Abstract:
A pod encapsulated brewing machine allowing a user to brew coffee or tea within the device using premeasured sealed filter pods then eject the pod from the machine into a waste receptacle for disposal without the user having to touch the pod.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/496,484, filed Jun. 13, 2011. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to single serve brewing devices, particularly to single serve brewing devices for use with encapsulated brewing pods, such as used to brew coffee, tea or the like. Coffee pods simplify individual beverage brewing by pre-measuring the beverage grounds within a porous filter paper that can be easily and neatly disposed of when complete. In existing pod brewing systems without pod ejection systems, when the brew cycle is complete, the user is required to physically remove the brew pod from the brew chamber, an act often neglected or disliked by the user because of having to touch a moist beverage pod that can stain fingers or clothing. In brewing systems capable of ejecting the pod from the brewing chamber, these systems generally possess a complicated ejection system which is expensive to construct and increases the likelihood of mechanical failure. Many of these systems rely upon electromechanical synchronized automation to eject the pod. There exists a need for a simplified and reliable brewing system capable of ejecting the pod into a suitable waste receptacle capable utilizing a simple natural motion of the user&#39;s hand. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The present invention allows a user to brew a single serving of their choice of beverage in a mug from a beverage pod then eject the pod from the brewing machine without ever having to touch the pod. The invention is designed such that once brewing is complete, the ground coffee or tea may be ejected from the machine into a waste bin by simply releasing brew chamber parts then sliding a lever arm towards the trash bin. The bin itself may be completely disposable, such as the bin being an empty pod container, with or without a separate liner. The invention&#39;s ejection mechanism is comprised of a slider and a cam that, when the slider impinges upon the cam, the cam presses the pod from the slider, dislodging it and allowing it to fall into the trash bin. 
         [0004]    To use the invention, the operator places a mug below the brew chamber and pivots the pivot arm upward and places a beverage pod, such as a coffee pod, inside the pod alignment hole in the slider. The user then closes and secures the pivot arm, locking the pivot arm into place and sealing the brew chamber. The brewing cycle then is initiated, forcing hot water through the beverage pod. In the last few seconds of the brew cycle, air is forced into the brew chamber, removing excess water from the brew chamber and pod. Once the brew cycle is complete, the user may remove their mug, release the tension on the brew chamber and move the slider towards the trash bin. Once the slider hits the cam, the cam ejects the pod, readying the machine for the next beverage pod. 
         [0005]    The relative few parts of the invention make it a simple robust design that is easier to operate and manufacture for reduced cost and complexity when compared to other machines capable of ejecting the pod. The positive pressing of the cam against the pod ensures ejection of the pod and eliminates the chances of the pod sticking to the ejection slide or other parts of the machine. The activation of the cam by pressing upon the outer edge of the slider allows the user&#39;s energy to eject the pod while ensuring the pod is not pinched between the cam and the slider pod aperture. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    The invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0007]      FIG. 1A  is a front perspective view of the invention showing the invention brewing a beverage pod and dispensing the beverage into a user&#39;s mug. 
           [0008]      FIG. 1B  is a side view of a typical beverage pod. 
           [0009]      FIG. 1C  is a top view of a typical beverage pod. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of the invention showing the pivot arm in an open position allowing a user to load the desired beverage pod, top covers removed. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of the invention showing the pivot arm in an open position with the slider moved to the left ready to eject the pod, top covers removed. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a front perspective view of the invention showing the pivot arm in an open position with the slider moved to the left the ejection mechanism ejecting the pod, top covers removed. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a top view of the invention showing the slider and ejection mechanism, the pivot arm and top covers removed. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a top view of the invention showing the slider, and ejection mechanism, the slider moved to the left ready to eject the pod, the pivot arm and top covers removed. 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a top view of the slider. 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a cross-section of the slider taken on line  8 - 8  in  FIG. 7 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is a partial side view of the ejection mechanism showing the slider approaching the ejection cam, top cover removed. 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  is a partial side view of the ejection mechanism showing the slider impinging upon the ejection cam and the pod ejecting, top cover removed. 
