Abstract:
A pronged clamp apparatus for attaching a soda bottle to a soda machine includes prongs to attach the bottle to the soda machine and a locking mechanism to lock the bottle to the machine at least during carbonation. The apparatus also comprises a flexible seal to facilitate a closed carbonation environment and a ring to constrict the prongs underneath a ringed extension of the bottle thereby lifting the bottle towards the seal to clamp the bottle to the flexible seal.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority from U.S. provisional patent applications 61/521,794, filed Aug. 10, 2011, and 61/624,306, filed Apr. 15, 2012, both of which applications are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to carbonation machines generally and to clamping devices for attaching bottles to the machines in particular. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Soda machines for the carbonation of beverages are known in the art. Most such devices for home carbonation are designed for manual operation; typically comprising a manually operated gas release valve to release CO 2  into a closed bottle of water from an attached pressurized cylinder. Such machines typically also comprise one or more safety pressure release valves which are designed to vent if excess pressure builds up during the carbonization process. 
     For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,975,988, hereby incorporated in its entirety by reference, discloses a carbonation assembly with two pressure release valves. The first valve is designed to vent with an audible sound at a level of pressure consistent with the maximum processing pressure. The second release valve is designed to vent at a higher level of pressure as a safety measure in case the first valve malfunctions and/or for whatever reason CO 2  continues to flow into the bottle uncontrolled and the pressure rises past the recommended level for safe operation. 
     SUMMARY 
     There is provided, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a pronged clamp apparatus for attaching a soda bottle to a soda machine, the apparatus comprising prongs to attach the bottle to the soda machine; and a locking mechanism to lock the bottle to the machine at least during carbonation. 
     In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus also comprises a flexible seal to facilitate a closed carbonation environment and a ring to constrict the prongs underneath a ringed extension of the bottle thereby lifting the bottle towards the seal to clamp the bottle to the flexible seal. 
     In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the locking mechanism is a mechanical stop. 
     In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the mechanical stop is a recessed area in a cam of the soda machine, the recessed area receiving an activator pin connected to the pronged clamp during the carbonation. 
     In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the mechanical stop is a rib of a lever which stops an extension of the pronged clamp from tilting during the carbonation. 
     In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the ringed extension is around a spout of the bottle. 
     In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the ringed extension is near threads around the spout. 
     In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus also comprises a constricting ring with centering ribs to guide the bottle into the pronged clamp during insertion and to constrict the prongs during operation. 
     There is provided, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a pronged clamp to fit a bottle to a flexible seal, thereby facilitating a closed carbonation environment in the bottle; and a normally open safety valve to vent the bottle when the machine is not actively carbonating. 
     In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the normally open safety valve comprises a spring normally pushing a pin away from a carbonation path of the machine. 
     In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the home use carbonation machine also comprises a cam to push the pin against the spring to close the path during carbonation. 
     There is provided, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a home use carbonation machine comprising a carbonation assembly to carbonate liquid with pressurized gas; a pronged clamp to attach a bottle containing the liquid to the machine; and a centering ring with centering ribs to guide the bottle into the pronged clamp during insertion and to constrict prongs of the clamp during operation. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The subject matter regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. The invention, however, both as to organization and method of operation, together with objects, features, and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following detailed description when read with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1A  is an isometric view of a carbonating head assembly with a pronged clamp, constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 1B  is a cross-sectional view of the assembly of  FIG. 1A  in a soda machine; 
         FIGS. 1C and 1D  are cross-sectional views of two states of the pronged clamp of  FIG. 1A ; 
         FIG. 1E  is a close up view of the clamp of  FIG. 1A  clamped to a bottle; 
         FIGS. 2A and 2B  are schematic illustrations of two alternative embodiments of a double action normally open valve; 
         FIGS. 3A and 3B  are cross sectional views of a novel semi-automated home soda machine, constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 4A and 4B  are close up views of the carbonating gear assembly of  FIGS. 3A and 3B ; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic illustration of the semi-automated home soda machine in  FIGS. 3A and 3B ; 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic illustration of a locking mechanism safety feature for the semi-automated home soda machine in  FIGS. 3A and 3B ; and 
         FIGS. 7A and 7B  are schematic illustrations of an alternative locking mechanism safety feature for a soda machine in two states. 
