Multiple beverage preparation device

• US 6,729,226 B2
• Filed: 04/24/2002
• Issued: 05/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Joseph Mangiapane
• Original Assignee: Joseph Mangiapane
• Inventors: Mangiapane, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): ALEXANDER, REGINALD
• Application Number:
  US10/128,914
• Publication Number:
  US 20030200871A1
• Time in Patent Office: 741 Days
• Field of Search: 992/91, 992/89.P, 993/07, 992/89.R, 992/95, 993/04, 993/05, 993/06
• US Class Current: 99/291
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/057 with water container separated from beverage container, the hot water passing the filter only once i.e. classical type of drip coffee makers
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/446 Filter holding means; Attachment of filters to beverage-making apparatus

Abstract

A device for the preparation of many different beverages simultaneously in one machine. The device comprises a housing containing a primary reservoir for holding a liquid that is used to make a beverage. Disposed within the housing is a rotatable tray and a motor for driving this tray. The rotatable tray contains a plurality of receptacles. These receptacles are for receiving a concentrate solution for flavoring the liquid. In addition, disposed within the housing is a conduit for transporting the liquid from the reservoir to the rotatable tray. In this case the conduit allows the reservoir to be in fluid connection with the tray.

Claims

1. A device for the preparation of multiple beverages comprising:

a) a housing containing at least one reservoir including at least one primary reservoir and at least one additional reservoir for holding a liquid;

b) a rotatable tray disposed within said housing;

c) a plurality of receptacles disposed within said rotatable tray, said receptacles for receiving a concentrate solution for flavoring said liquid;

d) a valve connecting said at least one primary reservoir to said at least one additional reservoir;

e) a liquid position sensor disposed within said at least one additional reservoir wherein said liquid position sensor opens said valve when said liquid is below said liquid position sensor and closes said valve when said liquid has either reached or passed said liquid position sensor;

g) a conduit for transporting said liquid from said at least one reservoir to said rotatable tray within said housing; and

h) a motor disposed within said housing, said motor being coupled to said rotatable tray and for driving said rotatable tray about an axis within said housing.

2. The device as in claim 1, further comprising a heater for heating said liquid within said housing.

3. The device as in claim 1, further comprising a pump for pumping liquid from said at least one reservoir through said conduit and into said rotatable tray.

4. The device as in claim 1, further comprising a spout disposed within said housing adjacent to said rotatable tray wherein said spout is designed to funnel said liquid into a stream after said liquid has left said rotatable tray.

5. The device as in claim 1 wherein said rotatable tray further comprises a series of label plates wherein there is at least one label plate disposed adjacent to each of said receptacles.

6. The device as in claim 1, wherein said motor is designed to rotate from a first position to a second position wherein when said motor is coupled to said tray, said first position aligns a first receptacle of said plurality of receptacles with said conduit and said second position aligns a second receptacle of said plurality of receptacles with said conduit.

7. The device as in claim 1, further comprising an axle, coupled at a first end to said motor and at a second end to said tray wherein said motor drives said axle which in turn drives said tray.

8. The device as in claim 1, wherein said tray further comprises a plurality of teeth disposed about a peripheral surface of said tray, and wherein said device further comprises a linkage which couples said motor to said peripheral surface of said tray.

9. The device as in claim 8, wherein said linkage comprises a first axle extending out from said motor, a first gear coupled to said first axle, a second axle, a second gear coupled to said second axle wherein said second gear meshes with said first gear, and a third gear coupled to said second axle opposite said second gear, said third gear for meshing with said plurality of teeth on said peripheral surface of said tray wherein said motor drives said first axle which in turn drives said second axle wherein said third gear meshes with said plurality of teeth on said tray driving said tray in a rotatable manner.

10. The device as in claim 1, further comprising a reusable filter for filtering a concentrate within said housing said reusable filter being insertable into each of said receptacles in said rotatable tray.

11. The device as in claim 10, wherein said reusable filter further comprises a handle.

12. The device as in claim 11, wherein said tray further comprises a filter handle indent for receiving said filter handle.

13. A device for the preparation of multiple beverages comprising:

a) a housing containing at least one reservoir for holding a liquid;

b) a rotatable tray disposed within said housing;

c) a plurality of receptacles disposed within said rotatable tray, said receptacles for receiving a concentrate solution for flavoring said liquid;

d) a conduit for transporting said liquid from said at least one reservoir to said rotatable tray within said housing; and

e) a motor disposed within said housing, said motor being coupled to said rotatable tray and for driving said rotatable tray about an axis within said housing; and

f) a spout disposed within said housing adjacent to said rotatable tray wherein said spout is designed to funnel said liquid into a stream after said liquid has left said rotatable tray.

14. A device for the preparation of multiple beverages comprising:

a) a housing containing at least one reservoir for holding a liquid;

b) a rotatable tray disposed within said housing;

c) a plurality of receptacles disposed within said rotatable tray, said receptacles for receiving a concentrate solution for flavoring said liquid;

d) a conduit for transporting said liquid from said at least one reservoir to said rotatable tray within said housing;

e) a motor disposed within said housing, said motor being coupled to said rotatable tray and for driving said rotatable tray about an axis within said housing; and

f) a reusable filter having a handle for filtering a concentrate within said housing said reusable filter being insertable into each of said receptacles in said rotatable tray.

15. The device as in claim 14, wherein said tray further comprises a filter handle indent for receiving said filter handle.