Carbonator with rotatable carbonation head

Abstract

The carbonator comprises a rotatable carbonator head with at least one pressure release valve, a carbonation tube connectable via a pipe to a gas canister, and a flange for engaging a neck of a bottle filled with a liquid to be carbonated by threading the neck into or onto the flange to hold the bottle securely with the carbonation tube maintained within the bottle, and for disengaging the neck of the bottle from the flange by unscrewing the neck from the flange, wherein the rotatable carbonator head is configured to rotate from a released position to a locked position when the neck is threaded into or onto the flange, and wherein the rotatable carbonator head is configured to rotate from the locked position to the released position when the neck is unscrewing and unscrewing from the flange.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a carbonator, and more particularly to a carbonator with a rotatable carbonation head and pressure relief feature. [Background technology]

[0002] Carbonators are commonly used in homes, offices, cafeterias, and other environments. A typical carbonator may be operated to carbonate water or other liquids by injecting carbon dioxide into the water or other liquid in a bottle that may be attached to the device. Other types of carbonators may be configured to dispense carbonated beverages into cups or other containers.

[0003] Carbon dioxide gas, which is injected into a liquid to carbonate the liquid, is typically provided in a pressurized or liquefied gas canister. The carbonator includes a user-operable mechanism for releasing the gas from the cylinder and directing the gas into the liquid to carbonate it. Typically, operation of the gas release mechanism causes the mechanism to open a valve on the cylinder. When the gas canister is installed in the carbonator, a valve head containing a valve is connected to the gas canister connector on the carbonator.

[0004] To carbonate water or another liquid (hereinafter simply referred to as water), a bottle filled with liquid is connected to the carbonation head of the carbonator, and once the bottle is securely attached to the carbonation head, a user can press a lever or otherwise activate the carbonation process, during which compressed carbon dioxide is pumped from the canister through tubing and a controllable valve into the bottle. Once carbonation is complete, the bottle is released from the carbonation head, but typically not before excess pressure in the bottle is released by a controlled pressure release valve. The release of excess pressure is required to avoid uncontrolled release and unwanted spraying of the bottle when it is removed from the carbonator head.

[0005] Various known mechanisms exist for releasing excess pressure from a bottle containing carbonated liquid after carbonation is complete. One such mechanism involves tilting a bottle containing carbonated liquid that has been previously screwed (prior to carbonation) into the carbonation position on the carbonator to activate a pressure release valve before unscrewing the bottle from the carbonation head. Another known mechanism for releasing excess pressure is incorporated into a carbonation head that has a pronged clamp. The prong holds the bottle, and a limiting ring is used to hold the prong in place, thereby preventing the bottle from being accidentally released while carbonation is occurring. Once carbonation is complete, a mechanism is configured to release excess pressure before the prong is released, allowing the bottle to disengage from the carbonation head. Summary of the Invention

[0006] Thus, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a carbonation device including a rotatable carbonation head, the rotatable carbonation head including at least one pressure release valve, a carbonation tube connectable via a pipe to a gas canister, and a flange for engaging a neck of a bottle filled with a liquid to be carbonated by threading the neck into or onto the flange to securely hold the bottle, with the carbonation tube maintained within the bottle, and for disengaging the neck of the bottle from the flange by unscrewing the neck from the flange. The rotatable carbonation head is configured to rotate from a released position to a locked position when the neck is threaded into or onto the flange, and to rotate from the locked position to the released position when the neck is unscrewed from the flange. In the released position, the at least one pressure release valve is operable to open to release excess pressure if excess pressure is present in the bottle, and in the locked position, the at least one pressure release valve remains closed.

[0007] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the at least one pressure relief valve includes two pressure relief valves.

[0008] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the carbonator comprises an activator for actuating said at least one pressure relief valve.

[0009] According to some embodiments of the invention, the activator is configured to actuate the at least one pressure relief valve by depressing a plunger of each of the at least one pressure relief valve.