     
    
    
     It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements shown in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements may be exaggerated relative to other elements for clarity. Further, where considered appropriate, reference numerals may be repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the present invention. 
     It will be appreciated that the standard water bottles that may be used with prior art machines may typically have threaded spouts designed to facilitate screwing on a bottle cap. In the prior art, the bottles may typically be attached to a home soda machine by rotating the bottle several times to “screw in” the threaded spout to a mount on the machine. Applicants have realized that, while this may seem secure, it is an awkward way to mount the bottle. 
     In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a water bottle may be attached to a soda machine via a simple “position and press” process, without requiring any rotational motions, using a flower-like, pronged clamp. 
     Reference is now made to  FIG. 1A  which illustrates a carbonation head assembly  130  in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Assembly  130  may comprise carbonating heads lower  135 , exhaust valve  210 , safety valve  220 , carbonation injector  230 , bottle insertion lever  240  and pronged clamp  250 . Pronged clamp  250  may comprise flexible prongs  255  which may be attachable to a bottle. Exhaust valve  210  and safety valve  220  may function in generally the same manner as in the prior art. For example, exhaust valve  210  may be configured to vent at 8 bars of pressure to indicate that the carbonation in a bottle may have reached recommended levels; safety valve  220  may be configured to vent at 11 bars of pressure. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1B  to which reference is also made, in operation, a user may insert a water bottle  170  by first positioning it at an angle such that injector  230  extends into bottle  170  while bottle  170  comes in contact with the center of pronged clamp  250  on the underside of carbonating head lower  135 . As will be disclosed hereinbelow, once bottle  170  is in position it may be locked into place by pressing it against bottle insertion lever  240  which in turn may cause pronged clamp  250  to clamp on bottle  170  and generally seal its opening. 
     Reference is now also made to  FIGS. 1C and 1D  which illustrate alternative cross sectional views of assembly  130  without bottle  170  in order to afford a fuller view of the elements of assembly  130  that effect its attachment. As illustrated in both  FIGS. 1C-1D , assembly  130  may also comprise pivot rod  260 . Pivot rod  260  may extend between pivot points  265  on assembly  130 . Pivot point  265 A may be attached to the chassis of assembly  130  and may generally remain in the same position when lever  240  is pushed inwards by bottle  170 . Accordingly, it will be appreciated that upon insertion of bottle  170 , the attitude of pivot rod  260  may change as per the movement of pivot point  265 B in the general direction of lever  240 . 
     Assembly  130  may also comprise constricting ring  268 . Constricting ring  268  may be generally square in shape with a hollow center, and may generally be positioned in parallel to carbonating head lower  135 . As shown in  FIGS. 1B and 1C , in an “open” state, when inserting bottle  170 , constricting ring  268  may be positioned just underneath platform  135 , thus encompassing the upper portions of prongs  255 . It will be appreciated that although  FIGS. 1C and 1D  may represent cross sectional views, ring  268  may generally constitute a ring around prongs  255  and the mouth of bottle  170 . 
     As discussed hereinabove, it will be appreciated that since pivot point  265 B may be attached to ring  268 , it may move in generally the same direction as insertion lever  240 . Accordingly, when bottle  170  may be pressed against lever  240  in the direction of Arrow A ( FIG. 1C ) by a user, the differential between pivot points  265 A and  265 B may lower ring  268 , thereby constricting pronged clamp  250  to hold bottle  170  in place underneath platform  135 . 
     It will be appreciated that lever  240  may be positioned to allow bottle  170  to snugly fit against it when inserted into pronged clamp  250 . This may reduce slippage during the insertion process of bottle  170  and may therefore prevent incidental breakage of parts of assembly  130 . In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, lever  240  may be positioned such that a space of no more than 0.5 mm may exist between lever  240  and bottle  170  when bottle  170  is properly positioned in clamp  250 . 
     The clamping process may be understood by comparing  FIGS. 1C and 1D . In  FIG. 1C , pivot rod  260  may be positioned at an angle and ring  268  may be positioned adjacent to carbonating head lower  135 . In  FIG. 1D , pivot rod  260  may be generally vertical and there may be distance between ring  268  and carbonating head lower  135 . As pivot rod  260  may move in the direction of Arrow A to a vertical position as in  FIG. 1C , ring  268  may move away from carbonating head lower  135 , thus constricting prongs  255 . It will be appreciated flexible prongs  255  may comprise relatively thicker end elements to catch below a screw top of bottle  170  to facilitate the clamping process as ring  268  may be lowered. 
