U.S. patent application number 11/196432 was filed with the patent office on 2005-12-22 for coffee-maker.
This patent application is currently assigned to PI-DESIGN AG. Invention is credited to Bodum, Jorgen.
Application Number | 20050279217 11/196432 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33039616 |
Filed Date | 2005-12-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050279217 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bodum, Jorgen |
December 22, 2005 |
Coffee-maker
Abstract
A coffee-maker is disclosed. It comprises a lid (30) which
closes an upper part (10) with an upper chamber. A rising pipe (14)
extends into the upper chamber. This pipe has at least one lateral
opening (15) in an upper end region. In order to avoid splashing of
liquid coming out of the rising pipe (14), a downwardly extending
splash guard (34) is present on the lid (30), which guard covers
the at least one opening (15) of the rising pipe (14) laterally
when the lid (30) is closed.
Inventors: |
Bodum, Jorgen; (St.
Niklausen, CH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SUGHRUE MION, PLLC
2100 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, N.W.
SUITE 800
WASHINGTON
DC
20037
US
|
Assignee: |
PI-DESIGN AG
|
Family ID: |
33039616 |
Appl. No.: |
11/196432 |
Filed: |
August 4, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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11196432 |
Aug 4, 2005 |
|
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10878368 |
Jun 29, 2004 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
99/279 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47J 31/306
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
099/279 |
International
Class: |
A23F 003/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 21, 2004 |
DE |
20 2004 009 759.1 |
Claims
1. Coffee-maker comprising, a lower part having a lower chamber for
receiving water, a brewing insert for receiving ground coffee, said
insert being insertable into said lower part, and an upper part
having an upper chamber, wherein said lower part, said brewing
insert and said upper part are arranged such that water can pass
from said lower chamber through said brewing insert into said upper
chamber, wherein said lower part comprises a safety valve which is
arranged close to an upper end of said lower part, and wherein said
upper part has an apron which covers said safety valve.
2. Coffee-maker according to claim 1, wherein said lower part
comprises a sidewall portion delimiting said lower part laterally
and an essentially cylindrical connection piece adjoining said
sidewall portion and having an external thread, and wherein said
apron has an internal thread matching said external thread.
3. Coffee-maker according to claim 2, wherein said safety valve is
arranged in said connection piece.
4. Coffee-maker according to claim 1, wherein said upper part is at
least partly transparent.
5. Coffee-maker according to claim 1, wherein said upper part is
made at least partly of polycarbonate.
6. Coffee-maker according to claim 1, wherein electrically operated
means for heating water are present in said lower chamber.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a coffee-maker. More
specifically, the invention relates to a coffee-maker with the
features of the introductory portion of claim 1.
PRIOR ART
[0002] Coffee-makers of the kind referred to in the introduction
are common. From U.S. Pat. No. 5,894,785, for example, an
espresso-maker such as in its basic construction has been used in
households for many years is known. Water is made to boil in a
lower chamber and is then, owing to the pressure which is
developed, conducted through a brewing insert containing coffee
powder. The coffee produced is conducted through a rising pipe,
which has lateral openings at its upper end, into an upper chamber
and accumulates there.
[0003] In coffee-makers of this kind, the problem arises that the
coffee coming out of the rising pipe comes out of the openings
uncontrolledly and in doing so dirties in particular the lid of the
coffee-maker and may even force its way out.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] It is an object of the present invention to provide a
coffee-maker which reduces the splashing of the lid.
[0005] This object is achieved by a coffee-maker with the features
of claim 1.
[0006] Accordingly, a splash guard, which covers the at least one
opening of the rising pipe laterally when the lid is closed, is
present on the lid. Lateral splashing of the coffee is thus
avoided. This reduces the dirtying of the lid and moreover
increases safety, as no splashes, which can lead to dangerous
scalds, can come out between the lid and the upper part of the
coffee-maker. As the splash guard is provided on the lid, the
openings of the rising pipe remain easily accessible for cleaning
purposes when the lid is open, and the splash guard itself can also
be cleaned easily. This is important in particular also because
unremoved coffee residues impair the flavour of subsequent
preparations.
[0007] A number of radial openings, in particular two openings
lying radially opposite one another, are preferably present in the
upper end region of the rising pipe. Optimum flow of the coffee is
thus ensured.
[0008] In an advantageous embodiment, the splash guard is designed
as a ring. The height of the ring is then selected in such a way
that it extends at least to the lower edge of the openings when the
lid is closed.
[0009] Manufacturing is simple if the splash guard is designed in
one piece with the lid.
[0010] In order to simplify operation, the lid is preferably
articulated pivotably on the upper part. Moreover, the lid is
preferably designed so as to be removable from the upper part, in
order to simplify cleaning.
[0011] Observation of the brewing process is made possible if the
lid and/or the upper part are/is at least partly transparent.
Moreover, transparent parts make easy checking of cleaning
possible. The provision of a splash guard on the lid is especially
advantageous then as in this case splashes are especially
inconvenient and obstruct observation of the brewing process.
[0012] In an advantageous embodiment, the lid and/or the upper part
are/is made at least partly of polycarbonate. This plastic is not
only transparent but also especially resistant to heat and ageing,
breakproof and impact-resistant.
[0013] The coffee-maker can furthermore have a lower part with a
lower chamber for receiving water and also a brewing insert for
receiving ground coffee. In this connection, the lower part, the
brewing insert and the upper part are arranged in such a way that
water can pass from the lower chamber through the brewing insert
into the upper chamber.
[0014] In an advantageous embodiment, the lower part comprises a
safety valve which is arranged close to the upper end of the lower
part. The upper part then preferably has an apron which is suitable
for covering the safety valve. In this way, scalds caused by steam
or hot water coming out laterally are avoided.
[0015] Autonomous operation of the coffee-maker without external
heat sources is advantageously made possible by electrically
operated means for heating water being present.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] The invention is described in greater detail below with
reference to the drawings, in which
[0017] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an espresso-maker;
[0018] FIG. 2 shows an espresso-maker in cross section along the
line II-II;
[0019] FIG. 3 shows a detailed view of the upper region of an
espresso-maker in cross section along the line III-III, and
[0020] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a lid for an
espresso-maker.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0021] FIGS. 1 and 2 show an electrically operated espresso-maker
in a perspective view and in cross section respectively as an
example of a coffee-maker according to the invention. An upper part
10 with an upper chamber is screwed onto a lower part 20 with a
lower chamber for receiving water. Inserted into the lower part 20
is a brewing insert 50 which extends into the lower chamber. The
upper chamber is closed by a lid 30. A handle 40 is also provided
on the upper part 10. The lower part 20 stands on a base plate
60.
[0022] The essentially round base plate 60 has a connection cable
61 in order to supply electric power. The cable 61 is connected
electrically to a central, upwardly extending connection element
62. Provided on the lower part 20 are contact elements 27 which
interact with the connection element 62 in order to supply power to
a heating element 26 in the form of a heating coil. In this regard,
the contacts are arranged in such a way that the lower part 20 can
easily be removed from the base plate 60, the contacts being
separated. The heating element 26 serves for heating water located
in the lower chamber. The power supply is switched on and off by
means of a switch 25. Additionally provided is an overheating
protection means, which interrupts the power supply if
necessary.
[0023] The lower part 20 is delimited laterally by a side wall 21
which is adjoined by an essentially cylindrical connection piece 22
with an external thread 28. Let into the connection piece 22 just
below the external thread 28 is a safety valve (pressure relief
valve) 23. At the upper edge of the connection piece 22, the lower
part 20 has a circular opening for receiving the brewing insert 50.
The lower part 20 is preferably made from stainless steel. However,
other materials which are sufficiently breakproof, impact-resistant
and heat-resistant are also suitable, for example aluminium or
heatproof plastics.
[0024] The brewing insert 50 is constructed according to known
principles. It comprises an upper region 51 for receiving ground
coffee. This region is closed towards the bottom by a strainer 52.
A funnel-shaped transition region 53 is adjoined towards the bottom
by a pipe 54 which extends vertically into the lower chamber in the
lower part 20. The brewing insert 50 also is preferably made from
stainless steel or another metal.
