초록 ▼

A multiple flavor beverage dispensing nozzle includes at least one disposable beverage flavor syrup injector for injecting flavor syrup into a mixing fluid. The flavor syrup injector injects flavor syrup at an angle towards the longitudinal axis of the nozzle exit orifice such that the nozzle exit o

A multiple flavor beverage dispensing nozzle includes at least one disposable beverage flavor syrup injector for injecting flavor syrup into a mixing fluid. The flavor syrup injector injects flavor syrup at an angle towards the longitudinal axis of the nozzle exit orifice such that the nozzle exit orifice does not come in contact with the syrup, avoiding color and flavor contamination of other dispensed beverages. Also, by injecting the syrup at an angle, the mixing fluid intersects with the syrup in midair below the surface of the nozzle, resulting in a complete and gentle mixing of syrup and mixing fluid, without syrup residue accumulating on any surface in contact with any other flavor. By directing the mixing fluid through and around the housing containing the flavor syrup injectors, a uniform even circular flow of mixing fluid is dispensed from the exit orifice of the nozzle. By using multiple flavor syrup injectors, a nozzle may contain several different flavors in a smaller space than a single flavor nozzle.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A beverage mixing nozzle, comprising: a main body securable to a beverage dispensing device;an outer nozzle securable to the main body; anda flavor syrup injector assembly coupled with the main body and communicating with the outer nozzle, wherein the flavor syrup injector assembly comprises: a m

1. A beverage mixing nozzle, comprising: a main body securable to a beverage dispensing device;an outer nozzle securable to the main body; anda flavor syrup injector assembly coupled with the main body and communicating with the outer nozzle, wherein the flavor syrup injector assembly comprises: a mixing fluid pathway therethrough coupled with a mixing fluid source for delivering mixing fluid into the outer nozzle,an inlet cap securable to the main body, the inlet cap including an orifice therethrough,an inner body positioned below the inlet cap, the inner body including an orifice therethrough that aligns with the orifice of the inlet cap to create a conduit, anda flavor syrup injector at least a portion of which is seated within the conduit such that the seating of the flavor syrup injector couples the inner body with the inlet cap, whereby the flavor syrup injector is coupled with a syrup source and adapted to inject flavor syrup into the outer nozzle at an angle towards the longitudinal axis of the outer nozzle such that the flavor syrup combines with mixing fluid exiting the outer nozzle. 2. The beverage mixing nozzle of claim 1, wherein the mixing fluid exiting the outer nozzle coalesces into a stream substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the outer nozzle. 3. The beverage mixing nozzle of claim 1, wherein the inlet cap includes a channel therethrough that forms a portion of the mixing fluid pathway and delivers mixing fluid through the inlet cap. 4. The beverage mixing nozzle of claim 3, wherein the inner body is spaced apart from the inlet cap thereby creating a gap therebetween that communicates with the channel of the inlet cap and forms a portion of the mixing fluid pathway to deliver mixing fluid radially outward over the inner body. 5. The beverage mixing nozzle of claim 4, wherein the inner body includes a plurality of pathways along a circumferential edge thereof, further wherein the inner body is spaced apart from the main body thereby creating a gap therebetween that forms a portion of the mixing fluid pathway such that mixing fluid flowing radially outward over the inner body, flows through the plurality of pathways into the gap, flows over a protruding shoulder and into the outer nozzle. 6. The beverage mixing nozzle of claim 5, wherein the inner body extends partially into the outer nozzle such that the inner body and the outer nozzle form a portion of the mixing fluid pathway that delivers mixing fluid into the outer nozzle. 7. The beverage mixing nozzle of claim 1, wherein the flavor syrup injector comprises an injector body and an injector cap. 8. The beverage mixing nozzle of claim 7, wherein the injector cap includes a plurality of angled apertures for the injection of flavor syrup. 9. The beverage mixing nozzle of claim 7, wherein the injector cap fits onto the injector body offset from the longitudinal axis of the injector body. 10. The beverage mixing nozzle of claim 4, further comprising a check valve disposed within the channel of the inlet cap to prevent dripping of mixing fluid after dispensing of a beverage. 