IP Library Granted Patent US 10,820,742
Granted Patent B2
US 10,820,742 · App. 15/310,624 · Granted Nov 3, 2020

Beverage preparation device for hot and cold beverages

Inventors: Youcef Ait Bouziad (Echandens, CH); Fabien Ludovic Agon (Blonay, CH); Alfred Yoakim (St-Legier-la-Chiesaz, CH)
Assignee: Societe des Produits Nestle S.A.
A47J31/4403A47J31/407A47J31/4496A47J31/46
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,820,742
App. No.
15/310,624
Granted
Nov 3, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention relates to a beverage preparation device for preparing hot and cold beverages, the device ( 30 ) comprising a hot extraction module ( 10 ) comprising a brewing unit ( 1 ) for injection of hot liquid into a beverage ingredients containing capsule, a hot beverage outlet ( 2 ) connected to the brewing unit ( 1 ) for dispensing of a hot extracted beverage, and a cooling module ( 20 ) comprising a cooling reservoir ( 5 ) for receiving the hot extracted beverage, wherein the hot beverage outlet ( 2 ) and the cooling module ( 20 ) are arranged moveably relative to each other such that the hot extracted beverage may be selectively dispensed from the hot beverage outlet ( 2 ) into the cooling reservoir ( 5 ) of the cooling module ( 20 ) in at least one relative position of the hot beverage outlet ( 2 ) and the cooling module ( 5 ).

Claims (36)

1. A beverage preparation device for preparing hot and cold beverages, the beverage preparation device comprising:

a hot extraction module comprising a brewing unit for injection of a hot liquid into a beverage ingredients containing capsule;

a hot beverage outlet connected to the brewing unit for dispensing of a hot extracted beverage;

a cooling module comprising a support member and a cooling reservoir for receiving the hot extracted beverage, the support member configured to selectively receive a bottom portion of the cooling reservoir such that a user disconnects the cooling reservoir from the support member in the cooling module and dispenses the cold or chilled beverage from the cooling reservoir,

the hot beverage outlet and the cooling module are arranged moveably relative to each other such that the hot extracted beverage may be selectively dispensed from the hot beverage outlet into the cooling reservoir of the cooling module in at least one relative position of the hot beverage outlet and the cooling module,

the brewing unit and the cooling module are configured to rotate relative to each other between a first direct hot beverage dispensing position configured for delivering the hot extracted beverage directly from the hot beverage outlet into a receptacle and a second cold beverage preparation position configured for delivering the extracted beverage directly from the hot beverage outlet to the cooling reservoir to prepare a cold or chilled beverage in the cooling reservoir; and

a support configured for the receptacle to be positioned on the support, the hot beverage outlet in the first direct hot beverage preparation position is arranged vertically above the support for directly dispensing the hot extracted beverage provided by the brewing unit into the receptacle, and the hot beverage outlet in the second cold beverage preparation position is arranged away from the vertical above the support.

2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the brewing unit is mounted on a rotatable platform member.

3. The beverage preparation device according to claim 1 , wherein in the first direct hot beverage dispensing position, the hot beverage outlet is arranged outside of contours of a receiving opening of the cooling reservoir when seen from above.

4. The beverage preparation device according to claim 1 , wherein in the second cold beverage preparation position the hot beverage outlet is arranged vertically above a receiving opening of the cooling reservoir.

5. The beverage preparation device according to claim 1 , wherein the hot beverage outlet is configured to move about a vertical axis of rotation which is arranged parallel to a rotational axis of a receiving opening of the cooling reservoir.

6. The beverage preparation device according to claim 1 , wherein the hot extraction module and the cooling module are spaced apart from each other.

7. The beverage preparation device according to claim 1 , wherein the cooling module is configured to selectively provide an additional liquid component into the cooling reservoir.

8. The beverage preparation device according to claim 7 , wherein the cooling reservoir is connected to a liquid supply for the additional liquid component.

9. The beverage preparation device according to claim 1 , wherein the cooling module comprises foaming means configured for foaming of a liquid contained in the cooling reservoir of the module.

10. The beverage preparation device according to claim 1 , wherein the hot extraction module and the cooling module are configured for being controlled independently according to independent beverage modes.

11. The beverage preparation device according to claim 1 , wherein the device comprises a control unit configured for providing different operation modes of the device.

12. The beverage preparation device according to claim 11 , wherein the control unit is configured for adapting a temperature of the hot liquid for injection into the beverage ingredients containing capsule in the brewing unit of the device.

13. The beverage preparation device according to claim 11 , wherein the control unit is configured for controlling a cooling temperature of the cooling module.