[0025] The upper chamber in the upper part 10 is delimited by a
side wall 11 and a bottom 13. From the side wall 11, an apron 12
extends downwards in a region below the bottom 13. Machined into
the apron 12 is an internal thread 16 which interacts with the
external thread 28 of the connection piece 22. A handle 40 is
fastened to the upper part. A pourer 18 is formed at the upper edge
of the upper part 10.
[0026] The apron 12 extends so far downwards that it covers the
pressure relief valve 23 when the upper part 10 is screwed onto the
lower part 20. To this end, the apron 12 is widened slightly in the
lower region in relation to the internal thread 16 so that this
region can without difficulty be pushed over the external thread 28
of the connection piece 22 and has a certain spacing radially from
the safety valve 23 after the upper part 10 has been screwed onto
the lower part 20. Steam which, if necessary, escapes through the
safety valve 23 is thus diverted downwards between the valve 23 and
the apron 12 and can come out downwardly (essentially vertically).
This prevents a steam jet under high pressure escaping radially
(horizontally) and scalding a user of the espresso-maker. Another
advantage derives from the safety valve 23 being arranged very high
up, in an upper edge region of the lower chamber 20. In known
espresso-makers, a safety valve is as a rule arranged further down,
in the actual side wall of the lower part. It is possible then
inadvertently to fill the lower chamber so full of water that the
inner side of the safety valve is covered by water. In the event of
overpressure arising, hot water under pressure can escape in such a
case, which can lead to dangerous scalds. With the valve 23 being
arranged directly below the thread 28 in the connection piece 22,
this danger is largely avoided. Furthermore, a harmonious
appearance is achieved by virtue of the safety valve 23 being
covered by the apron 12 and not being located visually disturbingly
in the side wall 21.
[0027] Located below the bottom 13 of the upper part 10 is a
strainer insert 16 which is held in position by a flat rubber ring
17. Such a strainer insert with rubber ring is known in principle
from commercially available espresso-makers. It serves to close the
brewing insert 50 towards the top and to retain the coffee powder
in the brewing insert 50 during brewing.
[0028] The bottom 13 of the upper part 10 has a central opening,
from which a rising pipe 14 extends vertically upwards. The rising
pipe 14 is connected to the upper part 10 and preferably formed in
one piece with it. It has an upwardly slightly tapering design and
thus has essentially the shape of a truncated cone. At its upper
end, the rising pipe 14 is closed in the axial direction, that is
towards the top, while it has two opposite openings 15 in the
radial direction, that is laterally, at its upper end. FIG. 3
clarifies the arrangement and shape of the openings 15 further,
illustrating them from a different viewing direction to that in
FIG. 2.
[0029] Articulated on the upper part 10 is a lid 30, which is
additionally illustrated in a perspective view in FIG. 4. The lid
30 can be pivoted about a horizontal axis between an open and a
closed position. The lid 30 serves to close the upper chamber 10
towards the top. A splash guard 34 in the form of a ring is formed
centrally on the inner side of the lid 30. This guard is
dimensioned in such a way that it covers the openings 15 of the
rising pipe 14 in the closed position of the lid 30. In other
words, the splash guard 34 extends at least to the lower edge of
the openings 15 of the rising pipe 14 in the closed position of the
lid 30.
[0030] The lid 30 has a region 31 which is curved inwardly, that is
in the direction of the rising pipe 14. This curvature of the lid
30 leads to the inner lid region, which is located inside the
splash guard 34, coming to lie directly above the upper end of the
rising pipe 14 when the lid is closed. The curvature of the lid 30
thus makes it possible to keep the splash guard 34 short. This is
desirable for aesthetic reasons but also for reasons of simple
cleaning.
[0031] The outer edge 35 of the lid 30 is towards the bottom
designed in such a way that it comes to lie partly inside the side
wall 11 of the upper part 10 in the closed state. Formed on the
outer edge 35 of the lid 30 is an extension 32 in the form of two
parallel hooks with reinforcements 36 extending inwards from the
outer edge 35, which extension, together with a corresponding
counterpart in the upper part 10 and a pin fastened therein, serves
as a hinge. As the hooks are open at an angle upwards, the lid 30
can be removed easily from the upper part 10 in the open position.
