Reactant/gas separation means for beverage carbonation device

• US 4,475,448 A
• Filed: 02/22/1983
• Issued: 10/09/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Food Corporation (Altria Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: General Food Corporation (Altria Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Basile, Peter A., Shoaf, Myron D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jenkins, Robert W.
• Application Number:
  US06/468,237
• Time in Patent Office: 595 Days
• Field of Search: 99/323.1, 99/323.2, 99/275, 261/DIG. 7, 261/121 R, 261/18 R, 426/591, 426/561, 426/477, 426/78, 220/23
• US Class Current: 99/323.1
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 2/40 Effervescence-generating compositions
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 261/07 Carbonators

Abstract

A separation means is disclosed which effectively isolates the resultant salts of a carbonation reaction while permitting the transfer of gaseous carbon dioxide in a substantially pure, non-contaminated form to a liquid to be carbonated. The separation means comprises a passageway with a plurality of restricted gas communicating apertures and a one-way valve attached to the end of the passageway which is proximate to the liquid to be carbonated. The gas communicating apertures and one-way valve function to retain the chemical by-products of the reaction from the carbonated beverage.

Claims

1. A pressurizable container for preparing therein a carbonated beverage from a water-based liquid and carbon dioxide generating chemical reactants designed to minimize transfer to the beverage of the resultant products of the chemical reaction, comprising:

a. a container having an opening therein providing access to the contents thereof;

b. a carbonation chamber, insertable into said opening in the container for holding therein the chemical reactants and for substantially isolating the resultant chemical products of the chemical reaction from the beverage to prevent their adversely affecting the palatability of the beverage, said chamber having an upper compartment for holding therein the chemical reactants and a quantity of water to promote the reaction and a lower compartment for releasing the generated carbon dioxide into a beverage in the container;

c. a means for preventing the transfer from the upper to the lower compartment of the resultant chemical products while allowing a transfer of carbon dioxide to carbonate the liquid; and

d. a one-way valve on the preventing transfer means of step (c) which is proximate to the liquid to be carbonated, said one-way valve preventing the back flow of liquid or gas into the reaction chamber.

2. A pressurizable container as claimed in claim 1 wherein the preventing transfer means of step (c) comprises a passageway with a plurality of restricted gas communicating apertures to prevent a substantial portion of the carbonation reaction products from entering the passageway.

3. A pressurizable container as claimed in claim 2 wherein the plurality of gas communicating apertures are positioned on the passageway above the level of the reaction medium in the carbonation chamber to enable gas but not reaction products to pass therethrough.

4. A pressurizable container as claimed in claims 2 or 3 wherein the passageway is tubular shaped and includes a means for sealing the carbonation chamber from the beverage to be carbonated thereby preventing the transfer of liquid or solid material from the carbonation reaction chamber to the beverage to be carbonated.

5. A pressurizable container as claimed in claim 4, said tubular passageway including an integrally formed collar positioned to effectively shield the plurality of gas communicating apertures from the chemical reactants and products therefrom.

6. A pressurizable container as claimed in claim 1, said container having a circular opening in the top thereof, said carbonation chamber having a circular cross section with a diameter such that it fits snugly within said circular opening, and having a rim around the top thereof with a greater diameter than said circular opening such that the chamber is suspended in the container from said rim which is positioned on top of the circular opening.

7. A pressurizable container as claimed in claim 1 or 6, said container having a cylindrically shaped neck with said circular opening being in the top thereof, said carbonation chamber being cylindrically shaped to fit snugly within said cylindrical neck.

8. A pressurizable container as claimed in claim 7, said upper and lower compartments comprising upper and lower cylindrical compartments formed in said cylindrical carbonation chamber, with a separating wall therebetween, and a tubular channel centrally positioned in said separating wall and extending therethrough.

9. A pressurizable container as claimed in claim 8, including

a. a closure for engaging and sealing the access opening of the container with said rim therebetween, said closure having a centrally positioned tubular preventing means depending therefrom which has a diameter to fit snugly within said tubular channel upon tightening of the closure onto the beverage container;

b. an O-ring provided around said tubular preventing means to form a primary seal relative to the tubular channel;

c. a plurality of gas communicating apertures provided through said tubular preventing means above the upper end of said tubular channel to allow carbon dioxide to pass from the upper chamber through the gas communicating apertures into said tubular preventing means and then into said lower chamber to carbonate the liquid in the container; and

d. an integrally formed collar provided around said tubular preventing means to shield the gas communicating apertures from the carbonation reaction medium while forming a secondary seal relative to the tubular channel.

10. A pressurizable container as claimed in claim 9, said tubular preventing means further including a one-way valve positioned at the lower end of said tubular means to also prevent the passage therethrough of resultant chemical products and to prevent the backflow of liquid or gas into the carbonation reaction chamber.

11. A pressurizable container as claimed in claim 9, said container being a wide mouth bottle, and said container and closure both being threaded for engagement with each other.

12. A pressurizable container as claimed in claim 11, said closure having a flat top to provide a stable base for the covered container when it is placed in an inverted position.

13. A pressurizable container as claimed in claim 12, including a vent valve provided in said closure to allow venting of excessive carbon dioxide from the interior of the pressurized container prior to disengagement of the closure from the container.

14. A pressurizable container as claimed in claim 9, wherein said closure has a sufficient volume to hold the carbonation reaction mixture so that the gas communicating apertures are above the level of said reaction mixture when the container is inverted.