US 8,833,241 B2 · Select serving and flavored sparkling beverage maker

Abstract

A beverage maker for making single serving customized beverages is provided herein. The beverage maker provides on-demand, single dose sparkling or non-sparkling flavored waters, juices or sodas. An example beverage maker includes a reservoir in fluid communication with a carbonation chamber for mixing a selected volume of fluid with carbon dioxide. The beverage maker also includes a pressurized carbon dioxide source in fluid communication with the carbonation chamber. The beverage maker is configured to receive an individually packed, single use disposable flavor cup containing a flavor and having a sealed cover that covers and seals the flavor cup. Additionally, the beverage maker includes a piercing mechanism for piercing the flavor cup and mixing the selected volume of fluid therein, and for discharging a blended fluid. The carbonation chamber comprises a pressure vessel assembly of a fixed volume such that carbon dioxide absorption can be performed and controlled.

Claims33

Dependent claims

A beverage maker capable of making customized beverages, said beverage maker comprises:

a compact housing;
a water source in fluid communication with a carbonation chamber configured to mix a selected volume of water with carbon dioxide to form a selected volume of carbonated water;
a carbon dioxide source in fluid communication with said carbonation chamber, wherein said carbonation chamber defines a pressure vessel of a fixed volume utilized for carbon dioxide absorption into said selected volume of water, wherein said carbonation chamber defines a controlled volume such that the carbon dioxide absorption can be performed and controlled;
a single use disposable flavor cup containing a flavor and having a sealed cover that covers and seals said flavor cup;
a water injection nozzle configured to access said flavor cup and operatively charge said flavor cup with said selected volume of carbonated water so as to mix the selected volume of carbonated water with the flavor to form a flavored beverage, wherein said water injection nozzle defines:
an upper shank separated from a lower blade by a narrowed constrictive section;
an upper vent hole formed in the upper shank;
and
a lower vent hole formed in the lower blade section;
and
a discharge port configured to dispense the flavored beverage, wherein the lower vent is connected by a slot to the discharge port,
wherein the water injection nozzle is further configured to pierce a bottom of the flavor cup such that the upper vent hole is aligned with an interior volume of the flavor cup and the lower vent hole is positioned below the bottom of the flavor cup.

9 more elements

A beverage maker capable of making customized beverages in a single-serving, said beverage maker comprising:

a compact housing;
a reservoir in fluid communication with a carbonation chamber configured to mix a selected volume of water with carbon dioxide to form a selected volume of carbonated water;
a pressurized carbon dioxide source in fluid communication with the carbonation chamber;
a single use disposable flavor cup containing a flavor and having a sealed cover that covers and seals the flavor cup;
and
a piercing mechanism configured to pierce the flavor cup to mix the selected volume of carbonated water therein to form a flavored beverage, and wherein the piercing mechanism is configured to discharge the flavored beverage, wherein the piercing mechanism comprises:
an upper shank separated from a lower blade by a narrowed constrictive section;
an upper vent hole formed in the upper shank;
a lower vent hole formed in the lower blade and connected by a slot to a discharge orifice terminating at the lower blade,
wherein the carbonation chamber defines a pressure vessel of a fixed volume such that carbon dioxide absorption can be performed and controlled,
wherein the piercing mechanism is further configured to pierce a bottom of the flavor cup such that the upper vent hole is aligned with an interior volume of the flavor cup and the lower vent hole is positioned below the bottom of the flavor cup.

8 more elements

A beverage maker capable of making customized beverages in a single-serving, said beverage maker comprising:

a reservoir in fluid communication with a carbonation chamber configured to mix a selected volume of water with carbon dioxide to form a selected volume of carbonated water;
a pressurized carbon dioxide source in fluid communication with the carbonation chamber;
a single use disposable flavor cup containing a flavor and having a sealed cover that covers and seals the flavor cup;
a piercing mechanism configured to pierce the flavor cup to mix the selected volume of carbonated water therein to form a flavored beverage, and wherein the piercing mechanism is configured to discharge the flavored beverage;
wherein the piercing mechanism comprises:
an upper shank separated from a lower blade by a narrowed constrictive section;
an upper vent hole formed in the upper shank;
a lower vent hole formed in the lower blade and connected by a slot to a discharge orifice terminating at the lower blade;
and
a central processing unit configured to control operation of the beverage maker, wherein the central processing unit is configured to interact with the flavor cup to operate the beverage maker to make the flavored beverage,
wherein the piercing mechanism is further configured to pierce a bottom of the flavor cup such that the upper vent hole is aligned with an interior volume of the flavor cup and the lower vent hole is positioned below the bottom of the flavor cup.

8 more elements

A beverage maker capable of making customized beverages in a single-serving, said beverage maker comprising:

a reservoir in fluid communication with a carbonation chamber configured to mix a selected volume of water with carbon dioxide to form a selected volume of carbonated water;
a pressurized carbon dioxide source in fluid communication with the carbonation chamber;
a single use disposable flavor cup containing a flavor and having a sealed cover that covers and seals the flavor cup;
and
a piercing mechanism configured to pierce the flavor cup to mix the selected volume of carbonated water therein to form a flavored beverage, and wherein the piercing mechanism is configured to discharge the flavored beverage,
wherein the piercing mechanism comprises:
an upper shank separated from a lower blade by a narrowed constrictive section;
an upper vent hole formed in the upper shank;
a lower vent hole formed in the lower blade and connected by a slot to a discharge orifice terminating at the lower blade,
wherein the piercing mechanism is further configured to pierce a bottom of the flavor cup such that the upper vent hole is aligned with an interior volume of the flavor cup and the lower vent hole is positioned below the bottom of the flavor cup.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Select serving and flavored sparkling beverage maker

Life of this patent

Select serving and flavored sparkling beverage maker

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims33