Refrigerator which removably holds a drink supply container having a valve co-acting with an engager

• US 7,337,924 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2006
• Issued: 03/04/2008
• 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:
  US11/375,671
• Publication Number:
  US 20060157505A1
• Time in Patent Office: 721 Days
• Field of Search: 222/129.1, 222/146.1
• 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 operable to output a serving of a carbonated beverage made from a drink syrup, the refrigerator comprising:

a housing including at least one compartment;

at least one door supported by the housing, the door providing access to the compartment;

a drink supply container holder supported by the housing, the drink supply container holder configured to removably hold at least one drink supply container which holds the drink syrup, the drink supply container having;

(a) at least one drink supply outlet valve operable to have a closed condition and an open condition; and

(b) at least one engagable member operatively coupled to the drink supply outlet valve, the engagable member being movable between;

(i) a first position associated with the closed condition of the drink supply outlet valve; and

(ii) a second position associated with the open condition of the drink supply outlet valve;

at least one engager movably coupled to the housing, the engager being movable between;

(a) an initial position in which the engager is adjacent to or in contact with the engagable member when the engagable member has the first position; and

(b) a different position in which the engager is at least momentarily in contact with the engagable member when the engagable member has the second position;

a water supplier supported by the housing;

a gas supplier supported by the housing, the gas supplier being fluidly connected to the water supplier; and

at least one processor which, through control of the engager, is programmed to cause the drink supply outlet valve to alternate between the closed condition and the open condition on multiple occasions.

2. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the engager includes a rod movable along an axis.

3. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the engager includes a rotatable member.

4. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the engager includes a member selected from the group consisting of a piston, a pin, a rod, a gear and a worm gear.

5. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the refrigerator includes an actuating device, and the engager is a portion of the actuating device.

6. The refrigerator of claim 2, wherein the actuating device includes a device selected from the group consisting of a mechanical device, an electro-mechanical device, a motor and a solenoid.

7. The refrigerator of claim 1, which includes means for regulating a flow rate of the drink syrup through the drink supply outlet valve, the regulating means being supported by the housing.

8. A refrigerator operable to output a serving of a carbonated beverage made from a drink syrup, the refrigerator comprising:

a housing including at least one compartment;

at least one door supported by the housing, the door providing access to the compartment;

a drink supply container holder supported by the housing, the drink supply container holder configured to removably hold at least one drink supply container which holds the drink syrup, the drink supply container having;

(a) at least one drink supply outlet valve operable to have a closed condition and an open condition; and

(b) at least one engagable member operatively coupled to the drink supply outlet valve, the engagable member being movable between;

(i) a predisposed first position associated with the closed condition of the drink supply outlet valve; and

(ii) a second position associated with the open condition of the drink supply outlet valve,

at least one actuating device supported by the housing, the actuating device having an engager movable between;

(a) an initial position in which the engager is adjacent to or in contact with the engagable member when the engagable member has the first position; and

(b) a different position in which the engager is at least momentarily in contact with the engagable member when the engagable member has the second position;

a support member supported by the housing, the support member configured to support at least one beverage collector;

a water supplier supported by the housing;

a gas supplier supported by the housing, the gas supplier having at least one gas supply container fluidly connected to the water supplier; and

at least one processor which, through control of the engager, is programmed to cause the drink supply outlet valve to alternate between the closed condition and the open condition on multiple occasions.

9. The refrigerator of claim 8, wherein the engager includes a rod movable along an axis.

10. The refrigerator of claim 8, wherein the engager includes a rotatable member.

11. The refrigerator of claim 8, wherein the actuating device includes a device selected from the group consisting of a mechanical device, an electro-mechanical device, a motor and a solenoid.

12. The refrigerator of claim 8, which includes means for regulating a flow rate of the drink syrup through the drink supply outlet valve, the regulating means being supported by the housing.

13. The refrigerator of claim 8, wherein the drink syrup in the drink supply container is fluidly disconnected from the actuating device.

14. The refrigerator of claim 8, which includes a drink supply container access door supported by the housing.

15. A refrigerator comprising:

a housing including at least one compartment;

at least one door supported by the housing, the door providing access to the compartment;

at least one drink supply container holder coupled to the at least one door, the drink supply container holder being;

(a) configured to removably hold a drink supply container having a drink supply outlet valve movable into an open valve position and a closed valve position; and

(b) movable between a first position relative to the at least one door and a second position relative to the at least one door, the second position facilitating insertion of the drink supply container into the drink supply container holder, wherein the drink supply container can contain a variable volume of drink syrup that flows through the drink supply outlet valve when the valve is moved into the open valve position;

at least one drink supply outlet valve actuator supported by the housing and operable to actuate the drink supply outlet valve when the drink supply outlet valve is in a position to be actuated;

a water supply apparatus supported by the housing, the water supply apparatus including at least one water dispenser; and

a gas supply apparatus supported by the housing, the gas supply apparatus fluidly connected to the water supply apparatus.

16. The refrigerator of claim 15, wherein the drink supply container holder 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 the drink supply container when the drink supply container is held by the drink container holder, the drink syrup passing through the opening when the drink supply outlet valve of the drink supply container is open, the drink syrup flowing:

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

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

17. The refrigerator of claim 15, which includes a drink supply container securing member movably coupled to the housing, the drink supply container securing member being movable between a plurality of positions with respect to the drink supply container holder.

18. The refrigerator of claim 15, which includes a drink supply container access door coupled to the housing, the drink supply container access door being movable between a closed position covering at least part of the drink supply container and an open position providing access to the part of the drink supply container.

19. The refrigerator of claim 15, 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.

20. The refrigerator of claim 19, wherein the compartment door defines at least one recessed area, the drink supply container access door positioned at or near the recessed area of the compartment door.