Drink supply canister for beverage dispensing apparatus

• US 7,083,071 B1
• Filed: 05/01/2002
• Issued: 08/01/2006
• 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, Tanner, Roger, Ramsey, Christopher Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Fischetti, Joseph A.
• Application Number:
  US10/137,608
• Time in Patent Office: 1,553 Days
• Field of Search: 222/482, 222/325, 222/129.3, 222/399, 222/394, 222/525, 222/522, 222/549, 222/553, 222/402.24, 222/546, 623/90, 251/208, 251/292, 251/310
• US Class Current: 222/399
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2002/00 Food compositions, function of food ingredients or processes for food or foodstuffs
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0021 the components being mixed at the time of dispensing, i.e. post-mix dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0034 for controlling the amount of each component
• 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 1/006 Conventional carbonators
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0079 having their own dispensing means
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0412 the whole dispensing unit being fixed to the container
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/08 Details
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0801 of beverage containers, e.g. casks, kegs
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0878 Safety, warning or controlling devices B67D1/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0888 Means comprising electronic circuitry (e.g. control panels, switching or controlling means)
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0889 Supports
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/12 Flow or pressure control devices or systems , e.g. valves, gas pressure control, level control in storage containers
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2001/0812 Bottles, cartridges or similar containers
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2001/0814 for upside down use
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/00036 for use with or in refrigerators

Abstract

A drink supply canister for a beverage dispensing apparatus. The drink supply canister includes a removable valve assembly member having a drink supply outlet valve and a gas inlet valve. The beverage dispensing apparatus pressurizes the drink supply canister by supplying gas to the gas inlet valve. The beverage dispensing apparatus includes a drink supply canister holder for holding a plurality of such drink supply canisters. The beverage dispensing apparatus directs a supply of water and gas to the drink supply canister holder for producing carbonated and non-carbonated beverages.

Claims

1. A drink supply canister for a beverage dispensing apparatus of a refrigeration device, said refrigeration device having a source of pressurized gas, said source having a gas supply line connected to said source, said drink supply canister comprising:

a body having a first end, a second end and a liquid-holding space located between the first end and the second end, the body configured to be mounted in a portion of the refrigeration device such that the first end is located vertically below the second end;

a cap connected to the first end, the cap having an end portion and a side wall extending from the end portion, the cap defining a plurality of openings, each one of the openings being in fluid communication with the liquid-holding space;

a gas inlet valve mounted to the end portion of the cap adjacent to, and in communication with, one of the openings, the gas inlet valve having a portion sized and shaped to sealingly engage with said supply line such that said gas inlet valve is predisposed to have a closed condition which is changeable to an open position condition in response to the gas inlet valve being fluidly connected to said gas supply line of said source of pressurized gas; and

a drink supply outlet valve mounted to the end portion of the cap adjacent to, and in communication with, another one of the openings, the drink supply outlet valve having a rotatable outer part, the rotatable outer part having a substantially cylindrical exterior surface including a plurality of engagement members disposed substantially about a perimeter of the exterior surface, the engagement members being engagable by an actuator member, the drink supply outlet valve being operable to output a portion of a liquid contained in the liquid-holding space as a result of;

(i) the drink supply outlet valve being opened;

(ii) the gas inlet valve being opened; and

(iii) pressurized gas from the source applying a pressure to the liquid in the liquid-holding space.

2. The drink supply canister of claim 1, wherein the cap includes a removable valve assembly member connected to said first end, said removable valve assembly member including a multi-valve support, wherein said gas inlet valve and said drink supply outlet valve are each connected to said multi-valve support.

3. The drink supply canister of claim 1, wherein the gas inlet valve is a resealable valve.

4. The drink supply canister of claim 1, wherein the gas inlet valve has at least one biasing member predisposing the gas inlet valve to have the closed position.

5. The drink supply canister of claim 1, wherein the gas inlet valve includes at least one flexible wall which forms said open position and said closed position.

6. The drink supply canister of claim 1, wherein the gas inlet valve includes a plurality of flexible walls which form said open position and said closed position.

7. The drink supply canister of claim 2, wherein the gas inlet valve includes a securing member which attaches the gas inlet valve to the multi-valve support.

8. The drink supply canister of claim 7, wherein the securing member includes a locking member which affixes the gas inlet valve to a portion of the multi-valve support.

9. The drink supply canister of claim 7, wherein the gas inlet valve includes a body defining a pressurizable cavity.

10. The drink supply canister of claim 9, wherein the gas inlet valve includes a plurality of flexible walls connected to the body.

11. The drink supply canister of claim 10, wherein each of the flexible walls includes a plurality of edges.

12. The drink supply canister of claim 11, wherein the flexible walls have a shape which causes the edges to be biased toward each other.

13. The drink supply canister of claim 11, wherein the flexible walls are made of a resilient material which causes the edges to be biased toward each other.

14. The drink supply canister of claim 1, wherein the drink supply outlet valve has an open position and a closed position.

15. The drink supply canister of claim 14, wherein the drink supply outlet valve includes a first engaging member and a second engaging member which co-act to form said open position and said closed position.

