Pump Operated Beverage Maker

Abstract

A beverage maker includes a body and a cover movably attached to the body. The body includes therein (among other components), a tank, a pump, and a pressure release valve in fluid communication with at least the pump and tank for releasing the pressure therein. The cover mechanically actuates or releases the pressure release valve into one of an open or closed position, upon movement of the cover to a closed position. The cover actuating or releasing the pressure release valve into the other of the open or closed positions, upon movement of the cover from the closed position toward an open position.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A beverage maker comprising:
 a body housing therein:
 a reservoir for receiving a liquid to be used for preparing a beverage; 
 a hot liquid generator (HLG) having an inlet, an outlet and a tank, the inlet of the HLG being connected to the reservoir for receiving liquid into the tank; 
 at least one heater in thermal communication with liquid in the HLG tank; 
 a discharge port in fluid communication with the outlet of the HLG; 
 a pump fluidly connected with the HLG tank for displacing liquid out of the tank outlet to the discharge port; 
 a controller configured to actuate the at least one heater and the pump; and 
 a pressure release valve in fluid communication with at least the HLG tank, the pressure release valve being biased into an open position for releasing pressure within the tank therethrough and being mechanically actuatable into a closed position for preventing the release of pressure within the tank therethrough; and 
   a cover movably attached to the body between a closed position, mechanically actuating the pressure release valve into the closed position thereof and maintaining the pressure release valve in the closed position thereof, and an open position, releasing the pressure release valve to return into the open position thereof.   
     
     
         2 . The beverage maker of  claim 1 , further comprising a one-way valve between the reservoir and the HLG, allowing liquid to flow from the reservoir to the HLG and preventing liquid from flowing from the HLG to the reservoir. 
     
     
         3 . The beverage maker of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure release valve comprises a valve stem, a valve seat, and a biasing member biasing the valve stem into disengagement from the valve seat, the cover engaging and mechanically actuating the valve stem, against the bias of the biasing member, into sealing engagement with the valve seat, in the closed position of the cover, and the cover being disengaged from the pressure release valve in the open position of the cover, such that the biasing member maintains the valve stem disengaged from the valve seat. 
     
     
         4 . The beverage maker of  claim 1 , further comprising a pump line fluidly connecting the pump with the HLG tank, the pump line having a first orifice, and the pressure release valve comprises a generally hollow dome-shaped elastic valve body defining a monolithic elastic spring and a generally central valve stem projecting through the valve body, wherein the first orifice defines a valve seat of the pressure release valve and is sized and shaped to sealingly receive the valve stem in the closed position of the pressure release valve. 
     
     
         5 . The beverage maker of  claim 4 , wherein a base of the dome-shaped elastic valve body is spaced from the first orifice, and in the open position of the pressure release valve the valve stem is disengaged from the first orifice such that pressure within the tank is released via said space, and in the closed position of the pressure release valve the valve stem sealingly engages the first orifice. 
     
     
         6 . The beverage maker of  claim 5 , wherein the elastic spring biases the valve stem away from the first orifice and the cover overcomes the bias of the elastic spring and mechanically moves the valve stem into sealing engagement with the first orifice for closing the pressure release valve. 
     
     
         7 . The beverage maker of  claim 1 , wherein the cover prevents access to an interior of the body in the closed position thereof, and provides access to the interior of the body in the open position thereof. 
     
     
         8 . A beverage maker comprising:
 a body housing therein:
 a reservoir for receiving a liquid to be used for preparing a beverage; 
 a hot liquid generator (HLG) having an inlet, an outlet and a tank, the inlet of the HLG being connected to the reservoir for receiving liquid into the tank; 
 at least one heater in thermal communication with liquid in the HLG tank; 
 a discharge port in fluid communication with the outlet of the HLG; 
 a pump fluidly connected with the HLG tank for displacing liquid out of the tank outlet to the discharge port; 
 a controller configured to actuate the at least one heater and the pump; and 
 a pressure release valve in fluid communication with at least the HLG tank, the pressure release valve being biased into a closed position for preventing the release of pressure within the tank therethrough and being mechanically actuatable into an open position for releasing pressure within the tank therethrough; and 
   a cover movably attached to the body between an open position, mechanically actuating the pressure release valve into the open position thereof and maintaining the pressure release valve in the open position thereof, and a closed position, releasing the pressure release valve to return to the closed position thereof.   
     
