Beverage brewing apparatus

Claim 2

In beverage brewing apparatus comprising housing means including a base portion and an upper portion carried by and above said base portion, cold water conduit means, a cold water fill basin in said upper portion to receive a selected quantity of cold water from said cold water conduit means, a hot water tank below said cold water tank, means communicating between the cold water basin and hot water tank to conduct said selected quantity of cold water to said hot water tank and to displace therefrom a corresponding quantity of hot water to a hot water dispensing port, and a dry beverage-making material receptacle carried by said upper portion beneath said dispensing port, the improvement comprising a pair of reservoirs carried by said base portion below and substantially on either side of said hot water dispensing port, said receptacle comprising on off-center liquid outlet and being pivotally mounted on said upper portion to permit the receptacle to be pivoted to position said outlet over either of said reservoirs to gravitationally discharge liquid beverage extract through said outlet into selected one of said reservoirs.

Claim 3

Beverage brewing apparatus in accordance with claim 1 further comprising control means for controlling the brewing cycle of said apparatus, said control means including sensor means to detect the proper positioning of said receptacle over one or the other of said reservoirs.

Claim 4

Beverage brewing apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said sensor means comprise a pair of angularly spaced sensors, said receptacle including a tab portion of engaging one of said sensors when said receptacle is properly positioned over one of said reservoirs.

Claim 5

Beverage brewing apparatus in accordance with claim 2, further comprising a non-interchangeable removable cover over each of said reservoirs, each of said covers including opening means disposed within the cover to permit liquid to discharge from the receptacle into the reservoir, each of said covers further comprising upstanding stop means to block the receptacle from proper positioning over a reservoir which is covered by the cover associated with the other of said reservoirs.

Claim 6

Beverage brewing apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein aid receptacle includes an annular rim, and said upper portion of said housing includes a pair of spaced slots to slidably and pivotally receive said receptacle.

Claim 7

Beverage brewing apparatus in accordance with claim 5 wherein said receptacle comprises a radially extending tab portion, said apparatus further comprising a pair of spaced switch actuator elements, one of which is engageable by said tab when said receptacle is properly positioned over one of said reservoirs.

Claim 8

Beverage brewing apparatus in accordance with claim 6 further comprising a stop, carried by upper portion adjacent each of said switch actuators to engage said tab to prevent pivoting of said receptacle beyond said switch actuators.

Claim 9

Beverage brewing apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein each of said receptacles is of substantially greater volume than said selected quantity of water, and said apparatus further comprises dilution means to add selected quantities of water to each reservoir to dilute the beverage liquid received from the receptacle.

Claim 10

Beverage brewing apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein said dilution means is timed to add dilution water after beverage liquid is received within said reservoir from the receptacle and to continue the addition of diluting water until after substantially all of the selected quantity of water has flowed through the receptacle.

Claim 11

Beverage brewing apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein said dilution means comprises means for directing the flow of dilution water against the side of each of said reservoirs.

Claim 12

Beverage brewing apparatus in accordance with claim 10 wherein said directing means comprises means for discharging water at an angle of less than or equal to 45° with respect to the wall of each reservoir.

Claim 13

Beverage brewing apparatus in accordance with claim 8 further comprising automatic flow control means operatively associated with said cold water conduit means to control the flow of said selected quantity of cold water and operatively associated with said dilution means to control the addition of dilution water, said control means including timer means to open said cold water conduit means to discharge a selected quantity of cold water into said cold water basin before the addition of dilution water to the selected one of said reservoirs.

Claim 14

Beverage making apparatus in accordance with claim 12 wherein said timing means continues the addition of dilution water until after substantially all of said selected quantity of water is received from said reservoir.

Claim 15

Beverage making apparatus in accordance with claim 12 wherein said control means further comprises manual override means to activate said control means manually to add dilution water to said reservoir.

Claim 16

Beverage making apparatus in accordance with claim 12 further comprising water level detector means carried by each of said reservoirs to detect when the liquid level therein reaches a selected level, said control means being responsive to said water level detector menas to stop the addition of dilution water when said selected level is reached.

