Device and method for making hot water or the like

Abstract

A device for making hot filtered water comprising a filter unit for filtering water, a first chamber for receiving the filtered water, a tubular heater connected to the first chamber, a hot water temperature optimizer connected to the heater outlet for ensuring the temperature of the hot water to be optimized for drinking or steeping bags, a first dispensing station connected to the optimizer for dispensing hot water therein into a cup and a second dispensing station connected to the first chamber for dispensing cold water therein into a cup. The optimizer comprises an inlet connected to the heater, a second chamber, an outlet, and a vent that is opened into the first chamber in a first embodiment of the invention or connected to a brew station for making coffee in a second embodiment. Alternatively, the optimizer comprises a closable inlet connected to the heater and a bi-metal heat activating valve for controlling the size of the closable inlet. Method for making a cup of hot filtered water without interrupting coffee brewing at the brew station includes placing a cup below the first dispensing station, opening the first dispensing station, causing at least part of the hot water to exit through the optimizer outlet and the first dispensing station into the cup when the water reaches the temperature predetermined at least partly by the optimizer and while the coffee extraction continues in the brew station, closing the dispensing station to cause the hot water to exit through the vent into the brew station again after the cup is full.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A beverage maker for making hot water or the like comprising: 
 a first chamber for receiving water, said first chamber having a chamber outlet;    a check valve located in or downstream said chamber outlet to allow water to flow out of said chamber but prevent reverse flow;    a heater for heating and pumping water, said heater having a heater inlet for receiving water from said chamber outlet, a heating element, a water heating section for conducting heat from said heating element to the water therein, and a heater outlet, said heater be configured to work with said check valve to allow the steam generated in said heating section to force the heated water out of said heater outlet;    a dispensing station comprising a spout in communication with said heater outlet for dispensing the hot water directly into a receptacle such as a cup; and    a hot water temperature optimizer located downstream said heater outlet for achieving an optimized temperature for the hot water, said optimizer comprising a second chamber for containing an amount of hot water, an optimizer inlet for the hot water to enter said second chamber from said heater outlet, and an optimizer outlet for leading the hot water in said second chamber to said dispensing station.    
     
     
         2 . A device as defined in  claim 1  wherein said dispensing station is a spigot or faucet.  
     
     
         3 . A device as defined in  claim 1  wherein said optimizer inlet is so located that it is normally above the water level in said first chamber, thereby preventing the cold water in said first chamber from entering said second chamber.  
     
     
         4 . A device as defined in  claim 3  wherein said dispensing station is adapted to be below the water level in said first chamber to reduce the distance the hot water falls before reaching the receptacle such as a cup, thereby reducing the danger of the user or child being burned by the hot water during the dispensing.  
     
     
         5 . A device as defined in  claim 1  wherein said optimizer further comprises a vent for said second chamber to prevent the formation of any substantial pressure or vacuum therein.  
     
     
         6 . A device as defined in  claim 5  wherein said second chamber is adapted to hold an sufficient amount of hot water to enable flow out of said dispensing station while said heater is still heating and preparing for delivery the next pulse of hot water in said heating section, thereby making the hot water flow out of said dispensing station substantially continuous.  
     
     
         7 . A device as defined in  claim 5  wherein said optimizer inlet is adapted to prevent the hot water coming from said heater from shooting towards or into said vent, thereby preventing or reducing loss of hot water from said vent.  
     
     
         8 . A device as defined in  claim 5  wherein said optimizer further comprises a flow director for changing the flow direction of the hot water from said optimizer inlet in said second chamber.  
     
     
         9 . A device as defined in  claim 8  wherein said flow director comprises a deflector located a certain distance from said optimizer inlet for substantially thwarting the flow momentum of the hot water from said optimizer inlet.  
     
     
         10 . A device as defined in  claim 8  wherein said flow director comprises a section of bent tube for directing the hot water away from said vent.  
     
     
         11 . A device as defined in  claim 5  wherein said vent is adapted to vent into said first chamber.  
     
     
         12 . A device as defined in  claim 11  wherein said vent is adapted to allow steam and/or hot water to flow into said first chamber from said second chamber when the dispensing station is closed, thereby causing said first chamber to be sterilized or at least partially sterilized.  
     
     
         13 . A device as defined in  claim 5  further comprising a brew station having a filter or basket for receiving flavor-containing materials such as coffee and a brew head for introducing hot water to the flavor-containing materials, said brew head being connected to said vent to allow the hot water in said second chamber to reach said filter or basket when said dispensing station is closed.  
     
     
         14 . A device as defined in  claim 5  wherein at least one of said optimizer inlet and said optimizer outlet is normally located above the water level in said first chamber.  
     
     
         15 . A device as defined in  claim 1  wherein said optimizer outlet and said dispensing station are so located that said second chamber can be substantially drained through said dispensing station, thereby avoiding the accumulation of stale water in said optimizer.  
     
     
         16 . A device as defined in  claim 1  wherein said heater further comprises a first thermostat configured to allow said heating element to heat the water therein and to generate steam pressure to deliver the heated water to said second chamber and a second thermostat configured to allow said heating element to keep the water in said heater at a temperature below water boiling point when said device is not in use, thereby reducing the time needed to make a cup of hot water.  
     
     
         17 . A device as defined in  claim 1  wherein said heating section adapts an elongated tubular shape.  
     
     
         18 . A device as defined in  claim 1  wherein said heating section comprises a heating chamber for containing all or substantially all the water for said heater, said heating chamber being configured to have said heater outlet to be at or near its bottom and to allow steam to accumulate above the water therein, thereby allowing hot water to be delivered to said second chamber before steam.  
     
     
         19 . A device as defined in  claim 1  further comprising a filter unit for allowing said device to make filtered hot water.  
     
     
         20 . A device as defined in  claim 19  further comprising a second dispensing station located at or near the bottom part of said first chamber for dispensing cold filtered water into a receptacle such as a cup.  
     
     
         21 . A device as defined in  claim 20  further comprising a water cooling unit for cooling the filtered water before it is dispensed at said second dispensing station.  
     
     
         22 . A device as defined in  claim 19  wherein said filter unit is adapted to be removably mounted to or in said first chamber and comprises a water reservoir, an reservoir outlet in communication with said first chamber and a filter cartridge in said reservoir outlet for filtering the water.  
     
     
         23 . A device as defined in  claim 22  wherein said filter unit further comprises a valve for closing said reservoir outlet, said valve being adapted to engage with a actuation member at or in said first chamber to automatically open said reservoir outlet when said filter unit is mounted to or in said first chamber.  
     
     
         24 . A device as defined in  claim 1  wherein said first chamber is adapted to receive water from an external water source such as a water filter or a plumbing system.  
     
     
         25 . A device as defined in  claim 1  further comprising a brew station for making beverage such as coffee, said brew station comprising a filter or basket for receiving flavor-containing materials and a water distributor in communication with said second chamber for introducing the hot water to the flavor-containing materials.  
     
     
         26 . A device as defined in  claim 25  wherein said water distributor is located sufficiently higher than said optimizer outlet so that the hot water will preferably exit through said dispensing station when said dispensing station is open.  
     
     
         27 . A device as defined in  claim 25  wherein said water distributor is restrictive so that at least a substantial amount of hot water reaching said second chamber exits through said dispensing station when said dispensing station is open.  
     
     
         28 . A device as defined in  claim 25  further comprising a hot water passageway for connecting said dispensing station to said optimizer outlet, said hot water passageway being adapted to have sufficient length and/or height to allow said dispensing station to be a predetermined height above countertop, said predetermined height being preferably about the height of a drink cup.  
     
     
         29 . A beverage maker for making hot water or the like comprising: 
 a first chamber for receiving water, said first chamber having a chamber outlet;    a check valve for said chamber outlet to allow water to flow out of said chamber but prevent the return flow;    a heater for heating and pumping water, said heater having a heater inlet for receiving water from said chamber outlet, a heating element, a water heating section for conducting heat from said heating element to the water therein, and a heater outlet, said heater being configured to work with said check valve to allow the steam generated in said heating section to force the heated water out of said heater outlet;    a hot water temperature optimizer located downstream said heater outlet for achieving an optimized temperature for the hot water, said optimizer comprising a second chamber for containing an amount of hot water, an optimizer inlet for the hot water to enter said second chamber from said heater outlet, and an optimizer outlet;    a brew station having a filter or basket for a supply of flavor-containing materials such as coffee and a water distributor in communication with said second chamber for introducing the hot water therein to the flavor-containing materials; and    a dispensing station such as a spigot or faucet connected to said optimizer outlet for dispensing the hot water directly into a receptacle such as a cup.    
     
