Positioning system for a beverage dispenser

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12551046-B2
Application number	US-202217796400-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 6, 2022
Priority date	May 6, 2022
Publication date	Feb 17, 2026
Grant date	Feb 17, 2026

Abstract

A beverage brewing system includes a housing, a component tower extending from the housing, a brewing basket mounting bracket rotatably attached to the component tower, a brewing basket module removably accommodated within the brewing basket mounting bracket between an inserted position and a removed position, a controller provided within the housing, and a locking assembly provided within the component tower and operably connected with the controller, the locking assembly selectively contacting the brewing basket module. The locking assembly includes a lock mounting bracket attached to the component tower, a lock bar slidably mounted within the lock mounting bracket between a first position and a second position, and a switch attached to the lock mounting bracket and operably connected with the controller, the switch being selectively activated based on a position of the lock bar.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A beverage brewing system defining a vertical direction, a lateral direction, and a transverse direction, the beverage brewing system comprising:
a housing; a component tower extending from the housing; a brewing basket mounting bracket rotatably attached to the component tower; a brewing basket module removably accommodated within the brewing basket mounting bracket between an inserted position and a removed position; a controller provided within the housing; and a locking assembly provided within the component tower and operably connected with the controller, the locking assembly selectively contacting the brewing basket module, wherein the locking assembly comprises:
a lock mounting bracket attached to the component tower;
a lock bar slidably mounted within the lock mounting bracket between a first position and a second position; and
a switch attached to the lock mounting bracket and operably connected with the controller, the switch being selectively activated based on a position of the lock bar.

2 . The beverage brewing system of claim 1 , wherein the brewing basket module comprises:
a basket defining a receiving space; a lid rotatably coupled to the basket; and a lid protrusion tab protruding from the lid, the lid protrusion tab forming a lid bulge.

3 . The beverage brewing system of claim 2 , wherein the lid protrusion tab is disposed in contact with the lock assembly in the inserted position.

4 . The beverage brewing system of claim 1 , wherein the lock assembly defines an axial direction and a radial direction, and wherein the lock assembly further comprises:
a plunger slidably received within the lock bar; and a buffer spring connected between the plunger and the lock bar, the buffer spring biasing the plunger along the axial direction, wherein the plunger contacts the switch at the inserted position.

5 . The beverage brewing system of claim 4 , wherein the lock assembly further comprises:
a restoring spring connected between the lock bar and the lock mounting bracket, the restoring spring biasing the lock bar along the axial direction; and a cap attached to a distal end of the lock mounting bracket.

6 . The beverage brewing system of claim 5 , wherein the lock bar comprises a first retaining hook engaged with the plunger, the first retaining hook comprising:
a base extending along the axial direction; and a latch extending inward from the base along the radial direction.

7 . The beverage brewing system of claim 6 , wherein the plunger comprises:
a body; and a flange protruding along the radial direction from the body, the flange defining a notch therein along the axial direction, and wherein the latch of the first retaining hook contacts the flange via the notch.

8 . The beverage brewing system of claim 5 , wherein the lock bar further comprises a second retaining hook, the second retaining hook comprising:
a base extending along the axial direction; and a latch extending outward from the base along the radial direction.

9 . The beverage brewing system of claim 8 , wherein the lock mounting bracket comprises a bracket flange protruding radially inward from an inner surface of the lock mounting bracket, and wherein the restoring spring is provided between the bracket flange and the lock bar along the vertical direction.

10 . The beverage brewing system of claim 4 , wherein the brewing basket mounting bracket comprises a bracket bulge, wherein the lock bar comprises a rib protruding along the radial direction and extending along the axial direction, and wherein the rib contacts the bracket bulge in a closed position of the brewing basket mounting bracket.

11 . The beverage brewing system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a water tank selectively attached to the housing via a water tank mounting base; a hopper positioned within the component tower and positioned above the brewing basket mounting bracket; and a griding mechanism provided within the component tower and positioned between the hopper and the brewing basket mounting bracket.

12 . A brewing basket positioning monitoring system for a beverage dispenser, the brewing basket positioning monitoring system defining an axial direction, a radial direction, and a circumferential direction, the brewing basket position monitoring system comprising:
a brewing basket mounting bracket rotatably attachable to the beverage dispenser and movable between an open position and a closed position; a brewing basket module removably accommodated within the brewing basket mounting bracket between an inserted position and a removed position; a controller provided within the beverage dispenser; and a locking assembly provided within the beverage dispenser and operably connected with the controller, the locking assembly selectively contacting the brewing basket module, wherein the locking assembly comprises:
a lock mounting bracket attached to the beverage dispenser;
a lock bar slidably mounted within the lock mounting bracket between a first position and a second position; and
a switch attached to the lock mounting bracket and operably connected with the controller, the switch being selectively activated based on a position of the lock bar.

13 . The brewing basket positioning monitoring system of claim 12 , wherein the brewing basket module comprises:
a basket defining a receiving space; a lid rotatably coupled to the basket; and a lid protrusion tab protruding from the lid, the lid protrusion tab forming a lid bulge.

14 . The brewing basket positioning monitoring system of claim 13 , wherein the lid protrusion tab is in contact with the lock assembly when the brewing basket module is in the inserted position.

15 . The brewing basket positioning monitoring system of claim 12 , wherein the lock assembly defines an axial direction, a radial direction, and a circumferential direction, and wherein the lock assembly further comprises:
a plunger slidably received within the lock bar; and a buffer spring connected between the plunger and the lock bar, the buffer spring providing axial resistance to the plunger, wherein the plunger contacts the switch when the brewing basket module is in the inserted position.

16 . The brewing basket positioning monitoring system of claim 15 , wherein the lock assembly further comprises:
a restoring spring connected between the lock bar and the lock mounting bracket, the restoring spring providing axial resistance to the lock bar; and a cap attached to a distal end of the lock mounting bracket.

17 . The brewing basket positioning monitoring system of claim 16 , wherein the lock bar comprises a first retaining hook, the first retaining hook comprising:
a base extending along the axial direction; and a latch extending inward from the base along the radial direction.

18 . The brewing basket positioning monitoring system of claim 17 , wherein the plunger comprises:
a body; and a flange protruding along the radial direction from the body, the flange defining a pair of notches therein along the axial direction, and wherein the latch of the first retaining hook contacts the flange via one of the pair of notches.

19 . The brewing basket positioning monitoring system of claim 16 , wherein the lock bar further comprises a second retaining hook, the second retaining hook comprising:
a base extending along the axial direction; and a latch extending outward from the base along the radial direction.

20 . The brewing basket p

Assignees

• Haier Us Appliance Solutions Inc

Inventors

• Zhou Eddy
• Liu Zhihua

Classifications

• A47J31/52

  Alarm-clock-controlled mechanisms for coffee- or tea-making apparatus {; Timers for coffee- or tea-making apparatus; Electronic control devices for coffee- or tea-making apparatus} · CPC title

• A47J31/4407

  Lids, covers or knobs · CPC title

• A47J31/42

  Beverage-making apparatus with incorporated grinding or roasting means for coffee {(coffee mills A47J42/00; coffee roasters in general A23N12/08)} · CPC title

• A47J31/446 Primary

  Filter holding means; Attachment of filters to beverage-making apparatus · CPC title

• A47J31/58

  Safety devices · CPC title