Patent Publication Number: US-2012031932-A1

Title: Beverage dispensing assembly

Description:
This application claims the priority, as a divisional, of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/684,326, filed Mar. 9, 2007, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Draft, or draught, beer and carbonated fountain drinks are typically delivered under pressure and include gas, typically nitrogen or carbon dioxide depending on the type of beverage, dissolved in the beverage. These beverages are typically enjoyed at restaurants, bars and other establishments where it makes sense to invest in the devices, e.g. taps, refrigerators, lines, pressure sources and fountain dispensers, that are required to dispense the beverage. To enjoy these beverages at home, typically a consumer must purchase a small portion of the beverage packaged in a can or a bottle. Often times this smaller portion found in a can or bottle is not as enjoyable as its draft or fountain counterpart. 
     Attempts have been made to provide a beverage dispenser capable of delivering portions of draft beer or a carbonated fountain drink, e.g., soda, where the dispenser is suitable for home usage. Previous approaches include a pressurized gas source, e.g., cartridge, within the liquid containing vessel, typically a bottle or can. In these known devices the gas pressure regulator, which regulates the pressure of the gas that is delivered to the beverage, is found within the liquid containing vessel. This arrangement of components results in the disposal of the costly gas pressure regulator after the beverage in the vessel has been consumed. 
     Other previous approaches have required the consumer to purchase or incorporate a separate tap and pressurizing system for delivering the beverage. Other approaches, for delivering beer particularly, also include providing a relatively large can, in relation to a typical 12 ounce can which is found in the United States, but these large cans of beer must be consumed relatively quickly, i.e. in at least two days, or the beer would become flat and no longer fresh. 
     SUMMARY 
     In view of the above, disclosed is a beverage dispenser that can deliver desired portions of a pressurized beverage from a vessel containing multiple portions and allow the beverage to stay fresh for a longer period of time as compared to many known beverage containers and dispensers. In one embodiment, a beverage dispensing assembly that is capable of dispensing a beverage charged with a gas fits onto a shelf in a conventional household refrigerator. The beverage dispensing assembly comprises a sealed disposable container assembly that contains the beverage and a dispensing assembly that cooperates with the container assembly to unseal the container assembly and dispense portions of the beverage from the container assembly. The container assembly connects to the dispensing assembly in a manner to allow for disconnection of the container assembly from the dispensing assembly when the beverage has been dispensed from the container assembly and replacement of an empty or nearly empty container assembly with a new sealed container assembly. 
     A system for dispensing metered portions of a beverage charged with a gas includes a bottle assembly and a dispensing assembly. The bottle assembly includes a bottle and a cap assembly. The bottle includes a neck defining an outlet. The cap assembly includes a pressurized gas cartridge, a beverage valve and a gas valve. The cap is configured to attach onto the neck of the bottle to close the bottle. The pressurized gas cartridge is received in the cap. The beverage valve in the cap allows a desired portion of beverage to leave the bottle and the gas valve allows pressurized gas to enter the bottle. The dispensing assembly is configured to cooperate with the bottle assembly to dispense the beverage from the bottle. The dispensing assembly includes a housing, a spout, and a pressure regulator. The housing supports the bottle, the spout and the pressure regulator. The spout is in fluid communication with the beverage valve for dispensing fluid from the bottle. The pressure regulator is in fluid communication with the pressurized gas cartridge and the gas valve. The pressure regulator receives pressurized gas from the pressurized gas cartridge at a first pressure and delivers pressurized gas to the bottle through the gas valve at a second pressure. 
     A dispensing assembly for delivering a metered amount of beverage from an associated container that holds the beverage includes a housing, a spout, and a pressure regulator. The housing is configured to receive an associated sealed container storing a beverage. The housing is dimensioned so that the housing and the associated container that the housing is configured to receive fit into an associated conventional household refrigerator and onto a conventional refrigerator shelf. The spout connects to the housing. The spout includes an inlet for receiving beverage from the associated container and an outlet for dispensing beverage. The pressure regulator connects to the housing. The pressure regulator is configured to communicate with an associated pressurized gas cartridge and the associated container to receive pressurized gas from the associated gas cartridge at a first pressure and to deliver pressurized gas to the associated container at a second pressure that is lower than the first pressure. 
     A disposable container assembly for dispensing a portioned amount of fluid beverage includes a container and a cap. The container stores a beverage. The cap connects to the container for sealing the beverage in the container. The cap includes a cartridge receptacle disposed in the container when the cap is connected to the container. 
