Carbonation cup for carbonated beverage maker

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12048905-B2
Application number	US-202218051809-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 1, 2022
Priority date	Nov 9, 2016
Publication date	Jul 30, 2024
Grant date	Jul 30, 2024

Abstract

A carbonated beverage maker includes a water reservoir, a carbon dioxide creation chamber, and a carbonation chamber. The water reservoir holds ice water and has a first impeller and a shroud surrounding the first impeller. The carbon dioxide creation chamber contains chemical elements and receives warm water. The chemical elements react with each other to create carbon dioxide when the warm water is introduced to the carbon dioxide creation chamber. The carbonation chamber is connected to the water reservoir and the carbon dioxide creation chamber. The carbonation chamber has a second impeller that includes a stem portion and blades. The stem portion and the blades define conduits therein. The blades create a low pressure region in a lower portion of the carbonation chamber such that carbon dioxide from the carbon dioxide creation chamber flows through the conduits to the low pressure region.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A carbonation cup comprising:
a transparent plastic layer forming a base and a cylinder;
a metal sheath disposed outside the transparent plastic layer, the metal sheath defining a plurality of holes so that a portion of the transparent plastic layer is visible from outside the carbonation cup;
a magnetically-driven impeller disposed at an inner side of the base of the transparent plastic layer; and
an attachment member disposed at an end of the cylinder opposite the base, the attachment member configured to seal the carbonation cup when attached to a carbonated beverage maker having a carbonation source.

2. The carbonation cup of claim 1 , further comprising a fill line indicator to suggest a fill line of a diluent.

3. The carbonation cup of claim 1 , wherein the transparent plastic layer comprises a thermal insulating material.

4. The carbonation cup of claim 1 , wherein the carbonation cup is a pressure vessel, and the metal sheath is configured to maintain a pressure at which a beverage is carbonated.

5. The carbonation cup of claim 1 , wherein the attachment member comprises an attachment projection to support the carbonation cup within the carbonated beverage maker.

6. The carbonation cup of claim 1 , wherein the attachment member comprises a lip seal to seal the carbonation cup with the carbonated beverage maker.

7. The carbonation cup of claim 1 , wherein the impeller is removably attached to the transparent plastic layer at a spindle protruding from the base of the transparent plastic layer.

8. The carbonation cup of claim 1 , wherein the impeller is configured to be magnetically-driven by an impeller motor outside of the carbonation cup.

9. The carbonation cup of claim 1 , wherein the impeller is configured to create a vortex that draws carbon dioxide from the carbonation source near the base of the carbonation cup.

10. The carbonation cup of claim 1 , wherein the impeller comprises:
a base;
blades protruding from the base; and
a ring attached to the blades and disposed above the blades.

Assignees

• Pepsico Inc

Inventors

• Jersey Steven T
• Brown Stephen
• Goudarzi Farideh
• Headen Steven
• Hember Miles
• Norman Alexander
• Potter Andrew
• Stacey Gary

Classifications

• B01F33/452

  using independent floating stirring elements · CPC title

• B01F23/2362

  for aerating or carbonating within receptacles or tanks, e.g. distribution machines (B01F23/2361 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B01F2101/14

  Mixing of ingredients for non-alcoholic beverages; Dissolving sugar in water · CPC title

• B01F23/237621

  in beverages · CPC title

• B01F23/233

  using driven stirrers with completely immersed stirring elements · CPC title