Refrigerator having a beverage dispensing apparatus with a drink supply canister holder

• US 7,032,779 B2
• Filed: 01/25/2005
• Issued: 04/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Beverage Works, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Beverage Works, Inc.
• Inventors: Crisp, Harry Lee III, Duff, Todd Erik
• Primary Examiner(s): Derakshani, Philippe
• Application Number:
  US11/042,239
• Publication Number:
  US 20050133531A1
• Time in Patent Office: 455 Days
• Field of Search: 222/129.1, 222/146.6
• US Class Current: 222/129.1
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0021 the components being mixed at the time of dispensing, i.e. post-mix dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0043 Mixing devices for liquids
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0052 by means for directing respective streams together
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0057 Carbonators
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/006 Conventional carbonators
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/04 Apparatus utilising compressed air or other gas acting directly or indirectly on beverages in storage containers
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0858 using compression systems
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2001/0814 for upside down use
• 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: F25D 23/126 Water cooler
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/06 Refrigerators with a vertical mullion

Abstract

A refrigerator having a drink supply container holder for a beverage dispensing apparatus for a residential refrigerator. The beverage dispensing apparatus includes a drink supplier including the drink supply container holder for holding or maintaining at least one and preferably a plurality of drink supply containers, and at least one and preferably a plurality of valve actuators for causing the drink supply to be selectively released from the drink supply containers, a water supplier for selectively supplying carbonated water and non-carbonated water for producing the beverages, a gas supplier for supplying CO₂ gas to carbonate the carbonated water provided by the water supplier and for supplying CO₂ gas or other gas for pressurizing the drink supply containers to provide a consistent flow rate of the drink supply from the drink supply containers and one or more beverage requesters for enabling users to request one of a plurality of beverages.

Claims

1. A refrigerator comprising:

a housing including at least one compartment;

at least one compartment door connected to the housing, the compartment door movable between a closed position enclosing the compartment and an open position providing access to the compartment;

a drink supply container holder connected to the compartment door, the drink supply container holder configured to removably hold a plurality of removable drink supply containers, each of the drink supply containers having a drink supply outlet valve wherein each of the drink supply containers can contain a variable volume of drink syrup that flows through the drink supply outlet valve when said valve is open, the drink supply container holder having a drink supply container support;

a drink supply container access door connected to the compartment door, the drink supply container access door being movable between a closed position enclosing the drink supply containers and an open position providing access to the drink supply containers;

at least one drink supply outlet valve actuator supported by the housing and operable to separately actuate the drink supply outlet valves;

a water supply apparatus supported by the housing, the water supply apparatus including a carbonated water line, a carbonated water valve connected to the carbonated water line, a water dispenser connected to the carbonated water valve and at least one water valve actuator operable to actuate the carbonated water valve; and

a gas supply apparatus supported by the housing, the gas supply apparatus configured to hold at least one gas supply container which can contain a variable volume of carbon dioxide gas, the gas supply container fluidly connected to the water supply apparatus.

2. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the drink supply container support includes at least one wall that defines at least one opening positioned beneath one of the drink supply containers, the drink syrup passing through the opening when the drink supply outlet valve of said drink supply container is open, said drink syrup flowing:

(a) through air;

or (b) through a portion of said drink supply container, said portion extending through said opening.

3. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the drink supply container support has a plurality of walls defining a plurality of openings positioned beneath the drink supply containers, the drink syrup of one of the drink supply containers passing through one of the openings when the drink supply outlet valve of said drink supply container is open, said drink syrup flowing:

(a) through air;

or (b) through a portion of said drink supply container, said portion extending through said opening.

4. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the drink supply container holder includes at least one drink supply container securing member.

5. The refrigerator of claim 4, wherein the drink supply container securing member is movably coupled to the drink supply container support, the drink supply container securing member being movable between:

(a) a first position wherein the drink supply container securing member is engaged with the drink supply containers; and

(b) a second position wherein the drink supply container securing member is disengaged from the drink supply containers.

6. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the water dispenser has a position adjacent to at least one of the drink supply outlet valves, wherein syrup tubelessly flows downward from said drink supply outlet valve after said valve is opened.

7. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the compartment door has an exterior side and an interior side wherein the drink supply container access door is connected to the exterior side of the compartment door.

