CN114072352A

CN114072352A - System for detachably connecting to a beverage dispenser

Info

Publication number: CN114072352A
Application number: CN202080029615.0A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 诺姆·齐斯曼; 哈达斯·弗里什伯格; 迈克尔·佩雷茨本-阿舍; 伊兰·埃尔卡拉特; 亚历山大·弗莱舍克
Original assignee: Strauss Water Ltd
Current assignee: Strauss Water Ltd
Priority date: 2019-04-18
Filing date: 2020-04-16
Publication date: 2022-02-18
Anticipated expiration: 2040-04-16
Also published as: CN114072352B; IL266134B; WO2020212983A1; IL266134A

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to systems for removably connecting to a beverage dispenser for removably connecting various accessories to an outlet module of the beverage dispenser. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a system including an adapter and an accessory, such as a beverage additive unit, for removably connecting the accessory to a dispenser via the adapter.

Description

System for detachably connecting to a beverage dispenser

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a removably attachable system for removably attaching various accessories to an outlet module of a beverage dispenser. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to systems including a removable adapter and an accessory (e.g., a beverage additive unit) for removably connecting the accessory to a dispenser via the adapter.

Background

References considered relevant to the background of the presently disclosed subject matter are listed below:

-US 7,645,381

the acknowledgement herein of the above references should not be inferred as meaning that these references are in any way relevant to the patentability of the presently disclosed subject matter.

Background

Beverage dispensers, such as water dispensers (e.g. those described in US 7,645,381), soft drink dispensers or even dispensers included in refrigerators, are known. Typically, the addition of additives, such as nutrients or flavours, to the dispensed water or beverage is performed by the user adding the additive separately from a separate container to the drinking glass or receiving container, either before or after dispensing the beverage into the glass or receiving container. In other systems, the additive may be contained in a designated container, and the dispenser is configured to dispense the additive into the beverage during dispensing by an electronically controlled system.

In such systems, the container may be built into the dispenser or may be in the form of a different replaceable container. However, connecting the additive container to the dispenser is usually achieved by means of a built-in adapter(s) or by means of a pipe system connecting the container to the dispenser. This type of connection often results in the need for the user to perform a series of operations when installing or removing the container from the dispenser, which may also include disassembling the elements of the dispenser to allow installation or removal of the container. Furthermore, a container coupled directly to the beverage flow system of the dispenser may result in undesired contamination of the beverage flow line and/or undesired accumulation of additives in the flow line over time.

General description

The present disclosure relates to systems for fitting to beverage dispensers that are capable of removably attaching or connecting various accessories to an outlet module of the beverage dispenser. The system of the present disclosure is designed to allow the dispensing module of the dispenser to have additional functionality, thereby allowing a user to selectively change the functionality of the outlet module in a convenient manner with minimal installation requirements. For example, the system may allow a user to removably attach various accessories (e.g., extension tubes) to the dispensing module, thereby lengthening the dispensing outlet and allowing a beverage (e.g., water) to be dispensed into a vessel remote from the dispenser. Another exemplary system allows for the removable connection of an additive unit that allows for the addition of a desired additive to a beverage according to a user's needs without the need to couple an additive container to the beverage flow line of the dispenser. Exemplary additives may be minerals, spices, food supplements, flavor concentrates, vitamins, nutrients, and the like.

Thus, according to an aspect of the present disclosure, a system is provided for detachably connecting to an outlet module of a beverage dispenser for dosing an additive into a beverage, the system comprising an adapter unit and a beverage additive unit. The adapter unit is configured to be detachably connected to a dispensing module of the beverage dispenser and configured to fit onto or into an outlet module of the dispenser such that a dispensing outlet of the dispenser is received within the adapter. The beverage additive unit is detachably connected to the adapter unit and can be replaced according to the user's needs. For example, when a different additive is desired, a user may remove one beverage additive unit from the system and replace it with another without having to disassemble parts of the dispenser. Furthermore, as will be described below, the system allows for a physical separation between the beverage additive unit and the beverage dispensing outlet, thereby avoiding the need to clean the dispensing outlet or dispensing line of the dispenser, as no residue or residual additive remains in the flow system of the dispenser. Thus, the system is capable of preventing undesired contamination of the beverage flow line by additives or undesired accumulation of residual additives in the beverage flow line.

