Apparatus and methods for producing a beverage

Abstract

An apparatus for producing a beverage includes a water tank, a concentrate container, and a mixing chamber. A water conduit supplies water by gravity from the water tank to a water discharge mixing opening and a concentrate conduit supplies the liquid concentrate by gravity from the concentrate container to a concentrate discharge mixing opening. The discharge openings open directly and separately into the mixing chamber. A dispenser assembly opens and closes the discharge openings and the released water and liquid concentrate directly leaves the mixing chamber to produce the beverage. In another embodiment, an apparatus includes a sealable chamber, and an air pump for pressurizing the sealable chamber and the concentrate container. A dispenser and methods for producing a beverage from a liquid concentrate and water are also disclosed.

1 - 16 . (canceled) 
   
   
       17 . An apparatus for producing a beverage from a liquid concentrate and water, the apparatus comprising:
 an enclosure having a sealable chamber;   a concentrate container disposed in the sealable chamber;   a mixing chamber;   a water conduit for supplying the water to the mixing chamber, the water conduit having a water discharge mixing opening which opens directly into the mixing chamber;   a concentrate conduit for supplying the liquid concentrate from the concentrate container to the mixing chamber, the concentrate conduit having a concentrate discharge mixing opening which opens directly into the mixing chamber and separately from the water discharge mixing opening;   an air pump for pressurizing the sealable chamber and concentrate container; and   a dispenser assembly for opening and closing the concentrate discharge mixing opening and the water discharge mixing opening to permit and inhibit the flow of liquid concentrate and water directly and separately into the mixing chamber, which released water and liquid concentrate directly leaves the mixing chamber to produce the beverage.   
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of claim  14  wherein concentrate discharge mixing opening of the concentrate conduit being adjacent to the water discharge mixing opening of the water conduit. 
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 18  wherein the concentrate discharge mixing opening of the concentrate conduit is above the water discharge mixing opening of the water conduit. 
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 19  further comprising a strength valve for adjusting the flow of liquid concentrate in the concentrate conduit. 
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 17  wherein the concentrate conduit comprises the concentrate discharge mixing opening and the water conduit comprises the water discharge mixing opening, and wherein the dispenser assembly comprises a stopper for opening and closing the concentrate discharge mixing opening and the water discharge mixing opening to permit and inhibit the flow of liquid concentrate and water into the mixing chamber. 
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 21  wherein the stopper simultaneously controls the opening and the closing the concentrate discharge mixing opening and the water discharge mixing opening. 
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 17  where in the dispenser assembly is manually-operated by a user. 
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of  claim 17  further comprising a pressure reducer for reducing a pressure of the water to the water conduit. 
   
   
       25 . The apparatus of  claim 17  further comprising a water tank connected to the water conduit, and wherein the water conduit supplies water from the water tank to the mixing chamber by gravity. 
   
   
       26 . The apparatus of  claim 25  further comprising a float valve for controlling a supply of water to the water tank. 
   
   
       27 . The apparatus of  claim 26  wherein the water tank has a vent. 
   
   
       28 . The apparatus of  claim 25  further comprising an electrical circuit including means for maintaining a predetermined temperature of the water in the water tank. 
   
   
       29 . The apparatus of  claim 17  wherein the water conduit is substantially horizontal. 
   
   
       30 . The apparatus of  claim 29  wherein the concentrate conduit extends from the concentrate container at an acute angle to the water conduit and generally parallel to the water conduit. 
   
   
       31 . The apparatus of  claim 17  wherein a part of the concentrate conduit is at an acute angle to the horizontal. 
   
   
       32 . The apparatus of  claim 17  wherein the concentrate container is a flexible bag. 
   
   
       33 . The apparatus of  claim 17  further comprising a strength valve for adjusting the flow of liquid concentrate in the concentrate conduit. 
   
   
       34 . The apparatus of  claim 17  further comprising:
 a pressure reducer for reducing a pressure of the water to the water conduit;   a strength valve for adjusting the flow of liquid concentrate in the concentrate conduit; and   wherein:   the concentrate container comprises a flexible concentrate bag; the water conduit comprises the water discharge mixing opening; the concentrate conduit comprises the concentrate discharge mixing opening; and   the dispenser assembly comprises a manually-operated dispenser assembly comprising a stopper having a normally biased position to inhibit the flow of liquid concentrate and water from the concentrate discharge mixing opening and the water discharge mixing opening, and a user-activated position to simultaneously open the concentrate discharge mixing opening and the water discharge mixing opening to permit the discharge of concentrate and water into the mixing chamber to produce the beverage.   
   
