US 12,312,230 B2Granted

Single nozzle beverage dispensing

AssigneeHydration Labs, Inc.

InventorsDavid Watt, Andrew Jaskey

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A nozzle for beverage dispensing. The nozzle accepts both hot water lines and cold water lines at the nozzle, where the water may be carbonated or still. Cold carbonated water is received near the top of a double cone-shaped insert within the nozzle interior. The cold carbonated water is depressurized prior to being fully exposed to atmospheric pressure by passing the cold carbonated water down and around the double cone-shape of the insert. The depressurized cold carbonated water is collected via a funnel, and is dispensed from the nozzle after exiting the funnel bottom. Hot water is received in chamber within the nozzle separate from the passageway through which the cold carbonated water flows. Both hot and cold water streams are directed to flow in a tight and narrow downward direction via flow straighteners, and the streams are mixed with flavoring after dispensing from the nozzle.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A beverage dispensing nozzle, comprising:

a first fluid inlet coupled to a first fluid source, the first fluid inlet configured to receive a first fluid from the first fluid source;
a second fluid inlet coupled to a second fluid source, the second fluid inlet configured to receive a second fluid from the second fluid source with a temperature exceeding a temperature of the first fluid;
a fluid outlet comprising a plurality of protrusions angled toward an axis of fluid flow, wherein each pair of a plurality of pairs of the plurality of protrusions form a respective one of a plurality of apertures and the second fluid inlet is perpendicular with a fluid flow direction of the fluid outlet;
a nozzle casing comprising the second fluid inlet and a flow diverting pocket opposite the second fluid inlet;
a plurality of flavor dispensers, wherein each of the plurality of flavor dispensers is configured to dispense a respective flavor concentrate of a plurality of flavor concentrates;
and
a plurality of holsters aligned with the plurality of apertures, wherein each of the plurality of holsters is configured to retain a respective one of the plurality of flavor dispensers.

4 more elements

A method for dispensing a fluid, comprising:

receiving, at a cold fluid inlet of a beverage dispensing nozzle, a first fluid from a first fluid source;
decreasing, via a first cavity between a nozzle wall and a double conical-shaped insert of the beverage dispensing nozzle, a pressure of the first fluid, wherein the double conical-shaped insert comprises a first conical portion and a second conical portion, and an inner nozzle portion comprises a truncated cone shaped inner wall forming a second cavity, wherein the second conical portion of the double conical insert is configured to fit within the second cavity;
dispensing, via at least one of a plurality of flavor dispensers of the beverage dispensing nozzle, at least one flavor concentrate;
and
dispensing, via a fluid outlet of the beverage dispensing nozzle, a flavored beverage comprising the first fluid and the at least one flavor concentrate.

2 more elements

A beverage dispensing nozzle apparatus, comprising:

a double conical insert comprising a first conical portion and a second conical portion;
a nozzle body comprising a conical wall forming a first cavity and comprising a cold fluid supply aperture at an apex, wherein the first conical portion of the double conical insert is configured to fit within the first cavity;
an inner nozzle portion comprising a truncated cone shaped inner wall forming a second cavity, wherein the second conical portion of the double conical insert is configured to fit within the second cavity;
and
an outer nozzle portion comprising a wall structure forming a third cavity, wherein the inner nozzle portion is configured to fit within the third cavity.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 18/176,961Filed 1 Mar 2023 · continuation
Priority: 1 Sep 2020
Published: US 2023/0202823 A129 Jun 2023
Granted: 27 May 2025
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

B67D 1/005
Mixing chambers: with means for converging streams
B67D 1/0052
For mixing outside the nozzle: by means for directing respective streams together
B67D 1/0044
Mixing devices for liquids: for mixing inside the dispensing nozzle
B67D 1/0884
Devices for controlling the dispensing conditions: means for controlling the parameters of the state of the liquid to be dispensed, e.g.…