The carbonation device includes a cap system selectively mounted to the mouth of a liquid container. The cap system includes a cap, a syringe piston reciprocable within the cap, an actuating mechanism for reciprocating the syringe piston, and a reaction vessel selectively attached to the bottom of t
The carbonation device includes a cap system selectively mounted to the mouth of a liquid container. The cap system includes a cap, a syringe piston reciprocable within the cap, an actuating mechanism for reciprocating the syringe piston, and a reaction vessel selectively attached to the bottom of the cap. The syringe piston includes a storage area to be filled with reactant liquid (water) by repeated activation of the actuating mechanism. The water from the charged syringe piston discharges into the reaction vessel that has been filled with a preselected amount of reactants to initiate the carbonation reaction. In various embodiments, the carbonation device includes a rotatable control ring to selectively puncture a CO2 cartridge inside the reaction vessel or introduce water into the reaction vessel to initiate carbonation reaction. In various embodiments, the CO2 flows from the reaction vessel into the container to carbonate the liquid or beverage contained therein.
대표청구항▼
1. A carbonation device, comprising: a substantially hollow cap adapted to be mounted to an opening of a liquid container;a reciprocating syringe piston slidably mounted on the cap, the syringe piston having a bowl to hold and dispense a reactant liquid;an actuating mechanism mounted on the cap to s
1. A carbonation device, comprising: a substantially hollow cap adapted to be mounted to an opening of a liquid container;a reciprocating syringe piston slidably mounted on the cap, the syringe piston having a bowl to hold and dispense a reactant liquid;an actuating mechanism mounted on the cap to selectively reciprocate the syringe piston;a reaction vessel mounted on the cap, the reaction vessel being adapted to hold at least one carbonating gas producing reactant to be mixed with the reactant liquid from the bowl;a carbonating gas distribution system connected to the cap, the carbonating gas distribution system to dispense a carbonating gas into a liquid held in the liquid container; anda pressure relief system to passively and selectively relieve pressure within the carbonating gas distribution system,wherein operation of the actuating mechanism creates a vacuum to draw the reactant liquid into the bowl, the reactant liquid being dispensed into the reaction vessel to be mixed with the at least one reactant to produce the carbonating gas to carbonate a liquid inside the liquid container. 2. The carbonation device according to claim 1, wherein the cap includes a handle loop. 3. The carbonation device according claim 1, wherein said cap comprises: first internal threads for mounting the cap onto the liquid container, the first internal threads having a diameter;an annular wall within said cap, said annular wall having second internal threads concentric with the first internal threads, the second internal threads mounting said reaction vessel, the second internal threads having a diameter smaller than the first internal threads diameter; andan annular space defined between the first internal threads and the annular wall, the annular space accommodating a neck portion of said liquid container for mounting on the cap. 4. The carbonation device according to claim 3, wherein said pressure relief system comprises: an annular trough formed at an upper end of said annular space;a first O-ring disposed within the annular trough; andat least one seal pressure relief vent formed on said cap, the at least one seal pressure relief vent extending into said annular trough to be in communication therewith, the first O-ring normally covering the at least one seal pressure relief vent,wherein during uncapping of said cap, a presence of excessive pressure deforms or moves the first O-ring to uncover the at least one seal pressure relief vent in order to permit venting of the excess pressure. 5. The carbonation device according to claim 4, wherein said annular trough comprises an extended profile, in cross section, different from a cross-sectional shape of said first O-ring, the extended profile providing a space to direct pressurized carbonating gas from excess pressure, when present, in order to deform or move said first O-ring and uncover said at least one seal pressure relief vent to release the excess pressure through the at least one seal pressure relief vent. 6. The carbonation device according to claim 4, wherein said pressure relief system further comprises at least one container vent formed around an inner diameter of said neck portion of said liquid container, the at least one container vent permitting flow of gas between said neck portion and said annular wall. 7. The carbonation device according to claim 6, wherein said at least one container vent comprises a plurality of angularly spaced depressions disposed around said inner diameter of said neck portion. 8. The carbonation device according to claim 3, wherein said syringe piston comprises: an elongate, upwardly extending piston rod centrally disposed in said bowl, the piston rod having a pivot pin pivotally connected to said actuating mechanism;a vent post formed at the bottom of said bowl, the vent post having a throughbore to permit flow of the reactant liquid or gas into and out of said bowl, the vent post extending into said bowl to a height below a top of said bowl;an upper circular flange extending from the top of said bowl, the upper circular flange having an annular groove formed thereon;an upper O-ring disposed in the annular groove of the upper circular flange, the upper O-ring having a diameter;a lower circular flange extending from a bottom of said bowl, the lower circular flange having an annular groove formed thereon; anda lower O-ring disposed in the annular groove of the lower circular flange, the lower O-ring having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the upper O-ring, the upper O-ring and the lower O-ring selectively opening and sealing passage of the carbonating gas from said reaction vessel upon raising or lowering of said syringe piston respectively. 