11. The beverage mixing nozzle of claim 1, further comprising a locking ring adapted to secure the flavor syrup injector assembly, the outer nozzle, and the flavor syrup injector with the main body. 12. The beverage mixing nozzle of claim 1, wherein the inlet cap comprises alignment tabs, complimentary in shape to alignment grooves in the main body, which aid in coupling the flavor syrup injector assembly with the main body. 13. The beverage mixing nozzle of claim 1, wherein the main body comprises slide locking sleeves complimentary in shape to locking tabs on the outer nozzle for the coupling of the outer nozzle with the main body. 14. The beverage mixing nozzle of claim 1, wherein the flavor syrup injector is disposed in the flavor syrup injector assembly such that the flavor syrup injector resides substantially completely over an exit orifice of the outer nozzle. 15. The beverage mixing nozzle of claim 1, wherein the flavor syrup injector assembly comprises a second flavor syrup injector coupled with a second syrup source, whereby the second flavor syrup injector is adapted to inject the second flavor syrup into the outer nozzle at an angle towards the longitudinal axis of the outer nozzle such that the second flavor syrup combines with mixing fluid exiting the outer nozzle in midair below the outer nozzle. 16. The beverage mixing nozzle of claim 15, wherein: the inlet cap includes a second orifice therethrough; andthe inner body includes a second orifice therethrough that aligns with the second orifice of the inlet cap to create a second conduit adapted to seat the second flavor syrup injector therein. 17. The beverage mixing nozzle of claim 1, wherein the outer nozzle includes an over-molded seal whereby the outer nozzle is fluidly sealed to the main body. 18. A multiple flavor beverage mixing nozzle, comprising: a main body securable to a beverage dispensing device;an outer nozzle securable to the main body; anda flavor syrup injector assembly coupled with the main body and communicating with the outer nozzle, wherein the flavor syrup injector assembly comprises: a mixing fluid pathway therethrough coupled with a mixing fluid source for delivering mixing fluid into the outer nozzle,an inlet cap securable to the main body, the inlet cap including first and second orifices therethrough,an inner body positioned below the inlet cap, the inner body including first and second orifices therethrough that align respectively with the first and second orifices of the inlet cap to create first and second conduits, anda first flavor syrup injector at least a portion of which is seated within the first conduit such that the seating of the first flavor syrup injector couples the inner body with the inlet cap, whereby the first flavor syrup injector is coupled with a first syrup source and adapted to inject the first flavor syrup into the outer nozzle such that the first flavor syrup combines with mixing fluid, anda second flavor syrup injector at least a portion of which is seated within the second conduit such that the seating of the second flavor syrup injector couples the inner body with the inlet cap, whereby the second flavor syrup injector is coupled with a second syrup source and adapted to inject the second flavor syrup into the outer nozzle such that the second flavor syrup combines with mixing fluid. 19. The multiple flavor beverage mixing nozzle of claim 18, wherein the first flavor syrup injector is adapted to inject the first flavor syrup into the outer nozzle at an angle towards the longitudinal axis of the outer nozzle such that the first flavor syrup combines with mixing fluid exiting the outer nozzle in midair below the outer nozzle. 20. The multiple flavor beverage mixing nozzle of claim 18, wherein the second flavor syrup injector is adapted to inject the second flavor syrup into the outer nozzle at an angle towards the longitudinal axis of the outer nozzle such that the second flavor syrup combines with mixing fluid exiting the outer nozzle. 21. The multiple flavor beverage mixing nozzle of claim 18, wherein the mixing fluid exiting the outer nozzle coalesces into a stream substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the outer nozzle. 22. The multiple flavor beverage mixing nozzle of claim 18, wherein the inlet cap includes a channel therethrough that forms a portion of the mixing fluid pathway and delivers mixing fluid through the inlet cap. 23. The multiple flavor beverage mixing nozzle of claim 22, wherein the inner body is spaced apart from the inlet cap thereby creating a gap therebetween that communicates with the channel of the inlet cap and forms a portion of the mixing fluid pathway to deliver mixing fluid radially outward over the inner body. 24. The multiple flavor beverage mixing nozzle of claim 23, wherein the inner body includes a plurality of pathways along a circumferential edge thereof, further wherein the inner body is spaced apart from the main body thereby creating a gap therebetween that forms a portion of the mixing fluid pathway such that mixing fluid flowing radially outward over the inner body, flows through the plurality of pathways into the gap, flows over a protruding shoulder and into the outer nozzle. 