8. A refrigerator comprising:

a housing including at least one compartment;

at least one compartment door connected to the housing, the compartment door movable between a closed position enclosing the compartment and an open position providing access to the compartment;

a drink supply container holder connected to the compartment door, the drink supply container holder configured to removably hold a plurality of removable drink supply containers, each of the drink supply containers having a drink supply outlet valve wherein each of the drink supply containers can contain a variable volume of drink syrup that flows through the drink supply outlet valve when said valve is open, the drink supply container holder having a drink supply container support, the drink supply container support having at least one wall that defines at least one opening positioned beneath one of the drink supply containers, the drink syrup passing through the opening when the drink supply outlet valve of said drink supply container is open, said drink syrup flowing;

(i) tubelessly downward from the drink supply outlet;

or (ii) through a portion of said drink supply container and tubelessly downward from said portion, said portion extending through the opening;

at least one drink supply outlet valve actuator supported by the housing and operable to separately actuate the drink supply outlet valves;

a water supply apparatus supported by the housing, the water supply apparatus including a carbonated water line, a carbonated water valve connected to the carbonated water line, a water dispenser connected to the carbonated water valve and at least one water valve actuator operable to actuate the carbonated water valve;

a gas supply apparatus supported by the housing, the gas supply apparatus configured to hold at least one gas supply container which can contain a variable volume of carbon dioxide gas, the gas supply container fluidly connected to the water supply apparatus; and

a support member connected to the housing and configured to support at least one beverage collector.

9. The refrigerator of claim 8, wherein the drink supply container support has a plurality of walls defining a plurality of openings positioned beneath the drink supply containers, the drink syrup of one of the drink supply canisters passing through one of the openings when the drink supply outlet valve of said drink supply container is open, said drink syrup flowing:

(a) through air;

or (b) through a portion of said drink supply container, the portion extending through said opening.

10. The refrigerator of claim 8, wherein the drink supply container holder includes at least one drink supply container securing member.

11. The refrigerator of claim 10, wherein the drink supply container securing member is movably coupled to the drink supply container support, the drink supply container securing member being movable between:

(a) a first position wherein the drink supply container securing member is engaged with the drink supply containers; and

(b) a second position wherein the drink supply container securing member is disengaged from the drink supply containers.

12. The refrigerator of claim 8, which includes a drink supply container access door connected to the compartment door, the drink supply container access door being movable between a closed position enclosing the drink supply containers and an open position providing access to the drink supply containers.

13. The refrigerator of claim 12, wherein the compartment door has an exterior side and an interior side wherein the drink supply container access door is connected to the exterior side of the compartment door.

14. A refrigerator comprising:

a housing including at least one compartment;

at least one compartment door connected to the housing, the compartment door having an exterior side and an interior side, the exterior side having at least one wall that defines a recessed area, the compartment door movable between a closed position enclosing the compartment and an open position providing access to the compartment;

a drink supply container holder connected to the compartment door, the drink supply container holder configured to removably hold a plurality of removable drink supply containers, each of the drink supply containers having a drink supply outlet valve wherein each of the drink supply containers can contain a variable volume of drink syrup that flows through the drink supply outlet valve when said valve is open, the drink supply container holder having a drink supply container support, the drink supply container support having at least one wall that defines at least one opening positioned beneath one of the drink supply containers, the drink syrup of said drink supply container passing through said opening when the drink supply outlet valve of said drink supply container is open, said drink syrup flowing;

(i) through air;

or (ii) through a portion of said drink supply container, the portion extending through said wall;

a drink supply container access door connected to the exterior side of the compartment door, the drink supply container access door positioned at or near the recessed area of the compartment door, the drink supply container access door being movable between a closed position enclosing the drink supply containers and an open position providing access to the drink supply containers;

at least one drink supply outlet valve actuator supported by the housing and operable to separately actuate the drink supply outlet valves;

a water supply apparatus supported by the housing, the water supply apparatus including a carbonated water line, a carbonated water valve connected to the carbonated water line, a water dispenser connected to the carbonated water valve and at least one water valve actuator operable to actuate the carbonated water valve;

a gas supply apparatus supported by the housing, the gas supply apparatus configured to hold at least one gas supply container which can contain a variable volume of carbon dioxide gas, the gas supply container fluidly connected to the water supply apparatus; and

a support member connected to the housing and configured to support at least one beverage collector.

15. The refrigerator of claim 14, wherein the drink supply container support defines a plurality of openings, each of the openings enabling the drink syrup flowing from one of the drink supply containers to pass through the drink supply container support when the drink supply outlet valve of said drink supply container is open.

