A beverage carbonation apparatus having a spring loaded bottle mounting mechanism to catch and hold an upright bottle when inserted therein and form an operative seal for carbonation, the bottle mounting mechanism being pivotable to release the bottle and reset the loading spring.

A beverage dispensing device and methods for dispensing beverages are provided. In one embodiment, the beverage dispensing device includes a housing, a carbonation assembly, a carriage assembly, and one or more flavorant containers. The beverage dispensing device can also include a controller with a UI to allow a user to customize aspects of a beverage. These customizable aspects can include fluid volume, carbonation level, flavorant type, and/or flavorant amount. Based on the customized aspects of the beverage, the beverage dispensing device can dispense an amount of carbonated or uncarbonated water, and can dispense a type and amount of flavorant. Illustrative embodiments of flavorant containers are also provided.

A method and dispensing apparatus for dispensing one or more liquids from a liquid storage container operably connected to the dispensing apparatus. The one or more liquids may include cold water, cold carbonated water, hot water and/or ambient temperature water. The dispensing apparatus preferably is a self-contained dispensing apparatus, i.e., a dispensing apparatus having its own source of liquid. The dispensing apparatus further preferably includes a housing storing a first cooled liquid reservoir and a second cooled liquid reservoir. The first cooled liquid reservoir preferably stores cold water and the second cooled liquid reservoir preferably stores cold carbonated water. A thermal link preferably connects the first cooled liquid reservoir and the second cooled liquid reservoir to cause thermal energy to be transferred between the first cooled liquid reservoir and the second cooled liquid reservoir.

A system for carbonating a personalized beverage may comprise a base container including at least one sidewall defining a liquid storage area, and a carbon dioxide storage member configured to be sealingly coupled to said base container. The system may further comprise a carbon dioxide cartridge configured to selectively release carbon dioxide when engaged with said carbon dioxide storage member, and wherein said carbon dioxide storage member further comprises a pressure regulator configured to, when actuated, release the said carbon dioxide from said carbon dioxide cartridge at a rate configured to carbonate a beverage within said liquid storage over a period of time greater than 6 hours and less than 36 hours.

A carbonation machine may include a carbonation head, a holder that is configured to hold a gas canister, the holder comprising a connector with a socket configured to enable linear insertion of a valve of the canister into the socket, the socket including a seal with at least one lateral opening to enable fluidic flow between one or more laterally oriented ports of the valve and a conduit of the holder while preventing leakage of gas from the fluidic flow, and a holding mechanism configured to hold a lateral projection from the canister after insertion of the valve into the socket such that the valve remains in the socket, and an activation mechanism configured to operate the valve to release the gas from the canister when inserted into the socket so as to enable the gas to flow via the conduit to the carbonation head

An adapter for a canister filling system includes a body having an opening that is shaped to enable insertion of a valve of a gas canister for holding a pressurized or liquefied gas, into an interior space of the body, leaving a sealed gap between at least a portion of a lateral aspect of the valve and an internal surface of the body facing the interior space; and at least one channel that is configured to conduct pressurized or liquified gas from a canister filling system into the sealed gap in the interior space, so as to reach one or more lateral exterior ports of the valve of the gas canister that open laterally to a longitudinal axis of a body of the gas canister, when the valve is inserted in the interior space, to facilitate filling of the gas canister with the pressurized or liquified gas through said one or more lateral exterior ports of the gas canister.

A carbonation machine may include a carbonation head, a holder that is configured to hold a gas canister, the holder comprising a connector with a socket configured to enable linear insertion of a valve of the canister into the socket, the socket including a seal with at least one lateral opening to enable fluidic flow between one or more laterally oriented ports of the valve and a conduit of the holder while preventing leakage of gas from the fluidic flow, and a holding mechanism configured to hold a lateral projection from the canister after insertion of the valve into the socket such that the valve remains in the socket, and an activation mechanism configured to operate the valve to release the gas from the canister when inserted into the socket so as to enable the gas to flow via the conduit to the carbonation head

Beverage carbonation apparatus having a carbonating system including chassis side plates, a bottle interface assembly, a release handle assembly hingedly coupled to a gas release system adapted for engagement with a gas canister, including a gas release button for selective activation by a user and a push rod coupled thereto, and a valve assembly carbonating system adapted to communicate gas from a canister coupled to the gas release system to a bottle fitted to the bottle dispensing assembly, including a bottle pressure control valve.

A carbonation machine may include a carbonation head, a holder that is configured to hold a gas canister, the holder comprising a connector with a socket configured to enable linear insertion of a valve of the canister into the socket, the socket including a seal with at least one lateral opening to enable fluidic flow between one or more laterally oriented ports of the valve and a conduit of the holder while preventing leakage of gas from the fluidic flow, and a holding mechanism configured to hold a lateral projection from the canister after insertion of the valve into the socket such that the valve remains in the socket, and an activation mechanism configured to operate the valve to release the gas from the canister when inserted into the socket so as to enable the gas to flow via the conduit to the carbonation head.

A carbonation machine may include a carbonation head, a holder that is configured to hold a gas canister, the holder comprising a connector with a socket configured to enable linear insertion of a valve of the canister into the socket, the socket including a seal with at least one lateral opening to enable fluidic flow between one or more laterally oriented ports of the valve and a conduit of the holder while preventing leakage of gas from the fluidic flow, and a holding mechanism configured to hold a lateral projection from the canister after insertion of the valve into the socket such that the valve remains in the socket, and an activation mechanism configured to operate the valve to release the gas from the canister when inserted into the socket so as to enable the gas to flow via the conduit to the carbonation head.