Drink supply canister having a self-closing pressurization valve operable to receive a pressurization pin
First Claim
1. A refrigerator beverage dispensing apparatus drink supply syrup canister for a beverage dispensing apparatus of a refrigerator, the refrigerator including a canister holder having a holder wall defining a holder space, the beverage dispensing apparatus having an actuator, the refrigerator beverage dispensing apparatus drink supply syrup canister comprising:
- a body defining a drink supply holding cavity configured to hold a volume of syrup drink supply, the cavity having a length extending within said body, the volume being sufficient to be used to produce a plurality of servings of a beverage, the body having a plurality of portions, the portions of the body including;
(a) a wall;
(b) a first end connected to the wall, the first end defining a first opening, a portion of the first end having a gas inlet valve positioned at or near the first opening, the gas inlet valve including a plurality of flexible portions, at least one of the flexible portions including a gas pin engagement portion, the flexible portions being movable between;
(i) a predisposed closed position in which a plurality of the flexible portions are in contact with each other; and
(ii) an open position in which a plurality of the flexible portions are separated from each other upon insertion of a gas pin through at least part of the gas inlet valve, the flexible portions, when separated, defining a passage which is fluidly connected to the drink supply holding cavity throughout the length of the drink supply holding cavity, enabling pressurized gas from the gas pin inserted into said first opening to intermix with the syrup drink supply in the drink supply holding cavity, the flexible portions re-establishing the closed position after the gas pin is removed from the gas inlet valve; and
(c) a second end connected to the wall of the body of the drink supply syrup canister, the second end defining at least one second opening, at least one of the portions of the body including a refrigerator engagement portion, the refrigerator engagement portion configured to be positioned at the holder space and engaged with the holder wall of the canister holder of the refrigerator; and
a drink supply outlet valve coupled to the second end of the body adjacent to the second opening in the second end of the body, the drink supply outlet valve having an assembly selected from the group consisting of;
(i) an assembly including a fluid director portion and an engagable portion, the engagable portion being movable as a result of a pushing motion of the actuator, the movement of the engagable portion causing the drink supply valve to change between a closed condition and an open condition; and
(ii) an assembly including a fluid director portion and an engagable portion, the engagable portion being movable as a result of a rotational motion of the actuator, the movement of the engagable portion causing the drink supply valve to change between a closed condition and an open condition.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A drink supply canister for beverage dispensing apparatus for a residential refrigerator. The beverage dispensing apparatus includes a drink supplier including a drink supply canister holder for holding a plurality of the drink supply canisters, and a plurality of valve actuators for causing the drink supply to be selectively released from the drink supply canisters, 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 canisters to provide a consistent flow rate of the drink supply from the drink supply canisters, and one or more beverage requesters for enabling users to request one of a plurality of beverages.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A refrigerator beverage dispensing apparatus drink supply syrup canister for a beverage dispensing apparatus of a refrigerator, the refrigerator including a canister holder having a holder wall defining a holder space, the beverage dispensing apparatus having an actuator, the refrigerator beverage dispensing apparatus drink supply syrup canister comprising:
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a body defining a drink supply holding cavity configured to hold a volume of syrup drink supply, the cavity having a length extending within said body, the volume being sufficient to be used to produce a plurality of servings of a beverage, the body having a plurality of portions, the portions of the body including; (a) a wall; (b) a first end connected to the wall, the first end defining a first opening, a portion of the first end having a gas inlet valve positioned at or near the first opening, the gas inlet valve including a plurality of flexible portions, at least one of the flexible portions including a gas pin engagement portion, the flexible portions being movable between;
(i) a predisposed closed position in which a plurality of the flexible portions are in contact with each other; and
(ii) an open position in which a plurality of the flexible portions are separated from each other upon insertion of a gas pin through at least part of the gas inlet valve, the flexible portions, when separated, defining a passage which is fluidly connected to the drink supply holding cavity throughout the length of the drink supply holding cavity, enabling pressurized gas from the gas pin inserted into said first opening to intermix with the syrup drink supply in the drink supply holding cavity, the flexible portions re-establishing the closed position after the gas pin is removed from the gas inlet valve; and(c) a second end connected to the wall of the body of the drink supply syrup canister, the second end defining at least one second opening, at least one of the portions of the body including a refrigerator engagement portion, the refrigerator engagement portion configured to be positioned at the holder space and engaged with the holder wall of the canister holder of the refrigerator; and a drink supply outlet valve coupled to the second end of the body adjacent to the second opening in the second end of the body, the drink supply outlet valve having an assembly selected from the group consisting of; (i) an assembly including a fluid director portion and an engagable portion, the engagable portion being movable as a result of a pushing motion of the actuator, the movement of the engagable portion causing the drink supply valve to change between a closed condition and an open condition; and (ii) an assembly including a fluid director portion and an engagable portion, the engagable portion being movable as a result of a rotational motion of the actuator, the movement of the engagable portion causing the drink supply valve to change between a closed condition and an open condition. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A refrigerator beverage dispensing apparatus drink supply syrup canister for a beverage dispensing apparatus of a refrigerator, the refrigerator including a canister holder having a holder wall defining a holder space, the beverage dispensing apparatus having an actuator, the refrigerator beverage dispensing apparatus drink supply syrup canister comprising:
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a body adapted to hold a variable volume of a syrup drink supply under pressure, the volume being sufficient to be used to produce a plurality of servings of a beverage, the body having a plurality of portions, the portions of the body including; (a) a wall defining a drink supply holding cavity which has a length extending within said body; (b) a first end connected to the wall, the first end having an opening wall which defines a first opening in the first end; (c) a self-closing gas inlet valve connected to the opening wall, the self-closing gas inlet valve having a valve body, at least part of the valve body extending beyond the first end into the opening, the valve body having a plurality of flexible portions which are;
(i) biased to be in contact with each other; and
(ii) movable apart from one another upon insertion of a gas injection pin through at least part of the valve body, the flexible portions, when separated, defining a passage which is fluidly connected to the drink supply holding cavity, enabling the pressurized gas from the gas injection pin inserted into said first opening to intermix with the syrup drink supply in the drink supply holding cavity, at least one of the flexible portions having a gas injection pin engagement portion; and(d) a second end connected to the wall of the body of the refrigerator beverage dispensing apparatus drink supply syrup canister, the second end defining a second opening, at least one of the portions of the body including a refrigerator engagement portion, the refrigerator engagement portion configured to be positioned at the holder space and engaged with the holder wall of the canister holder of the refrigerator; and a drink supply outlet valve coupled to the second end of the body, the drink supply outlet valve positioned -adjacent to the second opening in the second end, the drink supply valve having an assembly selected from the group consisting of; (a) an assembly including a fluid director portion and an engagable portion, the engagable portion being movable as a result of a pushing motion of the actuator, the movement of the engagable portion causing the drink supply valve to change between a closed condition and an open condition; and (b) an assembly including a fluid director portion and an engagable portion, the engagable portion being movable as a result of a rotational motion of the actuator, the movement of the engagable portion causing the drink supply valve to change between a closed condition and an open condition. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A refrigerator beverage dispensing apparatus drink supply syrup canister for a beverage dispensing apparatus of a refrigerator, the refrigerator including a canister holder having a holder wall defining a holder space, the beverage dispensing apparatus having an actuator, the drink supply syrup canister being pressurizable by a pressurization pin, the refrigerator beverage dispensing apparatus drink supply canister comprising:
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a body adapted to hold a variable volume of a syrup drink supply under pressure, the volume being sufficient to be used to produce a plurality of servings of a beverage, the body having a plurality of portions, the portions of the body including; (a) a wall defining a drink supply holding cavity which has a length extending within said body; (b) a first end connected to the wall, the first end having an opening wall which defines a pressurization hole in the first end; (c) a pressurization gas inlet valve connected to the opening wall and seated within at least part of the pressurization hole along an axis, the pressurization gas inlet valve including a plurality of valve portions, the valve portions including;
(i) a valve body having a first end and a second end, the first end of the valve body positioned adjacent to the first end of the body of the drink supply canister, the second end of the valve body positioned within the drink supply holding cavity along the axis; and
(ii) a plurality of flexible portions movable between;
(x) a predisposed first valve position wherein the flexible portions engage one another; and
(y) a second valve position wherein the flexible portions are disengaged from one another upon insertion of the pressurization pin through at least part of the valve body, the flexible portions, when disengaged from one another, defining a passageway fluidly connected to the drink supply holding cavity, enabling pressurized gas from the pressurization pin to intermix with the syrup drink supply in the drink supply holding cavity, at least one of the valve portions including a pressurization pin engagement portion;(d) a second end coupled to the wall of the body of the drink supply syrup canister, the second end defining a second opening, at least one of the portions of the body including a refrigerator engagement portion, the refrigerator engagement portion configured to be at least partially received by the holder space and engaged with the holder wall of the canister holder of the refrigerator; and a drink supply outlet valve coupled to the second end adjacent to the second opening, the drink supply valve having an assembly selected from the group consisting of; (a) an assembly including a fluid director portion and an engagable portion, the engagable portion being movable as a result of a pushing motion of the actuator, the movement of the engagable portion causing the drink supply valve to change between a closed condition and an open condition; and (b) an assembly including a fluid director portion and an engagable portion, the engagable portion being movable as a result of a rotational motion of the actuator, the movement of the engagable portion causing the drink supply valve to change between a closed condition and an open condition. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification