초록 ▼

A heated water reservoir for use as a heated water dispenser, in conjunction with a beverage dispenser or for other uses. The heated water reservoir (5) includes a baffle (20) which communicates with an outlet port (7) positioned along the reservoir and an upper portion of the reservoir. In the rese

A heated water reservoir for use as a heated water dispenser, in conjunction with a beverage dispenser or for other uses. The heated water reservoir (5) includes a baffle (20) which communicates with an outlet port (7) positioned along the reservoir and an upper portion of the reservoir. In the reservoir a quantity of water is retained in a heated condition with an upper portion of the reservoir containing generally heated water of a higher temperature. An upper edge (35) of the baffle is positioned relative to the upper portion of the heated water reservoir such that passage of water from the reservoir into a cavity (22) defined, at least in part, by the baffle facilitates flow of water over the upper edge and into the outlet port. In this manner, water having a higher temperature is dispensed from the reservoir.

대표청구항 ▼

1. In a beverage preparation apparatus using heated water for producing a beverage reservoir, a reservoir for containing and dispensing heated water comprising: a housing defining a chamber therein;a water heater associated with the housing and located in a lower portion of the chamber for heating t

1. In a beverage preparation apparatus using heated water for producing a beverage reservoir, a reservoir for containing and dispensing heated water comprising: a housing defining a chamber therein;a water heater associated with the housing and located in a lower portion of the chamber for heating the water in the chamber;at least one inlet port communicating with the chamber for introducing water into the lower portion of the chamber near the water heater;at least one baffle structure positioned inside the chamber against one inside surface of the chamber, the at least one baffle structure having a continuous wall and a bottom structure, without holes therethrough, at least partially defining a cavity with the inside surface of the chamber, the cavity communicating with the chamber;at least one outlet port extending through the housing proximate to and communicating directly with the lower portion of the cavity defined by the baffle structure for dispensing water flowing from the chamber to the cavity under force of gravity; andan upper edge of the wall defining a mouth providing the only access through which water is received from the chamber into the cavity for dispensing through the outlet port under force of gravity, wherein water must pass from the chamber through the mouth to flow to the cavity for dispensing from the outlet port directly through the wall of the housing proximate the lower portion of the cavity. 2. The beverage preparation apparatus using heated water for producing a beverage reservoir as in claim 1, further comprising: a tube extending from the outlet port;a receiver for receiving heated water from the tube and for receiving a beverage substance for mixing with the heated water for producing a beverage therefrom. 3. The beverage preparation apparatus of claim 2, further comprising: the receiver being a brewing funnel for receiving a quantity of beverage brewing substance therein, the tube delivering heated water for infusing the beverage brewing substance for producing a brewed beverage. 4. The beverage preparation apparatus of claim 2, further comprising: the receiver being a mixing chamber for receiving a quantity of beverage brewing substance therein, a beverage substance dispenser for dispensing a beverage substance to the mixing chamber for mixing the beverage substance with heated water in the mixing chamber for producing a beverage. 5. The beverage preparation apparatus of claim 2, further comprising: an inlet control device communicating with the inlet line for controlling the introduction of water to the reservoir. 6. The beverage preparation apparatus of claim 5, further comprising: a controller; the inlet control device being a controllable valve coupled to the inlet line and coupled with the controller for controllably operating the inlet control valve to controllably introduce water to the reservoir. 7. The beverage preparation apparatus of claim 2, further comprising: an outlet control device communicating with the outlet line for controlling the dispensing of water to the reservoir. 8. The beverage preparation apparatus of claim 7, further comprising: a controller; the outlet control device being a controllable valve coupled to the outlet line and coupled with the controller for controllably operating the outlet control valve to controllably dispense water from the reservoir. 9. A beverage preparation apparatus using heated water for producing a beverage, the beverage preparation apparatus comprising: a reservoir for receiving, containing and heating water;a housing of the reservoir defining a chamber therein;a controller for controlling operation of the beverage preparation apparatus;a water heater associated with the housing and located in a lower portion of the chamber for heating the water in the chamber, the water heater being coupled to the controller;at least one inlet port communicating with the chamber for introducing water into the lower portion of the chamber near the water heater;an inlet control device communicating with the inlet port and coupled to the controller for controlling the introduction of water to the reservoir;at least one baffle structure positioned inside the chamber against one inside surface of the chamber, the at least one baffle structure having a continuous wall and bottom structure, without any holes therethrough, at least partially defining a cavity with the inside surface of the chamber;at least one outlet port extending through the housing proximate to and communicating