     It will be appreciated that the opening of a typical bottle  170  may be large enough that a prong  255  might accidentally fit inside when a user inserts bottle  170 . In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, centering ring  269  may extend from underneath constricting ring  268 . Centering ring  269  may comprise centering ribs  258  which may be positioned to guide bottle  170  into the center area of pronged clamp  250 . Centering ribs  258  may be generally located behind the gaps between individual prongs  255  to prevent bottle  170  from “snagging” on a prong  255  as it may be inserted. 
     Reference is now made to  FIG. 1E  which illustrates a cross sectional view of a bottle  170  as held by pronged clamp  250 . Prong  255 A may represent the position of one of prongs  255  when pronged clamp  250  may be engaged; conversely, prong  255 B may represent the position of the same prong  255  when clamp  250  is not engaged. Bottle  170  may comprise bottle ring  171 , threads  172  and bottle lip  173 . Bottle ring  171  may represent a ring extending around the spout of a typical plastic bottle. Seal  259  may represent a flexible material positioned around the opening of bottle  170 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1E , when pronged clamp  250  is engaged, it may exert a force upwards from underneath bottle ring  171 , thereby causing bottle lip  173  to extend into seal  259 . It will be appreciated that seal  259  may be configured to allow access to the contents of bottle  170  from assembly  130  for the purposes of carbonation and subsequent venting of pressurized CO 2 . Accordingly, when constricted by constricting ring  268 , pronged clamp  250  may clamp and seal the opening of bottle  170  against seal  259  such that bottle  170  may only be vented via assembly  130 . As discussed hereinabove, prior art versions of assembly  130  may typically have two release valves, each configured to open under different circumstances. For example, exhaust valve  210  ( FIG. 1A ) may be configured to vent when the pressure build up inside bottle  170  indicates that the carbonation pressure (typically 8 bars) has been reached. Safety valve  220  may be configured to vent as a safety measure when the pressure inside bottle  170  exceeds recommended levels, for example, 11 bars of pressure. 
     Applicants have realized that additional safety measures may be required to prevent the buildup of excess pressure during an automated process. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a soda machine having pronged clamp  250  may also comprise a normally open double action safety valve  270 . Reference is now made to  FIG. 2A  which illustrates an exemplary double action safety valve  270  in a normal open state. As is discussed in detail hereinbelow, the fact that double action safety valve  270  may be open in its normal state (as opposed to valves  210  and  220  which may normally be closed) may provide an additional level of safety for the operation of the soda machine. The soda machine may be configured to close safety valve  270  as part of the carbonation process, and to re-open it when the process finishes. 
     Double action safety valve  270  may comprise contact pin  275 , poppet  410 , aperture  425 , conduit  420  and springs  430  and  440 . In its normal open state, as shown in  FIG. 2A , the tension of spring  430  may serve to prevent poppet  410  from closing aperture  420 . However, when, as described hereinabove, contact pin  275  may be depressed during carbonation, such as by a cam defining the carbonation process, described in more detail hereinbelow, it may be pushed into valve  270 , thereby exerting sufficient force on spring  430  to allow poppet  410  to slide into position to close aperture  425 . It will be appreciated that conduit  420  may represent tubing (not shown) that may connect with carbonation head assembly  130 . Accordingly, since valve  270  may be normally open even when connected to a bottle  170 , it may provide an additional safeguard to the operation of machine  100  by ensuring that the contents of an attached bottle  170  may always be vented unless the carbonation process is expressly active at the time. 
     Upon completion of the carbonation process, contact pin  275  may no longer be depressed. Accordingly, at that point, contact pin  275  may no longer exert sufficient force on spring  430  to prevent it from moving poppet  410  to open aperture  420 , thus returning safety valve  270  to its normally open state. 
