Beverage making apparatus

• US 7,963,213 B1
• Filed: 12/12/2007
• Issued: 06/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Michael Caulter Murdock
• Original Assignee: Michael Caulter Murdock
• Inventors: Murdock, Michael Caulter
• Primary Examiner(s): ALEXANDER, REGINALD
• Application Number:
  US11/955,364
• Time in Patent Office: 1,287 Days
• Field of Search: 993/231, 993/233, 993/22, 994/70, 222/146.1, 222/146.2, 222/146.6, 220/592.16, 220/592.28, 220/592.03, 220/592.01
• US Class Current: 99/323.1
• CPC Class Codes: C12C 13/10 Home brew equipment

Abstract

An apparatus for preparing a beverage is provided. The apparatus may comprise a frame having a base, a top, front and back sides, and right and left sides; a beverage chamber disposed inside the frame; a heating element connected to the frame; a cooling element disposed inside the frame between the beverage chamber and the frame; a gas valve connected to the frame and penetrating the frame to extend into the beverage chamber; and a spigot connected to the frame, the spigot having a channel contiguous with the beverage chamber for emptying the contents of the chamber.

Claims

1. An apparatus for preparing a beverage, comprising:

a frame having a base, a top, front and back sides, and right and left sides;

a beverage chamber disposed inside the frame;

a heating element connected to the frame;

a cooling element disposed inside the frame between the beverage chamber and the frame;

a gas valve connected to the frame and penetrating the frame to extend into the beverage chamber;

a heat shield disposed in a side of the frame; and

a spigot connected to the frame, the spigot having a channel contiguous with the beverage chamber for emptying the contents of the chamber.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cooling element is disposed in the right and left sides;

the heating element is disposed in base; and

the spigot and gas valve are connected to the front side of the frame.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the gas valve is configured to receive and connect to a CO₂ bulb, the gas valve having a switch for toggling between an open position for permitting CO₂ to enter the beverage chamber and a closed position to maintain the CO₂ in the bulb.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a steeping chamber sized and shaped to fit inside the beverage chamber.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the steeping chamber has sides comprised of wire mesh and a lid for sealing a closeable opening disposed in the top of the apparatus, the closeable opening leading into the beverage chamber and the lid sized and shaped to close off the first closeable opening.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a pressure release valve disposed in the frame and contiguous with the beverage chamber for permitting the escape of gas from the beverage chamber when the valve is in an open position, and a pressure release toggle disposed in the frame, the pressure release toggle configured to open the pressure release valve when operated on by a user, wherein the pressure release valve and the pressure release toggle are biased in a closed position.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a controller in electrical communication with the heating element and the cooling element; and

a temperature sensor disposed in a side wall, the temperature sensor in electrical communication with the controller;

wherein the controller configured to turn off the heating and cooling elements when the temperature sensor reaches a critical temperature.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured to maintain a liquid in the beverage chamber at a predetermined temperature in response to an action by an operator of the apparatus.

7. An apparatus for preparing a beverage, comprising:

a frame having a base, a top, front and back sides, and right and left sides;

a beverage chamber disposed inside the frame;

a heating element connected to the frame;

a cooling element disposed inside the frame between the beverage chamber and the frame;

a gas valve connected to the frame and penetrating the frame to extend into the beverage chamber;

a spigot connected to the frame, the spigot having a channel contiguous with the beverage chamber for emptying the contents of the chamber;

a first closeable opening disposed in the front, the first closeable opening leading into the beverage chamber;

a cover sized and shaped to hermetically seal the first closeable opening; and

wherein the gas valve and the spigot are disposed in the cover.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the heating element is removable from the frame.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a second closeable opening disposed in the top, the second closeable opening leading into the beverage chamber and a second cover sized and shaped to close off the second closeable opening.

12. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the cooling element is disposed in the right and left sides;

the heating element is disposed in base; and

the spigot and gas valve are connected to the front side of the frame.

13. An apparatus for preparing a beverage, comprising:

a frame having a base, a top, front and back sides, and right and left sides;

a beverage chamber disposed inside the frame;

a heating element connected to the frame;

a cooling element disposed inside the frame between the beverage chamber and the frame;

a gas valve connected to the frame and penetrating the frame to extend into the beverage chamber;

a spigot connected to the frame, the spigot having a channel contiguous with the beverage chamber for emptying the contents of the chamber;

a dispensing tube connected to the spout;

a float connected to an end of the dispensing tube; and

a screen disposed in the bottom of the beverage chamber, the screen configured to screen the float from the bottom of the beverage chamber.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:

a controller in electrical communication with the heating element and the cooling element; and

a temperature sensor disposed in a side wall, the temperature sensor in electrical communication with the controller;

wherein the controller configured to turn off the heating and cooling elements when the temperature sensor reaches a critical temperature.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a liquid sensor disposed inside the beverage chamber.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a display and control panel connected to the outside of the frame.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the apparatus is configured to maintain a liquid in the beverage chamber at a predetermined temperature in response to an action by an operator of the apparatus.

18. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a beverage caddie sized and chapped to fit over the frame.

19. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the cooling element is disposed in the right and left sides;

the heating element is disposed in base; and

the spigot and gas valve are connected to the front side of the frame.

20. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a steeping chamber sized and shaped to fit inside the beverage chamber.