Abstract: Provided is a bottle which includes a neck portion configured to receive a cap to seal the bottle, a lower portion including a bottom on which the bottle is configured to stand erect, an upper portion extending from the neck portion to the lower portion and an annular rib. The annular rib defines a transition between the lower portion and the upper portion and protrudes outwardly with respect to both the upper portion and the lower portion of the bottle. The upper portion, lower portion and annular rib are portions of a single entity formed from one material. The upper portion is configured to reversibly collapse into the lower portion.

Abstract: A carbonation machine may include a carbonation head, a holder that is configured to hold a gas canister, the holder comprising a connector with a socket configured to enable linear insertion of a valve of the canister into the socket, the socket including a seal with at least one lateral opening to enable fluidic flow between one or more laterally oriented ports of the valve and a conduit of the holder while preventing leakage of gas from the fluidic flow, and a holding mechanism configured to hold a lateral projection from the canister after insertion of the valve into the socket such that the valve remains in the socket, and an activation mechanism configured to operate the valve to release the gas from the canister when inserted into the socket so as to enable the gas to flow via the conduit to the carbonation head

Abstract: A carbonation machine may include a carbonation head, a holder that is configured to hold a gas canister, the holder comprising a connector with a socket configured to enable linear insertion of a valve of the canister into the socket, the socket including a seal with at least one lateral opening to enable fluidic flow between one or more laterally oriented ports of the valve and a conduit of the holder while preventing leakage of gas from the fluidic flow, and a holding mechanism configured to hold a lateral projection from the canister after insertion of the valve into the socket such that the valve remains in the socket, and an activation mechanism configured to operate the valve to release the gas from the canister when inserted into the socket so as to enable the gas to flow via the conduit to the carbonation head

Abstract: A foldable convertible stroller for children, converting between stroller (concealed-stroller and open-stroller), playpen (full or partial), and folded configurations, featuring four U-shaped chassis support bars movable about joint side-hubs into a raised deployed position when fully expanded, when in a concealed-stroller or the playpen configuration, or a lowered deployed position when partially expanded, when in an open-stroller configuration, and foldable into a folded configuration by collapsing into a nested arrangement. The stroller further features a foldable base support, a circumferential main curtain spanning between the base and the upper front and rear support bars for surrounding the stroller in a playpen configuration, an optional foldable rest, and an optional handle portion of an upper rear support bar that allows selectively erecting and folding. A complementary method for converting the stroller between the configurations is also provided.

Abstract: A pronged clamp apparatus for attaching a soda bottle to a home use carbonation machine, the apparatus includes a pronged clamp to receive the bottle, at a non-upright position prior to carbonation, the bottle having a neck ring, to attach the bottle to the carbonation machine when a user moves said bottle towards an upright position; a locking mechanism to lock the bottle to the carbonation machine via the neck ring in the upright position during carbonation; and an interlock operative within the locking mechanism utilizing the downward movement of the bottle under pressure to prevent the unlocking of the locking mechanism when there is excess pressure in the bottle.

Abstract: A pronged clamp apparatus for attaching a soda bottle to a home use carbonation machine, the apparatus includes a pronged clamp to receive the bottle, at a non-upright position prior to carbonation, the bottle having a neck ring, to attach the bottle to the carbonation machine when a user moves said bottle towards an upright position; a locking mechanism to lock the bottle to the carbonation machine via the neck ring in the upright position during carbonation; and an interlock operative within the locking mechanism utilizing the downward movement of the bottle under pressure to prevent the unlocking of the locking mechanism when there is excess pressure in the bottle.

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 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 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.

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 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.