It should be noted that the beverage additive unit comprises: an additive container containing an additive, the additive typically being in liquid form (e.g., a suspension, a solution, an emulsion, a microemulsion, a neat component in liquid form, a loose gel, etc.); a dosing unit (dosing unit) in fluid communication with the additive container; and an actuating member for operating the dosing unit and causing a dose of additive to be dispensed from the container into an additive dispensing nozzle in fluid communication with the dosing unit.

In some embodiments, the beverage additive unit comprises a pump unit having a pump inlet in liquid communication with the additive container and a pump outlet. The pump has an operating state and a rest state, the pump being biased to the rest state, for example by a biasing mechanism such as a spring. The pump outlet is in fluid communication with the additive dispensing nozzle; the additive dispensing nozzle may be positioned adjacent to the beverage outlet of the beverage dispenser when the additive unit is received in the adapter unit. The actuation member is user-operable and is configured for switching the pump from a deactivated state to an operative state.

A non-limiting example of a pump unit is a dosing pump; however, other types of pumps (e.g., electrically controlled pumps) are also contemplated as within the scope of the present disclosure.

In some embodiments, the pump unit may comprise a piston member fitted within a piston bore in which the piston is axially reciprocable. The piston member has a hollow shaft with a piston plug at its forward end, the hollow shaft having a forward orifice defined in the piston plug and a rearward opening defining the pump outlet. A dispensing chamber is defined between the pump inlet and the piston plug, the front orifice of the piston member opening into the dispensing chamber. The piston member is axially reciprocable between a forward position corresponding to an operating condition in which the front surface of the piston plug is proximate the pump inlet and a rearward position corresponding to a deactivated condition in which the front surface of the piston plug is distal from the pump inlet. The piston member is biased to a rearward position.

The transition of the piston member from the backward position (corresponding to the deactivated state of the pump unit) to the forward position (corresponding to the operating state of the pump unit) is caused by an actuating member rigidly coupled to the rear portion of the pump unit; axial pressing of the actuation member causes axial movement of the piston member, thereby displacing the piston member from the rearward position to the forward position. In some embodiments, such actuation may be user-operated (e.g., by pressing a user-operated button).

Since the dispensing chamber is defined between the pump inlet and the piston plug of the piston member, axial displacement of the piston member changes the volume of the dispensing chamber. As will be described below, when the dosing chamber is filled with additive, pressing on the actuation member and displacing the piston member to its forward position will cause the volume of the chamber to decrease, causing the additive to be forced out of the chamber through the front orifice, into the hollow shaft, and from there to the pump outlet. When the piston member is moved back to its rearward position, the volume of the cavity increases, allowing a new dose of additive to be drawn from the additive container into the cavity through the pump inlet.

The dose of additive to be dispensed is thus determined by the volume of the dosing chamber and the degree of displacement of the piston member within the dosing chamber.

In some embodiments, the front orifice has a diameter that is smaller than a diameter of the pump inlet. This difference in diameter causes a pressure gradient to form along the cavity as the piston member is displaced from the forward position to the rearward position. This pressure gradient creates a pumping effect, causing liquid additive to be pumped from the additive container into the dosing chamber.

The pump inlet may comprise a seat portion configured to react to the flow restriction element, the flow restriction element being displaceable to a seat engagement position when the piston member is in its forward position. When the piston member is in its forward position, the flow restriction element is pushed against the seat by the pressure built up in the chamber due to the reduction of the volume of the chamber (when the chamber is filled with liquid additive), thereby preventing the additive from flowing from the additive container into the dosing chamber. When the piston member is in its rearward position, the flow restriction element is biased to the seat-disengaged position by a pressure gradient formed along the cavity due to the difference in diameter between the pump inlet and the front orifice of the piston member, which pressure gradient causes a pumping effect. Thus, when the piston member is in its rearward position, additive is allowed to flow from the container into the dosing chamber and caused by said pressure gradient.

