Liquid Trap Patents (Class 99/301)
  • Patent number: 9038530
    Abstract: A beverage machine for preparing and dispensing a hot beverage having a pump dispensing system. Hot water passes through a water distributor to infuse material in a filter basket. A coffee tank receives the brewed beverage and maintains it at an appropriate temperature. On demand, a pump dispensing system delivers the beverage through an outlet chamber and spout into a user's cup. The user manipulates a switch to vary the rate at which the pump dispensing system dispenses the beverage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: ENE HOLDINGS LTD
    Inventors: Andrew Yuen Chin Chen, Amy Decem Cheng, Kwan Fai Lui
  • Patent number: 8978542
    Abstract: The present invention proposes a system for producing a beverage from portioned ingredients provided within a capsule or pod, the system comprising a base station (1) comprising a (e.g. removable) water reservoir of large capacity (12), an autonomous beverage preparation module (2) comprising an extraction head (4) and being removably connectable to the base station (1) from an autonomous-use mode to docked-use mode, wherein the autonomous module (2) comprises a water inlet connection means (27, 27a), wherein the autonomous module (2) and the base station (1) respectively comprise matching positioning means (5a, 5b) which engage when the beverage preparation module (2) is connected to the base station (1) in the docked position, and wherein it comprises alternative water supply means (11, 29, 36) and water outlet connection means (28, 32, 36a) adapted for connecting to the water inlet connection means (27) of the module (2) for supplying water to the module when the module is in the autonomous-use mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventors: Christian Talon, Jean-Luc Denisart
  • Patent number: 8667892
    Abstract: A beverage forming method and system employing the introduction of air into the heater tank and/or an expansion chamber after liquid delivery is complete. An expansion chamber may be provided at the top of the heater tank and provide a tortuous flow path from an air inlet to the tank outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Keurig, Incorporated
    Inventors: Tom Cominelli, James E. Shepard, Thomas Vitella
  • Publication number: 20130209636
    Abstract: A beverage forming method and system employing the introduction of air into the heater tank and/or an expansion chamber after liquid delivery is complete. An expansion chamber may be provided at the top of the heater tank and provide a tortuous flow path from an air inlet to the tank outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: Keurig, Incorporated
    Inventors: Tom Cominelli, James E. Shepard, Thomas Vitella
  • Patent number: 8132499
    Abstract: A heated water reservoir for use as a heated water dispenser, in conjunction with a beverage dispenser or for other uses. The heated water reservoir (5) includes a baffle (20) which communicates with an outlet port (7) positioned along the reservoir and an upper portion of the reservoir. In the reservoir a quantity of water is retained in a heated condition with an upper portion of the reservoir containing generally heated water of a higher temperature. An upper edge (35) of the baffle is positioned relative to the upper portion of the heated water reservoir such that passage of water from the reservoir into a cavity (22) defined, at least in part, by the baffle facilitates flow of water over the upper edge and into the outlet port. In this manner, water having a higher temperature is dispensed from the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Bunn-O-Matic Corporation
    Inventor: Kevin Lowe
  • Patent number: 6547103
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for serving a heated alcoholic beverage is disclosed. The method and apparatus includes supplying an alcoholic beverage mix, such as a mulled wine mix, which is connected to a serving tap. The mulled wine is heated between leaving the source and being serviced from the tap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Inventor: Ian Richard Elliott
  • Patent number: 4871089
    Abstract: A hot water dispenser is provided for dispensing a selected volume of water at a predetermined water temperature. The dispenser has a body defining a predetermined sized cavity having an inlet for receiving cold water and an outlet for dispensing hot water. A heating mechanism is disposed within the body for heating the water contained within the cavity. A manually operable timer switch is operated to energize the heating mechanism and to select a time period for maintaining the heating mechanism energized. This selected time period determines the selected volume of heated water dispensed. A thermally responsive mechanism enables dispensing water from the outlet responsive to the predetermined water temperature of the heated water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1989
    Inventors: Edward F. Rader, Eileen Rader
  • Patent number: 3983797
    Abstract: A filtering device for the preparation of coffee comprises a vessel with a permanent metallic filter disk forming the bottom thereof. Vertically extending walls divide the vessel into distinct compartments of varying volumetric content, thus separating distinct areas of the filter disk. A water inlet is provided for one of the compartments in which the coffee powder is placed so that the amount of water used at any one time determines the active area of the filter disk utilized by virtue of the overflow between compartments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1975
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1976
    Assignee: Interelectric Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Alfred Wurm
  • Patent number: 3948156
    Abstract: An automatic beverage-making apparatus is described which has a stand and a receptacle and water may be supplied to solid material such as ground coffee in the receptacle by a pipe means within the stand, said pipe means being provided with a heater to heat the water and means for controlling the throughput of water, the time for which water flows through the pipe means and the energisation of the heater respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1974
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1976
    Assignee: Cona Limited
    Inventor: Edwin Wilson Smith