REFRlGERATQRrIUlQUNTED HOT BEVERAGE DISPENSER

Hot beverages are desired by many people. These beverages include coffee,

tea, and soup. Many persons in the United States and throughout the world

consume hot beverages such as coffee and tea. Conventionally, coffee is

brewed using a coffeemaker in some form, either percolator or auto-drip.

These machines can be time consuming and take up valuable counter space.

Tea requires water to be boiled by either conventional stovetop method, or by

using an autoboiler. Any advantages to time saving with using an autoboiler

are diminished by the counter space it consumes. Similarly, most prepared

soups require separate heating, usually on a stove or in a microwave. Like

coffee and tea, soup requires preparation time.

in recent history, these manufacturers have produced ready to serve soups.

These soups are marketed toward consumers that do not have the time to

prepare the conventional concentrates and mixes. These ready to serve

soups still require heating, which means the consumer has to take valuable

time from their day to either heat the soup over the stove, or own a microwave

in which to heat the soup. If prepared over the stove, the convenience

provided by ready to serve soup is minimalized as such utensils as a pot and

ladle are still required. This process expends excess time by creating more

mess and requiring a waiting period before enjoyment. Further, the consumer

is forced into making the entire container, regardless of their appetite, because

these soups do not have a way in which to store excess.

Beverage dispensing directly from a refrigerator is known in the art. Many

residential refrigerator models containing beverage dispenser units are

currently for sale. Several patents discuss different aspects of beverage

dispenser units. Historically, beverage-dispensing refrigerators have tended to

focus on dispensing cool or cold beverages. However, U.S. Pat. No.

5,603,230 envisions a refrigerator door mounted beverage dispenser that

dispenses hot, warm, and cold water. Also see, for example, US Patent

5,603,230 and US Patent Publication US2003/0097314 A1. Applicant does

not know of any other apparatus which possesses all the claimed attributes

and advantages of the present one.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention is in the field of refrigerator-mounted beverage dispensers.

The present invention relates in general to an apparatus for a residential

refrigerator that heats and dispenses fluids from a plurality of drink containers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 shows a front perspective view of a refrigerator containing a

refrigerator-mounted hot beverage dispenser apparatus "A" according to the

present invention, mounted in a refrigerator constructed in accordance to one

aspect of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a Side perspective sectional view of part of FIG. 1 , showing in close-

up the apparatus "A" of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3A is a side view of the apparatus "A" of FIG. 2.

FIG. 3B is similar to FIG. 3A, except that beverage container has been

inserted into apparatus "A".

FIG. 3C is a close-up of the beverage container depicted in FIG 3B.

FIG. 4A is a detail close up of the perforated drain nozzle of FIG. 3A.

FIG. 4B is similar to FIG. 4A except that beverage container has been inserted

into apparatus "A", with detail close up of the perforated drain nozzle of

FIGS.3A and 3B.

FIG. 5 is fragmentary view of perforated drain nozzle, shown in close up, and

also illustrating the plane the beverage container bottom rests on, and also the

sensor means and wiring therefore.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

It is the object of this invention to enable containers of various beverages, e.g.

packaged coffees, teas, cappuccinos, and, as well as soups and hot, liquid

foods to be dispensed through a refrigerator, and preferably through an

apparatus that is disposed in a refrigerator door (or otherwise attached to a

refrigerator).

This invention allows for eliminating the need for bulky machines as

coffeemakers and autoboilers, while providing the convenience of instantly-

available coffee, tea, soup and various other hot beverages. This is preferably

accomplished by a dispenser located in a refrigerator door.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a beverage

dispensing apparatus adapted for use in a refrigerator, e.g. in a refrigerator

door. The apparatus may accept containers of beverages to be dispensed,

and may include, without limitation, a beverage-dispensing nozzle, which is

connected to beverage dispensing piping, connected to a perforated beverage

container drain nozzle having associated piercing means for piercing into a

beverage container, such that beverage may flow out of the container and

ultimately be dispensed from the beverage dispensing nozzle. In accordance

with another aspect of the invention, there may be a valve means, which may

be electronically actuated, disposed along the beverage dispensing piping

between the beverage dispensing nozzle and the perforated beverage

container drain nozzle. Coaxially mounted upon perforated beverage

container drain nozzle may be a beverage container holder, which will hold the

beverage containers which are, essentially, impaled upon the perforated

beverage container drain nozzle, and upon its associated piercing means. In

accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, the beverage container

holder is surrounded by a thermal insulating chamber, which itself may be

selectively accessed by an access door which may have a safety interlock

switch operably connected to it, so that when access door is closed, the safety

interlock switch is also closed, thereby permitting the apparatus to function,

and when the access door is open, the safety interlock switch is also open,

thereby preventing the function of apparatus.

in accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, there may be an

electronic beverage dispenser control means (which may comprise a

microprocessor and assorted data processing means, all of which are well-

known to those of ordinary skill in the relevant arts), to which are operatively

connected devices which may include, but are not limited to, a beverage

selector means (e.g., a button), beverage heating means (e.g. electrical

heating wires in thermal contact with the beverage container and/or the

beverage dispenser piping, as an electrical in-line heater), beverage presence

sensor means (e.g. a pressure sensor or electrical conductivity sensor); a

beverage temperature sensor means (e.g. a thermistor); beverage dispensing

switch means, electronically actuated valve means, safety interlock means,

beverage dispenser status indicator means (e.g. a lamp).