The additive container may be rigid, i.e. have a defined constant volume.

However, in other embodiments, the additive container may be elastic or semi-elastic. In case the additive container is elastic (or semi-elastic), the dosing unit may comprise a plunger having a proximal end associated with the actuating member and a distal end in contact with a wall of the elastic additive container. Such a plunger may have a distal position and a proximal position and be biased to the proximal position such that pressing on the actuation member in the distal direction will cause the plunger to cause the wall to elastically deform, thereby dispensing a dose of additive contained in the additive container. In such embodiments, a biasing element, such as a coil spring, may be fitted around the stem portion of the plunger to bias the plunger to its proximal position.

In some embodiments, the additive container may be contained within the beverage additive unit in a manner that allows the additive container to be removed from the additive unit and replaced by a user. Alternatively, the additive container may be an integral part of the beverage additive unit, e.g. defined as an inner space within the additive unit. The container may be refilled. In some embodiments, the entire beverage additive unit may be disposable.

In order to enable a user to connect the beverage additive unit to the adapter unit, in some embodiments the beverage additive unit may comprise a connecting element for detachably connecting to the adapter unit.

As mentioned above, the adapter unit is configured for detachably fitting onto or into an outlet module of the beverage dispenser, thereby enabling a user to selectively attach various functional units (such as a beverage additive unit) to the dispenser.

In some embodiments, the adapter unit may be configured for snap-fitting onto or into an outlet of the beverage dispenser. The adapter unit may comprise an attachment groove configured for fitting into or onto an outlet module of the beverage dispenser such that once the beverage additive unit is fitted into the adapter, the beverage additive unit is positioned within the adapter so as not to interfere with operation of and/or be coupled to a dispensing outlet of the beverage dispenser.

For this purpose, the adapter unit typically comprises an adapter opening for receiving a mating connecting element of the beverage additive unit. Once the connecting element of the beverage additive unit is fitted into the adapter opening, the dispensing nozzle of the beverage additive unit is typically positioned adjacent to the beverage outlet of the dispenser, so that the additive can be dispensed during operation of the beverage dispenser, however without the need to couple the additive unit to the beverage flow line of the dispenser.

In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a beverage additive unit for removable connection to an outlet module of a beverage dispenser, as described herein. The beverage additive unit comprises: an additive container; a pump unit having a pump inlet disposed within the additive container and a pump outlet, the pump having an operating state and a deactivated state and being biased to the deactivated state, the pump outlet being in fluid communication with the additive outlet; and an actuating member for switching the pump from the deactivated state to the operating state.

An adapter for detachable connection to an outlet module of a beverage dispenser to allow various functional elements to be attached to the dispenser is also an aspect of the present disclosure. The adapter includes an attachment recess configured to fit into or onto an outlet nozzle of the beverage dispenser (e.g., the attachment recess is sized to receive the outlet nozzle of the beverage dispenser) and an accessory opening for receiving and positioning the accessory unit substantially vertically below the outlet nozzle.

The adapter is configured to receive various accessories having different functions, such as the beverage additive unit disclosed herein. Another example of an accessory for attachment to an adapter is a tube configured to be in liquid communication with an outlet of a beverage dispenser once the accessory is received in the adapter, such as a flexible or rigid tube, which may or may not be telescoping. The function of such a pipe fitting is to extend the dispensing outlet of the beverage dispenser, for example to allow filling of a vessel having a size that does not allow fitting into or under the outlet of the beverage dispenser.

Brief Description of Drawings

For a better understanding of the subject matter disclosed herein and to illustrate how the subject matter disclosed herein may be carried into effect in practice, embodiments will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

fig. 1A-1B are top isometric and top views, respectively, of a detachable adapter unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 2A-2B show a beverage dispenser with an adapter connected to an outlet module (fig. 2A) and a beverage dispenser without an adapter (fig. 2B).

3A-3B illustrate top isometric views of an additive unit configured for removable connection to an outlet module of a beverage dispenser via an adapter, according to embodiments of the present disclosure; fig. 3A is an isometric view of a front top view and fig. 3B is an isometric view of a rear top view.