[0010] According to some embodiments of the present invention, a cam is provided adjacent to the rotatable carbonation head, the cam including at least one sloped wall that defines a tapered space between the cam and the plunger of each of said at least one pressure relief valve in physical contact with the plunger when the carbonation head is in the released position.

[0011] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the carbonation head is restricted as it rotates to the swivel sector.

[0012] According to some embodiments of the present invention, when the carbonation head rotates to the first end of the pivot sector, the carbonation head is in a release position.

[0013] According to some embodiments of the present invention, when the carbonation head is rotated away from the first end of the pivot sector, the carbonation head is in a locked position.

[0014] According to some embodiments of the present invention, when the carbonation head rotates to the second end of the pivot sector, the carbonation head is in a locked position.

[0015] According to some embodiments of the present invention, a plurality of locking teeth are provided to clutch onto a rim projecting laterally from the neck of the bottle when the carbonation head is in the locked position.

[0016] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the carbonator includes a wall surrounding the flange to prevent back-off of the locking teeth and to retain the neck clutched by the locking teeth.

[0017] According to some embodiments of the invention, a recess is provided in the wall surrounding the flange so that when the carbonation head is rotated to the release position, the locking teeth can retract into the recess to release the laterally protruding rim of the bottle neck.

[0018] According to some embodiments of the present invention, a stop is provided that is coupled to the rotatable carbonation head and is limited in movement within a groove, opposite ends of the groove defining a locked position and a released position.

[0019] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the groove is provided with a first recessed portion on the periphery of the groove so that the protrusion on the stopper can slide into the first recessed portion when the carbonation head reaches the released position.

[0020] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the groove is provided with a second recessed portion around the periphery of the groove so that when the carbonation head is rotated to the locked position, the protrusion on the stopper can slide into the second recessed portion.

[0021] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the carbonator further comprises a housing mounted on the base and provided with a gas canister compartment, the housing being suspended over the base and comprising lateral extensions to accommodate the carbonator head.

[0022] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the carbonation head is configured to rotate only when the bottle is fully screwed into or onto the flange.

[0023] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the carbonator further comprises one or more active teeth to facilitate rotation of the carbonator head only when the bottle is fully screwed into or onto the flange.

[0024] According to some embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a rotatable carbonation head comprising: at least one pressure release valve; a carbonation tube connectable via a pipe to a gas canister; and a flange for engaging the neck of a bottle filled with a liquid to be carbonated by threading the neck into or onto the flange to securely hold the bottle, with the carbonation tube maintained within the bottle, and for disengaging the neck of the bottle from the flange by unscrewing the neck from the flange, wherein the rotatable carbonation head is configured to rotate from a released position to a locked position when the neck is threaded into or onto the flange, and to rotate from the locked position to the released position when the neck is unscrewed from the flange, wherein in the released position, the at least one pressure release valve is operative to open to release excess pressure if excess pressure is present in the bottle, and wherein in the locked position, the at least one pressure release valve remains closed. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0025] In order to better understand the present invention and appreciate its practical applications, the following drawings are provided and referenced hereinafter. It should be noted that the drawings are given by way of example only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention in any way. Like elements are provided with like reference numerals.

[0026] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a general view of a carbonator with a rotatable carbonation head, according to some embodiments of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a view of the mounting portion of the carbonation head of the carbonator shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 3]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the carbonation head of the carbonator shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a top view of a portion of the carbonation head of the carbonator shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 5A] FIG. 2 is a top view of the (transparent) upper portion of the carbonator of FIG. 1, showing a cross section of the pressure release valve with the carbonator head in the carbonation position. [Figure 5B] FIG. 2 is a top view of the (transparent) upper portion of the carbonator of FIG. 1, showing a cross section of the pressure relief valve with the carbonator head in the induced pressure relief position. [Figure 6A] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the carbonator head of the carbonator shown in FIG. 1 with the locking teeth in a locked position. [Figure 6B] FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the carbonator head mounting portion of the carbonator shown in FIG. 1 with the locking teeth in the locked position. [Figure 6C] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the carbonator head of the carbonator shown in FIG. 1 with the locking teeth in an unlocked position. [Figure 6D] FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the carbonator head mounting portion of the carbonator shown in FIG. 1 with the locking teeth in the unlocked position. [Figure 7A] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the carbonator head of the carbonator shown in FIG. 1 with a bottle inserted into the carbonator head mount and about to be screwed in, with the enabling teeth in the disabled position. [Figure 7B] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the carbonator head of the carbonator shown in FIG. 1 with the bottle fully threaded into the carbonator head mount and the active teeth in the inactive position. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0027] In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components, modules, units, and / or circuits have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the present invention.

