Technologies for sanitizing beverage makers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11045040-B2
Application number	US-201916294097-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 6, 2019
Priority date	Apr 27, 2017
Publication date	Jun 29, 2021
Grant date	Jun 29, 2021

Abstract

Technologies (e.g., devices, systems and methods) for sanitizing reservoirs are described. In some embodiments, the technologies include a sanitization gas system and a connector unit. The connector unit is configured to install into a portion (e.g., wall, bottom, top, or lid) of a reservoir, such as a reservoir of a hot beverage maker. The connector unit includes an inlet passageway for supplying sanitizing gas (e.g., ozone) into the reservoir, and an outlet passageway for removing sanitizing gas from the reservoir. In some embodiments at least a portion of the outlet passageway is disposed radially around the inlet passageway. The sanitization gas system may provide a sanitizing gas to the inlet passageway and receive the sanitizing gas from the outlet passageway.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for sanitizing a hot beverage maker, comprising:
an ozone generator configured to generate ozone gas;
a reservoir comprising a sidewall, a bottom, and a lid; and
a connector unit comprising an inlet passageway and an outlet passageway, the inlet passageway comprising a first proximal end and a first distal end, and the outlet passageway comprising a second proximal end and a second distal end;

wherein:
the connector unit comprises a second connector portion comprising a first passageway and a fourth connector portion configured to be inserted into the first passageway;
the fourth connector portion comprises a first body and a flange, the first body comprising an outer surface;
the inlet passageway is formed through the first body;
the connector unit is installed within one of the sidewall, bottom, or lid such that the first and second proximal ends are disposed outside the reservoir, and the first and second distal ends are in fluid communication with an interior of the reservoir;
the inlet passageway is configured to fluidly couple the interior of the reservoir to the ozone generator and to convey ozone gas from said ozone generator to said interior of said reservoir; and
the outlet passageway is configured to fluidly couple the interior of the reservoir to an exhaust system, and to convey ozone gas from the interior of the reservoir to said exhaust system.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first inlet connector coupled to the first proximal end;
a second inlet connector coupled to the first distal end;
a first supply line configured to fluidly couple the ozone generator to the inlet passageway via the first inlet connector; and
a second supply line configured to couple to the second inlet connector.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the second supply line comprises a third proximal end configured to couple to the second inlet connector and a third distal end configured to be disposed beneath any liquid in the interior of the reservoir.

4. The system of claim 2 , further comprising:
an outlet connector configured to couple to the second proximal end; and
a return line configured to couple to the outlet connector so as to fluidly couple the exhaust system to the outlet passageway.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second distal end is located proximal to the first distal end.

6. The system of claim 2 , wherein the second inlet connector comprises the first distal end, and the second distal end is located proximal to the first distal end.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the connector unit comprises a body and the inlet passageway and outlet passageway each extend through the body.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the second connector portion comprises a second body comprising a wall having an inward facing surface that defines at least a portion of the first passageway;
wherein when the fourth connector portion is inserted into the first passageway, a gap is present between the outer surface of the first body and the inward facing surface of the wall of the second body; and
the gap defines at least a portion of the outlet passageway.

9. The system of claim 8 , further comprising at least one standoff element extending from the outer surface of the first body, the at least one standoff element to maintain the gap between the outer surface of the first body and inward facing surface of the second body when the fourth connector portion is inserted in the first passageway.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein:
the wall of the second body comprises a distal portion and a proximal portion;
the second connector portion comprises an abutment surface at an edge of proximal portion of the wall of the second body; and
an engagement surface of the flange is configured to abut the abutment surface of the second connector portion when the fourth connector portion is inserted into the first passageway.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein:
the flange further comprises a plug; and
the connector unit further comprises at least one sealing element;

wherein:
when the fourth connector portion is inserted into the first passageway:
the plug is disposed within a proximal end of the first passageway; and
the at least one sealing element is disposed between an inward facing surface of the proximal portion of the wall of the second body and at least a portion of the plug, so as to form a gas-tight seal between at least the plug and the second body.

12. The system of claim 8 , wherein:
the first passageway comprises a proximal opening and a distal opening;
the second connector portion comprises self-drilling elements disposed about the distal opening; and
the self-drilling elements are configured to form a hole in a portion of the reservoir when the second connector portion is rotated.

13. The system of claim 8 , wherein:
the connector unit further comprises a first connector portion that is configured to couple to a portion of the reservoir;
the first connector portion comprises an opening; and

the second connector portion is configured to be inserted into the opening of the first connector portion.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein:
the first connector portion comprises first guide elements within the opening;
the wall of the second body comprises a distal portion and a proximal portion;

second guide elements are formed on an outside surface of the distal portion of the wall of the second body; and
the second guide elements and first guide elements are configured to draw the distal portion of wall of the second body into the opening of the first connector portion.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein:
the first guide elements are first threads; and
the second guide elements are second threads configured to threadably engage with the first threads to draw the second body into the opening of the first connector portion when the second connector portion is rotated about an axis that is parallel to and extends through the first passageway.

16. The system of claim 8 , wherein the wall of the second body comprises a distal portion and a proximal portion, and at least one proximal hole is present through the proximal portion, the at least one proximal hole forming at least a portion of the outlet passageway.

17. The system of claim 1 , wherein said connector is installed within the sidewall of said reservoir.

18. The system of claim 1 , wherein said connector unit is installed within the bottom of said reservoir.

19. The system of claim 1 , wherein said connector unit is installed within the lid of said reservoir.

20. The system of claim 1 , wherein said reservoir is a reservoir for a coffee making machine, a tea making machine, or an espresso machine.

21. The system of claim 1 , further comprising said exhaust system, wherein:
said first proximal end is fluidly coupled to said ozone generator; and
said second proximal end is fluidly coupled to said exhaust system.

22. The system of claim 21 , wherein said exhaust system is configured to convert ozone to oxygen.

23. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a housing and the exhaust system, wherein the ozone generator and the exhaust system are disposed within the housing.

Assignees

• Soclean Inc

Inventors

• Leyva Timothy

Classifications

• A61L2/202

  Ozone · CPC title

• A61L2202/13

  Biocide decomposition means, e.g. catalysts, sorbents · CPC title

• A61L2202/123

  Connecting means · CPC title

• A61L2202/15

  Biocide distribution means, e.g. nozzles, pumps, manifolds, fans, baffles, sprayers · CPC title

• A61L2/26

  Accessories · CPC title