Fig. 4A shows the additive unit of fig. 3A-3B in a side view.

Fig. 4B-4C are cross-sections of the additive unit of fig. 4A along the line IV-IV in a deactivated state (fig. 4B) and an operational state (fig. 4C).

Fig. 4D is a cross-section of the cell of fig. 4A along the line IV '-IV'.

FIG. 4E is a cross-section of the cell of FIG. 3A taken along line IV "-IV".

Fig. 5A illustrates a side view of an exemplary accessory configured to be received within the adapter of fig. 1A-1B.

Fig. 5B-5C are longitudinal cross-sections of the system of fig. 5A in a retracted state (fig. 5B) and an extended state (fig. 5C).

Fig. 6A-6C are perspective views of another exemplary accessory (fig. 6A) configured to be received within an adapter (fig. 6B and 6B) according to the present disclosure.

Detailed Description

As mentioned above, the present disclosure relates to systems for removably fitting to a beverage dispenser that enable a user to temporarily connect various accessories to an outlet module of the beverage dispenser to provide further functionality to the beverage dispenser.

A detachable adapter unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown in fig. 1A-1B. The adapter unit 100 is configured for removable assembly to an outlet module of a beverage dispenser, such as a water dispenser. The adapter 100 includes an outlet attachment recess 102 defined in an adapter body 104. Groove 102 has an axial opening (i.e., an open end along axis 103). In this particular non-limiting example, the grooves are defined by rails 106 extending substantially parallel to axis 103, each rail having a projecting member 108, which projecting member 108 projects into an opening of the groove, and each rail is configured for engaging with a wall 111 of an outlet module of the beverage dispenser (better seen in fig. 2B) once the adapter is fitted into the dispenser in the direction indicated by arrow 112, and thus attached to the outlet module.

The adapter 100 further comprises an outlet nozzle receiving space 110, which outlet nozzle receiving space 110 accommodates one or more outlet nozzles 113 of the beverage dispenser (as better seen in fig. 2A) once the adapter 100 is fitted to the outlet module. Thus, the adapter is configured for fitting onto and attaching to the outlet module without interfering with the function of the outlet nozzle.

The adapter further comprises an accessory opening 114, which accessory opening 114 is positioned vertically below (along vertical axis 105) the outlet nozzle receiving space 110. As will be described below, the accessory opening 114 is configured to receive an accessory such that once the accessory is received within the accessory opening, the accessory is positioned and held vertically below the beverage outlet nozzle. Thus, a separation is created between the nozzle and the accessory, so that the accessory does not hinder the operation of the beverage nozzle, but water can be supplied from the nozzle to the accessory if desired.

As mentioned above, the adapter is configured to receive various accessories, each accessory providing a different additional function to the outlet module.

One example of an accessory according to the present disclosure is the beverage additive unit 200 seen in fig. 3A-4E. The beverage additive unit 200 includes a locating pin 202 that is sized to be received in the accessory opening 114 (visible in fig. 2A) such that when the accessory is fitted into the adapter, the accessory is secured in a position vertically below the outlet nozzle, but does not interfere with the function of the outlet nozzle (i.e., allows beverage/water to be freely dispensed from the nozzle even if the beverage additive unit is attached to the adapter).

The beverage additive unit 200 also includes a cavity 204, the cavity 204 being configured to engage and receive the body 104 of the adapter. The walls 206 of the cavity are configured with internal tracks 208, these internal tracks 208 being designed to engage with mating external tracks 118 formed on the exterior face of the adaptor 100, so that when the additive unit is slid into the adaptor unit in the direction indicated by arrow 207, the internal tracks 208 are allowed to slide displaced on the external tracks 118. When the additive unit is fitted into the adapter, the tabs 116 formed on the outer surface of the adapter body 104 are received in the mating notches 210 formed at the rear end of the cavity 204, thereby securing the additive unit to the adapter.

The additive unit 200 includes an additive container 212 housed within the additive unit 200. The container 212 (better seen in fig. 4B-4C) may be a separate container, i.e. a container made to be accommodated within the additive unit. Alternatively, the container may be an integral part of the additive unit, e.g. defined as an inner space within the unit. The container may be refilled, for example, via user port 214; however, it is also envisaged that where the entire additive unit is disposable, the container will be sealed (not user accessible).

