Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method of ejecting or removing a beverage pod or capsule from a brewer or other beverage dispensing machine, utilizes the release of a predetermined quantity of stored energy triggered or commenced by an operator action, to automatically rapidly move an element holding the pod or capsule from a brewing or beverage preparing area in a predetermined manner to eject the pod or capsule, then return the element absent the pod or capsule to the brewing or beverage preparing area by a suitable action, thereby eliminating variances in the disposal resulting from inconsistent operator action, and the cost and complexity of motor driven apparatus for performing the disposal and/or return actions.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method of ejecting or removing a beverage pod or capsule from a brewer or other beverage dispensing machine, utilizes the release of a predetermined quantity of stored energy triggered or commenced by an operator action, to automatically rapidly move an element holding the pod or capsule from a brewing or beverage preparing area in a predetermined manner to eject the pod or capsule, then return the element absent the pod or capsule to the brewing or beverage preparing area by a suitable action, thereby eliminating variances in the disposal resulting from inconsistent operator action, and the cost and complexity of motor driven apparatus for performing the disposal and/or return actions.

Abstract: A single serving beverage vender incorporates a device for automatically brewing and dispensing single cups of coffee or other beverage through a controlled vending machine. The vender includes a flipper assembly, for an individual packet of grounds, and can process that packet through various sequences including presenting a support from within an enclosure, in preparation for drip brewing of a beverage, brewing a cup or a mug of beverage from the grounds packet, then disposing of the packet, and providing access to the flipper assembly, following the brewing of a cup of beverage for consumption.

Abstract: A single serving beverage vender incorporates a device for automatically brewing and dispensing single cups of coffee or other beverage through a controlled vending machine. The vender includes a flipper assembly, for an individual packet of grounds, and can process that packet through various sequences including presenting a support from within an enclosure, in preparation for drip brewing of a beverage, brewing a cup or a mug of beverage from the grounds packet, then disposing of the packet, and providing access to the flipper assembly, following the brewing of a cup of beverage for consumption.

Abstract: A snack dispenser comprises tiers stacked to resemble a wedding cake. Each tier includes a trough divided into transparent slots into which a snack may be placed. The troughs are mounted on a rotatable carousel having a transparent front shell with transparent locked doors therein. The doors are unlocked by a door control mechanism when coins of proper monetary value are inserted into a coin box. The coin box accepts and learns the value of different types of coins, or accepts personal identification numbers. Opening the door blocks the rotation of the carousel, blocks the opening of other doors, and resets the credit of the coins inserted. When closed, the door locks all doors until additional coins are inserted. Servicing the dispenser includes removal of the front shell, removal of empty tiers, and replacement of replenished tiers. All segments can be removed and collapsed into a flat position.

Abstract: A snack dispenser consists of a series of tiers stacked to resemble a wedding cake. Each tier includes a trough divided into slots. A snack may be placed into each slot. The front of each slot is transparent. The troughs or trays are mounted on a rotatable carousel. The carousel is covered with a backshell and a transparent front shell. The front shell has transparent doors therein. By inserting a proper amount of money and aligning the carousel so that the desired snack is beneath a door; the door may be opened and the customer may withdraw his snack from that slot. The opening of the door blocks the rotation of the carousel, blocks the opening of the remaining doors, and also resets or cancels the credit of the coins inserted. When the single door is closed again, all doors will be blocked so that a person can not again open a door until proper coins are inserted. To service the dispenser the front shell is removed. A segment of all tiers is removed.

Abstract: A snack dispenser comprises tiers stacked to resemble a wedding cake. Each tier includes a trough divided into transparent slots into which a snack may be placed. The troughs are mounted on a rotatable carousel having a transparent front shell with transparent locked doors therein. The doors are unlocked by a door control mechanism when coins of proper monetary value are inserted into a coin box. The coin box accepts and learns the value of different types of coins, or accepts personal identification numbers. Opening the door blocks the rotation of the carousel, blocks the opening of other doors, and resets the credit of the coins inserted. When closed, the door locks all doors until additional coins are inserted. Servicing the dispenser includes removal of the front shell, removal of empty tiers, and replacement of replenished tiers. All segments can be removed and collapsed into a flat position.

Abstract: A snack dispenser consists of a series of tiers stacked to resemble a wedding cake. Each tier includes a trough divided into slots. A snack may be placed into each slot. The front of each slot is transparent. The troughs or trays are mounted on a rotatable carousel. The carousel is covered with a backshell and a transparent front shell. The front shell has transparent doors therein. By inserting a proper amount of money and aligning the carousel so that the desired snack is beneath a door; the door may be opened and the customer may withdraw his snack from that slot. The opening of the door blocks the rotation of the carousel, blocks the opening of the remaining doors, and also resets or cancels the credit of the coins inserted. When the single door is closed again, all doors will be blocked so that a person can not again open a door until proper coins are inserted. To service the dispenser the front shell is removed. A segment of all tiers is removed.

Abstract: The reservoir of an automatic coffee brewer is closed except to a siphon tube, and a vent connected to two ball valves. One ball valve closes when the water level floats the ball. The other ball valve opens when the reservoir pressure approaches an unsafe level.

Abstract: A snack dispenser consists of a series of tiers stacked to resemble a wedding cake. Each tier includes a trough divided into slots. A snack may be placed into each slot. The front of each slot is transparent. The troughs or trays are mounted on a rotatable carousel. The carousel is covered with a backshell and a transparent front shell. The front shell has transparent doors therein. By inserting a proper amount of money and aligning the carousel so that the desired snack is beneath a door; the door may be opened and the customer may withdraw his snack from that slot. The opening of the door blocks the rotation of the carousel, blocks the opening of the remaining doors, and also resets or cancels the credit of the coins inserted. When the single door is closed again, all doors will be blocked so that a person can not again open a door until proper coins are inserted. To service the dispenser the front shell is removed. A segment of all tiers is removed.

Abstract: A snack dispenser consists of a series of tiers stacked to resemble a wedding cake. Each tier includes a trough divided into slots. A snack may be placed into each slot. The front of each slot is transparent. The troughs or trays are mounted on a rotatable carousel. The carousel is covered with a backshell and a transparent front shell. The front shell has transparent doors therein. By inserting a proper amount of money and aligning the carousel so that the desired snack is beneath a door; the door may be opened and the customer may withdraw his snack from that slot. The opening of the door blocks the rotation of the carousel, blocks the opening of the remaining doors, and also resets or cancels the credit of the coins inserted. When the single door is closed again, all doors will be blocked so that a person can not again open a door until proper coins are inserted. To service the dispenser the front shell is removed. A segment of all tiers is removed.

Abstract: A snack dispenser consists of a series of tiers stacked to resemble a wedding cake. Each tier includes a trough divided into slots. A snack may be placed into each slot. The front of each slot is transparent. The troughs or trays are mounted on a rotatable carousel. The carousel is covered with a backshell and a transparent front shell. The front shell has transparent doors therein. By inserting a proper amount of money and aligning the carousel so that the desired snack is beneath a door; the door may be opened and the customer may withdraw his snack from that slot. The opening of the door blocks the rotation of the carousel, blocks the opening of the remaining doors, and also resets or cancels the credit of the coins inserted. When the single door is closed again, all doors will be blocked so that a person can not again open a door until proper coins are inserted. To service the dispenser the front shell is removed. A segment of all tiers is removed.

Abstract: The fill-thru lid of the present invention threadedly engages the opening of a thermally insulated beverage server, such as a coffee pot. The opening provides a mouth for filling or emptying a liquid storage area in the beverage server. The upper surface of the lid provides a funnel opening for adding fluids to the storage area of the beverage server. The funnel opening accesses an interior chamber with a floating ball that rises to permit flow into the storage area for the fluid entering the funnel opening. When pouring from the storage area of the beverage server, the floating ball rises to block access to the passage to the funnel opening, forcing the fluid through an alternate passage leading to the integral spout opening. Further, a vent is provided that also accesses the inner chamber of the lid, resulting in the venting of air through the spout opening when fluids are being added to the storage area through the funnel opening.

Abstract: A coffee brewing apparatus has a hot water reservoir which sets, unconnected, on a housing above a grounds basket. The carafe rests upon a warming plate below the basket. The control unit is attached to the reservoir and the control unit is held by two screws to the housing so that the control unit and the reservoir may be readily removed as a unit from the housing for maintenance. The pouring tray is clamped to the top of the reservoir to form a vapor seal between the hot water reservoir and pouring tray. The vapor seal prevents the machines "boiling dry" by preventing vapors from escaping to condense on the apparatus.

Abstract: A truck is driven along a driveway at a slow speed to check the tires. Each tire of each dual pair is weighed to determine if each tire is applying the same pressure against the ground. If mismatch is discovered, an alarm is actuated.To check the pressure, a probe is pushed against the sidewall. From the measured stress-strain relationship, the inflation is determined.