25. The multiple flavor beverage mixing nozzle of claim 24, wherein the inner body extends partially into the outer nozzle such that the inner body and the outer nozzle form a portion of the mixing fluid pathway that delivers mixing fluid into the outer nozzle. 26. The beverage mixing nozzle of claim 18, wherein the first and second flavor syrup injectors each comprise an injector body and an injector cap. 27. The multiple flavor beverage mixing nozzle of claim 26, wherein each injector cap includes a plurality of angled apertures for the injection of flavor syrup. 28. The multiple flavor beverage mixing nozzle of claim 26, wherein each injector cap snap fits onto an injector body offset from the longitudinal axis of the injector body. 29. The multiple flavor beverage mixing nozzle of claim 22, further comprising a check valve disposed within the channel of the inlet cap to prevent dripping of mixing fluid after dispensing of a beverage. 30. The multiple flavor beverage mixing nozzle of claim 18, further comprising a locking ring adapted to secure the flavor syrup injector assembly, the outer nozzle, and the first and second flavor syrup injectors with the main body. 31. The multiple flavor beverage mixing nozzle of claim 18, wherein the inlet cap comprises alignment tabs, complimentary in shape to alignment grooves in the main body, which aid in coupling the flavor syrup injector assembly with the main body. 32. The multiple flavor beverage mixing nozzle of claim 18, wherein the main body comprises slide locking sleeves complimentary in shape to locking tabs on the outer nozzle for the coupling of the outer nozzle with the main body. 33. The multiple flavor beverage mixing nozzle of claim 18, wherein the first and second flavor syrup injectors are disposed in the flavor syrup injector assembly such that the first and second flavor syrup injectors reside substantially completely over an exit orifice of the outer nozzle. 34. The beverage mixing nozzle of claim 18, wherein the outer nozzle includes an over-molded seal whereby the outer nozzle is fluidly sealed to the main body. 35. A multiple flavor beverage mixing nozzle, comprising: a main body securable to a beverage dispensing device;an outer nozzle securable to the main body;an inlet cap securable to the main body, the inlet cap including an orifice therethrough;an inner body positioned below the inlet cap, whereby the inlet cap and the inner body define at least a portion of a mixing fluid channel coupled with a mixing fluid source and adapted to deliver a mixing fluid into the outer nozzle, further whereby the inner body includes an orifice therethrough that aligns with the orifice of the inlet cap to create a conduit; anda flavor syrup injector at least a portion of which is seated within the conduit such that the seating of the flavor syrup injector couples the inner body with the inlet cap, whereby the flavor syrup injector is coupled with a syrup source and adapted to inject flavor syrup into the outer nozzle such that the flavor syrup combines with mixing fluid. 36. The multiple flavor beverage mixing nozzle of claim 35, wherein the flavor syrup injector is removable from the conduit and replaceable with another flavor syrup injector. 37. The multiple flavor beverage mixing nozzle of claim 35, wherein the flavor syrup injector is adapted to inject the flavor syrup into the outer nozzle at an angle towards the longitudinal axis of the outer nozzle such that the flavor syrup combines with mixing fluid exiting the outer nozzle in midair below the outer nozzle. 38. The beverage mixing nozzle of claim 37, wherein the mixing fluid exiting the outer nozzle coalesces into a stream substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the outer nozzle. 39. The beverage mixing nozzle of claim 35, wherein the inlet cap includes a channel therethrough that forms a portion of the mixing fluid pathway and delivers mixing fluid through the inlet cap. 40. The beverage mixing nozzle of claim 39, wherein the inner body is spaced apart from the inlet cap thereby creating a gap therebetween that communicates with the channel of the inlet cap and forms a portion of the mixing fluid pathway to deliver mixing fluid radially outward over the inner body. 41. The beverage mixing nozzle of claim 40, wherein the inner body includes a plurality of pathways along a circumferential edge thereof, further wherein the inner body is spaced apart from the main body thereby creating a gap therebetween that forms a portion of the mixing fluid pathway such that mixing fluid flowing radially outward over the inner body, flows through the plurality of pathways into the gap, flows over a protruding shoulder and into the outer nozzle. 42. The beverage mixing nozzle of claim 41, wherein the inner body extends partially into the outer nozzle such that the inner body and the outer nozzle form a portion of the mixing fluid pathway that delivers mixing fluid into the outer nozzle. 