Technologies for sanitizing beverage makers
First Claim
1. A system for sanitizing a hot beverage maker with a water reservoir comprising:
- a gas supply system configured to supply a sanitizing gas;
a connector unit comprising an inlet passageway and an outlet passageway, the inlet passageway comprising a first proximal end and first distal end and the outlet passageway comprising a second proximal end and a second distal end; and
an exhaust system configured to remove the sanitizing gas;
wherein;
at least a portion of the outlet passageway is disposed radially around the inlet passageway;
the gas supply system is configured to fluidly couple to the inlet passageway and the exhaust system is configured to fluidly couple to the outlet passageway;
the connector unit is configured to be installed into and span a portion of a reservoir such that the first and second proximal ends are located outside the reservoir and the first and second distal ends are located inside the reservoir when the connector unit is installed;
the gas supply system is configured to supply the sanitizing gas to an inside of the reservoir via the inlet passageway and the exhaust system is configured to remove the sanitizing gas from the inside the reservoir via the outlet passageway;
the connector unit comprises a second connector portion comprising a first passageway and a fourth connector portion configured to be inserted into the first passageway;
the fourth connector portion comprises a first body and a flange, the first body comprising an outer surface; and
the inlet passageway is formed through the first body.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Technologies (e.g., devices, systems and methods) for sanitizing reservoirs are described. In some embodiments, the technologies include a sanitization gas system and a connector unit. The connector unit is configured to install into a portion (e.g., wall, bottom, top, or lid) of a reservoir, such as a reservoir of a hot beverage maker. The connector unit includes an inlet passageway for supplying sanitizing gas (e.g., ozone) into the reservoir, and an outlet passageway for removing sanitizing gas from the reservoir. In some embodiments at least a portion of the outlet passageway is disposed radially around the inlet passageway. The sanitization gas system may provide a sanitizing gas to the inlet passageway and receive the sanitizing gas from the outlet passageway.
40 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A system for sanitizing a hot beverage maker with a water reservoir comprising:
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a gas supply system configured to supply a sanitizing gas; a connector unit comprising an inlet passageway and an outlet passageway, the inlet passageway comprising a first proximal end and first distal end and the outlet passageway comprising a second proximal end and a second distal end; and an exhaust system configured to remove the sanitizing gas; wherein; at least a portion of the outlet passageway is disposed radially around the inlet passageway; the gas supply system is configured to fluidly couple to the inlet passageway and the exhaust system is configured to fluidly couple to the outlet passageway; the connector unit is configured to be installed into and span a portion of a reservoir such that the first and second proximal ends are located outside the reservoir and the first and second distal ends are located inside the reservoir when the connector unit is installed; the gas supply system is configured to supply the sanitizing gas to an inside of the reservoir via the inlet passageway and the exhaust system is configured to remove the sanitizing gas from the inside the reservoir via the outlet passageway; the connector unit comprises a second connector portion comprising a first passageway and a fourth connector portion configured to be inserted into the first passageway; the fourth connector portion comprises a first body and a flange, the first body comprising an outer surface; and the inlet passageway is formed through the first body. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
wherein; when the fourth connector portion is inserted into the first passageway; the plug is disposed within a proximal end of the first passageway; and the at least one sealing element is disposed between an inward facing surface of the proximal portion of the wall of the second body and at least a portion of the plug, so as to form a gas-tight seal between at least the plug and the second body.
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12. The system of claim 8, wherein:
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the first passageway comprises a proximal opening and a distal opening; the second connector portion comprises self-drilling elements disposed about the distal opening; and the self-drilling elements are configured to form a hole in a portion of the reservoir when the second connector portion is rotated.
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13. The system of claim 8, wherein:
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the connector unit further comprises a first connector portion that is configured to couple to a portion of the reservoir; the first connector portion comprises an opening; and the second connector portion is configured to be inserted into the opening of the first connector portion.
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14. The system of claim 13, wherein:
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the first connector portion comprises first guide elements within the opening; the wall of the second body comprises a distal portion and a proximal portion;
second guide elements are formed on an outside surface of the distal portion of the wall of the second body; andthe second guide elements and first guide elements are configured to draw the distal portion of wall of the second body into the opening of the first connector portion.
