Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
2062337
CARBONATED BEVERAGE DISPENSER" SYSTEM AND METHOD
Field of the Invention:
This invention relates to a beverage dispenser, system and
method for carbonated beverages. In particular, the invention
is directed to a beverage dispenser and system for accommodating
and dispensing the contents of low pressure carbonated beverage
containers. Further, the beverage dispenser can be insulated and
can accommodate different sized and shaped beverage containers.
The invention includes a method for dispensing using a dispenser
operated by agitating the carbonated beverage in a beverage
container inserted in the dispenser to release dissolved carbon
dioxide to provide gas for powering the dispensing operation.
Prior Art:
There exist a number of devices such as coolers for
transporting and storing beverage containing bottles and cans.
Typically, the bottles and cans are placed in the cooler with
ice for cooling and maintaining the: beverage at a temperature
desirable for consumption. These beverage containers contain
carbonated beverages having a certain amount of dissolved
carbon dioxide. When these bottlea or cans are opened, and
subjected to the lower pressure .ambient atmosphere, carbon
dioxide gas is released which causes fizzing when the beverage
is agitated such as when pouring
20 823 3'7 ~.
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the beverage into a drinking receptacle. If the container
is left open over a long period of time, the carbonation is
lost and the beverage becomes flat.
There also exist a number of seltzer water dispensers
that include a mixing chamber for water and carbon dioxide
gas supplied from carbon dioxide cartridges. The carbon
dioxide mixes with the water to become seltzer water, and
the increased pressure in the mixing chamber powers the
dispensing of the seltzer water.
A device related to the present invention for
dispensing carbonated beverages is shown and described in
U.S. Patent No. 2,184,397. This dispenser includes a
cylindrical case for receiving cans filled with beverage and
gas for powering the dispensing of the beverage. The
undissolved gas forms a layer over the liquid beverage
contents in the can and forces the liquid out through a
conduit having a piercing blade, which penetrates through
the bottom of the can when loaded into the dispenser. A
sufficient amount of gas must be supplied in the can with
the beverage in order to completely expel the full contents
of the can.
The metal cans used in the dispenser of U.S. Patent
No. 2,184,397 contain beverage and enough undissolved gas to
completely expel all of the beve~__~age from the container. In
sharp contrast, today~s conventional plastic and glass
beverage bottles and beverage cans are stored under a
significantly lower relative pressure with a small amount of
undissolved gas stored over the liquid contents therein.
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This is a result of today's bottlEa either being constructed
of plastic, which has a lower tensile strength than the
metal used in the cans of U.S. lPatent 2,184,397, or thin-
walled glass so that the bottle: are disposable after one
use. Further, today's aluminum cans having quick opening
pop tops cannot withstand relatively higher pressure
contents due to the top being made of aluminum and scribed
to a certain depth to provide the pop top structure.
In general, these contempor<~ry beverage containers are
packaged with only a sufficient amount of carbonation for
flavoring purposes, and do not have enough undissolved gas
to dispense a significant amount of the contents of the
beverage container, let alone t:he entire contents of the
beverage container. Especially, today's larger containers,
such as the popular two ( 2 ) liter plastic soda bottles, have
a very small amount of undissolved gas relative to the
liquid volume of the container. These conventional plastic
containers are hereinafter referred to as low pressure
beverage containers or systems.. The present invention
focuses on the use of these low pressure carbonated beverage
containers requiring agitation of the carbonated beverage
contents of the container to liberate enough dissolved gas
from the contents to power the dispensing operation. This
concept does not appear to be taught or suggested by the
prior art.
Further, the specific structure of the dispenser of
U.S. Patent 2,184,397 involves the use of a perforating
point or piercing blade extending up into the container a
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short distance with the end sharpened to a fine point, the
point being adapted to engage and cut out a small triangular
portion of the bottom of a carbonated beverage containing
can. In addition, the entire bottom of the container is
provided with a sealing gasket made preferably of sponge
rubber, but which may be made of any suitable material.
This piercing and sealing combination places the entire
burden of providing an adequate seal on the bottom gasket,
with no additional or secondary sealing means in case of
leakage of the single sealing mE~ans.