43. The beverage mixing nozzle of claim 35, wherein the flavor syrup injector comprises an injector body and an injector cap. 44. The beverage mixing nozzle of claim 42, wherein the injector cap includes a plurality of angled apertures for the injection of flavor syrup. 45. The beverage mixing nozzle of claim 43, wherein the injector cap snap fits onto the injector body offset from the longitudinal axis of the injector body. 46. The beverage mixing nozzle of claim 39, further comprising a check valve disposed within the channel of the inlet cap to prevent dripping of mixing fluid after dispensing of a beverage. 47. The beverage mixing nozzle of claim 35, further comprising a locking ring adapted to secure the inlet cap, the flavor syrup injector, and the outer nozzle with the main body. 48. The beverage mixing nozzle of claim 35, wherein the inlet cap comprises alignment tabs, complimentary in shape to alignment grooves in the main body, which aid in coupling the inlet cap with the main body. 49. The beverage mixing nozzle of claim 35, wherein the main body comprises slide locking sleeves complimentary in shape to locking tabs on the outer nozzle for the coupling of the outer nozzle with the main body. 50. The beverage mixing nozzle of claim 35, wherein the flavor syrup injector is disposed in the conduit such that the flavor syrup injector resides substantially completely over an exit orifice of the outer nozzle. 51. The multiple flavor beverage mixing nozzle of claim 35, wherein: the inlet cap includes a second orifice therethrough; andthe inner body includes a second orifice therethrough that aligns with the second orifice of the inlet cap to create a second conduit. 52. The multiple flavor beverage mixing nozzle of claim 51, further comprising a second flavor syrup injector at least a portion of which is seated within the second conduit such that the seating of the second flavor syrup injector couples the inner body with the inlet cap, whereby the second flavor syrup injector is coupled with a second syrup source and adapted to inject the second flavor syrup into the outer nozzle such that the second flavor syrup combines with mixing fluid. 53. The multiple flavor beverage mixing nozzle of claim 52, wherein the second flavor syrup injector is adapted to inject the second flavor syrup into the outer nozzle at an angle towards the longitudinal axis of the outer nozzle such that the second flavor syrup combines with mixing fluid exiting the outer nozzle in midair below the outer nozzle. 54. The multiple flavor beverage mixing nozzle of claim 52, wherein the second flavor syrup injector is removable from the second conduit and replaceable with another flavor syrup injector. 55. The beverage mixing nozzle of claim 52, wherein the second flavor syrup injector is disposed in the second conduit such that the flavor syrup injector resides substantially completely over an exit orifice of the outer nozzle. 56. The beverage mixing nozzle of claim 35, wherein the outer nozzle includes an over-molded seal whereby the outer nozzle is fluidly sealed to the main body. 57. A method of assembling a multiple flavor beverage mixing nozzle, comprising: positioning an inner body below an inlet cap such that first and second orifices of the inner body align respectively with first and second orifices of the inlet cap to create first and second conduits;seating at least a portion of a first flavor syrup injector within the first conduit such that the seating of the first flavor syrup injector couples the inner body with the inlet cap;seating at least a portion of a second flavor syrup injector within the second conduit such that the seating of the second flavor syrup injector couples the inner body with the inlet cap;attaching the inlet cap to a main body; andsecuring an outer nozzle to the main body. 58. The method of assembling a multiple flavor beverage mixing nozzle of claim 57, further comprising: placing a locking ring over the inlet cap and the first and second flavor syrup injectors; andsecuring the inlet cap and the first and second flavor syrup injectors to the main body via the locking ring. 59. The method of assembling a multiple flavor beverage mixing nozzle of claim 58, wherein securing the inlet cap to the main body comprises: fitting the inlet cap into the main body; andpositioning alignment tabs of the inlet cap relative to alignment grooves in the main body complimentary in shape to the alignment tabs. 60. The method of assembling a multiple flavor beverage mixing nozzle of claim 57, wherein securing the outer nozzle to the main body comprises aligning locking tabs of the outer nozzle relative to slide locking sleeves of the main body. 61. The method of assembling a multiple flavor beverage mixing nozzle of claim 57, wherein assembly of the first and second flavor syrup injectors comprises snap fitting an injector cap onto an injector body. 62. A method