           [0019]      FIG. 11A  is a top view of the invention, showing the brew base plate, slider and ejection mechanism, top covers and pivot arm removed. 
           [0020]      FIG. 11B  is a cross section of the slider arm, brew base plate and top plate of the invention taken on line  11 B- 11 B of  FIG. 11A . 
           [0021]      FIG. 12  is a top view of the invention showing the ejection mechanism, pivot arm in an open position and slider with the top covers removed. 
           [0022]      FIG. 13  is a cross-section the pivot arm in an open position and slider taken on line  13 - 13  in  FIG. 12 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 14  is a top view of the invention showing the ejection mechanism, pivot arm in a closed position and slider with the top covers removed. 
           [0024]      FIG. 15  is a cross-section the pivot arm in a closed position and slider taken on line  15 - 15  in  FIG. 14 . 
           [0025]      FIG. 16  is a cross-section the pivot arm in an open position and slider taken on line  16 - 16  in  FIG. 12 . 
           [0026]      FIG. 17  is a cross-section the pivot arm in a closed position and slider taken on line  17 - 17  in  FIG. 14 . 
           [0027]      FIG. 18  is a schematic diagram of the water heating and pressurization system. 
           [0028]      FIG. 19  is and exploded diagram of the major components of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0029]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of the single cup beverage pod brewing invention  1 . The invention  1  is shown dispensing brewed beverage  11  into a mug  21 . The invention  1 , as shown here, possesses a start switch  31 , a first brew cycle indicator light  33  and a second brew cycle indicator light  35 . The switch and light are shown in this embodiment as being secured to a left top cover  27 . The invention also possesses a pivot arm  301  secured in part by a brew arm latch  311 , the pivot arm sealing around a beverage pod held within a brew pod slider  51 . Upon completion of the brewing cycle, the user may slide the slider  51  from a first brew position, to a second position where the brew pod is ejected into a trash bin  229 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of the invention  1 , with the left top cover  27  removed showing the ejection lever bracket  111 , ejection spring  115 , and ejection lever  121  of the pod ejection mechanism  101 . The pivot arm  301  is shown pivoted about the pivot arm hinge  313  in an upward rotated position. The pivot arm bottom surface  303  possesses an aperture  305  through which a portion of the lock lever  317  extends. When the pivot arm  301  is in the closed or downward position, the lock lever  317  latches under the lock lever bar  141  holding the pivot arm  301  in the downward closed position. When the pivot arm  301  is in the upward or open position as shown, a user may press the slider handle  53  to the left, moving the slider  51  from a first position, shown, to a second position, the slider pivoting about a slider pivot  55 . When the slider  301  is in the second position, the pod  3  is ejected from the pod alignment hole  59  through the pod ejection aperture  131  by the pod ejector assembly  101  into the trash bin  229 . The pod alignment aperture  59  is positioned within a raised portion of the slider  51 , referred to herein as the brew guide plate  71 . The slider  51  is shown here to be biased to return to the first position by a slider spring  57 . An overflow drip receptacle  41  is positioned below the brew funnel  153 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 3  shows the slider  51  in a transitory position between the first and second positions. In this transitory position, the ejection mechanism  101  engages the slider  51 . Particularly, the ejection lever  121  engages the slider left surface  63 . In the transitory position, the brew pod screen  151  can be viewed. The brew pod screen  151  supports the brew pod  3  when the beverage is being brewed, preventing the pod  3  and its contents from entering the brew funnel  153 . A slider position roller  173  may be present and biased against the slider  51  to assist in maintaining the slider in a desired position. 