[0028] For example, although embodiments of the invention are not limited in this respect, descriptions utilizing terms such as “processing,” “computing,” “calculating,” “determining,” “determining,” “analyzing,” “examining,” etc. may refer to operations and / or processes of a computer, computing platform, computing system, or other electronic computing device that manipulates and / or transforms data represented as physical (e.g., electronic) quantities in the computer's registers and / or memory into other data similarly represented as physical quantities in the computer's registers and / or memory, or into other data similarly represented as physical quantities in other information non-transitory storage media (e.g., memory) capable of storing instructions for performing operations and / or processes. Although embodiments of the invention are not limited in this respect, as used herein, the terms “plurality” and “a plurality” can include, for example, “multiple” or “two or more.” The term “plurality” may be used throughout this specification to describe two or more components, devices, elements, units, parameters, etc. Unless explicitly stated, method embodiments described herein are not limited to a particular order or arrangement. Furthermore, some of the described method embodiments or elements thereof may occur or be performed simultaneously, contemporaneously, or together. Unless otherwise indicated, the conjunction "or" as used herein should be understood to be inclusive (any or all of the described alternatives).

[0029] According to some embodiments of the present invention, a novel carbonator is introduced. According to some embodiments, the carbonator comprises a carbonator head with a fitting configured to receive a bottle containing a liquid to be carbonated by screwing the bottle into a locked position where carbonation can occur.

[0030] When a bottle is screwed onto the carbonator head's mounting portion, the carbonator head is configured to pivot (e.g., within a range of 15 to 60 degrees, e.g., 45 degrees) around a predetermined pivot sector in the direction of the screwing motion to bring it into a locked position. With the bottle in the locked position and securely attached, a user can perform carbonation by pressing a carbonation button or lever, which releases carbon dioxide (or any other carbonation gas) from a gas canister into the carbonation bottle through a designated pipe terminating in a carbonation tube held within the bottle. A restrictor can be provided to limit the rotation of the carbonator head within the predetermined pivot sector, with a first end of the pivot sector located where the bottle is positioned in the locked position and a second end of the pivot sector opposite the first end located where the bottle is positioned in the released position, and a controlled pressure release mechanism releasing excess pressure within the bottle. Any of the end positions of the pivot sector may be either a separate end of the sector or an end position of a subsector of the sector (e.g., allowing some movement within the subsector while still remaining in the locked or released position). In some embodiments of the invention, the locked position may be configured to be any position of the carbonation head along the pivot sector that is not the released position.

[0031] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the carbonation head may include one or more pressure relief valves to release excess pressure from the bottle after carbonation. In some embodiments of the present invention, the carbonation head may include a primary pressure relief valve and an additional pressure relief valve that functions as a safety valve to release pressure from the carbonation bottle in the event that the primary pressure relief valve fails. The pressure relief mechanism may include an activator that may be positioned adjacent to the rotatable carbonation head for actuating said one or more pressure relief valves when the rotatable carbonation head rotates back to the end of the release position sector.

[0032] Each of the one or more pressure relief valves can include a depressible plunger attached to the carbonation head to activate that valve. In some embodiments of the invention, the activator can include a cam, e.g., a sloped wall defining a tapered space between each of the cams and plungers that ultimately come into physical contact with the plunger when the carbonation head rotates and reaches the release position.