     A disposable container assembly for use with a dispensing assembly that dispenses beverage under pressure includes a sealed disposable bottle, a sealed pressurized gas cartridge, a first plug and a second plug. The sealed disposable bottle includes a gas inlet and a beverage outlet. The sealed pressurized gas cartridge is received in the bottle and arranged to be pierced by an associated dispensing assembly when the bottle is loaded into the associated dispensing assembly. The first plug blocks a passage in communication with the beverage outlet. The first plug precludes the egress of beverage from the bottle when in a closed position and allows the egress of beverage from the bottle when in an open position. The second plug blocks a passage in communication with the beverage outlet. The second plug precludes the egress of beverage from the bottle when in a closed position and allows the ingress of gas into the bottle when in the open position. 
     A disposable draft beverage refill bottle assembly for use with a dispenser includes a bottle, a cap, a first member, and a second member. The bottle contains a draft beverage. The cap connects to the bottle and contains the beverage in the bottle. The cap includes first and second passages for providing selective communication between inside the bottle and ambient. The first member is disposed in the first passage and has a first operating position that precludes the draft beverage from leaving the bottle and a second operating position that allows the draft beverage to leave the bottle. The second member is disposed in the second passage and has a first operating position that precludes the draft beverage from leaving the bottle and a second operating position that allows pressurized gas to enter the bottle. 
     A cap for a bottle containing a draft beverage includes a side wall, an end wall, a passage and a cartridge receptacle. The side wall has an inner surface that is generally axially symmetric with respect to a symmetrical axis. The end wall is disposed at or adjacent an end of the side wall. The passage is formed through the end wall generally aligned with the symmetrical axis. The cartridge receptacle is at least partially surrounded by the side wall. 
     A container assembly for holding a pressurized beverage to be dispensed using an associated dispenser includes a sealed container, a sealed gas cartridge, and a sealed passage. The sealed container stores the beverage under pressure. The sealed gas cartridge is disposed in the container. The sealed passage is arranged to be unsealed when the container is loaded into the associated dispenser and to be unsealed when the associated dispenser is in a dispense operating position. 
     A cap assembly for a bottle containing a beverage under pressure includes a cap, a gas cartridge, a first normally closed valve and a second normally closed valve. The cap includes a first passage and a second passage. The gas cartridge is received in the cap. The first normally closed valve is disposed in the first passage. The second normally closed valve is disposed in the second passage. 
     A system for dispensing servings of a beverage charged with a gas includes a sealed bottle and a dispenser. The sealed bottle contains a beverage charged with gas and includes a first sealed passage and a second sealed passage each in communication with inside of the bottle. The dispenser cooperates with the bottle to dispense the beverage from the bottle. The dispenser includes a housing, a spout, a pressure regulator, a first spike and a second spike. The housing receives the bottle. The spout is in fluid communication with the first passage for dispensing the beverage from the bottle. The pressure regulator is in fluid communication with the second passage for delivering pressurized gas to inside the bottle. The first spike unseals the first passage and the second spike unseals the second passage. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a beverage dispensing assembly. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a bottle assembly of the beverage dispensing assembly shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the bottle assembly shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded view of a dispensing assembly of the beverage dispensing assembly shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a locking lever, an alignment bracket and a bottle retainer assembled together and removed from a frame of the dispensing assembly depicted in  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded view of a regulator of the dispensing assembly that is shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         FIGS. 7-15  depict the steps involved in loading the bottle assembly into the dispensing assembly, dispensing beverage and removing the empty bottle assembly. 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of the bottle assembly prior to insertion into the dispensing assembly. 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of the bottle assembly connected to the dispensing assembly with a locking lever in an unlocked position. 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of the beverage dispensing assembly with the handle in a locked position. 
         FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view similar to  FIG. 9 , but showing different components of the beverage dispensing assembly in cross section. 
         FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view similar to that shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10  showing a spout of the beverage dispensing assembly in a locked position. 
         FIG. 12  is a view similar to  FIG. 11 , however, the spout is rotated into an open position. 
         FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional view similar to  FIGS. 11 and 12 , but a tap handle is rotated to a dispense position. 
         FIG. 14  is a cross-sectional view similar to  FIG. 13 , but taken to show different components of the beverage dispensing assembly in cross-section. 
         FIG. 15  is a cross-sectional view depicting the bottle assembly being removed from the dispensing assembly. 
         FIG. 16  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a beverage dispensing assembly. 
         FIG. 17  is an exploded view of the assembly shown in  FIG. 16 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A beverage dispensing assembly  10 , per the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1 , includes a bottle assembly  12  and a dispensing assembly  14 . The dispensing assembly  10  as shown in  FIG. 1  is dimensioned and configured so that it fits into a conventional household refrigerator. More particular to the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1 , the beverage dispensing assembly  10  is configured to rest in a generally horizontal configuration, e.g., the axis of symmetry for the bottle of the assembly resides generally parallel to a plane of the refrigerator shelf upon which the beverage dispensing assembly  10  will rest. Moreover, the beverage dispensing assembly  10  that is depicted in  FIG. 1  has a height that is limited in its greatest dimension so that the beverage dispensing assembly can fit onto a conventional household refrigerator shelf, typically, a middle shelf where an upper shelf resides above the shelf upon which the beverage dispensing assembly  10  resides. The length, or depth, of the assembly is also limited to less than about 40 cm so that the refrigerator door can close and seal. The beverage dispensing assembly  10  can have dimensions that are roughly equal to the dimensions of a 12 pack of beverage cans sold in a cardboard or paperboard box where the cans are stacked 6 by 2, which is more particularly described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,484,903. 
