Select serving and flavored sparkling beverage maker

• US 8,833,241 B2
• Filed: 01/06/2012
• Issued: 09/16/2014
• 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): Ross, Dana
• Assistant Examiner(s): SIMS III, JAMES F
• Application Number:
  US13/345,159
• Publication Number:
  US 20120107463A1
• Time in Patent Office: 984 Days
• Field of Search: 993/231, 993/232, 992/75, 992/79, 992/84, 992/90, 992/95, 261/72.1, 261/74, 261/115, 261/DIG.7, 426/232
• US Class Current: 99/323.2
• 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 23/2362 for aerating or carbonating within receptacles or tanks, e.g. distribution machines B01F23/2361 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/2212 Level of the material in the mixer
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/7137 Piercing, perforating or melting membranes or closures which seal the compartments

Abstract

A beverage maker for making single serving customized beverages is provided herein. The beverage maker provides on-demand, single dose sparkling or non-sparkling flavored waters, juices or sodas. An example beverage maker includes a reservoir in fluid communication with a carbonation chamber for mixing a selected volume of fluid with carbon dioxide. The beverage maker also includes a pressurized carbon dioxide source in fluid communication with the carbonation chamber. The beverage maker is configured to receive an individually packed, single use disposable flavor cup containing a flavor and having a sealed cover that covers and seals the flavor cup. Additionally, the beverage maker includes a piercing mechanism for piercing the flavor cup and mixing the selected volume of fluid therein, and for discharging a blended fluid. The carbonation chamber comprises a pressure vessel assembly of a fixed volume such that carbon dioxide absorption can be performed and controlled.

Claims

1. A beverage maker capable of making customized beverages, said beverage maker comprises:

a compact housing;

a water source in fluid communication with a carbonation chamber configured to mix a selected volume of water with carbon dioxide to form a selected volume of carbonated water;

a carbon dioxide source in fluid communication with said carbonation chamber, wherein said carbonation chamber defines a pressure vessel of a fixed volume utilized for carbon dioxide absorption into said selected volume of water, wherein said carbonation chamber defines a controlled volume such that the carbon dioxide absorption can be performed and controlled;

a 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 and operatively charge said flavor cup with said selected volume of carbonated water so as to mix the selected volume of carbonated water with the flavor to form a flavored beverage, wherein said water injection nozzle defines;

an upper shank separated from a lower blade by a narrowed constrictive section;

an upper vent hole formed in the upper shank; and

a lower vent hole formed in the lower blade section; and

a discharge port configured to dispense the flavored beverage, wherein the lower vent is connected by a slot to the discharge port,

wherein the water injection nozzle is further configured to pierce a bottom of the flavor cup such that the upper vent hole is aligned with an interior volume of the flavor cup and the lower vent hole is positioned below the bottom of the flavor cup.

2. The beverage maker of claim 1 further comprising a central processing unit that operationally controls said beverage maker, wherein the central processing unit is configured to operatively interact with the flavor cup.

3. The beverage maker of claim 2, wherein said flavor cup further comprises a coded authentication mechanism capable of being identified by said central processing unit of the beverage maker.

4. The beverage maker of claim 3, wherein the central processing unit is configured to identify said coded authentication mechanism and, in response, operate the beverage maker according to pre-set conditions based on the identified coded authentication mechanism.

5. The beverage maker of claim 4, wherein said preset conditions are selected from the group comprising:

overall beverage size;

activation of carbonation;

level of carbonation;

verification of expiration of use; and

validation of authorized source.

6. The beverage maker of claim 3 further comprising an RFID reader in operative communication with said central processing unit, wherein said coded authentication mechanism comprises an RFID tag or transponder device utilized to store and remotely retrieve data, said RFID tag applied to or incorporated into said flavor cup, wherein the RFID reader is configured to retrieve information from the RFID tag, and wherein the central processing unit is configured to operate the beverage maker based on the information retrieved from the RFID tag.

