# US 11,206,942 B2 · Virtual sight glass for a portable beverage dispensing container > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,206,942 B2 - Document ID: US11206942B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/445,532 - Filed: 2019-06-19 - Published: 2019-10-17 - Granted: 2021-12-28 - Earliest claimed: 2015-12-15 - Assignees: Grindmaster Corporation - Applicants: Grindmaster Corporation - Inventors: Thomas Joseph Pfeifer; John Thomas Quesenberry, Jr. - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11206942B2 ## CPC - A47J 31/057: with water container separated from beverage container, the hot water passing the filter only once {i.e. classical type of drip coffee makers} - A47J 31/525: {the electronic control being based on monitoring of specific process parameters} - A47J 31/005: {Portable or compact beverage making apparatus, e.g. for travelling, for use in automotive vehicles} - A47J 31/007: {for brewing on a large scale, e.g. for restaurants, or for use with more than one brewing container} - A47J 31/4403: {Constructional details} - A47J 31/4457: {Water-level indicators} - A47J 31/467: {for the infusion} - A47J 2203/00: Devices having filling level indicating means - A47J: KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES ## Abstract A portable beverage dispensing container comprises a housing and an internal beverage holding tank positioned in and contained within the housing. The internal beverage holding tank is configured to receive and store a beverage, and the internal beverage holding tank is constructed from a translucent material. The housing includes an opening through a rear surface thereof, such that light from a light source (which is installed at a brewing station) can be directed through the opening and through the internal beverage holding tank, such a light pattern is projected on a sight glass window on a front surface of the housing that provides a visual indication of provide a visual indication of the level of the beverage in the shuttle, along with a visual indication of the status of the brewed beverage. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A satellite brewing system, comprising: a brewing station for producing a beverage; and a shuttle that is selectively positioned at the brewing station to receive the beverage, the shuttle including a housing and an internal beverage holding tank constructed from a translucent material which is positioned in and contained within the housing; wherein the brewing station includes a light source operably connected to a processor; wherein the housing of the shuttle includes an opening defined through a surface thereof, such that light from the light source is directed through the opening and through the internal beverage holding tank; wherein the housing of the shuttle further includes a translucent sight glass window on its front surface, with a light pattern projected on the translucent sight glass window that results from light that has passed from the light source and through the internal beverage holding tank; and wherein the processor provides a control signal to the light source to illuminate the light source based on a status of the beverage. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The satellite brewing system as recited in claim 1, wherein the light source is comprised of multiple light-emitting diodes. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The satellite brewing system as recited in claim 1, wherein the light source comprises first and second light sources, and wherein the housing of the shuttle includes first and second openings defined through a rear surface thereof, with each of the first and second openings corresponding to a position of a respective one of the first and second light sources. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The satellite brewing system as recited in claim 3, wherein the first light source is comprised of multiple light-emitting diodes, and wherein the second light source is comprised of multiple light-emitting diodes. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The satellite brewing system as recited in claim 1, and further comprising a display located on the front surface of the brewing station and operably connected to the processor in order to provide information regarding operation of the satellite brewing system to a user and to serve as an input means for the user to input instructions. ### Claim 6 A satellite brewing system, comprising: a brewing station for producing a beverage; and a shuttle that is selectively positioned at the brewing station to receive the beverage, the shuttle including a housing and an internal beverage holding tank constructed from a translucent material which is positioned in and contained within the housing; wherein the brewing station includes a light source operably connected to a processor; wherein the housing of the shuttle includes an opening defined through a surface thereof, such that light from the light source is directed through the opening and through the internal beverage holding tank; wherein the housing of the shuttle further includes a translucent sight glass window on its front surface, with a light pattern projected on the translucent sight glass window that results from light that has passed from the light source and through the internal beverage holding tank; wherein the processor provides a control signal to the light source to illuminate the light source (i) to provide illumination of a first color during a brewing cycle, and (ii) to provide illumination of a second color that is different than the first color upon completion of the brewing cycle; and wherein the illumination of the first color or the illumination of the second color is visible as part of the light pattern projected on the translucent sight glass window. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The satellite brewing system as recited in claim 6, wherein the processor is programmed to monitor an elapsed time after the completion of the brewing cycle and provides a control signal to the light source to illuminate the light source to provide illumination of a third color that is different than the first color and the second color when the elapsed time exceeds a first predefined threshold. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The satellite brewing system as recited in claim 7, wherein the first predefined threshold is a percentage of an established freshness time for the beverage. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The satellite brewing system as recited in claim 7, wherein the light source is comprised of multiple light-emitting diodes. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The satellite brewing system as recited in claim 7, wherein the light source comprises first and second light sources, and wherein the housing of the shuttle includes first and second openings defined through a rear surface thereof, with each of the first and second openings corresponding to a position of a respective one of the first and second light sources. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The satellite brewing system as recited in claim 10, wherein the first light source is comprised of multiple light-emitting diodes, and wherein the second light source is comprised of multiple light-emitting diodes. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The satellite brewing system as recited in claim 7, and further comprising a display located on the front surface of the brewing station and operably connected to the processor in order to provide information regarding operation of the satellite brewing system to a user and to serve as an input means for the user to input instructions.