Abstract:
Inserts provide machine readable visual indicia, allowing use of brewing cartridges which do not include the required machine readable indicia, in brewing machines requiring the required machine readable visual indicia for operation. The insert may include features for attachment to the brewing machine, or to the brewing cartridge. The machine readable indicia may be a color, an image, a bar code, a texture, a shape, a reflective surface, a readable magnetic strip, a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), or a combination of one or more of a color, image, a bar code, a texture, a shape, and a reflective surface, a readable magnetic strip, a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) or any machine readable visual indicia.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application claims the priority of US Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/096,478 filed Dec. 23, 2014, which application is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to brewing machines and in particular to a brewing machine insert allowing use of various brewing cartridges in a brewing machine including a lockout which normally prevents use of third party brewing cartridges. 
         [0003]    Brewing machines using disposable single use brewing cartridges have become very popular. Unfortunately, the single use brewing cartridges offer a limited variety of brewed drink and are often expensive. Various reusable adapters have been developed to overcome the limited variety and expense of the single use brewing cartridges and offer consumers a lower cost option and the ability to use their preferred brewing material. 
         [0004]    Unfortunately, some brewing machines require a machine readable visual indicia to identify the type of brewing cartridge in the machine to provide a correct amount of water. The requirement for an indicia prevents use of brewing cartridges which do not include the required machine readable visual indicia in these brewing machines. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The present invention addresses the above and other needs by providing inserts including machine readable indicia, allowing use of brewing cartridges which do not include the required machine readable visual indicia, in brewing machines requiring the required machine readable visual indicia for operation. The insert may include features for attachment to the brewing machine, or to the brewing cartridge. The machine readable indicia may be a color, an image, a bar code, a texture, a shape, a reflective surface, a readable magnetic strip, a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), or a combination of one or more of a color, image, a bar code, a texture, a shape, and a reflective surface, a readable magnetic strip, a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) or any machine readable visual indicia. 
         [0006]    In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a ring including hooked tabs reaching over a cartridge rim for attachment to a brewing cartridge. The apart hooked tabs are preferably three angularly spaced apart hooked tabs reaching over, outside, and under the cartridge rim, the three hooked tabs including a center hooked tab and two side hooked tabs each extending more than 90 degrees from the center of the center tab. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         [0007]    The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following more particular description thereof, presented in conjunction with the following drawings wherein: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is an open brewing machine according to the present invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is the open brewing machine with a lockout plate according to the present invention attached to a cartridge positioner of the brewing machine. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the lockout plate according to the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4A  is a bottom view of the lockout plate according to the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4B  is a top view of the lockout plate according to the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4C  is an end view of the lockout plate according to the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4D  is a side view of the lockout plate according to the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4E  is an end view of a sheet metal lockout plate according to the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a perspective side view of a brewing cartridge. 
           [0017]      FIG. 6A  is a perspective side view of the brewing cartridge with a lockout ring according to the present invention attached. 
           [0018]      FIG. 6B  is a perspective top and side view of the brewing cartridge with a lockout ring according to the present invention attached. 
           [0019]      FIG. 6C  is a perspective bottom and side view of the brewing cartridge with a lockout ring according to the present invention attached. 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  is a perspective bottom view of the lockout ring according to the present invention alone. 
           [0021]      FIG. 8A  is a front view of the lockout ring according to the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 8B  is a left side view of the lockout ring according to the present invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 8C  is a right side view of the lockout ring according to the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 8D  is a top view of the lockout ring according to the present invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 8E  is a bottom view of the lockout ring according to the present invention. 
           [0026]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of the lockout ring according to the present invention taken along line  9 - 9  of  FIG. 8D . 
           [0027]    Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding components throughout the several views of the drawings. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0028]    The following description is of the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of describing one or more preferred embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention should be determined with reference to the claims. 
         [0029]    Where the terms “about” or “generally” are associated with an element of the invention, it is intended to describe a feature&#39;s appearance to the human eye or human perception, and not a precise measurement. 