Insulated beverage containers have been around for many
years. For example, most people have had experience with an
insulated Thermos for storing a.nd transporting hot liquid
such as coffee or hot chocolate. Today, squeeze bottles for
dispensing individual quantitie:~ of beverage have recently
become popular due to their widespread use in the sports
industry, such as football. Further, insulated liners for
a container of cold beverage such as a can of beer have also
become commonplace. However, ithere appears to be a void
with respect to dispensers that: use pre-prepared beverage
containers in combination with am insulated canister having
a beverage container puncturing conduit connected to a flow
control valve for maintaining the container at an off
ambient temperature (e. g. refrigerated prior to loading into
the canister).
Furthermore, today's beverages are frequently
distributed in sealed container: having a variety of shapes
and sizes. Soft drinks are typically marketed in three (3)
20 823 3 7
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liter, two (2) liter and one (1) liter, sixteen (16) fluid
ounce and twelve (12) fluid ounce plastic or glass bottles,
as well as various size cans. A shortcoming of the prior
art devices is that they are not designed to universally
accommodate containers of different sizes and shapes.
Further, the can piercing device in U.S. Patent 2,184,397
would not appear suitable for piercing the tops or caps of
bottle beverage containers due to the lack of a penetrating
portion of the dispensing conduii~ to unequivocally extend up
and through the top forming a tight sealing mechanical
connection.
Summary of the Invention
Accordingly, it is a primary object of this invention
to provide a carbonated beverage dispenser, system and
method in combination with or for use with low pressure
beverage containers or systems such as plastic and glass
bottles.
Another object of the present invention is to provide
an improved carbonated beverage dispenser and system.
A further object of the present invention is to provide
a carbonated beverage dispenser having a dispensing conduit
with a puncturing end for piercing into and sealing about
its outer perimeter with a carbonated beverage container
loaded into the dispenser.
A still further object of the present invention is to
provide a carbonated beverage dispenser including a canister
having an insulated lining and a dispensing conduit having
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a puncturing end for piercing into a carbonated beverage
container loaded into the canister.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide
a carbonated beverage dispenser, which can accommodate and
dispense the contents from a variety of different sized and
shaped carbonated beverage containers.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a
system and method of dispensing carbonated beverage with a
dispenser that accommodates and dispenses the contents from
a carbonated beverage container.
A further object of the present invention is to provide
a system and method of dispensing a carbonated beverage from
a container having low pressure contents.
~ According to the present invention there is provided a
carbonated beverage dispenser, comprising a canister defined
by a side wall and bottom wall, said canister having an open
upper end for receiving a carbonated beverage container; a lid
removably connected to the open en.d of said canister for
closing said open end during operation; a dispensing tube
provided at the bottom wall of said canister, said dispensing
tube having a puncturing end extending inwardly of said
canister from approximately the center of the bottom wall,
said dispensing tube being of a sufficient length upon
insertion of a carbonated beverages container within said
canister (1) to puncture through an end of said carbonated
beverage container inserted within raid canister and (2) to
form a seal with said container around the perimeter of said
dispensing tube; a flow control valve connected to said
dispensing tube for controlling the dispensing of the
carbonated beverage from the container ; and a sealing gasket
positioned on the bottom wall of said canister and forming a
second seal around the perimeter of said dispensing tube as
well as against said end of the beverage container.
Further, the canister can be provided with an insulated
lining for maintaining the temperature of a beverage container
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placed in the dispenser. In addi_t:ion, a portion of the
dispensing conduit can be accommodated i.n the insulated lining
for maintaining the temperature of any remaining liquid i.n the
dispensing conduit after use.
Further, t:i~e dispenser can be prow i cled with an adapter.
or spacer for modi_fyi_ng the inner dimensions of the canister
so that the dispenser can accommodate di.ff_erent s:lze~d and
shaped containers.
According to another embodiment of the present invention
t~iere is provided a dispensing system f_or dispensing
carbonated beverage from low pressure carbonated beverage
cc7ntainers, comprising a canister having a side wall, a bottom
wHll and an open end; a lid removably connected to said
canister open end f_or enabling a cont=ainer of beverage to be
placed in said canister and for_ closing said open end during
operation, said side wall, bottom wall and li_d being
dimensioned and spaced relative to one another_ so as to snugly
engage a beverage container placed in the canister to prevent
relative movement therebetween; a dispensing tube having a
puncturing end projecting axially unto the canj_ster from the
bottom wall thereof for puncturing an end of a beverage
container placed in the canister and a sealing gasket
positioned to form a seal around the perimeter of said
dispensing tube as well as against said end of the beverage
container; the beverage container holding a quantity of
beverage stored under a volume of carbon dioxide of relatively
low pressure insufficient to power the discharge of the entire
contents of said beverage container inserted within said
canister with said dispensing tube penetrating into said
beverage container; and a flow control valve connected to said
dispensing tube for controlling the dispensing of carbonated
beverage from the container, whereby the contents of the
beverage container can be repeatedly agitated by shaking the
canister and beverage container held therein to liberate
sufficient volumes of dissolved carbon dioxide to power the
dispensing of plural servings of carbonated beverage.
