BEVERAGE CARBONATOR

Abstract

The invention relates to a beverage carbonator (1) having a basic unit (3), wherein the basic unit (3) comprises: a plurality of pressure container receptacles (4) for receiving a corresponding number of pressure containers (5), and a beverage container receptacle (6) for receiving a beverage container (7).

Claims

1. A beverage carbonator having a basic unit, the basic unit comprising: a plurality of pressure container receptacles for receiving a corresponding number of pressure containers, and a beverage container receptacle for receiving a beverage container.

2. The beverage carbonator according to claim 1, wherein the basic unit has a number of actuating units corresponding to the plurality of pressure container receptacles, wherein each pressure container receptacle is assigned its own actuating unit and wherein the respective actuating unit is provided for opening a fluidic connection between the pressure container arranged in the pressure container receptacle assigned thereto and the beverage container arranged in the beverage container receptacle.

3. The beverage carbonator according to claim 1, wherein at least two pressure container receptacles are provided.

4. The beverage carbonator according to claim 1, wherein at least three pressure container receptacles are provided.

5. The beverage carbonator according to claim 1, wherein at least four pressure container receptacles are provided.

6. The beverage carbonator according to claim 1, wherein the respective pressure container receptacle is pivotably coupled to the basic unit.

7. The beverage carbonator according to claim 1, wherein the basic unit has a protective screen for at least partially closing a receiving space for the beverage container.

8. The beverage carbonator according to claim 1, wherein the basic unit has a base and an upper part, which are connected to one another via at least one support element.

9. The beverage carbonator according to claim 8, wherein the pressure container receptacles and the beverage container receptacle are each formed or arranged in the upper part.

10. The beverage carbonator according to claim 1, wherein the basic unit comprises at least one cladding part for closing a receiving space for the pressure containers.

11. The beverage carbonator according to claim 1, wherein the beverage container receptacle comprises a thread for screwing in a corresponding beverage container connection thread arranged or formed on the beverage container.

12. The beverage carbonator according to claim 1, wherein the respective pressure container receptacle has a thread for screwing in a corresponding pressure container connection thread, which is arranged or formed on the pressure container.

13. The beverage carbonator according to claim 1, wherein the respective pressure container receptacle has a snap-in receptacle for engaging a corresponding pressure container connection thread which is formed or arranged on the pressure container.

14. The beverage carbonator according to claim 1, wherein the beverage container is arranged in the beverage container receptacle.

15. The beverage carbonator according to claim 1, wherein a respective pressure container is arranged in each pressure container receptacle.

16. The beverage carbonator according to claim 1, wherein the basic unit has an actuating unit, wherein each pressure container receptacle is assigned a specific actuation of this one actuation unit, wherein the actuation unit is configured for opening a fluidic connection between the pressure container arranged in the respective pressure container receptacle and the beverage container arranged in the beverage container receptacle upon performance of the respective specific actuation.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to drawings.

[0025] FIG. 1 is a schematic rear view of a beverage carbonator,

[0026] FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the beverage carbonator,

[0027] FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of the beverage carbonator without the cladding, and

[0028] FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of the beverage carbonator.

[0029] Corresponding parts are marked with the same reference signs in all figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

[0030] FIGS. 1 to 4 show a beverage carbonator 1, with FIG. 1 showing the beverage carbonator 1 in a rear view and FIG. 2 in a side view. FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the beverage carbonator 1 without cladding part 2 and FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the beverage carbonator 1 with cladding part 2.

[0031] The beverage carbonator 1, also referred to as a water carbonator or drinking water carbonator, has a basic unit 3. The basic unit 3 has a plurality of pressure container receptacles 4 for receiving a corresponding number of pressure containers 5, for example at least two or at least three pressure container receptacles 4 for receiving a corresponding number of pressure containers 5. In the example shown, the basic unit 3 has four pressure container receptacles 4 for receiving four pressure containers 5.

[0032] Furthermore, the basic unit 3 has a beverage container receptacle 6 for receiving a beverage container 7.

