Back to results
US RE43,771 E1Granted
Display device for beverage pitcher or coffee machine
OwnerLawrence J. Koncelik, Jr.inventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus is disclosed comprising a display device or indicator device and a timer circuit. The display device can be placed in a first or a second state. In the first state the display device provides a first visual indication of a first type of beverage which is within a beverage receptacle. In the second state the display device provides a second visual indication of a second type of beverage which is within the beverage pitcher. The timer circuit, automatically, after a certain period of time, may change the indicator device from the first or second state to a third state in which the indicator device does not provide a visual indication of the type of beverage within a beverage container.
Claims43
An apparatus comprising
- a timer circuit;
- and
- an indicator device which communicates with the timer circuit;
- wherein the indicator device can be placed in a first or second state by an operator;
- wherein in the first state the indicator device provides a first visual indication of a first type of beverage within a beverage receptacle;
- wherein in the second state the indicator device provides a second visual indication of a second type of beverage within the beverage receptacle, wherein the second type of beverage differs from the first type of beverage;
- and wherein the timer circuit can be programmed to automatically change the indicator device after a certain period of time from the first or second state to a third state, wherein in the third state, the indicator device no longer provides a visual indication of what type of beverage is within the beverage receptacle.
4 more elements
A method comprising the steps of
- fixing an indicator device and a timer circuit on a coffee machine;
- wherein the indicator device can be placed into a first state or a second state by an operator;
- wherein when the indicator device is placed in a first state the indicator device provides a first visual indication of a first type of beverage which is within a coffee receptacle;
- wherein when the display device is placed in a second state the indicator device provides a second visual indication of a second type of beverage which is within the coffee receptable;
- and
- wherein the first and second type of beverages differ and the first and second visual indications differ;
- and wherein the timer circuit, after a certain period of time, causes the indicator device to automatically change from the first or second state to a third state in which the indicator device does not indicate what type of beverage is within the coffee receptacle.
4 more elements
An apparatus for indicating a type of beverage in a beverage receptacle removable from the apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
- a timer circuit;
- and
- an indicator device which communicates with the timer circuit;
- wherein the indicator device can be placed in a first or second state by an operator;
- wherein in the first state the indicator device provides a first visual indication of a first type of beverage within the beverage receptacle;
- wherein in the second state the indicator device provides a second visual indication of a second type of beverage within the beverage receptacle;
- wherein the second type of beverage differs from the first type of beverage;
- and wherein the timer circuit changes the indicator device from the first state or second state to a third state in which the apparatus no longer provides a visual indication of what type of beverage is within the beverage receptacle, after a predetermined period of time after the beverage has been prepared for use by a machine, such that, during the predetermined period of time, a subsequent user of the apparatus is informed of the beverage type.
5 more elements
A method for indicating a type of beverage in a coffee receptacle, the method comprising the steps of:
- fixing an indicator device and a timer circuit on a coffee machine;
- wherein the indicator device can be placed into a first state or a second state by an operator;
- wherein the coffee receptacle is removable from the coffee machine;
- wherein when the indicator device is placed in a first state the indicator device provides a first visual indication of a first type of beverage which is within the coffee receptacle;
- wherein when the display device is placed in a second state the indicator device provides a second visual indication of a second type of beverage which is within the coffee receptacle;
- and
- wherein the first and second type of beverages differ and the first and second visual indications differ;
- and wherein the timer circuit, after a predetermined period of time, causes the indicator device to automatically change from the first or second state to a third state in which there is no indication as to what type of beverage is within the coffee receptacle;
- wherein, during the predetermined period of time, a subsequent user of the apparatus is informed of the beverage type after the beverage has been prepared for use by the coffee machine.
6 more elements
A method for indicating a type of beverage in a coffee receptacle, the method comprising the steps of:
- fixing an indicator device and a timer circuit on a coffee machine;
- and
- sending a signal from the indicator device to the timer circuit to start a timer;
- wherein the indicator device can be placed into a first state or a second state by an operator;
- wherein the coffee receptacle is removable from the coffee machine;
- wherein when the indicator device is placed in a first state the indicator device provides a first visual indication of a first type of beverage which is within the coffee receptacle;
- wherein when the display device is placed in a second state the indicator device provides a second visual indication of a second type of beverage which is within the coffee receptacle;
- and
- wherein the first and second type of beverages differ and the first and second visual indications differ;
- and wherein the timer circuit, after a predetermined period of time on the timer has elapsed, sends a signal to the indicator device to cause the indicator device to automatically change from the first or second state to a third state in which the indicator device does not indicate what type of beverage is within the coffee receptacle, the predetermined period of time being chosen such that a subsequent user of the apparatus is informed of the beverage type after the beverage has been prepared for use by the coffee machine.
7 more elements
An apparatus for indicating a type of beverage in a beverage receptacle removable from the apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
- a timer circuit;
- and
- an indicator device which communicates with the timer circuit;
- wherein the indicator device can be placed in a first or second state by an operator;
- wherein the first or second state is selected before a machine makes the beverage ready for use;
- wherein in the first state the indicator device provides a first visual indication of a first type of beverage within the beverage receptacle;
- wherein in the second state the indicator device provides a second visual indication of a second type of beverage within the beverage receptacle, wherein the second type of beverage differs from the first type of beverage;
- wherein the timer circuit is programmed so that the indicator device remains in the first or second state for a predetermined period of time that is after the machine has made the beverage ready for use;
- wherein after the predetermined time the indicator device automatically changes from the first or second state to a third state;
- and
- wherein in the third state, the apparatus no longer provides a visual indication of what type of beverage is within the beverage receptacle.