Claim 17

Beverage making apparatus in accordance with claim 15 further comprising a second liquid level detector carried by said reservoir for detecting liquid at a second level slightly higher than said selected level, said control means being responsive to said second level detector to stop the flow of dilution water if liquid reaches said second level.

Claim 18

Beverage brewing apparatus in accordance with claim 12 further comprising valve means associated with said cold water conduit means to control flow of the selected quantity of water and valve means associated with said dilution means to control flow of dilution water, said control means comprising switching means and associated timing means, said cold water basin and each of said reservoirs including a liquid level detector; said switching means being adapted upon initial energizing to open said cold water conduit valve to permit the flow of water into said cold water basin and to energize said timing means, said liquid level detector in said basin being operatively associated with said switch to de-energize said switch when said selected quantity of water has been received into said cold water tank, said timer means being timed to re-energize said switch a selected period of time after said de-energizing, said switch being disposed when re-energized to open said dilution water valve, said reservoir level detector being associated with said switch to open said master switch when liquid in said reservoir reaches a selected level.

Claim 19

Beverage brewing apparatus comprising: a housing including means for supporting a brewing receptacle adapted to contain a quantity of dry beverage-making material; means carried by said housing for conducting a selected quantity of water through the receptacle to make a liquid beverage concentrate; a reservoir, including dispensing means, carried by said housing and disposed to receive beverage concentrate from the aforesaid receptacle, said reservoir having a volume substantially greater than said selected amount of water making the beverage concentrate; dilution means in communication with said reservoir for adding water to dilute the beverage concentrate to provide a beverage product for dispensing; and automatic flow control means operatively associated with said means for conducting a selected quantity of water to control the flow of said selected quantity of water and operatively associated with said dilution means to control the addition of dilution water, said control means including timer means to start the addition of dilution water after the making of said beverage concentrate has started.

Claim 20

Beverage brewing apparatus comprising: a housing including means for supporting a brewing receptacle adapted to contain a quantity of dry beverage-making material; means carried by said housing for conducting a selected quantity of water through the receptacle to make a liquid beverage concentrate; a reservoir, including dispensing means, carried by said housing and disposed to receive beverage concentrate from the aforesaid receptacle, said reservoir having a volume substantially greater than said selected amount of water making the beverage concentrate; dilution means in communication with said reservoir for adding water to dilute the beverage concentrate to provide a beverage product for dispensing; and automatic flow control means operatively associated with said means for conducting a selected quantity of water to control the flow of said selected quantity of water and operatively associated with said dilution means to control the addition of dilution water, said control means including timer means to start the addition of dilution water after the making of said beverage concentrate has started.

Claim 21

Beverage brewing apparatus in accordance with claim 18 wherein said timer means continues the addition of dilution water until after substantially all of said beverage concentrate is received in said reservoir.

Claim 22

Beverage brewing apparatus in accordance with claim 18 wherein said control means further comprises manual override means to permit manual activation of said control means to add dilution water to said reservoir.

Claim 23

Beverage brewing apparatus in accordance with claim 18 further comprising liquid level detector means carried by said reservoir to detect when beverage therein reaches a selected level, said control means being responsive to said water level detector means to stop the addition of dilution water when said selected level is reached.

Claim 24

Beverage brewing apparatus in accordance with claim 21 comprising a second liquid level detector carried by said reservoir for detecting liquid at a second level slightly higher than said selected level, said control means being responsive to said second level detector to stop the flow of dilution water if liquid reaches said second level.

Claim 25

Beverage brewing apparatus in accordance with claim 18 wherein said dilution means includes means for directing the flow of diluting water against the wall of each of said reservoirs to reduce foaming and provide better mixing of the dilution water and concentrate.

Claim 26

Beverage brewing apparatus in accordance with claim 23 wherein said directing means is disposed to direct dilution water against a sidewall of said reservoir at an angle of less than or equal to 45°.

