Patent ID: 8490542
Filing Date: 2013-07-23
Classification: A47J,G07F

Abstract:
1. A device for automatically brewing and vending a single serving of a dispensed beverage comprising: a flipper assembly receiving a packet of beverage grounds; a dispenser including a moveable support, said support shifting between the exterior of said device wherein said flipper assembly prepares for brewing, and the interior of said device for inserting said flipper assembly therein for drip brewing of a single serving of beverage; at least one line delivering fluids within said dispenser to said flipper assembly; an automatic means providing for the sequence of operations for said flipper assembly and said moveable support through various operations of said dispenser in brewing an individual cup of a beverage; and, said sequence of operations including receiving said beverage grounds packet into said flipper assembly, closing said flipper assembly, inserting said flipper assembly within said dispenser, brewing and dispensing the beverage, opening said flipper assembly within said dispenser, ejecting said beverage grounds when spent from said flipper assembly and said dispenser, and preparing said flipper assembly for its next use; said flipper assembly having a tray, a lid hingedly connecting to said flipper assembly towards one end interiorly of said device and rotating about an axis perpendicular to the direction of travel of said moveably support, said tray hingedly connecting to said flipper assembly generally perpendicular to said lid wherein said tray opens upwardly to one side of said flipper assembly; said flipper assembly having a flipper support rotating about an axis parallel to the direction of travel of said moveably support, said flipper support directing said tray to eject said beverage grounds when spent, a counterweight contiguous with said flipper support though locating opposite and outwardly from said flipper support, an inner cover locating upwardly upon said flipper support and generally sealing said holder within said flipper support as during brewing; said lid having a similar shape as said inner cover and providing a vapor tight seal with said inner cover; a window adjacent to said flipper assembly outward from said counterweight, said window receiving said packet of beverage grounds when spent for disposal outside of said device; said movable support having a handgrip, generally upon the front of said moveable support; said inner cover having a curved front edge, an opposite generally straight rear edge, and two mutually parallel sides perpendicular to said rear edge, at least one pin on at least one of said sides, said at least one pin extending perpendicular to said side; said inner cover having a concave dome like shape extending upwardly from said moveable support and said inner cover having at least one aperture therethrough; and a casing having a left side generally towards the center of said device, an opposite right side allowing for ejecting of said packet of beverage grounds when spent, a rear spanning between said left side and said right side, and a face plate opposite said rear generally locating towards the front of said device.