7. The beverage maker of claim 1, wherein said carbonation chamber forms an internal volume designed to hold a selected liquid volume, plus an additional head space, wherein said internal volume is of a predetermined and fixed proportion to a second volume corresponding to the flavor within said flavor cup.

8. The beverage maker of claim 7, wherein said carbon dioxide source is operatively interactive with said carbonation chamber such as to allow a pressure of between 125 to 150 psi to be created for the carbonation of the selected volume within said carbonation chamber.

9. The beverage maker of claim 1, wherein said flavor cup defines:

a mixing area of a volume greater than the volume of the flavor;

a vacuum formed sidewall incorporating an indexing ridge; and

an upper peripheral flange; and

wherein the sealed cover defines a sealed foil cover attached to said flange for covering and sealing said flavor cup.

10. The beverage maker of claim 9, wherein said flavor cup functions as a mixing chamber for carbonated or noncarbonated chilled water and flavor syrup.

11. The beverage maker of claim 1, wherein the flow of carbon dioxide is controlled by pulsing said carbon dioxide into said carbonation chamber.

12. The beverage maker of claim 1,

wherein said flavor cup is configured to function as a mixing chamber for the flavor and the selected volume of carbonated water when the covered seal is penetrated by said water injection nozzle.

13. The beverage maker of claim 1, wherein said flavor cup defines a vacuum formed design incorporating an indexing ridge, wherein said sealed cover of the flavor cup is pierced on the top by the water injection nozzle when the flavor cup is placed in the beverage maker so as to cause the flavor cup to move downward and be pierced a second time from the bottom;

wherein the water injection nozzle engages said sealed cover about its perimeter to form a seal for the flavor cup.

14. 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.

15. A beverage maker capable of making customized beverages in a single-serving, said beverage maker comprising:

a compact housing;

a reservoir in fluid communication with a carbonation chamber configured to mix a selected volume of water with carbon dioxide to form a selected volume of carbonated water;

a pressurized carbon dioxide source in fluid communication with the carbonation chamber;

a single use disposable flavor cup containing a flavor and having a sealed cover that covers and seals the flavor cup; and

a piercing mechanism configured to pierce the flavor cup to mix the selected volume of carbonated water therein to form a flavored beverage, and wherein the piercing mechanism is configured to discharge the flavored beverage, wherein the piercing mechanism comprises;

an upper shank separated from a lower blade by a narrowed constrictive section;

an upper vent hole formed in the upper shank;

a lower vent hole formed in the lower blade and connected by a slot to a discharge orifice terminating at the lower blade,

wherein the carbonation chamber defines a pressure vessel of a fixed volume such that carbon dioxide absorption can be performed and controlled,

wherein the piercing mechanism is further configured to pierce a bottom of the flavor cup such that the upper vent hole is aligned with an interior volume of the flavor cup and the lower vent hole is positioned below the bottom of the flavor cup.

16. The beverage maker of claim 15, wherein a control solenoid controls a flow of carbon dioxide to the carbonation chamber to create an initial pressurization of the carbonization chamber.

17. The beverage maker of claim 16, wherein the control solenoid further controls an additional flow of carbon dioxide to the carbonation chamber by pulsing the carbon dioxide into the carbonation chamber.

18. The beverage maker of claim 17, wherein the control solenoid pulses the carbon dioxide into the carbonation chamber until it maintains a constant maximum pressure.

19. The beverage maker of claim 15, wherein a pressure of between 125 to 150 psi is created for the carbonation of fluid within the carbonation chamber.

