Home soda dispensing system

• US 4,947,739 A
• Filed: 02/17/1989
• Issued: 08/14/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Raymond C. Cunningham II
• Original Assignee: Charlie O Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Owen, Charles R.
• Primary Examiner(s): JENKINS, ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US07/311,769
• Time in Patent Office: 543 Days
• Field of Search: 99/275, 99/323.1, 99/323.2, 99/323.3, 261/DIG. 7, 261/121.1, 261/64.1, 222/132, 222/131, 222/399, 141/14, 141/18, 141/98, 137/505.11
• US Class Current: 99/323.2
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/2361 within small containers, e.g. within bottles
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/5014 movable by human force, e.g. kitchen or table devices
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0021 the components being mixed at the time of dispensing, i.e. post-mix dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0456 Siphons, i.e. beverage containers under gas pressure without supply of further pressurised gas during dispensing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 261/07 Carbonators

Abstract

A home carbonation system for producing soft drinks. A high pressure CO₂ vessel comprises a regulator valve assembly which provides fail safe venting, a refill capability, and a low pressure output. It may be interconnected via a fill hose to a seltzer dispenser comprising a multifunction discharge valve secured to a plastic bottle. A plurality of syrup bottles, each filled with a different flavor of concentrate, enable the mixing of desired soda flavors. A storage rack efficiently houses the pressure vessel, the seltzer bottle, and the individual syrup containers. A pressure vessel housing box includes an offset nest which conveniently stores the fill tube. The seltzer bottle is reinforced by a two-piece, vented, anti-fragmentation shroud equipped with inspection slots for enabling proper mixing. The discharge valve is threadably coupled to the bottle, and it includes a gas inlet orifice for receiving low pressure gas from the regulator assembly. Charging gas admitted into the discharge valve is conducted beneath the liquid level by an internal siphon tube, and the vigorous bubbling which results in visible through the inspection slots. The discharge valve, which need not be removed from the bottle for subsequent dispensing of charged water, includes a manually operated lever adapted to trigger its internal valve elements for dispensing fluid from the seltzer bottle through an adjacent output tube, which vigorously squirts charged water into the awaiting users'"'"' glass.

Claims

1. A soda fountain system comprising:

a source of high pressure carbon dioxide gas comprising a pressure vessel and a regulator valve assembly associated with said vessel for selectively discharging low pressure carbon dioxide gas;

a seltzer dispenser adapted to be partially filled by a user with water and thereafter pressurized with low pressure carbon dioxide gas by interconnection with said regulator assembly, said seltzer dispenser comprising a seltzer bottle for containing gas and liquid and a seltzer discharge valve for selectively outputting seltzer from said bottle, said discharge valve adapted to be threadably coupled to said bottle and comprising;

low pressure gas inlet valve for pressurizing said bottle;

a low pressure output spout for discharging seltzer from the bottle;

a normally blocked communication orifice selectively permitting fluid flow communication between said bottle and said output spout; and

,

lever valve means normally blocking said communication orifice for actuating said bottle;

hose means adapted to be selectively coupled between said regulator valve assembly and said low pressure inlet valve to pressurize said bottle;

a plurality of syrup containers, each containing a different flavor of syrup concentrate, for providing a source of syrup to be mixed with seltzer; and

,

rack means adapted to be disposed upon a supporting surface and comprising a pair of compartments for conveniently receiving and storing said source and said seltzer dispenser, and at least one adjacent shelf for conveniently storing one or more of said syrup containers.

2. The system as defined in claim 1 including a box for containing and housing said pressure vessel, said box having a recessed top defining a nest area for storing said hose means during non use.

3. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said regulator valve assembly comprises:

a rigid, generally tubular bottom housing adapted to be threadably coupled to said pressure vessel, said bottom housing internally comprising lower and upper passageways separated from one another by a restriction orifice which permits fluid communication between said upper and lower passageways, said bottom housing comprising pressure relief means for venting said vessel in response to a predetermined overpressure and a high pressure filling valve for safely recharging said pressure vessel;

a rigid, generally tubular top housing adapted to be threadably coupled to said bottom housing, said top housing comprising a low pressure gas output valve;

internal plunger means for selectively unblocking said restriction orifice, said plunger means comprising piston means operationally slidably disposed in said top housing and stem means slidably received within said upper passageway of said bottom housing; and

,

internal spring means for normally biasing said piston means toward said low pressure gas output valve.

4. The system as defined in claim 3 wherein said regulator assembly pressure relief means and said high pressure filling valve are fitted into transverse passageways machined into said bottom housing in axial alignment with one another, said transverse passageways disposed in fluid flow communication with said lower passageway defined within said bottom housing.

5. The system as defined within claim 4 wherein said stem means terminates in a reduced diameter portion adapted to contact said restriction orifice, and comprises a passageway for admitting gas from said upper passageway of said bottom housing and venting it above said piston means into fluid flow communication with said low pressure output valve.

6. The system as defined in claim 5 wherein that portion of the interior of said top housing beneath said piston means is vented to atmosphere.

7. The system as defined in claim 5 including a box for containing and housing said pressure vessel, said box having a recessed top defining a nest area for storing said hose means during non use.

8. The system as defined in claim 5 wherein said seltzer dispenser comprises non-fragmenting housing means for shrouding said bottle, said housing means comprising upper and lower halves adapted to be coaxially fitted upon said bottle.

14. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said seltzer discharge valve comprises an integral base adapted to be threadably coupled to said bottle, an inlet mouth circumscribed by said base, an internally defined reduced diameter collar spaced apart from said mouth and circumscribing said communication orifice, a conical region in fluid flow communication with said communication orifice and surrounded by said collar, a siphon tube extending from said conical region into the interior of said bottle, an annulus defined between said collar and said base, and a gasket adapted to be coupled to said collar for mounting said siphon tube.

15. The system as defined in claim 14 wherein said gasket comprises a flange portion adapted to be received within said annulus for sealing said discharge valve to said bottle.

16. The system as defined in claim 15 wherein said low pressure inlet valve is in fluid flow communication with said siphon tube.

17. The system as defined in claim 16 wherein said low pressure inlet valve has an axis, and said spout has an axis coplanar with said first mentioned axis.

18. The system as defined in claim 17 wherein said lever valve means comprises a lever disposed above said inlet valve and said spout, means for pivotally mounting said lever, and cam housing means actuated by said lever for selectively blocking and unblocking said communication orifice.

19. The system as defined in claim 18 wherein said discharge valve lever occupies a plane substantially transverse and perpendicular with respect to the plane occupied by the axis of said inlet valve and the axis of said discharge nozzle.

20. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said syrup containers comprises a resilient plastic bottle adapted to b squeezed by the user to output syrup, and an upper valve defined at the top of said bottle for suitably directing syrup into said bottle when said syrup container(s) is squeezed.

21. The system as defined in claim 20 wherein said rack means comprises shelf means for containing a plurality of said syrup containers in at least one orderly row, an enclosure for semipermanently storing said source of high pressure gas, and a user accessible compartment for semi-permanently storing said seltzer dispenser adjacent said source of high pressure gas.

22. The system as defined in claim 21 wherein said system comprises a box for containing said pressure vessel which provides a nest area for said hose means during storage.

23. The system as defined in claim 22 wherein said seltzer dispenser comprises non-fragmenting housing means for shrouding said bottle, said housing means comprising upper and lower halves adapted to be coaxially fitted upon said bottle.

24. The system as defined in claim 23 wherein said bottle is translucent, and each of said housing means halves comprises elongated inspection slots adapted to expose the interior of said bottle to permit visual inspection thereof.

25. The system as defined in claim 24 wherein said housing means comprises marker tab means adjacent said inspection slots for establishing proper liquid levels within said bottle prior to gas charging thereof.

26. The system as defined in claim 25 wherein said lower housing half comprises a plurality of lower vent holes for relieving pressure in the event of a burst.

27. The system as defined in claim 26 including a decorative box for housing said pressure vessel, said box comprising a nest area for temporarily storing said hose means.

9. The system as defined in claim wherein said seltzer dispenser comprises non-fragmenting housing means for shrouding said bottle, said housing means comprising upper and lower halves adapted to be coaxially fitted upon said bottle.

10. The system as defined in claim 9 wherein said bottle is translucent, and each of said housing means halves comprises elongated inspection slots adapted to expose the interior of said bottle to permit visual inspection thereof.

11. The system as defined in claim 10 wherein said housing means comprises marker tab means adjacent said inspection slots for establishing proper liquid levels within said bottle prior to gas charging thereof.

12. The system as defined in claim 9 wherein said lower housing half comprises a plurality of lower vent holes for relieving pressure in the event of a burst.

13. The system as defined in claim 12 including a box for containing and housing said pressure vessel, said box having a recessed top defining a nest area for storing said hose means during non use.

28. A soda fountain system comprising:

a source of high pressure carbon dioxide gas comprising a pressure vessel and a regulator valve assembly associated with said vessel for selectively discharging low pressure carbon dioxide gas, said regulator valve assembly comprising pressure relief means for venting said vessel in response to a predetermined overpressure, a high pressure filling valve for safely recharging said pressure vessel, and a low pressure gas output valve;

a seltzer dispenser adapted to be partially filled by a user with water, and thereafter pressurized with low pressure carbon dioxide gas by interconnection with said low pressure gas output valve, said seltzer dispenser comprising a seltzer bottle for containing gas and liquid and a seltzer discharge valve for selectively outputting seltzer from said bottle, said discharge valve adapted to be threadably coupled to said bottle and comprising;

a low pressure gas inlet valve for pressurizing said bottle;

a low pressure output spout for discharging seltzer from the bottle interior;

a normally blocked communication orifice selectively permitting fluid flow communication between said bottle interior and said output spout; and

,

lever valve means normally blocking said communication orifice for actuating said bottle;

hose means adapted to be selectively coupled between said low pressure output valve and said low pressure inlet valve to pressurize said bottle;

a plurality of syrup containers, each containing a different flavor of syrup concentrate, for providing a source of syrup to be mixed with seltzer; and

,

rack means adapted to be disposed upon a supporting surface and comprising a pair of compartments for conveniently receiving and storing said source and said seltzer dispenser, and at least one adjacent shelf for conveniently storing one or more of said syrup containers.

29. The system as defined in claim 28 including a decorative box for housing said pressure vessel, said box comprising a nest area for temporarily storing said hose means.

30. The system as defined in claim 28 wherein said regulator valve assembly comprises:

a rigid, generally tubular bottom housing adapted to be threadably coupled to said pressure vessel, said bottom housing internally comprising lower and upper passageways separated from one another by a restriction orifice which permits fluid communication between said upper and lower passageways,

a rigid, generally tubular top housing adapted to be threadably coupled to said bottom housing, said top housing comprising a low pressure gas output valve;

internal plunger means for selectively unblocking said restriction orifice, said plunger means comprising piston means operationally slidably disposed in said top housing and stem means slidably received within said upper passageway of said bottom housing; and

,

internal spring means for normally biasing said piston means toward;

said low pressure gas output valve.

31. The system as defined in claim 30 wherein said regulator assembly pressure relief means and said high pressure filling valve are fitted into transverse passageways machined into said bottom housing in axial alignment with one another, said transverse passageways disposed in fluid flow communication with said lower passageway defined within said bottom housing.

32. The system as defined within claim 31 wherein said stem means terminates in a reduced diameter portion adapted to contact said restriction orifice, and comprises a passageway for admitting gas from said upper passageway of said bottom housing and venting it above said piston means into fluid flow communication with said low pressure output valve.

33. The system as defined in claim 32 wherein that portion of the interior of said top housing beneath said piston means is vented to atmosphere.

34. The system as defined in claim 28 wherein said seltzer discharge valve comprises an integral base adapted to be threadably coupled to said bottle, an inlet mouth circumscribed by said base, an internally defined reduced diameter collar spaced apart from said mouth and circumscribing said communication orifice, a conical region in fluid flow communication with said communication orifice and surrounded by said collar, a siphon tube extending from said conical region into the interior of said bottle, an annulus defined between said collar and said base, and a gasket adapted to be coupled to said collar for mounting said siphon tube.

