Abstract:
The invention relates to a brew tank with an integrated fluid level gauge, the brew tank operable with a hot beverage maker, and the fluid level gauge comprising a plurality of vertical markings or mouldings extending from the interior floor of the tank towards the upper rim of the tank. The markings are spaced along the tanks interior wall. Each mark or moulded indicator indicates a single volume indicator. For instance, a vertical rib on the interior wall of the brew tank would indicate the tank is holding 6 cups of fluid when the fluid level reaches the top of the rib.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to a convenient hot beverage maker having a cup-actuated dispenser thereby allowing a user to dispense any amount of beverage desired, and, more particularly, pertains to a selectively removable brew tank for such a hot beverage maker wherein the brew tank includes an integrated fluid level gauge.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     Hot beverage makers, such as coffee makers, have been known and sold for many years using various brewing techniques. The typical and traditional coffee maker includes a stand or tower that has a warming plate forming the bottom or base of the tower with a filter basket located above the warming plate. The interior of the tower defines, at least in part, a fresh water reservoir. Such coffee makers further include a carafe that rests on the warming plate beneath the filter basket.  
         [0003]     In use, an operator fills the carafe in order to transfer water to the fresh water reservoir. The water is heated and passed through the filter basket, which includes the grounds to be infused. The brewed beverage then flows from the basket into the carafe. The beverage is maintained at an elevated temperature via the warming plate upon which the carafe rests.  
         [0004]     A new variation of coffee maker has been developed wherein a brewed beverage tank is included. Briefly, the brewed beverage tank holds the filter basket above a reservoir portion. Hot water passes through the filter basket and a material to be infused. The brewed beverage is then collected and held in the reservoir portion of the brewed beverage tank (“brew tank”). A dispenser actuator is depressed that opens an outlet port in the reservoir. A user simply actuates the dispenser actuator with a mug or cup and the brewed beverage passes through the outlet to the operator&#39;s container.  
         [0005]     The new cup-actuated dispensers still require a volume of water to be added to a fresh water reservoir. It has been known to include a removable fresh water reservoir that can be filled and returned to the coffee maker. However, this is not always desirable or acceptable to the consumer. For instance, the removable fresh water reservoir must often be lifted vertically from the coffee maker. This is problematic in the instances where the operator has placed the coffee maker under a cabinet. The reservoir is typically located to the rear of the coffee maker so it may also be difficult to lift the reservoir for placement on the coffee maker. The removable reservoir also requires that a check valve be integrated with the reservoir.  
         [0006]     It has also been known to use a removable brew tank as a fresh water “bucket” to transfer fresh water from a sink or other source and pour it into the fresh water reservoir. The specific level of water to be brewed is important as it largely controls the amount of infusible material to be added to the filter of the hot beverage maker. With this in mind, transparent windows and external markings have been added to the fresh water reservoir, the brew tank, or both. The windows allow a user to view the fluid level in the tank and/or fresh water reservoir. The visible level is compared to the exterior markings to determine the volume remaining in the tank or reservoir. However, for aesthetic and other reasons, the use of external markings is not always ideal.  
         [0007]     Therefore, there exists a need for a new method and apparatus for filling a fresh water reservoir of a hot beverage maker. Ideally, the new approach would make it easy to add a specific volume of water using only components forming the overall structure of the beverage maker. The operation and structure of a brew tank with an integrated fluid gauge in accordance with the present invention would solve one or more of these or other needs.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to facilitate the filling of a fresh water reservoir in a hot beverage maker through the use of a selectively removable brew tank. A carafe or a separate container is not necessary to fill or use the hot beverage maker.  
         [0009]     In accordance with the present invention, a hot beverage maker including a selectively removable brew tank is provided wherein the removable brew tank includes an integrated fluid level gauge. The tank includes a bottom, an outlet port in the bottom, and an interior wall surrounding the bottom. In one embodiment, the brew tank gauge comprises a plurality of vertical indicators spaced along the interior wall of the tank. The indicators begin at or adjacent to the junction of the bottom of the interior wall and terminate at a point short of the top of the wall. A label on or adjacent to each indicator identifies the specific volume of fluid in the tank when the fluid reaches the top of one of the vertical indicators. The tank is operable for placement into the hot beverage maker. The biasable outlet selectively passes a brewed beverage to a container placed beneath the tank.  
         [0010]     In use, an operator removes the brew tank from the beverage maker. The outlet port is naturally biased to a closed or sealed position. The operator fills the tank to a desired level using the gauge indicators and labels to identify the volume of fluid. The fluid or water is added to the fresh water reservoir. A user may fill the tank and transfer the water to the fresh water reservoir more than once. The total volume is tracked using the integrated fluid level gauge. In order to dispense a brewed beverage stored in the tank, the user engages a dispenser actuator.  
         [0011]     A hot beverage maker and brew tank with an integrated fluid level gauge in accordance with the present invention efficiently address at least one of the shortcomings associated with prior art removable brew tank beverage makers. The foregoing and additional features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those of skill in the art from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a hot beverage maker operable with a selectively removable brewed beverage tank;  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view thereof;  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a brewed beverage tank in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0015]      FIG. 4  is an additional perspective view thereof; and  
         [0016]      FIG. 5  is a top down view thereof.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0017]     A hot beverage maker with a removable brew tank in accordance with the present invention provides an improved method and apparatus for filling the fresh water reservoir of a beverage maker. An integrated fluid gauge allows an operator to add a specific volume of fluid and, therefore, facilitates an accurate brew strength based on an operator&#39;s preferences.  
         [0018]     Turning to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , there is illustrated a hot beverage maker  10 . Beverage or coffee maker  10  comprises a stand  12 , a fresh water reservoir  14 , a brewed beverage tank  16 , and a lid  18 . The stand  12  forms the base of coffee maker  10  and supports reservoir  14  and tank  16 . The stand  12  includes a recess  20  in which is situated a push-button  22 . Electronic controls, switches, displays and the like would be included (illustrated but not labeled). Overall, the specific construction and ornamental design of the beverage maker may vary. Therefore, a product designer or engineer having ordinary skill with the assembly and/or design of beverage makers will be able to create a beverage maker that incorporates the teachings of the present invention while incorporating a different look or different, alternative parts.  
         [0019]     In the illustrated example, fresh water reservoir  14  located within stand  12  and the shape and design thereof is therefore, at least in part, defined by the shape and construction of the stand. Brewed beverage tank  16  also rests on stand  12 . Brewed beverage tank  16  is typically opaque but, in one preferred embodiment, includes a transparent window  24  that allows a user to observe the volume of a brewed beverage within the tank (as will be discussed further below). Lid  18  is rotatably connected to reservoir  14  or stand  12 . The lid is adapted to cover the upper opening of both the fresh water reservoir  14  and the brewed beverage tank  16 .  
         [0020]      FIG. 2  illustrates the beverage maker in an exploded relationship with tank  14  and a filter basket  26 . Lid  18  is illustrated in the up and open position. A showerhead  28  is connected to the lid  18  and rotates up and down with the lid via a support arm  30 . With tank  14  removed from stand  12 , a platform  32  is visible that is adapted to support the brewed beverage tank. Platform  32  includes a warmer plate  34  that engages the bottom of the brewed beverage tank when the tank is placed on the stand. Plate  34  is operable to heat or warm the contents of tank  16 . Using known techniques, brew tank  16  engages platform  32  in a manner that selectively secures tank  16  in a proper alignment.  
         [0021]     Filter basket  26  is selectively mounted inside the tank and in the top thereof. The filter basket has a depth less than the depth of tank  16 , and it includes an opening (not illustrated) at the bottom of the basket for fluid to flow through the basket into the tank  16 .  