20. The beverage maker of claim 15, 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.

21. A beverage maker capable of making customized beverages in a single-serving, said beverage maker comprising:

a reservoir in fluid communication with a carbonation chamber configured to mix a selected volume of water with carbon dioxide to form a selected volume of carbonated water;

a pressurized carbon dioxide source in fluid communication with the carbonation chamber;

a single use disposable flavor cup containing a flavor and having a sealed cover that covers and seals the flavor cup;

a piercing mechanism configured to pierce the flavor cup to mix the selected volume of carbonated water therein to form a flavored beverage, and wherein the piercing mechanism is configured to discharge the flavored beverage;

wherein the piercing mechanism comprises;

an upper shank separated from a lower blade by a narrowed constrictive section;

an upper vent hole formed in the upper shank;

a lower vent hole formed in the lower blade and connected by a slot to a discharge orifice terminating at the lower blade; and

a central processing unit configured to control operation of the beverage maker, wherein the central processing unit is configured to interact with the flavor cup to operate the beverage maker to make the flavored beverage,

wherein the piercing mechanism is further configured to pierce a bottom of the flavor cup such that the upper vent hole is aligned with an interior volume of the flavor cup and the lower vent hole is positioned below the bottom of the flavor cup.

22. The beverage maker of claim 21, wherein the flavor cup further comprises a coded authentication mechanism configured to be identified by the central processing unit of the beverage maker.

23. The beverage maker of claim 22, wherein the central processing unit is configured to identify the coded authentication mechanism and, in response, operate the beverage maker according to pre-set conditions based on the identified coded authentication mechanism.

24. The beverage maker of claim 23, wherein the pre-set conditions comprise at least one of:

overall beverage size;

activation of carbonation;

level of carbonation;

verification of expiration of use; and

validation of authorized source.

25. The beverage maker of claim 21, wherein the coded authentication mechanism comprises an RFID tag or transponder device.

26. The beverage maker of claim 25, wherein the RFID tag is configured to be applied to or incorporated into the flavor cup, and further comprising an RFID reader configured to be incorporated into the beverage maker and to be in electronic communication with the central processing unit to allow for retrieval of information from the RFID tag and implementation of default settings in response to the retrieved information.

27. A beverage maker capable of making customized beverages in a single-serving, said beverage maker comprising:

a reservoir in fluid communication with a carbonation chamber configured to mix a selected volume of water with carbon dioxide to form a selected volume of carbonated water;

a pressurized carbon dioxide source in fluid communication with the carbonation chamber;

a single use disposable flavor cup containing a flavor and having a sealed cover that covers and seals the flavor cup; and

a piercing mechanism configured to pierce the flavor cup to mix the selected volume of carbonated water therein to form a flavored beverage, and wherein the piercing mechanism is configured to discharge the flavored beverage,

wherein the piercing mechanism comprises;

an upper shank separated from a lower blade by a narrowed constrictive section;

an upper vent hole formed in the upper shank;

a lower vent hole formed in the lower blade and connected by a slot to a discharge orifice terminating at the lower blade,

wherein the piercing mechanism is further configured to pierce a bottom of the flavor cup such that the upper vent hole is aligned with an interior volume of the flavor cup and the lower vent hole is positioned below the bottom of the flavor cup.

28. The beverage maker of claim 27, wherein the flavor cup comprises a vacuum formed design incorporating an indexing ridge, and wherein the piercing mechanism is configured to pierce the top of the sealed cover and urge the flavor cup downward to further pierce the bottom of the flavor cup.

29. The beverage maker of claim 27, wherein when the piercing mechanism pierces the foil cover, the piercing mechanism is configured such that the upper vent hole forms an exit orifice and the narrowed constrictive section provides hydraulic resistance to fluid being discharged through the piercing mechanism, therein causing carbonated fluid to flow though the upper vent hole into the flavor cup in a swirling fashion, thereafter allowing the cup to function as a mixing chamber between the carbonated fluid and the flavor, and wherein the piercing mechanism is further configured to allow the blended fluid to drain down the lower orifice and discharge into a receiving vessel.