     
         30 . A device as defined in  claim 29  wherein said optimizer further comprises a second optimizer outlet in communication with said water distributor and located a predetermined distance above said optimizer outlet to allow a water head to build up in said second chamber to cause the hot water therein to prefer to flow out of said optimizer outlet when said dispensing station such as a spigot or faucet is open.  
     
     
         31 . A device as defined in  claim 29  wherein said water distributor is restrictive to allow at least part of the hot water in said second chamber to exit through said optimizer outlet, therefore through said dispensing station, when said dispensing station such as a spigot or faucet is open.  
     
     
         32 . A device as defined in  claim 29  further comprising a filter unit for allowing said device to make filtered hot water.  
     
     
         33 . A device as defined in  claim 32  further comprising a second dispensing station located at or near the bottom part of said first chamber for dispensing cold filtered water into a receptacle such as a cup.  
     
     
         34 . A device as defined in  claim 32  wherein said filter unit is adapted to be removably mounted to or in said first chamber and comprises a water reservoir, an reservoir outlet in communication with said first chamber and a filter cartridge in said reservoir outlet for filtered the water.  
     
     
         35 . A device as defined in  claim 34  wherein said filter unit further comprises a valve for closing said reservoir outlet, said valve being adapted to engage with a actuation member at or in said first chamber to automatically opening said reservoir outlet when said filter unit is mounted to or in said first chamber.  
     
     
         36 . A method for using a device in  claim 29  comprising a step of filling said heater with water from said first chamber, a step of heating and delivering the heated water to said optimizer, a step of introducing the hot water from said optimizer to said filter or basket to extract the flavor-containing materials therein, a step for the hot water to seep through the flavor-containing materials and drip into a carafe, and a step of opening said dispensing station to dispense the hot water into a cup while the hot water already in said filter or basket continues to seep through the flavor-containing materials and dripping into said carafe.  
     
     
         37 . A method for making hot water and brewing coffee substantially simultaneously comprising: 
 a step of filling a heater with water from a first chamber;    a step of heating and delivering the heated water to a second chamber;    a step of introducing the hot water from the second chamber said to a filter or basket to extract the flavor-containing materials;    a step for the hot water to seep through the flavor-containing materials and drip into a carafe;    a step of opening a dispensing station such as a spigot or faucet connected to the second chamber to dispense the hot water into a cup without substantially interrupting said step for the hot water to seep through the flavor-containing materials and drip into a carafe since there is normally sufficient amount of hot water accumulated in the filter or basket due to the slow nature of the seeping process; and    a step of closing the dispensing station such as a spigot or faucet when the cup is full, which causes to all the hot water in the second chamber to be introduced to the filter or basket.    
     
     
         38 . A beverage maker for making hot water or the like comprising: 
 a chamber for receiving water, said first chamber having a chamber outlet;    a check valve for said chamber outlet to allow water to flow out of said chamber but prevent the return flow;    a heater for heating and pumping water, said beater having a heater inlet for receiving water from said chamber outlet, a heating element, a water heating section for conducting heat from said heating element to the water therein, and a heater outlet, said heater being configured to work with said check valve to allow the steam generated in said heating section to force the heated water out of said heater outlet;    a hot water temperature optimizer located downstream said heater outlet for achieving an optimized temperature for the hot water, said optimizer comprising an optimizer inlet for the hot water to enter said second chamber from said heater outlet, an optimizer outlet and a thermal mechanical device for controlling the size of said optimizer inlet, said thermal mechanical device being adapted to fully or substantially fully open said optimizer inlet when the hot water is above a predetermined temperature and to at least partially close said optimizer inlet when is above said predetermined temperature; and    a dispensing station such as a spout connected to said optimizer outlet for dispensing the hot water directly into a receptacle such as a cup.