     In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, safety valve  270  may be further configured to open during the carbonation process itself if for whatever reason the pressure in bottle  170  may exceed a pre-determined limit. For example, spring  440  may be configured such that if the pressure inside bottle  170  exceeds 11 bars of pressure, poppet  410  may be moved backwards to open aperture  425 , thusly venting bottle  170 . It will be appreciated that 11 bars of pressure may be sufficient to move poppet  410  even if contact pin  275  is depressed by a cam. It will further be appreciated that the configuration disclosed hereinabove may be exemplary; the present invention may include other suitable configurations as may be required for specific implementations. 
     Reference is now made to  FIG. 2B  which illustrated an alternative embodiment of double action safety valve  270 , known from herein as double action safety valve  270 ′. Double action safety valve  270 ′ may comprise contact pin  275 ′, poppet  410 ′, aperture  425 ′, conduit  420 ′ and spring  415 . In normal operative mode as described hereinabove, during carbonation, pin  275 ′ may exert pressure on spring  415  which may push poppet  410 ′ in order to close aperture  425 ′. It will be appreciated that spring  415  may be also set to a pre-determined pressure so that when aperture  425 ′ is closed and when the buildup of pressure inside bottle  170  exceeds pre-determined limits (typically 11 bars), spring  415  may release poppet  410 ′ and therefore re-open aperture  425 ′ to allow for venting of excess gas. 
     Applicant has realized that the pronged clamp of the present invention may be utilized in a manually operated soda machine or in an automated soda machine. 
     It will be appreciated that in order to provide automated operation, a home soda machine must comprise means for receiving electrical input via, for example, a connection with the mains or a battery. Understandably, the introduction of electricity into any machine is not without risk. Accordingly, as opposed to a manually operated home soda machine, an automated version may require built-in safeguards to prevent damage from electricity. However, it will also be appreciated that in addition to the exposure to direct damage caused by electricity, adding an electrical component to the carbonation process may also indirectly add to the risks of using pressurized CO 2 . If, for whatever reason, there is a power interruption while the CO 2  canister is open, there may be considerable exposure to explosion from continuing the carbonation process past safe levels of pressure. For example, in the prior art system disclosed in EP 1351758, if the power is cut while the cam assembly is in position to mechanically open the CO 2  canister, excess pressure may build up in the soda machine with undesirable results. 
     Accordingly, Applicant has realized that an automated home soda machine may require one or more additional safeguards to ensure that the supply of pressurized CO 2  may be terminated in the event of an electrical outage during operation. Reference is now made to  FIGS. 3A and 3B  which illustrate two states of a novel, semi-automated home soda machine  100 , designed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 3A  illustrates a machine  100  with an attached water bottle  170 ; whereas  FIG. 3B  illustrates machine  100  at a point during the process of attaching bottle  170 . Semi-automated home soda machine  100  may comprise carbonation head assembly  130 , CO 2  canister  140 , and carbonation gear assembly  150 . Carbonation head assembly  130  may function in a generally similar manner as the assembly disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,975,988. However, assembly  130  may also comprise additional features/functionality as may be disclosed hereinbelow. 
     To operate home soda machine  100 , a user may first manually attach water bottle  170  by fitting it at an angle to carbonation head assembly  130  as shown in  FIG. 1B . A carbonation process may then be initiated via a set of one or more controls (not shown). The control set may comprise a control to initiate carbonation; one or more additional controls may be configured to facilitate the selection of a desired level of carbonization (i.e. “weak/low”, “regular/medium”, “strong/high”). The present invention may include any suitable controls such as are known in the art, including, for example, switches, pushbuttons, dials, etc. 
     Reference is now made to  FIG. 4A  which illustrates carbonation gear assembly  150  as it may be positioned within an exemplary home soda machine  100 . Carbonation gear assembly  150  may comprise motor  310 , interlocking gears  320 , carbonation cam  325  and carbonation lever  330 . Motor  310  may be configured to operate interlocking gears  320 , which, in turn, may depress carbonation lever  330 . It will be appreciated that the arrangement of interlocking gears  320  may be exemplary; any suitable arrangement such as known in the art to generate the necessary force required to depress lever  330  may be included in the present invention. Carbonation lever  330  may be configured such that when depressed, it may open a release valve on canister  140  ( FIG. 3A ) to release CO 2  into tubing (not shown) that may introduce it into bottle  170  via carbonation injector  230  ( FIG. 1A ). 
