US 12,441,597 B2Granted

Beverage dispenser

AssigneeDrinkstation Holdings Corporation

InventorsGiancarlo Fantappie, Steven T. Jersey, Farshad Kamali

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A beverage dispenser uses-high ratio concentrates to mix on-demand beverages. The high-ratio concentrate is pre-mixed with an alkaline water to allow for improved blending performance in the final beverage. The beverage recipe may be customized by the user to suit personal tastes. Aspects of the beverage dispenser also may include the ability to dispense room temperature, chilled, heated, sparkling, or highly alkaline beverages. Operation of a user interface to receive a beverage order includes the ability to display and employ user interfaces present on both a display on the beverage dispenser and an application on a mobile device. In some aspects, both user interfaces may be used simultaneously to receive user input. Methods of dispensing a beverage using the beverage dispensing systems are also discussed.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A method of dispensing a beverage from a beverage dispenser, comprising:

receiving water from a water source connected to a housing of the beverage dispenser;
pumping a high ratio concentrate from a concentrate container disposed in the housing to a nozzle disposed on the housing using a pump disposed in the housing and fluidly connected to the concentrate container;
pumping alkaline water having a pH greater than 7.00 to the nozzle such that the concentrate and alkaline water are blended together before arriving at the nozzle to form a first concentrate combination;
pressurizing the concentrate container with a pressurized gas from a gas source to assist in the pumping of the high ratio concentrate to the nozzle;
dispensing the first concentrate combination from the nozzle;
cooling a water bath of a water chiller disposed in the housing using a cooling element disposed in the water bath;
cooling the water from the water source by routing the water through a chiller coil disposed in the water bath to form a chilled water;
receiving the chilled water at a carbonator chamber disposed in the housing;
receiving pressurized gas from the gas source at the carbonator chamber;
combining the chilled water and the pressurized gas such that at least some of the pressurized gas is dissolved in the chilled water to form a sparkling water;
receiving the sparkling water at the nozzle;
combining the sparkling water and the first concentrate combination in the nozzle to form the beverage;
and
dispensing the beverage from the nozzle.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 18/466,235Filed 13 Sep 2023 · continuation
Priority: 24 Jul 2020
Published: US 2023/0416070 A128 Dec 2023
Granted: 14 Oct 2025
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification36 codes

B67D 1/0034
The apparatus comprising means for automatically controlling the amount to be dispensed: for controlling the amount of each component
B67D 1/0037
The controls being based on the same metering technics: based on volumetric dosing
B67D 1/0044
Mixing devices for liquids: for mixing inside the dispensing nozzle
B67D 1/0058
Carbonators: in-line carbonators

Family

Application63/056,178Us provisional application · filed 24 Jul 2020
Application17/384,352Parent of this continuation · filed 23 Jul 2021
US 2023/0416070 A1Pre-grant publication · published 28 Dec 2023
US 11,802,036 B2Parent of this continuation
US 2022/0024748 A1Published application
US 12,441,597 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.