IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,206,535
Granted Patent B2
US 10,206,535 · App. 16/040,426 · Granted Feb 19, 2019

Method of preparing a beverage with mixing chamber

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,206,535
App. No.
16/040,426
Granted
Feb 19, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A beverage making machine may employ a mixing chamber to mix a beverage medium with a precursor liquid, such as carbonated water. The mixing chamber may have a precursor liquid inlet coupled to a precursor liquid supply, a beverage medium chamber to receive a beverage medium into the beverage medium chamber, and a dispense outlet from which beverage medium and precursor liquid are dispensed, e.g., into a user's cup. The beverage medium chamber may include a chamber inlet coupled to the precursor liquid inlet, e.g., so precursor liquid can enter the chamber when a pressure is low in the beverage medium chamber, and a chamber outlet downstream of the chamber inlet that is coupled to the dispense outlet, e.g., so that beverage medium can exit the chamber.

Claims (39)

1. A method for forming a beverage, comprising:

providing a beverage medium under pressure to a beverage medium chamber of a mixing chamber;

causing flow of a precursor liquid from a precursor liquid inlet of the mixing chamber to a dispense outlet of the mixing chamber;

causing flow of beverage medium under pressure from the beverage medium chamber to the dispense outlet via a chamber outlet while preventing flow of precursor liquid into the beverage medium chamber via a chamber inlet;

dispensing beverage medium and precursor liquid from the dispense outlet;

reducing a pressure in the beverage medium chamber to permit flow of precursor liquid into the beverage medium chamber via the chamber inlet; and

permitting precursor liquid that flows into the beverage medium chamber via the chamber inlet to exit the beverage medium chamber via the chamber outlet.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the precursor liquid inlet and the dispense outlet are connected by a 90 degree elbow, the chamber inlet is positioned at an upstream end of the 90 degree elbow, and the chamber outlet is positioned at a downstream end of the 90 degree elbow.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the chamber inlet and chamber outlet are positioned at a radially outer wall of the 90 degree elbow.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the chamber outlet includes a plurality of channels that lead downwardly from the beverage medium chamber.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the chamber inlet is oriented in a horizontal direction and the chamber outlet is arranged in a vertical direction.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of providing beverage medium under pressure includes receiving beverage medium in a downward direction into the beverage medium chamber.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of reducing a pressure in the beverage medium chamber to permit flow of precursor liquid into the beverage medium chamber rinses the beverage medium chamber.

8. A method for forming a beverage, comprising:

providing an alcoholic beverage medium to a beverage medium chamber of a mixing chamber;

causing flow of a precursor liquid from a precursor liquid inlet of the mixing chamber to a dispense outlet of the mixing chamber;

causing flow of alcoholic beverage medium under pressure from the beverage medium chamber to the dispense outlet via a chamber outlet while preventing flow of precursor liquid into the beverage medium chamber;

dispensing beverage medium and precursor liquid from the dispense outlet;

reducing a pressure in the beverage medium chamber to permit flow of precursor liquid into the beverage medium chamber via the chamber inlet; and

permitting precursor liquid that flows into the beverage medium chamber via the chamber inlet to exit the beverage medium chamber via the chamber outlet;

wherein the precursor liquid inlet and the dispense outlet are connected by a 90 degree elbow, the chamber inlet is positioned at an upstream end of the 90 degree elbow, and the chamber outlet is positioned at a downstream end of the 90 degree elbow.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the chamber inlet and chamber outlet are positioned at a radially outer wall of the 90 degree elbow.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the chamber outlet includes a plurality of channels that lead downwardly from the beverage medium chamber.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the chamber inlet is oriented in a horizontal direction and the chamber outlet is arranged in a vertical direction.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the step of providing beverage medium under pressure includes receiving beverage medium in a downward direction into the beverage medium chamber.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the step of reducing a pressure in the beverage medium chamber to permit flow of precursor liquid into the beverage medium chamber rinses the beverage medium chamber.

14. A method for forming a beverage, comprising:

providing an alcoholic beverage medium to a beverage medium chamber of a mixing chamber;

causing flow of a precursor liquid from a precursor liquid inlet of the mixing chamber to a dispense outlet of the mixing chamber;

causing flow of alcoholic beverage medium under pressure from the beverage medium chamber to the dispense outlet via a chamber outlet;

dispensing beverage medium and precursor liquid from the dispense outlet;

reducing a pressure in the beverage medium chamber to permit flow of precursor liquid into the beverage medium chamber; and

permitting precursor liquid that flows into the beverage medium chamber to exit the beverage medium chamber.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the precursor liquid inlet and the dispense outlet are connected by a 90 degree elbow, the chamber inlet is positioned at an upstream end of the 90 degree elbow, and the chamber outlet is positioned at a downstream end of the 90 degree elbow.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the chamber inlet and chamber outlet are positioned at a radially outer wall of the 90 degree elbow.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the chamber outlet includes a plurality of channels that lead downwardly from the beverage medium chamber.

18. The method of claim 14 , wherein the chamber inlet is oriented in a horizontal direction and the chamber outlet is arranged in a vertical direction.

19. The method of claim 14 , wherein the step of providing beverage medium under pressure includes receiving beverage medium in a downward direction into the beverage medium chamber.

20. The method of claim 14 , wherein the step of reducing a pressure in the beverage medium chamber to permit flow of precursor liquid into the beverage medium chamber rinses the beverage medium chamber.