Patent ID: 7367480

Claim:
A refrigerator beverage dispensing apparatus drink supply syrup canister for a beverage dispensing apparatus of a refrigerator, the refrigerator including a canister holder having a holder wall defining a holder space, the beverage dispensing apparatus having an actuator, the refrigerator beverage dispensing apparatus drink supply syrup canister comprising: a body defining a drink supply holding cavity configured to hold a volume of syrup drink supply, the cavity having a length extending within said body, the volume being sufficient to be used to produce a plurality of servings of a beverage, the body having a plurality of portions, the portions of the body including: (a) a wall; (b) a first end connected to the wall, the first end defining a first opening, a portion of the first end having a gas inlet valve positioned at or near the first opening, the gas inlet valve including a plurality of flexible portions, at least one of the flexible portions including a gas pin engagement portion, the flexible portions being movable between: (i) a predisposed closed position in which a plurality of the flexible portions are in contact with each other; and (ii) an open position in which a plurality of the flexible portions are separated from each other upon insertion of a gas pin through at least part of the gas inlet valve, the flexible portions, when separated, defining a passage which is fluidly connected to the drink supply holding cavity throughout the length of the drink supply holding cavity, enabling pressurized gas from the gas pin inserted into said first opening to intermix with the syrup drink supply in the drink supply holding cavity, the flexible portions re-establishing the closed position after the gas pin is removed from the gas inlet valve; and (c) a second end connected to the wall of the body of the drink supply syrup canister, the second end defining at least one second opening, at least one of the portions of the body including a refrigerator engagement portion, the refrigerator engagement portion configured to be positioned at the holder space and engaged with the holder wall of the canister holder of the refrigerator; and a drink supply outlet valve coupled to the second end of the body adjacent to the second opening in the second end of the body, the drink supply outlet valve having an assembly selected from the group consisting of: (i) an assembly including a fluid director portion and an engagable portion, the engagable portion being movable as a result of a pushing motion of the actuator, the movement of the engagable portion causing the drink supply valve to change between a closed condition and an open condition; and (ii) an assembly including a fluid director portion and an engagable portion, the engagable portion being movable as a result of a rotational motion of the actuator, the movement of the engagable portion causing the drink supply valve to change between a closed condition and an open condition.