Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
-- 2135370
BEVERAGE MAKING APPARATUS CONTAINING
A POTABLE WATER PURIFICATION UNIT
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field Of The Invention
This invention relates to a beverage making apparatus
containing a potable water purification unit, including a
purification agent, which is particularly suited for domestic
use.
Water purification, as described herein, is the treatment
of water to destroy possible disease causing biological agents;
to eliminate organic matter that give rise to obnoxious odors,
taste, or appearance; and to eliminate or reduce the
concentration of potentially harmful chemicals.
Water usage is generally divided into three categories,
namely, potable water, waste water, and reuse water. The current
invention is primarily directed to beverage making machines,
potable water and the purification thereof.
For purposes of identification and description herein,
potable water is that water intended for human use, for example,
drinking, cooking, etc. The source of this water may be runoff
from rains collected in reservoirs, lakes and streams, or wells
which tap subterranean water tables.
Most urban areas have municipal waste water facilities which
treat and recycle waste water. Water treatment generally
consists of five basic steps, namely, mixing with a coagulant,
2135370
flocculation, clarification, filtration, and disinfection.
It should be noted that, many central water treatment
plants, in particular small local operations, fail to adequately
remove all contaminants or undesirable components that may be
present in their respective water supplies.
Municipal waste water facilities which remove essentially
all of the undesirable contaminants from potable water frequently
suffer from the disadvantage of various contaminants being
introduced into the water by the distribution system. These
contaminants can effect taste, odor, turbidity and hardness of
the water. Thus, a point-of-use water purification devise is
highly desirable which will remove these undesirable components
from and restore the potable water to a more aesthetically
pleasing condition.
Previously, some domestic homes and business organizations
have used both water purifying devices and beverage making
machines to solve the problem of aesthetically unacceptable
potable water. The use of a separate purifying device, however,
suffers from the disadvantages of having to transport the water
to the beverage making machine and/or an additional appliance
taking up needed space in a kitchen area.
As can be determined from the foregoing, there is a need for
a beverage making machine which contains as an integral part
thereof, a water purifying unit which will eliminate the above-
described disadvantages.
2. Description Of The Prior Art
Presently, connoisseurs of pleasant tasting and
aesthetically pleasing beverages suffer the disadvantage of poor
- 2135370
taste and other undesirable characteristics associated with
potable, tap water when said beverage is prepared from the
potable water.
Efforts have been made previously to solve this problem.
For example, U.S. Patent 3,844,206, issued October 29, 1974,
relates to an infuser apparatus described as suitable for
preparing coffee, tea or the like. The devise consists of a
chamber for receiving a liquid, means for heating the liquid and
a combined pressure regulating and/or safety valve.
U.S. Patent 3,950,253, issued April 13, 1976, discloses a
portable water purification and filtration apparatus which
contains a reservoir for storing untreated water, a container for
treating water and a water pump.
U.S. Patent 4,119,019, issued October 10, 1978, relates to
a water filtering'unit for coffee makers. The unit consists of
a funnel-shaped receptacle containing sealing means consisting
of a peripheral projecting compressible rib.
U.S. Patent 4,528,095, issued July 9, 1985, discloses a
filtering system for potable water which consists of a stand, a
basket-shaped filter. The filter is detachably mounted on an
upper cantilevered branch of the stand.
U.S. Patent 4,867,875, issued September 19, 1989, relates
to a combined water purifying beverage maker. The devise
continuously circulates water under treatment between heating and
purification apparatus.
U.S. Patents 4,889,041, issued December 26, 1989, and
4,969,393, issued November 13, 1990, disclose an electric coffee
or tea maker, steam iron, etc. which contain a water softening
4 2135370
agent. The water softening agent either changes color or reduces
its volume when its water softening capabilities are exhausted.
U.S. Patent 5,038,675, issued August 13, l991, relates to
a coffee or tea maker containing a fresh water container, a water
filter and an outlet opening into a flow-through heater. The
water filter is replaceable from the upper side of the fresh
water container.
U.S. Patent 5,076,922, issued December 31, 1991, discloses
a water-filtration apparatus which is described as suitable for
reducing contaminants in tap water. The apparatus consists of
a water container, a receiving reservoir mounted in said
container, a filter associated with the reservoir, a first and
second water passage and a first and second chamber associated
with the watér reservoir.
As can readi~y be determined from the foregoing, there is
an ongoing research effort to produce new and novel apparatus
which provide or restore potable water to a more aesthetically
pleasing condition for use in a beverage making machine.
Summary Of The Invention
The present invention relates to a beverage making machine
having potable water purification means which comprises: a
portable water purifying unit constructed to receive potable
water; said purifying unit having an inlet for adding potable
water, inwardly sloping side walls, a peripheral lip located on
the upper end of said side walls, a bottom wall having one or
more drainage holes, a potable water purifying agent, including
purifying means, superimposed on the top of the bottom wall,
wherein said peripheral lip of the purifying unit curves around
21~S370
and rests on the shoulder of a potable water reservoir contained
in the beverage making machine, said reservoir having a water
inlet and outlet passage; and, means for transporting purified
potable water to heating means and to a receptacle containing a
beverage flavoring agent.
In an alternate mode, the peripheral lip of the purifying
unit is located near the bottom portion of the side walls of said
unit and the purifying unit is located either above or in the
receptacle containing a beverage flavoring agent.
The invention, in addition resides in a beverage making
machine containing a potable water purifying unit which comprises
a vessel having a reservoir for receiving potable water. The
reservoir contains side walls, a bottom wall, a water inlet for
adding potable water to said reservoir and a water outlet passage
located in said b-ottom wall. Conduit means is located between
the bottom wall of the reservoir and a purifying unit located
below the reservoir. The water purifying unit contains a water
purifying agent, potable water purifying means, containment walls
consisting of a top wall, side walls and a bottom wall to
restrict and direct the flow of potable water, a water inlet and
a water outlet. The bottom wall has a removable closure with
sealing means.
Conduit means is located between the purifying unit and
heating means, for transporting purified potable water, wherein
the conduit means contains a thermal expansion unit to compensate
for temperature changes therein.
Finally, transportation means is located between the heating
means and a receptacle for receiving purified potable water,
6 2~3S370
wherein said receptacle contains a beverage flavoring agent.
Brief Description Of The Drawinqs
The invention is further described by reference to the
appended drawings taken in conjunction with the following
description where:
FIG. 1. is a frontal perspective drawing of a rectangular,
potable water purifying unit having a mating, peripheral lip
located near the upper end of the side walls.
FIG. 2. is a frontal perspective drawing of a circular,
potable water purifying unit having a mating, peripheral lip
located near the upper end of the circular wall.
FIG. 3. is a frontal perspective drawing of FIG. 2., with
the exception that the mating, peripheral lip is located near the
bottom of thé circular wall.
FIG. 4. is arlongitudinal (vertical) cross-sectional view
taken along the center line of a potable water purifying unit
showing slightly inwardly sloping sides, a potable water
purifying agent and drainage holes in the bottom wall of said
unit.
FIG. 5. is a partial cut-away view of beverage making
apparatus containing a rectangular potable water purifying unit,
including a purifying agent, mated with the upper portion of a
water reservoir therein. The peripheral lip of the purifying
unit is located near the top of the unit's side walls.
FIG. 6. is a partial cut-away view of a beverage making
apparatus containing a circular potable water purifying unit
mated with the upper portion of a receptacle containing a
beverage making agent.
2135:~70
FIG. 7. is a cut-away frontal view of a beverage making
apparatus which depicts an alternative embodiment of the present
invention, wherein the potable water purifying unit is located
below the water reservoir therein.
Detailed Description Of The Invention
This invention resides in a beverage making apparatus
containing a new and novel purification unit for purifying
potable water.
