US 11,723,486 B2
Capsule-based system for preparing and dispensing a beverage
Gian Matteo Lo Faro, Key West, FL (US); Alan M. Crosby, Sudbury, MA (US); George Kingman Bonnoitt, Amherst, NH (US); David Preston Adams, North Hampton, NH (US); and Alan Kenneth Stratton, Milford, NH (US)
Assigned to LaVit Technology LLC, New York, NY (US)
Filed by La Vit Technology LLC, New York, NY (US)
Filed on Mar. 15, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/201,838.
Application 16/002,091 is a division of application No. 14/828,067, filed on Aug. 17, 2015, granted, now 10,034,570, issued on Jul. 31, 2018.
Application 17/201,838 is a continuation of application No. 16/002,091, filed on Jun. 7, 2018, granted, now 10,945,554.
Application 14/828,067 is a continuation of application No. 14/536,142, filed on Nov. 7, 2014, granted, now 10,080,459, issued on Sep. 25, 2018.
Application 14/536,142 is a continuation in part of application No. 13/293,043, filed on Nov. 9, 2011, abandoned.
Prior Publication US 2021/0274959 A1, Sep. 9, 2021
Int. Cl. A47J 31/40 (2006.01); A47J 31/44 (2006.01); A47J 31/36 (2006.01)
CPC A47J 31/407 (2013.01) [A47J 31/3628 (2013.01); A47J 31/3633 (2013.01); A47J 31/3695 (2013.01); A47J 31/4482 (2013.01); A47J 31/4492 (2013.01)] 5 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A beverage dispenser that dispenses a brewed or mixed hot beverage or a cold beverage comprising:
a housing with a cover;
a controller in said housing;
a water heater and water temperature sensor in the housing in communication with the controller, the controller configured to raise water temperature in closed-loop operation to provide hot water for injection at a temperature sufficient for hot water brewing or mixing;
a capsule receiving apparatus in the housing configured to receive either a cold drink capsule or a hot drink capsule, the capsule receiving apparatus operably coupled to a capsule manipulation member adapted to open an inserted cold drink capsule when the cover is closed, or force an inserted hot drink capsule downward toward a bottom puncture needle when the cover is closed;
a hot water injection needle on a rotating arm adapted to be used when a hot capsule is inserted by first puncturing a top surface of the inserted hot capsule and then forcing the hot capsule downward onto the bottom puncture needle, the hot water injection needle adapted to infuse the hot water into the inserted hot drink capsule under pressure producing the brewed or mixed hot beverage;
an upper first nozzle fluidly connected to a cold water supply aimed at the capsule receiving apparatus;
the capsule manipulation member also adapted to rotate the inserted cold drink capsule approximately ninety degrees after its contents have dissolved or mixed causing said contents to pour into a vessel;
a cold beverage exit orifice positioned below the capsule receiving apparatus;
a second nozzle also fluidly connected to the cold water supply aimed at the cold beverage exit orifice;
a hot beverage spout also positioned below the capsule receiving apparatus;
whereby, for a cold beverage, the beverage is first mixed in the capsule after opening, and second diluted for drinking as the beverage exits the cold beverage exit orifice, and for a hot beverage, the beverage exits the capsule to the hot beverage spout through the bottom of the capsule after passing through contents of the capsule under pressure from the injection needle.