Refrigerator having a gas line which pressurizes a drink supply container for producing beverages

• US 20050167446A1
• Filed: 03/31/2005
• Published: 08/04/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Beverage Works, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Beverage Works, Inc.
• Inventors: Crisp, Harry Lee III, Duff, Todd Erik
• Granted Patent: US 7,168,592 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 222/129.100
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0021 the components being mixed at the time of dispensing, i.e. post-mix dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0057 Carbonators
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0858 using compression systems
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2001/082 arranged in parallel
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/00036 for use with or in refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/0006 Manifolds
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 3/0006 responsive to coded information provided on the neck or spout of the storage container, e.g. bar-code, magnets or transponder
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/126 Water cooler
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2323/023 Door in door constructions
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2331/803 Bottles
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/06 Refrigerators with a vertical mullion
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/00 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/203 Inventory monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing

Abstract

A refrigerator having a water dispenser and gas line operable to pressurize a drink supply container. The drink supply container contains drink syrup. The drink syrup and the water from the water dispenser are used to produce a beverage.

Claims

1. A refrigerator comprising:

a housing including a refrigeration compartment;

at least one door supported by the housing, the door providing access to the refrigeration compartment;

a drink supply container holder supported by the housing, the drink supply container holder configured to removably hold at least one removable pressurizable drink supply container, the pressurizable drink supply container having a drink supply outlet valve and a gas inlet valve, wherein the pressurizable drink supply container can contain a variable volume of drink syrup;

at least one water line supported by the housing, the water line providing a supply of water during operation of the refrigerator;

at least one water dispenser fluidly connected to the water line;

at least one water valve fluidly connected to the water line;

at least one gas line supported by the housing, the gas line providing a supply of gas during operation of the refrigerator, the gas line fluidly connectable to the gas inlet valve of the drink supply container to pressurize the drink supply container; and

a support member supported by the housing, the support member configured to support a beverage collector.

2. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the drink supply outlet valve, the gas inlet valve and the water valve each have an open position and a closed position.

3. The refrigerator of claim 2, which includes an actuator operable to enable the drink supply outlet valve to switch between the open position and the closed position of the drink supply outlet valve.

4. The refrigerator of claim 3, which includes an actuator operable to enable the water valve to switch between the open position and the closed position of the water valve.

5. The refrigerator of claim 1, which includes at least one gas supply container supported by the housing, the gas supply container fluidly connected to the gas line.

6. The refrigerator of claim 5, which includes a gas supply container holder supported by the housing, the gas supply container holder configured to removably hold the gas supply container.

7. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the gas line has an end movable between:

(a) a first position where the end of the gas line is connected to the gas inlet valve of the drink supply container during pressurization of the drink supply container; and

(b) a second position where the end of the gas line is disconnected from the gas inlet valve of the drink supply container when the drink supply container is not being pressurized.

8. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the gas includes carbon dioxide gas.

9. A refrigerator comprising:

a housing including a refrigeration compartment;

at least one door supported by the housing, the door providing access to the refrigeration compartment;

a drink supply container holder supported by the housing, the drink supply container holder configured to removably hold at least one removable pressurizable drink supply container, the pressurizable drink supply container having a drink supply outlet valve and a gas inlet valve, wherein the pressurizable drink supply container can contain a variable volume of drink syrup;

at least one water line supported by the housing, the water line providing a supply of water during operation of the refrigerator;

at least one water dispenser fluidly connected to the water line;

at least one water valve fluidly connected to the water line;

a plurality of actuators supported by the housing, including;

(a) one actuator operable to enable the drink supply outlet valve to switch between an open position and a closed position; and

(b) another actuator operable to enable the water valve to switch between an open position and a closed position;

at least one gas line supported by the housing, the gas line providing a supply of gas during operation of the refrigerator, the gas line fluidly connectable to the gas inlet valve of the drink supply container to pressurize the drink supply container; and

a support member supported by the housing, the support member configured to support a beverage collector.

10. The refrigerator of claim 9, which includes at least one gas supply container supported by the housing, the gas supply container fluidly connected to the gas line.

11. The refrigerator of claim 10, which includes a gas supply container holder supported by the housing, the gas supply container holder configured to removably hold the gas supply container.

12. The refrigerator of claim 9, wherein the gas line has an end movable between:

(a) a first position where the end of the gas line is connected to the gas inlet valve of the drink supply container during pressurization of the drink supply container; and

(b) a second position where the end of the gas line is disconnected from the gas inlet valve of the drink supply container when the drink supply container is not being pressurized.

13. The refrigerator of claim 9, wherein the gas includes carbon dioxide gas.

14. A refrigerator comprising:

a housing including a refrigeration compartment;

at least one door supported by the housing, the door providing access to the refrigeration compartment;

a drink supply container holder supported by the housing, the drink supply container holder configured to removably hold at least one removable pressurizable drink supply container, the pressurizable drink supply container having a drink supply outlet valve and a gas inlet valve, wherein the pressurizable drink supply container can contain a variable volume of drink syrup;

at least one water line supported by the housing, the water line providing a supply of water during operation of the refrigerator;

at least one water dispenser fluidly connected to the water line, the water dispenser positioned below at least a portion of the pressurizable drink supply container;

at least one water valve fluidly connected to the water line;

a plurality of actuators supported by the housing, including;

(a) one actuator operable to enable the drink supply outlet valve to switch between an open position and a closed position; and

(b) another actuator operable to enable the water valve to switch between an open position and a closed position;

at least one gas line supported by the housing, the gas line providing a supply of gas, the gas line fluidly connectable to the gas inlet valve of the drink supply container to pressurize the drink supply container; and

a support member supported by the housing, the support member configured to support a beverage collector.

15. The refrigerator of claim 14, which includes at least one gas supply container supported by the housing, the gas supply container fluidly connected to the gas line.

16. The refrigerator of claim 15, which includes a gas supply container holder supported by the housing, the gas supply container holder configured to removably hold the gas supply container.

17. The refrigerator of claim 14, wherein the gas line has an end movable between:

(a) a first position where the end of the gas line is connected to the gas inlet valve of the drink supply container during pressurization of the drink supply container; and

(b) a second position where the end of the gas line is disconnected from the gas inlet valve of the drink supply container when the drink supply container is not being pressurized.

18. The refrigerator of claim 14, wherein the gas includes carbon dioxide gas.