Reactant/gas separation means for beverage carbonation device

Claim 1

A pressurizable container for preparing therein a carbonated beverage from a water-based liquid and carbon dioxide generating chemical reactants designed to minimize transfer to the beverage of the resultant products of the chemical reaction, comprising: a. a container having an opening therein providing access to the contents thereof; b. a carbonation chamber, insertable into said opening in the container for holding therein the chemical reactants and for substantially isolating the resultant chemical products of the chemical reaction from the beverage to prevent their adversely affecting the palatability of the beverage, said chamber having an upper compartment for holding therein the chemical reactants and a quantity of water to promote the reaction and a lower compartment for releasing the generated carbon dioxide into a beverage in the container; c. a means for preventing the transfer from the upper to the lower compartment of the resultant chemical products while allowing a transfer of carbon dioxide to carbonate the liquid; and d. a one-way valve on the preventing transfer means of step (c) which is proximate to the liquid to be carbonated, said one-way valve preventing the back flow of liquid or gas into the reaction chamber.