically involves mixing assembly 170 receiving water via water line 152 and carbon dioxide via gas line 160, mixing the received water and carbon dioxide under pressure to produce carbonated water, and dispensing the carbonated water through nozzle 178. In an illustrative embodiment, a corresponding amount of water and carbon dioxide is pumped and / or discharged into mixing chamber 172 based on a user-selected fluid volume and carbonation level. Mixing chamber 172 has a limited volume, which limits the amount of carbonated water that can be prepared in a single batch, so that if the user-selected fluid volume exceeds the volume of mixing chamber 172, more than one batch can be performed to achieve the total desired volume. In one embodiment, mixing chamber 172 can produce six fluid ounces of carbonated water in a single batch.

[0161] Figures 10A-10E Illustrative control processes 400 and subprocesses 410, 430, 450, and 470 are depicted, which can be followed to produce and dispense carbonated flavored beverages. Processes 400 and subprocesses 410, 430, 450, and 470 can be varied and, for example, may include additional subprocesses or omit subprocesses. Additionally, any and all subprocesses 410, 430, 450, and 470 can be varied to add or omit individual steps.

[0162] The illustrative beverage preparation process 400 begins at starting point 402 and proceeds through several sub-processes, such as... Figure 10A As shown in the diagram. These subprocesses may include an illustrative initialization process 410, an illustrative user input process 430, an illustrative carbonation process 450, and an illustrative flavoring process 470. The beverage may be dispensed at 490.

[0163] Figure 10BAn illustrative initialization subprocess 410 is described for use in preparing a beverage dispensing system 10. This subprocess may run separately from or concurrently with other subprocesses or processes. Subprocess 410 may begin at block 411 and proceed to block 412. At block 412, system 10 may determine whether sufficient water is present in water reservoir 130. If system 10 determines that sufficient water is not present in water reservoir 130, subprocess 410 may continue to block 413, where system 10 may prompt the user to supply water to water reservoir 130. System 10 may also prevent beverage production until system 10 determines that water has been supplied. If, at block 412, system 10 detects the presence of sufficient water, subprocess 410 may continue to block 414. At block 414, system 10 may run a check to determine whether the user desires carbonated beverage. As explained above, system 10 may receive user input determining the level of carbonated beverage via UI 300. If the user has indicated that they wish the beverage to be carbonated, a check can be performed at box 414 before subprocess 410 proceeds to box 415. At box 415, system 10 can check to confirm, for example, the presence of sufficient carbon dioxide in a gas source such as canister 162 before allowing the beverage dispensing process to continue. If at 415, system 10 detects that insufficient carbon dioxide is available, system 10 can prompt the user to refill the carbon dioxide source. If at 415, system 10 detects that sufficient carbon dioxide is available, subprocess 410 can proceed to box 417. Referring again to box 414, if the user has indicated that they do not want the beverage to be carbonated, subprocess 410 can proceed directly to box 417 and skip the check at box 415. At box 417, system 10 can run a check to determine if the user needs flavoring. For example, this check could be based on user input received at UI 300. If at box 417, system 10 determines that the user does not need flavoring, subprocess 410 can complete. If at box 417 the system 10 determines that the user does indeed need seasoning, the system can run a check at box 418 to confirm whether there is enough seasoning available to flavor the beverage. If the system 10 determines that there is not enough seasoning available, the system 10 can prompt the user to add more seasoning and prevent attempts to use the seasoning to create the beverage before adding more seasoning. If the system 10 determines that there is enough seasoning, the system 10 can complete the initialization sub-procedure 410.

[0164] After some or all of the initialization sub-procedures 410 have completed, process 400 may proceed to user input process 430. As explained above, some sub-procedures 410 may be affected by input notifications received at UI 300, and the input may occur during user input process 430. Therefore, sub-procedures 410 may not necessarily complete before user input process 430 begins.