directly with the lower portion of the cavity defined by the baffle structure for dispensing water flowing from the chamber to the cavity under force of gravity;an outlet control device communicating with the inlet line and coupled to the controller for controlling the dispensing of water from the reservoir;a tube extending from the outlet port;an upper edge of the wall defining a mouth providing the only access through which water is received from the chamber into the cavity for dispensing through the outlet port under force of gravity, wherein water must pass from the chamber through the mouth to flow to the cavity for dispensing from the outlet port directly through the wall of the housing proximate the lower portion of the cavity; anda receiver for receiving heated water from the tube and for receiving a beverage substance for mixing with the heated water for producing a beverage there from. 10. The beverage preparation apparatus of claim 9, further comprising: the receiver being a brewing funnel for receiving a quantity of beverage brewing substance therein, the tube delivering heated water for infusing the beverage brewing substance for producing a brewed beverage. 11. The beverage preparation apparatus of claim 9, further comprising: the receiver being a mixing chamber for receiving a quantity of beverage brewing substance therein, a beverage substance dispenser for dispensing a beverage substance to the mixing chamber for mixing the beverage substance with heated water in the mixing chamber for producing a beverage. 12. The beverage preparation apparatus of claim 9, further comprising: the inlet control device being a controllable valve coupled to the inlet line and coupled with the controller for controllably operating the inlet control valve to controllably introduce water to the reservoir. 13. The beverage preparation apparatus of claim 9, further comprising: the outlet control device being a controllable valve coupled to the outlet line and coupled with the controller for controllably operating the outlet control valve to controllably dispense water from the reservoir. 14. The reservoir of claim 9 further comprising the wall of the baffle defining a generally tubular structure communicating with the chamber and with one corresponding outlet port. 15. The reservoir of claim 9 further comprising at least one inlet port being positioned in a lower portion of the reservoir. 16. The reservoir of claim 9 further comprising at least one inlet port being positioned in an upper portion of the reservoir. 17. The reservoir of claim 9 the heating means further comprising a heating element retained in the reservoir for heating water disposed therein. 18. The reservoir of claim 9 further comprising a dispensing faucet communicating with the outlet port. 19. A heated water dispensing apparatus comprising: a reservoir for receiving, containing and heating water;a housing of the reservoir defining a chamber therein;a controller for controlling operation of the heated water dispensing apparatus;a water heater associated with the housing and located in a lower portion of the chamber for heating the water in the chamber, the water heater being coupled to the controller;at least one inlet port communicating with the chamber for introducing water via an inlet line into the lower portion of the chamber near the water heater;an inlet control device communicating with the inlet line and coupled to the controller for controlling the introduction of water to the reservoir;at least one baffle structure positioned inside the chamber against one inside surface of the chamber, the baffle structure having a continuous wall and bottom structure, without any holes therethrough, at least partially defining a cavity with the inside surface of the chamberat least one outlet port extending through the housing proximate to and communicating directly with the lower portion of the cavity defined by the baffle structure for dispensing water flowing from the chamber to the cavity, the at least one outlet port dispensing water from the chamber to the cavity under force of gravity;an upper edge of the wall defining a mouth providing the only access through which water is received from the chamber into the cavity for dispensing through the at least one outlet port under force of gravity, wherein water must pass from the chamber through the mouth to flow to the cavity for dispensing from the at least one outlet port directly through the wall of the housing proximate the lower portion of the cavity;an outlet control device communicating with the inlet line and coupled to the controller for controlling the dispensing of water from the reservoir; anda controllable dispensing faucet communicating with the outlet port for controllably dispensing heated water from the apparatus. 20. The beverage preparation apparatus of claim 19, further comprising: the inlet control device being a controllable valve coupled to the inlet line and coupled with the controller for controllably operating the inlet control valve to controllably introduce water to the reservoir. 21. The beverage preparation apparatus of claim 19, further comprising: the outlet control device being a controllable valve coupled to the outlet line and coupled with the controller for controllably operating the outlet control valve to controllably dispense water from the reservoir. 22. The reservoir of claim 19 further comprising the wall of the baffle defining a generally tubular structure communicating with the chamber and with at least one outlet port. 23. The reservoir of claim 19 further comprising at least one inlet port being positioned in a lower portion of the reservoir. 24. The reservoir of claim 19 further comprising at least one inlet port being positioned in an upper portion of the reservoir. 25. The reservoir of claim 19 the heating means further comprising a heating element retained in the reservoir for heating water disposed therein.