[0033] In addition, in the example shown, the basic unit 3 has a number of actuating units 8 to corresponding to the plurality of pressure container receptacles 4, thus four actuating units 8 in the example shown, each pressure container receptacle 4 being assigned its own actuating unit 8, in particular comprising a respective actuating button. The respective actuating unit 8 is provided for opening a fluidic connection between the pressure container 5 arranged in the pressure container receptacle 4 associated therewith and the beverage container 7 arranged in the beverage container receptacle 6.

[0034] The respective pressure container 5 is also referred to as a pressurized gas container, gas cartridge, cylinder or gas cylinder. The beverage container 7 is in particular a bottle. If a pressure container 5 filled with gas, in particular with carbon dioxide, and a beverage container 7 filled with a beverage, in particular water, in particular drinking water, are arranged in the respective receptacle of the basic unit 3, the beverage in the beverage container 7 can be bubbled by actuating the actuating unit 8 assigned to the pressure container 5 on the basic unit 3, as a result of which the fluidic connection between this pressure container 5 and the beverage container 7 is opened, since the gas then flows from the pressure container 5 into the beverage container 7.

[0035] The beverage carbonator 1 is provided in particular for pressure containers 5 with different fillings, in particular for pressure containers 5 which are also filled with a flavor in addition to the gas, in particular carbon dioxide, as a result of which the beverage is simultaneously flavored during bubbling. That is, by actuating the actuating unit 8 associated with the respective pressure container 5 on the basic unit 3, which opens the fluidic connection between this pressure container 5 and the beverage container 7, the beverage in the beverage container 7 is bubbled and flavored, since the gas and the flavor then flow from the pressure container 5 into the beverage container 7. Due to the plurality of pressure container receptacles 4, for example, pressure containers 5 with different flavors and, for example, a pressure container 5 without flavor, i.e., with gas only, can be arranged in the beverage carbonator 1, so that a user has a corresponding selection available without having to first exchange a pressure container 5 already arranged in the beverage carbonator 1 for another one for this purpose.

[0036] The respective pressure container receptacle 4 is coupled to the basic unit 3 in particular in a pivotable manner. As a result, the respective pressure container 5 can be swiveled laterally, in particular at an angle, out of the basic unit 3 for removal, and a new pressure container 5 can be inserted laterally into the pressure container receptacle 4 and then swiveled into the basic unit 3. This facilitates the replacement of the respective pressure container 5.

[0037] In the embodiment shown, the basic unit 3 has a protective screen 9 for at least partially or completely closing a receiving space for the beverage container 7. This is useful or mandatory, for example, for beverage containers 7 made of glass for safety reasons. The protective screen 9 is, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, for example movably, for example pivotably, attached to the basic unit 3 to enable the receiving space to be opened for insertion and removal of the beverage container 7. In particular, it is provided that bubbling is only possible when the protective screen 9 is in a closed position, i.e. the receiving space is at least partially or completely closed by the protective screen 9. For example, it is thus provided that the respective actuating unit 8 can only be actuated when the protective screen 9 is in the closed position.

[0038] In an alternative embodiment not shown, no such protective screen 9 is provided. This embodiment is provided, for example, for plastic beverage containers 7 for which such a protective screen 9 is not required.

[0039] The basic unit 3 has a base 10 and an upper part 11, which are connected to each other via at least one support element 12. The pressure container receptacles 4, the actuating units 8 and the beverage container receptacle 6 are each formed or arranged in the upper part 11.

[0040] In the embodiment shown, the basic unit 3 has the cladding part 2 already mentioned above for closing a receiving space for the pressure containers 5.

[0041] In the illustrated embodiment, the beverage carbonator 1 also has the beverage container 7, which is already arranged here in the beverage container receptacle 6.

[0042] In the embodiment shown, the beverage carbonator 1 also has the four pressure containers 5, which are already arranged here in the respective pressure container receptacle 4.

LIST OF REFERENCES

[0043] 1 beverage carbonator [0044] 2 cladding part [0045] 3 basic unit [0046] 4 pressure container receptacle [0047] pressure container [0048] 6 beverage container receptacle [0049] 7 beverage container [0050] 8 actuating unit [0051] 9 protective screen [0052] 10 base [0053] 11 upper part [0054] 12 support element