14. The beverage preparation device according to claim 1 , wherein the device comprises a graphical user interface adapted for enabling a selection of beverage preparation parameters dependent on the relative position of the hot beverage outlet or the brewing unit and the cooling module.

15. A beverage preparation device for preparing hot and cold beverages, the beverage preparation device comprising:

a hot extraction module comprising a brewing unit for injection of a hot liquid into a beverage ingredients containing capsule;

a hot beverage outlet connected to the brewing unit for dispensing of a hot extracted beverage;

a cooling module comprising a support member and a cooling reservoir for receiving the hot extracted beverage, the support member configured to selectively receive a bottom portion of the cooling reservoir such that a user disconnects the cooling reservoir from the support member in the cooling module and dispenses the cold or chilled beverage from the cooling reservoir,

the hot beverage outlet and the cooling module being arranged moveably relative to each other such that the hot extracted beverage may be selectively dispensed from the hot beverage outlet into the cooling reservoir of the cooling module in at least one relative position of the hot beverage outlet and the cooling module;

the device further comprises a collector where the beverage ingredients containing capsule is inserted in the hot extraction module, the collector and the cooling module are configured to rotate relative to each other between a first direct hot beverage dispensing position configured for delivering the extracted beverage directly from the hot beverage outlet into a receptacle and a second cold beverage preparation position configured for delivering the extracted beverage directly from the hot beverage outlet to the cooling reservoir to prepare a cold or chilled beverage in the cooling reservoir; and

a support configured for the receptacle to be positioned on the support, the hot beverage outlet in the first direct hot beverage preparation position is arranged vertically above the support for directly dispensing the hot extracted beverage provided by the brewing unit into the receptacle, and the hot beverage outlet in the second cold beverage preparation position is arranged away from the vertical above the support.

16. The beverage preparation device according to claim 15 , wherein in the first direct hot beverage dispensing position, the hot beverage outlet is arranged outside of contours of a receiving opening of the cooling reservoir when seen from above.

17. The beverage preparation device according to claim 15 , wherein in the second cold beverage preparation position the hot beverage outlet is arranged vertically above a receiving opening of the cooling reservoir.

18. The beverage preparation device according to claim 15 , wherein the hot beverage outlet is configured to move about a vertical axis of rotation which is arranged parallel to a rotational axis of a receiving opening of the cooling reservoir.

19. The beverage preparation device according to claim 15 , wherein the hot extraction module and the cooling module are spaced apart from each other.

20. The beverage preparation device according to claim 15 , wherein the cooling module is configured to selectively provide an additional liquid component into the cooling reservoir.

21. The beverage preparation device according to claim 15 , wherein the cooling module comprises foaming means configured for foaming of a liquid contained in the cooling reservoir of the module.

22. The beverage preparation device according to claim 15 , wherein the hot extraction module and the cooling module are configured for being controlled independently according to independent beverage modes.

23. The beverage preparation device according to claim 15 , wherein the device comprises a control unit configured for providing different operation modes of the device.

24. The beverage preparation device according to claim 15 , wherein the device comprises a graphical user interface adapted for enabling a selection of beverage preparation parameters dependent on the relative position of the hot beverage outlet or the brewing unit and the cooling module.

Assignments (5)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE PATENT NUMBER 16062921 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 049391 FRAME 0756. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE PATENT NUMBER SHOULD HAVE BEEN 16062912. Recorded Jul 3, 2020
From: NESTEC S.A.
To: SOCIÉTÉ DES PRODUITS NESTLÉ S.A.
Reel/Frame 054082/0001 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE PATENT NUMBER 16062921 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 049391 FRAME 0756. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE PATENT NUMBER SHOULD HAVE BEEN 16062912. Recorded Jul 3, 2020
From: NESTEC S.A.
To: SOCIÉTÉ DES PRODUITS NESTLÉ S.A.
Reel/Frame 054082/0165 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ENGLISH TRANSLATION TO SHOW THE FULL AND CORRECT NEW NAME IN SECTION 51. PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 049391 FRAME: 0756. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE MERGER. Recorded Jun 13, 2019
From: NESTEC S.A.
To: SOCIÉTÉ DES PRODUITS NESTLÉ S.A.
Reel/Frame 049853/0398 →
MERGER Recorded Jun 6, 2019
From: NESTEC S.A.
To: SOCIÉTÉ DES PRODUITS NESTLÉ S.A.
Reel/Frame 049391/0756 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 31, 2017
From: AIT BOUZIAD, YOUCEF; AGON, FABIEN LUDOVIC; YOAKIM, ALFRED
To: NESTEC S.A.
Reel/Frame 043142/0489 →