Method and apparatus for cartridge-based carbonation of beverages
AssigneeKeurig Green Mountain, Inc.
InventorsThomas J. Novak, Ross Packard, Peter Peterson, Shawn Gulla
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems, methods and cartridges for carbonating a precursor liquid, such as water, to form a beverage. A carbon dioxide source can be provided in a cartridge which is used to generate carbon dioxide gas that is dissolved into the precursor liquid. A beverage medium, such as a powdered drink mix or liquid syrup, may be provided in the same, or a separate cartridge as the carbon dioxide source and mixed with the precursor liquid to form a beverage. The use of one or more cartridges for the carbon dioxide source and/or beverage medium may make for an easy to use and mess-free system for making carbonated beverages, e.g., in the consumer's home.
Claims24
A cartridge for use with a beverage making machine in forming a beverage, comprising:
- a container including an internal space with a first chamber that is sealed and contains a carbon dioxide source, the carbon dioxide source being in solid form, having adsorbed carbon dioxide, and arranged to emit carbon dioxide gas for use in carbonating a precursor liquid, the container being configured to be received in a cartridge chamber of a beverage making machine and having a top that is piercable by the beverage making machine to form an inlet through which fluid is provided to activate the carbon dioxide source to emit carbon dioxide gas, and that is piercable by the beverage making machine at the top to form an outlet through which carbon dioxide gas exits the container for use by the beverage making machine in carbonating the precursor liquid.
A cartridge for use with a beverage making machine in forming a beverage, comprising:
- a container defining a sealed internal space with a first chamber and a second chamber that are isolated from each other, the first chamber containing a carbon dioxide source in solid form, having adsorbed carbon dioxide, and arranged to emit carbon dioxide gas for use in carbonating a precursor liquid to form a beverage, the second chamber containing a beverage medium for use in mixing with the precursor liquid to form a beverage,
- the container having a top that is piercable by a beverage making machine to form an inlet through which fluid is provided to activate the carbon dioxide source to emit carbon dioxide gas, and that is piercable by the beverage machine at the top to form an outlet through which carbon dioxide gas exits the container for use in carbonating the precursor liquid, and
- the container being piercable to introduce pressurized gas into the second chamber to move beverage medium out of the second chamber, and is arranged to have an opening located at a bottom of the second chamber through which the beverage medium exits out of the second chamber.
A cartridge for forming a beverage, comprising:
- a container including an internal space that is sealed and contains a carbon dioxide source in the internal space, the carbon dioxide source being in solid form and arranged to emit carbon dioxide gas for use in carbonating a precursor liquid, the container being arranged to have an inlet through which fluid is provided to activate the carbon dioxide source and an outlet through which carbon dioxide gas exits the container for use in carbonating the precursor liquid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.