35. The system as defined in claim 34 wherein said gasket comprises a flange portion adapted to be received within said annulus for sealing said discharge valve to said bottle.

36. The system as defined in claim 35 wherein said low pressure inlet valve is in fluid flow communication with said siphon tube.

37. The system as defined in claim 36 wherein said low pressure inlet valve has an axis, and said spout has an axis coplanar with said first mentioned axis.

38. The system as defined in claim 37 wherein said seltzer discharge valve has a longitudinal axis, and said low pressure inlet valve axis and said spout axis each intersect said longitudinal axis at an angle of between 50 and 60 degrees.

39. The system as defined in claim 38 wherein said lever valve means comprises a lever disposed above said inlet valve and said spout, means for pivotally mounting said lever, and cam housing means actuated by said lever for selectively blocking and unblocking said communication orifice.

40. The system as defined in claim 39 wherein said discharge valve lever occupies a plane substantially transverse and perpendicular with respect to the plane occupied by the axis of said inlet valve and the axis of said discharge nozzle.

41. The system as defined in claim 28 wherein each of said syrup containers comprises a resilient plastic bottle adapted to be squeezed by the user to output syrup, and an upper valve defined at the top of said bottle for suitably directing syrup into said bottle when said syrup container(s) is squeezed.

42. The system as defined in claim 41 wherein said rack means comprises shelf means for containing a plurality of said syrup containers in at least one orderly row, an enclosure for semi-permanently storing said source of high pressure gas, and a user accessible compartment for semi-permanently storing said seltzer dispenser adjacent said source of high pressure gas.

43. The system as defined in claim 42 wherein said system comprises a box for containing said pressure vessel which provides a nest area for said hose means during storage.

44. A home soda fountain system comprising:

a source of high pressure carbon dioxide gas comprising a pressure vessel and a regulator valve assembly associated with said vessel for selectively discharging low pressure carbon dioxide gas, said regulator valve assembly comprising pressure relief means for venting said vessel in response to a predetermined overpressure, a high pressure filling valve for safely recharging said pressure vessel, and a low pressure ga output valve;

a seltzer dispenser adapted to be partially filled by a use with water, and thereafter pressurized with low pressure carbon dioxide gas by interconnection with said low pressure gas output valve, said seltzer dispenser comprising a translucent plastic seltzer bottle for containing gas and liquid and a seltzer discharge valve for selectively outputting seltzer from said bottle, said discharge valve adapted to be threadably coupled to said bottle and comprising;

a low pressure gas inlet valve for pressurizing said bottle;

a low pressure output spout for discharging seltzer from the bottle interior;

a normally blocked communication orifice selectively permitting fluid flow communication between or and said output spout; and

,

lever valve means normally blocking said communication orifice for actuating said bottle;

said seltzer dispenser further comprising non-fragmenting housing means for shrouding said bottle, said housing means comprising upper and lower halves adapted to be coaxially fitted upon said bottle, and each of said halves comprises elongated inspection slots adapted to expose the interior of said bottle to permit visual inspection thereof;

hose means adapted to be selectively coupled between said low pressure output valve and said low pressure inlet valve to pressurize said bottle;

a plurality of syrup containers, each containing a different flavor of syrup concentrate, for providing a source of syrup to be mixed with seltzer, each of the syrup containers comprising valve means for discharging syrup;

a decorative container for enclosing said pressure vessel, said container comprising a nest area for temporarily storing said hose means; and

,

rack means adapted to be disposed upon a supporting surface and comprising a pair of compartments for conveniently receiving and storing said source and said seltzer dispenser, and at least one adjacent shelf for conveniently storing one or more of said syrup containers.

45. The system as defined in claim 44 wherein said housing means comprises marker tab means adjacent said inspection slots for establishing proper liquid levels within said bottle prior to gas charging thereof.

46. The system as defined in claim 45 wherein said lower housing half comprises a plurality of lower vent holes for relieving pressure in the event of a burst.

47. The system as defined in claim 44 wherein said seltzer discharge valve comprises an integral base adapted to be threadably coupled to said bottle, an inlet mouth circumscribed by said base, an internally defined reduced diameter collar spaced apart from said mouth and circumscribing said communication orifice, a conical region in fluid flow communication with said communication orifice and surrounded by said collar, a siphon tube extending from said conical region into the interior of said bottle, an annulus defined between said collar and said base, and a gasket adapted to be coupled to said collar for mounting said siphon tube.

48. The system as defined in claim 47 wherein said gasket comprises a flange portion adapted to be received within said annulus for sealing said discharge valve to said bottle.

49. The system as defined in claim 48 wherein said low pressure inlet valve is in fluid flow communication with said siphon tube.

50. The system as defined in claim 49 wherein said low pressure inlet valve has an axis, and said spout has an axis coplanar with said first mentioned axis.

51. The system as defined in claim 50 wherein said seltzer discharge valve has a longitudinal axis, and said low pressure inlet valve axis and said spout axis each intersect said longitudinal axis at an angle of between 50 and 60 degrees.

52. The system as defined in claim 51 wherein said lever valve means comprises a lever disposed above said inlet valve and said spout, means for pivotally mounting said lever, and cam housing means actuated by said lever for selectively blocking and unblocking said communication orifice.

53. The system as defined in claim 52 wherein said discharge valve lever occupies a plane substantially transverse and perpendicular with respect to the plane occupied by the axis of said inlet valve and the axis of said discharge nozzle.

54. The system as defined in claim 47 wherein said regulator valve assembly comprises:

a rigid, generally tubular bottom housing adapted to be threadably coupled to said pressure vessel, said bottom housing internally comprising lower and upper passageways separated from one another by a restriction orifice which permits fluid communication between said upper and lower passageways,

a rigid, generally tubular top housing adapted to be threadably coupled to said bottom housing, said top housing comprising a low pressure gas output valve;

internal plunger means for selectively unblocking said restriction orifice, said plunger means comprising piston means operationally slidably disposed in said top housing and stem means slidably received within said upper passageway of said bottom housing; and

,

internal spring means for normally biasing said piston means toward said low pressure gas output valve.

55. The system as defined in claim 54 wherein said regulator assembly pressure relief means and said high pressure filling valve are fitted into transverse passageways machined into said bottom housing in axial alignment with one another, said transverse passageways disposed in fluid flow communication with said lower passageway defined within said bottom housing.

56. The system as defined within claim 55 wherein said stem means terminates in a reduced diameter portion adapted to contact said restriction orifice, and comprises a passageway for admitting gas from said upper passageway of said bottom housing and venting it above said piston means into fluid flow communication with said low pressure output valve.

57. The system as defined in claim 56 wherein that portion of the interior of said top housing beneath said piston means is vented to atmosphere.

58. A home carbonation system for producing soda water, said system comprising:

a source of high pressure carbon dioxide gas comprising a pressure vessel and a regulator valve assembly associated with said vessel for selectively discharging low pressure carbon dioxide gas, said regulator valve assembly comprising pressure relief means for venting said vessel in response to a predetermined overpressure, a high pressure filling valve for safely recharging said pressure vessel, and a low pressure gas output valve;

a seltzer dispenser adapted to be partially filled by a user with water, and thereafter pressurized with low pressure carbon dioxide gas by interconnection with said low pressure gas output valve, said seltzer dispenser comprising a translucent plastic seltzer bottle for containing gas and liquid and a seltzer discharge valve for selectively outputting seltzer from said bottle, said discharge valve adapted to be threadably coupled to said bottle and comprising;

a low pressure gas inlet valve for pressurizing said bottle;

a low pressure output spout for discharging seltzer from the bottle interior;

a normally blocked communication orifice selectively permitting fluid flow communication between said bottle interior and said output spout; and

,

lever valve means normally blocking said communication orifice for actuating said bottle;

non-fragmenting housing means for shrouding said bottle, said housing means comprising upper and lower halves adapted to be coaxially fitted upon said bottle, and each of said halves comprises elongated inspection slots adapted to expose the interior of said bottle to permit visual inspection thereof;

59. The system as defined in claim 58 wherein said housing means comprises marker tab means adjacent said inspection slots for establishing proper liquid levels within said bottle prior to gas charging thereof.

