A high diluent to concentrate volumetric ratio post-mix drink dispenser includes a mixer and a nozzle housing. The mixer defines a mixing pathway adapted to receive a diluent flow from a diluent source and a concentrate pathway adapted to receive a concentrate flow from a concentrate source. The concentrate pathway communicates with the mixing pathway to deliver concentrate therein. The mixing pathway manipulates the diluent flow therein to decrease the pressure thereof, thereby creating a low pressure region at the concentrate pathway that promotes introduction of the concentrate into the diluent for mixing therewith. The nozzle housing couples with the mixer such that the nozzle housing receives mixed diluent and concentrate from the mixing pathway and delivers the mixed diluent and concentrate therefrom.

A valve for dispensing a liquid includes a housing, an internal liquid passage extending through the housing, a valve seat, a valve member movable between a closed position engaging the valve seat and an open position disengaging the valve seat, and a control member controlling movement of the valve member, which is movable between a first position in which it engages the valve member in its closed position, a second position in which the valve member is in its open position but still engaging the control member and a third position in which the valve member is in its open position and out of engagement with the control member. At least one air passage connects the outside of the valve with the internal liquid passage. The at least one air passage is closed in the first and second positions of the control member and is opened in the third position.

An example method comprises receiving a control signal to open a first valve of a compressible liquid container within an airtight pressurized container, retrieving a first dispensing profile, each dispensing profile indicating at least one valve and, for each valve, a predetermined period of time for keeping a particular valve open, each of the valves controlling transport of contents a different compressible liquid container contained within the airtight pressurized container to a dispensing system, for each of the one or more valves identified in the first dispensing profile: opening the particular valve identified in the first dispensing profile for the particular predetermined period of time to transport contents over a first liquid transport conduit that is coupled to a particular releasable coupling and the particular valve, and closing the particular valve after the particular predetermined period of time to dispense an amount of contents of the particular compressible liquid container.

The present invention describes methods and devices in which concentrated beverage products, each packaged in a pressurized container, can be combined with liquids and/or other ingredients to produce one or more servings of a beverage. These products provide users with a convenient way to prepare both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages (including carbonated beverages) in various serving sizes and quantities by combining the pressurized beverage concentrate with (possibly carbonated) liquids and other ingredients.

The present invention describes methods and devices in which concentrated beverage products, each packaged in a pressurized container, can be combined with liquids and/or other ingredients to produce one or more servings of a beverage. These products provide users with a convenient way to prepare both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages (including carbonated beverages) in various serving sizes and quantities by combining the pressurized beverage concentrate with (possibly carbonated) liquids and other ingredients.

An example system includes an incompressible, airtight pressurized container operable to maintain a pressure level in an internal pressurized environment, a transport system including at least two liquid transport conduits, and a mixing component, the two liquid conduits each being releasably coupled to a pressurized container interface coupled to the pressurized container and a dispensing interface, each liquid transport conduit including a controllable valve to enable or disable a flow of the liquid volume, the pressurized container interface capable of maintaining the pressure level, the mixing component being coupled to the at least two liquid transport conduits and the dispensing interface, a pressure regulation system connected to the pressurized container, the pressure regulation system operable to exert and maintain the pressure level within the pressurized container to enable compression of the first compressible liquid volume, and a control system operable to control the controllable valves and the pressure regulation system.

A beverage infusion apparatus includes: beverage infusion apparatus comprising: (a) an infusion module for infusing a nitrogen containing gas into a beverage to form a gas infused beverage, wherein: (i) the infusion module comprises a gas draw venturi device for drawing the nitrogen containing gas into the beverage as a result of flow of the beverage through the gas draw venturi device to form the gas infused beverage; (b) a dispensing valve for dispensing the gas infused beverage and constructed to move between an open position and a closed position, wherein: (i) the open position permits dispensing of the gas infused beverage from the beverage infusion apparatus; (ii) the closed position prevents dispensing of the gas infused beverage from the beverage infusion apparatus; and (iii) the dispensing valve is constructed to move between the open position and the closed position by a user of the beverage infusion apparatus; and (c) a pump constructed to move the beverage, under pressure, from a beverage reservoir, through the dispensing valve to the dispensing valve. A method of forming a gas infused beverage at a location of purchase of the gas infused beverage is provided.

A system comprising, a pressurized container including hollow portion and outer portion, pressurized container maintains pressure level in the hollow portion, transport system including two conduits, one transport being coupled to an interface and a valve port, the interface coupled to the hollow portion, the interface maintains pressure level in the hollow portion, one valve port allows flow of liquid volume through one conduit to a dispensing interface via another valve port, an external container is airtight and operable to dispense another liquid volume stored within, another conduit is coupled to the external container and further valve port to refill the liquid volume via the valve, pressure regulation system connected to pressurized container, pressure regulation system including a pressure conduit extending from outer portion through a pressure interface, pressure regulation system operable to compress liquid volume in the environment and a control system controls the valve and pressure regulation system.

An example system includes an incompressible, airtight pressurized container operable to maintain a pressure level in an internal pressurized environment, a transport system including at least two liquid transport conduits, and a mixing component, the two liquid conduits each being releasably coupled to a pressurized container interface coupled to the pressurized container and a dispensing interface, each liquid transport conduit including a controllable valve to enable or disable a flow of the liquid volume, the pressurized container interface capable of maintaining the pressure level, the mixing component being coupled to the at least two liquid transport conduits and the dispensing interface, a pressure regulation system connected to the pressurized container, the pressure regulation system operable to exert and maintain the pressure level within the pressurized container to enable compression of the first compressible liquid volume, and a control system operable to control the controllable valves and the pressure regulation system.