     Alternatively, the bottle assembly  12  and the dispensing assembly  14  can be configured in a manner to allow the beverage dispensing assembly  10  to reside in a generally vertical configuration, for example, where the beverage dispensing assembly may be received in a shelf found in a refrigerator door of a conventional household refrigerator. Other possible configurations also exist that are within the scope of the invention. 
     The beverage dispensing assembly  10  is useful in delivering metered portions of draft beer or fountain soda, both of which will be referred to as a draft beverage, without requiring the consumer to purchase a keg and tap assembly in the case of draft beer or a fountain dispenser and other equipment required to dispense fountain soda. The beverage dispensing assembly  10  provides a disposable, which is meant to include recyclable, bottle assembly where inexpensive components are disposed or recycled and the costlier components, e.g. a pressure regulator, is not thrown away. The assembly delivers a fresh tasting beverage each time over an extended period of time, e.g. at least about 21 days. 
     With reference to  FIG. 2 , the bottle assembly  12  includes a bottle  16  and a cap assembly  18 . The bottle assembly  12  fits into the dispensing assembly  14  ( FIG. 1 ) and is manufactured to be disposable or recyclable. A consumer purchases the beverage dispensing assembly  10  and dispenses the beverage. After the beverage is dispensed and consumed, the consumer removes the empty bottle assembly  12  from the dispensing assembly  14  and buys a replacement bottle assembly to fit into the dispensing assembly. 
     The bottle  16  as shown in the depicted embodiment is a blow molded axially symmetric bottle having an externally threaded neck  22  ( FIG. 3 ). In the depicted embodiment, the bottle can be manufactured to have an internal volume of between about 1 liter and about 5 liters, and even larger if desired. The larger the internal volume allows a manufacturer to spread the cost associated with the cap assembly  18  over a larger amount of beverage, which drives down the unit cost of the beverage. Other materials for the bottle  16  can be used, but plastic is easily recyclable and the threaded neck  22 , which could be modified so that it does not include threads, allows for easy removal of the cap assembly  18  when all the beverage has been dispensed. This allows for separation of the cap assembly  18  from the bottle  16  so that the dissimilar materials used in the cap assembly can be separated from the bottle. The diameter of the bottle  16  in the depicted embodiment is between about 7 cm and about 16 cm, which is typically less than the height of a shelf in a conventional household refrigerator. Where the beverage dispensing assembly  10  is configured to be placed into a door of a conventional household refrigerator, the diameter of the bottle  16  can be between about 13 cm and about 18 cm. The assembly  10  has a length measured along a central axis of about 33 cm to about 40 cm, which is less than the depth of the refrigerator compartment of a conventional household refrigerator so that the beverage dispensing assembly can sit on the shelf horizontally. In the depicted embodiment, the bottle  16  is clear and/or translucent to allow the consumer to see the beverage inside the bottle. If desired, the bottle can be opaque, especially where the bottle is made from a material other than plastic. 
     The cap assembly  18  covers the opening through which the bottle  16  is filled with beverage and retains the beverage in bottle  16  during shipment. In the depicted embodiment, the cap assembly includes openings for dispensing the beverage and providing pressurized gas to the beverage, which will be explained in more detail below. In alternative embodiments, the passages for dispensing the beverage and for providing pressurized gas to the bottle can be formed in the bottle—one non-limiting example being passages formed near and radially offset from the neck  22 . With reference back to the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 3 , the cap assembly  18  generally includes a cap  24 , a pressure source, and valve assemblies. These can also be located in the bottle, if desired. 
     The cap  24  threads on to the threaded neck  22  of the bottle  16 . The cap  24  could connect to the bottle in other manners, e.g. a bayonet connection, a snap fit, or welding. With reference back to the embodiment of  FIG. 3 , the cap  24  includes a generally cylindrical side wall  26  having internal threads  28  ( FIG. 8 ) formed on an inner surface for threadingly engaging the threaded neck  22 . The cap  24  also includes two catches  32  that extend outwardly from the cylindrical side wall  26  of the cap  24 . The catches  32  are generally U-shaped bars and the terminal portions attach to the cylindrical side wall  26  to define an opening to facilitate attaching the bottle assembly  12  to the dispensing assembly  14  in a manner that will be described in more detail below. 
