Water container and a machine for making beverages comprising said container

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10898026-B2
Application number	US-201113814004-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 4, 2011
Priority date	Aug 13, 2010
Publication date	Jan 26, 2021
Grant date	Jan 26, 2021

Abstract

A water container for a beverage making machine includes side walls and a bottom, whereon there is a connecting union to the beverage making machine. The connecting union of the water container includes two apertures for water, where one aperture is an outlet aperture and the other aperture is an inlet aperture.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A water container for a machine for making beverages, the water container comprising:
sidewalls;
a bottom;
a connecting union that connects the water container to the machine, wherein said connecting union comprises two apertures for water, said two apertures being an outlet aperture and an inlet aperture, wherein said inlet aperture comprises a first seat with a first seal and a first shutter sliding in the first seat, wherein said first seat protrudes from the bottom of the water container outwards, wherein the outlet aperture outputs filtered water, wherein the filtered water is recirculated into the water container through the inlet aperture, and wherein said connecting union further comprises a wall protruding from said bottom outwards of the water container and surrounding said two apertures;
a bottom closing cover coupled to said wall, wherein the water container is connected to the machine via the wall and the bottom closing cover; and
a collar that protrudes from said bottom inwards of the water container.

2. The water container according to claim 1 , wherein said outlet aperture comprises a valve for closing the outlet aperture.

3. The water container according to claim 1 , wherein said collar is formed by two concentric walls, said collar forming a seat for a filter sleeve of a water filter, wherein said outlet aperture is arranged within an inside wall of the two concentric walls of said collar, and wherein said inlet aperture is in communication with said water container outside said collar.

4. The water container according to claim 1 , wherein said outlet aperture comprises a second seat with a second seal and a second shutter sliding in the second seat, said second seat protruding from the bottom of the water container outwards, and said each seat being surrounded by said wall of the connecting union protruding from the bottom of the water container.

5. The water container according to claim 4 , wherein said bottom closing cover locks said seals.

6. The water container according to claim 1 , further comprising a water filter, wherein the water filter comprises:
a filter inlet for inletting water, from the water container, into the water filter for filtration;
a filter outlet surrounded by a filter sleeve of the water filter for outputting water from the water filter into the outlet aperture;
an ascending filter portion in direct communication with the filter inlet; and
a descending filter portion in direct communication with the filter outlet,
wherein the water entering the filter inlet is configured to travel up the ascending filter portion and into the descending filter portion, the water entering the filter inlet being configured to travel down in the descending filter portion to exit through the filter outlet.

7. The water container according to claim 1 , wherein the outlet aperture and the inlet aperture are connected to each other around a center of the connecting union.

8. The water container according to claim 1 , further comprising a water filter, wherein the water filter comprises a filter inlet for inletting water, from the water container, into the water filter for filtration, wherein the filter inlet is arranged on a first side of the collar, wherein the inlet aperture is arranged on a second side of the collar, and wherein the first side and the second side are opposite to each other.

9. A machine for making beverages, the machine comprising:
a container comprising:
side walls;
a bottom;
a connecting union, said connecting union connecting the container to the machine; and
a bottom closing cover; and

a hydraulic circuit connected to the container,
wherein the connecting union of the container comprises two apertures for water, said two apertures being an outlet aperture and an inlet aperture, wherein said inlet aperture comprises a first seat with a first seal and a first shutter sliding in the first seat, wherein said first seat protrudes from the bottom of the container outwards, wherein the outlet aperture outputs filtered water, wherein the filtered water is recirculated into the container through the inlet aperture, wherein said connecting union further comprises a wall protruding from said bottom outwards of the container and surrounding said two apertures,
wherein the bottom closing cover is coupled to said wall, wherein the container is connected to the machine via the wall and the bottom closing cover, and
wherein the bottom of the container comprises a collar protruding from said bottom inwards of the container.

10. The machine according to claim 9 , further comprising a baffle defining a support for the container, wherefrom a wall with an annular development cooperating with said connecting union develops towards the container.

11. The machine according to claim 10 , wherein said wall with the annular development has a substantially cylindrical development.

12. The machine according to claim 10 , wherein said wall with the annular development comprises two connectors inside said wall, which cooperates with said two apertures, respectively.

13. A water container for a machine for making beverages, the water container comprising:
sidewalls;
a bottom;
a connecting union that connects the water container to the machine, wherein said connecting union comprises two apertures for water, said two apertures being an outlet aperture and an inlet aperture, wherein said inlet aperture comprises a first seat with a first seal and a first shutter sliding in the first seat, wherein said first seat protrudes from the bottom of the water container outwards, wherein the outlet aperture outputs filtered water, wherein the filtered water is recirculated into the water container through the inlet aperture, and wherein said connecting union further comprises a wall protruding from said bottom outwards of the water container and surrounding said two apertures;
a bottom closing cover coupled to said wall, wherein the water container is connected to the machine via the wall and the bottom closing cover; and
a filter seat for a water filter having a filter sleeve, wherein said filter seat is formed by a collar.

14. The water container according to claim 13 , wherein said collar protrudes from said bottom inwards of the water container.

15. The water container according to claim 13 , wherein said outlet aperture comprises a second seat with a second seal and a second shutter sliding in the second seat, said second seat protruding from the bottom of the water container outwards, and said each seat being surrounded by said wall of the connecting union protruding from the bottom of the water container.

16. The water container according to claim 15 , wherein said bottom closing cover locks said seals.

Assignees

• Fin Giuseppe
• Koninklijke Philips Nv

Inventors

• Fin Giuseppe

Classifications

• A47J31/605

  Water filters · CPC title

• A47J31/461 Primary

  Valves, e.g. drain valves · CPC title

• A47J31/462

  with an intermediate liquid storage tank · CPC title