Beverage product and methods and devices for producing beverage products

Abstract

A beverage product includes a container having an interior volume and a frangible block of a frozen beverage material formed in the interior volume. The beverage product can further include a liquid beverage material disposed in the interior volume. In use, the frangible block of a frozen beverage material can be broken prior to consuming the beverage. The container can be made of a resilient material so as to allow the frangible block of a frozen beverage material to be broken. Another aspect of the present invention provides a vending machine capable of dispensing beverage products having frangible blocks of a frozen beverage material formed therein.

1 . A beverage product comprising:
 a container having an interior volume; and   a frangible block of a frozen beverage material formed in said interior volume.   
   
   
       2 . The beverage product of  claim 1  further comprising a liquid beverage material disposed in said interior volume. 
   
   
       3 . The beverage product of  claim 1  wherein said container defines a longitudinal axis and said frangible block of frozen beverage material occupies only a portion of said interior volume in cross-section with respect to said longitudinal axis. 
   
   
       4 . The beverage product of  claim 3  further comprising a liquid beverage material filling at least a portion of said interior volume not occupied by said frangible block of frozen beverage material. 
   
   
       5 . The beverage product of  claim 3  wherein said block of frozen beverage material is an annular sleeve formed on an inside surface of said container. 
   
   
       6 . The beverage product of  claim 3  wherein said block of frozen beverage material is a relatively thin, elongated slab. 
   
   
       7 . The beverage product of  claim 1  wherein said container is made of a resilient material. 
   
   
       8 . The beverage product of  claim 1  wherein said container has a mold formed in a sidewall thereof. 
   
   
       9 . A method of producing a beverage product, said method comprising:
 providing a container having an interior volume and defining a longitudinal axis;   injecting beverage material in liquid form into said container; and   causing said beverage material to freeze into a block that occupies only a portion of said interior volume in cross-section with respect to the longitudinal axis.   
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein causing said beverage material to freeze includes spinning said container about said longitudinal axis while exposing said beverage material to freezing temperatures. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9  wherein injecting beverage material includes using a spray head to spray beverage material onto an inner surface of said container. 
   
   
       12 . A method of using a beverage product including a frangible block of a frozen beverage material formed inside a container, said method comprising breaking said frangible block of a frozen beverage material prior to consuming said beverage material. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein breaking said frangible block of a frozen beverage material includes striking one or more blows to said container. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising adding a liquid beverage material to said container. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising shaking said container after breaking said frangible block of a frozen beverage material to facilitate mixing said frozen and liquid beverage materials. 
   
   
       16 . A vending machine comprising:
 a refrigerated compartment;   a number of beverage products having frangible blocks of a frozen beverage material formed therein stored in said refrigerated compartment; and   means for dispensing said beverage products.   
   
   
       17 . The vending machine of  claim 16  wherein said means for dispensing includes a delivery mechanism for conveying beverage products from said refrigerated compartment to a product delivery port. 
   
   
       18 . The vending machine of  claim 17  further comprising:
 a reservoir of liquid beverage material; and   means for dispensing liquid beverage material from said reservoir.   
   
   
       19 . The vending machine of  claim 18  wherein said means for dispensing dispenses controlled volumes of liquid beverage material. 
   
   
       20 . The vending machine of claim.  16  further comprising means for adding liquid beverage material to a beverage product before dispensing said beverage product.