Apparatus for on-demand beverage carbonation

Abstract

A beverage carbonation apparatus having a spring loaded bottle mounting mechanism to catch and hold an upright bottle when inserted therein and form an operative seal for carbonation, the bottle mounting mechanism being pivotable to release the bottle and reset the loading spring.

1 . A beverage carbonation apparatus having a spring loaded bottle mounting mechanism to catch and hold an upright bottle when inserted therein and form an operative seal for carbonation, the bottle mounting mechanism being pivotable to release the bottle and reset the loading spring. 
     
     
         2 . A beverage carbonation apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the mounting mechanism includes a catching device arranged around a bottle mouth seal, the catching device having catch legs adapted to catch underneath a flange of the upright bottle. 
     
     
         3 . A beverage carbonation apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the mounting mechanism includes a collar arranged around the catching device and mounted for slideable movement relative to the catching device. 
     
     
         4 . A beverage carbonation apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the collar acts upon the catching device and is moveable between a first position in which the catch legs of the catching device are open to receive the bottle, and a second position in which the catch legs are fastened underneath the bottle flange, in use. 
     
     
         5 . A beverage carbonation apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein loading spring comprises at least one collar spring acting on the collar to bias the collar toward the first position. 
     
     
         6 . A beverage carbonation apparatus according to  claim 5 , including at least one latch pin engageable with the collar, wherein insertion of the mouth of the upright bottle toward the seal causes the latch pin to release the collar for movement to the second position by action of the at least one collar spring. 
     
     
         7 . A beverage carbonation apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the catching device includes a plurality of downwardly extending catch legs arranged around the bottle flange, in use. 
     
     
         8 . A beverage carbonation apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein each of the catch legs has an inward projection adapted to extend underneath the bottle flange, the catch leg projections being held underneath the bottle flange to maintain the operative seal and prevent removal of the bottle while the collar is in the second position. 
     
     
         9 . A beverage carbonation apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the catch legs comprise a plurality of pulling catches and a plurality of holding catches, the pulling catches and holding catches having differently shaped projections, wherein the pulling catches are adapted to engage with the bottle flange and pull the bottle toward the seal during movement of the collar from the first position to the second position. 
     
     
         10 . A beverage carbonation apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein each of the catch legs is connected to the catching device by a flexible leg portion resiliently biased outwardly. 
     
     
         11 . A beverage carbonation apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the mounting mechanism includes a connection housing that supports the bottle mouth seal, catching device and collar, the connection housing being pivotally mounted to a chassis of the apparatus. 
     
     
         12 . A beverage carbonation apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the collar has a loading spring reset projection that engages with a surface fixed in relation to the chassis to drive the collar from the second position toward the first position when the bottle mounting mechanism is pivoted relative to the chassis. 
     
     
         13 . A beverage carbonation apparatus according to  claim 11 , further comprising a valve assembly supported by the connection housing, the valve assembly including pressurised gas release and relief valves. 
     
     
         14 . A beverage carbonation apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein the valve assembly includes a pressure relief valve having a plunger that extends under pressure, the relief valve plunger being arranged prevent the bottle mounting mechanism being pivoted to release the bottle while the plunger is extended. 
     
     
         15 . A beverage carbonation apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the valve assembly includes a user operable gas release mechanism to, in use, release pressurised gas into the bottle, the gas release mechanism being coupled to a normally open bung valve such that the bung valve is forced closed only when gas release mechanism is operated by the user. 
     
     
         16 . A mechanism for mounting a bottle to a pressurised gas carbonation system, comprising a catching device arranged around a bottle mouth seal; a fastening collar arranged around the catching device and slidably moveable relative to the catching device; and a latch pin engageable with the collar; wherein insertion of the mouth of an upright bottle toward the seal causes the latch pin to release the fastening collar for movement relative to the catching device.