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US 4,785,974 AGranted
System for serving a pre-mix beverage or making and serving a post-mix beverage in the zero gravity conditions of outer space
AssigneeThe Coca-Cola Company
InventorsArthur G. Rudick, Richard H. Heenan, William S. Credle, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for serving a pre-mix beverage and making and serving a post-mix carbonated beverage in outer space including a special drinking cup structure and individual serving flavor concentrate modules. The drinking cup includes a disposable bag liner within a rigid outer container and a disposable drinking tube attached thereto. The flavor concentrate module is either a serving of concentrate within the bag or a separate module in-line between a source of carbonated water and the drinking cup.
Claims26
A drinking cup for a beverage, said drinking cup comprising:
- (a) a substantially rigid container having a removable lid, said removable lid having an opening therein;
- and
- (b) a disposable container insert removably received within said substantially rigid container comprising:
- a collapsible bag for containing the beverage having an open end;
- a collar adapter connected to said open end of said collapsible bag wherein said collar adapter includes a quick release means for quickly and easily releasably connecting said collar adapter into said opening in said removable lid;
- a plug disposed within said collar adapter;
- and
- a drinking tube extending through said plug from outside the drinking cup into said disposable container insert.
5 more elements
A drinking cup for a carbonated beverage suitable for use in zero gravity conditions of outer space, said drinking cup comprising:
- (a) a substantially rigid container having a removable lid, said removable lid having an opening therein;
- and
- (b) a disposable container insert removably received within said substantially rigid container comprising:
- a collapsible bag for containing the beverage having an open end;
- a collar adapter connected to said open end of said collapsible bag wherein said collar adapter includes a quick release adapter means for quickly and easily releasably connecting said collar adapter to said opening in said removable lid;
- a plug disposed within said collar adapter;
- a drinking tube extending through said plug from outside the drink cup into said disposable container insert;
- and
- a valve means connected with said drink tube for controlling the flow of beverage therethrough.
6 more elements
A drinking cup for carbonated beverage suitable for use in zero gravity conditions of outer space, said drinking cup comprising:
- (a) a substantially rigid container having a removable lid, said removable lid having an opening therein wherein said opening includes a ridge;
- and
- (b) a disposable container insert removably received within and substantially rigid container comprising:
- a collapsible bag for containing beverage having an open end;
- an adapter collar attached to said open end of said collapsible bag wherein said adapter collar includes a ridge on its outer circumference engageable with said ridge of said opening in said removable lid forming a snap-fit connection between said adapter collar and said removable lid;
- a plug received within said adapter collar;
- a drinking tube extending through said plug from outside the drinking cup into said disposable container, and
- a valve means connected with said drinking tube for controlling the flow of beverage therethrough.
5 more elements
A system for making and serving a post-mix beverage in the zero gravity conditions of outer space comprising:
- (a) a drinking cup including,
- 1. a rigid container having a removable lid, said removable lid having a central opening therein;
- a plug removably disposed in the central opening of the removable lid;
- 3. a snap connector means for removably securing said plug in the central opening of said removable lid;
- 4. a collapsible bag for containing the carbonated beverage having an open end secured to said plug, said plug supporting said bag within said rigid container;
- 5. a drinking tube extending from the outside of said plug;
- 6. a dip tube within said bag extending through said plug and connected to said drinking tube;
- and
- 7. a valve on said drinking tube for starting or stopping the flow of carbonated beverage therethrough;
- (b) a pre-measured serving of flavor concentrate in said bag for making said carbonated beverage when mixed with carbonated water;
- and
- (c) a source of carbonated water for filling said bag therewith through said dip tube.
9 more elements
A drinking cup for a beverage comprising:
- (a) a substantially rigid container having a removable lid, said removable lid having an opening therein;
- and
- (b) a disposable container insert removably received within said substantially rigid container comprising,
- a collapsible bag for containing the beverage having an open end,
- a plug operatively connected to said open end of said collapsible bag forming a plug-collapsible bag unit, said plug including a quick release adapter means for quickly and easily releasably connecting said plug-collapsible bag unit to said opening in said removable lid, and
- a drinking tube extending through said plug from outside the drinking cup into said disposable container insert,
- wherein said quick release adapter is a collar having an opening therethrough in which said plug is received, said collar including a ridge about its outer circumference, said removable lid including a ridge about the circumference of its opening for engaging said ridge of said collar forming a snap-fit connection between said collar and said removable lid.
4 more elements
A drink cup for carbonated beverage suitable for use in zero gravity conditions of outer space comprising:
- (a) a substantially rigid container having a removable lid, said removable lid having an opening therein, said opening including a ridge;
- and
- (b) a disposable container removably received within said substantially rigid container comprising,
- a collapsible bag for containing beverage having an open end;
- an adapter collar operatively attached to said open end of said collapsible bag, said adapter collar including a ridge on its outer circumference engageable with said ridge of said opening in said removable lid forming a snap-fit connection between said adapter collar and said removable lid,
- a plug received within said adapter collar forming a plug-adapter collar-collapsible bag assembly,
- a drinking tube extending through said plug from outside the drinking cup into said disposable container, and
- a valve on said drinking tube for starting or stopping the flow of beverage therethrough.
5 more elements
A device for dispensing a flowable material, said device comprising:
- a container having a removable lid, said lid having an opening therethrough;
- and
- a replaceable insert comprising:
- a collapsible bag for containing a quantity of said flowable material, said collapsible bag having an opening therethrough;
- a collar adapter connected to said collapsible bag at said opening wherein said collar adapter includes a quick release means for quickly and easily releasably connecting said collar adapter into said opening in said removable lid;
- a plug disposed with said collar adapter;
- and
- a tube extending through said plug from outside said device into said replaceable insert.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.