Patent Publication Number: US-7584695-B2

Title: Hot water dispensing attachment

Description:
This is a continuation application of U.S. application, Ser. No. 10/683,968, filed on Oct. 9, 2003 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,162,949, which claims benefit of 60/417,287 filed Oct. 9, 2002. The entire disclosures (e.g., the originally filed claims) of application Ser. No. 10/683,968 and application No. 60/417,287 are hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure relates to a method, system, apparatus and kit for dispensing hot water from a beverage making system or brewer. 
     There are numerous beverage making systems that may benefit from the present disclosure, for example, coffee brewers, tea brewers, beverage concentrate dispensers or any other beverage dispenser that produces hot beverages. 
     Beverage making systems, such as those mentioned above, require a source of hot water. For example, a hot water tank may provide the source of the hot water needed for producing beverages. The term “hot water tank” is broadly used in the present disclosure as referring to a container in which a quantity of water may be heated and retained at a desired temperature for dispensing as water or dispensing as water during a brewing process. This includes hot water tanks as well as hot water reservoirs or any other portion or component of a beverage or food making system in which water is heated for subsequent use. Beverage dispensers with hot water tanks receive water from a pressurized line or a basin, which provides water at either at cool or ambient temperature. The hot water tank then heats water introduced into its interior by means of a heating element which is typically located within or proximate to the hot water tank. 
     The hot water flows from an opening in the hot water tank through tubing or a pipe and through a spray head into a funnel containing a beverage making substance such as tea or coffee grounds. Water may be dispensed from a hot water tank as a result of gravity filling the tank by pouring water into a basin which communicates with the tank, such a gravity feed system is known in the art. Alternatively, hot water may be dispensed from a hot water tank using a control system in which a control valve coupled to the water line exiting the hot water tank can be controlled by a controller during a brewing process. 
     In addition to producing beverages such as coffee or tea, many beverage making systems also dispense hot water from a hot water delivery system through a hot water faucet. While the separate dispensing of hot water may not be a primary function of the beverage producing system, the availability of hot water is desirable for many reasons. For example, hot water may be dispensed from the beverage making system directly into a cup holding a tea bag or the cup may hold an instant beverage powder such as instant hot chocolate or instant soup. Additionally, hot water dispensed from the beverage server may be dispensed into a larger container for other food preparation activities or for cleaning or other sanitation purposes. 
     In order to provide a hot water delivery system, some beverage producing systems are manufactured with a hot water faucet protruding from a surface of the beverage maker. These hot water faucets may be located in a variety of locations on the beverage makers. For example, hot water faucets may be located on an overhanging portion of the beverage maker above where a funnel is located during the brewing process. Other locations for a hot water faucet may include side surfaces or the lower base of a beverage maker. 
     In any of these locations, the hot water faucets generally are installed at the factory during the manufacturing process. The hot water faucets are not user configurable after the beverage makers leave the factory. Additionally, none of the typical faucet locations discussed above provide a hot water faucet at a location with a similar height relative to a container from which a beverage is dispensed. As such, the hot water valve may be located either well above or well below a convenient height for dispensing hot water into a container. 
     The present disclosure addresses the issues discussed above by providing a modular hot water dispenser which may be positioned by a user. Further the modular hot water dispenser can be configured to provide a hot water faucet at a more desirable height. The modular hot water dispenser generally has a narrow footprint so as to minimize valuable counter space in a beverage serving environment. 
     The present disclosure relates to a method, system, apparatus and kit for dispensing hot water from a beverage making system or brewer. The present disclosure includes a body which may be positioned or attached to a portion of a housing or structure of a brewer or other beverage making system. The body may be mounted in a left or right side orientation relative to the brewer. A moveably or rotatably mounted faucet is provided on the body which provides a serving outlet for hot water. Because of the moveable or rotational feature, the body may be easily converted from a left side orientation to a right side orientation. Additionally, fastening points and a cover plate are provided for attaching the body to the brewer and concealing a tube within the body. 
     The present disclosure further includes a tube for placing the faucet in communication with a hot water supply line from the brewer through an aperture in a side surface of the brewer. The tube may run through an interior of the body and provides hot water to the faucet. 
