Patent ID: 7594525

Claim:
A concentrate/extract cartridge for a beverage dispenser adapted to dispense a liquid concentrate/extract and a diluent, the cartridge comprising: a hollow body for containing liquid concentrate/extract; an aperture defined in the hollow body; and an externally actuatable pumping device comprising: a dispensing tube which defines an interior surface connected to the hollow body at the aperture for dispensing the liquid concentrate/extract from the hollow body; a valve seat, including a port for passing concentrate/extract through the dispensing tube, connected to the dispensing tube and fixed within a space defined by the interior surface of the dispensing tube; a valve body in removable contact with the valve seat on a discharge side thereof which covers the port in a closed position and uncovers the port in an open position; and a piston located on an upstream side of the valve seat that is fixed to the valve body and is moveable within the dispensing tube for forcing concentrate/extract through the port, the piston being moveable from a first position, away from the valve seat, in which the valve body is closed, to a second position, toward the valve seat and in a direction of flow of the concentrate/extract being dispensed, movement of the piston from the first position to the second position, simultaneously moves the valve body from the closed position to the oven position, and return of the piston to the first position simultaneously moves the valve body from the oven position to the closed position.