[0033] Once the carbonation process is complete (e.g., the user can determine when the carbonation process is complete), the user can then unscrew the bottle by rotating the bottle in the opposite direction to the direction of rotation that the bottle was screwed onto the attachment. As the user begins to unscrew the bottle, the carbonator head pivots from the locked position across the pivot sector back to the released position. In the released position, the one or more pressure release valves activate, releasing excess pressure from the bottle. The user can continue to twist the bottle to further unscrew it, eventually removing the bottle from the carbonator head attachment. The carbonator head remains in the released position with the pressure release valves remaining open while the remaining bottle is unscrewed.

[0034] FIG. 1 is a general view of a carbonator with a rotatable carbonation head according to some embodiments of the present invention.

[0035] Carbonator 100 comprises a base 101 with a generally flat support surface 103 for supporting a bottle before and / or after the bottle is engaged with the carbonator head. A towering housing 104 is supported on base 101. Housing 104 comprises a gas canister compartment 102 in which a gas canister (e.g., a gas cylinder, not shown in this figure) containing compressed carbon dioxide or other carbonation gas in gaseous or liquefied form (hereinafter simply referred to as gas) may be placed and connected to a pipe, and an actuator (not shown in this figure) for delivering gas from the gas canister to a bottle filled with water or other liquid (hereinafter simply referred to as water) to carbonate the water.

[0036] Side extensions of housing 104 are suspended from support surface 103 and house a rotatable carbonator head 110 configured to engage a bottle filled with water by threading the bottle's neck into (or alternatively, in some embodiments, onto) a flange (220, see FIG. 3 ) to securely fasten the bottle to the carbonator head. Once the bottle is securely fastened to the carbonator head, carbonator tube 108 remains within the bottle to facilitate carbonation of the water by delivering gas directly into the water. Carbonator head 110 has two pressure relief valves, first pressure relief valve 112 and second pressure relief valve 114, for releasing excess pressure after carbonation is complete and before the bottle is disengaged from the carbonator head. The employment of two pressure relief valves is designed to ensure that excess pressure is released even if one of the valves fails.

[0037] FIG. 2 is a diagram of the carbonator head mounting portion 106 of the carbonator shown in FIG.

[0038] 3 is a cross-sectional view of the carbonation head of the carbonator shown in FIG. 1. FIG.

[0039] Mounting portion 106 includes an opening 219 through which neck 212 of water-filled bottle 210 can be inserted to attach to the carbonator head. Neck 212 can include external threads 214 that mate with internal threads 206 of flange 220. To enhance the security of the device, peripheral locking teeth 202 are designed to retain neck 212 by clutching into rim 216 that protrudes laterally from neck 212. In any other position of the rotatable carbonator head except the released position, inner wall surface 107 of mounting portion 106 prevents locking teeth 202 from retracting rearward to retain neck 212 clutched by locking teeth 202.

[0040] When the carbonation head is rotated to the release position, each of the locking teeth 202 can retract outward into a designated recess in the mounting portion 106, thereby allowing the neck 212 of the bottle 210 to be inserted into the flange 220 before the neck is threaded onto the flange, or to disengage the neck 212 of the bottle 210 after the neck has been fully unthreaded from the flange 220.

[0041] 4 is a top view of a portion of the carbonation head of the carbonator shown in FIG. 1. FIG.

[0042] In some embodiments of the present invention, a pressure release mechanism may be provided that includes an activator positioned adjacent to the rotatable carbonation head. In some embodiments of the present invention, the activator may include, for example, a cam 300 in the form of two angled walls, each of which ultimately defines a tapered space between the cam and the respective plunger 306 (of either pressure release valve 112 or 114) that terminates in a position that ensures direct physical contact between the angled wall and the plunger when the carbonation head rotates and reaches the released position. Thus, once carbonation is complete and the user begins to rotate the bottle in an unscrewing direction, the carbonation head rotates from the locked position to the released position. At that position, the plunger is forced down by the angled walls, thereby releasing excess pressure within the bottle. Upon reaching the corresponding recess 204, the locking teeth 202, which were previously clutching the rim 216 around the neck 212 of the bottle 210, retract, allowing the rim of the bottle neck to be released.

[0043] From that point, the user can continue to unscrew the bottle until it is completely off and can be disengaged from the carbonation head.