         [0032]      FIG. 4  shows the slider in the second position, pod ejection position. In this position, the pod  3 , is urged through the pod alignment aperture  59  by the ejection mechanism  101 . The slider left surface  63  presses against the ejection lever  121  slider contact arm  125  causing the ejection lever to rotate about a pivot  123 . Contact of the slider  51  with the slider contact arm  125  of the ejection lever  121  forces the ejection lever pod contact arm  127  downwards urging the pod  3  through the pod alignment aperture  59  and pod ejection aperture  131  and into the trash receptacle  229 . Contact of the ejection lever  121  against the outside wall  63  of the slider  51  prevents the ejection mechanism from pinching the pod  3  between the lever  121  and pod alignment aperture  59 . The ejection lever pod contact arm  127  is biased to return to an upward position. In the current embodiment of the invention, the ejection lever pod contact arm  127  is biased by an ejection spring  115  under tension attached at the top of the ejection lever  121 . 
         [0033]    Trash bin  229  may be removed and emptied when desired. In the preferred embodiment, a reused pod packaging box may be used as the trash bin  229 , reducing waste, while eliminating the need to rinse or clean a reused trash bin  229 . The reused pod packaging box has the additional advantage of prominently displaying the pod manufacturer&#39;s trade name and trademarks. 
         [0034]      FIG. 5  shows an overhead view of the brewing device with the top covers  27 ,  29  removed. The slider  51  is shown in a first, ready-to-brew, position, with the pod alignment aperture  59  aligned with the brew pod screen  151 . The pod alignment aperture  59  possesses a recessed pod flange support ledge  60 . The Pod flange support  60  supports the underside of the pod flange  5  and also aids in centering the body  7  of the pod  3  within the pod alignment aperture  59 . The current embodiment shows the slider biased to return to the first position by the slider spring  57 . A handle  53  is positioned at the front end of the slide  51 . To operate the slide  51 , initiating the pod ejection procedure, a user moves grasps the handle  53  and moves the slider  51  to the left. The slider rotates about the slider pivot  55  until the pod alignment aperture  59  is positioned above the pod ejection aperture. 
         [0035]      FIG. 6  shows an overhead view of the brewing device with the top covers  27 ,  29  removed. The slider  51  is shown in a second, ready-to-eject, position, with the pod alignment aperture  59  aligned with the pod ejection aperture  131 . In this position, further movement of the slider handle  53  and slider  51  to the left results in contact of the slider left surface  63  against the ejection lever  121  slider contact arm  125  causing the ejection lever to rotate about a pivot  123 . Contact of the slider  51  with the slider contact arm  125  of the ejection lever  121  forces the ejection lever pod contact arm  127  downwards urging the pod  3  through the pod alignment aperture  59  and pod ejection aperture  131 . Movement of the slider  51  to the right allows the biased ejection lever  121  to return to a resting position. While the current embodiment shows the ejection lever  121  biased with a spring  115 , it should be understood that the ejection lever may be biased by other methods, including weight or resilient materials. A brew screen gasket  155  positioned around the brew screen  151  seals the top wall  23  of the invention  1  and bottom surface of the slider  51 . 
         [0036]      FIG. 7  shows a top view of the slider  51 , showing the slider hinge  55 , slider handle  53 , pod alignment aperture  59  and the raised brew guide plate  71 . The pod flange support  60  protrudes into the pod alignment aperture  59 , providing a ledge upon which the pod flange  5  rests. 
         [0037]      FIG. 8  is a cross section view through line  8 - 8  of  FIG. 7 .  FIG. 8  shows the slider hinge  55 , slider handle  53 , pod alignment aperture  59  pod flange support  60  and the raised brew guide plate  71 . While the current embodiment shows the brew guide plate  71  as a separate piece secured to the slider  51 , the brew guide plate  71  may be a raised portion of an otherwise continuous slider  51 , or may be omitted altogether. 
         [0038]      FIG. 9  is a rear view of the ejection mechanism  101  and invention  1  showing the ejection mechanism  101 , slider  51 , top wall  23  and trash bin  229 . Here the ejection cam  121  is in an elevated and ready position. The user has begun to swing the slider  51  to the left. The ejection lever  121  pod contact arm  127  is sufficiently elevated to clear the top surface  73  of the brew guide plate  71 . 
         [0039]      FIG. 10  is a rear view of the ejection mechanism  101  and invention  1  showing the ejection mechanism  101 , slider  51 , top wall  23  and trash bin  229 . The slider is in the second position just as the pod  3  is being ejected from the slider  51  by the ejection mechanism  101 . Here the ejection cam  121  is in a downward position, the ejection lever slider contact arm  125  in contact with the outer edge of the slider  51  forcing the pod contact arm  127  downward. The pod flange  5  is forced through past the pod flange support  60 , releasing the pod  3  from the slider and allowing it to drop into a trash receptacle  229  below. 
         [0040]      FIG. 11  is a sectional view of the slider and brew head taken on line  11 - 11  of  FIG. 5 . When the pivot arm  301  is in the down and locked position, the top surface  24  of the base plate  23  of the invention is urged toward the bottom surface  52  of the slider  51  sealing the two surfaces against the brew screen gasket  157  located therebetween. The portion above the slider  51  is sealed by the brew head gasket  357  located between the brew base plate  335  and slider  51 . In the current embodiment, the brew head gasket  357  pinches the pod flange  5  between the gasket  357  and the top surface  61  of the pod flange support  60 . This forces the water exiting the spray head  365  to travel through the pod body  7  and prevents water from bypassing the pod  3  by traveling around the pod flange  5 . While the sealing of the brew head gasket  357  against the pod flange  5  and base plate  335  may be sufficient to prevent egress of water above the slider  51  under certain pressures, high pressure leaks may be prevented by the radial bulging of the brew head gasket  357 . In the current embodiment, the resilient brew head gasket  357  seals the brew base plate  335  against the slider  51 , while the resilient radial bulging against the spray head  365  and surface of the pod alignment aperture  59  provide additional assurances against water egress. 
         [0041]    In operation, after the pivot arm  301  is in a down and locked position, hot water is pumped in through the water inlet fitting  339  and through the spray head  365 . The water then is forced through the body  7  of the pod  3  which contains the ground or otherwise prepared beverage media. The pod  3  is supported by the pod screen  151  The brewed beverage  11  exits the pod  3  entering the brew funnel  153  where the brewed beverage  11  then flows into the user&#39;s cup  21 . 
         [0042]      FIG. 12  is a top view of the invention  1  showing the brew arm  311  and pivot arm  301  in an open and unlocked position. 
         [0043]      FIG. 13  is a cross section of the pivot arm  301  and top wall  23  of the invention taken alone line  13 - 13  of  FIG. 12 . Here the brew arm  311  and pivot arm  301  are in their open and unlocked positions. The brew arm  311  pivots about brew arm pivot pin  315  and urges the lock lever  317  into a release position, releasing the lock lever bar  141 . The lock lever  317  is otherwise biased into a closed and lock position retaining the lock lever  317  and pivot arm  301  down. In the current embodiment, the lock lever  317  is pivotally attached to the pivot arm  301  by a lock lever pin  318  is biased to a locking position by a tension spring  319 . While in the open and unlocked position, the brew base plate  335  is raised toward the pivot arm  301  by tension spring  321  allowing the slider  51  to slide from a first position for brewing to a second position for pod ejection. The brew base plate  335  is attached to the brew arm slide plate  353  by a plurality of guide pins  349 . Tension spring  321  on one end is attached to the brew arm slide plate  353  and on the other end to the brew arm  311  by spring pin  323 . In the current embodiment, slide plate guides  355  prevent unwanted rotation or horizontal translation of the brew arm slide plate  353 . The pivot arm  301  rotates about the brew arm hinge  313  allowing the user to insert a fresh pod  3  into the pod alignment aperture  59 . 
