FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to carbonation machines. More particularly, the present invention relates to a carbonation machine and to a gas canister for a carbonation machine.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Carbonation machines are commonly used in homes, offices, cafeterias, and other settings. A typical carbonation machine may be operated to inject carbon dioxide into water or another liquid that is in a bottle that may be attached to the machine. Other types of carbonation machines may be configured to dispense carbonated beverages into cups or other containers.

The carbon dioxide gas that is injected into liquid to carbonate the liquid is typically provided in canisters of compressed or liquefied gas. The carbonation machine includes a user-operable mechanism for releasing gas from the cylinder and conducting the gas to the liquid to be carbonated. Typically, operation of the gas release mechanism causes the mechanism to open a valve of the cylinder. When the gas canister is installed in the carbonation machine, a valve head that includes the valve is connected to a gas canister connector of the carbonation machine.

When a cylinder has been emptied of gas, the empty cylinder may be replaced with a full cylinder. This replacement is typically performed by a user of the machine. For example, a valve head of the cylinder may be provided with exterior male threading which may be connected to the gas canister connector by screwing into interior threading of a socket of the connector.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

There is thus provided, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, a carbonation machine including: a carbonation head; a holder that is configured to hold a gas canister, the holder including a connector with a socket, the socket including a seal with at least one lateral opening to enable fluidic flow between one or more laterally oriented ports of a valve of the canister into the socket to enable fluidic flow between 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.

Furthermore, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the seal dudes two gaskets, the lateral opening including a gap between the two gaskets.

Furthermore, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, each of the two gaskets is shaped in the form of an O-ring with flattened faces.

Furthermore, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, each of the two gaskets has a U-shaped cross section oriented such that openings of the two gaskets face one another.

Furthermore, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the seal dudes a single gasket with one or more opening holes.

Furthermore, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the gasket as a U-shaped cross section.

Furthermore, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, an opening of the U-shaped gasket faces inward, and the opening holes are located on an outward facing convex surface of the gasket.

Furthermore, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, an opening of the U-shaped gasket faces outward, and the opening holes are located on an inward facing convex surface of the gasket.

Furthermore, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the holding mechanism includes a plurality of teeth that are outwardly slidable to enable insertion of a the lateral projection of the valve and inwardly slidable to prevent removal of the lateral projection past the teeth, wherein a release mechanism to enable removal of the valve from the socket, is configured to outwardly retract the teeth to enable passage of the lateral projection.

Furthermore, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the holding mechanism includes a yoke with a noncircular opening configured to allow passage of the lateral projection, the lateral projection including a noncircular lateral projection, when the noncircular lateral projection is aligned with the opening, and to prevent passage of the noncircular lateral projection when the canister is rotated such that the noncircular lateral projection is not aligned with the opening.

Furthermore, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the carbonation machine includes a yoke that is configured to support that lateral projection and a handle that is raisable to enable placement of the lateral projection on the yoke, the handle connected by a hinged lever mechanism to the yoke such that when the handle is lowered, the yoke raises the valve to insert the valve into the socket.

Furthermore, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the handle includes a cover that is configured to cover at least part of the canister when the handle is lowered.

Furthermore, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, a base of the carbonation machine includes an opening for placement of the canister, wherein a part of a floor of the opening is raised so as to tilt the canister when placed into the opening to tilt into an orientation that is aligned with the socket.

Furthermore, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the carbonation machine includes a cradle that is tillable outward to enable insertion of the canister into the cradle, the cradle configured, when rotated inward, to insert the valve into the socket.

Furthermore, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the carbonation machine includes a platform for supporting the canister erectly and configured, when rotated, to lift the canister to insert the valve into the socket.

There is further provided, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, a canister for connection to a carbonation machine, the canister configured to hold a pressurized or liquefied gas for enabling the machine to carbonate a liquid, the canister including a valve that is configured to hold the gas in the canister when closed, and to provide a fluidic connection between the canister and the carbonation machine or a source of the gas when opened, the valve including: a body that includes at one end a canister port oriented along a longitudinal axis of the body and that is configured to be inserted into the canister, and at least two exterior ports that open laterally to the longitudinal axis and are substantially equally spaced about the longitudinal axis; a poppet that is slidable along the longitudinal axis and which, when in an open position, allows fluidic communication between the exterior ports and the canister port to enable inflow to the canister via said at least two exterior ports or outflow from the canister via said at least two exterior ports, and which, when in a closed position that is more distal to the canister port than the open position, prevents fluid communication between the exterior ports and the canister port; a resilient restoring structure configured to apply a restoring force to the poppet to maintain the poppet at the closed position; a plunger with an exterior surface that is exposed to the exterior of the body and configured, when an inward pushing force that overcomes the restoring force is applied to the plunger, to slide the poppet from the closed position to the open position; and a gasket configured to fluidically isolate the exterior surface of the plunger being from a path of fluidic flow between the exterior ports and the canister port.

Furthermore, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, a cross section of the gasket is U-shaped, an opening of the gasket being oriented toward the canister.

Furthermore, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the exterior ports are oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

There is further provided, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, a valve for closing and opening a gas canister, the valve including: a body that includes at one end a canister port oriented along a longitudinal axis of the body and that is configured to be inserted into the canister, and at least two exterior ports that open laterally to the longitudinal axis and are substantially equally spaced about the longitudinal axis; a poppet that is slidable along the longitudinal axis and which, when in an open position, allows fluidic communication between the exterior ports and the canister port to enable inflow to the canister via said at least two exterior ports or outflow from the canister via said at least two exterior ports, and which, when in a closed position that is more distal to the canister port than the open position, prevents fluid communication between the exterior ports and the canister port; a resilient restoring structure configured to apply a restoring force to the poppet to maintain the poppet at the closed position; a plunger with an exterior surface that is exposed to the exterior of the body and configured, when an inward pushing force that overcomes the restoring force is applied to the plunger, to slide the poppet from the closed position to the open position; and a gasket configured to fluidically isolate the exterior surface of the plunger being from a path of fluidic flow between the exterior ports and the canister port.

Furthermore, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, a cross section of the gasket is U-shaped, an opening of the gasket being oriented toward the canister.

There is further provided, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, an adapter including: an opening that is shaped to enable insertion of a valve of a gas canister that is configured to hold a pressurized or liquefied gas for carbonating a liquid, the valve including at one end a canister port oriented along a longitudinal axis of a body of the valve and that is configured to be inserted into the canister, at least one exterior port that opens laterally, and a gasket configured to fluidically isolate an exterior surface of a plunger of the valve, the plunger configured, when an inward pushing force that overcomes a restoring force is applied to the plunger, to enable fluidic communication between the at least one exterior port and the canister port; and at least one channel that is configured to conduct pressurized gas from a longitudinally oriented filling port of a canister filling system to one or more lateral channels that are in fluidic communication with the at least one exterior port of a valve that is inserted into the opening.

Furthermore, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the valve includes structure to enable attachment of the adapter to a filling head of the filling system.

Furthermore, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the at least one channel includes at least one laterally oriented channel that is configured to be in fluidic communication with the filling port when the adapter is attached to the filling head.

Furthermore, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the adapter includes structure to enable attachment of the adapter to the valve, a distal end of the adapter configured to connect to a filling head of the filling system.

Furthermore, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the at least one channel includes a longitudinally oriented channel at the distal end that is configured to be in fluidic communication with the filling port when the distal end is connected to the filling head.

