Abstract: A lid assembly configured to be coupled to a beverage container, the lid assembly including a base defining an axis, a sip ring rotatable about the axis with respect to the thread base, and an elevator assembly coupled to the sip ring. The elevator assembly includes an upper elevator and a lower elevator coupled to the upper elevator for co-rotation with the upper elevator. Rotation of the sip ring rotation of the sip ring is configured to cause the elevator assembly to translate along the axis.

Abstract: A lid assembly configured to be coupled to a beverage container, the lid assembly including a base defining an axis, a sip ring rotatable about the axis with respect to the thread base, and an elevator assembly coupled to the sip ring. The elevator assembly includes an upper elevator and a lower elevator coupled to the upper elevator for co-rotation with the upper elevator. Rotation of the sip ring rotation of the sip ring is configured to cause the elevator assembly to translate along the axis.

Abstract: A liquid dispensing container has an outer shell including a wall having an inner surface and an outer surface. An inner core is coupled to the outer shell and has an outer surface and an inner surface that defines a reservoir configured to contain a fluid. The inner core and outer shell cooperatively define a longitudinal axis. A liner is positioned between the outer shell and the inner core. The liner comprises a stretchable material that is in stretched along the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A lid assembly including a lower lid, a plug element movable relative to the lower lid between a plugged position and an unplugged position, and an upper lid rotatably movable relative to the lower lid between an open position in which the plug element is in the unplugged position and a closed position in which the plug element is in the plugged position. The lid assembly further includes a rotational interface adapted to couple the upper lid to the lower lid, the rotational interface including a resilient cleat, a ledge, and a backstop. One of the lower lid and upper lid includes the resilient cleat and an other of the lower lid and upper lid includes the ledge. The resilient cleat engages the ledge to secure the upper lid in rotational engagement with the lower lid. The backstop is positioned to inhibit disengagement of the resilient cleat from the ledge.

Abstract: A liquid-dispensing container comprises a housing and a valve member. The housing is adapted to hold a liquid and includes an opening defined by a wall having an inner edge and an outer edge. The valve member has a ledge engaging the outer edge and a cleat engaging the inner edge. The valve member can further include an integral gasket positioned between the ledge and the cleat and deformed in engagement with the wall. The cleat preferably includes a beveled surface. The valve member can be inserted from the outside of the housing and without the need for additional retention members. Specifically, the valve member is secured to the housing by contacting the cleat with the outer edge of the wall, moving the valve member toward the housing such that the cleat passes through the opening, and engaging the cleat with the inner edge of the wall.

Abstract: Systems and methods for preparing and dispensing a coffee product in a frozen bead form, some of which include a vending machine having a freezing chamber for freezing droplets of liquid coffee and dispensing the frozen beads of the coffee product responsive to a vending request.

Abstract: A beverage maker, including a receiver including a hollow body with an interior surface and an exterior surface, wherein the hollow body is configured to retain contents, a reservoir configured to retain fluid, a fluid transfer configured to transfer fluid from the reservoir to the receiver, a heating element in thermal communication with at least one of the reservoir and the receiver, and at least one pipe configured to receive contents from the receiver, wherein the at least one pipe is configured to dispense the contents from the beverage maker.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a mixed drink confection, including combining one or more non-alcoholic ingredients with one or more alcoholic ingredients to form a liquid mix formulation, and cryogenically freezing the liquid mix formulation to form a plurality of cryogenically frozen beads of the liquid mix formulation by dripping the liquid mix formulation into a cryogenic liquid.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of flash freezing a whey-based liquid into small beads and then packaging the beads for consumers is disclosed. The beads are stored in a conventional freezer, or colder, until desired. The beads can be consumed in their frozen form to provide a convenient source of protein or can be reconstituted into a beverage base as needed. In particular, a warm or cold beverage may be easily and affordably created using the frozen beads.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to a system and method that formulates an alcohol-containing drink mixer according to a predetermined recipe and then flash freezing the mix into the form of small frozen pellets. The pellets are used by a person to make one drink or a batch of drinks by mixing a base beverage, or beverages, with the pellets.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to a system and method that formulates a drink mixer according to a predetermined recipe and then flash freezing the mix into the form of small frozen pellets. The pellets are used by a person to make one drink or a batch of drinks by mixing a base beverage, or beverages, with the pellets.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of flash freezing a whey-based liquid into small beads and then packaging the beads for consumers is disclosed. The beads are stored in a conventional freezer, or colder, until desired. The beads can be consumed in their frozen form to provide a convenient source of protein or can be reconstituted into a beverage base as needed. In particular, a warm or cold beverage may be easily and affordably created using the frozen beads.

Abstract: In accordance with a preferred embodiment, there is provided a frozen yogurt product that remains frozen at relatively high temperatures and can be added to juice, milk, or other liquid to create a smoothie or similar beverage.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of flash freezing a tea-based liquid into small beads and then packaging the beads for consumers is disclosed. The beads are stored in a conventional freezer until desired and then reconstituted into a tea beverage base as needed. In particular, a warm or cold tea-based beverage may be easily and affordably created using the frozen beads.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to a system and method that formulates a drink mixer according to a predetermined recipe and then flash freezing the mix into the form of small frozen pellets. The pellets are used by a person to make one drink or a batch of drinks by mixing a base beverage, or beverages, with the pellets.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of flash freezing a coffee-based liquid into small beads and then packaging the beads for consumers is disclosed. The beads are stored in a conventional freezer until desired and then reconstituted into a coffee beverage base as needed. In particular, a warm coffee-based beverage may be easily and affordably created using the frozen beads.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of flash freezing a coffee-based liquid into small beads and then packaging the beads for consumers is disclosed. The beads are stored in a conventional freezer until desired and then reconstituted into a coffee beverage base as needed. In particular, a cold coffee-based beverage may be easily and affordably created using the frozen beads.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for combining cryogenically frozen food particles and traditional conventional ice cream is disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for combining beaded and traditional conventional ice cream is disclosed.