[0044] FIG. 5A is a top view of the (transparent) upper portion of the carbonator of FIG. 1, showing a cross section of pressure relief valves 112 and 114, and showing a portion of the carbonator head when in the locked position.

[0045] FIG. 5B is a top view of the (transparent) upper portion of the carbonator of FIG. 1, showing a cross section of pressure relief valves 112 and 114 with the carbonator head in the induced pressure relief position.

[0046] The top of gas canister 400 is shown attached to gas canister mount 404. When gas canister 400 is securely attached within gas canister compartment 102 of carbonator 100, actuator pin 406 is configured to, upon actuation, release gas from gas canister 400, which flows through designated piping, carbonator tube 108, and into the bottle.

[0047] Upon pressing a carbonation button, lever, or any such designated mechanical device (not shown) for releasing gas from the gas canister, compressed gas is released from within the gas canister and flows through a pipe, through the carbonation tube, and into the water in the bottle.

[0048] The rotation of carbonator head 110 may be limited to a predetermined orbital sector by one or more limiters configured to restrict the rotation sector to a predetermined angular range, such as 10-25 degrees, or other predetermined angular range. For example, carbonator head 110 may include a stopper 408 coupled to the rotatable carbonator head, the movement of which is restricted within an arcuate groove 410 between two opposite ends of the groove that define an open position and a locked position.

[0049] The stopper 408 may include a protrusion 409 that fits into either of two stop recesses on the periphery of the groove 410, namely a first stop recess 411a and a second stop recess 411b.

[0050] The first stop recess 411a can be configured to hold a protrusion 409 of the stopper 408 that can slide into the first stop recess when the rotatable carbonation head 110 reaches the released position, while the second stop recess 411b can hold a protrusion 409 of the stopper 408 that can slide into the second stop recess when the rotatable carbonation head 110 reaches the opposite end of the pivot sector in the locked position or any other position on the pivot sector.

[0051] The stop recesses 411 a and 411 b may be designed to snap the stopper 408 into either the locked or released position, providing an enhanced sensory user experience. In some embodiments of the invention, the stopper and groove may be designed to induce a clicking sound when the stopper snaps into the locked or released position.

[0052] When the rotatable carbonator head is in the locked position, plungers 306 of pressure relief valves 112 and 114 are spaced from the angled wall of cam 300. When a user turns the bottle to unscrew it from its mounting, the rotatable carbonator head first rotates to the released position, at which point the plungers are pushed down by the angled wall of cam 300 and the poppet 402 of each of pressure relief valves 112 and 114 opens a passage within that valve to allow excess pressure within the carbonator bottle to escape to the air.

[0053] FIG. 6A is a cross-sectional view of the carbonator head of the carbonator shown in FIG. 1 with the locking teeth in the locked position.

[0054] When the locking teeth 202 are in the locked position, the rim 216 on the neck 212 of the bottle 210 is held in a non-releasable position between the flange 220 and the upper surface of the locking teeth 202 because the inner wall 107 of the mounting portion 106 prevents the locking teeth 202 from retracting to release the rim 216.

[0055] Figure 6B is a bottom view of the carbonator head mount of the carbonator shown in Figure 1 with locking tooth 202 in the locked position (the cross-section of Figure 6A is taken along line AA shown in Figure 6B). The state of carbonator head 100 shown in Figure 5A corresponds to this locked position.

[0056] 6C is a cross-sectional view of the carbonator head of the carbonator shown in FIG. 1 with the locking teeth in the unlocked position.

[0057] In this position, the locking teeth 202 are positioned with recesses 204 in the wall of the mount 106 behind each of the locking teeth. Thus, when the bottle is unscrewed from the carbonator head, the rim 216 may push the locking teeth 202 rearward into the corresponding recesses 204, allowing the bottle neck 212 to be fully unscrewed and disengaged from the mount 106.

[0058] FIG. 6D is a bottom view of the carbonator head mount of the carbonator shown in FIG. 1 with the locking teeth in the unlocked position, showing the locking and enabling teeth held within corresponding recesses 204.

