Appliance with dispenser

• US 8,290,615 B2
• Filed: 04/23/2010
• Issued: 10/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Beverage Works, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Beverage Works, Inc.
• Inventors: Crisp, III, Harry Lee, Ramsey, Christopher Paul, Tanner, Roger
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaawat, Mussa A
• Application Number:
  US12/766,439
• Publication Number:
  US 20100199705A1
• Time in Patent Office: 907 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 700/236
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2002/00 Food compositions, function of food ingredients or processes for food or foodstuffs
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0021 the components being mixed at the time of dispensing, i.e. post-mix dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0034 for controlling the amount of each component
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0043 Mixing devices for liquids
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0052 by means for directing respective streams together
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/006 Conventional carbonators
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0079 having their own dispensing means
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0412 the whole dispensing unit being fixed to the container
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/08 Details
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0801 of beverage containers, e.g. casks, kegs
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0878 Safety, warning or controlling devices B67D1/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0888 Means comprising electronic circuitry (e.g. control panels, switching or controlling means)
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0889 Supports
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/12 Flow or pressure control devices or systems , e.g. valves, gas pressure control, level control in storage containers
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2001/0812 Bottles, cartridges or similar containers
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2001/0814 for upside down use
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/00036 for use with or in refrigerators

Abstract

An appliance having a housing including a body defining a compartment and a door attached to the body, a water supplier including a first valve actuator configured to cause water to be dispensed by the water supplier, a supply container holder configured to hold a supply container for a liquid supply, at least one user input device including a touch screen configured to enable a user to make an input to request dispensing of the liquid supply from the supply container, a supply dispenser including a second valve actuator and configured to cause the liquid supply in the supply container to be selectively dispensed from the supply container based on the input made by the user using the touch screen, and a dispensing computer configured to receive a dispense signal from the touch screen, in response to receipt of the dispense signal, cause the second valve actuator to cause the liquid supply in the supply container to be dispensed from the supply container for a first period of time to dispense an appropriate amount of liquid supply, and store data representative of the amounts of the liquid supply dispensed by the supply dispenser.

Claims

1. An appliance comprising:

a housing including;

(i) a body defining a compartment, and

(ii) a door attached to the body, said door moveable to a closed position and to an open position;

a water supplier supported by the housing, said water supplier including a first valve actuator configured to cause water to be dispensed by the water supplier;

a supply container holder supported by the housing and configured to hold a supply container, said supply container configured to hold a liquid supply;

at least one user input device supported by the housing, said at least one user input device including a touch screen configured to enable a user to make an input to request dispensing of the liquid supply from the supply container held by the supply container holder;

a supply dispenser supported by the housing, said supply dispenser including a second valve actuator configured to cause the liquid supply in the supply container held by the supply container holder to be selectively dispensed from the supply container based on the input made by the user using the touch screen; and

a dispensing computer supported by the housing and coupled to the water supplier, the supply dispenser, and the at least one user input device, said dispensing computer configured to;

(a) receive a dispense signal from the touch screen;

(b) in response to receipt of said dispense signal, cause the second valve actuator to cause the liquid supply in the supply container held by the supply container holder to be dispensed from the supply container for a first period of time to dispense an appropriate amount of liquid supply from the supply container; and

(c) track and store data representative of the amounts of the liquid supply caused to be dispensed by the supply dispenser.

2. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the first valve actuator of the water supplier is supported by the door.

3. The appliance of claim 2, wherein the supply container holder is supported by the door.

4. The appliance of claim 3, wherein the touch screen is supported by the door.

5. The appliance of claim 4, wherein the second valve actuator of the supply dispenser is supported by the door.

6. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the supply container holder is supported by the door.

7. The appliance of claim 6, wherein the supply container holder supported by the door is configured to hold the supply container in an upside down position with a liquid outlet valve facing downwardly.

8. The appliance of claim 6, wherein the supply container holder supported by the door is configured to be accessed from an interior side of the door.

9. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the touch screen is supported by the door.

10. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the second valve actuator of the supply dispenser is supported by the door.

11. The appliance of claim 1, which is a refrigerator and which includes a gas supplier configured to supply CO₂ gas to carbonate water dispensed by the water supplier.

12. The appliance of claim 11, wherein the gas supplier is also configured to supply CO₂ gas to pressurize the supply container.

