Beverage maker

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10975343-B2
Application number	US-201816193870-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 16, 2018
Priority date	Nov 17, 2017
Publication date	Apr 13, 2021
Grant date	Apr 13, 2021

Abstract

A beverage maker including a hinge shaft, a fermentation tank having a space therein and configured to rotatably support the hinge shaft, a fermentation lid connected to the hinge shaft through a bracket and rotating about the hinge shaft to open and close the space, and at least one tube through which a fluid passes, wherein a hinge shaft accommodating space accommodating the at least one tube is defined inside the hinge shaft, and at least one hinge shaft hole through which the at least one tube extends to the outside of the hinge shaft space is defined in the hinge shaft to minimize damage or contamination of the at least one tube and allow the at least one tube to be minimally visible when the fermentation lid is opened.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A beverage maker comprising:
a hinge shaft having a hinge shaft accommodating space and at least one hinge shaft hole formed therein;
a fermentation tank having a space formed therein and configured to rotatably support the hinge shaft;
a fermentation lid coupled to the hinge shaft by a bracket and rotatable about the hinge shaft to open and close the space;
at least one tube to accommodate a passing fluid,
wherein the hinge shaft accommodating space is configured to accommodate the at least one tube, and
the at least one tube extends through the at least one hinge shaft hole to the outside of the hinge shaft accommodating space.

2. The beverage maker of claim 1 , wherein the at least one tube extends to the fermentation lid along the hinge shaft and the bracket.

3. The beverage maker of claim 1 , wherein the hinge shaft has a hollow shape, and
the at least one hinge shaft hole is opened to the hinge shaft in a radial direction of the hinge shaft.

4. The beverage maker of claim 1 , wherein a bracket accommodating space to accommodate the at least one tube is formed inside the bracket, and
the at least one tube is covered by the bracket.

5. The beverage maker of claim 4 , wherein the at least one hinge shaft hole is open in a direction facing the bracket accommodating space.

6. The beverage maker of claim 4 , wherein the fermentation lid comprises:
a fermentation lid hole that is configured to communicate with the bracket accommodating space and through which the at least one tube passes, and
an inner space formed inside the fermentation lid to accommodate the at least one tube.

7. The beverage maker of claim 4 , wherein the fermentation tank comprises a pair of hinge shaft supports configured to rotatably support the hinge shaft, and
the bracket comprises:
a hinge shaft fixing portion disposed between the pair of hinge shaft supports to surround a portion of the hinge shaft; and
an elongation portion extending from the hinge shaft fixing portion, connected to the fermentation lid, and having the bracket accommodating space formed therein.

8. The beverage maker of claim 7 , wherein each of the elongation portion and the bracket accommodating space is shaped having at least one bent portion.

9. The beverage maker of claim 1 , wherein the bracket comprises:
a main bracket on which the hinge shaft fixing portion fixed to the hinge shaft is disposed; and
a tube cover,
whereby the tube cover and the main bracket are configured to surround the at least one tube.

10. The beverage maker of claim 1 , wherein the hinge shaft has an open end, and
one end of the at least one tube extends to the outside of the hinge shaft through the open end of the hinge shaft.

11. The beverage maker of claim 1 , wherein a fitting is connected to the at least one tube, and
an outer tube is connected to the fitting.

12. The beverage maker of claim 11 , wherein the fitting comprises:
a tube connecting portion connected to the at least one tube; and
an outer tube connecting portion connected to the outer tube.

13. The beverage maker of claim 12 , wherein the tube connecting portion is smaller than the hinge shaft space,
at least a portion of the tube connecting portion is disposed between the at least one tube and the hinge shaft, and
the outer tube connecting portion is connected to the outer tube at the outside of the hinge shaft.

14. The beverage maker of claim 1 , wherein the at least one tube comprises a plurality of tubes that are accommodated in the hinge shaft space,
the hinge shaft has both ends thereof that are open,
one of the plurality of tubes extends to the outside of the hinge shaft through one end of the hinge shaft; and
the other of the plurality of tubes extends in a direction opposite to the one tube of the plurality of tubes and extends through the other end of the hinge shaft.

15. The beverage maker of claim 14 , further comprising a main fitting to which a main outer tube is connected is connected to one of the plurality of tubes,
a sub fitting to which a sub outer fitting is connected is connected to the other of the plurality of tubes, and
the main fitting and the sub fitting are spaced apart from each other.

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Hong Jinpyo
• Lee Daewoong

Classifications

• F16C11/04

  Pivotal connections (hinges for doors, windows or wings E05D) · CPC title

• C12C13/10 Primary

  Home brew equipment · CPC title

• B67D1/0808

  Closing means, e.g. bungholes, barrel bungs · CPC title

• B67D1/0802

  Dip tubes · CPC title

• C12C11/00

  Fermentation processes for beer (preparation of wine C12G1/00) · CPC title