Claim 27

Beverage brewing apparatus comprising a housing including means for supporting a brewing receptacle having an off-center discharge port and being adapted to contain a quantity of dry beverage-making material; means carried by said housing for conducting a selected quantity of water through the receptacle to make a liquid beverage concentrate; and a pair of adjacent reservoirs, including dispensing means, carried by said housing below said support means and disposed to receive beverage concentrate by gravitational discharge from the aforesaid receptacle, said support means for the receptacle permitting rotation of the receptacle so that the receptacle may be pivoted for discharge into selected one of said reservoirs, each of said reservoirs having a volume substantially greater than said selected amount of water provided by the beverage concentrate, and said apparatus further comprising dilution means in communication with each of said reservoirs for adding water thereto to dilute the beverage concentrate to provide a beverage product for dispensing.

Claim 28

Beverage brewing apparatus comprising a housing including means for supporting a brewing receptacle having an off-center discharge port and being adapted to contain a quantity of dry beverage-making material; means carried by said housing for conducting a selected quantity of water through the receptacle to make a liquid beverage concentrate; and a pair of adjacent reservoirs, including dispensing means, carried by said housing below said support means and disposed to receive beverage concentrate by gravitational discharge from the aforesaid receptacle, said support means for the receptacle permitting rotation of the receptacle so that the receptacle may be pivoted for discharge into selected one of said reservoirs, each of said reservoirs having a volume substantially greater than said selected amount of water provided by the beverage concentrate, and said apparatus further comprising dilution means in communication with each of said reservoirs for adding water thereto to dilute the beverage concentrate to provide a beverage product for dispensing.

Claim 29

Beverage brewing apparatus in accordance with claim 25 further comprising sensor means to sense the position of the receptacle supported by said housing.

Claim 30

Beverage brewing apparatus in accordance with claim 25 wherein said sensor means comprises a pair of spaced position detectors operable to detect when the receptacle is properly positioned over one or the other of said reservoirs.

Claim 31

Beverage brewing apparatus in accordance withclaim 25 further comprising a non-interchangeable removable cover on each of said reservoirs with opening means therein for receiving concentrate from the receptacle, each of said covers including stop means disposed to prevent the receptacle from being positioned over a reservoir which is covered by the incorrect one of said covers.

Claim 32

Beverage brewing apparatus in accordance with claim 25 wherein said dilution means includes means for directing the flow of diluting water against the wall of each of said reservoirs to reduce foaming and provide better mixing of the dilution water and concentrate.

Claim 33

Beverage brewing apparatus in accordance with claim 29 wherein said directing means is disposed to direct dilution water against a sidewall of said reservoir at an angle of less than or equal to 45°.

Claim 34

Beverage brewing apparatus in accordance with claim 25 further comprising a liquid level detector associated with each of said reservoirs to detect when liquid in the reservoir reaches a selected level, and flow control means responsive to said beverage level detector to stop the flow of dilution water when the selected level is reached.

Claim 35

Beverage brewing apparatus in accordance with claim 25 wherein said dilution means is adapted to continue the addition of dilution water until after substantially all of said beverage concentrate is received in said reservoir.

Claim 36

Beverage brewing apparatus in accordance with claim 25 further comprising automatic flow control means operatively associated with said means for conducting a selected quantity of water to control the flow of said selected quantity of water and operatively associated with said dilution means to control the addition of dilution water, said control means including timer means to start the addition of dilution water after the flow of said selected quantity of water has begun.

Claim 37

Beverage brewing apparatus in accordance with claim 33 wherein said timer means continues the addition of dilution water until after substantially all of said beverage concentrate is received in said reservoir.

Claim 38

Beverage brewing apparatus in accordance with claim 33 wherein said control means further comprises manual override means to permit manual activation of said control means to add dilution water to said reservoir.

Claim 39

Beverage brewing apparatus in accordance with claim 33 further comprising water level detector means carried by said reservoir to detect when beverage therein reaches a selected level, said control means being responsive to said level detector means to stop the addition of dilution water when said selected level is reached.

Claim 40

Beverage brewing apparatus in accordance with claim 36 comprising a second liquid level detector carried by said reservoir for detecting liquid at a second level slightly higher than said selected level, said control means being responsive to said second level detector to stop the flow of dilution water if liquid reaches said second level.

Claim 41

Beverage brewing apparatus comprising a housing including means for supporting a brewing receptacle adapted to contain a quantity of dry beverage-making material; means carried by said housing for conducting a selected quantity of water through the receptacle to make a liquid beverage concentrate; and a pair of adjacent reservoirs, including dispensing means, carried by said housing and disposed to receive beverage concentrate from the aforesaid receptacle, each of said reservoirs having a volume substantially greater than said selected amount of water provided by the beverage concentrate; dilution means in communication with each of said reservoirs for adding water thereto to dilute the beverage concentrate to provide a beverage product for dispensing; and automatic flow control means operatively associated with said means for conducting a selected quantity of water to control the flow of said selected quantity of water and operatively associated with said dilution means to control the addition of dilution water, said control means including timer means to start the addition of dilution water after the flow of said selected quantity of water has begun.

Claim 42

Beverage brewing apparatus comprising a housing including means for supporting a brewing receptacle adapted to contain a quantity of dry beverage-making material; means carried by said housing for conducting a selected quantity of water through the receptacle to make a liquid beverage concentrate; and a pair of adjacent reservoirs, including dispensing means, carried by said housing and disposed to receive beverage concentrate from the aforesaid receptacle, each of said reservoirs having a volume substantially greater than said selected amount of water provided by the beverage concentrate; dilution means in communication with each of said reservoirs for adding water thereto to dilute the beverage concentrate to provide a beverage product for dispensing; and automatic flow control means operatively associated with said means for conducting a selected quantity of water to control the flow of said selected quantity of water and operatively associated with said dilution means to control the addition of dilution water, said control means including timer means to start the addition of dilution water after the flow of said selected quantity of water has begun.

Claim 43

Beverage brewing apparatus in accordance with claim 38 wherein said timer means continues the addition of dilution water until after substantially all of said beverage concentrate is received in said reservoir.

Claim 44

Beverage brewing apparatus in accordance with claim 38 wherein said control means further comprises manual override means to permit manual activation of said control means to add dilution water to said reservoir.

Claim 45

Beverage brewing apparatus in accordance with claim 38 wherein said receptacle has an off-center discharge port, said support means for the receptacle permitting rotation of the receptacle so that the receptacle may be pivoted for discharge into selected one of said reservoirs and further comprising a non-interchangeable removable cover on each of said reservoirs with opening means therein for receiving concentrate from the receptacle, each of said covers including stop means disposed to prevent the receptacle from being positioned over a reservoir which is covered by the incorrect one of said covers.

Claim 46

Beverage brewing apparatus in accordance with claim 38 wherein the receptacle has an off-center discharge port, said support means for the receptacle permitting pivoting thereof for discharge into selected of said reservoirs, and said apparatus further comprising a pair of spaced position detectors operable to detect when the receptacle is properly positioned over one or the other of said reservoirs.

Claim 47

Beverage brewing apparatus in accordance with claim 38 wherein said dilution means includes means for directing the flow of diluting water against the wall of each of said reservoirs to reduce foaming and provide better mixing of the dilution water and concentrate.

Claim 48

Beverage brewing apparatus in accordance with claim 43 wherein said directing means is disposed to direct dilution water against a sidewall of said reservoir at an angle of less than or equal to 45°.

Claim 49

Beverage brewing apparatus in accordance with claim 38 further comprising a beverage level detector associated with each of said reservoirs to detect when liquid in the reservoir reaches a selected level, and flow control means responsive to said beverage level detector to stop the flow of dilution water when the selected level is reached.

Claim 50

Beverage brewing apparatus in accordance with claim 45 comprising a second liquid level detector carried by said reservoir for detecting liquid at a second level slightly higher than said selected level, said control means being responsive to said second level detector to stop the flow of dilution water if liquid reaches said second level.