     Additional features will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of drawings illustrating at least one embodiment of the disclosure. Additional features will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying figures in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic side elevational view of a beverage maker; 
         FIG. 2  is a side elevational view of the beverage maker of  FIG. 1  with the apparatus of the present disclosure mounted in a left side orientation; 
         FIG. 3  is a front elevational view of the beverage maker of  FIG. 1  with the apparatus of the present disclosure mounted in a left side orientation as shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a front elevational view of the beverage maker of  FIG. 1  with the apparatus of the present disclosure mounted in a right side orientation; 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged partial fragmentary side elevation view of the apparatus of the present disclosure mounted in a left side orientation as shown in  FIG. 2  with a cover removed; 
         FIG. 6  is an enlarged partial fragmentary perspective view of a front portion of the apparatus of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 7  is a partial fragmentary side elevational view of the beverage maker of  FIG. 1  with the apparatus of the present disclosure mounted in a left side orientation, showing the reverse angle of  FIG. 2 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     While the present disclosure may be susceptible to embodiment in different forms, there is shown in the drawings, and herein will be described in detail, at least one embodiment with the understanding that the present description is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the disclosure and is not intended to limit the disclosure to the details of construction and the arrangements of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. 
     Terms including brewed, brewing, brewing substance, brewing liquid, beverage, and brewed beverage as used herein are intended to be broadly defined as including but not limited to the brewing of coffee, tea and any other brewed beverage. This broad interpretation is also intended to include, but is not limited to any process of infusing, steeping, reconstituting, diluting, dissolving, saturating or passing a liquid through or otherwise mixing or combining a beverage substance with a liquid such as water without a limitation to the temperature of such liquid unless specified. This broad interpretation is also intended to include, but is not limited to beverage substances such as ground coffee, tea, liquid beverage concentrate, powdered beverage concentrate, freeze dried coffee or other beverage concentrates, to obtain a desired beverage or other food. 
     With reference to the figures,  FIG. 1  shows a beverage dispenser, brewer or beverage maker  2 . While a coffee brewer is shown, it is anticipated that other beverage dispensers or makers  2  may be used in conjunction with the present disclosure. For example, a tea brewer, hot water dispenser, or any other device having a source or supply of hot water may benefit from the present disclosure. 
     The brewer  2  is generally comprised of a base  13 , a pair of side walls  16 , a front wall  20 , a rear wall  21 , a top  22 , and an overhang portion  30 . The base  13  is a generally rectangular planar horizontal structure having a pair of short sides  14  and a pair of long sides  15 . While a generally rectangular structure is disclosed, a variety of other geometric shapes may be employed which serve the same function without departing form the scope of the present disclosure. 
     Each side wall  16  is of also generally rectangular in shape having a pair of short sides  17  and a pair of long sides  18 . The short sides  17  of side walls  16  are roughly half the length as the short sides  14  of base  13 . One of the short sides  17  of each side wall  16  is welded or otherwise fastened to a corresponding short side  14  of the base  13 . The side walls  16  are fastened to the base  13  to form roughly a right angle relative to base  13 , thereby placing the side walls  16  in generally vertical alignment. The side walls  16  are fastened to the base  13  proximate to the intersection of short side  14  and long side  15 . While the fastening means disclosed in one embodiment is welding, other fastening means such as machine screws, rivets or other suitable fastening means or manufacturing techniques known to those of skill in the art may be employed. 
     Rear wall  21  is dimensioned to be generally the same height as the long side of side walls  16  and generally the same width as the long side  15  of base  13 . One of the sides of the rear wall  21  having generally the same width dimension as the long side  15  of base  13  is fastened to one of the long sides  15  of base  13 . Rear wall  21  is fastened to the base  13  in a vertical orientation forming a generally right angle. The rear wall  21  also engages one of the long sides  18  of both side walls  16  at roughly right angles and is fastened thereto. 
