Beverage containers and water dispensers

Abstract

Beverage container for use in a water carbonator, comprising a) a wall that defines an interior space of the beverage container; b) an opening for filling with water, which is arranged in an upper section of the wall and which has a coupling structure, wherein the coupling structure is suitable for reversibly closing the opening with a lid of the beverage container or an inner cavity of a pressure vessel of a water dispenser; c) a gassing opening located in a lower section of the wall; d) a gas pressure equalization opening located in a lower section of the wall; e) a bottom valve arranged at the aeration opening and suitable for directing pressurized carbon dioxide gas from a carbon dioxide source to the aeration opening and preventing water from entering the interior of the beverage container through the aeration opening; and f) a fastening structure that connects the bottom valve to the beverage container.

Description

[0001] According to the invention, a beverage container for use in a water carbonator is provided. The beverage container has a wall, an opening for filling with water, an aeration opening, and a gas pressure equalization opening, all located in a lower section of the wall. Furthermore, the beverage container has a bottom valve located at the aeration opening, which is suitable for directing pressurized carbon dioxide gas from a carbon dioxide source to the aeration opening and preventing water from escaping from the interior of the beverage container through the aeration opening. The beverage container also has a mounting structure that connects the bottom valve to the beverage container. The beverage carbonator has the advantage of enabling simpler, more convenient, and error-free filling with water and, even when completely filled with water, allows for more efficient carbonation of the water.

[0002] In conventional sparkling water makers, a burst of CO2 is injected into water in a beverage container to carbonate it. These devices typically use a nozzle through which pressurized carbon dioxide is forced from above into the water-filled container. For efficient carbonation, a certain volume of air is needed in the upper part of the container, allowing the water, rising due to the pressurization, to briefly enter and exit this air space.

[0003] This volume is typically provided by the beverage container inserted into the sparkling water maker, meaning that this volume must be kept clear before the CO2 is dispensed when filling the container with water. This is a disadvantage for the user, as ultimately not the entire volume provided by the beverage container can be used to prepare carbonated water. Consequently, a user has to operate the sparkling water maker more often than desired to produce larger quantities of carbonated water.

[0004] For optimal CO2 effervescence of the water in the beverage containers of standard sparkling water makers, the user must fill the containers precisely to the fill line marked on them. Maintaining the optimal fill level is easy with transparent bottles (e.g., clear glass). However, it is more difficult with opaque bottles (e.g., steel bottles) because the liquid level is difficult or impossible to see. Furthermore, the maximum fill level is often not located near the bottle opening, but rather in a significantly lower area of ​​the bottle, which is also poorly illuminated by ambient light due to the bottle's opacity.Especially in the case of water dispensers with such beverage containers, filling the beverage containers is therefore prone to errors and not very easy or convenient for the user.

[0005] The object of the present invention was therefore to provide a beverage container that does not have the disadvantages known in the prior art. In particular, the provided beverage container should enable simpler, more convenient, and error-free filling with water and, despite being filled to a fuller volume, allow for more efficient carbonation of the water. Furthermore, a water carbonator that exhibits these advantages should be provided.

[0006] The problem is solved by the beverage container with the features of claim 1 and the water dispenser with the features of claim 13. The dependent claims describe advantageous further developments.

[0007] According to the invention, a beverage container is provided for use in a water carbonator. The beverage container has: a) a wall that defines an interior space of the beverage container; b) an opening for filling with water, which is arranged in an upper section of the wall and which has a coupling structure, wherein the coupling structure is suitable for reversibly closing the opening with a lid of the beverage container or an inner cavity of a pressure vessel of a water dispenser; c) a gassing opening located in a lower section of the wall; d) a gas pressure equalization opening located in a lower section of the wall; e) a bottom valve arranged at the aeration opening and suitable for directing pressurized carbon dioxide gas from a carbon dioxide source to the aeration opening and preventing water from entering the interior of the beverage container through the aeration opening; and f) a fastening structure that connects the bottom valve to the beverage container.

[0008] The beverage container has the advantage that the carbonation of water with CO2 occurs via its base (i.e., from below) and not—as is usually the case—via its lid (i.e., from above). This eliminates the need to fill the beverage container with water to a precise level for efficient CO2 aeration. The beverage container according to the invention thus allows for simpler, more convenient, and less error-prone filling with water than known beverage containers designed for use in a water carbonator. Furthermore, a fuller fill is possible because CO2 is introduced more efficiently via the base than via the lid, and no gas volume above the water level within the beverage container is required for efficient introduction. In short, the beverage container according to the invention can be efficiently carbonated with CO2 even when nearly full of water.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment, the bottom valve is designed to close the gassing opening in a fluid-tight manner when the gas pressure inside the beverage container is greater than or equal to the gas pressure in the environment of the beverage container.

[0010] In another preferred embodiment, the bottom valve is designed to open the gas supply opening in a gas-conducting manner when a gas pressure inside the beverage container is lower than a gas pressure in the environment of the beverage container, preferably when a gas pressure from a water dispenser is applied to the bottom valve via a transfer valve of a water dispenser that can be pressurized with carbon dioxide.