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15. The system of claim 14, wherein:
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the first guide elements are first threads; and the second guide elements are second threads configured to threadably engage with the first threads to draw the second body into the opening of the first connector portion when the second connector portion is rotated about an axis that is parallel to and extends through the first passageway.
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16. The system of claim 14, further comprising at least one locking element configured to be disposed on the outside surface of the distal portion of the wall of the second body, wherein the at least one locking element is configured to lock the relative position of the first connector portion and the second connector portion.
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17. The system of claim 16, wherein the second connector portion comprises a handle, and the at least one locking element is between the handle and the first connector portion.
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18. The system of claim 16, wherein:
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the at least one locking element comprises a first locking element and a second locking element; the first locking element configured to be disposed distally from the first connector portion; and the second locking element is configured to be disposed proximally from the first connector portion.
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19. The system of claim 8, wherein the wall of the second body comprises a distal portion and a proximal portion, and at least one proximal hole is present through the proximal portion, the at least one proximal hole forming at least a portion of the outlet passageway.
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20. The system of claim 19, further comprising:
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a third connector portion comprising a collar defining an opening, the collar comprising a proximal edge, at least one spacer element disposed within the opening, and at least one outlet opening; wherein; the collar is configured to be disposed over the proximal portion of the wall of the second body; when the collar is disposed over the proximal portion of the wall of the second body, the at least one spacer element is disposed between an inward facing surface of the collar and the outward facing surface of the proximal portion of the wall, such that a circumferential gap is present between the inward facing surface of the collar and the outward facing surface of the proximal portion of the wall, the circumferential gap fluidly coupling the at least one proximal hole with the at least one outlet opening; the circumferential gap and the outlet opening form at least a portion of the outlet passageway.
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21. The system of claim 20, wherein:
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the collar of the third connector portion comprises a proximal circumferential edge; and when the collar is disposed over the proximal portion of the wall of the second body and the fourth connector portion is inserted into the first passageway, at least a portion of the flange of the fourth connector portion abuts the proximal circumferential edge.
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22. The system of claim 1, further comprising a sanitizing gas system, the sanitizing gas system comprising a housing, the gas supply system, and the exhaust system, wherein the gas supply system and the exhaust system are disposed within the housing.
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23. A system for sanitizing a hot beverage maker with a water reservoir comprising:
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a gas supply system configured to supply a sanitizing gas; a connector unit comprising an inlet passageway and an outlet passageway, the inlet passageway comprising a first proximal end and first distal end and the outlet passageway comprising a second proximal end and a second distal end; and an exhaust system configured to remove the sanitizing gas; wherein; at least a portion of the outlet passageway is disposed radially around the inlet passageway; the gas supply system is configured to fluidly couple to the inlet passageway and the exhaust system is configured to fluidly couple to the outlet passageway; the connector unit is configured to be installed into and span a portion of a reservoir such that the first and second proximal ends are located outside the reservoir and the first and second distal ends are located inside the reservoir when the connector unit is installed; and the gas supply system is configured to supply the sanitizing gas to an inside of the reservoir via the inlet passageway and the exhaust system is configured to remove the sanitizing gas from the inside the reservoir via the outlet passageway, wherein the sanitizing gas is ozone. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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26. A system for sanitizing a hot beverage maker with a water reservoir comprising:
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a gas supply system configured to supply a sanitizing gas; a connector unit comprising an inlet passageway and an outlet passageway, the inlet passageway comprising a first proximal end and first distal end and the outlet passageway comprising a second proximal end and a second distal end; and an exhaust system configured to remove the sanitizing gas; wherein; at least a portion of the outlet passageway is disposed radially around the inlet passageway; the gas supply system is configured to fluidly couple to the inlet passageway and the exhaust system is configured to fluidly couple to the outlet passageway; the connector unit is configured to be installed into and span a portion of a reservoir such that the first and second proximal ends are located outside the reservoir and the first and second distal ends are located inside the reservoir when the connector unit is installed; the gas supply system is configured to supply the sanitizing gas to an inside of the reservoir via the inlet passageway and the exhaust system is configured to remove the sanitizing gas from the inside the reservoir via the outlet passageway, wherein the exhaust system comprises a vacuum pump and a filter, and the vacuum pump is configured to draw the sanitizing gas into the second distal end, through the outlet passageway, and to the filter. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
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Specification