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Hot beverage makerRelated Patent Categories: Foods And Beverages: Apparatus, Beverage, InfusorsHot beverage maker description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060283332, Hot beverage maker. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/838,307, filed May 4, 2004; which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/720,769, filed Nov. 24, 2003; which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/403,438, filed Mar. 31, 2003 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,681,960; which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/011,759, filed Dec. 11, 2001 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,564,975. This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/439,100, filed Jan. 10, 2003. Each of these applications/patents is incorporated by reference herein. [0002] This invention relates to a convenient hot beverage maker having a cup-actuated dispenser thereby allowing a user to dispense any amount of beverage desired. The dispenser is positioned on the bottom of a carafe removably mounted on the stand of the hot beverage maker. The dispenser further includes a low-drip, actuator mechanism that reduces or prevents excess drippage of brewed beverage after the dispenser shut-off valve shuts off flow from the carafe. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Many types and styles of hot beverage makers, especially coffee makers, are known and have been sold for many years. SUMMARY OF INVENTION [0004] It is an object of the present invention to overcome the drawbacks of prior devices and provide a hot beverage maker having a cup-actuated dispenser. A user can easily dispense only as much coffee into a cup or mug as the user desires by using a single hand. [0005] In one embodiment, a hot beverage maker comprises a stand, and a filter basket and brewed beverage tank positioned on the stand. The brewed beverage tank is freely and removably positioned on the stand. The brewed beverage tank comprises a reservoir portion and an outlet port, and valve for controlling flow of liquid from the reservoir portion. The filter basket is mounted above the reservoir portion. The reservoir portion is adapted to hold a brewed liquid that has passed through the filter basket, and the outlet port and the valve for controlling flow of liquid from the reservoir portion are positioned at substantially the bottom of the reservoir portion. The stand further comprises a recess under the brewed beverage tank, and the recess for at least partially receiving a vessel for holding a hot beverage. And further wherein the stand defines a front side, and the recess is positioned substantially in the front side of the stand, and the brewed beverage tank is removable from the stand substantially in the direction of the front of the stand. The hot beverage maker may further comprise a dispenser actuator connected to the valve for controlling flow of liquid from the reservoir portion. The dispenser actuator is biased to keep the valve in a closed position, and the dispenser actuator is movable by a vessel for holding a hot beverage to change the valve to an open position. The dispenser actuator may be positioned in the stand. The dispenser actuator may comprise a push-button. The brewed beverage tank may comprise a transparent window thereby allowing a user to observe the brewed beverage level in the reservoir portion. [0006] In another embodiment, a hot beverage maker comprises a stand, a filter basket, and a carafe. The filter basket is positioned on the stand above the carafe. The carafe is freely and removably positioned on the stand. The stand comprises a recess under the carafe. The carafe comprises an open top for pouring liquid from the carafe and an outlet port positioned on the bottom of the carafe. The carafe comprises a valve positioned in the outlet port for controlling flow of liquid from the carafe through the outlet port, the valve biased to a closed position and which is moveable by a user to an open position. The hot beverage maker may further comprise a dispenser actuator connected to the valve and adapted to move the valve from the closed position to the open position. The dispenser actuator may be positioned in the stand. The dispenser actuator may comprise a push-button. The carafe may comprise a handle, and the dispenser actuator may be positioned in the handle and is adapted to be manually operated by a user. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a coffee maker in accordance with the present invention. [0008] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the coffee maker shown in FIG. 1 with the lid in the open position. [0009] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the coffee maker shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 with the brew tank removed and with the lid in the open position. [0010] FIG. 4 is a side elevation, cross sectional view of the coffee maker shown in FIG. 1. [0011] FIGS. 5 and 6 are side elevation cross sectional views detailing the dispenser actuator mechanism in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. [0012] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another preferred embodiment of a brew tank and filter basket. [0013] FIG. 8 is a series of views of a lever mechanism in accordance with an alternative of a dispenser for use with a hot beverage maker as described herein. The views A-F are top plan, front elevation, bottom, top perspective, side elevation, and bottom perspective views respectively. [0014] FIG. 9 is a series of views of the same lever arm shown in FIG. 8 also including the sealing ring mounted within the plug. [0015] FIG. 10 is a pair of diagrams, side elevation and perspective views respectively, of an alternative dispenser actuator mechanism in accordance with the present invention when in the closed position. [0016] FIG. 11 are side elevation and perspective views of the same dispenser actuator mechanism shown in FIG. 10 except that the mechanism is in the open position. [0017] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a hot beverage maker in accordance with the present invention [0018] FIG. 13 is a side elevation, cross-sectional view of the hot beverage maker shown in FIG. 12. [0019] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a filter basket that may be used with the hot beverage maker shown in FIGS. 12 and 13. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0020] FIGS. 1 through 7 illustrate a coffee maker that is a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Naturally, a design engineer having ordinary skill with the assembly of coffee makers will be able to create a coffee maker that incorporates the teachings of the present invention, but which may look different and incorporate different, alternative parts. Continue reading about Hot beverage maker... Full patent description for Hot beverage maker Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Hot beverage maker patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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