Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/628,783, filed Nov. 17, 2004. The disclosure set forth in the referenced provisional application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, including all information as originally submitted to the United States Patent and Trademark Office. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     The present disclosure relates to brewing devices and more particularly, brewing devices which include programmable features to facilitate controlled brewing of a beverage brewing substance.  
         [0003]     A variety of beverage brewing devices have been developed which facilitate the controlled production of beverages. Such beverage brewing devices might be in the form of a coffee brewer, tea brewer or brewer of any other type of beverage brewing substance. Such beverage brewing devices typically retain a volume or quantity of beverage brewing substance such as ground coffee, tea or other substances in a container for dilution or infusion with heated water. The heated water is introduced into the container whereby it mixes with the brewing substance to produce a desired brewed beverage. The temperature of the water dispensed over the brewing substance is typically within a preset range, for example, 190° F.-205° F. The water is heated in and retained in a heated water reservoir. The temperature of the water is set at the reservoir by means of a thermostatic control circuit.  
         [0004]     A variety of brewing devices have been developed which control various characteristics of the brewing process. This includes the quantity of water dispensed over the brewing substance, the dispensing of bypass water which is not directly introduced into the brewing substance, the quantity of water dispensed over a period of time, as well as time delayed brewing. All these features may provide potential benefits to the flavor profile of the resulting brewed beverage.  
         [0005]     Additional features and embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]     The present disclosure will be described hereafter with reference to the attached drawing which is provided as a non-limiting example only, in which:  
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a general diagrammatic illustration of a brewing system employing the teachings and techniques set forth herein. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0008]     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, embodiments with the understanding that the present description is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the disclosure and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the details of construction and the arrangements of components set forth in the following description and illustrated in the drawing.  
         [0009]     While the term “heated” may be used throughout this disclosure, the term is to be broadly interpreted to include all forms of water or dilution liquid of any temperature, generally in which the water has been heated. The term heated includes the term “hot” such that one might consider the water to be hot based on the numerical temperature. Generally, the temperature of the water is below or at the relevant boiling temperature (212 degrees F. at sea level) above which the water will generally transform to steam. The term heated is used to distinguish from the term unheated such that unheated water is generally introduced into the reservoir during the brewing cycle. In or near the reservoir the water is heated resulting in heated water.  
         [0010]     The present disclosure may be used in connection with a variety of beverage making machines. Terms including beverage, brewed, brewing, and brewed beverage as may be used herein are intended to be broadly defined as including, but not limited to the brewing or making of tea, coffee and any other beverages or food substances that will benefit from the present disclosure. This broad interpretation is also intended to include, but not be limited to, any process of dispensing, 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 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, flaked, granular, freeze-dried or other forms of materials including liquid, gel, crystal or other form of beverage or food materials to obtain a desired beverage or food product. This broad interpretation is intended to include, without limitation, at least funnel and filter-type, packet or pouch-type, pod-type or other prepackaged or unpackaged forms of retaining and brewing a beverage or making of a food product. The terms heated water may be interpreted as hot water, and generally refers to adding energy to water to heat the water above ambient temperature.  
         [0011]     While the disclosure shows an illustration of a brewer as described, it is intended and understood that the term brewer is to be broadly interpreted to include brewers of any configuration including that as shown as well as, by way of example but not limitation, drip, filtered, single cup or pod brewers. Pod brewers are brewers which retain a pod or prepackaged beverage product and deliver to or force water through the pod to brew a beverage. Many pod brewers produce one or two cups of beverage instead of 4-12 cups as is produced by many other brewers. Pod brewers may be configured consistent with the teachings of this disclosure to be connected to a pressurized water line and provide line pressure brewing. The teachings of this disclosure are intended to be broadly interpreted and applied to a variety of brewer sizes, styles and configurations consistent with the principals disclosed herein.  
         [0012]     A brewer  20  includes the structures and methods to facilitate programming the brewer to incorporate temperature as a characteristic of a brewing recipe. The temperature referred to in the present application as being controllable and as a component of the recipe is the temperature of water  22  which is used to brew. As will be referred to throughout this application, this water  22  will be generally referred to as “brew water”. A variety of characteristics can be incorporated in the brewing recipe including the quantity of water to be dispensed, the flow pattern of dispensing water, the quantity or percentage of bypass water, or any other characteristic. The present system, method and apparatus incorporates temperature as a recipe component.  