[0165] Figure 10CDescribes the illustrative user input subprocess 430. At box 432, the user may be prompted to input or leave an input that allows a customized beverage to be dispensed from the beverage dispensing device 10, at least in part, based on the received input or leave an input. Inputs may be received in any order, and additional inputs may be added besides those described. Furthermore, inputs may be skipped. At box 434, input regarding the liquid volume of the dispensed beverage may be received. The received input may represent several options, such as 6 oz., 8 oz., 10 oz., etc., or the received input may represent a size, such as small, medium, or large. At box 436, input regarding the carbonation level of the dispensed beverage may be received. As previously explained, this user may be prompted to input a carbonation level between 0 and 5, where "0" represents no carbonation and "5" represents maximum carbonation. The input received at box 436 may provide information about other processes and checks performed on the system, such as the check performed at 414 of subprocess 410. At box 436, input indicating the type of seasoning can be received. System 10 may hold at least one seasoning container 200, as explained above, and in some embodiments, the system may hold at least two seasoning containers 200. At box 438, user input selecting between a first or second seasoning container held in system 10 can be received. User input selecting either the first or second seasoning container 200 or not selecting any seasoning container 200 can also be received. Similar to the operation at box 436 for the carbonation level, if user input indicating no seasoning is needed is received at box 438, the seasoning scheme and operation can be skipped. At box 440, user input indicating the strength of the seasoning can be received. Depending on the received input, system 10 may dispense more or less seasoning from the seasoning container 200. If user input indicating no seasoning is needed is received at box 438, box 440 can be skipped.

[0166] Figure 10DAn illustrative carbonation subprocess 450 is depicted, which can occur when the user has indicated that they wish to achieve a certain level of carbonation in their beverage, as shown in box 452. Subprocess 450 can continue to box 454. At box 454, as previously explained, water can be pumped to mixing chamber 172 via water line 152 by water pump 156 based on the user-selected fluid volume. Flow meter 157 can measure the amount of water flowing through water line 152, and the water volume can be determined by the pumping time set and the flow rate measured by flow meter 157. The vent solenoid 172a can then be closed. At box 456, gas (e.g., carbon dioxide) can be added via gas line 160 according to the desired level of carbonation. Gas solenoid 166 can be actuated, allowing regulated carbon dioxide to flow into mixing chamber 172. At box 458, agitator 173 can be energized to begin agitation of water and carbon dioxide within mixing chamber 172. The agitator 173 may operate for a longer period than the time it takes for carbon dioxide to flow into the mixing chamber 173, for example, a delay of five to ten seconds. Mixing may occur within the mixing chamber 172, and then at box 460, the pressure relief valve 179 may open to release excess pressure in the mixing chamber 172. At box 462, the dispensing valve 177 may open to allow newly generated carbonated water to leave the mixing chamber 172 and be dispensed by the nozzle 178. At box 464, if more carbonated water is needed, the carbonation subprocess 450 may proceed back to box 454, and carbonation may occur again until the required total volume has been dispensed. If no more carbonated water is needed, subprocess 450 may proceed to box 468, indicating that subprocess 450 is complete.

[0167] If, during the mixing process, for example at box 458, pressure sensor 175a measures an internal pressure exceeding a safety threshold (e.g., 100 psi), the mixing chamber can be vented by actuating pressure relief valve 179. The mixing chamber can also be vented if temperature sensor 175b measures an internal temperature exceeding a safety threshold.

[0168] Following the dispensing operation, a purge pump 159 connected to the mixing assembly 170 can introduce pressurized air into the mixing chamber 172 to remove excess fluid from the mixing chamber. The pressurized air can be introduced through a check valve 158b, thereby allowing unidirectional flow into the mixing chamber 172.

[0169] Figure 10EAn illustrative flavoring subprocess 470 is depicted, which can occur when a user has indicated a desire to flavor their beverage, as shown in box 472. The flavoring process generally involves introducing pressurized air into a flavoring container (e.g., flavoring container 200) to force the flavoring agent to be dispensed from the container. The flavoring agent can be selectively dispensed by system 10 based on user selection. At box 747 of subprocess 470, this can be presented as a selection between a flavoring container 200 positioned in the left bracket 182L and a flavoring container positioned in the right bracket 182R. When the flavoring container 200 is properly positioned on bracket 182, an air pump 190 is in fluid communication with inlet 210. Air pump 190 delivers pressurized air along air line 189 and into inlet 210. The introduction of pressurized air forces the duckbill valve to open, and thus, the internal pressure of the hollow inner chamber 208 increases. To attempt to eliminate the pressure difference, outlet 212 will open, and the seasoning will be forced out of outlet 212, exiting head assembly 120, and into the placed vessel (e.g., a drinking glass). The amount of seasoning dispensed depends on the amount of pressurized air forced into the hollow inner chamber 208. This amount of pressurized air depends on the input received from the user at UI 300 indicating the desired seasoning level. This dispensing process is visible in the remainder of subprocess 470, including boxes 476 and 480 if the user selects left container 200, and boxes 478 and 480 if the user selects right container 200. The subprocess can be completed at box 482 when the seasoning has been dispensed at 480.