[0059] FIG. 7A is a cross-sectional view of the carbonator head of the carbonator shown in FIG. 1 with a bottle inserted and about to be screwed into the carbonator head mount and the enabling teeth in the disabled position.

[0060] FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view of the carbonator head of the carbonator shown in FIG. 1 with the bottle fully threaded into the carbonator head mount and the active teeth in the inactive position.

[0061] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the purpose of enabling teeth 205 is to prevent rotation of the carbonator head during bottle threading or as a result of tampering with the carbonator head unless bottle neck 212 is substantially fully threaded onto the mount. As long as rim 216 of bottle 210 is pressed against enabling teeth 205, the bottle can be threaded without rotating the carbonator head. Rotation of the carbonator head is prevented by stopper 222, which is a protrusion on the carbonator head mount that is blocked by the body of teeth 205 and prevents rotation of the carbonator head.

[0062] Only when the rim 216 presses against the effective teeth 205 will the effective teeth 205 retract, allowing the stopper 222 to pass through the gap, thereby allowing rotation of the carbonator head.

[0063] The effective teeth 205 may exhibit a sloped front surface 208 that defines a tapered gap between the effective tooth body and the carbonator head mount. Thus, only when the rim 216 of the bottle 210 reaches its highest threaded position, i.e., is fully threaded onto the mount, will the rim 216 press against the teeth 205, forcing them back into the recesses 207 and creating a gap between the teeth and the carbonator head, thereby allowing the carbonator head to rotate.

[0064] Thus, when a bottle is inserted into the fitting and threaded into (or onto) the flange 220 of the carbonator head 110 (the carbonator head is initially in the released position), as long as the enabling teeth remain in their initial position, the carbonator head will not rotate until the bottle is securely threaded. Once the bottle reaches its fully threaded position, the rim 216 on the neck 212 of the bottle 210 presses against the enabling teeth 205, thereby releasing the stopper 222 on the carbonator head, so that the final threading motion applied by the user to the bottle rotates the carbonator head to the locked position (see also FIGS. 5A and 5B and corresponding description herein). When the carbonator head is in the locked position, carbonation may occur if the user activates a carbonation button or similar mechanism. The user can then rotate the bottle in the opposite direction to unscrew the bottle and release it from the fitting.

[0065] Below are indicators of the elements shown in the diagram: 100-Carbonator 101-base 102-Gas Canister Compartment 103-support surface 104-Housing 106-Mounting part 107-Inner wall 108-Carbonation Tube 110-carbonation head 112-Pressure Relief Valve 114-Safety Pressure Relief Valve 202-Lockable tooth 204-Recess 205-active teeth 206-Internal thread 207-recess 208-Inclined surface of effective tooth 210-bottle 212-Bottleneck 214-External thread 216-rim 218-Flange base 219-Mounting opening 220-Flange 221-Top of carbonation head 222-Limiter 300-cam 302-First Sloping Wall 304-Second Sloping Wall 306-Plunger 400-Gas Canister 402-Poppet 404-Gas canister mounting part 406-Gas Canister Outlet 408-Stopper 409-protrusion 410-Groove 411a - First stop indent 411b - Second stop recess

[0066] Different embodiments are disclosed herein. Features of certain embodiments can be combined with features of other embodiments. Thus, a particular embodiment may be a combination of features of more than one embodiment. The foregoing description of embodiments of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that many modifications, variations, substitutions, changes, and equivalents are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and variations that fall within the true spirit of the present invention.

[0067] While certain features of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, many modifications, substitutions, changes, and equivalents will occur to those skilled in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of the invention.