   
       35 . The apparatus of  claim 17  further comprising:
 a water tank;   a float valve for controlling the supply of water to the water tank; a strength valve for adjusting the flow of liquid concentrate in the concentrate conduit;   an electrical circuit including means for maintaining a predetermined temperature of the water in the water tank; and   wherein:   the concentrate container comprises a flexible concentrate bag;   the water conduit comprises a substantially horizontal water conduit for supplying water from the water tank to the water discharge mixing opening by gravity;   the concentrate conduit comprises the concentrate discharge mixing opening; and   the dispenser assembly comprises a manually-operated dispenser assembly comprising a stopper having a normally biased position to inhibit the flow of liquid concentrate and water from the concentrate discharge mixing opening and the water discharge mixing opening, and a user-activated position to simultaneously open the concentrate discharge mixing opening and the water discharge mixing opening to permit the discharge of liquid concentrate and water into the mixing chamber to produce the beverage.   
   
   
       36 . A dispenser for discharging a beverage from a liquid concentrate and water, the dispenser assembly comprising:
 a conduit housing having a water conduit having a water discharge mixing opening and a concentrate conduit having a concentrate discharge mixing opening;   a strength valve for adjusting the flow of the liquid concentrate in the concentrate conduit;   a mixing chamber into which the water discharge mixing opening and the concentrate discharge mixing opening directly and separately opens;   a stopper for opening and closing the concentrate discharge mixing opening and the water discharge mixing opening to permit and inhibit the flow of the liquid concentrate and the water into the mixing chamber;   a spring for biasing the stopper to inhibit the flow of the liquid concentrate and the water into the mixing chamber; and   a handle for moving the stopper to permit the flow of the liquid concentrate and the water into the mixing chamber, which released water and liquid concentrate directly leaves the mixing chamber to produce the beverage.   
   
   
       37 . The dispenser of  claim 36  wherein the water conduit is substantially horizontal. 
   
   
       38 . The dispenser of  claim 37  wherein a part of the concentrate conduit is at an acute angle to the horizontal. 
   
   
       39 . The apparatus of  claim 37  wherein the concentrate conduit extends from the concentrate container at an acute angle to the water conduit and generally parallel to the water conduit. 
   
   
       40 . The dispenser of  claim 36  wherein the concentrate conduit is disposed above the water conduit. 
   
   
       41 . The dispenser of  claim 36  wherein the water conduit comprises a plurality of water conduits. 
   
   
       42 . A method for producing a beverage from a liquid concentrate and water, the method comprising:
 transferring a supply of the water through a water conduit to a water discharge mixing opening which opens directly into a mixing chamber by gravity;   transferring a supply of the liquid concentrate through a concentrate conduit to a concentrate discharge mixing opening which opens directly into the mixing chamber and separately from the water discharge mixing opening by gravity; and   selectively opening and closing the concentrate discharge mixing opening and the water discharge mixing opening to permit and inhibit the flow of liquid concentrate and water directly and separately into the mixing chamber, which released water and liquid concentrate directly leaves the mixing chamber to produce the beverage.   
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 42  further comprising maintaining a predetermined temperature of the water in the water tank. 
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 42  wherein the selectively permitting and inhibiting comprising simultaneously permitting the transfer of water from the water conduit and liquid concentrate from the concentrate conduit into the mixing chamber to produce the beverage, and simultaneously inhibiting the transfer of water from the water conduit and liquid concentrate from the concentrate conduit into the mixing chamber. 
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 42  further comprising adjusting a rate of flow of the liquid concentrate to the mixing chamber. 
   
   
       46 . A method for producing a beverage from a liquid concentrate and water, the method comprising:
 attaching a flexible bag containing a supply of the liquid concentrate to a concentrate conduit;   sealing the flexible bag in an airtight enclosure;   pressurizing air in the airtight enclosure and around the flexible bag;   transferring the supply of the liquid concentrate through a concentrate conduit to a concentrate discharge mixing opening which opens directly into the mixing chamber and separately from the water discharge mixing opening;   transferring a supply of the water through a water conduit to a water discharge mixing opening which opens directly into a mixing chamber; and   selectively opening and closing the concentrate discharge mixing opening and the water discharge mixing opening to permit and inhibit the flow of liquid concentrate and water directly and separately into the mixing chamber, which released water and liquid concentrate directly leaves the mixing chamber to produce the beverage.   
   
   
       47 . The method of  claim 46  further comprising reducing a pressure of the water to the water conduit. 
   
   
       48 . The method of  claim 46  wherein the transferring the supply of water comprises transferring the supply of water through a water conduit to the mixing chamber by gravity. 
   
   
       49 . The method of  claim 46  further comprising maintaining a predetermined temperature of the water in a water tank. 
   
   
       50 . The method of  claim 46  wherein the selectively permitting and inhibiting comprising simultaneously permitting the transfer of water from the water conduit and liquid concentrate from the concentrate conduit into the mixing chamber to produce the beverage, and simultaneously inhibiting the transfer of water from the water conduit and liquid concentrate from the concentrate conduit into the mixing chamber. 
   
   
       51 . The method of  claim 46  further comprising adjusting a rate of flow of the liquid concentrate to the mixing chamber.