     Reference is now also made to  FIG. 4B  which illustrates a close up view of an exemplary carbonation cam  325 . Carbonation cam  325  may be, for example, a raised area on one of interlocking gears  320 . It will be appreciated however, that any suitable cam may be included in the present invention. Double action safety valve  270  may comprise contact pin  275  and may be positioned in proximity to carbonation cam  325 . Assembly  150  may be configured such that, when not in use, contact pin  275  may not be in direct contact with cam  325 . However, when assembly  150  is to be activated as part of the carbonation process, motor  310  may rotate interlocking gears  320 , thus placing cam  325  in direct contact with contact pin  275 , effectively pushing contact pin  275  in the direction of Arrow B. One or more sensors (not shown) may be positioned on one or both ends of cam  325  to sense when contact pin  275  makes contact with cam  325 . It will be appreciated that any suitable sensors such as are known in the art may be included in the present invention. For example, the invention may include optical, proximity, and/or mechanical sensors. 
     It will be appreciated that motor  310  may rotate gears  320  such that cam  325  may be in contact with contact pin  275  and lever  330  may be lowered towards canister  140  to release CO 2  for introduction into assembly  130 . In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, during the carbonation process, motor  310  may rotate gears  320  back and forth one or more times, to thereby lower and raise lever  330  to release bursts of CO 2  from canister  140 . It will be appreciated that the sensor(s) on cam  325  may signal when contact pin  275  is close to an edge of cam  325 , at which point motor  310  may reverse direction as per Arrows C ( FIG. 4B ), thus effectively maintaining contact between contact pin  275  and cam  325  during the carbonation process. Upon the completion of the carbonation process, motor  310  may rotate gears  320  to raise lever  330  and to terminate contact between contact pin  275  and cam  325 . 
     It will, however, be appreciated that the soda machine may be configured to use more than one type of gas canister  140 . For example, some canisters  140  may have activating pins that require 30 newtons of force to open, whereas other canisters  140  may have activating pins that require as much as 150 newtons. Applicants have realized that it may not be possible to configure a spring mechanism for lever  330  that may be suitable for every possible level of pressure required to open canister  140 . Such functionality may interfere with the normal operation of machine  100  where carbonation lever  330  must be applied with sufficient force to depress the activation pin of canister  140 . Accordingly, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the spring mechanism may be configured to yield under higher pressures such as when the force provided by the activation pin may be 30 newtons or more. 
     As discussed hereinabove, it may be possible that a power outage may occur during the carbonation process while carbonation lever  330  ( FIG. 4A ) is depressed. In accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention, carbonation lever  330  may also be configured with a spring mechanism that may leverage the pressure required to open canister  140 . It will be appreciated that canisters  140  may be typically opened by depressing an activating pin. As a safety measure, it may typically require significant pressure to depress the activating pin to open canister  140 . The spring mechanism in lever  330  may be configured such that, in the event of a power outage while lever  330  is depressed to open canister  140 , the pressure naturally returned by the activating pin may be significant enough to overcome the inertial pressure of lever  330  when it is no longer powered by motor  310 . 
     It will be appreciated that features and functionality disclosed hereinabove may require a processor/controller unit with electrical input. Reference is now made to  FIG. 5  which illustrates an exemplary architecture for integrating such a unit within home soda machine  100 . Architecture  500  may comprise mechanical features such as carbonation head assembly  130 , carbonation gear assembly  150 , and pronged clamp  250  to introduce CO 2  from canister  140  to bottle  170  to produce carbonated water. Architecture  500  may also comprise controller unit  510  to automate and control the carbonation process. Controller unit  510  may be any suitable device such as known in the art that may generally be capable of providing the relevant functionality as described herein. 
     Controller unit  510  may receive input from one or more sensors, for example, bottle presence sensor  515 , bottle full/empty sensor  520 , attitude sensor  525 , bottle size sensor  530  and/or CO 2  available sensor  560 . Sensor  515  may indicate whether or not a bottle  170  has been properly inserted and clamped by pronged clamp  250 . Sensor  520  may indicate whether or not bottle  170  is full. Sensor  525  may indicate whether or not home soda machine  100  is positioned in an upright manner. Sensor  530  may indicate the size of bottle  170 , for example, either a half liter or a full liter. CO 2  available sensor  560  may indicate whether or not there is CO 2  in canister  140 . It will be appreciated that sensors  515 ,  520 ,  525 ,  530  and  560  may be implemented using any suitable sensors such as known in the art. 
