Method and apparatus for cartridge-based carbonation of beverages

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9327900-B2
Application number	US-201514641483-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 9, 2015
Priority date	Sep 9, 2014
Publication date	May 3, 2016
Grant date	May 3, 2016

Abstract

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.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A beverage cartridge comprising:
a top surface;
a bottom surface;
a lower sidewall extending upwardly from the bottom surface;
the top surface, bottom surface and lower sidewall defining, in part, an internal space of the cartridge;
a rim between the top and bottom surfaces and having an upper surface and a lower surface extending outwardly from the lower sidewall, the internal space of the cartridge including a region between the upper and lower surfaces of the rim, and the rim being configured for engagement with a cartridge holder of a beverage making machine such that the cartridge holder can engage the rim and force the cartridge into a brewing position in the cartridge holder;
a gas inlet located on the lower surface of the rim, the gas inlet comprising a flow control element configured to resist fluid communication into the internal space of the cartridge and configured to open while a clamping force is exerted on the rim by the beverage making machine to admit pressurized gas into the internal space of the cartridge to move a beverage medium in the internal space of the cartridge out of the cartridge, wherein the flow control element includes a protrusion extending downwardly from the lower surface of the rim and a break region having a line of weakness defining a preferential opening area, wherein upward movement of the protrusion relative to the rim causes the break region to detach and open the gas inlet;
an indexing feature including a recess formed in the lower sidewall and located below the gas inlet to rotationally position the gas inlet of the cartridge relative to the cartridge holder;
wherein a gas introduced via the gas inlet enters into the region of the internal space of the cartridge between the upper and lower surfaces of the rim.

2. The beverage cartridge of claim 1 , wherein:
the internal space of the cartridge includes an upper internal space and a lower internal space, and
the beverage cartridge further comprises:
an upper portion including the upper internal space containing a gas source, the upper portion including the top surface and an upper sidewall extending downwardly from the top surface to the rim; and
a lower portion including the lower internal space containing the beverage medium, the lower portion including the bottom surface and the lower sidewall extending upwardly from the bottom surface, wherein the rim extends radially outwardly from the upper and lower sidewalls,
wherein the flow control element is arranged to be opened to admit pressurized gas into the lower internal space to urge the beverage medium to exit the lower internal space.

3. The beverage cartridge of claim 2 , wherein the rim provides first and second clamping surfaces for engagement by the cartridge holder of the beverage making machine to define a pressure tight seal to contain pressurized gas emitted by the gas source.

4. The beverage cartridge of claim 1 , further comprising a lid inside the internal space of the cartridge and covering the gas inlet, the lid being configured to control flow of gas through the gas inlet into the internal space of the cartridge.

5. The beverage cartridge of claim 2 , wherein the upper portion includes a bottom wall that bounds a bottom of the upper internal space of the upper portion, and separates the upper internal space from the lower internal space.

6. The beverage cartridge of claim 2 , wherein the gas source comprises a zeolite gas source arranged to release gas in the presence of a liquid.

7. The beverage cartridge of claim 4 , further comprising a lid, wherein the lower sidewall defines an opening that is closed by the lid.

8. The beverage cartridge of claim 2 , wherein the upper portion has a substantially frustoconical shape.

9. The beverage cartridge of claim 2 , wherein the lower sidewall flares upwardly and outwardly from the bottom surface.

10. The beverage cartridge of claim 2 , wherein the lower portion includes an outlet located at the bottom surface through which the beverage medium exits the lower internal space.

11. The beverage cartridge of claim 4 , wherein opening of the flow control element causes the lid to move upwardly relative to the lower surface of the rim.

12. The beverage cartridge of claim 11 , wherein the gas inlet includes a break region having a line of weakness defining a preferential opening area of the rim.

13. The beverage cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the rim is annular and has a thickness.

14. The beverage cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the recess extends from the bottom surface to the lower surface of the rim.

15. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the flow control element further includes a hinge, wherein upward movement of the protrusion relative to the rim causes the protrusion to pivot about the hinge and cause the break region to detach and open the gas inlet.

16. The cartridge of claim 15 , wherein the protrusion has a slope at a lower surface such that the protrusion is longer on a side opposite the hinge so as to concentrate a breaking force on the break region when the protrusion is moved upwardly relative to the rim.

17. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the gas inlet includes a D-shaped sealing region arranged around the flow control element, the D-shaped sealing region arranged to engage with a portion of the cartridge holder to form a gas-tight seal with the portion of the cartridge holder when admitting pressurized gas into the internal space.

18. The cartridge of claim 1 , further comprising a gas path arranged to direct gas entering the cartridge at the gas inlet to the internal space, the gas path including a restriction to resist movement of beverage medium in the cartridge to the gas inlet.

19. A beverage cartridge comprising:
a top surface;
a bottom surface;
a lower sidewall extending upwardly from the bottom surface, the top surface, bottom surface, and lower sidewall defining an internal space of the cartridge;
a clamping structure between the top and bottom surfaces and having a lower surface extending outwardly from the lower sidewall, the clamping structure arranged for engagement with a cartridge holder of a beverage making machine such that the cartridge holder can engage the clamping structure and force the cartridge into a brewing position in the cartridge holder;
a gas inlet located on the lower surface of the clamping structure, the gas inlet comprising a flow control element configured to resist fluid communication into the internal space of the cartridge and configured to open while a clamping force is exerted on the clamping structure by the beverage making machine to admit pressurized gas into the internal space of the cartridge out of the cartridge, wherein the flow control element includes a protrusion extending downwardly from the lower surface of the clamping structure;
a lid inside the internal space of the cartridge covering the gas inlet, the lid being configured to control flow of gas through the gas inlet into the internal space of the cartridge,
wherein upward movement of the protrusion relative to the clamping structure causes the lid to lift relative to the gas inlet to open fluid communication through the gas inlet into the internal space of the cartridge;

and
an indexing feature including a recess formed in the lower sidewall and located below the gas inlet to rotationally position the gas inlet of the cartridge relative to the cartridge holder.

20. The cartridge of claim 19 , wherein the clamping structure includes one or more

Assignees

• Keurig Green Mountain Inc

Inventors

• Cafaro Enrico Raffaele
• Maider Jr Ralph K
• Sack Michael
• Raphaelson Steven
• Michal J Corey
• Sweeney Kevin
• Johnson Brian B
• Passemato James
• Peterson Peter Rae
• Estabrook Richard M
• Fedorka Thomas
• Grubb Scott
• Chan Wai Ting
• Covey Christopher
• Stacey Gary
• Carroll Raymond

Classifications

• B65D81/32

  for packaging two or more different materials which must be maintained separate prior to use in admixture · CPC title

• A23V2002/00

  Food compositions, function of food ingredients or processes for food or foodstuffs · CPC title

• A47J31/06

  Filters or strainers for coffee or tea makers {; Holders therefor} · CPC title

• B65D77/08

  Materials, e.g. different materials, enclosed in separate compartments formed during filling of a single container · CPC title

• A23L2/54

  Mixing with gases · CPC title