         [0013]     Temperature as a recipe component may be valuable in a variety of situations, some of which will be evident based on the disclosure and others which will be discovered as a result of this disclosure. One example in which temperature might be used as a recipe component would be in the use of brewing tea as well as coffee using the same beverage brewing device. In other words, the same brewing device can be configured for brewing tea and can also, separately brew coffee. In one brewing cycle the device can combine ground coffee and water to produce coffee and during a separate brewing cycle the device can be used to brew tea. In this example, it may be desirable to brew teas at a temperature of 200° F. However, some teas, for example green tea, may be more desirable when brewed at a lower temperature, for example, 190° F. Additionally, by using the present apparatus and methods, it may be discovered that other substances, such as different types of coffee, different grinds or roasts of coffee, different herbs and different combinations of brewing substances may produce a more desirable or different taste profile or flavor characteristics when brewed at different temperatures. The different temperatures may have an effect on the essential oils and other flavoring components in the brewing substance such that the ability to change the temperature of the brew water over a range of, for example, ±20° F. may have an effect on the resulting beverage.  
         [0014]     The method of the following disclosure includes providing a brewing apparatus  20  shown diagrammatically in  FIG. 1  for use in brewing a beverage  24 . The brewing apparatus  20  includes a container, holder or funnel  26  for retaining and brewing substance  28 . The brewing substance  28  is shown diagrammatically as being retained in the container or holder  26 . It will be appreciated from the present disclosure and knowledge of the prior art that the holder may also include some form of filter structure for retaining the brewing substance  28  within the funnel. The filter structure may include, by way of example, but not limitation, a reusable filter, a paper filter, a fabric filter or any other type of filter structures either reusable or disposable, as well as being sealed or open. Additionally, the holder includes any other type of brewing structure such as a self contained brewing assembly which includes the filtering structure, brewing substance and a container to hold the filtering structure and brewing substance.  
         [0015]     A water delivery system  30  is incorporated in the brewing apparatus  20  to heat and deliver water to the holder  26 . Details of the water delivery system  30  will be described in greater detail below. The water delivery system  30  also includes a water temperature adjusting system  32 . The water temperature adjusting system  32  includes at least one temperature sensor  34 , a heater  36  and a controller  38  for controlling the temperature of the water in the water delivery system. The heater  36  as diagrammatically shown in  FIG. 1  may be any one or a combination of heaters. The present disclosure is intended to broadly cover any form of heater positioned inside, outside or otherwise providing heat energy to the water in the reservoir. The controller  38  controls the temperature of water  22  in a reservoir  40  of the water delivery system  30  so that a quantity of water can be maintained and controlled to provide brewing water at a predetermined temperature, temperatures or within a predetermined temperature range. The sensor  34  could be positioned inside or outside of the reservoir.  
         [0016]     In the method of the present system, the user programs a brewing temperature for use with a predetermined brewing substance. The combination of the information about the brewing substance and the brew water temperature is retained in, programmed into, read by, or otherwise provided to the controller  38 . When the user initiates a brewing cycle by instructing the controller  38  to operate, the controller  38  detects the temperature of the water in the reservoir  40  and then adjusts the temperature of the water, if necessary, prior to brewing. If the water temperature is at the selected temperature or within a selected temperature range, the brewing cycle is initiated.  
