CN101077271A - Combined water cooler and hot beverage maker - Google Patents

Abstract

A combined water cooler and hot beverage maker has a stand, a brewed beverage tank, a cold water compartment, and a dispenser actuator for dispensing cold water or brewed beverages. The tank includes a filter basket, a reservoir portion, and an outlet port. The reservoir portion is adapted to hold a brewed liquid, and the outlet port is positioned in substantially the bottom of the reservoir portion. The dispenser actuator is connected to the outlet port and to the cold water compartment and is biased to a closed position, but may be moved to an open position by a vessel for holding cold water or a hot beverage.

Description

Combined water cooler and hot-drink making machine

The application is the part continuity application case of the U.S. Patent application 10/838,307 of submission on May 4th, 2004; It is the continuity application case of the U.S. Patent application 10/720,769 of submission on November 24th, 2004; Be submitted on March 31st, 2003 now be the part continuity application case of the U.S. Patent application 10/403,438 of United States Patent (USP) 6,681,960; Be submit to December 11 calendar year 2001 now be the continuity application case of the U.S. Patent application 10/011,759 of United States Patent (USP) 6,564,975.The application requires the rights and interests of the U.S. Provisional Patent Application 60/439,100 of submission on January 10th, 2003.Each of these applications/patents is all incorporated the application into by reference at this.

Technical field

The present invention relates to a kind of water cooler/hot-drink making machine easily, it has the distributor (cup-actuated dispenser) that cup drives, thereby allows the user to distribute the water or the beverage of any amount of cold water or hot beverage and needs.

Background technology

The hot-drink making machine of many types and style, especially coffee machine all are known, and sell many years.Standarized component in these coffee machines comprises a pedestal or tower (tower), and described pedestal or tower have heating plate in the bottom, has a filter basket at the top.Coffee machine further comprises a beverage bottle (carafe), and described beverage bottle is shelved on heating plate top and filter basket below, to accept the liquid that brews from filter basket.

A problem of traditional coffee machine is by the dirty and messy problem of using coffee machine to cause.The user must must cleaning beverage bottle and filter basket after each the use.In addition, if not automatically do not end and service function, so the user remove beverage bottle must wait for before going to fill a cup of coffee one of operation complete batch.Even after one batch of operation, also have extra drippage, in case beverage bottle is removed in order to outwell, these drippages will splash on the heating plate of heat.Simultaneously, if beverage bottle not suitably alignment below filter basket will cause overflowing and wasting, because Hot Coffee does not fully flow into beverage bottle from filter basket.Heating plate will be made dirty with excessive drippage by overflow inevitably, thereby causes undesirable smell.

Simultaneously, the use of beverage bottle is an additional step of coffee preparation process.It is another parts that are placed in the dish water or fill the storage area.Although but perhaps in many cups of coffee, beverage bottle might need the user, this needs two hands to fill a cup of coffee-one hand usually and is used for cup, and the another hand is used for beverage bottle.Equally, only in the process that beverage bottle is removed or insert again the coffee machine pedestal, just might cause spattering with water or overflowing.

As hot-drink making machine, water cooler is also known, and has sold for many years.As the example of classics, a drum spring is installed in the top of a pedestal.Described pedestal comprises a dispenser mechanism, only distributes the water of aequum to allow the user.Described pedestal can randomly comprise refrigeration parts, these refrigeration parts before moisture is assigned to the user with water cooling.

A problem of water cooler is that water cooler needs the space.Usually, bucket is very big, so pedestal must be enough solid, to support the weight of bucket.Use although water cooler is annual, its major part is to use in warmer summer months seasonally.

In addition, the company of supply spring need find to encourage to use the new method of more water.The water that uses and consume is many more, and supplier just need be sold to the more water of user.

Summary of the invention

Therefore, the objective of the invention is to overcome above-mentioned shortcoming, and an a kind of combined water cooler and hot-drink making machine that is used to distribute the distributor of hot drink or water that have is provided.Like this, just do not needed the hot beverage bottle.Simultaneously, the user can easily use a hand just hot drink or water can be measured as required to be dispensed in the cup.Cleaning is simplified.Potential problem and trouble that all are relevant with using beverage bottle have all disappeared.In addition, by water cooler and hot-drink making machine are combined in the single assembly, make the space obtain effective utilization.

In one embodiment, hot-drink making machine comprises a pedestal, a fresh water cavity, a soaking beverage jar, and the actuator devices that is used to distribute the beverage that brews.Described jar comprises a filter basket, a storage part, and an outlet (outlet port).Described storage partly is suitable for preserving the liquid that brews, and outlet is placed in the bottom of storage part substantially.Distributor actuator (dispenser actuator) device links to each other with outlet.Actuator devices is biased to a closed position but the container that can be used to preserve hot drink moves to an enable possition.In addition, the distributor actuator devices can comprise one be placed in the pedestal, the button under the soaking beverage jar.Simultaneously, can have one button is connected to the linkage (linkage) of outlet.In another embodiment, the soaking beverage jar can remove from pedestal.Simultaneously, fresh water cavity can comprise transparent wall, and described transparent wall allows the level of the fresh water in user's observation chamber.In addition, replacedly, the soaking beverage jar can comprise a transparency window, observes jar level of the interior beverage that brews to allow the user.

In another embodiment, combined water cooler and hot-drink making machine comprise a pedestal, a soaking beverage jar, a cold water chamber, and a distributor actuator in pedestal.Described soaking beverage jar comprises that one is installed in described jar inside and described jar the storage part of the filter basket, in its top below described filter basket, and an outlet that is placed in described jar bottom substantially.Described distributor actuator is connected with outlet, and is connected with cold water chamber, thereby the user can distribute hot drink or cold water by described distributor actuator.Cooling worm can be installed in cold water chamber, and cold water chamber can be in pedestal, on the soaking beverage jar.In addition, the distributor actuator can comprise two cocks, and one is used for cold water, a beverage that is used to brew.In addition, cold water chamber can with soaking beverage jar fluid connection, and can have a fresh water cavity, described fresh water cavity and cold water chamber and soaking beverage jar fluid connection.Described pedestal can comprise a recess under the soaking beverage jar, and described distributor actuator is placed in the described recess.Described distributor actuator can be a button.Described soaking beverage jar can be installed on the pedestal removedly and impermanency be fixed on the pedestal.Between cold water chamber and the fresh water cavity valve can be installed.In addition, a valve can be connected to described distributor actuator, and is connected to described outlet and cold water chamber, thereby allows the user to select the beverage that distributes cold water or brew.In addition, fresh water cavity and/or soaking beverage jar can comprise a transparency window.

Description of drawings

Fig. 1 is the stereogram according to a preferred embodiment of coffee machine of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is the stereogram of coffee machine shown in Figure 1, and wherein lid is in the enable possition;

Fig. 3 is the stereogram of coffee machine illustrated in figures 1 and 2, wherein removed and brewed jar, and lid is in the enable possition;

Fig. 4 is the cutaway view of the side elevation of coffee machine shown in Figure 1;

Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 are the cutaway views that is shown specifically according to the side elevation of the distributor actuator of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 7 is the stereogram that brews another preferred embodiment of jar and filter basket;

Fig. 8 is that view A-F is respectively vertical view, preceding front view, upward view, top perspective view, side elevation view, and face upwarding stereogram according to a series of views of the linkage of another distributor that is used for hot-drink making machine described herein;

Fig. 9 also comprises the identical a series of views of the lever arm with shown in Fig. 8 that are installed in the sealing ring in the stopper;

Figure 10 is a pair of view that is respectively side elevation view and stereogram when being positioned at the closed position according to another distributor actuator mechanism of the present invention;

Figure 11 is side elevation view and the stereogram identical with distributor actuator mechanism shown in Figure 10, and difference is that described mechanism is positioned at the enable possition;

Figure 12 is the stereogram of combined water cooler and hot-drink making machine;

Figure 13 is the combined water cooler shown in Figure 12 and the exploded view of hot-drink making machine;

Figure 14 illustrates interactional operational flowchart between the parts of combined water cooler and hot-drink making machine.

The specific embodiment

Fig. 1 to Fig. 7 illustrates the coffee machine as a preferred embodiment of the present invention.Certainly, the design engineer with ordinary skill of coffee machine assembling can make the instruction in conjunction with the present invention, but has different profiles and have coffee machines different, interchangeable parts.The distributor of cup driving makes that just device is very convenient and be different from very much existing coffee machine just, and these existing coffee machines comprise the unwanted for example beverage bottle of the present invention and other parts.

Now, wherein show the coffee machine 10 that constitutes by pedestal 11, fresh water storage 12, soaking beverage jar 13 and lid 14 referring to Fig. 1.Pedestal 11 forms the base of coffee machine 10, and supports storage 12 and jar 13.Pedestal 11 comprises recess 20, is mounted with a button 21 in the recess 20.Adjacent with recess 20 is telegraph key 22, and described telegraph key 22 operation coffee machines 10 also allow the user for example to programme start-up time or time of clock 23 is set.Certainly, these telegraph keys 22 can be simulation or digital.For specific coffee machine model, can use still less or more control.

Fresh water storage 12 has transparent sidewall 30.Transparent sidewall 30 allows the user to determine easily and immediately whether fresh water has joined in the coffee machine 10, and the amount that adds.Certainly, can use opaque wall, perhaps vertical slit window.Also can the water liquid level indicator, so that the user accurately measures the water yield.

Fresh water storage 12 is placed on the pedestal 11.Fresh water storage 12 partly encase soaking beverage jar 13 around.Soaking beverage jar 13 also is placed on the pedestal 11.Soaking beverage jar 13 has transparency window 25, and it allows the user to be very easy to and observes jars 13 apace and contain how many soaking beverages.At last, lid 14 is connected with the rear wall of storage 12 rotationally.Lid 14 be suitable for covering fresh water storage 12 and soaking beverage jar 13 both.

Fig. 2 is except covering 14 enable possitions that upwards gone among Fig. 2, and is similar with Fig. 1.When lid 14 is opened, can see that a removable filter basket 40 is arranged, this filter basket 40 can be assemblied on the soaking beverage jar 13.Spray head 35 connects with lid 14 and screws on and screw off with lid.Support arm 36 is passages that spray head 35 is linked to each other with the hot-water line shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 3 is another view of coffee machine 10, has wherein removed the soaking beverage jar.Pedestal 11 comprises platform 50, and this platform 50 is suitable for being supported on the soaking beverage jar shown in other accompanying drawing.When spray head/when covering, allow the water uniform distributions to advance in the filter basket in the hole 37 of spray head 35 bottoms at lower position.The end of the arm portion 36 of spray head 35 comprises hole 38.When lid 14 when forwarding the enable possition to, hole 38 is also around rotation, and flow of hot water is gone back in the fresh water storage 12.

Platform 50 comprises a heating plate 51, and it is suitable for engaging the bottom of soaking beverage jar, so that a jar interior beverage that brews keeps temperature.Platform 50 parts are molded into a recess, and described recess is suitable for holding the molded projection 110 (referring to Fig. 7) that brews pot bottom in the mode of engagement.In this meshing relation, the described jar of appropriate location of suitably being alignd and remaining in the pedestal 11.Briefly referring to Fig. 2, hook 42 engages the top of fresh water tank skin 30, to cooperate with described projection 110 and correctly jar 13 to be placed on the pedestal 11.At last, to comprise that a hole 53, constitutes the bar (referring to Fig. 4-6) of parts of described distributor actuator outstanding from this hole 53 for platform 50.

Fig. 4 is the cutaway view of coffee machine 10, and this figure provides the view of the functional unit of coffee machine.Previous unshowned coffee machine 10 parts comprise water pipe 60, and the water after this water pipe will heat upwards is delivered to pipe 62 from hot-water heater element 61, is delivered to spray head 35 by arm 36 then.The top of pipe 62 hingedly is connected to the end of arm 36.Arm 36 comprises hole 38.As shown in the figure, when spray head 35 is in to upper/lower positions with lid 14, align with pipe 62 by an opening in hole 38.Yet when spray head 35/ lid 14 rotated up, hole 38 was around rotation, and hot water is back in the fresh water storage 12 again, flowed out spray head to prevent any water during in position upwards at spray head.Although not shown, also have another pipes adjacent with pipe 60, this pipe is delivered to illustrated hot-water line 62 from fresh water storage 12 by heater coiled pipe 61 with fresh cold water.

Soaking beverage jar 13 is made of filter basket 40, and described filter basket has a hole 41 in the bottom, splashes into the storage part 45 of soaking beverage jar 13 with the water that allows to inject.Outlet 70 is to allow the beverage that brews to flow out the hole of soaking beverage jar 13.In order to be easy to use, the structure of filter basket 40 and size all are conventional.Can find out obviously that from Fig. 4 the bottom of storage part 45 roughly tilts to the front portion that outlet 70 is installed from the back (being fresh water storage 12) of coffee machine.This structure allows water to discharge the bottom fully to the front portion of jar 13, can easily be used for distribution and places at the user's of this place cup.

Now, wherein show a embodiment according to distributor actuator mechanism of the present invention referring to Fig. 5 and Fig. 6.Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 have shown that mechanism is in closed position of skew (Fig. 5) and the enable possition (Fig. 6) when a cup 100 is pressed on the button 21.

Button 21 is connected with an end of bar 80.Bar 80 has a pivoting point 81, and this pivoting point is one to be installed in the hinge after the forward surface 82 of pedestal 11.The opposite ends 83 of bar 80 is outstanding by hole 53 (referring to Fig. 3), and described hole 53 constitutes the part of the platform 50 of pedestal 11.One second bar 90 is installed on the bottom 76 that brews jar 13.This bar 90 has first terminal 91 and second end 93, and these two ends are opposing ends, and have a pivot 92 that is installed on the base section 76.In addition, a spring 95 is with first terminal 91 biased downward of bar 90, so that second end 93 is biased in to upper/lower positions.Stopper 94 is suitable for sealing the outlet 70 that brews jar 13.Stopper 94 is connected with second terminal 93, and is advanced up or down according to the motion of second end 93 of second bar 90.In closed position shown in Figure 5, spring 95 advances first end 91 downwards, so that advance second end 93 downwards.Correspondingly, stopper 94 is sealed to outlet 70 reliably.Perhaps, as shown in Figure 6, the biasing of the end 83 resistance springs 95 of first bar 80 advances first end 91 of second bar 90.Therefore this second end 93 with second bar 90 moves up, and opening outlet 70, and the beverage that allows to brew flows out and brews jars 13.

Although a type of the distributor that " two part " actuator shown in Fig. 4, Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 is a cup to be driven also has the distributor actuator of other type certainly.The electronic divider of in refrigerator doors ice and water dispenser, knowing that many types are arranged.Similarly, the mechanical dispensers of other type can be designed to satisfy the specific engineering science needs of specific coffee machine structure.

Fig. 7 has shown another embodiment that brews jar 113 and filter basket 140.The difference of filter basket 140 and aforesaid filter basket 140 comprises that for it one is used to make and removes very easy handle 141.Similarly, the interchangeable jar 113 that brews includes the handle 111 that helps operate.Brewing jars 113 also has and allows the user to observe the transparent window 125 of the beverage capacity that inside brews.One skewed slot 112 as the bucket of fresh water from the pond or other source fresh water is shifted and water is imported the fresh water storage 12, improved the use that brews jar.At last, lip 114 only is a design variant of hook 140, it allow to brew jars 113 in conjunction with the top of fresh water storage wall 30 fixedly to brew jar 113 when being installed on the platform 50 brewing jars 113.Projection 110 is the moulding parts that are contained in the bottom that brews jar 113 in the platform 50.

Improvement of the present invention comprises a valve, and described valve closing is from the current of storage, and wherein valve has the zone that an area reduces than low-end, to be used for coffee or other beverage that brews from this drippage.Particularly, the plug portion of valve armed lever is made into to improve the geometry that liquid flows through the efficient of stopper body.

Fig. 8 to Figure 11 shows another distributor actuator mechanism with the drip property that reduces.At first referring to Fig. 8 and Fig. 9, and each view of the lever arm of distributor actuator mechanism part, wherein show lever arm 150.The function of this lever arm 150 is corresponding to second bar 90 shown in Fig. 5 and Fig. 6.Described lever arm comprises a stopper 151.Described stopper 151 is made up of a sealing ring 152 that is installed on the handle 153.(selectively, sealing ring 152 and handle 153 can be single body components.) sealing ring 152 is installed in the top of handle 153, in the groove 154 that limits by described handle.The bottom of handle 151 is cones 155.Described cone 155 is a turbination.In the enable possition, liquid beverage comprises that around stopper 151 crossing over tapering part 155 flows.Described stopper 151 is supported on the end of bar 150 by flank supporter 160.Described flank supporter 160 is extremely thin, and when discharging by outlet and the surface of crossing over stopper 150 with convenient liquid, the surface area of the flank supporter 160 that liquid can contact is very little.

Complete distributor actuator mechanism when Figure 10 and Figure 11 show operation.In Figure 10, button 170 is owing to spring 171 is in its position outside, biasing.In this position, the second lever arm parts 150 are biased in its closed position, and wherein sealing ring 152 is closed outlet 180.Second bar 150 is biased in this closed position by spring 185.As shown in figure 11, when button 170 was pressed to inside, the end of first bar 172 was pushed second bar 150 to and stopper 152 is moved up.Like this, liquid flows and the outflow storage around stopper 152.

According to physics, because the turbination of the cone 155 of handle 153 bottoms of stopper 151, shown stopper structure has reduced the drippage of storage.This taper makes when valve closing coffee to stick and the surface area of drippage is littler subsequently.In addition, this taper has increased the laminar flow of liquid outflow storage.The performance of this structure is fixed on the unbending relatively spring 170 of position that close, biasing by one with button 170 and is improved.Like this, first bar 172 can not stop or hinder the operation of the bias spring 185 in second bar 150.

Figure 12 to Figure 14 has shown a kind of combined water cooler and hot-drink making machine.The hot-drink making machine of this combined electric appliance is closely similar with the various embodiments of discussed herein and disclosed hot-drink making machine on function.Certainly, the extra details about assembling and manufacturing will be conspicuous to those skilled in the art.

Now referring to Figure 12 to Figure 14, pedestal 200 is suitable for being placed on floor or other the flat facility.The top of pedestal 200 has a hole 204, and this hole is suitable for holding the neck 202 of bucket 201.In addition, a flange 206 at pedestal 200 tops is suitable for supporting bucket 201.The water that bucket 201 includes can flow into a cold water chamber 205 that is positioned at pedestal 201 inside because gravity flows by hole 204.Cold water chamber can comprise the cooling worm (not shown) that spring is cooled to predetermined temperature.One temperaturecontrol sensor (not shown) can be installed in the cold water chamber to small part, is stored in the temperature of the water in the cold water chamber with adjusting.Cold water chamber and distributor actuator 217 fluid connections.Usually, cold water chamber is connected with distributor 217, to allow the user to push or start distributor 217 and fresh water is assigned in the container otherwise with a little flexible pipe or pipe.

Simultaneously, accommodate a hot-drink making machine in the pedestal 200.Described hot-drink making machine comprises the soaking beverage jar 210 with fresh water cavity 230 fluid connections.Fresh water flows in the soaking beverage jar, and water brews and a kind ofly brews material in filter basket 211 therein.Filter basket 211 is installed in the inside and its top of jar 210.The liquid that brews subsequently is stored in the storage part 231, and described storage part 231 also is contained in the soaking beverage jar.Storage 231 is below filter basket 211.One outlet 216 is located at the bottom of soaking beverage jar 210 substantially.

As previous discussion herein, the foregoing description of soaking beverage machine is mainly with respect to the electrical equipment that only is the soaking beverage machine.Combined electrical apparatus described herein has the advantage of such soaking beverage machine similarly.

Now specifically referring to Figure 14, valve 226 can be placed in the position that the liquid between cold water chamber 225 and the fresh water cavity 230 connects.Like this, the user can measure the water yield that specific hope brews.Described water is from cold water chamber 225 and inject fresh water cavity 230.Perhaps, the fresh water cavity according to instruction herein can pour into separately.Yet, in one embodiment, with the water perfusion that flows into cold water chamber 225 from bucket 201.Distributor actuator 219 is connected with the outlet 216 of hot-drink making machine, to allow the user beverage that brews of aequum is dispensed in the container.As shown in Figure 14, valve 235 can allow the user to select the beverage that distributes cold water or brew.Perhaps, those of ordinary skills will know apparently, and cock separately can be installed on the distributor actuator, make it have distributor that is used to connect the beverage that brews separately and second distributor that is used to be connected cold water separately.

Pedestal 200 further comprises recess 215, and described recess is in pedestal, and below soaking beverage jar 210.This has improved the space efficiency of combined water cooler and soaking beverage machine.Described recess allows distributor actuator 217 and 219 to be installed in the pedestal 200, and outwards not outstanding from pedestal.Certainly, can replacedly use from the outwards outstanding cock of pedestal.

Soaking beverage jar 210 among Figure 12 and Figure 13 comprises a transparency window 212, the level of the beverage that brews that this transparency window permission user visual observation soaking beverage jar includes.Similarly, the transparency window (not shown) can be arranged in the wall of cold water chamber 225 and/or fresh water cavity 230, so that the level of the water that includes in these parts of user's energy visual observation.

Filter basket 211 shown in the accompanying drawing is installed in the top of soaking beverage basket 210.Can use paper filter 220 in the filter basket 211.Certainly, can use permanent filter similarly.Can change concrete shape, size and the composition of filter according to material to be filtered and user's preference.

As shown in the figure, distributor actuator 217 and 219 is devices of type of button.Can select other conventional knob or allocation component for use.

Although the present invention has obtained description with reference to its specific embodiment, yet should be appreciated that, might have countless modification, modification and extra embodiment, all these modification, modification and embodiments all should be thought within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims (15)

1. combined water cooler and hot-drink making machine, it comprises pedestal, soaking beverage jar, cold water chamber, and the distributor actuator in pedestal,

Wherein said soaking beverage jar comprises and is installed in described jar inside and the filter basket in its top, described jar storage part below described filter basket, with the outlet mutually that is placed in described jar bottom substantially, and

Wherein said distributor actuator is connected with outlet, and is connected with cold water chamber,

The user can distribute hot drink or cold water by described distributor actuator thus.

2. combined water cooler according to claim 1 and hot-drink making machine further comprise the cooling worm that is installed in the cold water chamber.

3. combined water cooler according to claim 1 and hot-drink making machine is characterized in that, described cold water chamber is in pedestal, on the soaking beverage jar.

4. combined water cooler according to claim 1 and hot-drink making machine is characterized in that, described distributor actuator comprises two cocks, and one is used for cold water, a beverage that is used to brew.

5. combined water cooler according to claim 1 and hot-drink making machine is characterized in that, described cold water chamber and soaking beverage jar fluid connection.

6. combined water cooler according to claim 1 and hot-drink making machine further comprise fresh water cavity, described fresh water cavity and cold water chamber and soaking beverage jar fluid connection.

7. combined water cooler according to claim 1 and hot-drink making machine is characterized in that, described pedestal further comprises a recess below the soaking beverage jar, and described distributor actuator is placed in the described recess.

8. combined water cooler according to claim 7 and hot-drink making machine is characterized in that, described distributor actuator is a button.

9. combined water cooler according to claim 1 and hot-drink making machine is characterized in that, described soaking beverage jar be installed on the pedestal removedly and impermanency be fixed on the pedestal.

10. combined water cooler according to claim 6 and hot-drink making machine further comprise the valve that is installed between cold water chamber and the fresh water cavity,

The user can be used for pouring into fresh water cavity from the water of the aequum of cold water chamber thus.

11. combined water cooler according to claim 6 and hot-drink making machine is characterized in that, fresh water cavity comprises transparency window, thereby allows the level of the fresh water in user's observation chamber.

12. combined water cooler according to claim 1 and hot-drink making machine is characterized in that, described soaking beverage jar comprises transparency window, thereby allows the user to observe jar level of the interior beverage that brews.

13. combined water cooler according to claim 1 and hot-drink making machine further comprise the bucket of reversing, described bucket is installed in the top of described pedestal removedly, and has the opening with cold water chamber's fluid connection.

14. combined water cooler according to claim 2 and hot-drink making machine further comprise to small part being installed in temperaturecontrol sensor in the cold water chamber.

15. combined water cooler according to claim 1 and hot-drink making machine, further comprise valve, described valve is connected to described distributor actuator, and is connected to described outlet and cold water chamber, thereby allows the user to select the beverage that distributes cold water or brew.

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