The potable water purification unit shown in FIG. 1. shows
a perspective drawing of rectangular shaped purification unit 1
viewed along line 4-4, containing side walls 2. Generally, there
are four side walls 2, which connect with each other, forming a
barrier for potable water. Preferably, side walls 2 slope
inwardly to'facilitate the passage of water through the unit.
Connected to siderwalls 2 is bottom wall 6 which forms a support
for purification agent 10. Near the top of side walls 2 is
peripheral lip 8 which extends around the perimeter of side walls
2. Peripheral lip 8 mates with the top boundary of the water
reservoir of a beverage making machine. It should be noted that
potable water purification unit 2 can have a square configuration
instead of the rectangular configuration depicted in FIG. 1.
FIG. 2. shows a potable water purification unit 12 which has
a circular configuration. In FIG. 2., bottom wall 16 forms a
support for purification agent 10 and connects to circular side
wall 11. Peripheral lip 14 is located near the top of circular
wall 11 and extends around the perimeter of said circular wall.
FIG. 3. is an alternate embodiment of the water purification
unit depicted in FIG. 2. wherein peripheral lip 18 is located
21353~0
near the bottom of circular wall 11 and extends around the
perimeter of said circular wall.
It is to be understood that the peripheral lip of the
potable water purification units herein can be located near
either the top or bottom of the side walls of the water
purification units, in accordance with the beverage apparatus
manufacturer's specifications.
FIG. 4. is a cross-section view of FIG. 1. In particular,
potable water purification unit 1 is a cut-away view showing side
wall 2, bottom wall 6 and peripheral lip 8 located near the top
of side wall 2. Bottom wall 6 has one or more openings 22 which
allow purified potable water to drain therethrough. Preferably,
bottom wall 6 has multiple openings 22. Potable water
purificationcagent 10 is preferably those water purification
agents which effectively remove undesirable agents from potable
water. Representative purification agents which are suitable for
use herein include activated carbon, activated silica, greensand,
synthetic zeolites, polystyrene resins, alum, ferric sulfate,
potassium permanganate, diatomaceous earth, bentonite clays,
sodium aluminate, calcium carbonate, sodium silicate, sodium
carbonate and sodium chloride and mixtures thereof.
Activated carbon is the preferred purifying agent 10 herein.
Sources for activated carbon include wood, bituminous coal,
coconut shells, lignite, peat, bones, pecan shells, petroleum
base residues and pulp mill black ash to name a few.
The activation process consists of the source materials
being carbonized under controlled conditions, the resulting
carbon (charcoal) being treated with an oxidizing gas such as
21~5~70
., g
steam or air at elevated temperatures.
Greensand is produced from naturally occurring compositions
by open pit mining said material, followed by washing, screening
and treatment with caustic to remove clay. Further treatment
with alum, silicates and other salts produces a durable greenish-
black mineral which is relatively inert except for its ion-
exchange properties.
Synthetic zeolites are formed by mixing and reacting
together solutions of sodium silicate and sodium aluminate under
such conditions that precipitates do not form. The reaction mass
is allowed to set into a homogenous gel, dried, crushed and
activated by calcination. Various metals may be added to the
zeolite to enhance its water purification properties.
Polystyrene resins are produced by the polymerization of
styrene and divinyl benzene. Normally the resins form spheres
of from about 0.45 to about 0.5 mm in size.
Preferably, the water purification agents 10, herein, are
either in solid powdered form or solid granulated form.
Generally, said water purification agents have a mesh size of
from about 28 to about 70.
For reasons of convenience and to insure the integrity of
the purification agents, it may be desirable to inclose said
agent in a mesh screen or water permeable membrane. The mesh
size of the screen will, of course, be smaller than the mesh size
of the water purification agent. Water permeable membranes by
definition have very small pore openings. The use of a mesh
screen or water permeable membrane will ensure the rapid addition
of the water purification agent to or removal from the water
21~'~370
--- 10
purification unit.
