Patent ID: 8356730

Claim:
A method of gradually reducing the pressure of a pressurized, carbonated fluid, comprising: injecting a pressurized, carbonated fluid at a first pressure into a discharge head, the discharge head having; a first fluid passage in fluid communication with a discharge nozzle, the first fluid passage having a non-linear flow path; an inlet opening for receiving the pressurized, carbonated fluid; and an outlet opening communicating with the discharge nozzle, wherein the first fluid passage is formed between the inlet opening and the outlet opening, wherein the first fluid passage has a helical increasing cross-sectional area that increases along the length of the first fluid passage extending from the inlet opening to the outlet opening wherein the first fluid passage extends circumferentially from the inlet opening to the outlet opening; forming a depressurized, carbonated fluid at a second pressure lower than the first pressure by causing the pressurized, carbonated fluid to flow through the inlet opening, the first fluid passage, and the outlet opening; and dispensing the depressurized, carbonated fluid from the dispensing head.