30. The beverage maker according to claim 27, wherein the beverage maker is configured to operatively charge an interior volume of the flavor cup with the selected volume of carbonated water through the upper vent hole to mix the flavor and the selected volume of carbonated water to form the flavored beverage therein, and wherein the beverage maker is further configured to dispense the flavored beverage through the lower vent hole.

31. A method for making a customized beverage in a beverage maker, wherein the beverage maker comprises a compact housing, the method comprising:

receiving a single use disposable flavor cup containing a flavor and having a sealed cover that covers and seals said flavor cup;

providing a selected volume of water from a water source to a carbonation chamber, wherein the water source is in fluid communication with the carbonation chamber;

providing carbon dioxide from a pressurized carbon dioxide source in a controlled manner to the selected volume of water in the carbonation chamber to form a selected volume of carbonated water, wherein the carbonation chamber defines a pressure vessel of a fixed volume utilized for absorption of carbon dioxide into the selected volume of water;

projecting a water injection nozzle through the sealed cover of the flavor cup, wherein said water injection nozzle defines;

an upper shank separated from a lower blade by a narrowed constrictive section;

an upper vent hole formed in the upper shank; and

a lower vent hole formed in the lower blade section and connected by a slot to a discharge port, wherein the water injection nozzle is configured to pierce a bottom of the flavor cup such that the upper vent hole is aligned with an interior volume of the flavor cup and the lower vent hole is positioned below the bottom of the flavor cup;

operatively charging said flavor cup with the selected volume of carbonated water to mix the flavor and the selected volume of carbonated water therein to form a flavored beverage; and

dispensing the flavored beverage from the discharge port.

32. A method for making a customized beverage in a beverage maker, the method comprising:

receiving a single use disposable flavor cup containing a flavor and having a sealed cover that covers and seals said flavor cup; and

operatively interacting, by a central processing unit, with the flavor cup, and in response, operating the beverage maker to make a flavored beverage by;

providing a selected volume of water from a water source to a carbonation chamber, wherein the water source is in fluid communication with the carbonation chamber;

providing carbon dioxide from a pressurized carbon dioxide source to the selected volume of water in the carbonation chamber to form a selected volume of carbonated water;

projecting a water injection nozzle through the sealed cover of the flavor cup;

wherein the water injection nozzle comprises;

an upper shank separated from a lower blade by a narrowed constrictive section;

an upper vent hole formed in the upper shank; and

a lower vent hole formed in the lower blade and connected by a slot to a discharge orifice terminating at the lower blade, wherein the water injection nozzle is configured to pierce a bottom of the flavor cup such that the upper vent hole is aligned with an interior volume of the flavor cup and the lower vent hole is positioned below the bottom of the flavor cup;

operatively charging said flavor cup with the selected volume of carbonated water to mix the flavor and the selected volume of carbonated water therein to form the flavored beverage; and

dispensing the flavored beverage.

33. A method for making a customized beverage in a beverage maker, the method comprising:

receiving a single use disposable flavor cup containing a flavor and having a sealed cover that covers and seals said flavor cup;

providing a selected volume of water from a water source to a carbonation chamber, wherein the water source is in fluid communication with the carbonation chamber;

providing carbon dioxide from a pressurized carbon dioxide source to the selected volume of water in the carbonation chamber to form a selected volume of carbonated water;

projecting a piercing mechanism through the sealed cover of the flavor cup, wherein the piercing mechanism comprises;

an upper shank separated from a lower blade by a narrowed constrictive section;

an upper vent hole formed in the upper shank; and

a lower vent hole formed in the lower blade and connected by a slot to a discharge orifice terminating at the lower blade, wherein the piercing mechanism is configured to pierce a bottom of the flavor cup such that the upper vent hole is aligned with an interior volume of the flavor cup and the lower vent hole is positioned below the bottom of the flavor cup;

operatively charging said flavor cup with the selected volume of carbonated water to mix the flavor and the selected volume of carbonated water therein to form a flavored beverage; and

dispensing the flavored beverage.