Appliance with dispenser

• US 9,090,446 B2
• Filed: 08/08/2013
• Issued: 07/28/2015
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaawat, Mussa A
• Application Number:
  US13/962,617
• Publication Number:
  US 20130325171A1
• Time in Patent Office: 719 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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;

a user interface panel supported by the housing and including a touch screen;

a dispensing mechanism at least partially coupled to the user interface panel; and

a computer configured to operate with the user interface panel and the dispensing mechanism to;

(a) control operation of;

(i) the dispensing mechanism, (ii) a water supply mechanism in fluid communication with the dispensing mechanism, and (iii) a drink supply mechanism in fluid communication with the dispensing mechanism, said drink supply mechanism configured to obtain drink supply from each of a plurality of drink supply containers;

(b) cause the touch screen to display a plurality of different beverage related images, each different beverage related image associated with at least one of the drink supply containers;

(c) receive, via the touch screen, at least one input corresponding to at least one of the different displayed beverage related images; and

(d) for said at least one received input, cause the dispensing mechanism to dispense a beverage associated with the beverage related image corresponding to said at least one received input, said beverage dispensed via causing operation of one of a plurality of valves, said valve associated with the drink supply container associated with said beverage related image corresponding to said at least one received input, wherein when said valve is actuated, drink supply from said drink supply container associated with said beverage related image corresponding to said at least one received input is directed to a dispensing point at a position of a user beverage container.

2. The appliance of claim 1, which is a refrigerator.

3. The appliance of claim 1, wherein, for each of the at least one received input, the computer is configured to cause the dispensing mechanism to mix, at a predetermined level:

(i) the drink supply from the drink supply container associated with the beverage related image corresponding to said at least one received input, and (ii) water from the water supply mechanism, to dispense the beverage associated with the beverage related image corresponding to said at least one received input.

4. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the computer is configured to control operation of a CO2 supply mechanism connected to the water supply mechanism.

5. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the computer is configured to cause the user interface panel to display information regarding at least one of:

(i) a consumption amount of drink supply from at least one of the plurality of drink supply containers, and (ii) a remaining amount of drink supply in at least one of the plurality of drink supply containers.

6. The appliance of claim 1, which includes a plurality of fluid communication lines, each fluid communication line configured to direct drink supply from a different one of the drink supply containers to the dispensing point.

7. An appliance comprising:

a housing;

a user interface panel supported by the housing and including a touch screen;

a dispensing mechanism at least partially coupled to the user interface panel; and

a computer configured to operate with the user interface panel and the dispensing mechanism to;

(a) control operation of;

(i) the dispensing mechanism, (ii) a water supply mechanism in fluid communication with the dispensing mechanism, and (iii) a drink supply mechanism in fluid communication with the dispensing mechanism, said drink supply mechanism configured to obtain drink supply from each of a plurality of drink supply containers;

(b) cause the touch screen to display a plurality of different beverage related images, each different beverage related image associated with at least one of the drink supply containers;

(c) receive, via the touch screen, at least one input corresponding to at least one of the different displayed beverage related images; and

(d) for said at least one received input, cause the dispensing mechanism to dispense a beverage associated with the beverage related image corresponding to said at least one received input, said beverage dispensed via causing operation of one of a plurality of pumps, said pump associated with the drink supply container associated with said beverage related image corresponding to said at least one received input, wherein when said pump is activated, drink supply from said drink supply container associated with said beverage related image corresponding to said at least one received input is directed to a dispensing point at a position of a user beverage container.

8. The appliance of claim 7, which is a refrigerator.

9. The appliance of claim 7, wherein, for each of the at least one received input, the computer is configured to cause the dispensing mechanism to mix, at a predetermined level:

(i) the drink supply from the drink supply container associated with the beverage related image corresponding to said at least one received input, and (ii) water from the water supply mechanism, to dispense the beverage associated with the beverage related image corresponding to said at least one received input.

10. The appliance of claim 7, wherein the computer is configured to control operation of a CO2 supply mechanism connected to the water supply mechanism.

11. The appliance of claim 7, wherein the computer is configured to cause the user interface panel to display information regarding at least one of:

(i) a consumption amount of drink supply from at least one of the plurality of drink supply containers, and (ii) a remaining amount of drink supply in at least one of the plurality of drink supply containers.

