Select serving and flavored sparkling beverage maker

• US 8,677,888 B2
• Filed: 10/05/2009
• Issued: 03/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omnifiro Beverage Company LLC
• Original Assignee: Primo Products, LLC (Primo Water Corporation)
• Inventors: Santoiemmo, Carl
• Primary Examiner(s): ALEXANDER, REGINALD
• Application Number:
  US12/573,507
• Publication Number:
  US 20100251901A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,632 Days
• Field of Search: 993/232, 993/231, 992/95, 426/477, 261/DIG.7
• US Class Current: 99/323.2
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 2/52 Adding ingredients adding preservatives A23L2/44
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 2/54 Mixing with gases
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 2/56 Flavouring or bittering agents sweeteners A23L2/60
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 21/22 using additional holders in conduits, containers or pools for keeping the solid material in place, e.g. supports or receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 21/4021 in the form of tablets stored in containers, canisters or receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 40/963 Off-grid food refrigeration

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to method and a device to make a single or a multiple repeated single servings of a select flavored, carbonated beverage. The instant abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in this specification nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

Claims

1. A carbonated beverage maker capable of making customized beverages in a single-serving, said beverage maker comprises:

a water reservoir configured to provide water;

a carbon dioxide source configured to provide carbon dioxide;

a carbonation chamber in fluid communication with the water reservoir and the carbon dioxide source, wherein the carbonation chamber defines a controlled volume for receiving a selected volume of water, wherein the carbonation chamber is configured to receive carbon dioxide in a controlled manner so as to alter and control carbon dioxide absorption of the selected volume therein;

an individually packed, single use disposable flavor cup containing a flavor and having a sealed cover that covers and seals said flavor cup;

a water injection nozzle configured to access said flavor cup, wherein the water injection nozzle is in fluid communication with the carbonation chamber and is configured to operatively charge said flavor cup with the selected volume of the carbonation chamber so as to mix the selected volume with the flavor within the flavor cup to form a single-serving, on-demand volume of a flavored beverage; and

a discharge port for dispensing the flavored beverage from said flavor cup.

2. The beverage maker of claim 1, wherein said flavor cup contains a selected flavored syrup.

3. The beverage maker of claim 2, wherein said syrup is fortified with at least one of vitamins, herbs, or minerals.

4. The beverage maker of claim 1 further comprising operative controls for selectively engaging the carbon dioxide source as desired.

5. The beverage maker of claim 1, wherein said flavor cup functions as a mixing chamber for the selected volume of the carbonation chamber and the flavor.

6. The beverage maker of claim 1, wherein said beverage maker further comprises an overall outer housing for containing the working components having an overall height of less than 15.5 inches, and an overall width of less than 14 inches wide, and an overall depth of 12.75 inches deep.

7. The beverage maker of claim 1, wherein said water reservoir is removable and functions alternately as a beverage pitcher capable of being placed in a refrigerator such as to chill any fluid contents.

8. The beverage maker of claim 1 further comprising a junction block that functions as a manifold for distribution of carbon dioxide, chilled water, and carbonated water throughout the beverage maker.

9. The beverage maker of claim 8, wherein the carbonation chamber is in fluid communication with said junction block, wherein said carbonation chamber defines a 16 oz. canister cylinder configured to receive carbonation from a source having a service pressure of 1800 psi.

10. The beverage maker of claim 1, wherein the carbonation chamber defines a dose carbonator.

11. The beverage maker of claim 1, wherein the carbon dioxide source is configured to pulse carbon dioxide to the carbonation chamber for improved carbonation of the water.

12. The beverage maker of claim 1, wherein the selected volume in the carbonation chamber defines at least one of 7 fluid ounces for the dispensing of 8 ounce flavored beverages or fluid ounces for the dispensing of 16 ounce flavored beverages.

13. The beverage maker of claim 1, wherein the carbonation chamber defines a headspace above the selected volume, wherein the headspace defines a residual pressure such that the selected volume is urged out of the carbonation chamber without the need of an additional pump.

14. The beverage maker of claim 1 further comprising a user interface configured to indicate status of the customized beverage.

15. The beverage maker of claim 5, wherein the flavored beverage is fully mixed within the flavor cup.

16. The beverage maker of claim 1 further comprising a means for altering the temperature of the carbonation chamber.

17. The beverage maker of claim 16, wherein the means for altering the temperature of the carbonation chamber comprises at least one of a refrigerator compressor, a thermoelectric cooler, or a solid state heat pump.

18. The beverage maker of claim 1 further comprising a cooling means for providing cooling to the water reservoir.

19. The beverage maker of claim 1, wherein the carbonation chamber is further configured to alter and control temperature and pressure of the selected volume therein.

20. A method for making customized, single-serving beverages in a beverage maker, the method comprising:

receiving an individually packed, single use disposable flavor cup containing a flavor, wherein the flavor cup comprises a seal that covers and seals the flavor cup;

operatively mixing a selected volume of water and carbon dioxide within a carbonation chamber, wherein the carbonation chamber defines a controlled volume for receiving the selected volume of water, and wherein the carbonation chamber is configured to receive carbon dioxide in a controlled manner so as to alter and control carbon dioxide absorption of the selected volume therein;

projecting a water injection nozzle through the seal of the flavor cup;

operatively charging said flavor cup with the selected volume of the carbonation chamber so as to mix the selected volume with the flavor within the flavor cup to form a single-serving, on-demand volume of a flavored beverage; and

dispensing flavored beverage from the flavor cup.