13. The appliance of claim 1, which is a refrigerator and which includes a gas supplier configured to supply CO₂ gas to pressurize the supply container.

14. The appliance of claim 13, wherein the gas supplier is configured to maintain a substantially constant pressure in the supply container as volume of liquid supply in the supply container decreases.

15. The appliance of claim 1, which is a refrigerator and wherein the supply dispenser includes a beverage dispensing apparatus, and the supply container holder is configured to hold a supply container including both a gas inlet valve and a drink supply outlet valve at one end of the supply container.

16. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the dispensing computer is configured to, in response to receipt of said dispense signal, cause the first valve actuator to cause water to be dispensed from the water supplier for a second period of time to dispense the appropriate amount of water.

17. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the dispensing computer is configured to communicate with a remote order processing system configured to receive and process orders which the dispensing computer transmits to the order processing system.

18. The appliance of claim 17, wherein the orders are of supply containers.

19. The appliance of claim 1, which includes at least one reader configured to determine the type of liquid supply from a readable device on the supply container.

20. An appliance comprising:

a housing including;

(i) a body defining a compartment, and

(ii) a door attached to the body, said door moveable to a closed position and to an open position;

a water supplier supported by the housing, said water supplier including a first valve actuator configured to cause water to be dispensed by the water supplier;

a supply container holder supported by the housing and configured to hold a supply container, said supply container configured to hold a concentrate;

at least one user input device supported by the housing, said at least one user input device including a touch screen configured to enable a user to make an input to request dispensing of the concentrate from the supply container held by the supply container holder;

a supply dispenser supported by the housing, said supply dispenser including a second valve actuator configured to cause the concentrate in the supply container held by the supply container holder to be selectively dispensed from the supply container based on the input made by the user using the touch screen; and

a dispensing computer supported by the housing and coupled to the water supplier, the supply dispenser, and the at least one user input device, said dispensing computer configured to;

(a) receive a dispense signal from the touch screen;

(b) in response to receipt of said dispense signal, cause the second valve actuator to cause the concentrate in the supply container held by the supply container holder to be dispensed from the supply container for a first period of time to dispense an appropriate amount of the concentrate from the supply container; and

(c) track and store data representative of the amounts of the concentrate supply caused to be dispensed by the supply dispenser.

21. The appliance of claim 20, wherein the first valve actuator of the water supplier is supported by the door.

22. The appliance of claim 21, wherein the supply container holder is supported by the door.

23. The appliance of claim 22, wherein the touch screen is supported by the door.

24. The appliance of claim 23, wherein the second valve actuator of the supply dispenser is supported by the door.

25. The appliance of claim 20, wherein the supply container holder is supported by the door.

26. The appliance of claim 25, wherein the supply container holder supported by the door is configured to hold the supply container in an upside down position with an outlet valve facing downwardly.

27. The appliance of claim 25, wherein the supply container holder supported by the door is configured to be accessed from an interior side of the door.

28. The appliance of claim 20, wherein the touch screen is supported by the door.

29. The appliance of claim 20, wherein the second valve actuator of the supply dispenser is supported by the door.

30. The appliance of claim 20, which is a refrigerator and which includes a gas supplier configured to supply CO₂ gas to carbonate water dispensed by the water supplier.

31. The appliance of claim 30, wherein the gas supplier is also configured to supply CO₂ gas to pressurize the supply container.

32. The appliance of claim 20, which is a refrigerator and which includes a gas supplier configured to supply CO₂ gas to pressurize the supply container.

33. The appliance of claim 32, wherein the gas supplier is configured to maintain a substantially constant pressure in the supply container as volume of the concentrate in the supply container decreases.

34. The appliance of claim 20, which is a refrigerator and wherein the supply dispenser includes a beverage dispensing apparatus, and the supply container holder is configured to hold a supply container including both a gas inlet valve and a drink supply outlet valve at one end of the supply container.

35. The appliance of claim 20, wherein the dispensing computer is configured to, in response to receipt of said dispense signal, cause the first valve actuator to cause water to be dispensed from the water supplier for a second period of time to dispense the appropriate amount of water.

36. The appliance of claim 20, wherein the dispensing computer is configured to communicate with a remote order processing system configured to receive and process orders which the dispensing computer transmits to the order processing system.

37. The appliance of claim 36, wherein the orders are of supply containers.

38. The appliance of claim 20, which includes at least one reader configured to determine the type of the concentrate from a readable device on the supply container.