16. The refrigerator of claim 14, wherein the drink supply container holder includes at least one drink supply container securing member.

17. The refrigerator of claim 16, wherein the drink supply container securing member is movably coupled to the drink supply container support, the drink supply container securing member being movable between:

(a) a first position wherein the drink supply container securing member is engaged with the drink supply containers; and

(b) a second position wherein the drink supply container securing member is disengaged from the drink supply containers.

18. The refrigerator of claim 14, which includes means for pivotally connecting the drink supply container access door to the compartment door.

19. The refrigerator of claim 14, which includes means for slidably connecting the drink supply container access door to the compartment door.

20. A refrigerator comprising:

a housing including at least one compartment;

at least one compartment door connected to the housing, the compartment door movable between a closed position enclosing the compartment and an open position providing access to the compartment;

a drink supply container holder connected to the compartment door, the drink supply container holder including at least one drink supply container securing member, wherein the drink supply container securing member is movably coupled to the drink supply container support, the drink supply container securing member being movable between;

(a) a first position wherein the drink supply container securing member is engaged with the drink supply containers; and

(b) a second position wherein the drink supply container securing member is disengaged from the drink supply containers, the drink supply container holder configured to removably hold a plurality of removable drink supply containers, each of the drink supply containers having a drink supply outlet valve wherein each of the drink supply containers can contain a variable volume of drink syrup that flows through the drink supply outlet valve when said valve is open, the drink supply container holder having a drink supply container support;

at least one drink supply outlet valve actuator supported by the housing and operable to separately actuate the drink supply outlet valves;

a water supply apparatus supported by the housing, the water supply apparatus including a carbonated water line, a carbonated water valve connected to the carbonated water line, a water dispenser connected to the carbonated water valve and at least one water valve actuator operable to actuate the carbonated water valve; and

a gas supply apparatus supported by the housing, the gas supply apparatus configured to hold at least one gas supply container which can contain a variable volume of carbon dioxide gas, the gas supply container fluidly connected to the water supply apparatus.

21. The refrigerator of claim 20, wherein the drink supply container support includes at least one wall that defines at least one opening positioned beneath one of the drink supply containers, the drink syrup passing through the opening when the drink supply outlet valve of said drink supply container is open, said drink syrup flowing:

(a) tubelessly downward from the drink supply outlet and through said opening;

or (b) through a portion of said drink supply container that extends through the opening and tubelessly downward from said portion.

22. The refrigerator of claim 20, wherein the drink supply container holder includes at least one drink supply container securing member movably coupled to the housing.

23. A refrigerator comprising:

a housing including at least one compartment;

at least one compartment door connected to the housing, the compartment door movable between a closed position enclosing the compartment and an open position providing access to the compartment;

a plurality of drink supply container holders movably coupled to the housing, each one of the drink supply container holders being;

(a) configured to removably hold a removable drink supply container; and

(b) movable, independent of the other drink supply container holders, between a plurality of positions, each one of the drink supply containers having a drink supply outlet valve wherein each one of the drink supply containers can contain a variable volume of drink syrup that flows through the drink supply outlet valve when said valve is open;

at least one drink supply outlet valve actuator supported by the housing and operable to actuate one or more of the drink supply outlet valves at a time;

a water supply apparatus supported by the housing, the water supply apparatus including a carbonated water line, a carbonated water valve connected to the carbonated water line, a water dispenser connected to the carbonated water valve and at least one water valve actuator operable to actuate the carbonated water valve; and

a gas supply apparatus supported by the housing, the gas supply apparatus configured to hold at least one gas supply container which can contain a variable volume of carbon dioxide gas, the gas supply container fluidly connected to the water supply apparatus.

24. The refrigerator of claim 23, wherein each one of the drink supply container holders includes at least one drink supply container support, the drink supply container support including at least one wall that defines at least one opening positioned beneath one of the drink supply containers, the drink syrup passing through the opening when the drink supply outlet valve of said drink supply container is open, said drink syrup flowing:

(a) tubelessly downward from the drink supply outlet and through said opening;

or (b) through a portion of said drink supply container that extends through the opening and tubelessly downward from said portion.

25. The refrigerator of claim 23, which includes a plurality of drink supply container securing members which are movably coupled to the housing, each one of the drink supply container securing members being movable between a plurality of positions with respect to one of the drink supply container holders.