Patents by Inventor John Couture

John Couture has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11771258
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for venting a liquid supply of a beverage machine, e.g., by permanently open orifice and/or pressure relief valve. The orifice may always vent a heater tank, even while liquid is delivered to the tank by a liquid pump and/or while the tank is pressurized by an air pump to deliver liquid from the tank. A filter may be positioned between a heater tank and orifice and/or air pump. The pressure relief valve may be positioned between the liquid pump and the inlet side of the heater tank, e.g., so relatively cool water is released by the pressure relief valve when open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Keurig Green Mountain, Inc.
    Inventors: Choon Meng Teo, Yee Leong Pang, Kim Lai Wong, John Couture, Richard Pasquini
  • Patent number: 11771259
    Abstract: Aspects relating to a method and apparatus for venting a heater tank of a beverage forming apparatus using a vent valve that is opened and closed based on an operation to move a brew chamber lid between an open lid position and a closed lid position are provided. In one aspect, the vent valve may be positioned on a vent line distinct from a delivery line that delivers heated liquid from the heater tank to the brew chamber. In another aspect, at least a portion of the delivery line may extend downwardly from the top of the heater tank to a location between the top and the bottom of the heater tank. In another aspect, the at least a portion of the vent valve may be attached to the handle for movement with the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Keurig Green Mountain, Inc.
    Inventors: Choon Meng Teo, Yee Leong Pang, Kim Lai Wong, John Couture, Richard Pasquini
  • Patent number: 11641974
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for venting a liquid supply of a beverage machine, e.g., by permanently open orifice and/or pressure relief valve. The orifice may always vent a heater tank, even while liquid is delivered to the tank by a liquid pump and/or while the tank is pressurized by an air pump to deliver liquid from the tank. A filter may be positioned between a heater tank and orifice and/or air pump. The pressure relief valve may be positioned between the liquid pump and the inlet side of the heater tank, e.g., so relatively cool water is released by the pressure relief valve when open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Keurig Green Mountain, Inc.
    Inventors: Choon Meng Teo, Yee Leong Pang, Kim Lai Wong, John Couture, Richard Pasquini
  • Publication number: 20230067361
    Abstract: A beverage dispenser includes a housing and a user interface disposed on a vertical corner of the housing. The user interface includes one or more buttons that are accessible from a front view and a side view of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2022
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Applicant: Keurig Green Mountain, Inc.
    Inventors: Wai Kean Chan, Mohan Arjonut, Soy Lee Loh, Fa Yong Zhong, John Couture, Jason Scott Sabel
  • Publication number: 20220379699
    Abstract: A vehicle covering assembly, including a plurality of vertical poles vertically disposed on a first side and a second side of a vehicle opposite with respect to the first side, a plurality of horizontal poles perpendicularly disposed away from an end of at least one of the plurality of vertical poles to suspend above a roof of the vehicle, and a plurality of vehicle connectors removably connected to at least a portion of the first side of the vehicle and the second side of the vehicle, such that each of the plurality of vehicle connectors receive at least one of the plurality of vertical poles therethrough.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2021
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Inventors: John Couture, Shannon Couture
  • Publication number: 20220304502
    Abstract: A beverage machine having a heater tank with a horizontally oriented heating element. The heating element may be arranged as a helical coil with a longitudinal axis arranged horizontally in the heater tank. A bottom wall of the heater tank may define a concave shape at the interior of the heater tank, and the heating element may be at least partially arranged within the concave shape, e.g., with a longitudinal axis of the coil extending along a central portion of the bottom wall. An inlet to the heater tank may be arranged at the bottom wall, e.g., in the central portion of the bottom wall, and may direct liquid at the heating element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2020
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Applicant: Keurig Green Mountain, Inc.
    Inventors: Blair Mikkelsen, Steven Mackey, John Couture
  • Publication number: 20200154938
    Abstract: Aspects relating to a method and apparatus for venting a heater tank of a beverage forming apparatus using a vent valve that is opened and closed based on an operation to move a brew chamber lid between an open lid position and a closed lid position are provided. In one aspect, the vent valve may be positioned on a vent line distinct from a delivery line that delivers heated liquid from the heater tank to the brew chamber. In another aspect, at least a portion of the delivery line may extend downwardly from the top of the heater tank to a location between the top and the bottom of the heater tank. In another aspect, the at least a portion of the vent valve may be attached to the handle for movement with the handle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2018
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Applicant: Keurig Green Mountain, Inc.
    Inventors: Choon Meng Teo, Yee Leong Pang, Kim Lai Wong, John Couture, Richard Pasquini
  • Publication number: 20200138231
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for venting a liquid supply of a beverage machine, e.g., by permanently open orifice and/or pressure relief valve. The orifice may always vent a heater tank, even while liquid is delivered to the tank by a liquid pump and/or while the tank is pressurized by an air pump to deliver liquid from the tank. A filter may be positioned between a heater tank and orifice and/or air pump. The pressure relief valve may be positioned between the liquid pump and the inlet side of the heater tank, e.g., so relatively cool water is released by the pressure relief valve when open.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2018
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Applicant: Keuring Green Mountain, Inc.
    Inventors: Choon Meng Teo, Yee Leong Pang, Kim Lai Wong, John Couture, Richard Pasquini
  • Publication number: 20200093319
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for venting a liquid supply of a beverage machine, e.g., by permanently open orifice and/or pressure relief valve. The orifice may always vent a heater tank, even while liquid is delivered to the tank by a liquid pump and/or while the tank is pressurized by an air pump to deliver liquid from the tank. A filter may be positioned between a heater tank and orifice and/or air pump. The pressure relief valve may be positioned between the liquid pump and the inlet side of the heater tank, e.g., so relatively cool water is released by the pressure relief valve when open.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2018
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Applicant: Keurig Green Mountain, Inc.
    Inventors: Choon Meng Teo, Yee Leong Pang, Kim Lai Wong, John Couture, Richard Pasquini
  • Patent number: D977889
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Keurig Green Mountain, Inc.
    Inventors: Wai Kean Chan, Mohan Arjonut, Soy Lee Loh, Fa Yong Zhong, John Couture, Jason Sabel
  • Patent number: D992947
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Keurig Green Mountain, Inc.
    Inventors: Poa Xuan Yeap, Fa Yong Zhong, Chun Ki Jason Ha, Weifeng Li, John Couture, Chang Geng