Systems and Methods for Dilution of a Beverage Concentrate

Abstract

A system and method for adding a beverage concentrate to a bag shaped to hold fluid while still maintaining the bag for purposes of later dispensing. The bag will generally hold a potable liquid to which the concentrate is added from a pouch prior to dispensing of the liquid from the bag. The addition of the concentrate will generally be performed by having mating connectors on the pouch and the bag to allow transfer between the two.

1 . A system for mixing a fluid and a concentrate comprising: 
 a bag containing a fluid and having a first mating connector through which transfer of at least one of said fluid or said concentrate occurs; and    a pouch containing said concentrate and having a second mating connector through which transfer of at least one of said fluid or said concentrate occurs;    wherein once said bag and said pouch are connected and said first mating connector on said bag and said second mating connector on said pouch are connected, said concentrate is mixed with said fluid.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said first mating connector on said bag is cylindrical in shape and comprises threads attached to the external surface of said first mating connector.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein said second mating connector on said pouch is cylindrical in shape and comprises threads attached to the internal surface of said second mating connector.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 3  wherein said bag and said pouch form a connection through the interaction of said threads on said first mating connector and said threads on said second mating connector.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the connection of said bag with said pouch is a fluid tight seal.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein a first seal is located at said first mating connector of said bag creating a fluid tight seal and a second seal is located at second said mating connector of said pouch creating a fluid tight seal  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 6  wherein said first seal and said second seal are removable.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 6  wherein said first seal of said first mating connector of said bag comprises a threaded cap.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 6  wherein said first seal of said first mating connector of said bag comprises a membrane.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 6  wherein said second seal of said second mating connector of said pouch comprises a threaded plug.  
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 6  wherein said second seal of said second mating connector of said pouch comprises a membrane.  
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 6  wherein said first seal must be removed from said bag and said second seal must be removed from said pouch prior to mixing said concentrate and said fluid.  
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 8  wherein said cap can be reapplied to said first mating connector of said bag for a fluid tight seal after removal of said pouch.  
   
   
       14 . A system for mixing a fluid and a concentrate comprising: 
 a bag containing a fluid and having a first mating connector through which transfer of at least one of said fluid or said concentrate occurs through said first mating connector, and    a pouch containing said concentrate and having a second mating connector and a spike, transfer of at least one of said fluid or said concentrate occurring through said second mating connector; and    said spike connecting said pouch to said bag upon puncturing of said bag by said spike;    wherein once said bag and said pouch are connected and said first mating connector on said bag and said second mating connector on said pouch are open, said concentrate is mixed with said fluid.    
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 15  wherein said spike comprises a hollow stem through which said fluid and said concentrate can flow.  
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the connection of said bag to said spike is a fluid tight seal.  
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 14  wherein said first mating connection of said bag comprises at least a threaded cap and a membrane.  
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 17  wherein said cap can be reapplied to said first mating connector of said bag for a fluid tight seal after removal of said pouch.  
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 18  wherein after said reapplication of said cap to said first mating connector of said bag said cap can be punctured by a second spike of a dispensing system.