Ice Machine For Dispensing Flavored Ice Cubes

Abstract

The instant invention describes a device for producing and dispensing flavored ice cubes into a beverage which comprises an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion comprises the internal parts of the ice machine for dispensing flavored ice cubes that produces the flavored ice, including a beverage holding tank to hold one or more beverages. Coupled to the beverage holding tank is a fill channel for transporting the beverage from a first location to the tank, and for re-circulating melted flavored ice cubes formed therein. A first supply hose fluidly connects the beverage holding tank to a pump, which when activated, transports the beverage from the beverage holding device to a pressurized supply line. After receiving the beverage, the ice maker device produces ice cubes in the flavor of the beverage and stores them in a flavored ice cube storage container.

1 . A device for producing and dispensing flavored ice into a container thereby minimizing flavor dilution associated with cooling beverages comprising:
 a flavored ice dispensing unit for dispensing flavored ice into a container;   a beverage holding tank for receiving and storing a beverage, said beverage forming a flavored ice;   a device for transferring said beverage to a flavored ice forming device, said device adapted for pressurizing said beverage;   a flavored ice forming device fluidly connected to said beverage holding tank and adapted to receive said beverage, said device converting said beverage to a flavored ice;   whereby activating said device for transferring said beverage to a flavored ice forming device pressurizes said beverage, thereby resulting in said beverage being transported to said flavored ice forming device.   
     
     
         2 . The device for producing and dispensing flavored ice into a container thereby minimizing flavor dilution associated with cooling beverages according to  claim 1  wherein said device for transferring said beverage to a flavored ice forming device includes a pump fluidly connected to said flavored ice forming device. 
     
     
         3 . The device for producing and dispensing flavored ice into a container thereby minimizing flavor dilution associated with cooling beverages according to  claim 1  wherein said device for transferring said beverage to a flavored ice forming device is fluidly connected to a pre-existing pressurized feed line fluidly connected to said flavored ice forming device. 
     
     
         4 . The device for producing and dispensing flavored ice into a container thereby minimizing flavor dilution associated with cooling beverages according to  claim 3  wherein said beverage mixes with a fluid within said pre-existing pressurized feed line. 
     
     
         5 . The device for producing and dispensing flavored ice into a container thereby minimizing flavor dilution associated with cooling beverages according to  claim 1  further including a flavored ice collecting unit for receiving and storing said flavored ice. 
     
     
         6 . The device for producing and dispensing flavored ice into a container thereby minimizing flavor dilution associated with cooling beverages according to  claim 5  wherein said flavored ice collecting unit is fluidly coupled to said beverage holding tank, whereby melted flavored ice is directed to said beverage holding tank. 
     
     
         7 . The device for producing and dispensing flavored ice into a container thereby minimizing flavor dilution associated with cooling beverages according to  claim 1  wherein said flavored ice is an ice cube. 
     
     
         8 . The device for producing and dispensing flavored ice into a container thereby minimizing flavor dilution associated with cooling beverages according to  claim 1  wherein said flavored ice forming device is adapted to form clear flavored ice. 
     
     
         9 . The device for producing and dispensing flavored ice into a container thereby minimizing flavor dilution associated with cooling beverages according to  claim 1  wherein said flavored ice is in the form of ice flakes. 
     
     
         10 . The device for producing and dispensing flavored ice into a container thereby minimizing flavor dilution associated with cooling beverages according to  claim 1  wherein said flavored ice is in the form of crushed ice. 
     
     
         11 . The device for producing and dispensing flavored ice into a container thereby minimizing flavor dilution associated with cooling beverages according to  claim 1  wherein said beverage holding tank contains a plurality of individual units for storing a plurality of beverages. 
     
     
         12 . The device for producing and dispensing flavored ice into a container thereby minimizing flavor dilution associated with cooling beverages according to  claim 1  further including a plurality of individual beverage holding tanks, said plurality of individual beverage holding tanks each adapted to receive and store separate beverages, said individual beverage holding tanks are fluidly connected to one or more flavored ice forming devices thereby producing a plurality of flavored ices. 
     
     
         13 . The device for producing and dispensing flavored ice into a container thereby minimizing flavor dilution associated with cooling beverages according to  claim 12  further including a selector for selecting one or more of said plurality of said flavored ice. 
     
     
         14 . The device for producing and dispensing flavored ice into a container thereby minimizing flavor dilution associated with cooling beverages according to  claim 1  wherein said flavored ice is made from coffee, coffee based beverages, or a flavored coffee. 
     
     
         15 . The device for producing and dispensing flavored ice into a container thereby minimizing flavor dilution associated with cooling beverages according to  claim 14  wherein said coffee is brewed within said device. 
     
     
         16 . The device for producing and dispensing flavored ice into a container thereby minimizing flavor dilution associated with cooling beverages according to  claim 1  wherein said flavored ice is made from tea, tea-based beverages, or flavored tea. 
     
     
         17 . The device for producing and dispensing flavored ice into a container thereby minimizing flavor dilution associated with cooling beverages according to  claim 1  wherein said flavored ice is made from a carbonated soft drink.