Mixing nozzle fitments

Abstract

Mixing nozzle fitments and beverage devices containing the mixing nozzle fitments are provided. In an embodiment, the mixing nozzle fitment includes a first shaft defining an inlet passage, a second shaft defining a curved outlet passage and attached to the first shaft, and a coupling member attached to the second shaft. The coupling member defines a passage that leads into the curved outlet passage of the second shaft. The mixing nozzle fitment can be used in any suitable beverage dispensing device.

1 . A mixing nozzle fitment comprising:
 a first shaft defining an inlet passage;   a second shaft defining a curved outlet passage and attached to the first shaft; and   a coupling member attached to the second shaft, the coupling member defining a passage that leads into the curved outlet passage of the second shaft.   
     
     
         2 . The mixing nozzle fitment of  claim 1 , wherein the second shaft is the shape of a curved horn. 
     
     
         3 . The mixing nozzle fitment of  claim 1 , wherein the second shaft is almost vertical near an end portion of the second shaft opposed to the coupling member. 
     
     
         4 . The mixing nozzle fitment of  claim 1 , wherein the coupling member is positioned on the second shaft at a location ranging from an end of the first shaft to about half way down the second shaft. 
     
     
         5 . The mixing nozzle fitment of  claim 1 , wherein the coupling member comprises an expanded member and a catch. 
     
     
         6 . The mixing nozzle fitment of  claim 1 , wherein the second shaft comprises a flange. 
     
     
         7 . The mixing nozzle fitment of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first shaft and the second shaft comprises a textured grip. 
     
     
         8 . The mixing nozzle fitment of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first shaft and the second shaft comprise a cylindrical shape. 
     
     
         9 . The mixing nozzle fitment of  claim 1 , wherein the first shaft comprises a first end and a second end, the first end having a diameter that is smaller than the diameter of the second end. 
     
     
         10 . The mixing nozzle fitment of  claim 1 , wherein the second shaft comprises a first end and a second end, the first end having a diameter that is smaller than the diameter of the second end. 
     
     
         11 . A mixing nozzle fitment comprising:
 a first cylindrical shaft defining an inlet passage;   a second cylindrical shaft defining a curved outlet passage and attached to the first shaft;   a coupling member attached to the second shaft, wherein the coupling member defines a passage that leads into the curved outlet passage of the second shaft; and   a handle attached to the second shaft.   
     
     
         12 . The mixing nozzle fitment of  claim 11 , wherein the second shaft comprises a flange. 
     
     
         13 . The mixing nozzle fitment of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the first shaft and the second shaft comprises a textured grip. 
     
     
         14 . A dispensing device comprising:
 a concentrate container;   a tube attached to the concentrate container;   a pump operatively connected to the tube;   a mixing nozzle fitment comprising a first shaft defining an inlet passage, a second shaft defining a curved outlet passage and attached to the first shaft, and a coupling member attached to the second shaft and defining a passage that leads into the curved outlet passage of the second shaft, the tube removably attached to the coupling member; and   a diluent dispensing nozzle removably attached to the coupling member of the mixing nozzle fitment.   
     
     
         15 . The dispensing device of  claim 14 , wherein the concentrate container, the tube, the pump, the diluent dispenser and a portion of the mixing nozzle fitment are contained within a housing. 
     
     
         16 . The dispensing device of  claim 14 , wherein the coupling member comprises an expanded member and a catch for receiving the tube. 
     
     
         17 . The dispensing device of  claim 14 , wherein the second shaft comprises a flange. 
     
     
         18 . The dispensing device of  claim 14 , wherein at least one of the first shaft and the second shaft comprises a textured grip. 
     
     
         19 . The dispensing device of  claim 14 , wherein at least one of the first shaft and the second shaft comprise a cylindrical shape. 
     
     
         20 . A method of making a beverage, the method comprising:
 providing a mixing nozzle fitment comprising a first shaft defining an inlet passage, a second shaft defining a curved outlet passage and attached to the first shaft, and a coupling member attached to the second shaft and defining a passage that leads into the curved outlet passage of the second shaft;   attaching the first shaft to a diluent dispenser nozzle and the coupling member to a concentrate tube; and   dispensing a concentrate through the concentrate tube and a diluent through the diluent dispenser nozzle, the concentrate and the diluent being mixed in and dispensed out of the curved outlet passage of the mixing nozzle fitment to form the beverage.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the diluent is selected from the group consisting of water, milk, juice, coffee, tea, soda and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the concentrate is in a form selected from the group consisting of paste, liquid and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         23 . A mixing nozzle fitment comprising:
 a first shaft defining an inlet passage;   a second shaft defining a curved outlet passage and attached to the first shaft;   a coupling member attached to the second shaft, the coupling member defining a passage that leads into the curved outlet passage of the second shaft; and   a flexible tube attached to the coupling member.   
     
