Liquid concentrate/extract beverage dispenser with replaceable concentrate/extract cartridge
First Claim
1. A beverage dispenser comprising:
- a housing including a dispensing area for dispensing a beverage into a container;
at least one of a pump and a control valve in communication with a source of diluent which is to be dispensed into the dispensing area;
a cartridge receiving area in the housing;
a dispensing actuator located in the housing;
a concentrate/extract cartridge removably insertable into the cartridge receiving area in a position to be actuated by the dispensing actuator, the concentrate/extract cartridge adapted to hold a beverage concentrate/extract and including a dispensing aperture positioned to dispense a beverage concentrate/extract into the dispensing area upon placement of the concentrate/extract cartridge in the cartridge receiving area; and
a controller located in the housing to control the actuator to discharge concentrate/extract from the cartridge and to control the at least one of the pump and the control valve to discharge diluent so that the concentrate/extract and diluent are dispensed into the dispensing area.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A beverage dispenser for dispensing a beverage into a container is provided. The dispenser includes a housing having a dispensing area. A pump or a control valve is in communication with a source of diluent which is to be dispensed into the dispensing area. A cartridge receiving area and a dispensing actuator are located in the housing. A concentrate/extract cartridge is removably insertable into the cartridge receiving area in a position to be actuated by the dispensing actuator, the concentrate/extract cartridge being adapted to hold a beverage concentrate/extract and including a dispensing aperture for dispensing a beverage concentrate/extract into the dispensing area upon placement of the concentrate/extract cartridge in the cartridge receiving area. A controller is located in the housing to control the actuator to discharge concentrate/extract into the dispensing area. A method of dispensing a selected beverage made from concentrate/extract and a diluent is also provided.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A beverage dispenser comprising:
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a housing including a dispensing area for dispensing a beverage into a container;
at least one of a pump and a control valve in communication with a source of diluent which is to be dispensed into the dispensing area;
a cartridge receiving area in the housing;
a dispensing actuator located in the housing;
a concentrate/extract cartridge removably insertable into the cartridge receiving area in a position to be actuated by the dispensing actuator, the concentrate/extract cartridge adapted to hold a beverage concentrate/extract and including a dispensing aperture positioned to dispense a beverage concentrate/extract into the dispensing area upon placement of the concentrate/extract cartridge in the cartridge receiving area; and
a controller located in the housing to control the actuator to discharge concentrate/extract from the cartridge and to control the at least one of the pump and the control valve to discharge diluent so that the concentrate/extract and diluent are dispensed into the dispensing area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of dispensing a selected beverage made from concentrate/extract and a diluent, the method comprising:
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inserting a removable cartridge with a selected beverage concentrate/extract into a beverage dispenser, the cartridge having a dispensing tube that extends toward a dispensing area of the dispenser;
providing a diluent to the dispenser;
actuating the dispenser to dispense concentrate/extract from the cartridge into a container located in the dispensing area and to dispense diluent into the container located in the dispensing area; and
mixing the concentrate/extract and diluent in the container. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification