U.S. patent application number 10/084127 was filed with the patent office on 2003-08-28 for brewing apparatus and method.
Invention is credited to Meador, Keith Joseph.
Application Number | 20030159589 10/084127 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 27753433 |
Filed Date | 2003-08-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030159589 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Meador, Keith Joseph |
August 28, 2003 |
BREWING APPARATUS AND METHOD
Abstract
A beverage brewing apparatus having a two chamber disposable
cartridge that has fresh water in one chamber and brew ingredients
in the other chamber. The cartridge fits into a cavity formed in a
housing that includes a water heating system. The water heating
system is energized when the disposable cartage is nested in the
housing. The system produces a pre-measured volume of a brewed
beverage or hot liquid automatically.
Inventors: |
Meador, Keith Joseph;
(Southlake, TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Keith J Meador
1900 Cresson Dr
Southlake
TX
76092
US
|
Family ID: |
27753433 |
Appl. No.: |
10/084127 |
Filed: |
February 28, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
99/295 ; 99/316;
99/323.3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47J 31/3623 20130101;
A47J 31/0573 20130101; B01D 2201/52 20130101; A47J 31/005
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
99/295 ;
99/323.3; 99/316 |
International
Class: |
A47J 031/00 |
Claims
1. A beverage brewer comprising: a housing having a cavity formed
therein and having a bottom, a piercing valve member disposed in
said bottom of said cavity, a heating chamber in said housing
adjacent said piercing valve member, a first tube having a first
end communicating with said heating chamber and a second end, and a
second tube having a first end and a second end; and a cartridge
removably positioned in said cavity including a water chamber
extending sufficiently into said cavity to engage said piercing
valve member, and a cover including a rim portion engaging said
housing to close the cavity, a brew chamber containing brew
ingredients, a first opening sealingly engaging said second end of
said first tube, a first passage means communicating between said
first opening and said brew chamber to deliver heated liquid to
said brew chamber, a second opening sealingly engaging said first
end of said second tube, and a second passage means communicating
between said brew chamber and said second tube to deliver a brewed
substance from said brew chamber to said second tube.
2. The beverage brewer defined in claim 1 further comprising: a
filter element positioned between said brew chamber and said second
tube to retard said brew ingredients from leaving said brew
chamber.
3. The beverage brewer defined in claim 1 farther comprising: an
electric heating unit situated in said heating chamber; and a
sensor positioned in said housing to engage said cover to initiate
energization of said heating unit;
4. The beverage brewer defined in claim 1 further comprising:
sealing membranes on said cover closing said first and second
opening prior to insertion of said cartridge into said cavity; and
said second end of said first tube having piercing means to pierce
one of said membranes when said cover is installed on said housing;
and said first end of said second tube having a piercing means to
pierce another of said membranes when said cover is installed on
said housing.
5. The beverage brewer defined in claim 1 further comprising: a
filter element positioned between said second end of said first
tube to retard the ingress of non liquid elements from passing into
said brew chamber from said first tube.
6. A beverage brewer comprising: a housing having a cavity formed
with an internal shape, a heating chamber formed in said housing
below said cavity including a heating element, a piercing valve
member disposed between said cavity and said heating chamber, first
tube having a first end communicating with said heating chamber and
a second end, and a second tube having a first end and a second
end, sensor means for energizing said heating element when engaged;
a cartridge removably positionable in said cavity including a water
chamber having an external shape complementary to said internal
shape and being positionable said cavity to engage said piercing
valve member, a cover including a rim portion engaging said housing
to close the cavity, a brew chamber containing brew ingredients, a
first opening being pierced by and sealingly engaging said second
end of said first tube when said cartridge is positioned in a
predetermined manner in said housing, a first passage means
communicating between said first opening and said brew chamber to
deliver heated liquid to said brew chamber, a second opening being
pierced by and sealingly engaging said first end of said second
tube when said cartridge is positioned in said predetermined
manner, and a second passage means communicating between said brew
chamber and said second tube to deliver a brewed substance from
said brew chamber to said second tube, and means for engaging said
sensor means in said housing to initiate said energizing of said
heating element when said cartridge is positioned in said
predetermined manner.
7. The beverage brewer defined in claim 6 further comprising: a
first filter element positioned between said brew chamber and said
second tube to retard said brew ingredients from leaving said brew
chamber, and a second filter element positioned between said second
end of said first tube to retard the ingress of non liquid elements
from passing into said brew chamber from said first tube.
8. A beverage brewer comprising: a housing having a cavity formed
therein and having a bottom, a piercing valve member disposed in
said bottom of said cavity, a heating chamber in said housing
adjacent said piercing valve member, a first tube having a first
end communicating with said heating chamber and a second end, and a
second tube having a first end and a second end; and a cartridge
removably positioned in said cavity including a liquid chamber
extending sufficiently into said cavity to engage said piercing
valve member, and a cover including a rim portion engaging said
housing to close the cavity, a second chamber disposed above said
liquid chamber, a first opening sealingly engaging said second end
of said first tube, a first passage means communicating between
said first opening and said second chamber to deliver heated liquid
to said second chamber, a second opening sealingly engaging said
first end of said second tube, and a second passage means
communicating between said second chamber and said second tube to
deliver a heated liquid from said second chamber to said second
tube.
9 The beverage brewer defined in claim 8 further comprising: a brew
ingredients container disposed in said brew chamber.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] This invention relates to brewing apparatus and more
particularly to brewing apparatus having a prepackage unbrewed
drink ingredients.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Brewing apparatus typically include a prepackage set of
ingredients (coffee, tea, etc.) that are placed in a brewing basket
or bin which is a component of the brewing apparatus. The maker
adds water to the brewing apparatus in a chamber that is designed
to heat the water and cause the heated water to flow over the
prepackaged ingredients. The process of preparing the brewed drink
consists of 1. opening the brewing bin, 2. inserting a filter or a
prepackaged mix, 2a. measuring the ingredients for the brew if not
prepackaged, 3. adding a measured amount of water, 4. close the
brewing bin, 5. place the carafe on the apparatus in a position to
collect the brewed beverage, and turn on the brewing apparatus.
[0003] To accomplish this process many different designs of coffee
makers have been proposed. All require the above process to make
household type coffee. All of the prior art devices have an on
board water tank, brew bin and require a filter. Filling the water
tank has vulnerability for spillage. Filling the brew bin with
coffee grounds allows the possibility to spill grounds outside the
filter either on the counter, floor, or between the filter and the
inner wall of the brew bin which introduces coffee grounds into the
finished product.
[0004] Two ingredients water and coffee grounds influence the
quality and consistency of a cup of coffee. Tap water is usually
used for consumer coffee making. Tap water flavor varies depending
on the treatment of the water and the region. Using the exact
volume of water to a constant measurement of coffee is the only way
to assure a consistent cup of coffee still vulnerable to the
quality of the water and coffee.
[0005] Ground coffee is typically sold by the pound in resealable
cans and bags. The can or bag of coffee is typically vacuum-sealed
and after opening oxygen begins to affect the quality of the coffee
grounds. The freshest cup of coffee produced is after the coffee
container is first open and the quality deteriorates
thereafter.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] It is an object of the present invention to provide an
improved beverage brewing apparatus and method.
[0007] In one aspect of the present invention, brew ingredients and
water are pre-measured and sealed in a cartridge. In another aspect
of the present invention, the water and brew ingredients are sealed
in separate compartments of the cartridge. In yet another aspect of
the present invention, a housing with a heating unit.
[0008] In still another aspect of the present invention, the
brewing chamber has a shape complementary to at least a portion of
the cartridge. In yet still another aspect of the present
invention, the cartridge has a cap or cover portion adapted to seal
against a rim portion of the housing. In a further aspect of the
present invention, a valve assembly is installed in a lower portion
of the housing to pierce the water compartment and control the flow
of water over the heating unit.
[0009] In a yet further aspect of the present invention, a second
piercing element is positioned to pierce the brew ingredients
compartment to permit the passage of heated water to flow from the
heating unit to the brew ingredients compartment. In a still
further aspect of the present invention, a third piercing element
is positioned to pierce the brew ingredients chamber to direct the
flow of a brewed beverage from the brew ingredients chamber to a
drinking vessel. In a yet still further aspect of the present
invention, the housing has a sensor positioned to initiate the
brewing process when the cartridge is firmly and properly installed
on the housing.
[0010] In a still further aspect of the present invention, a
separate water cartridge and separate brew ingredients cartridge
can be utilized to permit the user to combine any of the brew
ingredients with any water cartridge or to heat water only.
[0011] In accordance with the object and aspects, the present
invention:
[0012] Provides a prepackaged cartridge of water and brew
ingredients,
[0013] Provides a housing in which to secure the prepackaged
cartridge,
[0014] Provides a fresh brewed beverage.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a cartridge portion of the
present invention.
[0016] FIG. 2 is a view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1
[0017] FIG. 3 is an elevational view of a housing portion of the
present invention.
[0018] FIG. 4 is a view of the cartridge portion being placed in
the housing portion.
DESCRIPTION OF AN EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT
[0019] Referring to the drawings wherein like characters represent
the same or corresponding components throughout the several views
there is seen in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4 a disposable cartridge 10 having
a cover portion 11 and a water chamber 12. A brew chamber 13 is
formed in the cover portion 11 above the water chamber 12. The
water chamber 12 is sealed from direct contact with the brew
chamber 13 The water chamber 12 preferably contains filtered and/or
purified water if desired. The brew chamber 13 contains the
ingredients for the beverage to be brewed, such as coffee grounds
for example. The brew chamber 13 is foil sealed 15 as a top
cover.