         [0030]    An open brewing machine  10  according to the present invention is shown in  FIG. 1 . The brewing machine  10  includes a base  12  and a lid  14 . A cartridge positioner  18  resides under the lid  14  and closes onto the base  12  preceding the lid  14  to seat a brewing cartridge  60  (see  FIG. 5 ) in a brewing chamber  16  before an injection nozzle  20  and an extraction nozzle  22  puncture the cartridge  60  when the lid  14  is closed. The extraction nozzle  22  resides offset from the center of the brewing chamber  16 . An offset nozzle  24  extends down from the lid  14  and enters a base port  32  to transfer brewed beverage extracted by the extraction needle  22  from the brewing cartridge  36  to the base  12  and into a beverage receptacle which may be a single serving cup or a multi serving carafe. An optical sensor  28  resides on a bottom surface  14   a  of the lid  14 . The cartridge positioner  18  includes a sensor port  30  and an offset nozzle port  26  aligned with the sensor  28  and the offset nozzle  24  respectively. 
         [0031]    When the lid  14  is closed on the base  12 , the cartridge positioner  18  seats the cartridge  60  in the brewing chamber  16 , and then the injection nozzle  20  punctures the cover of single use beverage cartridges and enters through the lid of reusable brewing cartridges. The extraction nozzle  22  may or may not puncture the cover or enter the lid, depending on the type of brewing cartridge in use. Disposable cartridges  60  designed for use in the brewing machine  10  include a visual indicia comprising a color marking read by the optical sensor  28  to determine an amount of heated water to inject into the cartridge  60  from the injection needle  20 . Other visual indica may include an image, a texture, a shape, a reflective surface, a combination of one or more of a color, image, a texture, a shape, and a reflective surface or any machine readable visual indicia. 
         [0032]    The open brewing machine  10  with a lockout plate  40  according to the present invention attached to the cartridge positioner  18  is shown in  FIG. 2 . The lockout plate  40  includes an offset nozzle window  42  aligned with the offset nozzle port  26   
         [0033]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the lockout plate  40  according to the present invention. The lockout plate  40  includes the offset nozzle window  42  which has a cylindrical lip  42   a  aligned with the offset nozzle port  26  when the lockout plate  40  is attached to the cartridge positioner  18 . A visual indicia  44  is aligned with the sensor port  30  and presented to the optical sensor  28  when the lockout plate  40  is attached to the cartridge positioner  18 . The visual indicia  44  may be a design indicia, a barcode indicia, or a color indicia informing the brewing machine  10  of the type of cartridge present, for example, a single serving cartridge or a multi serving cartridge, to control the amount of heated water to inject into the cartridge  60  from the injection needle  20 . 
         [0034]    The lockout plate  40  includes a front  40   a , a rear  40   b , a right side  40   c , and a left side  40   d . Hooked tabs  46 ,  48 ,  50 , and  52  attach the lockout plate  40  to the cartridge positioner  18 . Preferably, each side of the lockout plate  40  includes at least one hooked tab. One hooked tab  52  extend up from the front  40   a , two hooked tabs  50  extend up from the rear  40   b , five hooked tabs  46  extend up from the right side  40   c , and three hooked tabs  48  extend up from the left side  40   d . Each of the hooked tabs  46 ,  48 ,  50 , and  52  includes a hook  54  reaching behind and inward to the cartridge positioner  18  to attach the lockout plate  40  to the cartridge positioner  18 . 
         [0035]    A bottom view of the lockout plate  40  is shown in  FIG. 4A , a top view of the lockout plate  40  is shown in  FIG. 4B , an end view of the lockout plate  40  is shown in  FIG. 4C , and a side view of the lockout plate  40  is shown in  FIG. 4D . The lockout plate  40  has an overall length L of preferably about 79.75 mm and a width W of preferably about 29 mm. The five hooked tabs  46  have a width W 1  of preferably about 5 mm and spaced apart a width W 2  of preferably about 10 mm and W 8  with the tab  46  nearest to the front  40   a  spaced a width W 8  of preferably about 12.25 mm from the next tab  46  and a width W 9  of preferably about 3 mm from the nearest end of the plate  40 . The three hooked tabs  48  have a width W 3  of preferably about 5 mm and spaced apart a width W 4  of preferably about 15 mm. The hooked tab  50  has a width W 5  of preferably about 12 mm and spaced a width W 6  from the left side  40   d  of preferably about 5 mm. The one hooked tab  52  has a width W 7  of preferably about 5 mm. 