     
         24 . The mixing nozzle fitment of  claim 23 , wherein the second shaft is the shape of a curved horn. 
     
     
         25 . The mixing nozzle fitment of  claim 23 , wherein the second shaft is almost perpendicular to the first shaft near its end portion opposed to the attachment with the first shaft. 
     
     
         26 . The mixing nozzle fitment of  claim 23 , wherein the coupling member is positioned on the second shaft at a location ranging from an end of the first shaft to about half way down the second shaft. 
     
     
         27 . The mixing nozzle fitment of  claim 23 , wherein the second shaft comprises a flange. 
     
     
         28 . The mixing nozzle fitment of  claim 23 , wherein the first shaft comprises a first end and a second end, the first end having a section that is smaller than the section of the second end. 
     
     
         29 . The mixing nozzle fitment of  claim 23 , wherein the second shaft comprises a first end and a second end, the first end having a section that is smaller than the section of the second end. 
     
     
         30 . The mixing nozzle fitment of  claim 23 , wherein a handle is attached to the second shaft. 
     
     
         31 . The mixing nozzle fitment of  claim 23 , wherein the coupling member is a visco-elastic one-way valve attached to the second shaft and emerging into the curved outlet passage of the second shaft. 
     
     
         32 . A package comprising:
 a fluid container; and   a mixing nozzle fitment comprising:
 a first shaft defining an inlet passage, 
 a second shaft defining a curved outlet passage and attached to the first shaft, 
 a coupling member attached to the second shaft, the coupling member defining a passage that leads into the curved outlet passage of the second shaft, and 
 a flexible tube attached to the coupling member, wherein the fluid container is in fluid communication with the flexible tube of the mixing nozzle fitment. 
   
     
     
         33 . The package of  claim 32 , wherein the coupling member is a visco-elastic one-way valve comprising an expanded member and a catch. 
     
     
         34 . A dispensing device comprising:
 a mixing nozzle fitment comprising a first shaft defining an inlet passage, a second shaft defining a curved outlet passage and attached to the first shaft, a coupling member attached to the second shaft, the coupling member defining a passage that leads into the curved outlet passage of the second shaft, and a flexible tube attached to the coupling member, the mixing nozzle fitment positioned inside the dispensing device so that the first shaft is almost horizontal and the second shaft is almost vertical near its end portion opposed to the attachment with the first shaft;   a fluid concentrate container attached to the end of the flexible tube of the mixing nozzle fitment opposed to the coupling member;   a diluent dispensing nozzle removably attached to the first shaft of the mixing nozzle fitment; and   a pump operatively connected to the flexible tube.   
     
     
         35 . The dispensing device of  claim 34  comprising a refrigerated compartment in which the concentrate container is placed and wherein the mixing nozzle fitment comprises a flange on the second shaft so as to isolate the refrigerated compartment from the rest of the dispensing device. 
     
     
         36 . A method of making a beverage, the method comprising:
 providing a dispensing device comprising a mixing nozzle fitment comprising a first shaft defining an inlet passage, a second shaft defining a curved outlet passage and attached to the first shaft, a coupling member attached to the second shaft, the coupling member defining a passage that leads into the curved outlet passage of the second shaft, and a flexible tube attached to the coupling member, the mixing nozzle fitment positioned inside the dispensing device so that the first shaft is almost horizontal and the second shaft is almost vertical near its end portion opposed to the attachment with the first shaft,
 a fluid concentrate container attached to the end of the flexible tube of the mixing nozzle fitment opposed to the coupling member, 
 a diluent dispensing nozzle removably attached to the first shaft of the mixing nozzle fitment, and 
 a pump operatively connected to the flexible tube; and 
   dispensing portions of concentrate through the mixing nozzle fitment and a diluent through the diluent dispenser nozzle, the concentrate and the diluent being mixed in and dispensed out of the curved outlet passage of the mixing nozzle fitment to form the beverage.