In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, the perforated

beverage container drain nozzle may be essentially integrated with a beverage

exhaustion sensor means, and/or the temperature sensor means.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, the electronic

beverage dispenser control means may be configured such that when said

beverage presence sensor reads positive (indicating beverage is in the

container into which the sensor and associate drain nozzle have pierced), the

beverage heating means are enabled, but when the beverage presence

sensor reads negative, the beverage heating means are disabled. The

beverage temperature sensor and the beverage heating means may be

operably connected to the electronic beverage dispenser control means,

which may be configured so as to (electrically) drive the beverage heating

means with a duty cycle appropriate to heat the beverage to a desired

temperature.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, the electronically

actuated valve means is normally closed when deenergized, and is normally

open when energized. In the presently preferred embodiment of the invention,

the electronically actuated valve means are open, and beverage is dispensed,

only when the following conditions exist: (i) beverage selector means are

engaged, (ii) beverage dispensing switch means are engaged; (iii) beverage

temperature sensor means register a desired temperature; (iv) beverage

presence sensor means read positive; (v) safety interlock switch means are

engaged.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, the beverage

dispenser status indicator means may indicate at least one condtion selected

from the following list: beverage selector means status, beverage dispensing

switch means status, beverage temperature sensor means status, beverage

presence sensor means status, and safety interlock switch means status.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED

EMBODIMENT

Reference is now made to FIG. 1 , which depicts a Refrigerator 1 having a

refrigerator door 2 having a recessed compartment 3. Recess compartment 3

is the location of the apparatus "A" according to the present invention. Also

visible in FIG. 1 are the push plate beverage selection switch 10, beverage

container holder 15, keypad 17, beverage selector button 80, and beverage

dispenser status indicator lamp 85. (note that herein "wire" may mean a multi-

strand cable, i.e. at least one of a plurality of separate wire strands, though

referred to as a wire and drawn as a single line)

Reference is now made to FIG 2. which depicts certain parts discussed in

connection with FIG. 1 , and others. Access door 20, operably connected to

safety interlock switch 25, provides access to thermal insulating chamber 30,

into which beverage container 40 may be disposed. Also provided are

beverage heating means 35, shown disposed as helical wires, but which may

also be inline heating means (not shown for clarity) in the flow path. Also

depicted are beverage temperature sensor 45 and beverage presence sensor

50, both mounted atop perforated beverage container drain nozzle 65. In a

presently preferred embodiment, piercing means 47 may comprise beverage

temperature sensor 45 and may also comprise beverage presence sensor 50.

Beverage dispensing piping 55 is also shown, as are beverage dispensing

nozzles 60A-D. FIG. 2 also depicts beverage selector button 80, beverage

dispensing indicator lamp 85, and insulating walls 91.

Reference is now made to FIG 3., which depicts, inter alia, safety interlock

wire 26 connecting to electronic beverage dispensing control means 73.

Beverage heating means wire connecting to electronic beverage dispensing

control means 36. Beverage temperature sensor 45 is connected, via

beverage temperature sensor wire 46, to electronic beverage dispensing

control means 73. Beverage presence sensor 50 is connected, via beverage

presence sensor wire 51 , to electronic beverage dispensing control means 73.

Beverage temperature sensor 45 and beverage presence sensor 50 comprise

the piercing means 47. Beverage heating means 35 is connected, via

beverage heating means wire 36 (which like some other wires, is a cable

providing both power and control signals), to electronic beverage dispensing

control means 73.

Continuing to refer to FIG. 3A, beverage dispensing piping 75 is connected to

perforated beverage container drain nozzle 65 via coupling 70. In line on that

piping/beverage path is electronically actuated valve means 71 , which are

connected via electronically actuated valve means wire 72 to electronic

beverage dispensing control means 73. Also operably connected to the

electronic beverage dispensing control means 73 are beverage selector button

wires 81 A-D, the other ends of which are each connected to their

corresponding push plate switch product selector switches 10 A-D. Also

connected to the electronic beverage dispensing control means 73 are

Indicator lamp wire s 86 A-D, the other end of each is connected to the

corresponding one of beverage dispenser status indicator means 80 A-D.

Better visible in FIG 3B is the coupling 70 of piping and perforated beverage

container drain nozzle 65, and beverage container 40.

Reference is now made to FIG 3C, which depicts beverage container 40,

which in a presently preferred embodiment is substantially cylindrical in shape,

and which is liftable by pull ring 41 and pierceable in its pierceable bottom 42.

The piercing means 47 of the perforated beverage drain nozzle 65, upon

inserting beverage container 40 into beverage container holder 15, would

penetrate beverage container 40. In order to provide drainage of the beverage

contained within the beverage container 40, perforated beverage drain nozzle

65 comprises a plurality of circular perforations 66.

Reference is now made to FIG. 4A, which depicts beverage container holder

15 and the bottom 16 of beverage container holder 15, which, in a presently

preferred embodiment, is helically encircled by beverage heating means 35

(which could, as a simple design choice, be embedded wholly or partially in

beverage container holder 15, or located wholly or partially inside beverage

heating container holder 15.) Note that both beverage temperature sensor 45

and beverage presence sensor 50 are connected to electronic beverage

dispenser control means 73 via beverage temperature sensor wiring 46 and

beverage presence sensor wiring 73, respectively, and that piercing means 47

are, in a presently preferred embodiment, comprised of beverage temperature

sensor 45 and beverage presence sensor 50 presence sensor wiring; note

also that piercing means 47 is located above perforated beverage container

drain nozzle 65, which extends into beverage container holder 15 so that (as

seen in FIG. 4B, beverage container 40 may be impaled thereon, making it

possible to drain the beverage contents(not shown, for clarity) of beverage

container 40. Note that FIG. 3C also shows coupling 70 and point of

connection between perforated beverage container drain nozzle.

Reference is now made to FIG. 5, showing in more close-up the perforated

beverage container drain nozzle 65 (having a plurality of perforations 66) and

its surrounding structure.