         [0044]      FIG. 14  is a top view of the invention  1  showing the brew arm  311  and pivot arm  301  in a closed and locked position over the slider  51 . 
         [0045]      FIG. 15  is a cross section of the pivot arm  301  and top wall  23  of the invention taken alone line  15 - 15  of  FIG. 14 . Here the brew arm  311  and pivot arm  301  are in closed and locked positions. The pivot arm is held in a closed position by the lock lever  317  which is pivotally retained to the brew arm  311  by a pin  318  and hooked onto the lock lever bar  141 . The brew arm  311  is pinned to the pivot arm  301  by the brew arm pin  313  and possesses a cam profile allowing it to urge the brew base plate downward and compress the brew head gasket  357  against the pod flange  5 , pod flange support  60  and compressing the screen gasket  157  against the top wall  23  of the invention  1 . The brew arm  313  cam profile locks the brew arm in this closed position until urged by the user into an upward, unlocked position. The lock lever  317  is biased to remain in a closed and lock position retaining the lock lever  317  and pivot arm  301  down. In the current embodiment, the lock lever  317  is pivotally attached to the pivot arm  301  by a lock lever pin  318  is biased to a locking position by a tension spring  319 . While in the closed and locked position, the brew chamber  371 , now a quasi-sealed pressure vessel with a single outlet, directs the pressure of the hot water pumped from the water inlet fitting  331  down through the spray head  365  though the pod body  7  past the pod screen  151  into the brew funnel  153  and into the beverage receptacle  21 . The current embodiment possesses a slider position roller  173  which aids in maintaining the slider  51  position. 
         [0046]      FIG. 16  is a cross section of the pivot arm  301  and top wall  23  of the invention showing the pivot arm  301  and brew arm  311  in an open unlocked position taken on line  16 - 16  of  FIG. 12 . In this position the slider  51  is able to be urged left to right when the user presses the handle  53  in the desired direction. The drawing shows the current embodiment having a clearance gap in the open unlocked position between the brew head gasket  357  and slider  51  and a clearance gap between the slider  51  and the screen gasket  157 . 
         [0047]      FIG. 17  is a cross section of the pivot arm  301  and top wall  23  of the invention showing the pivot arm  301  and brew arm  311  in a closed locked position taken on line  17 - 17  of  FIG. 14 . In this position have pressed the brew base plate  335  and brew head gasket against the pod  3  flange  5  and pod flange support  60 . The slider  51 , in turn is urged against the screen gasket  157  and top wall  23  of the invention, creating a quasi sealed brew chamber where water enters through the spray head  365  and permeates through the beverage pot  3  body  7  under pressure, finally exiting through the brew funnel  153  and into the user&#39;s cup  21 . 
         [0048]      FIG. 18  is a schematic of the invention  1  showing the current embodiment&#39;s pressure and heating system. Fresh water enters through tube  411  through a valve  415  into a reservoir tank  419 . Valve  415 , such as a float valve, ensures a proper level of water is maintained in tank  419 , the water ready to be pumped through the machine. A water pump  427  pumps the water through a check valve  423  and into a heating tank  431 . The cooler water displaces already heated water forcing the hot water out through the pivot arm tube  435  and into the brew chamber. Once a predetermined amount of heated water has been ejected through the brew chamber, the water pump  427  stops and an air pump  439  pumps air through an air check valve  443  and into the brew chamber, removing excess water from the brew chamber and brew pod  3 . The system may be controlled electronically or mechanically as known in the art. 
         [0049]      FIG. 19  is an exploded perspective view of the invention  1  showing the major assemblies. Shown here are the pivot arm  301 , spring biased pivot arm hinge assembly  313 , left top cover  27 , right top cover  29 , slider  51 , ejection lever  121 , ejection spring  115 , ejection lever bracket  111 , and ejection pivot pin  123 .