20 823 3 7
According to the present invention, there is also provided
a method of dispensing a carbonated beverage, comprising the
steps of providing a canister having a side wall , a bottom wall
and an open end with a removable lid; loading a carbonated
beverage container into the cani;~ter through the open end;
placing the lid on the canister to exert pressure on an end of
the container against a puncturing end of a dispensing tube
provided inside of said canister and against a sealing gasket
disposed around said dispensing tube, to puncture said end of
the container and simultaneously seal said container's
punctured end around said puncturing end and against said
sealing gasket, said sealing gasket forming a seal around the
perimeter of said dispensing tube as well as against said end
of the beverage container; shaking the canister and the
beverage container positioned ther<~in to release a quantity of
dissolved carbon dioxide gas from the beverage in the container
to pressurize the beverage; controlling dispensing of
carbonated beverage from said container by operating a flow
control valve connected to said dispensing tube; dispensing a
quantity of beverage from said dispenser by opening said flow
control valve and repeating the step of agitating the beverage
container positioned in the dispenser to release dissolved
carbon dioxide and pressurize the beverage until the beverage
is fully dispensed.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference
characters refer to like parts th=roughout the several views,
and wherein:
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of an
embodiment of the carbonated beverage dispenser according to
the present invention;
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FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the carbonated beverage
dispenser shown in Figure 1, dlisassembled for loading a
beverage container;
FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view, on a
reduced scale, of the dispenser shown in Figure 1, with a
plastic beverage container loads:d therein;
FIG. 3A is a detailed cross-sectional view of a bottle
cap in sealing engagement with t:he dispensing tube;
FIG. 3B is a detailed cross-section view of a bottle
cap sealing with the puncturing End of the dispensing tube;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal cross-sectional view
of an adapter insert for accommodating a beverage can;
FIG. 5 is a partial longitudinal cross-sectional view
of a spacer positioned inside the dispenser of the present
invention for accommodating ~~ smaller sized beverage
container;
FIG. 6 is a longitudina7l cross-sectional view of
another embodiment of the beverage dispenser according to
the present invention;
FIG. 6A is a break away view of a portion of the inner
wall of the lid provided with a slot for accommodating a
length of dispensing tubing, and shows the relationship
between the inner wall and ths~ spring biased dispensing
actuator; and
FIG. 6B is a detailed cross-sectional view of the
dispensing valve structure in t:he alternate embodiment of
the dispenser.
._ 2062337
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Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments
A dispenser 20 constructed according to the present
invention is shown in Figure 1.
The dispenser 20 includes a canister 22 having an open end
23 and a side wall 24. The side wall 24 is preferably lined with
insulation 25. The insulation 25 can be selected from a number
of different commonly known insulators such as polystyrene sold
under the trademark Styrofoam or other similar materials forming
a thermal barrier.
A lid 26 has a depending skirt. portion 28 with external
threads 30 cooperates with the opsan end 23 having internal
threads 32 of the canister 22. Alternatively, other equivalent
interlocking arrangements including arrangements that provide
mechanical advantages for closing 'the lid during a beverage
container puncturing operation can be substituted for the
threaded arrangement. Further, a lower end of the canister 22
is defined by an insulated bottom wall 34.
By way of example, the outside dimensions of the canister
22 can be 7 inches (18 cm) in width and 13-3/4 inches (33 cm) in
height. The inside width is approximately 5 inches (12.5 cm),
and the inside height is about 12 inches (30 cm).
A compressible pressure pad 36 is installed inside the lid
26. The compressible pressure pad 36 is preferably fabricated
of resilient elastic foam, or a rubber-like material or
substance, and for example, the pad 36 is approximately 2 inches
(5 cm) in thickness. This pad
y
2082337
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maintains a yieldable pressure on the: beverage container to keep
it in sealing engagement with the seal, to be described later.