     The catches  32  align with a chord that is offset from the diameter of a circular end wall  34  of the cap and intersects the diameter of an opening  42  that leads to a cartridge receptacle  38  (described below). The circular end wall  34  at an upper end of the cylindrical side wall  26 , includes a valve seat recess  36  and, in the depicted embodiment, three openings, which will be described in more detail below. The cap  24  also includes a cartridge receptacle  38  that receives the pressure source for the beverage dispensing assembly  10 . A cartridge receptacle opening  42 , which is one of the three openings in the circular end wall  34 , leads to a cavity that is defined by the cartridge receptacle. The cartridge receptacle  42  is offset from a rotational axis of the cap  24 , i.e. the axis about which the cap  24  rotates to be screwed onto or removed from the threaded neck  22  of the bottle  16 . The cartridge receptacle  38  is configured to receive a conventional 12 ounce CO 2  cartridge  44 . In other embodiments, the cartridge receptacle  38  can take other configurations to allow it to receive pressurized gas cartridges, for example, nitrogen cartridges or CO 2  cartridges that have a different volume. The cartridge receptacle  38  is closed with the exception of the opening  42  in the circular end wall  36  so that the internal compartment of the cartridge receptacle is not in communication with the bottle  16  when the cap  24  is connected to the threaded neck  22 . 
     The cap  24  also includes a beverage outlet passage  52  and a pressurized gas inlet passage  54 , each of these passages being in communication with a separate opening, mentioned above, formed in the circular end wall  34 . Each passage  52  and  54  extends through the cap  24  such that each passage is in communication with the internal volume of the bottle  16 . Each passage  52  and  54  is sealed after the beverage manufacturer has filled the bottle  16  to transport the bottle from the manufacturer to the retailer. In one example, foil, or other sealing device such as rubber, plastic and the like, can act as a plug to block the passages  52  and  54  to prevent the egress of beverage from the bottle during shipment. In another example, valve assemblies, which will be described in more detail below, are used to seal the passages  52  and  54 . 
     As mentioned above, the pressure source in the depicted embodiment is a conventional CO 2  cartridge  44  that fits into the cartridge receptacle  38 . The type of cartridge used in the depicted embodiment is pierced in a manner that will be described later. A locking clip  56  retains the cartridge  44  in the cartridge receptacle  38 . The locking clip  56  in the depicted embodiment includes a central opening that receives the neck portion of the cartridge and a peripheral portion that engages the side wall of the cartridge receptacle. The cartridge  44  can be retained in other manners. 
     With continued reference to  FIG. 3 , the beverage outlet valve assembly includes a plug  60  and a biasing member, such as a spring  62 , that biases the plug into a closed position. The plug  60  acts against a seal  64  that is retained by a seal retainer  66  that both fit into the valve seat recess  36  formed in the circular end wall  34  of the cap  24 . The seal retainer  66  is welded to the cap  24  in the present embodiment. The spring  62  and the valve plug  60  are positioned inside the beverage outlet passage  52  and the spring  62  urges the plug  60  towards the seal  64 . The seal  64  includes a first opening  68  that aligns with the beverage outlet passage  52 . Similarly, the seal retainer includes a first opening  70  that aligns with the first opening  66  and the seal  64  and the beverage outlet passage  52  in the cap  24 . These openings  68  and  70  and the beverage outlet passage  52  are blocked when the plug  60  is moved into the closed position. As most clearly seen in  FIG. 8 , the beverage outlet passage  52  is stepped to allow the spring  62  to seat in the outlet passage  52  and bias the plug  60  towards the seal  64  thus blocking the beverage outlet passage  52 . If desired, the spring can be removed and the plug  60  can be biased by the pressurized beverage in the bottle  16 . 
     In a similar fashion, as seen in  FIG. 3  the pressurized gas valve assembly includes a plug  72  that is biased by a spring  74  towards the seal  64 . The seal  64  includes a second opening  76  that aligns with the pressurized gas inlet passage  54 . The seal retainer  66  also includes a second opening  78  that aligns with both the second opening  76  in the seal  64  and the pressurized gas inlet  54  that is formed in the cap  24 . The plug  72  seals against the seal  64  to prevent the beverage and gas from leaving the bottle  16  through the pressurized gas inlet  54  until the plug  72  is moved away from the seal. As seen in  FIG. 8 , the gas inlet passage  54  is also stepped to provide a seat for the spring  74 . If desired, the spring can be removed and the plug  72  can be biased by the internal pressure of the pressurized beverage in the bottle. 
     A hollow flexible dip tube  82  attaches to the cap  24  and is communication with the beverage outlet passage  52 . A dip tube weight  84  attaches at a distal end of the dip tube. The dip tube  82  extends from the cap  24  a length that is slightly greater than the length of the bottle  16  that is found below the threaded neck  22 . Accordingly, the dip tube  82 , which is made from a flexible material, can have a slight curvature such that the dip tube resides at a lower most location in the bottle to allow for full evacuation of the bottle  16  as beverage is dispensed from the bottle. In the depicted embodiment, the dip tube weight  84  is a ring that receives the dip tube. The dip tube weight can take alternative configurations and attach to the dip tube in alternative manners. 