In FIG. 5., potable water purification unit 1 from FIG. 1.
(rectangular configuration) is supported at the top of water
reservoir 25 of beverage making apparatus 24 by peripheral lip
8. Potable water is poured into water purification unit 1, where
under the influence of gravity and constrained by side walls 2,
the potable water contacts water purification agent 10. Water
purification agent 10 is supported by bottom wall 6 which has
multiple openings 22. The purified water passes through the
bottom wall via openings 22 into reservoir 25 of beverage making
apparatus 24.
The purified water is heated using conventional beverage
making apparatus heating means and transported utilizing
conventional transport means to beverage apparatus opening 27,
where said heated and purified water is discharged into beverage
receptacle 26. The heated and purified water contacts beverage
flavoring agent 28 and passes through bottom wall 31 via openings
32 into beverage reservoir 34. It should be noted that beverage
receptacle 26 is supported near the top portion of beverage
reservoir 34 by lip 30.
Suitable beverage flavoring agents include coffee or tea.
It is to be understood, however, that other beverage flavoring
agents which are conventional in the beverage making industry may
be substituted for the above-defined coffee or tea. The flavored
beverage is maintained at the desired temperature by heating pad
36.
FIG. 6. is an alternate embodiment of FIG. 5. wherein
purification unit 12 (circular configuration) is utilized. In
2135370
ll
FIG. 6., potable water is poured into water reservoir 25 of
beverage making apparatus 24, where it is heated using
conventional heating means and transported, using conventional
transportation means, to water discharge opening 27.
Heated, potable water is, next, discharged into water
purification unit 12 (circular configuration) where it contacts
purification agent 10. Water purification unit 12 is supported
on the top portion of beverage receptacle 26 by peripheral lip
14.
After contacting purification agent 10, purified water
drains through bottom wall 6 via multiple openings 22 and is
discharged into beverage receptacle 26. The purified water
contacts beverage flavoring agent 28 and is discharged through
openings 32 of bottom wall 31 into beverage reservoir 34. The
flavored beverager is maintained at the desired temperature by
heating pad 36.
FIG. 7. is yet another embodiment of the potable water
purification unit herein. Particularly, FIG. 7. is a cut-away
view of beverage making apparatus 24 in FIG.s 5. and 6., wherein
the water purification unit 38 is located below the water
reservoir. Potable water from the water reservoir enters water
purification unit 38 via conduit 36 under the influence of
gravity. Potable water contacts water purification agent 10
where it is purified.
Water purification unit 38 can be either rectangular, square
or circular in configuration, depending upon the specification
of the manufacturer of the beverage making apparatus.
Water purification unit 38 is equipped with a bottom
21~5~70
12
connecting member 41 which has screw-off and screw-on means.
Bottom connecting unit 38, additionally, is equipped with sealing
means, for example, an o-ring or a gasket. Conventional gaskets
in the beverage making technology are suitable for use herein.
An example of suitable screw-on means, is mating screw threads
on the bottom of purification unit 38 and on bottom connecting
member 41. The screw-on means of bottom connecting member 41,
engage, screw onto and mate with the screw threads on the bottom
of purification unit 38, forming a liquid-tight seal therewith.
Next, purified water is transported via conduit 42 through
heat expansion conduit means 46 and conduit 48 to electric
heating means 52, where said water is heated to the desired
temperature. Heat expansion conduit means 46 is equipped with
fastener 47 to provide a leak proof seal. Conventional materials
such as rubber, pl'astic, etc., and fasteners are suitable for use
in the construction of heat expansion conduit means 46.
Heated water from electric heating means 52 is transported
via conduit 50 to beverage receptacle 26, for example, as in
FIG.s 5. and 6. From this point on, the beverage is produced in
accordance with the descriptions in FIG.s 5. and 6.
Obviously, many modifications and variations of the
invention, as hereinbefore set forth, may be made without
departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and therefore, only
such limitations should be imposed as are indicated in the
appended claims.
