Beverage forming device with activation button

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9510706-B2
Application number	US-201414448500-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 31, 2014
Priority date	Feb 9, 2012
Publication date	Dec 6, 2016
Grant date	Dec 6, 2016

Abstract

A beverage forming system and method in which an activation button is arranged on a movable cartridge holder. A beverage forming system may include a cartridge holder movably mounted to a frame and having an opening to receive a cartridge such that the cartridge holder is arranged to hold and move a cartridge between an open position and a closed position. An activation button may be mounted on a top of the cartridge holder with the cartridge holder in the closed position, allowing easy access to the button once the cartridge holder is closed. Operation of the activation button may cause the system to begin a beverage forming process that includes introducing fluid to the cartridge via an inlet.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A beverage forming system, including:
a frame arranged to support portions of the beverage forming system;
a cartridge holder movably mounted to the frame and having an opening to receive a cartridge with the cartridge holder in an open position, the cartridge holder arranged to hold and move the cartridge from the open position to a closed position;
a cover arranged to at least partially cover the opening of the cartridge holder with the cartridge holder in the closed position, and the cover being positioned away from the opening with the cartridge holder in the open position;
an inlet arranged to provide fluid to a cartridge held by the cartridge holder in the closed position for the formation of a beverage; and
an activation button mounted on a top of the cartridge holder with the cartridge holder in the closed position, operation of the activation button causing the system to begin a beverage forming process that includes introducing fluid to the cartridge via the inlet.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the cartridge holder includes a handle that is manipulable by a user to move the cartridge holder between the open and closed positions, and wherein the activation button is adjacent the handle.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the cartridge holder is arranged so that pushing down on the cartridge holder relative to the frame moves the cartridge holder relative to the frame from the open to the closed position.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the cartridge holder is mounted to a top portion of the frame.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein with the cartridge holder in the open position, the opening of the cartridge holder is oriented in an upwardly inclined position to receive the cartridge.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein with the cartridge holder in the closed position, the opening of the cartridge holder is oriented in a downwardly inclined position.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the opening has an axis that is perpendicular to a plane of the opening, and the axis is arranged at an angle of about 30-50 degrees above the horizontal with the cartridge holder in the open position, and the axis is arranged at about 0-20 degrees below the horizontal with the cartridge holder in the closed position.

8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a housing attached to the frame that encloses components of the system, the housing defining a cavity that receives the cartridge holder in the closed position, and wherein the cartridge holder is exposed outside of the cavity in the open position.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein a top portion of the cartridge holder is flush with a top portion of the housing with the cartridge holder in the closed position.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the activation button is arranged at an uppermost portion of the system with the cartridge holder in the closed position.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the cartridge holder extends above a top surface of the housing with the cartridge holder in the open position.

Assignees

• Keurig Green Mountain Inc

Inventors

• Tinkler Ian
• Shepard James E

Classifications

• A23F3/18

  Extraction of water soluble tea constituents ({A23F3/166 takes precedence; } isolation of tea flavour or tea oil A23F3/42) · CPC title

• A23F5/262

  the extraction liquid flowing through a stationary bed of solid substances, e.g. in percolation columns · CPC title

• A47J31/3633 Primary

  Means to perform transfer from a loading position to an infusing position · CPC title

• A47J31/4407

  Lids, covers or knobs · CPC title

• A47J31/407 Primary

  with ingredient-containing cartridges; Cartridge-perforating means · CPC title