[0011] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the bottom valve is also arranged at the gas pressure equalization opening and is designed to open the gas pressure equalization opening in a fluid-conducting manner when a gas pressure inside the beverage container is greater than or equal to a gas pressure in the environment of the beverage container.

[0012] Furthermore, the bottom valve can be designed to close the gas pressure equalization opening in a fluid-tight manner when the gas pressure inside the beverage container is lower than the gas pressure in the environment of the beverage container, preferably when a gas pressure is applied to the bottom valve from a water carbonator via a transfer valve of a water carbonator that can be pressurized with carbon dioxide.

[0013] The bottom valve can contain or consist of an elastic material, preferably an elastic plastic, and particularly preferably silicone, PE, TPE and / or NBR.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment, the bottom valve has at least one, preferably at least two, particularly preferably at least three, in particular three to seven, continuous channel(s) in the area of ​​the gassing opening.

[0015] The at least one continuous channel, preferably all continuous channels, may contain or consist of an elastic material, preferably an elastic plastic, particularly preferably silicone PE, TPE and / or NBR.

[0016] Furthermore, the at least one continuous channel, preferably all continuous channels, can be created by piercing with a needle and / or cutting with a blade, in particular without removing any material from the bottom valve.

[0017] Furthermore, the bottom valve in the area of ​​the gassing opening can also have, at least partially, a conical recess with a wide opening and a narrow opening. Particularly preferably, the narrow opening opens into the at least one continuous channel, in particular into all continuous channels, and the wide opening opens into a channel that can be fluidically connected to a continuous channel of the mounting structure.

[0018] The bottom valve can form a membrane in the area of ​​the pressure equalization opening, which contains or consists of an elastic material, preferably an elastic plastic, particularly preferably silicone, PE, TPE and / or NBR.

[0019] The beverage container's mounting structure can connect the bottom valve to the beverage container irreversibly or reversibly. The reversible connection is preferably selected from the group consisting of threads, bayonet fittings, and combinations thereof, where the thread is optionally a continuous thread or a threaded segment.

[0020] The mounting structure can have a continuous channel that connects the bottom valve to an external space of the beverage container in a gas-conducting manner.

[0021] The bottom valve can be designed such that the continuous channel is fluid-tightly separated from the gassing opening, preferably from at least one, preferably at least two, particularly preferably at least 3, in particular 3 to 7, continuous channel(s) of the bottom valve in the area of ​​the gassing opening, if a gas pressure in the interior of the beverage container is greater than or equal to a gas pressure in the environment of the beverage container.

[0022] Furthermore, the bottom valve can be designed such that the continuous channel is connected to the gas supply opening in a gas-conducting manner, preferably with at least one, preferably at least two, particularly preferably at least 3, in particular 3 to 7, continuous channel(s) of the bottom valve in the area of ​​the gas supply opening, if a gas pressure in the interior of the beverage container is lower than a gas pressure in the environment of the beverage container, preferably if a gas pressure from a water dispenser is applied to the bottom valve via a transfer valve of a water dispenser that can be pressurized with carbon dioxide.

[0023] The mounting structure may have a projection to accommodate a recess for the bottom valve.

[0024] Furthermore, the mounting structure can have a recess for receiving a protrusion of a carbon dioxide-pressurized transfer valve of a water dispenser. Alternatively or additionally, the bottom valve can have a recess for receiving a protrusion of a carbon dioxide-pressurized transfer valve of a water dispenser.

[0025] Furthermore, the mounting structure can be designed to establish a fluid-conducting and externally fluid-tight connection between a transition valve of a water dispenser and the bottom valve. Alternatively or additionally, the bottom valve can be designed to establish a fluid-conducting and externally fluid-tight connection to a transition valve of a water dispenser.

[0026] The fastening structure may contain or consist of a material selected from the group consisting of metal, plastic and combinations thereof, preferably selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, plastic and combinations thereof, wherein the fastening structure particularly preferably contains or consists of a plastic.

[0027] The wall of the beverage container may contain or consist of stainless steel, with a wall thickness of the stainless steel preferably being in the range of 0.1 to 1.5 mm.

[0028] Furthermore, the wall of the beverage container may contain or consist of plastic, with the wall thickness of the plastic preferably being in the range of 0.1 to 5 mm.

[0029] Apart from that, the wall of the beverage container may contain or consist of glass, with the wall thickness of the glass preferably being in the range of 0.5 to 4 mm.

[0030] The opening of the beverage container may have a coupling structure selected from the group consisting of thread, bayonet fitting and combinations thereof, the thread optionally being a continuous thread or a threaded segment.

[0031] According to the invention, a water dispenser is also provided, which has a beverage container according to the invention and a transfer valve that can be pressurized with carbon dioxide.

[0032] The transfer valve is preferably connected to the mounting structure of the beverage container in such a way that a gas-conducting connection to the bottom valve of the beverage container is established, which is fluid-tight to the outside.

[0033] Furthermore, the transfer valve can contain or consist of an elastic material, preferably an elastic plastic, particularly preferably silicone, PE, TPE and / or NBR. The transfer valve has, in particular, at least one incision, and more preferably two crosswise arranged incisions, on a side facing the bottom valve.

[0034] The water dispenser can have a connecting pipe in which the transfer valve is reversibly arranged, wherein the connecting pipe preferably contains a material selected from the group consisting of plastic, stainless steel and combinations thereof, wherein the plastic preferably contains or consists of polyethylene and / or polypropylene.

[0035] The following figures are intended to explain the subject matter of the invention in more detail, without limiting it to the specific embodiments shown here.

[0036] Fig. Figure 1 schematically shows a beverage container 1 according to the invention. The beverage container has a wall 2, which defines an interior space 3 of the beverage container 1, and has an opening 4 for filling with water, which is arranged in an upper section of the wall 2 and which has a coupling structure 5, wherein the coupling structure 5 is suitable for reversibly closing the opening 4 with a lid (not shown) of the beverage container 1 or an inner cavity of a pressure vessel of a water dispenser (not shown). Furthermore, the beverage container 1 has a gas supply opening 6 and a gas pressure equalization opening 7, which are arranged in a lower section of the wall 2.Furthermore, the beverage container has a bottom valve 8, which is arranged at the aeration opening 6 and is suitable for directing pressurized carbon dioxide gas from a carbon dioxide source (not shown) to the aeration opening 6 and preventing water from the interior 3 of the beverage container 1 from entering through the aeration opening 6. The beverage dispenser 1 also has a mounting structure 9 that connects the bottom valve 8 to the beverage container 1. It can be seen in the lower part of the beverage dispenser 1 that the bottom valve 8 has a conical recess 10 and a diaphragm 11. It can also be seen that the mounting structure 9 has a continuous channel 12, a projection 13 for receiving a recess of the bottom valve 8, and a recess 14 for receiving a projection of the transfer valve 15. The transfer valve is reversibly arranged in the connecting pipe.

[0037] Fig. 2A and Fig. Figure 2B shows a magnification of the lower part of the beverage container 1 in a relaxed state of the transfer valve 15 of a water dispenser (not shown) and the bottom valve 8 of the beverage container 1. In the relaxed state, the interior 3 of the beverage container 1 is either empty without pressure, filled with water without pressure, or filled with water under pressure. Fig. Figure 2A shows that in this case the diaphragm 11 of the bottom valve 8 closes the continuous channel 12 of the mounting structure 9 via a pressure from the interior 3 on the diaphragm 11 (see arrows indicating the force action, in the Fig. 2A) is sealed fluid-tight so that no fluid (gas and water) from the interior 3 of the beverage container 1 can penetrate into the continuous channel 12 and escape from the beverage container 1. Fig. 2B are the surfaces of the bottom valve 8 which, in the relaxed state of the bottom valve 8, exert pressure on the fastening structure 9 (see oval surfaces in the Fig. 2B).

[0038] Fig. 3A and Fig. Figure 3B shows a magnification of the lower region of the beverage container 1 in a pressurized state of the transfer valve 15 of a water dispenser (not shown) and the bottom valve 8 of the beverage container 1. In the pressurized state, the beverage container 1 is filled under pressure, i.e., gas (carbon dioxide) is introduced into the interior 3 of the beverage container 1 via the transfer valve 15 and the bottom valve 8, the gas being at a higher pressure than the pressure in the interior 3 of the beverage container 1. Fig. Figure 3A shows that in this case the diaphragm 11 of the bottom valve 8 is subjected to pressure from the through channel 12 on the diaphragm 11 (see arrows indicating the force action, in the Fig. 3B) is raised so that gas can penetrate from the transfer valve 15 via the continuous channel 12 of the mounting structure and via the conical recess 10 of the bottom valve 8 to the aeration opening 6 and can exit from the aeration opening 6 into the interior 3 of the beverage container 1 (see arrows indicating the direction of gas flow, in the Fig. 3A). In Fig. 3B are the surfaces of the bottom valve 8 which, in the tensioned state of the bottom valve 8, exert pressure on the mounting structure 9 and on the wall 2 of the beverage container 1 (see oval surfaces in the Fig. 3B).

[0039] Fig. 4A and Fig. Figure 4B schematically shows a design of a transfer valve 15 of a water dispenser according to the invention. Fig. Figure 4A shows that in the relaxed state of the transfer valve 15 the notches 16 of the transfer valve 15 are closed. Fig.Figure 4B shows that in the actuated state of the transfer valve 15, the slots 16 of the transfer valve 15 are open. In the actuated state, gas (carbon dioxide) can flow through the slots 16 of the transfer valve 15 into the continuous channel of the beverage container's mounting structure and from there out of the beverage container's bottom valve into the interior of the beverage container. Reference symbol list 1 beverage container; 2 walls; 3 Interior; 4 Openings for filling with water; 5 Coupling structure; 6 gassing openings; 7 Gas pressure equalization opening; 8 bottom valve; 9 Mounting structure; 10 conical recesses; 11 Membrane; 12 continuous channel; 13. Projection for receiving a recess of the bottom valve; 14 Recess for receiving a projection of a transfer valve; 15 Transfer valve; 16 cut(s) in the transfer valve; 17 Connecting pipe.

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