8 more elements
A method for indicating a type of beverage in a coffee receptacle, the method comprising the steps of:
- fixing an indicator device and a timer circuit on a coffee machine;
- wherein the coffee receptacle is removable from the coffee machine;
- wherein the indicator device can be placed into a first state or a second state by an operator;
- wherein the first and second type of beverages differ and the first and second visual indications differ;
- wherein the first or second state is selected before the coffee machine makes the beverage ready for use;
- wherein when the indicator device is placed in a first state the indicator device provides a first visual indication of a first type of beverage which is within the coffee receptacle;
- wherein when the indicator device is placed in a second state the indicator device provides a second visual indication of a second type of beverage which is within the coffee receptacle;
- and
- wherein the timer circuit is programmed so that the indicator device remains in the first or second state for a predetermined period of time that is after the coffee machine has made the beverage ready for use;
- wherein after the predetermined time the indicator device automatically changes from the first or second state to a third state;
- wherein, in the third state, there is no indication as to what type of beverage is within the coffee receptacle.
8 more elements
An apparatus for indicating a type of beverage in a beverage receptacle removable from the apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
- a timer circuit;
- and
- an indicator device which communicates with the timer circuit;
- wherein the indicator device can be placed in a first or second state by an operator;
- wherein the first or second state is selected before a machine makes the beverage ready for use;
- wherein in the first state the indicator device provides a first visual indication of a first type of beverage within the beverage receptacle;
- wherein in the second state the indicator device provides a second visual indication of a second type of beverage within the beverage receptacle, wherein the second type of beverage differs from the first type of beverage;
- wherein the timer circuit is programmed so that the indicator device remains in the first or second state for a predetermined period of time that is after the machine has made the beverage that is in the receptacle ready for use;
- wherein after the predetermined time the indicator device automatically changes from the first or second state to a third state;
- wherein in the third state, the apparatus no longer provides a visual indication of what type of beverage is within the beverage receptacle.
7 more elements
A method for indicating a type of beverage in a coffee receptacle, the method comprising the steps of:
- fixing an indicator device and a timer circuit on a coffee machine;
- and
- sending a signal from the indicator device to the timer circuit to start a timer;
- wherein the indicator device can be placed into a first state or a second state by an operator;
- wherein the first or second state is selected before the coffee machine makes the beverage ready for use;
- wherein the coffee receptacle is removable from the coffee machine;
- wherein when the indicator device is placed in a first state the indicator device provides a first visual indication of a first type of beverage which is within the coffee receptacle;
- wherein when the indicator device is placed in a second state the indicator device provides a second visual indication of a second type of beverage which is within the coffee receptacle;
- and
- wherein the first and second type of beverages differ and the first and second visual indications differ;
- wherein the timer circuit is programmed so that the indicator device remains in the first or second state for a predetermined period of time that is after the coffee machine has made the beverage ready for use;
- wherein the timer sends a signal to the indicator device to cause the indicator device to automatically change from the first state or the second state to a third state;
- wherein, in the third state there is no visual indication of what type of beverage is within the coffee receptacle.
10 more elements
An apparatus for indicating a type of beverage in a beverage receptacle removable from the apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
- a timer circuit;
- and
- an indicator device which communicates with the timer circuit;
- wherein the indicator device can be placed in a first or second state by an operator;
- wherein the first or second state is selected before the machine makes the beverage ready for use;
- wherein in the first state the indicator device provides a first visual indication of a first type of beverage within the beverage receptacle after the machine has made the beverage;
- wherein in the second state the indicator device provides a second visual indication of a second type of beverage within the beverage receptacle after the machine has made the beverage;
- wherein the second type of beverage differs from the first type of beverage;
- wherein the timer circuit is programmed so that the indicator device remains in the first or second state for a predetermined period of time that is after the machine has made the beverage ready for use;
- wherein after the predetermined time the indicator device automatically changes from the first or second state to a third state;
- and
- wherein in the third state, the apparatus no longer provides a visual indication of what type of beverage is within the beverage receptacle.
9 more elements
A method for indicating a type of beverage in a coffee receptacle, the method comprising the steps of:
- fixing an indicator device and a timer circuit on a coffee machine;
- wherein the coffee receptacle is removable from the coffee machine;
- wherein the indicator device can be placed into a first state or a second state by an operator;
- wherein the indicator device is placed in the first or second state before the beverage is made by the machine;
- wherein, in the first state the indicator device provides a first visual indication of the first type of beverage which is within the coffee receptacle;
- wherein, in the second state the indicator device provides a second visual indication of a second type of beverage which is within the coffee receptacle;
- wherein the first and second type of beverages differ and the first and second visual indications differ;
- and wherein the timer circuit changes the indicator device from the first or second state to a third state in which there is no indication as to what type of beverage is within the coffee receptacle, after a predetermined period of time after the beverage has been prepared for use by the coffee machine, such that, during the predetermined period of time, a subsequent user of the apparatus is informed of the beverage type.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.