Patent application number | Description | Published |
20130129870 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CARTRIDGE-BASED CARBONATION OF BEVERAGES - Systems, methods and cartridges for carbonating or otherwise dissolving gas in a precursor liquid, such as water, to form a beverage. A gas source can be provided in a cartridge which is used to generate 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 gas source and mixed with the precursor liquid to form a beverage. The use of one or more cartridges for the gas source and/or beverage medium may make for an easy to use and mess-free system for making sparkling beverages, e.g., in the consumer's home. | 05-23-2013 |
20140331867 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CARTRIDGE-BASED CARBONATION OF BEVERAGES - Systems, methods and cartridges for carbonating or otherwise dissolving gas in a precursor liquid, such as water, to form a beverage. A gas source can be provided in a cartridge which is used to generate 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 gas source and mixed with the precursor liquid to form a beverage. The use of one or more cartridges for the gas source and/or beverage medium may make for an easy to use and mess-free system for making sparkling beverages, e.g., in the consumer's home. | 11-13-2014 |
20140331868 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CARTRIDGE-BASED CARBONATION OF BEVERAGES - Systems, methods and cartridges for carbonating or otherwise dissolving gas in a precursor liquid, such as water, to form a beverage. A gas source can be provided in a cartridge which is used to generate 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 gas source and mixed with the precursor liquid to form a beverage. The use of one or more cartridges for the gas source and/or beverage medium may make for an easy to use and mess-free system for making sparkling beverages, e.g., in the consumer's home. | 11-13-2014 |
20140335239 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CARTRIDGE-BASED CARBONATION OF BEVERAGES - Systems, methods and cartridges for carbonating or otherwise dissolving gas in a precursor liquid, such as water, to form a beverage. A gas source can be provided in a cartridge which is used to generate 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 gas source and mixed with the precursor liquid to form a beverage. The use of one or more cartridges for the gas source and/or beverage medium may make for an easy to use and mess-free system for making sparkling beverages, e.g., in the consumer's home. | 11-13-2014 |
20160068334 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CARTRIDGE-BASED CARBONATION OF BEVERAGES - Systems, methods and cartridges for carbonating or otherwise dissolving gas in a precursor liquid, such as water, to form a beverage are disclosed. A gas source, which is used to generate gas that is dissolved into the precursor liquid, and/or a beverage medium, such as a powdered drink mix or liquid syrup, may be provided in a cartridge. The use of one or more cartridges for the gas source and/or beverage medium may make for an easy to use and mess-free system for making sparkling beverages, e.g., in the consumer's home. | 03-10-2016 |
20160106136 | FLOW CIRCUIT FOR CARBONATED BEVERAGE MACHINE - Systems, methods and cartridges for carbonating or otherwise dissolving gas in a precursor liquid, such as water, to form a beverage. Carbonating gas can be provided to a tank via the tank outlet, thereby purging at least a portion of a dispense line leading from the tank to a dispensing station. A single pump may be used to deliver liquid to the tank, e.g., for carbonation, and to pump pressurized air to dispense liquid from the tank. A water trap may help remove moisture from carbonating gas. | 04-21-2016 |
20160107876 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COOLING BEVERAGE LIQUID WITH FINNED ICE BANK - A beverage making machine may be arranged to cool a precursor liquid in a tank using a cooling liquid in a cooling container disposed around the tank. The cooling liquid may be freezable to form ice, e.g., to provide the system with improved cooling capacity and/or speed. A plurality of fins may extend between the tank and the cooling container, with each of the plurality of fins being physically attached to the cooling container or the tank and being arranged to conduct heat from the tank and/or from the cooling liquid. The plurality of fins may include first portions attached to the tank and extending outwardly, and second portions attached to the cooling container and extending inwardly. Side surfaces of corresponding first and second portions may be in contact with each other to aid in transferring heat via the fin portions. | 04-21-2016 |
20160109165 | COOLING DUCT FOR BEVERAGE MACHINE - A beverage making machine having a tank may be arranged to carbonate and/or chill liquid in the tank. A heat sink used to transfer heat from the liquid may be positioned in a duct located in a housing of the machine. Air may flow through the duct from a duct inlet to a duct outlet to receive heat from the heat sink. A precursor liquid supply inlet, e.g., an opening of a water reservoir, may be located near the duct outlet, and the duct may be arranged to conduct any liquid mistakenly provided into the duct outlet to a bottom of the machine, avoiding contact with electronic components of the machine. | 04-21-2016 |
20160109175 | BEVERAGE MACHINE WITH THERMOELECTRIC COOLER, HEAT PIPE AND HEAT SINK ARRANGEMENT - A beverage making machine having a tank may be arranged to carbonate and/or chill liquid in the tank. A thermoelectric device may be thermally coupled to the tank to cool precursor liquid in the tank, and a heat pipe may transfer heat from the thermoelectric device to a heat sink. The heat sink may be located remotely from the thermoelectric device, e.g., in an air duct that helps prevent contact of moisture, dirt, etc. in the duct with the thermoelectric device. | 04-21-2016 |