         [0022]     Considering also  FIGS. 3-5 , tank  16  includes a bottom  40  and a wall  42  surrounding the bottom and creating an interior wall  44 . The specific shape of the wall may vary in accordance with the aesthetic of structural design of beverage maker  10 . The interior wall and bottom define an interior volume of the tank. An outlet port  46  allows fluid in tank  16  to selectively pass out of the tank. Port  46  contains an actuatable plug or piston to selectively pass a fluid in tank  16  to a container placed within recess  20  (again, see U.S. Pat. No. 6,681,960). Push button  22  is connected to a lever operable to actuate the sealing mechanism in outlet port  46 . Outlet port is naturally biased to a closed or sealed position. The lever actuates the port to an open position.  
         [0023]     In use, fluid in the fresh water reservoir is heated via a heater. A tube fluidly connects the heater to the showerhead, and water heated in the heater is naturally lifted through the tube to the showerhead. The tube passes through, and terminates adjacent to, support arm  30 . With lid  18  closed, the heated water exits the showerhead and encounters an infusible material held in filter basket  26 . The resulting brewed beverage flows through the basket opening into tank  16  where it is kept warm via warmer plate  34 .  
         [0024]     It is necessary for the operator to prime or prepare the beverage maker for use. As such, water must be added to the fresh water reservoir, the filter basket must be installed in the tank, an infusible material must be added to the basket, and the tank must be installed onto the stand. A paper or permanent filter can be used with the filter basket. The operator closes the lid before turning the beverage maker on.  
         [0025]     Tank  16  acts as a bucket to transfer fluid to the reservoir. The amount of infusible material and fluid to add to the beverage maker is dependent on many factors (number of servings, strength of the brewed beverage, etc.), and it is often important to measure the amount of fluid in the beverage maker.  
         [0026]     In still greater detail, and in one preferred embodiment, tank  16  comprises a molded plastic. However, tank  16  can be formed out of any suitable material. The tank further includes a plurality of vertical indicators  50  on interior wall  44 . The indicators might be molded ribs, graphical markings, or the like. Each indicator has a first end terminating at the bottom of the tank and a second end terminating below the top edge of wall  42 . A label  52  is placed adjacent to each indicator with a single label located adjacent to each indicator  50 . The labels can be molded plastic, markings, or the like.  
         [0027]     In a preferred embodiment, labels  52  are placed on bottom  40  adjacent to indicators  50 . A user, therefore, looking down into tank  16  could easily associate each label with each indicator and could easily read the label. It is also envisioned that the labels could be located on inner wall  44  near the second or top end of each indicator  50 . In yet another embodiment, each indicator could be associated with two labels wherein one label would be adjacent to each end of the indicator. Other arrangements will be obvious to one of skill in the art.  
         [0028]     The number of indicators and labels can vary but will depend, at least in part, on the capacity of tank  16 . Each label marks the volume of a fluid in tank  16  when the fluid is at the top end of any one indicator. The increments and units of measurements may also vary. As illustrated in  FIGS. 3-5 , tank  16  has a capacity of 12 cups. A labeled indicator marks each even increment of cups from 2 to 12 cups. Therefore, when adding water to the tank, the user knows the tank holds two cups when the water reaches the top of the indicator labeled “2”. The volume is then between 2 to 4 cups until the fluid level reaches the top of the indicator labeled  4  and so forth.  
         [0029]     In use, the user removes tank  16  from stand  12 . Outlet port  46  automatically closes. The user removes filter basket  26  from tank  16 . Tank  16  is filled to a desired volume and the water is added to fresh water reservoir  14 . If the operator needs to add additional fluid, the volume can be measured with the tank to reach a total desired volume of fluid in reservoir  14 . The beverage maker is then operated as discussed above. The user engages push button  22  with a container. Button  22 , via the lever, actuates port  46  to an open position and a brewed beverage flows from tank  16  to the user&#39;s container. Window  24  provides a visual indication of how much brewed beverage remains in tank  16 . In one embodiment, window  24  is operable to view indicators  50  and/or labels  52  to accurately gauge the remaining volume of beverage in tank  16 .  
         [0030]     Thus, while the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that numerous variations, modifications and additional embodiments are possible, and all such variations, modifications, and embodiments are to be regarded as being within the spirit and scope of the invention.