Visible in detail on fig. 4B-4C is a dosing unit for metered dispensing of additive from an additive container. The dosing unit, generally designated 220, comprises a pump assembly 222, the pump assembly 222 having a pump inlet 224, the pump inlet 224 being connected to a tube 225, the tip of the tube 225 being arranged within the additive container 212, such that a liquid communication is formed between the pump assembly and the additive container. The pump assembly further comprises a pump outlet 230 (visible in fig. 4D) connected to an additive outlet 228 defined at the bottom of the additive unit. When the additive unit is secured within the adapter, the additive outlet 228 is designed to be positioned proximate the outlet nozzle 113 of the beverage dispenser, thereby allowing a user to dispense the additive directly into the vessel to be filled with the beverage, but without contacting the beverage outlet of the dispenser, thereby preventing unwanted contamination of the beverage outlet by the additive.

The pump assembly 222 includes a piston member 232 that is fitted within a piston bore 234. The piston member has a hollow shaft 236, the hollow shaft 236 extending along a forward and rearward axis 238 and having a forward orifice 240 and a rearward opening 242 connected to the pump outlet. The front orifice 240 typically has a smaller diameter than the pump inlet 224 to allow a pressure gradient to develop along the dosing chamber 246 during pump operation, as will be explained below.

The pump assembly further comprises a hollow piston plug 244 attached to the forward portion of the shaft having a forward bore 240, wherein the forward bore 240 is defined in the forward wall of the piston plug. A dispensing chamber 246 is defined between the pump inlet 224 and the piston plug 244 with the front orifice 240 opening into the dispensing chamber. Since both the shaft 236 and the piston plug 244 are hollow, a fluid flow line is formed between the pump inlet and the pump outlet, and therefore also between the additive container and the additive outlet. The piston member axially reciprocates along the axis 238 between a rearward position shown in fig. 4B and a forward position shown in fig. 4C.

The pump assembly 222 is rigidly connected to an actuating member 248, the actuating member 248 being configured to be axially displaced in the direction of arrow 250 when pressed thereon by a user. Since the piston assembly is rigidly connected to the actuating member 248, pressing on the actuating member 248 will cause the piston member to be axially displaced to a forward position, thereby switching the pump assembly into an operative state. As can be seen in fig. 4E, the actuating member 248 is also associated with a biasing member (e.g., spring 252) located within the additive unit that returns the actuating member 248 to the non-operating position when pressure is released therefrom; since the pump assembly 222 is rigidly connected to the actuating member, this also biases the pump assembly to its rearward position.

In the exemplary embodiment, pump inlet 224 includes a seat portion 254, and seat portion 254 is configured to receive a flow restriction element 256 (e.g., in the form of a ball). When the piston member 232 is in its forward position, the flow restriction element 256 may be displaced to a seat-engaging position (as shown in fig. 4C) in which the flow restriction element is pushed against the seat, thereby preventing additive from flowing from the additive container into the dispensing chamber. When the piston is in its rearward position, the flow restriction element 256 is displaced to the seat-disengaged position by a pressure gradient formed along the dispensing chamber due to the difference in diameter between the pump inlet 224 and the forward orifice 240 of the piston member 232.

In operation, the transition of the piston member 232 from the rearward position (corresponding to the deactivated state of the pump unit) to the forward position (corresponding to the operating state of the pump unit) is effected by an actuating member 248, which actuating member 248 is rigidly coupled to the rear portion of the pump unit; pressing the actuating member 248 axially in the direction of arrow 250 causes axial movement of the piston member 232, thereby displacing the piston member from the rearward position to the forward position.