     As discussed above, the cap assembly  18  retains the draft beverage in the bottle during shipment and includes components that allow for the dispensing of metered portions of a pressurized and/or carbonated beverage from the bottle  16 . Some or many of the components depicted in the cap assembly can be placed in the dispensing assembly, for example the valve assemblies and the CO 2  cartridge. The usefulness of providing the valve assemblies in the cap  24 , as opposed to putting these assemblies in the dispensing assembly  14 , is if some beverage remains in the bottle  16 , the bottle assembly  12  can still be removed from the dispensing assembly  14  because the plugs  60  and  72  are biased towards a closed position that prohibits the beverage and gas from leaving the bottle. 
     As discussed above, the dispensing assembly  14  receives the bottle assembly  12 . The bottle assembly  12  is designed to be removed from the dispenser assembly  14  after the beverage has been dispensed, or earlier if desired, and replaced with a new bottle assembly. The dispenser assembly  14  includes more of the expensive components of the system and is designed to be reused with many different bottle assemblies. 
     With reference to  FIG. 4 , the dispensing assembly includes a housing, which in the depicted embodiment includes a base or lower housing  90 , a lid or an upper housing  92 , and a face plate or front housing  94 . The housing portions  90 ,  92 , and  94  attach to one another to form a generally cylindrical housing as seen in  FIG. 1 . The housing can take other configurations and can be made from a fewer or greater number of components. In the depicted embodiment the housing is made of a plastic material, but other materials can be used. 
     The lower housing is generally half-cylindrical and includes a curved base surface  96 . A forward platform  98  begins at a location is axially spaced from a rear edge of the base housing (with respect to the front face  94 ) and extends towards the front edge of the base  90  to almost the front face  94  when the housing portions are connected to one another. The forward platform  98  is radially spaced from the base surface  96  and is also curved. A concave ramp  102  connects the inner base surface  96  to the forward platform  98 . The ramp  102  has a curvature that is complementary to the curvature of the bottle  16  between its widest diameter portion and the threaded neck  22 . As seen  FIG. 8 , for example, the portion of the bottle where its diameter progressively decreases towards the threaded neck  22  abuts against the ramp  102  when the bottle assembly  12  is fully inserted into the dispensing assembly  14 . 
     The forward platform  98  is also separated from the inner base surface  96  by openings  104  (only one is visible in  FIG. 4 ) on each side of the platform that is generally parallel to a central axis of the housing. The forward platform  98  also includes a central generally rectangular opening  106 . Each of the openings  104  and  106  allows for components that allow for the mounting of the bottle assembly  12  into the dispensing assembly  14  to be accessible by the consumer. These components will be described in more detail below. 
     The base housing  90  also includes an integral base  108  extending downwardly that provides a planar support surface for the beverage dispensing assembly  10 . The planar support surface is slightly inclined so that the rearward portion of the bottle  16  is lower than the forward portion of the bottle to allow the beverage to puddle towards the inlet of the dip tube  82  to promote full evacuation. Fastener openings  110  are provided in the base housing  90  for attaching the lid  92  to the base housing. The base housing  90  can attach to the lid in other conventional manners. Also, support posts  112  are formed in the base housing  90 , the function of which will be described below. 
     The lid  92  is generally half-cylindrical in shape. It includes a plurality of fastener openings (not visible) that align with the fastener openings  110  in the base housing  90  to attach the lid to the base housing. When the lid  92  is attached to the base housing  90  the diameter of the housing is slightly larger than the maximum diameter of the bottle  16 , see for example  FIG. 7 . 
     The face plate  94  is sandwiched between the base housing  90  and the lid  92 . In the depicted embodiment, the face plate includes ridges  114  that are received in notches  116  formed in the base housing  90  and the lid  92  that fix the face plate in an axial direction. The face plate  94  also includes an external mounting extension  118  that extends outwardly from and is generally centrally located in the face plate. The mounting extension  118  has a generally upside-down U-shaped configuration and includes aligned pin openings  120  on each side of the U-shape. The face plate  94  also includes a generally centrally located boss  122  that defines a passage  124  through which components involved in beverage dispensing extend, which will be described in more detail below. Small posts  126  are positioned on opposite sides of the boss  122  and are generally aligned with one another. The face plate  94  also includes handles  128  extending outwardly from the face plate on opposite sides of the face plate and a plurality of fastener openings  130  that extend through the face plate. 
