Method and apparatus for cartridge-based carbonation of beverages

Abstract

Systems, methods and cartridges for carbonating or otherwise dissolving gas in a precursor liquid, such as water, to form a beverage. A gas source can be provided in a cartridge which is used to generate gas that is dissolved into the precursor liquid. A beverage medium, such as a powdered drink mix or liquid syrup, may be provided in the same, or a separate cartridge as the gas source and mixed with the precursor liquid to form a beverage. The use of one or more cartridges for the gas source and/or beverage medium may make for an easy to use and mess-free system for making sparkling beverages, e.g., in the consumer's home.

1 . A cartridge for use by a beverage making machine in forming a beverage, comprising:
 a first portion and a second portion coupled together and separated by an impermeable barrier, the first portion containing a gas source to be dissolved in a beverage precursor liquid, the second portion containing a beverage medium to mix with a precursor liquid to form a beverage;   wherein the cartridge defines a plane, where the first portion is located below the plane and the second portion is located above the plane;   wherein the first portion is arranged to interact with the beverage making machine to receive the beverage precursor liquid to release a gas from the gas source; and   wherein the second portion is arranged to interact with the beverage making machine to provide the beverage medium to mix with a precursor liquid to form a beverage.   
     
     
         2 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion is arranged to have an inlet through which fluid is provided to activate the gas source and an outlet through which the gas exits the first portion. 
     
     
         3 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the second portion is arranged to have an outlet through which the beverage medium exits the container to mix with the precursor liquid. 
     
     
         4 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the second portion is at least partially defined by a wall that is movable to expel beverage medium from the second portion. 
     
     
         5 . The cartridge of  claim 4 , wherein the movable wall is flexible to move into the second portion when a force is exerted on the wall to reduce a volume of the second portion to force beverage medium to exit the second portion. 
     
     
         6 . The cartridge of  claim 4 , wherein the wall comprises a layer of barrier material. 
     
     
         7 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the second portion is defined by a capsule formed by a layer of barrier material. 
     
     
         8 . The cartridge of  claim 7 , wherein the layer of barrier material is arranged to open and allow the beverage medium to exit the second portion when a force is applied to the barrier material. 
     
     
         9 . The cartridge of  claim 8 , wherein the cartridge includes a piercing element that opens the second portion when a force is applied to the barrier material. 
     
     
         10 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the gas source comprises a charged zeolite. 
     
     
         11 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion is defined by a capsule formed by a layer of barrier material, and the second portion is defined by a capsule formed by a layer of barrier material, and wherein the first and second portions are attached together. 
     
     
         12 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second portions are sealed from an exterior environment and the first portion contains a carbon dioxide source in solid form arranged to emit carbon dioxide gas. 
     
     
         13 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion is sealed from an exterior environment; and
 wherein a pressure in the first portion prior to breaking the seal of the first portion is less than 100 psi.   
     
     
         14 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the gas source is arranged to emit a quantity of the gas suitable to form a carbonated beverage having a volume between 100-1000 ml and a carbonation level of about 1 to 5 volumes. 
     
     
         15 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the plane is defined by a part of the first or the second portion. 
     
     
         16 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the second portion comprises corrugations in a movable wall, and a frangible outlet that is openable based on pressure inside the second portion. 
     
     
         17 . The cartridge of  claim 16 , wherein the movable wall is flexible to be movable into the second portion when a force is exerted on the wall to reduce a volume of the second portion. 
     
     
         18 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the gas source is contained in a permeable bag in the first portion. 
     
     
         19 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion includes a surface arranged to accommodate piercing to form both an inlet through which fluid is provided to activate the gas source and an outlet through which the gas exits the container, the first portion being attached to the second portion such that the surface is unexposed. 
     
     
         20 . The cartridge of  claim 19 , wherein the surface arranged to form the inlet and wherein outlet is located below the plane.