         [0036]    The hook  54  of the three hooked tabs  48  and the two hooked tabs  50  are a height H 2  of preferably about 10.25 mm above a top face  40 ′ of the lockout plate  40 . The hook  54  of the five hooked tabs  46  are a height H 1  of preferably about 5.5 mm above the bottom face  40 ′ of the lockout plate  40 . The hook  54  of the one hooked tabs  52  are a height H 3  of preferably about 2.4 mm above the bottom face  40 ′ of the lockout plate  40 . The measurements H 1 , H 2 , and H 3  are to a horizontal face of the hook configured to reside against the cartridge positioner  18 . 
         [0037]    The offset nozzle window  42  has a diameter D 1  of preferably about 16 mm, and is centered a distance X 1  of preferably about 14.75 mm from the right side  40   c , and a distance Y 1  of preferably about 58 mm from rear  40   b . The visual indicia  44  has a diameter D 2  of preferably about 16 mm, and is centered a distance X 2  of preferably about 11.5 mm from the right side  40   c , and a distance Y 2  of preferably about 16.75 mm from rear  40   b.    
         [0038]    The front  40   a  has a round portion having a radius R 1  of preferably about 22 mm, centered a distance X 3  of preferably about 7 mm from the right side  40   c  and a distance Y 3  of preferably about 57 mm from the rear  40   b . 
         [0039]    A sheet metal lockout plate  40 ′ is shown in  FIG. 4E . The sheet metal lockout plate  40 ′ reduces thickness of the plate avoiding interference during operation of the coffee maker. 
         [0040]    A perspective side view of the brewing cartridge  60  alone is shown in  FIG. 5 , a perspective side view of the brewing cartridge  60  with a lockout ring  62  attached is shown in  FIG. 6A , a perspective top and side view of the brewing cartridge  60  with the lockout ring  62  attached is shown in  FIG. 6B , and a perspective bottom and side view of the brewing cartridge  60  with the lockout ring  62  attached is shown in  FIG. 6C . The lockout ring  62  preferably includes two hooked clips  64  which engage a rim  61  of the brewing cartridge  60 . The lockout ring  62  includes a visual indicia allowing the brewing machine  10  to operate with the cartridge and lockout ring  62  inserted into the brewing machine  10 . For example, the lockout ring  62  may be molded of a plastic material having a color indicia informing the brewing machine that the cartridge is a single serving cartridge, or may have the color indicia applies to the lockout ring  62 . Other visual indica, for example, an image, a bar code, a texture, a shape, a reflective surface, a readable magnetic strip, a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), or a combination of one or more of a color, image, a bar code, a texture, a shape, and a reflective surface, a readable magnetic strip, a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) or any machine readable visual indicia. 
         [0041]    A perspective bottom view of the lockout ring  62  is shown in  FIG. 7 , a front view of the lockout ring  62  is shown in  FIG. 8A , a left side view of the lockout ring  62  is shown in  FIG. 8B , a right side view of the lockout ring  62  is shown in  FIG. 8C , a top view of the lockout ring  62  is shown in  FIG. 8D , a bottom view of the lockout ring  62  is shown in  FIG. 8E , and a cross-sectional view of the lockout ring  62  taken along line  9 - 9  of  FIG. 8D  is shown in  FIG. 9 . The lockout ring  62  has an outside diameter D 3  of preferably about 55 mm, an open center  66  having an inside diameter D 4  of preferably about 36 mm. The open center  66  allows access of the injection needle to puncture the cartridge  62 . 
         [0042]    The lockout ring  62  preferably includes two hooked tabs  64   a  and  64   b . The lockout ring  62  has a height H 4  of preferably about 2 mm and the hooked tabs  64   a  and  64   b  are spaced a height H 5  of preferably about 1.3 mm below a bottom edge  68 ′ of the lockout ring  62  and reach in step depth S 1  of preferably about 0.573 mm inches. Inside faces  74  of the hooked tabs  64   a  and  64   b  are at a radius R of preferably about 25.5 mm. The hooked tabs  64  extend an angle A 2  of preferably about 19 degrees and the hooked tabs  64   a  and  64   b  have a width W 10  of preferably about 7 mm. To positively attach the lockout ring  62  to the brewing cartridge  60 , an angle A 1  between ends of the side hooked tabs  64   a  and  64   b  is preferable less than 180 degrees. 
         [0043]    The tabs  64   a  and  64   b  include a shelf  72  and ramps  76  to facilitate slipping or snapping the lockout ring  62  over the rim  61  of the brewing cartridge  60 . 
         [0044]    While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments and applications thereof, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention set forth in the claims.