60. The system as defined in claim 59 wherein said lower housing half comprises a plurality of lower vent holes for relieving pressure in the event of a burst.

61. The system as defined in claim 58 wherein said seltzer discharge valve comprises an integral base adapted to be threadably coupled to said bottle, an inlet mouth circumscribed by said base, an internally defined reduced diameter collar spaced apart from said mouth and circumscribing said communication orifice, a conical region in fluid flow communication with said communication orifice and surrounded by said collar, a siphon tube extending from said conical region into the interior of said bottle, an annulus defined between said collar and said base, and a gasket adapted to be coupled to said collar for mounting said siphon tube.

62. The system as defined in claim 61 wherein said gasket comprises a flange portion adapted to be received within said annulus for sealing said discharge valve to said bottle.

63. The system as defined in claim 62 wherein said low pressure inlet valve is in fluid flow communication with said siphon tube.

64. The system as defined in claim 62 wherein said low pressure inlet valve has an axis, and said spout has an axis coplanar with said first mentioned axis.

65. The system as defined in claim 64 wherein said seltzer discharge valve has a longitudinal axis, and said low pressure inlet valve axis and said spout axis each intersect said longitudinal axis at an angle of between 50 and 60 degrees.

66. The system as defined in claim 61 wherein said housing means comprises marker tab means adjacent said inspection slots for establishing proper liquid levels within said bottle prior to gas charging thereof.

67. The system as defined in claim 66 wherein said lower housing half comprises a plurality of lower vent holes for relieving pressure in the event of a burst.

68. The system as defined in claim 58 wherein said lever valve means comprises a lever disposed above said inlet valve and said spout, means for pivotally mounting said lever, and cam housing means actuated by said lever for selectively blocking and unblocking said communication orifice.

69. The system as defined in claim 68 wherein said discharge valve lever occupies a plane substantially transverse and perpendicular with respect to the plane occupied by the axis of said inlet valve and the axis of said discharge nozzle.

70. A home carbonation system for producing soda water, said system comprising:

a source of high pressure carbon dioxide gas comprising a pressure vessel and a regulator valve assembly associated with said vessel for selectively discharging low pressure carbon dioxide gas, said regulator valve assembly comprising;

a rigid, generally tubular bottom housing adapted to be threadably coupled to said pressure vessel, said bottom housing internally comprising lower and upper passageways separated from one another by a restriction orifice which permits fluid flow communication between said upper and lower passageways,

a rigid, generally tubular top housing adapted to be threadably coupled to said bottom housing, said top housing comprising a low pressure gas output valve;

internal plunger means for selectively unblocking said restriction orifice, said plunger means comprising piston means operationally slidably disposed in said top housing and stem means slidably received within said upper passageway of said bottom housing; and

,

said bottom housing having pressure relief means for venting said vessel in response to a predetermined overpressure and high pressure filling valve means for safely recharging said pressure vessel;

a seltzer dispenser adapted to be partially filled by a user with water and thereafter pressurized with low pressure carbon dioxide gas by interconnection with said low pressure gas output valve, said seltzer dispenser comprising a translucent plastic seltzer bottle for containing gas and liquid and a seltzer discharge valve for selectively outputting seltzer from said bottle, said discharge valve adapted to be threadably coupled to said bottle and comprising;

a low pressure gas inlet valve for pressurizing said bottle;

a low pressure output spout for discharging seltzer from the bottle interior;

a normally blocked communication orifice selectively permitting fluid flow communication between said bottle interior and said output spout; and

,

lever valve means normally blocking said communication orifice for actuating said bottle.

71. The system as defined in claim 70 wherein said seltzer dispenser comprises non-fragmenting housing means for shrouding said bottle, said housing means comprising upper and lower halves adapted to be coaxially fitted upon said bottle, and each of said halves comprises elongated inspection slots adapted to expose the interior of said bottle to permit visual inspection thereof.

