# US 10,766,756 B2 · Beverage nozzle with mixing core

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- Number: US 10,766,756 B2
- Document ID: US10766756B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/281,624
- Filed: 2019-02-21
- Published: 2019-06-27
- Granted: 2020-09-08
- Earliest claimed: 2014-02-18
- Assignees: The Coca-Cola Company
- Applicants: The Coca-Cola Company
- Inventors: Shaun B. Gatipon; Alejandro J. Santamaria; Joshua B. Wilson; Robert B. Brownell, Jr.
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10766756B2

## CPC

- B67D 1/0048: {with baffles}
- B01F 23/45: using flow mixing
- B01F 25/422: between stacked plates, e.g. grooved or perforated plates
- B01F 25/4231: {using baffles}
- B01F 33/50111: {Small portable bottles, flasks, vials, e.g. with means for mixing ingredients or for homogenizing their content, e.g. by hand shaking}
- B67D 1/0021: {the components being mixed at the time of dispensing, i.e. post-mix dispensers}
- B67D 1/0044: {for mixing inside the dispensing nozzle}
- B67D 1/0081: {Dispensing valves}
- B67D 1/108: {of the peristaltic type}
- B01F 2101/14: Mixing of ingredients for non-alcoholic beverages; Dissolving sugar in water
- B67D 2001/0095: {Constructional details}
- B67D: DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (cleaning pipes or tubes or systems of pipes or tubes B08B9/02; emptying or filling of bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels, or similar containers, not otherwise provided for B67C; water supply E03; pipe systems F17D; domestic hot-water supply systems F24D; measuring volume, volume flow, mass flow or liquid level, metering by volume G01F; coin-freed or like apparatus G07F)
- B01F: MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING (mixing paints B44D3/06)

## Abstract

The disclosure is directed to a beverage nozzle for mixing at least a first beverage ingredient and a second beverage ingredient into a homogeneous mixture. The beverage nozzle comprising a housing comprising a first portion and a second portion and a first inlet in fluid communication with the housing. The first inlet is configured to provide the first beverage ingredient to the housing. The beverage nozzle also includes a second inlet in fluid communication with the housing. The second inlet is configured to provide the second beverage ingredient to the housing. In addition, the beverage nozzle includes a mixing core disposed within the housing. The mixing core is configured to mix the first beverage ingredient and the second beverage ingredient into the homogeneous mixture. Further, the beverage nozzle includes an outlet disposed about the housing, wherein the homogeneous mixture exits the housing by way of the outlet.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A beverage nozzle for mixing at least a first beverage ingredient and a second beverage ingredient into a homogeneous mixture, the beverage nozzle comprising:
a housing comprising a first portion and a second portion;
a first inlet in fluid communication with the housing, wherein the first inlet is configured to provide the first beverage ingredient to the housing, wherein the first inlet is removable;
a second inlet in fluid communication with the housing, wherein the second inlet is configured to provide the second beverage ingredient to the housing, wherein the second inlet is removable;
a mixing core disposed within the housing, wherein the mixing core is configured to mix the first beverage ingredient and the second beverage ingredient into the homogeneous mixture;
an outlet disposed about the housing, wherein the homogeneous mixture exits the housing by way of the outlet; and
a top ring attached to the second inlet, wherein the top ring comprises an aperture therethrough,
wherein the first inlet comprises an opening and a lip, the lip configured to slide into a slot in the housing to position the first inlet adjacent to the top ring, and align the top ring aperture with the first inlet opening.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The beverage nozzle of claim 1, wherein the second inlet comprises a first groove configured to mate with a first rim formed between the first and second portions of the housing.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The beverage nozzle of claim 2, wherein the top ring comprises a second groove disposed around the aperture, wherein the second groove is configured to mate with a second rim formed between the first and second portions of the housing, wherein the first groove and first rim are traverse to the second groove and the second rim.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The beverage nozzle of claim 3, wherein the lip comprises a bulge extending therefrom that is configured to seat within the aperture to form a seal therebetween.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The beverage nozzle of claim 1, further comprising one or more additional inlets in fluid communication with the housing, wherein the one or more additional inlets are configured to provide one or more flavors, vitamins, or additional beverage ingredients to the housing.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The beverage nozzle of claim 1, wherein the first portion comprises an upper portion, wherein the second portion comprises a lower portion, wherein the first inlet and the second inlet are disposed about the upper portion.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The beverage nozzle of claim 1, wherein the first portion of the housing and the second portion of the housing are configured to be attached to each other.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The beverage nozzle of claim 1, further comprising one or more ribs disposed about the outlet, wherein the one or more ribs are configured to provide a laminar flow to the homogeneous mixture at the outlet.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The beverage nozzle of claim 1, wherein the mixing core is removable from the housing such that it is interchangeable with other mixing cores.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The beverage nozzle of claim 1, wherein the mixing core is integral with the housing.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The beverage nozzle of claim 1, wherein the mixing core is configured to create at least one of a turbulent flow, a laminar flow, or various combinations thereof within the housing.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The beverage nozzle of claim 1, wherein a mixing characteristic of the mixing core is dependent on a composition of at least one of the first beverage ingredient or the second beverage ingredient.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The beverage nozzle of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the mixing core or the housing is textured or smooth.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The beverage nozzle of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises an elongated internal chamber, and wherein the mixing core comprises an elongated structure configured disposed within at least a portion of the elongated internal chamber.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The beverage nozzle of claim 1, wherein the first inlet comprises a check valve, and wherein the first inlet is in communication with a peristaltic pump configured to provide the first beverage ingredient to the first inlet.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The beverage nozzle of claim 1, further comprising a flow valve upstream of the second inlet, wherein the second inlet comprises a nozzle, and wherein the second inlet is in communication with a water source.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The beverage nozzle of claim 1, wherein the second inlet is angled towards the first inlet, or wherein the first inlet is transverse to the second inlet.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The beverage nozzle of claim 1, further comprising a headspace formed within an upper portion of the housing between an internal surface of the upper portion of the housing and the mixing core, wherein the first inlet and the second inlet are disposed about headspace, and wherein an internal surface within the upper portion of the housing is curved.