Since the dispensing chamber 246 is defined between the pump inlet 242 and the piston plug 244 of the piston member 232, axial displacement of the piston member changes the volume of the dispensing chamber. When the dosing chamber is filled with additive, pressing on the actuation member and displacing the piston member to its forward position will cause the volume of the chamber 246 to decrease, thereby forcing the additive contained in the chamber to be dispensed out of the chamber 246 into the hollow shaft 236 through the front orifice 240 and from the hollow shaft 236 to the rear opening 242 connected to the pump outlet 230. The reduction in volume of the chamber due to the displacement of the piston member also creates an internal pressure within the chamber (as the additive is typically in the form of an incompressible liquid) causing the flow restriction element 256 to be pushed against the seat 254, thereby preventing the flow of additive from the additive container into the dosing chamber. This allows the amount of additive dispensed to be limited by the change in volume of the dosing chamber 246, thereby enabling the amount of additive added to the beverage to be limited and controlled.

When the piston member 232 is displaced back to its rearward position (e.g., by the biasing force of the spring 252 when pressure is released from the actuating member 248), the volume of the cavity 246 increases and the pressure is released from the flow restriction element 256, thereby allowing the flow restriction element 256 to disengage from the seat. This allows a new dose of additive to be drawn from the additive container 212 into the cavity through the pump inlet 224 due to the pumping effect caused by the pressure gradient created in the cavity 246 due to the size difference between the pump inlet 224 and the front orifice 240.

In this manner, the volume of the dosing chamber 246 determines the maximum amount of additive to be dispensed in a single operating cycle.

Another accessory configured for fitting into an adapter is shown in fig. 5A-5C. In fig. 5A-5C, an adapter 300 having a structure similar to that of adapter 100 is configured for removably coupling an extension tube, generally designated 304, configured to be in fluid communication with an outlet of a beverage dispenser once an accessory is received in the adapter. Similar to the additive unit 200, the extension tube 304 includes a locator pin 302, the locator pin 302 configured to be received in an accessory opening 306 formed in the adapter 300, thereby positioning the accessory vertically below the beverage outlet of the dispenser. The extension tube may comprise a tube assembly 308, the tube assembly 308 comprising a plurality of sections, in this example three sections, 308A, 308B, 308C, telescopically fitting one into another, the tube assembly allowing the user to vary the length of the extension tube as desired. The function of such a pipe fitting is to extend the dispensing outlet of the beverage dispenser, for example in order to allow the filling of vessels having dimensions that do not allow fitting into or under the outlet of the beverage dispenser. It is also contemplated that tube assembly 308 may permit rotational displacement (along arrow 312) about axis 310.

Another accessory 400 that functions similarly to the extension pipe 304 is shown in fig. 6A-6C. The attachment 400 is a removable flexible tube 402 (shown in folded form) configured to be directly connected to the outlet nozzle 113 by a removable adapter 404, the removable adapter 404 being used to removably connect the tube 402 to the outlet nozzle 113 of the beverage dispenser. The adapter 404 includes an attachment groove 406, the attachment groove 406 being configured for fitting over an outlet nozzle (not shown). In another example (not shown), the adapter 404 may be snap-fit or rotated into or onto the nozzle 113. The adapter 404 has an outlet nozzle receiving space 408, the outlet nozzle receiving space 408 being configured to receive the beverage outlet nozzle of the dispenser once the adapter is fitted into or onto the outlet 113. The adapter further comprises an accessory opening, such as a tube receiving opening 410, the tube receiving opening 410 for removably receiving a first end 412 of the flexible tube 402 such that, once connected into the adapter 404, the first end is positioned substantially vertically below the outlet nozzle 113, thereby allowing beverage to be directed from the outlet nozzle through the tube 402 for filling a container remote from the dispenser with the beverage. In this particular example, the first end 412 of the tube 402 and the adapter 404 are configured for association via mating L-shaped recesses 414A and 414B formed in the first end 412 and the adapter 404, respectively. However, any other suitable detachable attachment configuration is contemplated within the scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A system for detachably connecting to a beverage outlet module of a beverage dispenser for dosing an additive, the system comprising:

a detachable adapter unit for fitting on or in the outlet module, an

A beverage additive unit removably connected to the adapter unit, the beverage additive unit comprising:

a container for an additive, wherein the additive is contained in the container,

a dosing unit in fluid communication with the additive container; and

an actuating member for operating the dosing unit and causing a dose of additive to be dispensed from the container into an additive dispensing nozzle, the additive dispensing nozzle being in liquid communication with the dosing unit.