     The front wall  20  is also generally the same height as the long sides  18  of side walls  16  and generally the same width of the long side  15  of base  13 . A surface of the front wall  20  having generally the same width as the long side  15  of the base  13  is attached at generally a mid point between the two long side  15  of base  13 . The front wall  20  also engages one of the long sides  18  of both side walls  16  at generally right angles The side walls  16 , rear wall  21  and front wall  20  all terminate at generally the same height above the base  13  forming a generally planner surface. 
     Overhang  30  is dimensioned to contain two long sides  32  and two short sides  31 . The sides  31 ,  32  are generally twice as tall as sides  14 ,  15  of base  13 . Overhang  30  is fastened to the uppermost surfaces of side walls  16 , rear wall  21  and front wall  20  where they terminate. A top  22  is provided on overhang  30  and is fastened to the side opposite the side which attaches to the terminal portions of side walls  16 , rear wall  21  and front wall  20 . The overhang  30  is fastened to rear wall  21  and side walls  16  so as to continue vertical planes formed by rear wall  21  and side walls  16  until the planes terminate at top  22 . The front wall  20  however is interrupted by overhang  30  which extends horizontally beyond a vertical plane established by front wall  20  roughly the distance of the side  14  of base  13  thus forming a cantilevered portion or area  24 . 
     The cantilevered portion  24  has a front portion  36  and an underside portion  35 . The front portion  36  rises vertically from the underside portion  35  to engage the top  22 . The underside portion  35  may have retaining means shown as funnel rails  34  for removably retaining funnels  38 . While one embodiment discloses funnels  38 , the present disclosure may be utilized with or without funnels  38 . 
     A beverage dispensing area  39  is defined by the area below the cantilevered portion  24 . The beverage dispensing area  39  may receive beverage servers  26 . In one embodiment one beverage server  26  is placed under each funnel  38  for receiving beverage. The beverage servers  26  may take the form of any container capable of holding a beverage. While beverage servers  26  are discussed, the present disclosure may be practiced without beverage servers  26 , such as by dispensing directly into self-contained reservoirs or individual serving containers, and not depart from the scope or spirit of the present disclosure. 
       FIGS. 2-6  show a hot water dispensing apparatus or hot water dispenser  60  attached to a brewer  2 . The hot water dispenser  60  is a hot water dispensing attachment which can be removably attached to selected surfaces of a beverage dispenser  2 . As illustrated, the hot water dispenser  60  is a generally rectangular box-like structure. The hot water dispenser  60  has a housing  61  including a body  62 , and a cover  66 . The body  62  is formed by four walls  68  and a side wall  70 . One of the walls  68  is dimensioned to contain a faucet aperture  92  and is designated as the faucet wall  93 . The two walls  68  abutting the faucet wall  93  each contain mounting apertures  100  and are designated as mounting walls  102 . 
     In one embodiment, each of the walls  68  may have generally equal dimensions. However alternative embodiments which have walls  68  of non-uniform dimensions may be possible without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Also, it should be understood that many different housing  61  configuration with many different shapes may be used to achieve the structure and function of the disclosed device. 
     As seen in  FIGS. 3 and 6 , each wall  68  has a first planar surface or outer flange  72 , a second planar surface or side surface  74  and a third planar surface or inner flange  76 . The second planar surface  74  defines a width dimension or footprint of the hot water dispenser  60  relative to the brewer  2 . Each second planar surface  74  has an outer surface  78  and an inner surface  80 . Both the first planar surface  72  and third planar surface  76  are attached to the inner surface  80  of the second planar surface  74  at generally right angles such that the first planar surface  72  and the third planar surface  76  are parallel to each other. 
     Each of the outer flanges  72  is provided with fasteners or attaching structures for attaching the cover  66 . In one embodiment, each of the first planar surfaces is dimensioned to contain two apertures  82  which function as attachment structures. The apertures  82  may contain a threaded portion for engaging a machine screw  116 , bolt or other fastener known to those of skill in the art. While two apertures are disclosed, any number of apertures are contemplated. 