     The fastener openings  130  in the face plate  94  allow for the attachment of a frame cover  138  and a frame  140  against an inner surface of the face plate, as seen in  FIG. 5 . The frame  140  includes a plurality of fastener openings  142  that align with fastener openings  144  in the frame cover  138  and fastener openings  130  the face plate  94  to receive fasteners (not shown) for attaching the frame and frame cover to the face plate. The frame  140  includes additional fastener openings  146  that align with fastener openings  148  in the cover  138  to attach the two together. The frame cover  138  also includes openings  150  that receive support posts  112  to fix the cover and the frame  140  in the housing. The frame  140  provides a support for components of the dispenser assembly  14  that provide the connection between the bottle assembly  12  and the dispenser assembly  14 . 
     A bottle retainer  152 , an alignment bracket  154 , and a locking lever  156  cooperate with the frame  140  to connect the bottle assembly  12  to the dispensing assembly  14 . A pressure regulator  158 , which will be described in more detail below, also cooperates with the frame  140 , the bottle retainer  150 , the alignment bracket  152  and the locking lever  154 . 
     The bottle retainer  152  in the depicted embodiment includes a generally U-shaped member  162  with openings  160  formed at opposite ends. The openings  160  provide a means for attaching the bottle retainer  152  to the alignment bracket  154 . Catches  164  extend from each end of the U-shaped member  162  near the openings  160  towards the alignment bracket  154 . Ridges  166  extend from the outer side of the bottle retainer between the end of each catch  164  and each opening  160 . Also, spring catches  168  are formed underneath each opening on the U-shaped member. A tab  170  extends downwardly from the center of the U-shaped member  162 , which is the lower most portion of the bottle retainer  152  as depicted in  FIG. 4 . Springs  172  bias the bottle retainer in a rotational direction towards the bottle assembly  12 . 
     The alignment bracket  154  in the depicted embodiment includes a circular section  174  and two appendages  176  extending from diametrically opposite sides of circular section  174  towards the bottle retainer  152  when finally assembled. A first pair of inwardly extending axle posts  178  extend towards each other from each distal end of each appendage  176 . Each axle post  178  is received in a respective opening  160  of the bottle retainer  152 . A second pair of axle posts  180  extend outwardly from each appendage  176  and are generally coaxial with the first axle posts  178 . 
     The circular section  174  of the alignment bracket  154  is configured to receive the circular cap  24  that connects to the bottle  16 . Outer ends of an upper portion of the circular section  174  form upper and lower alignment surfaces  182  and  184 , respectively, extend inwardly from each appendage  176  and towards the bottle retainer  152  to define a channel  186  ( FIG. 5 ) that receives the catches  32  formed in the cap. The lower alignment surfaces  184  do not extend along the central axis of the circular section  174  as great a distance as compared to the upper alignment surfaces  178  (see  FIG. 5 ), which allows the catches  164  of the bottle retainer  152  to engage the catches  32  on the cap  24 , in a manner that will be described in more detail below. The alignment bracket  154  also includes a lower downwardly extending ridge  188  aligned with a central axis of the circular section  170  that is received in linear notch  190  formed in the frame  140 . Both the alignment bracket  154  and the bottle retainer  152  are configured to move linearly with respect to the frame  140  in a manner that will be described in more detail below. 
     The locking lever  156  is also generally U-shaped in configuration and includes openings  200  that receive respective mounting posts  180  of the alignment bracket  154 . The locking lever  156  also includes outwardly protruding posts  202  that are received in vertical slots  204  ( FIG. 5 ) formed in the frame  140 . The posts  202  include a flattened section so that the posts  202  lock into a locked position or an unlocked position when a hand grip  204 , which is disposed between two appendages  206  that include the openings  200  and the mounting posts  202 , is moved from an unlocked position toward a locked position, which will be described in more detail below. 
     With reference to  FIG. 4 , the dispensing assembly  14  also includes a tap handle  220  and a spout  222  that each attach to the face plate  94  of the housing. The tap handle  220  is rotated with respect to the face plate  94  to dispense a metered portion of a pressurized beverage from the bottle  16  through the spout  222 . The tap handle  220  attaches to the mounting extension  118  of the face plate  94  via a pin  224  that is received in openings  226  in the tap handle and in the openings  120  provided in the mounting extension  116  on the face plate  94 . The spout  222  is formed to include hubs  230  that are received in receptacles  232  formed in the tap handle  220 . 
     The tap handle  220  and the spout  222  cooperate with a hollow seal  232 , a beverage valve actuator  234  and a spring  236  to dispense metered portions of a beverage from the bottle  16  in a manner that will be described in more detail below. 
     As discussed above, the beverage dispensing assembly  10  is capable of providing pressurized gas to the bottle  16  so that the contents of the bottle stay fresh over an extended period of time. The gas pressure also propels the beverage. The pressure regulator  158  that is shown above cooperates with the pressure source found in the cap assembly  18  to provide pressurized gas to the inside of the bottle. The pressure regulator  158  receives gas at a first pressure from the pressure source and delivers at a second pressure, which is lower than the first pressure, to the bottle  16 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 6 , the regulator  156  includes a regulator body  250  that includes a first (horizontal) cylindrical opening  252  having a symmetrical axis extending along a first direction and a second (vertical) cylindrical opening  254  that is communication with the first cylindrical opening  252  and includes a symmetrical axis that is perpendicular to the symmetrical axis of the first cylindrical opening. A nipple  256  extends from the regulator body and includes a passage  258  that is in communication with the vertical passage  254  in the regulator body. The regulator body  250  also includes two rectangular openings  262  that are diametrically opposed from one another and disposed adjacent an upper end of the vertical opening  254 . 
