APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING BEVERAGES THROUGH A REFRIGERATOR DOOR

摘要

A beverage dispensing apparatus is disclosed that can select and dispense a beverage from any of a plurality of standard beverage containers mounted behind a closed refrigerator door. The apparatus includes adapter caps that preserve beverage qualities such as carbonation by sealing the containers in lieu of standard caps. The containers are inverted and the adaptor caps are coupled to female receptacles that open valves in the caps, thereby gaining access to the beverages. A beverage selector controlled from outside of the refrigerator selects a beverage, which flows to an external dispenser through a single conduit that penetrates the door. Embodiments include a container supporting structure which can include orifices and tabs that stabilize containers in the orifices. Some embodiments can support and select between three standard, two-liter soda bottles. Preferred adapter caps include air inlets that allow air to displace dispensed beverage. Embodiments can be retrofitted to standard refrigerators.