     The inner surface  74  of each of the four walls  68  is attached to and terminates at another inner surface  74  of another wall  68  at a generally right angle, thus forming a generally planar rectangular structure. The side wall  70  is dimensioned such that a perimeter of the side wall  70  has dimensions generally equal to the perimeter of the rectangular structure formed by the walls  68 . The side wall  70  has an inner surface  69  and an outer surface  71 . The side wall  70  is fastened about its perimeter to the third planar surface  76  of the walls  68 , with the inner surface  69  engaging the third planar surface  76  of the walls  68 . Any means for fastening, suitable for such purposes such as rivets, welding, or machine screws may be employed. Other fastening means known to those of skill in the art may be employed. 
     While a unitary structure for each of the four short walls  68  is disclosed, it is contemplated that the short walls  68  which form the rectangular structure onto which the side wall  70  is attached may be formed of separate components. As a unitary structure, a unitary section of material may be bent or otherwise machined to include right angles at intervals which would form the rectangular structure. Additionally, each of the first planar surfaces  72 , second planar surfaces  74  and third planar surfaces  76  may be formed in a like manner. In an embodiment where separate components are employed, each component may be welded or otherwise attached to one another to form the structure discussed above. It should be noted that the housing may be formed of a unitary piece of material such as plastic or other suitable structure to provide the same or equivalent structures and functions as described above. Disclosure of the specific embodiment as shown in the illustrations and described above should not limit the structure of the housing  61  but, rather, the definition of the housing  61  should be broadly interpreted. 
     The housing  61  is attached to a side wall  16  of the brewer  2  using attachment devices  75  which, as shown for example in  FIG. 5 , include fasteners  77  extending through the side wall  70  and the side wall  16  of the brewer  2 . While mounting apertures and mounting screws are disclosed, any mounting means including fasteners, formed structures, adhesives, magnets, clamps, or other devices or equivalents may be employed without departing from the present disclosure. 
     A hose aperture  86  is included to provide a void, through which a water delivery line, shown here as supply tube  88 , may be inserted. The tube is one example of one form of means for receiving hot water from the beverage dispenser. A first end  89  of the supply tube  88  may be in communication with a hot water source within the brewer  2  for delivering hot water to the hot water dispenser  60 . A second end  90  of the supply tube  88  may be in communication with a faucet assembly  64  through which hot water may be delivered to a beverage container. The faucet assembly is one example of one form of means for controllably dispensing hot water from the beverage dispenser. For example, the first end  89  of supply tube  88  is attached to a suitable coupling installed in a side wall with a hot water tank of known construction. One of skill in the art will appreciate that the coupling installed into the side wall of the tank will be similar to that as shown in  FIG. 6  in which the second end  90  is connected to the faucet assembly  64 . The tube  88  is of a suitable length to provide connection at the first end  89  and the second end  90 . It should be noted, that a grommet  95  as provided in the aperture  86  was to prevent damage to the tube  88  extending there through. 
     The faucet assembly  64  is a structure which includes a user controllable valve, having a control handle  97 , through which hot water may flow. The faucet assembly  64  is selectively rotatably, moveably or otherwise adjustably carried on or mounted on the second surface  74  of the faucet wall  93 . The faucet assembly  64  may be any suitable faucet known to those of skill in the art. With reference to the faucet assembly is to be broadly defined and interpreted such that a mechanical faucet as shown in the drawings as well as an electromechanical or any other form of faucet. If an electromechanical faucet is substituted, it is envisioned that a control unit of the electromechanical faucet can be positioned within the housing making the entire faucet assembly  64  part of a kit to be described in greater detail herein below. As such, the term faucet assembly should be broadly defined and interpreted. In one embodiment, a user accessible portion  94  protrudes from the outer surface  78  of second surface  74  (see  FIG. 3 ). The user accessible portion  94  may be manipulated by a user to start and stop a flow of hot water from the hot water dispenser  60 . A mounting portion  96  of the faucet assembly  64  extends through faucet aperture  92  and into an interior cavity  118  of hot water dispenser  60 . The mounting portion  96  includes a structure for rotatably mounting  98  the faucet assembly  64  to the faucet wall  93  of the hot water dispenser  60 . 