A central gripping knob 33 is provided on the upper side of the lid
30. This knob is pushed onto a pin 37 formed in one piece with the
lid 30 and connected to it, for example by pressing, adhesive
bonding or welding.
[0032] The upper part 10 and/or the lid 30 are/is preferably made
from a clear, transparent plastic. Polymethyl methacrylate in
particular, which is also known by the trade name Plexiglas.RTM.,
is suitable. However, manufacture from other, not necessarily
transparent materials is also possible, for example from other
heatproof and impact-resistant plastics or from stainless steel,
aluminium or other metals. The lid 30 is preferably manufactured in
an injection-moulding or die-casting process, as is the upper part
10. In this connection, the splash guard is preferably formed in
one piece with the lid 30. The pin 37 too and the extension 32 as
well are preferably formed in one piece with the lid 30.
[0033] In order to put the espresso-maker into operation, water is
filled into the lower chamber in the lower part 20. The brewing
insert 50 is then inserted and filled with ground coffee. Then the
upper part 10 is screwed on. By actuating the switch 25, the
heating element 26 is put into operation, which heats the water in
the lower chamber. When the water comes to the boil, it is forced,
owing to the pressure which is developed, through the pipe 54 into
the brewing chamber where it draws the coffee powder. The ready
espresso then rises through the rising pipe 14 and escapes through
the openings 15 into the upper chamber in the upper part 20.
[0034] If no splash guard 34 were present on the lid, the espresso
would then splash radially outwards. This would lead to dirtying of
the entire lid 30. This is undesirable in particular when the lid
30 is transparent, as the espresso splashes are then unsightly.
Moreover, espresso splashes could travel so far outwards that
espresso finds its way out between the lid 30 and the upper edge of
the upper part 10.
[0035] These disadvantages are avoided by means of the splash guard
34. As the splash guard covers the openings 15, the espresso coming
out is diverted downwards and runs downwards on the exterior of the
rising pipe 14, to accumulate in the upper chamber. In particular
when the lid 30 is transparent, the preparation of the espresso can
be observed through the lid 30 undisturbed by splashing
espresso.
[0036] The openings 15 are preferably roughly 2 to 6 millimetres
high and 3 to 8 millimetres wide. Correspondingly, the splash guard
extends roughly 4 to 10 millimetres downwards from the inner side
of the lid 30. The splash guard is preferably located at a spacing
of 2 to 6 millimetres from the openings 15 in order to allow a
sufficient gap. The precise dimensions depend on the overall
dimensions of the espresso-maker.
[0037] Numerous variations of a coffee-maker according to the
invention are possible. For example, the coffee-maker does not have
to be electrically operated but can be intended for conventional
heating of the water on a hot plate or on an open flame. Such a
coffee-maker can also be suitable for use in a microwave oven if
appropriate materials are selected, for example if metal parts are
largely excluded.
[0038] Furthermore, the outer shapes, for example, of the lower
part 20 and of the upper part 10 can be changed. The shape in plan
view can also be polygonal, for example hexagonal, octagonal or
dodecagonal, instead of essentially circular. The rising pipe does
not have to be round in plan view either, but can have any other
shape. More or fewer than two openings, for example one, three,
four, five or six, can also be present at the upper end of the
rising pipe.
[0039] A construction other than the construction described is also
possible. There are coffee-makers, for instance, in which water is
made to boil in a lower chamber and, owing to the boiling pressure,
is conducted through a rising pipe into an upper chamber without
passing through a brewing chamber. The coffee powder is then
usually located directly in the upper chamber and is not brought
into contact with the water until it arrives there. In this case, a
strainer with a plurality of small openings is usually present
between the upper and lower chambers. When the lower chamber cools,
a vacuum is created, which sucks the ready coffee through the
strainer into the lower chamber, while the leached coffee grounds
are retained. A splash guard as provided in the present invention
is advantageous in such a coffee-maker as well.
* * * * *