A pressurized liquid delivery assembly has at least one liquid delivery module. Each module may include a housing and an associated compartment. The compartment may be located within the housing and may be moveable with respect to the housing to permit access to the compartment by a user. The compartment may define a space adapted to receive a replaceable pressurised receptacle containing liquid to be dispensed by the assembly. A liquid dispenser may be operatively associated with the receptacle and adapted to dispense liquid. The dispenser may include a conduit that may be extendable from a dispensing nozzle to a liquid receiving connector. The liquid receiving connector may be adapted to releasably connect to the liquid receptacle in use.

The invention relates to a cartridge (1) for inserting into a beverage-preparing machine, comprising a cartridge body (3) and a cartridge cover (2) connected to the cartridge body (3), wherein: the cartridge body (3) has a plurality of chambers (4) filled with beverage substance; the cartridge cover (2) has a cartridge-emptying unit (20), a mixing chamber (14), and a fluid feed (15) leading into the mixing chamber (14); the cartridge-emptying unit (20) is provided for transferring beverage substance from one of the chambers (4) into the mixing chamber (14); and the mixing chamber (14) is provided for producing a beverage by mixing the beverage substance transferred from the one chamber (4) into the mixing chamber (14) with a liquid fed into the mixing chamber (14) by means of the fluid feed (15); the cartridge being characterized in that the cartridge body (3) and the cartridge cover (2) can be rotated relative to each other about a longitudinal axis (L) of the cartridge body (3). The invention also relates to a method for operating a cartridge (1).

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.

An adapter for an airtight connection to a container and for airtight dispensing of the container's contents, the adapter having: a gate valve, a tube extending from the gate valve to a female coupling, the female coupling being configured for insertion in a mouth of the container, the female coupling having a dispensing valve for opening when dispensing the container's contents and closing when dispensing is finished as needed, such that air is prevented from entering the container, and an airtight connector for connecting the adapter to the container.

A container 100 containing material 140 such as hops for flavouring a beverage is disclosed, the container 100 being formed from liquid impermeable material and comprising an inlet 110 for receiving beverage to be flavoured, an outlet 120 for dispensing flavoured beverage and a compartment 130 within the container, configured to allow liquid to pass between the inside of the container and the inside of the compartment 130, the compartment 130 containing and retaining material, further comprising means configured to allow compression of the material in the compartment. Also disclosed is a dispenser 500 for dispensing a beverage flavoured from the container 100 and methods of extracting flavour from hops and of flavouring beverages.

An adapter for an airtight connection to a container and for airtight dispensing of the container's contents, the adapter having: a gate valve, a tube extending from the gate valve to a female coupling, the female coupling being configured for insertion in a mouth of the container, the female coupling having a dispensing valve for opening when dispensing the container's contents and closing when dispensing is finished as needed, such that air is prevented from entering the container, and an airtight connector for connecting the adapter to the container.

The present invention describes appliances for preparing and dispensing beverages, such as beers, featuring a transparent window that allows a user of the appliance to view the beverage in a chamber of the appliance as that beverage is being prepared. The chamber in which the beverage is prepared can be either an integral part of the appliance or a disposable chamber that can be removed and replaced with a new disposable chamber after one or more servings of a beverage has been prepared in the disposable chamber. The appliances can have methods for cleaning the chamber, or the chamber can be self-cleaning. If the chamber for preparing the beverage is a disposable container, it may come with a concentrated beverage already pre-packaged in the container, and the casing of the container can prevent oxygen and light from penetrating the container and affecting the concentrated beverage contained within.

A self-propelling container having: a top; a bottom; a plurality of vertical walls extending between the bottom and the top; an inner bag for holding contents to be dispensed; a female coupling configured to receive and establish a friction seal with a male coupling of an external device for inserting or extracting the contents to or from the container after the friction seal is established between the female and male couplings; and at least one independent panel positioned inside the container; a compressible element associated with the at least one independent panel wherein during filling of the inner bag the compressible element is compressed, thus causing the at least one independent panel to exercise pressure onto the inner bag, and thus, helping to empty the inner bag.

The invention provides a mixing container comprising: a liquid holding vessel having first and second chambers each for holding a different liquid; a mixing unit having a first valve and a second adjustable valve, the second adjustable valve having an opening that can be partially closed to permit a pre-determined portion of liquid from each chamber to be dispensed when pouring from the mixing container; and the second valve including a series of teeth around the periphery thereof for engaging an adjustment wheel in the mixing unit to open or close the opening in the second adjustable valve.

Appliances (100) for preparing and dispensing beverages, such as beers, featuring a transparent window (110) that allows a user of the appliance to view the beverage in a chamber of the appliance as that beverage is being prepared are disclosed. The chamber in which the beverage is prepared can be either an integral part of the appliance or a disposable chamber that can be removed and replaced with a new disposable chamber after one or more servings of a beverage has been prepared in the disposable chamber. The appliances can have methods for cleaning the chamber, or the chamber can be self-cleaning. If the chamber for preparing the beverage is a disposable container, it may come with a concentrated beverage already prepackaged in the container, and the casing of the container can prevent oxygen and light from penetrating the container and affecting the concentrated beverage contained within.