Manual fill hot beverage dispenser

Claim 2

A beverage dispenser comprising: a liquid storage and delivery system; a reservoir tank for holding a volume of liquid, said reservoir tank having an outlet; means for detachably connecting the reservoir tank to the liquid storage and delivery system to effect communication between the reservoir tank and the liquid storage and delivery system through the outlet to enable liquid to flow from the reservoir tank to the liquid storage and delivery system and to enable the reservoir tank to be completely separated from the system; a valve member mounted to the reservoir tank and being operable to open or close the outlet; said system including means responsive to the quantity of liquid in said liquid storage and delivery system, said responsive means being cooperative with the valve means for opening the valve means in response to connection of the reservoid tank with the system, and for closing the outlet in response to detachment of the reservoir tank from the system, and for controlling the flow of liquid through the outlet when the reservoir tank and system are connected by closing the outlet when the volume of liquid in the liquid storage and delivery system has reached a predetermined magnitude.

Claim 3

A beverage dispenser as defined in claim 1 wherein said cooperative means comprises: a float having an actuating member attached thereto for movement in unison therewith, the actuating member being located to engage said valve member when the reservoir is connected to the system.

Claim 4

A beverage dispenser comprising: a liquid storage and delivery system; a reservoir tank for holding a volume of liquid, said reservoir tank having an outlet; means for detachably connecting the reservoir tank to the liquid storage and delivery system to effect communication between the reservoir tank and the liquid storage and delivery system through the outlet to enable liquid to flow from the reservoir tank to the liquid storage and delivery system and to enable the reservoir tank to be completely separated from the system; valve means associated with the reservoir tank for closing the outlet in response to detachment of the reservoir tank from the system, the valve means including a sleeve surrounding the outlet and extending downwardly from the bottom of the reservoir tank, the sleeve having valve seats defined at opposition ends thereof; the valve means further including a valve member movably mounted within the sleeve and cooperative with the valve seats to alternately seal either of the ends of the sleeve; and said system including an actuator cooperative with the valve member to urge the valve member toward one of the valve seats when the reservoir tank is connected to the system, said valve member being movable toward the other of the valve seats to close the outlet in response to detachment of the reservoir tank from the system.

Claim 5

A beverage dispenser comprising: a liquid storage and delivery system; a reservoir tank for holding a volume of liquid, said reservoir tank having an outlet; means for detachably connecting the reservoir tank to the liquid storage and delivery system to effect communication between the reservoir tank and the liquid storage and delivery system through the outlet to enable liquid to flow from the reservoir tank to the liquid storage and delivery system and to enable the reservoir tank to be completely separated from the system; valve means associated with the reservoir tank for closing the outlet in response to detachment of the reservoir tank from the system, the valve means including a sleeve surrounding the outlet and extending downwardly from the bottom of the reservoir tank, the sleeve having valve seats defined at opposition ends thereof; the valve means further including a valve member movably mounted within the sleeve and cooperative with the valve seats to alternately seal either of the ends of the sleeve; and said system including an actuator cooperative with the valve member to urge the valve member toward one of the valve seats when the reservoir tank is connected to the system, said valve member being movable toward the other of the valve seats to close the outlet in response to detachment of the reservoir tank from the system.

Claim 6

A beverage dispenser as defined in claim 3 further comprising: the lower end of the sleeve being open and defining a lower of one of said valve seats; and the actuator being receivable through the open lower end of the sleeve to engage the valve member.

Claim 7

A beverage dispenser as defined in claim 4 wherein the valve member comprises a ball having a diameter smaller than that of the interior of the sleeve.

Claim 8

A beverage dispenser as defined in claim 3 wherein the valve means is detachable from the reservoir chamber.

Claim 9

A beverage dispenser as defined in claim 6 wherein the valve means is detachable from the reservoir tank by means comprising: valve means including a disk connected to the sleeve at the upper end of the sleeve; means defining a hole in the reservoir tank to receive the sleeve; the disk in the tank being constructed and arranged to enable the disk to be secured to the tank about the region of the hole in the tank and in a sealed configuration.

Claim 10

A beverage dispenser as defined in claim 7 wherein the disk is secured to the tank by means comprising: a pair of fingers secured to the underside of the disk, the fingers extending generally radially outwardly and being spaced from the underside of the disk; the hole in the reservoir wall including a pair of radial slots to receive the fingers; means on the topside of the disks to facilitate rotation of the disk after insertion of the sleeve through the hole in the reservoir tank; the fingers on the other side of the reservoir wall being constructed and arranged as to wedge into a tight fit in response to rotation of the disk.

Claim 11

A beverage dispenser as defined in claim 3 further comprising: the cooperative means includes a float and an actuator mounted to the float for movement therewith; the float being movable between a first position in which the actuator maintains the valve member between the valve seats and a second position in which the actuator urges the valve firmly against one of the valve seats.