9. The carbonation device according to claim 8, wherein said pressure relief system comprises: an elongate central column formed inside said cap, the central column having a throughbore for slidably receiving said piston rod, the central column having at least one passage for circulating gas or liquid;an annular collar mounted to the central column, the annular collar having at least one vent groove formed inside the annular collar, the at least one vent groove being in communication with the at least one passage on the central column, the at least one vent groove and the at least one passage forming a pathway for circulating gas or liquid;an elongate hollow stem formed inside said piston rod, the hollow stem having an open end near the bottom of said bowl;a substantially hollow boss extending downwardly from the bottom of said bowl, the boss being in communication with the open end of the hollow stem, the boss having a mounting recess;at least one side vent channel extending from the mounting recess to outside said bowl;a one-way valve mounted inside the mounting recess, the one-way valve being in communication with said reaction vessel, the one-way valve to permit flow of gas or liquid into said liquid container through said at least one side vent channel;at least one inlet vent extending from the hollow stem to an outer surface of said piston rod, the at least one inlet vent adapted to be in communication with the at least one passage of the central column at an at least one predefined reciprocated position of said piston rod of the syringe piston;at least one pair of annular grooves formed on said piston rod, one of the pair of annular grooves respectively disposed above the at least one inlet vent and the other of the pair of annular grooves respectively disposed below the at least one inlet vent; andat least one pair of O-rings each mounted to a respective annular groove on said piston rod, the at least one pair of O-rings forming a seal within the throughbore of the central column above and below a corresponding at least one inlet vent, the pair of O-rings selectively opening communication with the at least one passage of the central column to allow gas or liquid to flow into the hollow stem and out of the one-way valve at the at least one predefined reciprocated position of said piston rod and closing the communication in at least one another reciprocated position of said piston rod, the selective opening of communication to permit excess pressure to equalize within said carbonating gas distribution system. 10. The carbonation device according to claim 9, wherein the syringe piston further comprises a plurality of reinforcing ribs in said bowl for maintaining a shape of said bowl. 11. The carbonation device according to claim 10, wherein said cap has a recess defined therein, and said actuating mechanism comprising: a cam lever mounted in the recess in said cap, the cam lever having a portion thereof pivotally attached to said syringe piston;at least one follower disposed on one end of the cam lever; anda cam channel formed in the recess in said cap,wherein raising and lowering of the cam lever reciprocates said syringe piston. 12. The carbonation device according to claim 11, further comprising a locking mechanism for locking the cam lever in a lowered position. 13. The carbonation device according to claim 12, wherein the locking mechanism comprises: an elongate locking bar extending substantially perpendicular to said cam lever, said locking bar having a cross-sectional shape and a discontinuous section;a pair of spaced mounting slots formed in said recess on said cap, said mounting slots having a shape corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of said locking bar; anda central rib on said cam lever, the central rib having a slot, the slot having a shape corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of said locking bar,wherein said locking bar is slidable in said mounting slots to a locked position where the cross-sectional shape of the locking bar mates with the shape of the slot in said central rib, forming a locking joint, and is slidable to an unlocked position where said discontinuous section mates with the slot in said central rib. 14. The carbonation device according to claim 11, wherein said pressure relief system further comprises: a pressure relief valve disposed on top of said cap;a pressure relief post extending upwardly from said bowl of said syringe piston, the pressure relief post having a height greater than the top of said bowl, the pressure relief post selectively actuating the pressure relief valve; andan annular constriction ledge formed inside said annular wall, the annular constriction ledge having an inner diameter smaller than the diameter of a major portion of said annular wall. 15. The carbonation device according to claim 14, wherein said pressure relief valve comprises: a valve stem received in a recess on said cap, the valve stem covering a vent hole, the valve stem having an elongate post extending into the inside of said cap, the elongate post being disposed substantially in line and above said pressure relief post;a seal ring sealing the valve stem from the vent hole;an elongated spring biasing the valve stem against the vent hole at one end; anda nut disposed against the other end of the spring;wherein selective raising of said syringe piston past said annular constriction ledge forces said pressure relief post to engage and push the elongate post of the valve stem to manually open the vent hole to relieve excess pressure. 16. The carbonation device according to claim 14, further comprising: at least one deflector shield selectively mounted on top of said bowl, the at least one deflector shield minimizing introduction of a reaction slurry into the liquid in the liquid container, the at least one deflector shield having a pass-through opening shaped to allow the at least one deflector shield to slide over said piston rod and said annular collar;a mounting flange depending from one side of the at least one deflector shield to securely mount the at least one deflector shield onto the syringe piston; anda notch formed at a periphery of the at least one deflector shield, the notch shaped to conform to and engage a side of said pressure relief post. 17. The carbonation device according to claim 16, wherein: said reinforcing ribs include upwardly extending tabs, andsaid pass-through opening comprises an arcuate segment having lateral ends, the lateral ends engaging the tabs of the reinforcing ribs when assembled, the engagement of the tabs and said notch substantially preventing unwanted rotational movement of the at least one deflector shield. 18. The carbonation device according to claim 8, wherein said pressure relief system further comprises at least one pressure relief notch formed on an inner surface of said reaction vessel, the at least one pressure relief notch positioned to be selectively revealed when said lower O-ring is raised from a lowermost position thereof. 19. The carbonation device according to claim 1, further comprising a boot detachably mounted to said liquid container.
Annese Clara Ann (Hamilton Square NJ) Basile Peter A. (Hudson OH) Colwell Dennis J. (East Windsor NJ) Shoaf Myron D. (Cranbury NJ), Beverage carbonation device.
Stumphauzer William C. (44550 Stang Rd. Elyria OH 44035) Groth Hugh F. (Richfield OH), Process and apparatus for rapidly carbonating a liquid beverage using a single pressure vessel.
Hollis Glenn E. (3621 Belcher Dr. Tampa FL 33609) Hollis Craig E. (3520 Cleveland Heights Blvd. Lakeland FL 33903), Removable device for repeatedly pressurizing a container.
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