Abstract: A home use carbonation machine includes a carbonation assembly to carbonate liquid with pressurized gas, an electrical controller to operate the carbonation assembly and at least one safeguard to terminate the supply of pressurized gas in the event of an electrical outage. The carbonation assembly includes a pronged clamp apparatus for attaching a soda bottle to the carbonation machine.

Abstract: A home use carbonation machine includes a pronged clamp to fit a non-upright 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 carbonation machine is not actively carbonating. A home use carbonation machine includes a carbonation assembly to carbonate liquid with pressurized gas, a pronged clamp and a centering ring with centering ribs to guide a non-upright bottle into the pronged clamp during insertion and to constrict prongs of the clamp when a user moves the non-upright bottle towards an upright position for operation.

Abstract: A capsule for storing a fixed amount of syrup. The capsule includes a housing to store the fixed amount of syrup and is shaped to sit on the rim of a bottle of carbonated water. The capsule also includes a release mechanism to release the syrup in a controlled manner into the bottle. The capsule is shaped so that excess gas is released into the atmosphere between at least one of the outside walls of the capsule and the inner wall of the opening of the bottle of carbonated water. The invention includes a method for releasing syrup from a capsule into a bottle of carbonated water. The method includes the capsule being placed on a rim of the bottle and the capsule receiving a downward force.

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.

Abstract: A capsule for storing a fixed amount of syrup. The capsule includes a housing to store the fixed amount of syrup and is shaped to sit on an opening of a bottle of liquid. The capsule also includes a release mechanism to release the syrup in a controlled manner into the bottle. The invention includes a method for releasing syrup from a capsule into a bottle of carbonated water. The method includes the capsule being placed on a rim of the bottle and the capsule receiving a downward force.

Abstract: A capsule for storing a fixed amount of syrup. The capsule includes a housing to store the fixed amount of syrup and is shaped to sit on an opening of a bottle of liquid. The capsule also includes a release mechanism to release the syrup in a controlled manner into the bottle. The invention includes a method for releasing syrup from a capsule into a bottle of carbonated water. The method includes the capsule being placed on a rim of the bottle and the capsule receiving a downward force.

Abstract: A metal bottle for holding pressurized content includes a metal receptacle to hold the pressurized content and a safety plug configured to vent the pressurized content from the metal receptacle at a pre-determined level of pressure.

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.

Abstract: A home soda machine includes a cylinder of gas suitable for carbonation, an attachment mechanism to attach a bottle of water, a valve opening mechanism to open a gas release valve on the gas cylinder and introduce the gas to the bottle of water, a gas release sensor to sense at least events indicating the opening and closing of the gas release valve, and an indirect gas meter to at least determine an amount of the gas released from the cylinder based at least on a cumulative length of time the gas release valve was open as per data received from the gas release sensor.