[0020] The cover portion 11 has a rim 16, FIG. 2, on which are
formed two ears 17, 18. The cover also includes an inlet passage 19
and an outlet passage 20, both of which are covered or closed by
foil seals 21 and 22. The foil seal 21 and 22 respectively prevents
undetected tampering with the ingredients in the brew chamber 13.
The inlet passage 19 directs liquid to the brew chamber 13 and the
outlet passage 20 directs a brewed beverage from the brew chamber
13
[0021] A filter screen 23 prevents non-liquid contents of the brew
from flowing into the egress passage 20. The ingress passage 19
permits substantial unrestricted flow of liquid into the brew
chamber 13. If desired another filter screen 23 can cover a portion
of the inlet passage 19 to prohibit non-liquid foreign matter from
entering the brew chamber 13.
[0022] A housing 25, shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 includes a base 26, an
electronic heating element 27, a piercing valve 28, a first passage
or tube 29, a second passage or tube 31, and a vessel support 32 on
which a vessel such as cup 34 is placed to receive the brewed
beverage. The base 26 has a cavity 33 that is complementary in
shape to the water chamber 12 and an upper receptacle 35 adapted to
receive the cover portion 11. The passage 29 has a piercing end 37
extending into the upper receptacle 35. The passage 31 also has a
piercing end 38 extending into the upper receptacle 35. A pair of
annular seals 39, 41 surround the ends of respective passages 29,
31 at their juncture with the upper receptacle 35.
[0023] The passage 29 has an end 36 disposed adjacent the heating
element 27 in a collecting and heating chamber 42. The passage 31
has an outer end 44 that extends over the vessel support 32 and the
cup 34. A micro-switch or sensor 45 is secured in the housing 25
adjacent the outer extreme of the upper receptacle 35 in one of two
recesses 47, 48 which are adapted to receive the ears 17, 18. If
two filter screens 23 are installed, the orientation of the
cartridge 10 in the housing 25 is not critical. However, if the
cartridge 10 is designed to be installed in a preferred position,
the ears 17, 18 will have distinctive shapes to fit in respective
recesses 47, 48. The cartridge 10, the cavity 33 and the upper
receptacle 35 are substantially symmetrical about their respective
longitudinal axes.
[0024] With reference to FIG. 3, the base housing 25 is connected
with an appropriate electrical connection in a conventional manner.
The cartridge 10 is inserted into the into the cavity 33. When the
cartridge 10 is fully inserted, the piercing valve 28 will pierce
the lower surface of the water container 12, the piercing 37, 38
will pierce the foil seals 21,22 and the ear 17 will engage the
micro-switch 45. The heater 27 will be energized and water from the
water container 12 will enter the heating chamber 42. The heated
water will flow upward through the tube 29 and into the brew
chamber 13 where the beverage will be brewed as the water passes to
the tube 31 and into the cup 34. The brew ingredients in the brew
chamber 13 are prevented from entering the tube 31 by the filter
screen 23. When the heating chamber 42 is empty, the heating
element 27 is de-energized by any conventional sensing circuit and
the cup 34 can be remover from the support 32.
[0025] The conventional electronic circuitry, not shown, will
illuminate a brewing indicator light 51 and simultaneously activate
the electronic water-heating unit 27. Water will exit the water
container 12 under the influence of the force of gravity and enter
the water heater unit 27. The water will be heated and channeled up
the tube 29. The hot water passes by the punctured foil 21 then
through the screen 23 and into the brew chamber 13. The brew
ingredients (i.e. coffee grounds) flavor the hot water. The brewed
liquid passes through the other filter screen 23 to retain coffee
grounds in coffee chamber 13, and exits through tube 31 into cup
34
[0026] The cartridge 10 is preferably formed of disposable material
such as paper, cloth, plastics, or any material adapted for
disposability and recycle ability. The embodiment described above
is for the purpose of illustrating the invention, it should be
understood that the form of the components can be different shapes
and the overall size is relative to the amount of brewed beverage
offered to be pre-packaged. If desired, the housing can be formed
with multiple cavities and heating units to accommodate two or more
cartridges at one time. While the water container 12 of the
cartridge 10 is shown as a cylindrical body with a hemispherical
end, other shapes can be employed. The primary concern is that the
water container 12 and the cavity 33 have substantially
complementary shapes or configurations. Thus both may be
rectangular, trapezoidal or other geometric configuration. Also,
while the preferred embodiment describes the cartridge 10 as having
both a water container and a brew chamber, these elements can be
formed separately and combined to provide the cartridge 10. This
permits the user to combine any water container with any brew
ingredients or to simply heat the water alone. By employing
separate liquid and ingredients chambers, the user can have a
flavored liquid that can be combined with any brew ingredients. For
example, lemon flavored water can be combined with green tea to
make lemon flavored tea, or apple cider can be combined with
various spices to brew hot apple cider. The water container can
also, for example, contain pure water, designer water, or distilled
water.
* * * * *