     
         9 . The beverage maker of  claim 8 , further comprising a one-way valve between the reservoir and the HLG, allowing liquid to flow from the reservoir to the HLG and preventing liquid from flowing from the HLG to the reservoir. 
     
     
         10 . The beverage maker of  claim 8 , wherein the pressure release valve comprises a valve seal, a valve seat, and a biasing member biasing the valve seal into sealing engagement with the valve seat, the cover being disengaged from the pressure release valve in the closed position of the cover, such that the biasing member maintains the valve seal sealingly engaged with the valve seat, and the cover mechanically actuating the valve seal, against the bias of the biasing member, into disengagement from the valve seat, in the open position of the cover. 
     
     
         11 . The beverage maker of  claim 8 , wherein the pressure release valve comprises a generally cylindrical, hollow valve body, an annular valve seat projecting radially inwardly from the valve body, and having a generally central aperture, a valve stem projecting through the valve body, the valve seat, having an annular seal proximate a base end thereof, and a coil spring operatively connected between the valve body and the valve stem, the spring normally biasing the annular seal into sealing engagement with the valve seat. 
     
     
         12 . The beverage maker of  claim 11 , wherein the cover engages the valve stem upon movement from the closed position toward the open position and moves the valve stem against the bias of the coil spring, thereby disengaging the annular seal from the valve seat and opening the pressure release valve. 
     
     
         13 . The beverage maker of  claim 8 , wherein the cover prevents access to an interior of the body in the closed position thereof, and provides access to the interior of the body in the open position thereof. 
     
     
         14 . A beverage maker comprising:
 a body housing therein:
 a reservoir for receiving a liquid to be used for preparing a beverage; 
 a hot liquid generator (HLG) having an inlet, an outlet and a tank, the inlet of the HLG being connected to the reservoir for receiving liquid into the tank; 
 at least one heater in thermal communication with liquid in the HLG tank; 
 a discharge port in fluid communication with the outlet of the HLG; 
 a pump fluidly connected with the HLG tank for displacing liquid out of the tank outlet to the discharge port; 
 a controller configured to actuate the at least one heater and the pump; and 
 an overpressure tube in fluid communication with HLG tank, having an overpressure valve biased into a closed position, the overpressure valve being configured to move into an open position at a predetermined internal air pressure of the HLG tank, thereby allowing air pressure to escape out of the HLG tank through the overpressure valve; and 
   a cover movably attached to the body between a closed position, preventing access to an interior of the body, and an open position, providing access to the interior of the body.   
     
     
         15 . The beverage maker of  claim 14 , wherein the overpressure valve is mechanically biased into the closed position thereof by a biasing force of a biasing member, the biasing force being overcome at the predetermined internal air pressure, thereby moving the overpressure valve into the open position thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The beverage maker of  claim 14 , further comprising a pressure release valve in fluid communication with at least the HLG tank, the pressure release valve being mechanically actuated by the cover into a closed position, in the closed position of the cover, for preventing the release of pressure within the tank therethrough, and being released into an open position, in the open position of the cover, for releasing pressure within the tank therethrough. 
     
     
         17 . The beverage maker of  claim 14 , further comprising a pressure release valve in fluid communication with at least the HLG tank, the pressure release valve being mechanically actuated by the cover into an open position, in the open position of the cover, for releasing pressure within the tank therethrough, and being released into a closed position, in the closed position of the cover, for preventing the release of pressure within the tank therethrough.