[0170] The flavoring sub-process 470 can be coordinated with the carbonation sub-process 450 so that carbonated water and flavoring agents can be applied simultaneously. In an illustrative embodiment, the carbonated water and flavoring agents are applied substantially in parallel with each other, causing them to mix in a placed drinking glass. In another embodiment, the carbonated water and flavoring agents are applied such that their flow paths collide above the drinking glass in mid-air. In this way, the carbonated water and flavoring agents can begin to mix in mid-air, resulting in a more thoroughly mixed beverage. Note that in other embodiments, the flavoring agent can be applied together with non-carbonated water to form a non-carbonated flavored beverage.

[0171] The injection of air through inlet 210 can be achieved by a single injection of at least one pressurized gas or by a series of injections of at least one pressurized gas. Generally, the flavoring process can take a short time, for example, less than one second. In some embodiments, the process can be less than 250 ms, and in some embodiments, as low as approximately 130 ms.

[0172] Figure 11An illustrative dispensing process 500 is depicted, including example time sequences of various operations within the dispensing process 500. Process 500 may begin at block 501 and proceed to block 502. At block 502, mixing chamber 172 may be filled to a specified volume. For example, if the maximum capacity of mixing chamber 172 is 6 oz. and the user selects a volume less than 6 oz., the selected volume will be pumped into mixing chamber 172. If the user selects a volume greater than 6 oz., 6 oz. may be pumped into mixing chamber 172 during a first operation. At block 504, carbon dioxide may be supplied to mixing chamber 172, and at block 510, the carbon dioxide supply may be terminated. At block 506, motor 174 may be activated to drive agitator 173 within mixing chamber 172, and at block 510, motor 174 may be deactivated. The blocks 504-508 may occur within a first time period, and the blocks 506-510 may occur within a second time period different from the first time period. The first and second time periods can occur consecutively, or they can occur in parallel—fully or partially parallel. For example, each of the first and second time periods can operate under low-degree, medium-degree, and high-degree cycles. For a low-degree cycle, the first time period can be three seconds, and the second time period can be two seconds. For a medium-degree cycle, the first time period can be four seconds, and the second time period can be eight seconds. For a high-degree cycle, the first time period can be six seconds, and the second time period can be ten seconds. Process 500 can continue to box 512. At box 512, mixing chamber 172 can be ventilated for a period of time, after which mixing chamber 172 is resealed at box 514. For example, mixing chamber 172 can be vented for different times as needed to reduce the internal pressure of mixing chamber 172, and in the illustrative example, mixing chamber 172 can be vented for approximately 3.2 seconds. At box 516, mixing chamber 172 can be dispensed with stored fluid via outlet valve 176. At box 518, purge pump 159 can be activated to assist in dispensing stored fluid from mixing chamber 172. The time taken for this dispensing operation may depend on the amount of stored fluid to be ventilated, and in the illustrative example, it may take approximately twelve seconds. At box 520, outlet valve 176 can be closed, and at box 522, purge pump 159 can be deactivated. If a fluid volume exceeding the maximum capacity of the mixing chamber is required, process 500 may restart at box 501 to generate and dispense the desired volume if necessary. At box 524, an air pump, such as air pump 190L, 190R, etc., can be activated to begin the seasoning dispensing process. At box 526, the air pump can be deactivated to end the seasoning dispensing process. The time the air pump is activated between boxes 524 and 526 may vary depending on the amount of seasoning to be dispensed. For example, if a low level of seasoning is desired, the time may be approximately one second; if a medium level of seasoning is desired, the time may be approximately 1.2 seconds; and if a high level of seasoning is desired, the time may be approximately 1.4 seconds.The flavoring preparation process depicted in boxes 524 and 526 can be operated in parallel or continuously with any other part of the preparation process 500.