The canister 22 is defined by side wall 24 and bottom wall
34, which in combination with the lidl 26 form the main structure
of the dispenser 20 for receiving a beverage container to be
dispensed. The remaining structure to be described below
involves the dispensing system.
The dispensing system includes a~ dispensing tube 38 mounted
at the bottom of the canister 22. The dispensing tube can be
mounted so that a section of p.t extends upwardly from
approximately the center of the canister 22, so that it properly
registers with the cap of an upside down beverage bottle when
loaded into the canister 22, as shown in Figure 3.
Alternatively, the dispensing tube 38 can be located at other
positions at the bottom of the canister 22 for example, when the
dispenser will be used exclusively with beverage cans.
The dispensing tube 38 can be mounted by various means
located at the bottom of the canister 22. Preferably, the
dispensing tube 38 is molded into the bottom wall 34 to
adequately support the dispensing tube 38 during the puncturing
operation of a beverage container being loaded into the canister
22.
Further, in the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the dispensing
tube is U-shaped to facilitate the construction of the canister
22. More specifically, the canister 22 is preferably made of
plastic, and during construction the
2082337
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U-shaped structure of the dispensing tube 38 allows the
dispensing tube to be imbedded into the bottom wall 34 while
both ends of the dispensing tube remain open for subsequent
construction of the dispensing system to be described below.
The dispensing tube 38 inc7.udes a puncturing end 42,
which can be formed with a pointed angular puncturing tip 43
for penetrating through a beverage container inserted into
the dispenser 20. '~ However, the puncturing end 42 can be
formed in other ways as long as it provides an adequate
puncturing operation with a beverage container.
Importantly, the puncturing end should penetrate the
beverage container in a manner :~o that the opening in the
beverage container, resulting from the puncturing operation,
closely conforms with the perimeter of the inserted
puncturing end 42 or dispensing tube 38 to form a tight seal
therewith, as shown in Figures 3A and 3B. '
Further, the puncturing end 42 may actually be the
sharpened end of the dispensing tube 38 for simplicity and
economy of construction purposes,, without any delineation in
structural components, but providing multiple functions
(i.e. puncturing means of the puncturing end and fluid
conduit of the dispensing tube).
The ability of the puncturing end 42 to effectively
puncture and seal with the punctured opening through the
beverage container closely relates to the design and
construction of the puncturing end 42, and thus the
puncturing end 42 should be designed for this purpose.~~ In
order to achieve this desired operation, a pointed angular
2082337
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cutting tip 43 can be made by grinding the puncturing end of
the dispensing tube at various angles. Further, the
puncturing end 42 can be made of steel (e. g. preferably
stainless steel for sanitary purposes) or anodized aluminum
tubing, for example, having a 1/4 inch (6mm) smooth internal
surface bore. Alternatively, thE~ puncturing end can be made
of a durable material such as h:Lgh carbon steel to provide
years of repeated use.
The puncturing end 42 can be made as an independent
replaceable unit removably secured to the dispensing tube
38. For example, the puncturing end 42 can be provided with
an internally threaded coupler to cooperate with an
externally threaded end of the dispensing tube 38.
Further, the dispensing tube 38 in combination with the
puncturing end 42 must have a sufficient length to puncture
through and form a sealed fluid connection with the beverage
container. Depending on the actual construction of the
dispensing tube and the puncturing end, the puncturing end
42 may be short in length and thus require a portion of the
dispensing tube 38 to enter through and seal about its outer
perimeter with the punctured opening in the beverage
container, as shown in Figure 3A. Alternatively, the
puncturing end 42 itself may be of sufficient length 'to
puncture through and seal about i.ts outer perimeter with the
punctured opening of the beverage container, as shown in
Figure 3B. In either case, the puncturing end 42 is
considered part of the dispensing tube 38, which must
penetrate through and seal with the beverage container.
X062337
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v
The typical plastic or glasa beverage bottle is formed
with either a plastic or aluminum cap 44 and a plastic
sealing gasket 45. When a plastic cap is punctured by the
puncturing end 42 of the dispensing tube 38, due to its
elastic property, it tends to~ form a leakproof seal.