     It will be appreciated that, based on input from these sensors, unit  510  may abort or adjust a carbonation process. For example, if sensor  515  cannot detect bottle  170 , controller unit  510  may abort the process. Controller unit  510  may also abort the process when sensor  525  indicates that home bottle  170  is not positioned in an upright manner. Carbonation in such circumstances may be adversely affected by gravity. Furthermore, removing a freshly carbonated bottle  170  from a non-upright position may be potentially dangerous and in any case would certainly cause undesirable spillage. 
     In accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention, home soda machine  100  may be configured with capacitor  550  to store an electrical charge during operation of machine  100 . If a power outage occurs during the carbonation process, unit  510  may instruct motor  310  to rotate gears  320  in such a manner as to open double action safety valve  270  and to raise lever  330  from connection with canister  140 . The stored charge may provide sufficient power to motor  310  to execute the instructions. 
     Controller unit  510  may also use input from sensor  530  to adjust the process in accordance with the size of bottle  170 . It will be appreciated that the present invention may include other sensors as well. For example, as discussed hereinabove, one or more sensors may be used to ensure that plunger  275  may be in contact with cam  325  during the carbonation process. It will similarly be appreciated that the present invention may be configured without some or all of the sensors discussed herein. 
     As discussed hereinabove, home soda machine  100  may be configured to provide a variety of carbonation options depending on the preferences of its users. Such preferences may be indicated via soda level switches  540  and/or LCD user interface  590 . It will be appreciated that any other suitable controls for indicating preferences and/or initiating the carbonation process may also be included in the present invention. Controller  510  may be configured to continue the carbonation process until the water in water bottle  160  is sufficiently carbonated in accordance with the preferences selected by the user. 
     Accordingly, controller unit  510  may provide a variety of instructions to motor  310  based on the preferences selected by the user. For example, home soda machine  100  may be configured to provide “weak” carbonization with three timed bursts of CO 2 ; medium carbonization with four bursts of CO 2 ; and strong carbonization with five bursts of CO 2 . Accordingly, if a user selects “medium”, unit  510  may instruct motor  310  to rotate interlocking gears  320  such that lever  330  may be depressed four times. It will be appreciated that the number of bursts listed hereinabove for each carbonization strength may be exemplary; the invention may be configured to provide a requested strength in accordance with any suitable combination of number/length/interval of bursts. 
     In accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention, home soda machine  100  may be configured with a watchdog mechanism  580  positioned between power input  599  and power supply  570 . Watchdog mechanism  580  may be configured to monitor the length of time that the carbonation process has been running. In the event that the timing of the carbonation process exceeds a threshold, watchdog mechanism  580  may cut off the input from power input  599 . For example, home soda machine  100  may be configured to provide a maximum of 30 seconds of carbonation under the assumption that any more may result in unsafe conditions. In the event that continuous usage occurs for longer than a configurable threshold such as 30 seconds, it may be assumed that a “runaway” event may be occurring. Accordingly, watchdog mechanism  580  may shut down the process in a brutal fashion by cutting off electrical input. 
     It will be appreciated that after carbonation, the contents of water bottle  170  may be under significant pressure. It will therefore be appreciated that an immediate opening of the seal formed by pronged clamp  250  and water bottle  170  may create a “rocket effect” when bottle  170  is removed from machine  100 . However, as disclosed hereinabove, double action safety valve  270  may revert to a normal open state whenever carbonation is not in process. Thus bottle  170  may be at least partially vented before its removal to mitigate the “rocket” effect. 
     Reference is now made to  FIG. 6  which illustrates an additional safety feature designed to prevent such a “rocket effect” occurring. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, safety valve  220  may be leveraged to provide a locking mechanism, to prevent the release of bottle  170  during an active carbonation process.  FIG. 6  illustrates a novel cam  600  comprising a recessed contact area  605 . Recessed contact area  605  may be covered by a flat spring  610  which, together, may provide a mechanical stop to the movement of bottle  170 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , when activating pin  280  is in contact with cam  600  during the carbonation process, flat spring  610  may be depressed as depicted by flat spring  610 A. Flat spring  610 B may indicate the normal state of flat spring  610 , when the carbonation process is over and there is no longer any pressure in the bottle  170 . It will be appreciated that as illustrated by comparing  FIG. 1B , cam  600  may be generally static when bottle  170  is released, whereas valve  220  may generally swing outwardly along with bottle  170 . Accordingly, if activating pin  280  is lodged in recessed contact area  280 , it may prevent such motion, essentially locking bottle  170  in place while carbonation is in process and there is pressure in bottle  170 . 