     In one embodiment, the means for rotatably mounting  98  the faucet assembly  64  is a hex head nut  99  which engages a threaded portion of a tubular neck  99  the mounting portion  96 . When the faucet is properly positioned, the hex head nut  99  is tightened to engage the inner surface  80  while a portion of the user accessible portion  94  engages the outer surface  80  thereby forming a friction engagement with the second planar surface  74  of the faucet wall  93 . While a nut and thread arrangement is discussed, any suitable means for rotatably or otherwise adjustably mounting the faucet assembly  64  to the hot water dispenser  60  known to those of skill in the art may be employed without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. 
     In order to attach the hot water dispenser  60  to the brewer  2 , a user must first decide whether the hot water dispenser  60  is to be mounted on the brewer  2  in a left side or right side configuration. The hot water dispenser  60  is manufactured for mounting to either side of the brewer  2 . The hot water dispenser  60  may be conveniently manufactured and pre-configured for mounting on the side of the machine which most users mount the dispenser  60 . Regardless of the orientation in which the hot water dispenser  60  is manufactured, a user may need to mount the dispenser on an opposite side of the brewer. In such a case, the hot water dispenser  60  of the present disclosure may be reconfigured easily by the user. It should be noted that while reference to “left side” or “right side” orientation of the water dispenser is discussed, it is envisioned that the dispenser  60  could also be positioned on the top portion ( 22 ) of the brewer  2  as well as underneath the base  13 . These alternate locations (top and bottom) may be accommodated by the dispenser  60 . The top and bottom locations provide other places to which the housing  61  can be attached to provide a user configurable or hot water dispenser in a desired location. However, for purposes of this disclosure the reference is made to the left hand side and the right hand side for ease of description. 
     To adapt the hot water dispenser  60  for an opposite side orientation, a user first relocates a mounting bracket  104  from one of the mounting walls  102  to the other mounting wall  102 . This may be accomplished by removing mounting aperture covers  106 , such as screws or caps, (see  FIG. 1 ) from mounting apertures  100  on the mounting wall  102  which will become the wall  68  defining the lowest portion of the hot water dispenser  60 . The mounting bracket  104  is then removed from the mounting wall  102  onto which it was mounted at a factory by disengaging fasteners  107  (see  FIG. 6 ). The mounting bracket  104  and fasteners  107  are then transferred to the opposite mounting wall  102  where the mounting bracket  104  is reattached through the use of fasteners  107 . The aperture covers  106  are then inserted into the empty mounting apertures  100  where the mounting bracket  104  was originally attached. 
     While a mounting bracket  104  is discussed above, the present disclosure may be practiced without the mounting bracket  104  without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure. For example, the hot water dispenser  60  may be attached to the brewer  2  by means of screws, bolts, or other fasteners without the need for using a mounting bracket  104 . In other words, the housing  61  may be attached to the brewer without the bracket  104 . The bracket  104  is used to provide additional support to increase the strength of the connection between the body  62  and the brewer  2 . 
     Next, a user rotates the faucet assembly  64  approximately 180 degrees. This is accomplished by loosening the means for rotatably mounting  98  and manually rotating the faucet assembly  64 . After the faucet assembly  64  is in the correct orientation, the means for rotatably mounting  98  is tightened. 
     The hot water dispenser  60 , in its configuration, is now ready for mounting in an opposite orientation on the brewer  2  from which it was manufactured. By simply rotating the hot water dispenser  60  approximately 180 degrees about an axis represented by line  1 - 1  (in  FIG. 6 ), a user may now use the hot water dispenser  60  in an orientation opposite for which the orientation the hot water dispenser  60  was manufactured. As seen in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 7 , a brewer hose aperture  108  is provided in the side wall  16  at a predetermined location. Each side wall  16  is provided with a brewer hose aperture  108  having a brewer aperture cover  110  for occluding the brewer hose aperture when no structure is attached to the side wall  16  of brewer  2 . Additionally, each side wall  16  and the base  13  are also provided with a plurality of brewer attaching apertures  112  also having brewer aperture covers  110  in the form of fasteners  77 . 