Further, the punctured opening through the sealing gasket 45
provides a secondary seal that 'tends to be very leakproof
due to the very elastic nature of the plastic used for this
application. Even with an aluminum cap or can, the
punctured opening therethrough tends to seal well due to
deformational fitting by the puncturing end 42 as it
penetrates through the aluminum sheet.
To provide additional sealing, the puncturing end 42 of
the dispensing tube 38 passes through and is surrounded by
compressible sealing gasket 46, located against the bottom
wall 34. As an example, the gasket 46 is approximately 1/4
to 2/3 inches in thickness, and is preferably made of a
fluid impervious resilient matE:rial such as a synthetic
rubber. The compressible sealing gasket 46 forms a tight
seal with the beverage container, for example the cap 44 in
Figures 3A and 3B, to provide additional sealing in the
event of any leakage between the: punctured opening and the
dispensing tube 38 or puncturing end 42.
A length of tubing 47, for example made of plastic,
connects the dispensing tube 38 to a flow control dispensing
valve such as a spigot 48 to establish fluid communication
therewith. A section of the tubing 47 extends through the
insulated lining 24 to provide good insulation of the
X062337
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beverage contents therein. Alternatively, the dispensing
tube 38 can extend to and be directly coupled with the
spigot 48. The spigot 48 can be secured through the side
wall 24 of the canister 22 by a locking nut 50. Further,
the spigot 48 includes a downwardly extending elbow 49
accommodated within the insulation 25. The elbow 49 is
connected to a section of the tubing 47 passing through the
insulation 25. This installation provides good insulation
of the beverage container.
The puncturing end 42, the dispensing tube 38, tubing
47, and spigot 48 are preferably made with smooth internal
bore wall surfaces to reduce flow turbulence that would tend
to liberate gas from the carbonated beverage f lowing through
the dispensing conduit. Further, bends in the fluid
delivery system are selected to have a radius of at least
1/2 inch (12 mm) in order to also reduce flow turbulence.
Preferably, the internal surface roughness, radius of
bending, and dimensional characteristics of the entire
dispensing conduit are selected to maintain a laminar flow
therein.
The beverage dispenser 20 according to the present
invention can accommodate a variety of different sized and
shaped beverage containers by the use of adapters and
spacers. For example, an adapter 62 can be inserted into
the canister 22 for accommodating a twelve (12) ounce
aluminum soda can 64, as shown in Figure 4. The adapter 62
includes a cylindrical support member 66 and a support core
68. An extension tube 70 is connected to the existing
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dispensing tube 38, and is supported by the core 68. The
extension tube 70 is provided wiith a puncturing end 72. The
bottom of the adapter 62 is provided with an annular recess
74 for accommodating the existing sealing gasket 46.
Further, another sealing gasket 76 is provided for sealing
against can 64. In another embodiment, a spacer 78 can be
used to accommodate a smaller ons: (1) liter plastic beverage
bottle 80 in the canister 22, <~s shown in Figure 5. The
spacer 78 accommodates a bottom portion 82 of the bottle 80
in the lid 26.
Another embodiment according to the present invention
is shown in Figure 6. In this embodiment, the beverage
dispenser 100 includes a canister 102 and a lid 104. The
lid 104 includes a depending skirt 106 having an inner wall
108 and a compressible pressure pad 107. The canister is
defined by a side wall 110 and bottom wall 111. Further, a
lining of insulation 112 is provided within the canister
102. The depending skirt 106 of the lid 104 is inserted
through an opening 113 in the canister 102 so that inner
wall 108 slides along the surface of the opening 113 and the
surface of the lining of insulation 112 in the canister 102.
A dispensing tube 114 is embedded into the bottom wall
111 and is provided with a puncturing end 116. A
compressible sealing gasket 117 :is provided at the bottom of
the canister 102 and surrounds the dispensing tube 116. The
dispensing tube is connected i~o a dispensing valve 118
having a dispensing actuator 12;0. The bottom 122 of the
inner wall 108 contacts with the actuator so the dispensing
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valve 118 is operated when the li.d 104 is pressed downwardly
by a user.
The dispensing valve 118 is connected to a length of
tubing 114 that passes through a slot 126 in the inner wall
108, as shown in Figure 6A. The opposite end of the tubing
114 is connected to spout 128.
