Technologies for sanitizing beverage makers

Abstract

Technologies (e.g., devices, systems and methods) for sanitizing hot beverage makers are described. In some embodiments, the technologies include a sanitization gas system that is configured to be install into a cover, onto a wall or cover and between a the top rim of the reservoir and the cover of the reservoir. The sanitization gas system may provide a sanitizing gas to the reservoir for sanitizing the reservoir, sidewalls, bottom tray and cover.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for sanitizing a hot beverage maker with a water reservoir comprising:
 a reservoir sanitization system comprising;
 an air pump fluidly coupled to a sanitization gas generator; 
 a supply line comprising a proximal end coupled to the sanitization gas generator and a distal end configured to be disposed within an interior of the water reservoir; and 
 an exhaust system configured to remove the sanitizing gas from the water reservoir; 
 wherein when the distal end is disposed within an interior of the water reservoir and the system is in operation, the sanitization gas generator generates a sanitizing gas that flows into the interior of the water reservoir via the supply line. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a desiccant, wherein the desiccant is configured to remove moisture from air in the water reservoir. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the exhaust system further comprises a removable activated carbon filter. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the exhaust system further comprises a removable magnesium oxide filter. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  further including a check valve coupled to the supply line. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , further including a silicone adhesive on a surface of the reservoir sanitization system, wherein the adhesive is configured to affix the reservoir sanitization system to a surface of the water reservoir. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a sensor for sensing said sanitizing gas. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a display. 
     
     
         9 . A method for sanitizing a hot beverage maker with a reservoir, comprising:
 generating a sanitizing gas with the sanitization gas generator of a reservoir sanitization system comprising:
 an air pump fluidly coupled to a sanitization gas generator; 
 a supply line comprising a proximal end coupled to the gas generator and a distal end; and 
 an exhaust system configured to remove the sanitizing gas from the water reservoir; 
   conveying the sanitizing gas into the interior of the reservoir via the supply line; and   exhausting sanitizing gas from the reservoir via the exhaust system.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising fluidly coupling the reservoir sanitization system with the interior of the reservoir. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein fluidly coupling the reservoir sanitization system with the interior of the reservoir comprises disposing the distal end of the supply line in the interior of the reservoir. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising removing moisture from air in the interior of the reservoir with a desiccant. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising removing the sanitizing gas from the interior of the reservoir. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein removing the sanitizing gas from the interior of the reservoir comprises removing the sanitizing gas with a removable activated carbon filter. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein removing the sanitizing gas from the interior of the reservoir comprises removing the sanitizing gas with a removable magnesium oxide filter. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the reservoir sanitization system further comprises a check valve coupled to the supply line. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising coupling the reservoir sanitization system to the reservoir. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein coupling the reservoir sanitization system to the reservoir comprises affixing the reservoir sanitization system to the reservoir with an adhesive reservoir. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising sensing sanitizing gas in the interior of the water reservoir with a sensor. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the reservoir sanitization system further comprises a display, and the method further comprises displaying sanitizing process information with said display.