FLUID HEATING APPLIANCE
A coffeemaker generally includes a reservoir and a flow control system for regulating a flow of water from the reservoir. The flow control system has a thin-film heating element that defines at least a portion of a heating conduit in which water is heated.
1 . A coffeemaker comprising:
a reservoir; and
a flow control system for regulating a flow of water from the reservoir, wherein the flow control system includes a thin-film heating element that defines at least a portion of a heating conduit in which water is heated.
2 . The coffeemaker of claim 1 , wherein the heating element has a glass substrate and a metal oxide material deposited on the glass substrate.
3 . The coffeemaker of claim 2 , wherein the heating element is substantially transparent.
4 . The coffeemaker of claim 3 , further comprising a housing in which the heating element is disposed, wherein the housing has a window through which the heating element is visible.
5 . The coffeemaker of claim 4 , further comprising a light source for illuminating water within the heating conduit.
6 . The coffeemaker of claim 5 , wherein the light source emits a colored light.
7 . The coffeemaker of claim 5 , wherein the heating element has an end and wherein the flow control system further comprises a one-way valve connected to the heating element at the end, the light source being mounted adjacent the one-way valve for emitting light into heating conduit through the one-way valve.
8 . The coffeemaker of claim 1 , wherein the heating element has an end and wherein the flow control system further comprises a coupling fitted on the end to facilitate electrically and thermally isolating the end of the heating element.
9 . The coffeemaker of claim 1 , further comprising a pair of the heating elements.
10 . The coffeemaker of claim 9 , wherein the heating elements are spaced apart from one another and are oriented substantially parallel with one another.
11 . The coffeemaker of claim 1 , wherein the heating element is substantially planar.
12 . The coffeemaker of claim 1 , wherein the heating element is tubular and wherein the coffeemaker further comprises a first ring-shaped terminal and a second ring-shaped terminal that wrap around the heating element.
13 . The coffeemaker of claim 12 , wherein the heating element has a first end and a second end, the first ring-shaped terminal wrapping around the heating element near the first end, and the second ring-shaped terminal wrapping around the heating element near the second end.
14 . The coffeemaker of claim 12 , further comprising:
a pair of the heating elements spaced apart from one another and oriented substantially parallel with one another;
a first terminal unit comprising a first bus bar and a pair of the first ring-shaped terminals connected together by the first bus bar; and
a second terminal unit comprising a second bus bar and a pair of the second ring-shaped terminals connected together by the second bus bar,
wherein each of the first ring-shaped terminals wraps around one of the heating elements, and each of the second ring-shaped terminals wraps around one of the heating elements.
15 . A coffeemaker comprising:
a reservoir;
a showerhead; and
a flow control system for regulating a flow of water from the reservoir to the showerhead, wherein the flow control system includes:
a thin-film heating element that defines a heating conduit in which water is heated;
a check valve disposed between the reservoir and the heating element; and
a flow control valve disposed between the heating element and the showerhead.
16 . The coffeemaker of claim 15 , wherein the flow control system does not include a pump.
17 . The coffeemaker of claim 16 , wherein the flow control system is configured to gravitationally pressurize the flow of water from the reservoir to the showerhead.
18 . The coffeemaker of claim 17 , wherein the flow control valve inhibits heated water from prematurely evacuating the heating conduit until the heated water reaches a temperature selected from a plurality of predetermined temperatures.
19 . The coffeemaker of claim 15 , wherein the heating element is tubular and comprises a glass substrate and a metal oxide material deposited on the substrate.
20 . A terminal unit for a heating device having a pair of tubular, thin-film heating elements, said terminal unit comprising:
a pair of ring-shaped terminals each sized to wrap around one of the heating elements; and
a bus bar extending between the ring-shaped terminals to electrically connect the ring-shaped terminals to one another.