Apparatus for producing a beverage

Abstract

An apparatus is provided for producing a beverage from concentrate. A mixing chamber is included. A water tank and a concentrate container provide water and concentrate. A water conduit is horizontally oriented and is connected to the water tank to supply water from the water tank to the mixing chamber by gravity. A concentrate conduit extends from the concentrate container and at an acute angle to the water conduit and then extends generally parallel to the water conduit and in close proximity to the water conduit. The mixing chamber is connected to both the water conduit and the concentrate conduit. Both the concentrate conduit and the water conduit have an outlet end. Each outlet end is remote from the water tank and the concentrate container. The outlet end of the concentrate conduit is adjacent to the outlet end of the water conduit. A dispenser assembly is mounted on the mixing chamber. A strength valve is located in the concentrate conduit adjacent to the mixing chamber to control the flow of concentrate. An electrical circuit is provided including a means for adjusting the temperature of the water.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
   
   
       21 . An apparatus for producing a beverage from a liquid concentrate and water, the apparatus comprising:
 a water tank;   a concentrate container;   a mixing chamber;   a water conduit for supplying the water from the water tank to the mixing chamber by gravity, 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 by gravity, the concentrate conduit having a concentrate discharge mixing opening which opens directly into the mixing chamber and separately from the water discharge mixing opening; and   a dispenser assembly for releasably engaging 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.   
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 21  wherein the concentrate discharge mixing opening of the concentrate conduit is adjacent to the water discharge mixing opening of the water conduit. 
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 22  wherein the concentrate discharge mixing opening of the concentrate conduit is above the water discharge mixing opening of the water conduit. 
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of  claim 23  further comprising a strength valve for adjusting the flow of liquid concentrate in the concentrate conduit. 
   
   
       25 . The apparatus of  claim 22  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 releasably engaging 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. 
   
   
       26 . The apparatus of  claim 25  wherein the stopper simultaneously releasably engages the concentrate discharge mixing opening and the water discharge mixing opening. 
   
   
       27 . The apparatus of  claim 22  where in the dispenser assembly is manually-operated by a user. 
   
   
       28 . The apparatus of  claim 22  further comprising a float valve for controlling a supply of water to the water tank. 
   
   
       29 . The apparatus of  claim 22  wherein the water tank has a vent. 
   
   
       30 . The apparatus of  claim 22  further comprising an electrical circuit including means for maintaining a predetermined temperature of the water in the water tank. 
   
   
       31 . The apparatus of  claim 22  wherein the water conduit is substantially horizontal. 
   
   
       32 . The apparatus of  claim 31  wherein the concentrate conduit extends from the concentrate container at an acute angle to the water conduit and then generally parallel to the water conduit. 
   
   
       33 . The apparatus of  claim 22  wherein a part of the concentrate conduit is at an acute angle to the horizontal. 
   
   
       34 . The apparatus of  claim 22  wherein the concentrate container is a flexible bag. 
   
   
       35 . The apparatus of  claim 22  further comprising a strength valve for adjusting the flow of liquid concentrate in the concentrate conduit. 
   
   
       36 . 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 releasably engaging 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.   
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 36  wherein the selectively releasably engaging comprises simultaneously releasably engaging 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. 
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 36  wherein selectively releasably engaging comprises selectively releasably engaging a stopper with 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. 
   
   
       39 . 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 releasably engaging 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.   
   
   
       40 . The dispenser of  claim 39  wherein the water conduit is substantially horizontal. 
   
   
       41 . The dispenser of  claim 39  wherein a part of the concentrate conduit is at an acute angle to the horizontal. 
   
   
       42 . The apparatus of  claim 39  wherein the concentrate conduit extends from the concentrate container at an acute angle to the water conduit and generally parallel to the water conduit. 
   
   
       43 . The dispenser of  claim 39  wherein the concentrate conduit is disposed above the water conduit. 
   
   
       44 . The dispenser of  claim 39  wherein the water conduit comprises a plurality of water conduits.