     The horizontal cylindrical opening  252  receives a piercing mechanism housing  270 . The piercing mechanism housing  270  includes a generally horizontal cylindrical passage  272  that connects with a generally vertical cylindrical passage  274 . The vertical passage  274  in the piercing mechanism housing  270  aligns with the vertical passage  254  of the regulator body  250  when the piercing housing mechanism  270  is received in the horizontal passage  252 . In the depicted embodiment, internal threads are provided in the vertical passage  274  of the piercing mechanism housing  270 . 
     The piercing mechanism housing  270  receives a filter  276 , a piercing pin  278 , and gasket  282  in the horizontal passage  272 . The piercing pin  278  is hollow and includes a passage  284  extend through the piercing pin that communicates with a smaller horizontal passage  286  in the piercing mechanism housing  270  and a smaller vertical passage  288  in the piercing mechanism housing  274  ( FIG. 14 ). The piercing pin  278  also includes a sharp edge that extends outwardly from the piercing mechanism housing  270  so as to pierce the pressurized gas cartridge  44  ( FIG. 3 ) in a manner that will be described in more detail below. 
     The vertical passage  254  in the regulator body  250  receives a small spring  300 , a valve pin  302 , a valve seal  304 , a plug  306 , an O-ring  308 , a piston  312 , a piston seal  314 , a larger spring  316  and a cap  318 . With reference to  FIG. 14 , the spring  300  is received in the smaller vertical passage  288  of the piercing mechanism housing  270 . A lower portion of the valve pin  302  is also received in the vertical opening  288 . The valve seal  304  includes an opening for receiving the valve pin, as does the plug  306 . The plug  306  includes a threaded portion that is threaded into the larger vertical opening  274  of the piercing mechanism housing  270 . An O-ring  308  surrounds the plug  306  and contacts a circular side wall of the regulator body  250 . 
     The cap  318  includes a pair of resilient tabs  322  that snap into the rectangular openings  262  of the regulator body  250 . The larger spring  316  biases the piston  312  downwardly in the piston seal contacts an outer surface of the piston  312  and an inner surface of the regulator body  250 . 
     Pressurized gas (under high pressure—about 850 psig) exits the cartridge  44  through the passage  284  and into the smaller horizontal passage  286  of the piercing mechanism housing  270 . The spring  300  biases the valve stem  302  against the seal  304  closing the vertical passage through the plug  306 . Lower pressure (P L ), which is equal to the pressure of the beverage in the bottle  16  (about 16 psig, but can be anywhere between about 5 psig to about 35 psig) is in a chamber defined above the O-ring  308 . After some of the beverage has been dispensed (or at the initial charge), the pressure above the O-ring  308  drops below P L . The upper spring  316  then biases the piston  312  which presses down on the valve stem  302  unseating the valve stem from the seal  304 . Gas then moves through the passage in the plug  306  and out the nipple  256  until P L  is again reached above the O-ring  308 , which moves the piston  312  against the spring  316 . A hose  324  (depicted schematically in  FIG. 4 ), attaches to a corresponding nipple  326  formed in the frame  140  having an internal passage  328  ( FIG. 9 ) to deliver pressure at or about P L  to the bottle. A rearwardly extending hollow cartridge spike  332  extends from the frame  140  and is received in the gas inlet passage  54  to provide pressurized gas to the internal volume of the bottle  16 . The rearwardly extending hollow spike  332  also defines a portion of the passage  328  that is defined by the nipple  326  on the frame  140 . A check valve  334  (depicted schematically in  FIG. 4 ) is provided in the circuit between the pressure regulator  156  and the internal volume of the bottle  16 . The check valve  334  prevents the beverage from flowing into the regulator when the pressure just downstream of the outlet of the nipple  256  on the regulator  158  is in equilibrium with the pressure inside the bottle  16 . The check valve  334  is configured to open when there is about 2 psi to about 3 psi pressure differential across the check valve. In the depicted embodiment the check valve is a duck bill type check valve with the bill being disposed towards the bottle  16  in the circuit. 
