Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to systems and methods for mixing and distribution of beverages infused with a gas.
The infusion of nitrogen gas into beverages have become increasingly popular by adults and food fanatics alike because of the mouth-feel smoothness and complex flavors created when being infused by a compressed gas such as nitrogen.
To date, the only method to combine a consumable liquid, such as coffee, and a gas, such as nitrogen, together is to configure a beverage tap with a restrictor plate to squeeze the liquid through tiny holes after combining the gas. This is because nitrogen does dissolve easily with water. Once infused, the consumable liquid has a particularly smooth and frothy head. Although this method works well when infusing coffee with nitrogen, a vast amount of the consumable liquid is lost/wasted in the frothy head when pouring the via the tap. This waste is not ideal for businesses that rely profits.
In view of the foregoing, due to the increased demand for these popular gas infused liquids, new methods and systems of mixing and dispensing these liquids are required in order to try and quench the consumers' never ending thirst for these products. Further advantages and novel features will become apparent from the disclosure provided below.
This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the DETAILED DESCRIPTION. This summary is not intended to identify key features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
In one aspect, the disclosure provides a system for infusing and dispensing a consumable liquid with a compressed gas via a plurality of inline mixers.
In another aspect, the disclosure provides a method for infusing and dispensing a consumable liquid with a compressed gas via plurality of inline mixers.
Additional advantages and novel features of the systems and methods of the present disclosure will be set forth in part in the description that follows, and in part will become more apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following or upon learning by practice of the disclosure.
The novel features believed to be characteristic of the disclosure are set forth in the appended claims. In the description that follows, like parts are marked throughout the specification and drawings with the same numerals, respectively. The drawing figures are not necessarily drawn to scale and certain figures may be shown in exaggerated or generalized form in the interest of clarity and conciseness. The disclosure itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objects and advances thereof, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description of illustrative aspects of the disclosure when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The detailed description explains embodiments of the present disclosure, together with advantages and features, by way of example with reference to the drawings.
The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of various configurations and is not intended to represent the only configurations in which the concepts described herein may be practiced. The detailed description includes specific details for the purpose of providing a thorough understanding of various concepts. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that these concepts may be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well known structures and components are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring such concepts.
Referring to
With reference to
In another aspect of the disclosure where each distribution device 122 is configured to output a single consumable liquid, as shown in
Referring to
Referring to
In another aspect of the disclosure, the liquid processor may receive consumable liquid via the beverage input port 218 and the gas, for example nitrogen, via the gas input port 220. In another aspect of the disclosure, the liquid processor may receive consumable liquid infused with a gas via the beverage input port 218, and an additional liquid, for example alcohol or syrup, via the gas input port 220. The gas or additional liquid and the consumable liquid may pass through the liquid processor and first be mixed by the venturi injector 330. The venturi injector 330 mixes the liquid and the gas or additional liquid into a stream of infused consumable liquid. The venturi injector 330 works on the principle of differential pressure. The consumable liquid enters the venturi injector at a higher pressure than it exits. The difference in the entry and exit pressures creates a vacuum at the suction port on the side of the venturi injector which is connected to the gas or additional liquid. The bigger the difference, the greater the vacuum and therefore the efficiency of the mixing of the consumable liquid and the gas or additional liquid. In one aspect of the disclosure, the venturi injector 330 may combine the liquid from the beverage input port 218 and the additional liquid from the gas input port 220 at a ratio of 1:1 or higher. In another aspect of the disclosure the pressure for which the venturi injector 330 operates at would be from 60 PSI to 120 PSI.
In another aspect of the disclosure, the venturi injected consumable liquid infused with the gas is passed on to the static inline mixer 328. The static inline mixer 328 is described in detail below in relation to
Referring to
The static inline mixer 328 may be variable in length, as indicated by “A” inches in
As described above, the static inline mixer 328 may be connected to the beverage output port 222 via a connection of the fourth tubing 332 with threads 404, By further mixing the venturi injected consumable liquid infused with the gas through the static inline mixer, the final output product may be taste and feel smoother and with a higher quality mouth-feel.
Referring to
Alternatively, when the beverage assembly 120 has a “long run” configuration, as shown in
With reference to
In another aspect of the disclosure where the distribution device 122 is configured to output a single consumable liquid, as shown in
All references, including publications, patent applications, and patents cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein.
The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) is to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.
While the aspects described herein have been described in conjunction with the example aspects outlined above, various alternatives, modifications, variations, improvements, and/or substantial equivalents, whether known or that are or may be presently unforeseen, may become apparent to those having at least ordinary skill in the art. Accordingly, the example aspects, as set forth above, are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Therefore, the disclosure is intended to embrace all known or later-developed alternatives, modifications, variations, improvements, and/or substantial equivalents.
Thus, the claims are not intended to be limited to the aspects shown herein, but are to be accorded the full scope consistent with the language of the claims, wherein reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless specifically so stated, but rather “one or more.” All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the various aspects described throughout this disclosure that are known or later come to be known to those of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and are intended to be encompassed by the claims. Moreover, nothing disclosed herein is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether such disclosure is explicitly recited in the claims. No claim element is to be construed as a means plus function unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for.”
It is understood that the specific order or hierarchy of the processes/flowcharts disclosed is an illustration of example approaches. Based upon design preferences, it is understood that the specific order or hierarchy in the processes/flowcharts may be rearranged. Further, some features/steps may be combined or omitted. The accompanying method claims present elements of the various features/steps in a sample order, and are not meant to be limited to the specific order or hierarchy presented.
Further, the word “example” is used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any aspect described herein as “example” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other aspects. Unless specifically stated otherwise, the term “some” refers to one or more. Combinations such as “at least one of A, B. or C,” “at least one of A, B, and C,” and “A, B, C, or any combination thereof” include any combination of A, B, and/or C, and may include multiples of A, multiples of B, or multiples of C. Specifically, combinations such as “at least one of A, B, or C,” “at least one of A, B, and C,” and “A, B, C, or any combination thereof” may be A only, B only, C only, A and B, A and C, B and C, or A and B and C, where any such combinations may contain one or more member or members of A, B, or C. Nothing disclosed herein is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether such disclosure is explicitly recited in the claims.
The present document claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/983,282 filed on Feb. 28, 2020, and to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/028,799 filed on May 22, 2020, and the contents of each are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/US21/19951 | 2/26/2021 | WO |
Number | Date | Country | |
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62983282 | Feb 2020 | US | |
63028799 | May 2020 | US |