A beverage dispensing system comprises a container, an attachment mechanism, and a cartridge. The container may hold a mixing solution or liquid, such as water, to be mixed with the contents of the cartridge. The attachment mechanism is generally located within the container. The attachment mechanism may comprise an engagement assembly, a piercing portion, and a valve assembly. The engagement assembly may generally receive the cartridge within the attachment mechanism. The piercing portion may generally pierce the cartridge, thereby releasing the contents of the cartridge into the container. The valve assembly may generally open upon engagement of the cartridge with the attachment mechanism. The cartridge generally engages with the attachment mechanism to open the cartridge to be dispensed into the container, thereby combining the contents of the cartridge with the liquid within the container to create a drinkable beverage.

A bottom loaded water dispenser having a water dispensing area that can be elongated to accommodate any size refillable bottle or other container, including large or wide based bottles or refillable containers. The bottom loaded water dispenser accommodates a standard bottom loaded water bottle. The bottom loaded water dispenser has a door that fits into the recess of the dispenser housing that does not interfere with bottom loaded water bottle and allows the drip tray to be adjusted to any height under the dispensing nozzle.

A system and method for dispensing beverage from a container, such as wine from a wine bottle. Dispensing may be automatically controlled based on a detected orientation of the container, e.g., dispensing may occur when a bottle is tilted as if to pour from the bottle and stopped when the bottle is oriented upright. Dispensing may be stopped when the container is rotated about its longitudinal axis even while in a pour orientation. A remaining amount of beverage in the container and/or an amount of pressurized gas used to drive dispensing may be detected and beverage dispensing controlled accordingly.

A system and method for dispensing sparkling and other pressurized beverages from a container. Sparkling wine and other beverages may be dispensed without removing a cork or other closure. One or more needles may be inserted through the closure and sparkling beverage dispensed through the one or more needles. The one or more needles may be inserted at an angle to the vertical or axis of the bottle opening in which the closure is positioned, e.g., to avoid contact with a metal retainer on the closure. Dispensed beverage may be directed to a pressurized reservoir to help maintain or recover carbonation prior to dispensing.

Systems, devices, and methods are provided for conducting a social interaction. A first user account may be associated with a first beverage container. A second beverage container may be detected as being proximate to the first beverage container. A second user account associated with the second beverage container may be accessed to identify a commonality between the first and second user accounts. The commonality may be objective and/or subjective information or data about the users of the first and second beverage containers. Information indicative of the commonality may be displayed on an electronic display of at least one of the beverage containers. The electronic display may be flexible such that it conforms to a curvature of the beverage container.

A bottled water dispenser is disclosed that includes a water bottle, a cold tank, and an ozone generator, which is fluidly coupled to a Y-connector. The dispenser includes a first tube that is fluidly coupled to a first port of the Y-connector, with the first tube being configured to deliver ozone gas to the cold tank. The dispenser further includes a second tube that is fluidly coupled to a second port of the Y-connector, with the second tube being configured to deliver ozone gas to the water bottle. The ozone gas is effective to sterilize and prevent biofilm formation within the interior areas of the cold tank and water bottle. The dispensers further include an in-line flow restrictor positioned in-line with either the first tube or second tube, which helps balance the flow of ozone that is delivered to the cold tank and water bottle.

A system for preparing portions of a beverage suitable for consumption, comprising an apparatus for preparing the beverage and a closed and form-retaining holder removably received in the holder, which holder is at least filled with a product to be dissolved and/or to be diluted such as a concentrate. The apparatus is provided with a liquid device for dispensing under pressure a fluid comprising a liquid such as water and, optionally, a gas such as steam or air, a receiving space in which the holder is received and at least one probe provided with at least one channel which, on the one side, is in fluid communication with the liquid device and which, on the other side, terminates in at least one outflow opening of the probe. The apparatus is designed for puncturing the wall on a first side and for moving the probe and the holder relative to each other such that the probe, in use, can be inserted through the first side of the holder whereupon the at least one outflow opening reaches into the holder.

A portable beverage dispenser with a variable pressure regulator cap assembly that includes a high pressure cavity defined by a cap body. The high pressure cavity receives pressurized gas from a compressed gas reservoir. A low pressure cavity is connected to the high pressure cavity via a high pressure gas passageway. The low pressure cavity defines a low pressure gas passageway that penetrates the cap body. A gauge, such as a pressure and/or temperature gauge provides feedback about characteristics of the beverage contained within the dispenser.

What is proposed is a beverage preparation machine for producing a beverage, into which a cartridge system having a cartridge and a cartridge receptacle connected to the cartridge can be inserted, wherein the cartridge comprises a reservoir filled with a beverage substance, wherein the cartridge receptacle has a mixing chamber which can be brought into fluid communication with the reservoir, and a fluid supply line opening into the mixing chamber, wherein the cartridge receptacle comprises a compressed-air connection for blowing compressed air into the reservoir with the aid of a compressed-air line, wherein the beverage preparation machine also has a holding unit, into which the cartridge receptacle connected to the cartridge can be inserted, a fluid source for feeding the fluid into the fluid supply line, and a compressed-air source for blowing compressed air into the compressed-air connection, characterized in that the holding unit has a light element which is designed in such a way that the light element at least partially encloses the cartridge receptacle received in the holding unit.

A carbonation device (100) for carbonating a beverage in a container (200), the carbonation device (100) comprising: a head portion (114b) for sealably receiving a mouth portion (220) of the container (200), the head portion (114b) having an infuser (120) that is operable to inject carbon dioxide into the container (200) via the mouth (220) of the container (200); and an engagement feature (173) with which the container (200) can be configured to securably locate the container (200) with respect to the head portion (114b) in: an injection configuration in which the mouth portion (220) of the container (200) is substantially sealed with respect to the infuser (120) so that the infuser (120) can inject carbon dioxide into the container (200) to carbonate the beverage in the container; and a depressurisation configuration in which the mouth portion (220) of the container (200) is partially unsealed with respect to the infuser (120) to allow for depressurization of the container (200).