2. The system of claim 1, the beverage additive unit comprising:

a pump assembly having a pump inlet in liquid communication with the additive container and a pump outlet, the pump having an operating state and a deactivated state and being biased to the deactivated state, the pump outlet being in fluid communication with the additive dispensing nozzle,

the actuation member is configured for switching the pump from the deactivated state to the operational state.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the pump assembly is a dispensing pump.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the pump assembly includes a piston member fitted within a piston bore, the piston member having:

a hollow shaft having a piston plug at a forward end thereof, the hollow shaft having a forward orifice defined in the piston plug and a rearward opening defining the pump outlet; and

a dispensing chamber defined between the pump inlet and the piston plug, the front orifice of the piston member opening into the dispensing chamber,

the piston member is axially reciprocable within the piston bore between forward and rearward positions corresponding to the operating and deactivated states of the pump, respectively, the piston member being biased to the rearward position.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the front orifice has a diameter that is smaller than a diameter of the pump inlet.

6. System according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the pump inlet comprises a seat portion configured to react to a flow restriction element displaceable to a seat-engaging position for preventing additive flow from the container into the dosing chamber when the piston member is in its forward position, and biased to a seat-disengaging position when the piston member is in its rearward position, thereby allowing additive flow from the container into the dosing chamber.

7. A system according to any of claims 4-6, wherein the actuation member is coupled to a rear portion of the pump unit, whereby pressing the actuation member causes an axial movement of the piston member displacing from the rearward position to the forward position.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the actuation member is a user-operated button.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the additive container is resilient and the dosing unit comprises a plunger having a proximal end associated with the actuation member and a distal end in contact with a wall of the additive container, the plunger having a distal position and a proximal position and being biased to the proximal position such that pressing on the actuation member in a distal direction causes the plunger to cause the wall to elastically deform, thereby dispensing a dose of additive held in the additive container.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein a biasing element, such as a coil spring, fits around the stem of the plunger, thereby biasing the plunger to the proximal position.

11. System according to any one of claims 1-10, wherein the beverage additive unit comprises a connecting element for detachable connection to the adapter unit.

12. The system of any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the adapter unit is configured for snap-fitting into the outlet module of the beverage dispenser.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the adapter unit comprises an attachment groove for receiving a mating connecting element of the beverage additive unit.

14. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 13, configured to receive the beverage additive unit such that when the beverage additive unit is received in the adapter unit, the additive dispensing nozzle and the dispensing outlet of the dispenser are separated from each other.

15. The system of any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the adapter unit is detachably connected to the outlet module of the beverage dispenser.

16. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the beverage additive unit is disposable.

17. The system of any one of claims 1-16, wherein the additive container is configured to contain an additive in liquid form.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the additive is in a liquid form of a neat component selected from the group consisting of suspensions, solutions, and emulsions, microemulsions, and liquid forms.

19. The system of claim 17 or 18, wherein the additive is selected from minerals, spices, food supplements, flavor concentrates, vitamins and nutrients.

20. A beverage additive unit for removable connection to an outlet module of a beverage dispenser, the unit comprising:

a pump unit having a pump inlet disposed within the additive container and a pump outlet, the pump having an operating state and a deactivated state, the pump being biased to the deactivated state, the pump outlet being in fluid communication with an additive outlet;

a user-actuatable means for switching the pump from the deactivated state to the operational state.

21. An adapter for detachable connection to an outlet module of a beverage dispenser, the adapter comprising an attachment recess configured for fitting into or on the outlet module, an outlet nozzle receiving space, and an accessory opening for receiving and positioning an accessory unit substantially vertically below an outlet nozzle of the beverage dispenser.

22. The adapter of claim 21, configured to receive the beverage additive unit of claim 19.

23. The adapter of claim 21, wherein the accessory comprises a tube configured to be in liquid communication with an outlet of the beverage dispenser once the accessory is received in the adapter.

24. The adapter of claim 23, wherein the tube is flexible or rigid.

25. The adapter of claim 23, wherein the tube is telescopic.