for removing and replacing components in a multiple flavor beverage mixing nozzle, comprising: disconnecting a flavor syrup injector from a flavor syrup source;disconnecting a mixing fluid pathway from a mixing fluid source;removing a main body from a beverage dispensing device;removing an outer nozzle from the main body;removing a flavor syrup injector assembly from the main body;removing a flavor syrup injector from the flavor syrup injector assembly;inserting a new flavor syrup injector into the flavor syrup injector assembly;recoupling the flavor syrup injector assembly with the main body;recoupling the outer nozzle with the main body;recoupling the main body with beverage dispensing device;reconnecting the mixing fluid pathway with mixing fluid source;reconnecting the new flavor syrup injector with the flavor syrup source or a new flavor syrup source. 63. The method for removing and replacing components in a multiple flavor beverage mixing nozzle of claim 62, wherein inserting a new flavor syrup injector into the flavor syrup injector assembly, comprises: positioning an inner body below an inlet cap such that an orifice of the inner body aligns with an orifice of the inlet cap to create a conduit;seating at least a portion of the new flavor syrup injector within the conduit such that the seating of the new flavor syrup injector couples the inner body with the inlet cap, thereby forming the flavor syrup injector assembly. 64. A method of forming a beverage drink utilizing a multiple flavor beverage mixing nozzle, comprising: delivering a flavor syrup from a flavor syrup source to a flavor syrup injector seated in a conduit formed by an inlet cap coupled with a main body and an inner body;delivering a mixing fluid from a mixing fluid source to an outer nozzle coupled with the main body via a mixing fluid pathway through the inlet cap and the inner body;delivering the mixing fluid exterior to the outer nozzle;delivering the flavor syrup from the flavor syrup injector exterior to the nozzle; andcombining the flavor syrup and the mixing fluid exterior to the nozzle. 65. The method of forming a beverage drink utilizing a multiple flavor beverage mixing nozzle of claim 64, wherein delivering the flavor syrup from the flavor syrup injector comprises injecting the flavor syrup from the flavor syrup injector at an angle such that the flavor syrup contacts mixing fluid in the center of the mixing fluid stream without making contact with the outer nozzle. 66. The method of forming a beverage drink utilizing a multiple flavor beverage mixing nozzle of claim 64, wherein delivering a mixing fluid from a mixing fluid source to an outer nozzle comprises: delivering the mixing fluid from the mixing fluid source to an inlet port in the inlet cap;delivering the mixing fluid through the inlet cap from the inlet port via a channel extending through the inlet cap;delivering the mixing fluid from the channel into a space between the inlet cap and the inner body where the mixing fluid flows radially outward over the inner body;delivering the mixing fluid from the space between the inlet cap and the inner body to a space between the inner body and the main body via a plurality of pathways disposed along a circumferential edge of the inner body;delivering the mixing fluid from the plurality of pathways disposed along a circumferential edge of the inner body over a protruding shoulder;delivering the mixing fluid from the protruding shoulder to a space between the inner body and the outer nozzle; anddelivering the mixing fluid from the space between the inner body and the outer nozzle into the outer nozzle. 67. The method of forming a beverage drink utilizing a multiple flavor beverage mixing nozzle of claim 64, further comprising: delivering a second flavor syrup from a second flavor syrup source to a second flavor syrup injector seated in a second conduit formed by the inlet cap and the inner body;delivering the second flavor syrup from the second flavor syrup injector into the mixing fluid stream; andcombining the second flavor syrup and the mixing fluid. 68. The method of forming a beverage drink utilizing a multiple flavor beverage mixing nozzle of claim 67, wherein delivering the second flavor syrup from the second flavor syrup injector exterior to the nozzle comprises injecting the second flavor syrup from the second flavor syrup injector at an angle such that the second flavor syrup contacts the mixing fluid without making contact with the outer nozzle. 69. The method of forming a beverage drink utilizing a multiple flavor beverage mixing nozzle of claim 64, further comprising: delivering a second flavor syrup from a second flavor syrup source to a second flavor syrup injector seated in a second conduit formed by the inlet cap and the inner body;delivering the second flavor syrup from the second flavor syrup injector exterior to the nozzle; andcombining the first flavor syrup, the second flavor syrup, and the mixing fluid.