         [0017]     If the water temperature in the reservoir  40  is not at the selected temperature or within temperature range, the system will adjust the temperature, either increasing the temperature or decreasing the temperature of the water to be dispensed into the holder  26  to accommodate the programmed or otherwise introduced temperature characteristics. In the situation where the temperature needs to be increased, the water delivery system  30  initiates a heating cycle to raise the temperature to the predetermined temperature or range prior to brewing. If the temperature needs to be decreased, the system will refrain from turning on a heating component of the water delivery system and instead introduce unheated or cooled water. The dilution water  54  is dispensed into a server  60  positioned therebelow for mixing with the brewed beverage  24 . Additionally, optional substances such as flavorings, sweeteners, base components such as milk base products or other ingredients can also be added to the server at this time. Additionally, the dispensing of the dilution water can be initiated simultaneous with the dispensing of the brewed beverage  24  or can be delayed for a period of time depending on the desired effect. For example, some recipes may call for delaying the dilution of the brewed beverage in the server  60  for a period of time. This allows the brewed beverage to cure or otherwise stabilize before dilution the dilution water  54 . Some recipes may call for such a delay time and the recipe may be used to program this into the controller  38 . The recipe calling for such delay may do so for reasons of flavor characteristics, esthetic presentation or other reasons. It is believed that in some tea beverages, the delaying of the dilution may prevent the tea from becoming cloudy, reduce the level of cloudiness or maintain a desired level of clarity or transparency.  
         [0018]     With further reference to  FIG. 1 , the brewer  20  is shown as being used for brewing tea. It should be noted, however, that the device can be used to brew coffee as well as any other type of beverage. The brewer includes the reservoir  40  for retaining a quantity of water  22  in a heated condition. Water is introduced through the inlet line  42  by use of a controllable valve  44  coupled to the controller  38 . Water is introduced through the inlet line  42  to the reservoir  40  for heating by the heater  36 . The temperature sensor  34  detects the temperature of the water to indicate to the controller whether heating is required. A level sensor  46  is provided in the upper portion of the reservoir  40  for detecting a level of water in the reservoir  40 . Any of a variety of level sensors or combinations of level sensors could be used with this brewer including conductive, pressure, optical, sonic and any other type of level sensor positioned inside, outside or in proximity to the reservoir. The level sensor as shown in  FIG. 1  is provided for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to limit the scope to that as shown.  
         [0019]     A dispense line  48  communicates with the reservoir  40  for delivering water from the reservoir to a spray head  50 . A controllable valve  49  communicates with the dispensing line  48 . The controllable valve  49  is coupled to the controller  38  for controllable operation during a brewing cycle. Water  52  dispensed from the spray head flows into the holder  26  for infusion with the brewing substance  28  to produce the brewed beverage  24 . Dilution water  54  is dispensed through a dilution water line  56  also coupled to the reservoir  40  and controlled by a controllable valve  58  coupled to the controller  38 . The brewed beverage  24  and dilution water  54  are dispensed into a server or container  60  positioned below the holder  26 . While a pressurized water line is shown as providing water to the reservoir the water delivery system may be a gravity feed system such as is well known in the art. In such a gravity feed system water is positioned in a basin which communicates with the reservoir for delivering water to the reservoir. The water delivery system may also be a combination of a pressurized line and a gravity feed system. In general, the water delivery system is intended to be broadly interpreted in this disclosure and not limiting.  
         [0020]     A housing or frame  62  is provided to contain all the components of the brewer  20 .  
         [0021]     A device reader  64  is provided on the brewer  20  for detecting and reading an information device  66  carried on the funnel. The information device may be any form of device which can store and provide information, including but not limited to RFID devices, magnetic strips and others now existing or hereafter developed. The present disclosure incorporates by reference in entirety U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,465,035, 6,479,086 and 6,238,721 issued to the assignee of the present application. Additionally, the present application incorporates by reference in its entirety, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/271,619, filed Oct. 14, 2002 and assigned to the applicant of the present invention.  
         [0022]     Additionally, the present application incorporates the subject matter of PCT Application Serial No. PCT/US04/34659, filed Oct. 20, 2004, identified by attorney docket number 27726-96967 claiming priority from U.S. Provisional Application Nos. 60/512,684 filed Oct. 20, 2003 and 60/523,177 filed Nov. 18, 2003, and assigned to the assignee of the present application. This application addresses issues related to optimizing the control of the heater  36 , temperature probe  34  and the relationship of these devices and other structures within the brewer  20 . A control panel  70  of generally known construction is coupled to the controller  38  and may display information as well as introducing information to the controller.  