[0173] The seasoning container 200 can be manufactured using various manufacturing processes. In an example manufacturing process, the container 202 can be manufactured using a first process, while the cap 204 can be manufactured using a second process.

[0174] The first process may include manufacturing the container 202 by extrusion blow molding. This may be achieved using polypropylene (PP), and / or may involve injection molding and blow molding alone or in combination. Orientation features may be used to ensure that the cap 204 is assembled in the desired orientation.

[0175] The second process may include manufacturing the cap 204 by injection molding. A first orientation feature may be used to ensure the desired alignment relative to the container 202. A second orientation feature may be used to ensure proper placement during the manufacturing process (e.g., the first process, the second process, or another process). A third orientation feature may be used to provide proper orientation when the flavor container 200 is placed within the carrier assembly 180. Latch features, such as alignment tabs 207, may be included to ensure that the flavor container 204 can be secured within the carrier assembly 180. For the reasons stated above, an inlet 210 and an outlet 212 may also be included. The inlet 210 may include a silicone duckbill valve, an umbrella valve, or other types of valve. The outlet 212 may include a silicone dispensing valve, a cross-slit valve, or other types of valve. In some manufacturing processes, the cap 204, including the inlet 210 and the outlet 212, may be a single discrete element. The valves associated with the inlet 210 and / or 212 may be made of other materials known to those skilled in the art, including other molded flexible materials, including various plastics, rubbers, etc.

[0176] Certain illustrative embodiments have been described to provide a general understanding of the structure, function, manufacture, and principles of use of the systems, apparatuses, and methods disclosed herein. One or more examples of these embodiments are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Those skilled in the art will understand that the systems, apparatuses, and methods specifically described herein and illustrated in the drawings are non-limiting illustrative embodiments, and the scope of the invention is limited only by the claims. Features shown or described in conjunction with one illustrative embodiment may be combined with features of other embodiments. Such modifications and variations are intended to be included within the scope of the invention. Furthermore, in this disclosure, components with the same name in embodiments often have similar features; therefore, in a particular embodiment, not every feature of every component with the same name is necessarily fully described.

[0177] The approximate language used herein throughout the specification and claims may be used to modify any quantitative expression that allows for variation without altering its relevant essential function. Therefore, numerical values ​​modified by one or more terms, such as “approximately,” “roughly,” and “substantially,” should not be limited to specified precise values. At least in some cases, approximate language may correspond to the precision of the instrument measuring the numerical value. Scope limitations may be combined and / or interchanged herein and throughout the specification and claims, unless otherwise indicated by context or language; such scopes are defined and include all subscopes contained herein.

[0178] Based on the above embodiments, those skilled in the art will understand further features and advantages of the present invention. Therefore, this application is not limited to what has been specifically shown and described, except as indicated in the appended claims. All publications and references cited herein are expressly incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

Claims

1. A beverage system comprising: a container defining a hollow chamber for holding a fluid, the container having an end face comprising a container inlet port, a container outlet port, and an alignment feature; and a housing having a cradle assembly configured to removably receive the container, the cradle assembly comprising a cradle port configured to fluidly couple with the container inlet port, the cradle port coupled to a pump in the housing such that gas can be pumped into the hollow chamber of the container to cause fluid in the container to be expelled from the container outlet port and into a beverage receptacle, the cradle assembly comprising a complementary mechanism configured to engage with the alignment feature to maintain fluid coupling between the container inlet port and the cradle port, wherein the complementary mechanism comprises a spring biased member.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein, The cradle assembly comprises a cavity configured to receive the container, and the complementary mechanism is movably disposed within a sidewall of the cavity.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein, The container comprises a container body and a cap, and the inlet port and the outlet port are located on the cap.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein, The alignment feature is formed in an outer surface of the cap.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein, The cap comprises a radial protrusion, and the alignment feature is formed in the radial protrusion.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein, The housing comprises a housing chamber configured to receive fluid from a fluid source, and the housing is configured to deliver pressurized gas to the housing chamber to carbonate fluid in the housing chamber.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein, The cradle port comprises a flexible member configured to receive the container inlet port.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein, The cradle assembly comprises a key slot, and the complementary mechanism is disposed in the key slot.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein, The alignment feature comprises a detent.