72. The system as defined in claim 71 wherein said housing means comprises marker tab means adjacent said inspection slots for establishing proper liquid levels within said bottle prior to gas charging thereof.

73. The system as defined in claim 72 wherein said lower housing half comprises a plurality of lower vent holes for relieving pressure in the event of a burst.

74. The system as defined in claim 70 wherein said seltzer discharge valve comprises an integral base adapted to be threadably coupled to said bottle, an inlet mouth circumscribed by said base, an internally defined reduced diameter collar spaced apart from said mouth and circumscribing said communication orifice, a conical region in fluid flow communication with said communication orifice and surrounded by said collar, a siphon tube extending from said conical region into the interior of said bottle, an annulus defined between said collar and said base, and a gasket adapted to be coupled to said collar for mounting said siphon tube.

75. The system as defined in claim 74 wherein said gasket comprises a flange portion adapted to be received within said annulus for sealing said discharge valve to said bottle.

76. The system as defined in claim 70 wherein said low pressure inlet valve has an axis, and said spout has an axis coplanar with said first mentioned axis.

77. The system as defined in claim 76 wherein said seltzer discharge valve has a longitudinal axis, and said low pressure inlet valve axis and said spout axis each intersect said longitudinal axis at an angle of between 50 and 60 degrees.

78. The system as defined in claim 70 wherein said lever valve means comprises a lever disposed above said inlet valve and said spout, means for pivotally mounting said lever, and cam housing means actuated by said lever for selectively blocking and unblocking said communication orifice.

79. The system as defined in claim 78 wherein said discharge valve lever occupies a plane substantially transverse and perpendicular with respect to the plane occupied by the axis of said inlet valve and the axis of said discharge nozzle.

80. The system as defined in claim 70 wherein said regulator assembly pressure relief means and said high pressure filling valve are fitted into transverse passageways machined into said bottom housing in axial alignment with one another, said transverse passageways disposed in fluid flow communication with said lower passageway defined within said bottom housing.

81. The system as defined within claim 80 wherein said stem means terminates in a reduced diameter portion adapted to contact said restriction orifice, and comprises a passageway for admitting gas from said upper passageway of said bottom housing and venting it above said piston means into fluid flow communication with said low pressure output valve.

82. The system as defined in claim 81 wherein that portion of the interior of said top housing beneath said piston means is vented to atmosphere.

83. A regulated source of compressed gas for producing soda water, said source comprising:

a pressure vessel for storing high pressure gas; and

, selectively discharging low pressure carbon dioxide gas, said regulator valve assembly comprising;

a rigid, generally tubular bottom housing adapted to be threadably coupled to said pressure vessel, said bottom housing internally comprising lower and upper passageways separated from one another by a restriction orifice which permits fluid flow communication between said upper and lower passageways;

a rigid, generally tubular top housing adapted to be threadably coupled to said bottom housing, said top housing comprising a low pressure gas output valve;

internal plunger means for selectively unblocking said restriction orifice, said plunger means comprising piston means operationally slidably disposed in said top housing and stem means slidably received within said upper passageway of said bottom housing; and

,

said bottom housing having pressure relief means for venting said vessel in response to a predetermined overpressure and high pressure filling valve means for safely recharging said pressure vessel.

84. The gas source as defined in claim 83 wherein said regulator assembly pressure relief means and said high pressure filling valve are fitted into transverse passageways machined into said bottom housing in axial alignment with one another, said transverse passageways disposed in fluid flow communication with said lower passageway defined within said bottom housing

85. The gas source as defined within claim 83 wherein said stem means terminates in a reduced diameter portion adapted to contact said restriction orifice, and comprises a passageway for admitting gas from said upper passageway of said bottom housing and venting it above said piston means into fluid flow communication with said low pressure output valve.

86. The gas source as defined in claim 85 wherein that portion of the interior of said top housing beneath said piston means is vented to atmosphere.

87. The gas source as defined in claim 83 including a container for aesthetically housing said vessel and said regulator assembly.

88. The gas source as defined in claim 83 wherein including a hose adapted to be coupled to said low pressure gas output valve for delivering gas to a container during charging, and wherein said container comprises a nest for receiving and storing said hose.