         [0023]     In use, the brewer  20  of the present invention incorporates temperature as a brewing recipe component by providing devices to allow the user to program, either actively or passively, information about the brewing substance, and other characteristics to invoke, program, or otherwise use an appropriate temperature in conjunction with the brewing substance  28 . A brewing cycle is initiated when a user introduces a holder  26  containing a quantity of brewing substance  28  to a retaining structure  72  of known construction such as rails which are found on many brewing devices. The rails  72  retain the holder  26  in a position underneath the spray head  50  for receiving water therein. If the funnel includes an information device  66  and the brewer includes a reader  64 , the reader can be used to provide information to the controller  38  from the information device  66 . If the brewer  20  does not include the reader  64 , the user can use the input and output device  70  to introduce temperature information for use during the brewing cycle.  
         [0024]     Once the controller  38  identifies a desired temperature or temperature range for brewing, it will detect the current temperature using the temperature probe  34 . If the temperature of the water  22  in the reservoir is below the desired temperature or temperature range, the heater  32  is activated to provide energy to the water  22  and elevate the temperature. Periodic detecting by the temperature probe  34  will result in providing information to the controller  38 . When the desired temperature or temperature range is detected, the controller  38  will allow water to flow from the reservoir  40  to the holder  26 . As an additional matter, the dispensing of water from the reservoir  40  to the holder  26  may occur automatically once the desired temperature is achieved or, alternatively, may result in a signal. The signal would indicate to the user that the desired temperature range is sufficient and that the brewing process may continue. Once the user observes the signal, the user can then select a choice such as activation of a switch or other touch panel controls to instruct the brewer to proceed with the brewing process. The brewer then can control the inlet valve  44 . Without further activation, the inlet valve  44  will not be controlled and the water will not flow. Water will be allowed to flow by operation of the inlet valve  44  to introduce water through the inlet line  42  and into the reservoir  40 . As water is introduced into the reservoir  40  through the inlet line  42 , the level of the water will rise. As the water level rises, it will be forced through the dispensing line  48 . At a predetermined time, the controller  38  will operate the dispense valve  49  to allow water to flow through the dispense line  48  to the spray head  50  and into the holder  26 .  
         [0025]     As an additional matter, the present application incorporates in its entirety the subject matter of PCT Application Serial No. (TBD), filed Nov. 8, 2005, entitled “System and Method for Preventing Tank Overheating” and identified by attorney docket number 27726-100695 claiming priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/626,650 filed Nov. 10, 2004, and assigned to the assignee of the present application. This application refers to a system which does not include a dispense valve  49  and instead generally controls the dispensing of water by use of the inlet line  42  pressure and control valve  44 . If additional dilution water  54  is required the controller  38  will controllably dispense water through the dilution line  56  by operation of the controllable valve  58 . At an appropriate time, the inlet valve  44  and outlet or dispense valve  49  will be closed, thereby ceasing the dispensing of water in the brew cycle.  
         [0026]     If the temperature of the water in the reservoir  40  is above the temperature or above the upper level of the temperature range, the system can respond in one of several ways. The system can introduce water through the inlet line  42  and not activate the heater  32 . This will result in drawing down the temperature of the water  22  in the reservoir  40  as a result of not adding heat energy. While this may result in some of the water in the upper level of the reservoir  40  being at a slightly higher temperature, a subsequent brew cycle will likely have water at the desired temperature or within the desired temperature range.  
         [0027]     Additionally, the system can delay brewing until the temperature of the water in the reservoir  40  has dropped to a desired level. This period of time may be significantly less if the brewing cycle is one of several brew cycles. In other words, the first brew cycle might use water at a slightly elevated temperature relative to the desired temperature or temperature range. However, subsequent brew cycles might not require the addition of energy from the heater or only the amount of energy from the heater. In this regard, the controller  38  can include programming which will take into account the current temperature of the water. Also, the controller  38  can be programmed to obtain a series of temperature readings to help determine a trend in the brew water temperature. This will help the system to anticipate temperature changes.  
         [0028]     While embodiments have 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 illustrative embodiments have been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected. The applicants have provided description and figures which are intended as illustrations of embodiments of the disclosure, and are not intended to be construed as containing or implying limitation of the disclosure to those embodiments. There is a plurality of advantages of the present disclosure arising from various features set forth in the description. It will be noted that alternative embodiments 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, without undue experimentation, that incorporate one or more of the features of the disclosure and fall within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure and the appended claims.

Technology Category: 1