10. A beverage system characterized in that, Comprising: a housing having a cradle assembly comprising a cradle port coupled to a pump in the housing to pump gas through the cradle port; and a container configured to be removably mounted on the cradle assembly, the container having a container inlet port and a container outlet port, the container inlet port configured to couple with the cradle port such that gas can be pumped into a hollow chamber of the container and pressurize it to cause fluid in the container to be expelled from the container outlet port and into a beverage receptacle when a predetermined threshold pressure is reached; wherein the cradle port comprises a pair of mirror image protrusions defining at least one cavity therebetween, and the container inlet port comprises a container protrusion complementary in shape to the at least one cavity; and wherein the container inlet port is prevented from mating with the cradle port until the container protrusion is received within the at least one complementary cavity.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein, The at least one cavity is at least partially defined by the container inlet port.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein, The at least one circular protrusion comprises a collar circumferentially disposed about the container inlet port.

13. A beverage system characterized in that, Comprising: a housing having a cradle assembly comprising a cradle port coupled to a pump in the housing to pump gas through the cradle port, the cradle comprising a digital octagon shaped cavity; and A container configured to be removably mounted on the cradle assembly, the container having a container inlet port configured to couple with the cradle port such that gas can be pumped into and pressurize a hollow chamber of the container, the container further including a container outlet port configured to dispense fluid therefrom, the container including a protrusion shaped as a figure eight, the protrusion configured to mate with a cavity in the cradle such that the container inlet port is prevented from mating with the cradle port until the protrusion is received within the cavity.

14. A flavor container characterized by, Comprising: a container body defining an interior hollow chamber, the container body having an opening to the interior hollow chamber, the interior hollow chamber configured to contain a liquid; and an exchange assembly coupled to the container body and disposed over the opening, the exchange assembly configured to seal the interior hollow chamber, and the exchange assembly having an outer surface including an inlet valve, an outlet valve, and at least one recess, the inlet valve surrounded by a first collar extending outwardly from the outer surface, the outlet valve surrounded by a second collar extending outwardly from the outer surface, the second collar separate from the first collar, and the at least one recess configured to receive a mating protrusion of a cradle in a beverage carbonation system; wherein the interior hollow chamber is configured to receive gas through the inlet valve; wherein the interior hollow chamber is configured to dispense fluid through the outlet valve in response to receiving gas through the inlet valve; and wherein the at least one recess is defined by a first outer surface of the first collar and a second outer surface of the second collar such that the mating protrusion is configured to abut against the first outer surface and the second outer surface when the exchange assembly is coupled to the mating protrusion.

15. The flavor container of claim 14, wherein, The exchange assembly includes a cap having a hollow cylindrical body with an end wall disposed within the hollow cylindrical body, the inlet valve and the outlet valve extending through the end wall.

16. The flavor container of claim 15, wherein, The end wall is positioned across a substantially middle portion of the exchange assembly.

17. The flavor container of claim 16, wherein, The cap includes an alignment mechanism configured to orient the cap within a component of a beverage system, the component configured to receive the flavor container.

18. The flavor container of claim 17, wherein, The alignment mechanism includes a protrusion extending radially from an outer surface of the cap.

19. The flavor container of claim 14, wherein, The inlet valve defines a first flow path and the outlet valve defines a second flow path, and the first flow path and the second flow path are substantially parallel to each other.

20. The flavor container of claim 14, wherein, The container body is substantially rigid to resist deformation.

21. The flavor container of claim 14, wherein, The inlet valve includes a duckbill valve.

22. The flavor container of claim 14, wherein, The first collar and the second collar at least partially overlap in a figure eight pattern.

23. The flavor container of claim 14, wherein, A plurality of ridges are disposed on a sidewall of the container body.

24. The flavor container of claim 14, wherein, The exchange assembly is formed by an injection molding process.

25. The flavor container of claim 14, wherein, The valves are positioned inwardly relative to the outer surface.

26. The flavor container of claim 14, wherein, The exchange assembly is coupled to the container body by a snap fit.

27. The flavor container of claim 14, wherein, The exchange assembly defines a cylindrical inlet path to the inlet valve, the cylindrical inlet path having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion having a first radius, the second portion having a second radius greater than the first radius.

28. The flavor container of claim 27, wherein, The first portion is disposed further from the inlet valve than the second portion.

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