A system for regulating pressure within a beverage container. A high-side cartridge assembly includes a cartridge shell enclosing a high-pressure cavity, a piercing tip to puncture a pressurized-gas container, a high-pressure passage extending through the piercing tip and to the high-pressure cavity, and a piston to intermittently open the high-pressure cavity to a low-pressure cavity external to the high-side cartridge assembly. The low-side cap assembly includes a cap body having a socket configured to receive the high-side cartridge assembly, and no part of the cap body forms a boundary of the high-pressure cavity. Also disclosed is an interface having a housing, a tap assembly, a dip tube, a carry handle, and a receiving section. The housing is configured to couple to a beverage container, and the receiving section is configured to receive a pressure regulator.

A system for dispensing fluid is provided in which a first fluid cartridge and a second fluid cartridge each comprise a first spout at corresponding fluid outlets, and wherein a docking location is provided for docking each of the fluid cartridges such that the first spout is adjacent the second spout. The system may further comprise a drop sensor for detecting a number of drops dispensed from the fluid cartridges at a drop detection location. The docking location may define a specific orientation for any cartridge docked at the docking location, and the cartridges may be wedge shaped and may each taper towards their corresponding spouts. Also provided is a fluid cartridge comprising a cartridge housing, a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet above a fluid fill level, and a syphon for transporting fluid from inside the cartridge to the fluid outlet.

A receptacle for storing, pressurizing, and dispensing packaged beverages. The receptacle includes an airtight chamber with a removable lid, wherein the joint between the lid and the chamber is also airtight. A gas valve allows for the inflow and outflow of gas, and a tap port and tap stem allow the beverage to be dispensed without breaking the seal of the chamber. A pressure relief valve allows for more rapid depressurization. The chamber can be used at high and low pressures, such as a partial vacuum, to prevent oxidation of a number of open beverages, such as beers, wines, and sodas. A pressure gauge port coupled with an optional pressure gauge allows a user to verify the appropriate pressure for the type of beverage being preserved. The gas valve may be disposed on a base of the receptacle, as may the pressure relief and/or the pressure gauge port.

The present invention relates to a keg chime configured to be mounted to a keg, for example a blow moulded plastic keg. The chime may include a handle that has a waveform profile when viewed in cross-section along a length of the handle. The handle may include a first set of one or more regions of inflection that provide a first surface of the handle and a second set of one or more regions of inflection that provide an opposing second surface of the handle. The chime may be configured to be connected to a sleeve for surrounding at least part of a body portion of the keg. The interface between the chime and the sleeve may be configured to permit axially outward movement of the chime with respect to the sleeve in order to accommodate axial expansion of the keg.

The present invention relates to a top chime for a beverage keg. The top chime is configured to be readily removable from the keg, for example to enable recycling of the top chime separately to the keg. The top chime comprises a mounting portion for mounting the top chime to a keg in use, and a mounting element separate to the top chime that is configured to be assembled together with the top chime after the top chime has been moved into a mounted position with respect to the keg to thereby secure the top chime with respect to the keg. The top chime is provided with a mounting element that is configured to engage the mounting portion to thereby secure the top chime with respect to the keg. The mounting element is configured to be assembled together with the top chime by moving the mounting element in a radially inward direction with respect to a longitudinal axis of the top chime.

A system is provided for dispensing and storing liquid, such as wine. The system may include a dip tube coupled to a flexible bladder in an airtight manner. The dip tube may include a dip tube head and a perforated dip tube extension extending from the dip tube head into the contents of the flexible bladder.

A beverage dispenser includes an inlet for drawing a liquid from a source and an outlet for outputting a beverage to a portable user vessel. A demineralization device demineralizes the liquid from the source and has an input and an output. The input of the demineralization device is coupled with the inlet. A beverage preparation device has an input and an output. The input of the beverage preparation device is coupled with the output of the demineralization device and the output of the beverage preparation device is coupled with the outlet. The beverage preparation device, the outlet, all active components and all passive components downstream of the demineralization device contacting the beverage are made of a biological inert material, particularly a biological inert metal, on any surface contacting the water. All couplings of the beverage dispenser are manufactured such that stagnation even of small quantities of beverage is avoided.

Described herein is a beverage system that is configured to produce beverages having different characteristics, such as different levels of carbonation including producing substantially non-carbonated beverages and carbonated beverages with a single machine. The beverage system includes a beverage appliance and a beverage container. The beverage container includes a beverage material, which can include a flavoring ingredient for a target beverage. The beverage appliance is used to access the beverage material from the beverage container and produce the target beverage. The beverage appliance and beverage container are adaptable to produce the target beverage having any of a range of carbonation levels or other characteristics.

An adapter having a female coupling configured to receive and establish a friction seal with a male coupling of an external device for inserting or extracting a liquid to or from a container, by applying a load to the male coupling after inserting it into the female coupling, the load being provided by the weight of a portion of the external device, the adapter being configured for insertion in a mouth of the container and secured therein using a stretchable membrane that fits snugly around the mouth of the container for obtaining a tight seal, the stretchable membrane having tabs for a user to grasp.

Described herein is a space saving fluid dispensing container adapted for placement on a shelf. The device is generally adapted for filtration and dispensing of water and designed for placement within the refrigerator. The device includes a base portion forming a cavity and a removable and refillable tank for coupled placement to the base portion and in fluid communication with the base portion cavity for the replenishment of the fluid contents. Accordingly, the base portion is adapted to form a secondary shelf allowing only for the removal of a the refillable tank to allow for easier replenishment of fluid and the saving of space within the area surrounding the shelf the container is placed upon.