12. The appliance of claim 7, which includes a plurality of fluid communication lines, each fluid communication line configured to direct drink supply from a different one of the drink supply containers to the dispensing point.

13. An appliance comprising:

a housing;

a user interface panel supported by the housing and including a touch screen;

a dispensing mechanism at least partially coupled to the user interface panel; and

a computer configured to operate with the user interface panel and the dispensing mechanism to;

(a) control operation of;

(i) the dispensing mechanism, (ii) a water supply mechanism in fluid communication with the dispensing mechanism, and (iii) a drink supply mechanism in fluid communication with the dispensing mechanism, said drink supply mechanism configured to obtain drink supply from each of a plurality of drink supply containers;

(b) cause the touch screen to display a plurality of different beverage related images, each different beverage related image associated with at least one of the drink supply containers;

(c) receive, via the touch screen, at least one input corresponding to at least one of the plurality of different displayed beverage related images; and

(d) cause the dispensing mechanism to dispense a beverage associated with one of the displayed beverage related images, said beverage dispensed via causing operation of a valve associated with the drink supply container associated with said one of the displayed beverage related images, wherein when said valve is actuated, drink supply from said drink supply container associated with said one of the displayed beverage related images is directed to a dispensing point at a position of a user beverage container.

14. The appliance of claim 13, which is a refrigerator.

15. The appliance of claim 13, wherein, for said at least one received input, the computer is configured to cause the dispensing mechanism to mix, at a predetermined level:

(i) the drink supply from the drink supply container associated with the beverage related image corresponding to said at least one received input, and (ii) water from the water supply mechanism, to dispense the beverage associated with the beverage related image corresponding to said at least one received input.

16. The appliance of claim 13, wherein the computer is configured to control operation of a CO2 supply mechanism connected to the water supply mechanism.

17. The appliance of claim 13, wherein the computer is configured to cause the user interface panel to display information regarding at least one of:

(i) a consumption amount of drink supply from at least one of the plurality of drink supply containers, and (ii) a remaining amount of drink supply in at least one of the plurality of drink supply containers.

18. The appliance of claim 13, which includes a plurality of fluid communication lines, each fluid communication line configured to direct drink supply from a different one of the drink supply containers to the dispensing point.

19. An appliance comprising:

a housing;

a user interface panel supported by the housing and including a touch screen;

a dispensing mechanism at least partially coupled to the user interface panel; and

a computer configured to operate with the user interface panel and the dispensing mechanism to;

(a) control operation of;

(i) the dispensing mechanism, (ii) a water supply mechanism in fluid communication with the dispensing mechanism, and (iii) a drink supply mechanism in fluid communication with the dispensing mechanism, said drink supply mechanism configured to obtain drink supply from each of a plurality of drink supply containers;

(b) cause the touch screen to display a plurality of different beverage related images, each different beverage related image associated with at least one of the drink supply containers;

(c) receive, via the touch screen, at least one input corresponding to at least one of the different displayed beverage related images; and

(d) cause the dispensing mechanism to dispense a beverage associated with one of the displayed beverage related images, said beverage dispensed via causing operation of a pump associated with the drink supply container associated with said one of the displayed beverage related images, wherein when said pump is activated, drink supply from said drink supply container associated with said one of the displayed beverage related images is directed to a dispensing point at a position of a user beverage container.

20. The appliance of claim 19, which is a refrigerator.

21. The appliance of claim 19, wherein, for said at least one received input, the computer is configured to cause the dispensing mechanism to mix, at a predetermined level:

(i) the drink supply from the drink supply container associated with the beverage related image corresponding to said at least one received input, and (ii) water from the water supply mechanism to dispense the beverage associated with the beverage related image corresponding to said at least one received input.

22. The appliance of claim 19, wherein the computer is configured to control operation of a CO2 supply mechanism connected to the water supply mechanism.

23. The appliance of claim 19, wherein the computer is configured to cause the user interface panel to display information regarding at least one of:

(i) a consumption amount of drink supply from at least one of the plurality of drink supply containers, and (ii) a remaining amount of drink supply in at least one of the plurality of drink supply containers.