Claims

1. 1. A carbonator comprising a rotatable carbonation head, said rotatable carbonation head comprising: at least one pressure relief valve; a carbonation tube connectable to the gas canister via a pipe; a flange for engaging the neck of the bottle filled with the liquid to be carbonated by threading the neck into or onto the flange to hold the bottle securely with the carbonation tube maintained within the bottle, and for disengaging the neck of the bottle from the flange by unscrewing the neck from the flange; Equipped with the rotatable carbonator head is configured to rotate from an open position to a locked position when the neck is threaded into or onto the flange, and the rotatable carbonator head is configured to rotate from the locked position to the open position when the neck is unscrewed from the flange; In the release position, if excess pressure exists within the bottle, the at least one pressure relief valve is operative to open to relieve the excess pressure; A carbonator wherein in the locked position, the at least one pressure relief valve remains closed.

2. The carbonator of claim 1 , wherein the at least one pressure relief valve comprises two pressure relief valves.

3. 3. The carbonator of claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising an activator for actuating said at least one pressure relief valve.

4. 4. The carbonator of claim 3, wherein the activator is configured to actuate the at least one pressure relief valve by depressing a plunger of each of the at least one pressure relief valve.

5. 5. The carbonator of claim 4, further comprising a cam adjacent to said rotatable carbonator head, said cam comprising at least one sloped wall defining a tapered space between said cam and said plunger of each of said at least one pressure relief valve in physical contact with said plunger when said carbonator head is in said release position.

6. 3. The carbonator of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the carbonator head is restricted when rotated to a pivot sector.

7. 7. The carbonator of claim 6, wherein said carbonator head is in said release position when said carbonator head rotates to a first end of said pivot sector.

8. 8. The carbonator of claim 7, wherein said carbonator head is in said locked position when said carbonator head is rotated away from said first end of said pivot sector.

9. 9. The carbonator of claim 8, wherein said carbonator head is in said locked position when said carbonator head rotates to the second end of said pivot sector.

10. 3. The carbonator of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein a plurality of locking teeth are provided to clutch onto a rim projecting laterally from the neck of the bottle when the carbonator head is in the locked position.

11. 11. The carbonator of claim 10, further comprising a wall surrounding said flange to prevent back-off of said locking teeth and to keep said neck clutched by said locking teeth.

12. 12. The carbonator of claim 11, wherein a recess is provided in the wall surrounding the flange such that when the carbonator head is rotated to the release position, the locking teeth retract into the recess to release the laterally protruding rim of the neck of the bottle.

13. 3. The carbonator of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein a stop is coupled to the rotatable carbonator head and is limited in movement within a groove, opposite ends of the groove defining the locked and released positions.

14. 14. The carbonator of claim 13, wherein the groove has a first recessed portion on its periphery such that a protrusion on the stopper slides into the first recessed portion when the carbonator head reaches the released position.

15. 15. The carbonator of claim 14, wherein the groove has a second recessed portion on its periphery such that a protrusion on the stopper slides into the second recessed portion when the carbonator head is rotated to the locked position.

16. 3. The carbonator of claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising a housing mounted on a base and provided with a gas canister compartment, said housing suspended over said base and having lateral extensions to accommodate said carbonator head.

17. 3. The carbonator of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the carbonator head is configured to rotate only when the bottle is fully threaded into or onto the flange.

18. 18. The carbonator of claim 17, further comprising one or more enabling teeth for facilitating rotation of said carbonator head only when said bottle is fully threaded into or onto said flange.

19. at least one pressure relief valve; a carbonation tube connectable to the gas canister via a pipe; a flange for engaging the neck of the bottle filled with the liquid to be carbonated by threading the neck into or onto the flange to hold the bottle securely with the carbonation tube maintained within the bottle, and for disengaging the neck of the bottle from the flange by unscrewing the neck from the flange; 1. A rotatable carbonation head comprising: the rotatable carbonator head is configured to rotate from an open position to a locked position when the neck is threaded into or onto the flange, and the rotatable carbonator head is configured to rotate from the locked position to the open position when the neck is unscrewed from the flange; In the release position, if excess pressure exists within the bottle, the at least one pressure relief valve is operative to open to relieve the excess pressure; A rotatable carbonation head, wherein in said locked position, said at least one pressure relief valve remains closed.

20. 20. The rotatable carbonator head of claim 19, wherein said carbonator head is configured to rotate only when said bottle is fully threaded into or onto said flange.

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