     A user removes the aperture covers  110  from the side wall  16  onto which the hot water dispenser  60  is to be mounted. The front wall  20  is also removed in order to gain access to an interior cavity of the brewer  2  defined by the side walls  16 , front wall  20 , base  13  and top  22 . Such access is provided for connecting the hot water dispenser  60  to the brewer  2  hot water delivery system. A user may then attach the hot water dispenser  60  to the side wall  16  of choice, by means of fasteners which pass though the side wall  70  and into the brewer attaching apertures  112  in side wall  26  and base  13 . After the hot water dispenser  60  is attached to the brewer  2 , the side wall  70  of hot water dispenser  60  and the selected side wall  16  of the brewer  2  will be adjacent to one another. Further, the hose aperture  86  and brewer hose aperture  108  will also be in alignment. 
     The supply tube  88  will then be passed through hose aperture  86  and brewer hose aperture  108 . In one embodiment, the supply tube  88  may take the form of a food grade silicone tube, however other types of tubes, hoses or flexible piping as well as generally rigid tubing may be employed without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure. 
     The first end  89  of supply tube  88  is then attached to a water supply line within the interior cavity of the brewer  2  or directly to the hot water source or tank. The second end  90  of the supply tube  88  may be cut to length if there is excessive length. After an appropriate length is established, the second end  90  of supply tube  88  is attached to mounting portion  96  of faucet assembly  64 . A hose clamp  114  or other appropriate attaching means may be employed to attach the second end  90  to mounting portion  96 . 
     With the supply tube  88  attached to a water supply of the brewer  2  and the faucet assembly  64 , a flow path for hot water is established from a hot water tank within the interior cavity of the brewer  2  to the faucet assembly  64 . This flow path will provide a means for communicating hot water from the hot water tank to the faucet assembly  64 , which a user may controllably operate to dispense hot water into a beverage container. The flow path will be generally insulated from the environment by the hot water dispenser body  62 . The body will provide both protection for the supply tube  88  and reduce thermal loss to the external environment. Additionally, insulating material such as foam or the like may be placed around the supply tube  88  to further reduce thermal loss. 
     In order to complete the attachment of the hot water dispenser  60  to the brewer  2 , a user will attach the cover  66  to the body  62  by means of machine screws  116  or other appropriate fasteners. The machine screws  116  will pass though apertures in cover  66  and into apertures  82  in first planar surfaces  72  having threaded portions. 
     While brewer attaching apertures  112  and brewer hose aperture  108  are discussed, the present disclosure may be practiced in the absence of such apertures. For example, in the event that the hot water dispenser  60  is to be used on a different line of brewers or water dispensers not possessing the above apertures, other fasteners such as metal screws, pop rivets or any other fastener known to those of skill in the art may be employed. This may occur in a situation where the dispenser  60  is “retro-fitted” to attach to a brewer  2  which was not originally configured to receive the dispenser  60 . Additionally, a hole may be drilled or otherwise formed in the side wall  16  of a brewer  2  for passing a supply tube  88  therethrough. 
     The present disclosure also includes a kit which can be used in the manufacture of retrofitting of the dispenser  60  on appropriate machine. The kit include the housing, appropriate fasteners, valve assembly  64 , tube  88  as well a any necessary components for attaching the tube to the hot water supply and the valve. The kit can be prepared as an individual assembly for retrofitting to any type of suitable equipment or may be provided as an inventory kit for use in the manufacturing process. In this regard, the manufacturing process may not call for the assembly of a dispenser  60  of the present disclosure. However, if a change order is requested in the manufacture of a piece of equipment, the dispenser  60  can be readily attached to the corresponding machine. 
     While an embodiment has been illustrated and described in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustrations and descriptions are considered to be exemplary and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only an illustrative embodiment has been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected. The applicant has provided description and figures which are intended as an illustration of certain embodiments of the disclosure, and are not intended to be construed as containing or implying limitation of the disclosure to those embodiments. There are a parality of advantages of the present disclosure arising from various features set forth in the description. It will be noted that alternative embodiment of the disclosure may not include all of the features described yet still benefit from at least some of the advantages of such features. Those of ordinary skill in the art may readily devise their own implementations of the disclosure and associated methods that incorporate one or more of the feature of the disclosure and fall within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the impendent claims.