16. The drink supply canister of claim 15, wherein the first engaging member includes a director which directs drink supply from the drink supply canister.

17. The drink supply canister of claim 15, wherein the second engaging member includes a movable closure member which moves relative to the first engaging member to form said open position and said closed position.

18. The drink supply canister of claim 15, wherein the second engaging member includes a rotatable closure member adapted to be rotated by a drink supply outlet valve actuator.

19. The drink supply canister of claim 15, wherein one of the first engaging member and second engaging member includes a sealing member adapted to engage the other engaging member to form a seal.

20. A drink supply canister for a beverage dispensing apparatus of a refrigeration device, said refrigeration device having a source of pressurized gas, said source having a gas supply line connected to said source, the drink supply canister comprising:

a body having a first end, a second end and a liquid-holding space located between the first end and the second end, the body configured to be held by a portion of the refrigeration device such that the first end is located vertically below the second end, the first end having a mount surface and a wall connecting the mount surface to the body, the mount surface defining a plurality of openings, each one of the openings being in fluid communication with the liquid-holding space;

a gas inlet valve mounted to the mount surface of the first end adjacent to, and in communication with, one of the openings, the gas inlet valve having at least one flexible wall, a portion of which wall being sized and shaped to sealingly engage with said supply line such that said flexible wall is flexible between;

(i) a first position forming a seal; and

(ii) a second position defining a passageway, the flexible wall being predisposed to have a first closed condition, the first condition changeable to a second open condition in response to the gas inlet valve being fluidly connected to said gas supply line of said source of pressurized gas, and

a drink supply outlet valve mounted to the mount surface of said first end adjacent to, and in communication with, another one of the openings, the drink supply outlet valve having a rotatable outer member, the rotatable outer member having a substantially cylindrical exterior surface including a plurality of engagement members disposed substantially about a perimeter of the exterior surface, the engagement members being engagable by an actuator member, the drink supply outlet valve being operable to output a portion of a liquid contained in the liquid-holding space as a result of;

(i) the drink supply outlet valve being opened;

(ii) the gas inlet valve being opened; and

(iii) pressurized gas of the source applying a pressure to the liquid in the liquid-holding space.

21. The drink supply canister of claim 20, wherein the gas inlet valve has a pressurizable body defined by the at least one flexible wall.

22. The drink supply canister of claim 20, wherein the gas inlet valve has a plurality of flexible walls which form said first position and said second position.

23. The drink supply canister of claim 20, which includes a removable valve assembly member connected to said first end, said removable valve assembly including a multi-valve support, said gas inlet valve and said drink supply outlet valve each connected to said multi-valve support.

24. The drink supply canister of claim 23, wherein the gas inlet valve includes a securing member which attaches the gas inlet valve to the multi-valve support.

25. The drink supply canister of claim 23, wherein the securing member includes a locking member which affixes the gas inlet valve to a portion of the multi-valve support.

26. The drink supply canister of claim 22, wherein each of the walls includes a plurality of edges.

27. The drink supply canister of claim 26, wherein the flexible walls have a predetermined shape which causes the edges to be biased toward each other.

28. The drink supply canister of claim 26, wherein the flexible walls are made of a resilient material which causes the edges to be biased toward each other.

29. A drink supply canister for a beverage dispensing apparatus of a refrigeration device, said refrigeration device having a source of pressurized gas, said source having a gas supply line connected to said source, the drink supply canister comprising:

a body having a first end, a second end and a liquid-holding space located between the first end and the second end, the body configured to be held by a portion of the refrigeration device such that the first end is located vertically below the second end, the first end having a mount surface and a wall connecting the mount surface to the body, the mount surface defining a plurality of openings, each one of the openings being in fluid communication with the liquid-holding space;

a gas inlet valve mounted to the mount surface of the first end adjacent to, and in communication with, one of the openings, the gas inlet valve having a portion sized and shaped to sealingly engage with said supply line such that said gas inlet valve is predisposed to have a closed condition which is changeable to an open condition in response to the gas inlet valve being fluidly connected to said gas supply line of said source of pressurized gas; and

a drink supply outlet valve mounted to the mount surface of the first end adjacent to, and in communication with, another one of the openings, the drink supply outlet valve having a first part and a second part, the second part being rotatably coupled to the first part, the second part having a seal portion and a plurality of engagement portions, the seal portion being movable between;

(i) a predisposed first position wherein said another opening is sealed; and

(ii) a second position wherein said another opening is unsealed, the engagement portions being engagable by an actuator member, the drink supply outlet valve being operable to output a portion of a liquid contained in the liquid-holding space as a result of;

(i) the drink supply outlet valve being opened;

(ii) the gas inlet valve being opened; and

(iii) pressurized gas of the source applying a pressure to the liquid in the liquid-holding space.

30. The drink supply canister of claim 29, wherein the gas inlet valve includes a securing member which attaches the gas inlet valve to the mount surface of the first end.

31. The drink supply canister of claim 30, wherein the securing member includes a locking member which affixes the gas inlet valve to the mount surface of the first end.

32. The drink supply canister of claim 29, wherein the gas inlet valve includes a plurality of flexible walls, each of the flexible walls including a plurality of edges.