Drink supply canister for beverage dispensing apparatus
First Claim
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.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
-
Citations
32 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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
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, anda 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. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
-
-
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. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32)
-
Specification