Container and opening arrangement for beverage production

1. A beverage container, comprising:

a body defining an internal space configured to hold a beverage medium and an opening extending to the internal space;

a membrane sealing the internal space along the opening; and

an enclosure forming a seal with the body about the opening, extending over the membrane, and defining a gas inlet for a pressurized gas, the enclosure comprising a moveable piercing feature monolithically formed with a flexible diaphragm configured to permit advancement of the moveable piercing feature at least partially through the membrane relative to the gas inlet, wherein the enclosure defines a fluid pathway for delivering the pressurized gas from the gas inlet to the internal space via an exterior inlet passage of the moveable piercing feature.

2. The beverage container of claim 1 , wherein:

the enclosure is configured to receive a supply of gas; and

the moveable piercing feature is configured to direct the supply of gas to the internal space via the fluid pathway.

3. The beverage container of claim 1 , wherein:

the body includes a rim defining the opening; and

the membrane comprises a sheet of material sealed to the body along a complete rotation of the rim; and

wherein the membrane is configured to maintain the seal with the body in response to an advancement of the moveable piercing feature at least partially through the sheet.

4. The beverage container of claim 1 , wherein the moveable piercing feature comprises an elongated protrusion that defines a sharp end portion configured for piercing the membrane.

5. The beverage container of claim 4 , wherein:

the moveable piercing feature is configured to produce a single opening through the membrane limited to a size corresponding to a size of the elongated protrusion; and

the exterior inlet passage extends through the single opening.

6. The beverage container of claim 4 , wherein the exterior inlet passage is defined by a single recess formed on a side of the elongated protrusion.

7. The beverage container of claim 4 , wherein the exterior inlet passage extends along an entire length of the elongated protrusion.

8. A beverage container, comprising:

an enclosure defining a gas inlet for pressurized gas and encompassing a sealed region, the sealed region being configured to prevent escape of a beverage material, the enclosure comprising:

a piercing feature comprising an elongated protrusion defining a first inlet passage along an exterior of the elongated protrusion to the sealed region and a second outlet passage through the elongated protrusion from the sealed region, the enclosure defining a fluid pathway for the pressurized gas from the gas inlet to the sealed region;

a flexible diaphragm monolithically formed with the piercing feature and configured to permit movement of the piercing feature between a first position and a second position relative to the gas inlet, wherein:

in the first position, the piercing feature is offset from the sealed region; and

in the second position, the piercing feature is advanced at least partially through the sealed region, thereby inducing delivery of the pressurized gas with the first inlet passage to the sealed region.

9. The beverage container of claim 8 , wherein the piercing feature defines:

an elongated recess that forms the first inlet passage; and

an elongated lumen that forms the second outlet passage.

10. The beverage container of claim 8 , wherein the piercing feature comprises a sharp projection housing the two passages.

11. The beverage container of claim 8 , wherein the flexible diaphragm is a ring-shaped feature surrounding the piercing feature.

12. The beverage container of claim 8 , wherein:

the beverage container further comprises a body configured to hold the beverage material and defining the sealed region; and

the enclosure is connected to the body.

13. The beverage container of claim 12 , wherein:

the enclosure further comprises an attachment portion fixed to the body; and

the flexible diaphragm includes a first side connected to the attachment portion and a second side connected to the piercing feature.

14. The beverage container of claim 13 , wherein

the attachment portion defines the gas inlet.

15. A beverage container, comprising:

a body holding a beverage material and defining a sealed region configured for accessing the beverage material; and

an enclosure connected to the body and covering the sealed region, the enclosure defining a gas inlet at an external surface and comprising a moveable portion moveable relative to the gas inlet, the moveable portion comprising a flexible diaphragm configured for piercing the sealed region and comprising an elongated protrusion monolithically formed with the flexible diaphragm, the elongated protrusion defining:

a first inlet passage fluidically coupled with the gas inlet and configured for pressurized gas introduction into the body; and

a second outlet passage fluidically separated from the gas inlet and configured for beverage material exit,

wherein the enclosure defines a fluid pathway for the pressurized gas from the inlet to the first inlet passage; and

wherein the first inlet passage is configured to deliver the pressurized gas to the sealed region.

16. The beverage container of claim 15 , wherein:

the beverage container further comprises a membrane sealing the sealed region; and

the elongated protrusion is configured for forming a single opening in the membrane.

17. The beverage container of claim 15 , wherein the second passage is a lumen extending through a thickness of the moveable portion and fluidically coupled with a beverage material outlet of the beverage container that is distinct from the gas inlet.