Baffle operated liquid heating and dispensing system for a single serve beverage brewer
First Claim
1. A beverage brewer comprising:
- a storage tank adapted to contain a supply of liquid;
a metering chamber structured and arranged to be filled with a metered amount of said liquid received from said storage tank via an inlet in communication therewith;
a brewing chamber structured and arranged to receive a beverage filter cartridge containing a beverage medium;
a baffle movably arranged in said storage tank;
actuating means operable in a first mode to shift said baffle from an open position accommodating liquid flow between said storage tank and said metering chamber via said inlet, to a closed position preventing said flow and isolating said metering chamber from said storage tank;
connecting means for establishing a connection between said metering chamber and said brewing chamber; and
dispensing means operable during a brewing cycle to deliver liquid from the thus isolated metering chamber via said connecting means to said brewing chamber for combination with the beverage medium contained in said filter cartridge, said actuating means being operable in a second mode at the conclusion of said brewing cycle to shift said baffle to said open position, thereby allowing said metering chamber to be refilled with liquid received from said storage tank via said inlet.
12 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A beverage brewer comprises a storage tank adapted to contain a supply of liquid, and a metering chamber structured and arranged to be filled with a metered amount of liquid received from the storage tank via an inlet in communication therewith. A brewing chamber is structured and arranged to receive a beverage filter cartridge containing a dry beverage medium. A baffle in the storage tank is shiftable from an open position accommodating liquid flow between the storage tank and the metering chamber via its inlet to a closed position preventing such flow and isolating the metering chamber from the storage tank. During a brewing cycle, liquid is delivered from the thus isolated metering chamber to the brewing chamber for combination with the beverage medium contained in the filter cartridge. At the conclusion of the brewing cycle, the baffle is returned to its open position, thereby allowing the metering chamber to be refilled with liquid received from the storage tank via its inlet.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A beverage brewer comprising:
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a storage tank adapted to contain a supply of liquid;
a metering chamber structured and arranged to be filled with a metered amount of said liquid received from said storage tank via an inlet in communication therewith;
a brewing chamber structured and arranged to receive a beverage filter cartridge containing a beverage medium;
a baffle movably arranged in said storage tank;
actuating means operable in a first mode to shift said baffle from an open position accommodating liquid flow between said storage tank and said metering chamber via said inlet, to a closed position preventing said flow and isolating said metering chamber from said storage tank;
connecting means for establishing a connection between said metering chamber and said brewing chamber; and
dispensing means operable during a brewing cycle to deliver liquid from the thus isolated metering chamber via said connecting means to said brewing chamber for combination with the beverage medium contained in said filter cartridge, said actuating means being operable in a second mode at the conclusion of said brewing cycle to shift said baffle to said open position, thereby allowing said metering chamber to be refilled with liquid received from said storage tank via said inlet. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A beverage brewer comprising:
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a storage tank adapted to contain a supply of liquid;
a metering chamber structured and arranged to be filled with a metered amount of said liquid received from said storage tank via an inlet in communication therewith;
a brewing chamber structured and arranged to received a beverage filter cartridge containing a beverage medium;
a baffle movably arranged in said storage tank;
pneumatically actuated means operable in a first mode to shift said baffle from an open position accommodating liquid flow between said storage tank and said metering chamber via said inlet, to a closed position preventing said flow and isolating said metering chamber from said storage tank;
connecting means for establishing a connection between said metering chamber and said brewing chamber;
dispensing means pneumatically operable during a brewing cycle to deliver liquid from the thus isolated metering chamber via said connecting means to said brewing chamber for combination with the beverage medium contained in said filter cartridge, and;
resiliently actuated means operable in a second mode at the conclusion of said brewing cycle to shift said baffle to said open position, thereby allowing said metering chamber to be refilled with liquid received from said storage tank via said inlet.
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18. A beverage brewer comprising:
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a storage tank adapted to contain a supply of liquid;
a metering chamber structured and arranged to be filled with a metered amount of said liquid received from said storage tank via an inlet in communication therewith, said storage tank and said metering chamber coacting at a juncture therebetween to define a seat;
a brewing chamber structured and arranged to received a beverage filter cartridge containing a beverage medium;
a baffle movably arranged in said storage tank said baffle having a downwardly facing conical central area surrounded by a sealing gasket;
actuating means operable in a first mode to shift said baffle from an open position accommodating liquid flow between said storage tank and said metering chamber via said inlet, to a closed position urging said gasket against said seat to prevent said flow and to isolate said metering chamber from said storage tank;
connecting means for establishing a connection between said metering chamber and said brewing chamber;
dispensing means operable during a brewing cycle to deliver liquid from the thus isolated metering chamber via said connecting means to said brewing chamber for combination with the beverage medium contained in said filter cartridge, said actuating means being operable in a second mode at the conclusion of said brewing cycle to shift said baffle to said open position, thereby allowing said metering chamber to be refilled with liquid received from said storage tank via said inlet.
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Specification