Claim 51

Beverage brewing apparatus comprising a housing including means for supporting a brewing receptacle having an off-center discharge port and adapted to contain a quantity of dry beverage-making material; means carried by said housing for conducting a selected quantity of water through the receptacle to make a liquid beverage concentrate; and a pair of adjacent reservoirs, including dispensing means, carried by said housing and disposed to receive beverage concentrate from the aforesaid receptacle, each of said reservoirs having a volume substantially greater than said selected amount of water provided by the beverage concentrate, said apparatus further comprising dilution means in communication with each of said reservoirs for adding water thereto to dilute the beverage concentrate to provide a beverage product for dispensing; said support means for the receptacle permitting rotation of the receptacle so that the receptacle may be pivoted for gravitational discharge into selected one of the adjacent reservoirs; and a non-interchangeable removable cover on each of said reservoirs with opening means therein for receiving concentrate from the receptacle, each of said covers including stop means disposed to prevent the receptacle from being positioned over a reservoir which is covered by the incorrect one of said covers.

Claim 52

Beverage brewing apparatus comprising a housing including means for supporting a brewing receptacle having an off-center discharge port and adapted to contain a quantity of dry beverage-making material; means carried by said housing for conducting a selected quantity of water through the receptacle to make a liquid beverage concentrate; and a pair of adjacent reservoirs, including dispensing means, carried by said housing and disposed to receive beverage concentrate from the aforesaid receptacle, each of said reservoirs having a volume substantially greater than said selected amount of water provided by the beverage concentrate, said apparatus further comprising dilution means in communication with each of said reservoirs for adding water thereto to dilute the beverage concentrate to provide a beverage product for dispensing; said support means for the receptacle permitting rotation of the receptacle so that the receptacle may be pivoted for gravitational discharge into selected one of the adjacent reservoirs; and a non-interchangeable removable cover on each of said reservoirs with opening means therein for receiving concentrate from the receptacle, each of said covers including stop means disposed to prevent the receptacle from being positioned over a reservoir which is covered by the incorrect one of said covers.

Claim 53

Beverage brewing apparatus in accordance with claim 47 further comprising sensor means to sense the position of the receptacle supported by said housing.

Claim 54

Beverage brewing apparatus in accordance with claim 48 wherein said sensor means comprises a pair of spaced position detectors operable to detect when the receptacle is properly supported over one or the other of said reservoirs.

Claim 55

Beverage brewing apparatus in accordance with claim 47 wherein said dilution means includes means for directing the flow of diluting water against the wall of each of said reservoirs to reduce foaming and provide better mixing of the dilution water and concentrate.

Claim 56

Beverage brewing apparatus in accordance with claim 50 wherein said directing means is disposed to direct dilution water against a sidewall of said reservoir at an angle of less than or equal to 45°.

Claim 57

Beverage brewing apparatus in accordance with claim 47 further comprising a liquid level detector associated with each of said reservoirs to detect when liquid in the reservoir reaches a selected level, and flow control means responsive to said beverage level detector to stop the flow of dilution water when the selected level is reached.

Claim 58

Beverage brewing apparatus in accordance with claim 52 comprising a second liquid level detector carried by said reservoir for detecting liquid at a second level slightly higher than said selected level detector to stop the flow of dilution water if liquid reaches said second level.

Claim 59

Beverage brewing apparatus in accordance with claim 47 further comprising automatic flow control means operatively associated with said means for conducting a selected quantity of water to control the flow of said selected quantity of water and operatively associated with said dilution means to control the addition of dilution water, said control means including timer means to start the addition of dilution water after the flow of said selected quantity of water has begun.

Claim 60

Beverage brewing apparatus in accordance with claim 54 wherein said control means further comprises manual override means to permit manual activation of said control means to add dilution water to said reservoir.

Claim 61

Beverage brewing apparatus in accordance with claim 54 wherein said timer means continues the addition of dilution water until after substantially all of said beverage concentrate is received in said reservoir.