     The operational sequence of the beverage dispensing assembly  10  will be described in more detail with reference to  FIGS. 7-15 . With reference to  FIG. 7 , the bottle assembly  12  is advanced into the dispenser assembly  14  by the consumer. With reference to  FIG. 8 , as the bottle assembly  12  is advanced towards the front plate  94  of the dispenser housing, the bottle retainer  152  rotates counter clockwise under spring pressure until the bottle assembly is fully advanced. The bottle retainer  152  then rotates back clockwise so that the catches  164  on the bottle retainer cooperate with the catches  32  on the cap  24  to retain the cap  24  and thus the bottle assembly  12 . The locking lever  156  is shown in the unlocked position in  FIG. 8 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 9 , the locking lever  156  is advanced from the unlocked position to a locked position. The cartridge spike  332  advances into the gas inlet passage  54  formed in the cap  24  and opens the corresponding gas valve assembly by displacing the gas valve plug  72  from the seal  76 . Accordingly, pressurized gas from the CO 2  cartridge  44  can enter the internal volume of the bottle  16 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 10 , which shows the same operational state as that shown in  FIG. 9 , when the locking lever  156  is moved from the unlocked position (shown in  FIG. 8 ) to the locked position, the pointed edge  284  of the piercing pin  278  punctures the cartridge  44 , thus providing communication between the cartridge  44  and the inside of the bottle  16 . As also seen in  FIG. 10 , the beverage valve actuator  234 , which is hollow and includes a passage  360  is inserted into the beverage outlet passage  52 ; however, the beverage outlet valve assembly is still in the closed position. The beverage valve actuator  234  also acts as a spike to unseal the beverage outlet passage  52 . 
       FIG. 11  shows the same state as  FIGS. 8 and 9  while showing the spout  222  in a locked position. With the spout in the locked position, the tap handle  220  can not be rotated until the spout  222  is rotated outward (i.e. counterclockwise). Rotating the spout  222  outward aligns the pins  126  (also seen in  FIG. 4 ) with channels  362  formed in the spout  222 , thereby allowing the tap handle  220  to push the spout  222  towards the bottle cap  24 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 12 , the spout  222  has been rotated outward resulting in alignment of the beverage passageways. The passageway  360  defined in the beverage valve actuator  234  aligns with a beverage inlet  364  that is communication with a beverage passageway  366  and a beverage outlet  368  all formed in the spout  222 . With reference to  FIG. 13 , the tap handle  220  is rotated clockwise to the dispense position resulting in the translation of the spout  222  and the beverage valve actuator  234  ( FIG. 12 ) towards the bottle cap  24 . The beverage valve assembly disposed in the cap is opened allowing beverage to flow under pressure from the bottle  16  to the spout  222 . As shown in  FIG. 13 , the channel  362  in the spout  222  aligns with the pins  126  that extend outwardly from the face plate  94 . With reference to  FIG. 12 , the beverage valve actuator  234  is translated towards the bottle cap  24  such that the plug  60  is moved away from the seal  64  opening the valve assembly allowing beverage to flow from inside the dip tube  82  through the beverage outlet passage  52  into the passage  360  formed in the beverage valve actuator  234  and into the beverage inlet  364  through the passage  366  and out the beverage outlet  368  of the spout  222 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 15 , when the contents of the bottle  16  have been fully dispensed or if a consumer simply wishes to remove the bottle assembly  12  from the dispenser assembly  14 , the locking lever  156  is moved back into the unlocked position and the bottle retainer  152  is rotated counter clockwise by the consumer depressing the tab  170  so that the bottle assembly  12  can be removed from the dispenser assembly. 
       FIGS. 1-15  depict only one example of a beverage dispensing assembly with great particularity. Alternative embodiments were discussed throughout the description. The invention is not limited to simply the embodiment discussed above. For example, the beverage dispensing assembly  410  is shown in  FIGS. 16 and 17 . The beverage dispenser assembly includes a housing having a rear box-shaped portion  412  and cover  414 . As seen in  FIG. 17 , the housing encloses a bottle for  416 , a dispenser mechanism for  18 , and a spacer  422 . The bottle  416  can be a blow molded bottle similar to the one described above. The dispenser mechanism  412  includes a pressure source such as a cartridge similar to the cartridge  44  described above. A rotatable lock assembly  424  can be provided on the dispenser mechanism to prevent accidental dispensing of the product and to prevent dispensing of the product during shipment. A tap handle  426  and a spout  428  that are similar to those described above can also be provided with a dispenser mechanism for  418 . 
     To dispense the beverage, the locking mechanism  424  is rotated which allows the bottle  416  to drop onto the dispenser mechanism which results in a seal that caps the bottle to be broken and a seal on the pressure cartridge to also be broken. This would result by gravity because of the weight of the beverage being contained in the bottle  416 . The tap handle  426  can actuate a valve to allow for selective dispensing of beverage through the spout  428 . 
     A beverage dispensing assembly and system has been described with reference to particular embodiments. Many modifications and alterations will occur to those after reading the detailed description. The invention is not limited to only those embodiments that are disclosed above. Instead, the invention is broadly defined by the appended claims and the equivalents thereof.