The detailed structure of l~he dispensing valve 118 is
shown in Figure 6B. The dispensing valve 118 includes a
plunger 130 biased upwardly by spring 132, which is
contained between a skirt 134 of the plunger 130 and a
plugged end 136 of the dispensing valve 118. The plunger
130 cooperates with a seat 138 for sealing and opening the
dispensing valve 118. The dispensing actuator 120 is
substantially rigidly connected to the plunger 130 and
extends through a slot 140 in a wall of the dispensing valve
118.
The lid 104 is biased upwardly by the spring 132 in the
dispensing valve 118 by the actuator 120 operating on the
bottom 122 of the inner wall 108. In addition, other
springs can be provided for this purpose. For example,
springs can be imbedded in the bottom wall 111 of the
canister 102 so as to operate on other portions of the
bottom 122 of the inner wall 108.
OPERATION
For the purpose of illustration, a plastic (e. g.
expanded polystyrene) bottle 52 having a two (2) liter
capacity, is shown in Figures 2 and 3. The bottle 52 is
inverted prior to insertion into the canister 22 with its
~06233~
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closure cap 44 gently resting on the puncturing end 42, and
with bottom surface 54 being exposed at the open end 23 of
the canister 22. With one hand holding the canister 22, the
palm of the other hand is placedL on the lid 26 by the user.
Then, the lid 26 is swiftly pushed downwardly until the
threads 30 of the lid 26 meet 'with the threads 32 of the
canister 22. The lid 26 is then turned until fully closed,
thus sealing the system from any inadvertent leaks within
the dispenser 20.
The compressible pressure pad 36, which is mounted
beneath the lid 26, provides a resilient biasing force
against the bottom surface 54 oi: the bottle 52, as the lid
26 is threadably engaged with the canister 22. The biasing
force urges closure cap 44 of the bottle 52 into registered
engagement with the puncturing end 42 and sealing gasket 46,
and maintains a continuous sealing pressure between the cap
44 and sealing gasket 46.
The canister 22 is then mcachanically agitated as by
shaking to release dissolved gases from the gas charged
beverage 58, to form pressure ;pocket 59. The gas under
pressure in the pressure pocket 59 forces the beverage 58
through the puncturing end 42, the dispensing tube 38 and
the tubing 47 to the spigot 48. Upon opening of the spigot
48, the carbonated beverage is directed to a receptacle such
as a glass 60. When the spigot 48 is closed, the dispensing
system is sealed to prevent fluid or gas loss. If the flow
rate decreases after the initial charging of the system by
~.-. 20 623 3'7
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agitation, the system can be recharged by agitating or
shaking the dispenser 20.
The mechanical agitation process involves the
oscillation or shaking of the dispenser 20 for approximately
one (1) to five (5) cycles prior to initial use. This
prevents the beverage 58 from being dispensed from the
dispenser 20 with a relatively high percentage of dissolve
gases, which would rapidly deplete the dissolved gas
available for recharging the system. Thus, a greater
percentage of the undissolved gas will remain in the
pressure pocket 59 to generate the necessary pressure for
expelling subsequent servings o:E the beverage 58, and for
acting as a buffer to prevent i~he initial serving of the
dispensed beverage 58 from being overly carbonated while
allowing the last available serving to contain as much
dissolved gas as feasible.
The process includes similar agitation prior to each
additional serving. This is repEaated until the beverage 58
in the bottle 52 is used up, or until the limits of the
system are reached providing a marginally carbonated
beverage.
In the embodiment shown i.n Figure 6, a bottle is
inserted between the inner wall 108 of the lid 104, which
has previously been removed from the canister 102. Then,
the canister is turned upside down and the inner wall 108 is
slide through the opening 113 into the canister 102 until
the cap of the bottle contacts against the puncturing end
116. The dispenser as a unit is then turned right side up
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and placed on a supporting sur:Eace. The lid 104 is then
forced downwardly causing the bottle cap to be penetrated by
the puncturing tip 116.
To dispense a serving of carbonated beverage from this
dispenser, the lid 104 is pressed downwardly, which forces
the dispensing actuator 120 downwardly by the bottom 122 of
the inner wall 108. During this operation, the plunger 130
is forced downwardly off seat 138, as shown in Figure 6B,
allowing carbonated beverage to flow through the dispensing
valve 118 and flow out of the spout 128.
While the invention has bE~en shown and described in
detail, it is obvious that the invention is not to be
considered as being limited to the exact form disclosed, and
that changes in detail and construction may be made therein
within the scope of the invention without departing from the
spirit thereof.