     It will be appreciated that the present invention may include other such locking mechanisms for other home soda machines that may or may not be configured with safety valve  220  ( FIG. 2 ). For example, mechanical, non-automated home soda machines may not require a novel cam  600  and spring  610 , but may still be configured with pronged clamp  250 . For such machines, any suitable locking mechanism such as known in the art may be used to prevent a user from releasing bottle  170  while simultaneously initiating carbonation. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, mechanical home soda machines may be configured with a safety lock that may be engaged as soon bottle  170  is clasped by pronged clasp  250 . In order to release bottle  170 , the user may first have to expressly unlock the safety lock, thus enabling at least partial release of built up CO 2  prior to bottle release and effectively preventing the rocket effect. 
     Reference is now made to  FIGS. 7A and 7B , which illustrate an exemplary locking mechanism for a non-automated machine. In this embodiment, the mechanical stop may be a rib  600  formed on a lever  610  of the machine. Rib  600  may have an elbow shape, with a relatively vertical portion  602 , a relatively horizontal portion  604  and an elbow point  606 . In addition, this embodiment may comprise a pronged clamp, denoted by a constricting ring  668 , a pivot rod  614  and an assembly with an extension  612  which may move with respect to rib  600 . 
     In a locked state, shown in  FIG. 7A , lever  610  may be lowered with respect to a housing  620 . In this position, bottle  170  may be engaged by the pronged clamp and thus, may be upright. Constricting ring  668  may thus be horizontal and thus, extension  612 , which may be perpendicular to constricting ring  668 , may be vertical. Lever  610  may be located such that extension  612  may extend past rib portion  602 . Since rib portion  602  may jut out from lever  610 , rib portion  602  may prevent extension  612  from rotating and thus, may prevent a user from removing bottle  170  from the pronged clamp which is constricted by constricting ring  668 . 
     When lever  610  may be raised, as shown in  FIG. 7B , it may raise rib  600  with respect to extension  612 . Vertical rib portion  602  may be raised such that the tip of extension  612  may pass elbow point  606 . As a result, the tip of extension  612  may no longer be constrained by vertical rib portion  602 . In this state, the bottle as held by the pronged clamp may be rotated and thus, constricting rib  668  is shown in both a vertical and a rotated state. 
     Thus, in this embodiment, only once lever  610  may be raised, such as may happen after carbonation, can the bottle be removed from the pronged clamp. Rib  600  may provide a mechanical stop to the rotation of the bottle. In this manner, the removal of the bottle after carbonation may occur a few seconds after carbonation finishes, which may enable sufficient excess gasses to escape to prevent the rocket effect. 
     Unless specifically stated otherwise, as apparent from the preceding discussions, it is appreciated that, throughout the specification, discussions utilizing terms such as “processing,” “computing,” “calculating,” “determining,” or the like, refer to the action and/or processes of a computer, computing system, or similar electronic computing device that manipulates and/or transforms data represented as physical, such as electronic, quantities within the computing system&#39;s registers and/or memories into other data similarly represented as physical quantities within the computing system&#39;s memories, registers or other such information storage, transmission or display devices. 
     Embodiments of the present invention may include apparatus for performing the operations herein. This apparatus may be specially constructed for the desired purposes, or it may comprise a general-purpose computer selectively activated or reconfigured by a computer program stored in the computer. Such a computer program may be stored in a computer readable storage medium, such as, but not limited to, any type of disk, including floppy disks, optical disks, magnetic-optical disks, read-only memories (ROMs), compact disc read-only memories (CD-ROMs), random access memories (RAMs), electrically programmable read-only memories (EPROMs), electrically erasable and programmable read only memories (EEPROMs), magnetic or optical cards, Flash memory, or any other type of media suitable for storing electronic instructions and capable of being coupled to a computer system bus. 
     While certain features of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, many modifications, substitutions, changes, and equivalents will now occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of the invention.