U.S. patent application number 11/185236 was filed with the patent office on 2006-01-19 for coffee maker and method of use.
Invention is credited to William L. Spencer.
Application Number | 20060011068 11/185236 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35787694 |
Filed Date | 2006-01-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060011068 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Spencer; William L. |
January 19, 2006 |
Coffee maker and method of use
Abstract
A coffee maker is provided that is structured to control the
temperature of water entering the brewing area, releasably secure a
coffee pot in the coffee maker, detect the presence or absence of a
coffee pot or mug in the coffee maker, provide a seal between the
brewing basket and coffee maker to prevent excess steam from
escaping and provide a water supply pressure detection system. A
structure for preventing water leaking from an in-wall coffee maker
from entering a wall cavity is also provided. A system and method
of filtering sediment from water supplied to a coffee maker or
other appliance is also provided.
Inventors: |
Spencer; William L.;
(Portland, OR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MARGER JOHNSON & MCCOLLOM, P.C.
210 SW MORRISON STREET, SUITE 400
PORTLAND
OR
97204
US
|
Family ID: |
35787694 |
Appl. No.: |
11/185236 |
Filed: |
July 19, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60589354 |
Jul 19, 2004 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
99/307 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47J 31/525 20180801;
A47J 31/5253 20180801; A47J 31/545 20130101; A47J 31/5251 20180801;
A47J 31/4425 20130101; A47J 31/4403 20130101; A47J 31/56 20130101;
A47J 31/4407 20130101; A47J 31/52 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
099/307 |
International
Class: |
A47J 31/00 20060101
A47J031/00 |
Claims
1. A coffee maker comprising: a housing; an in-line water heater
located within the housing to receive a supply of water; a brewing
area located within the housing to contain a supply of coffee
grounds and to receive water from the water heater; a thermal
sensor positioned to sense the temperature of the water entering
the brewing area; and a controller responsive to the thermal sensor
to provide a control signal to the heater.
2. The coffee maker of claim 1 wherein the coffee maker is an
in-wall coffee maker.
3. The coffee maker of claim 1 wherein the coffee maker is affixed
to a vertical surface.
4. The coffee maker of claim 1 wherein the controller is operative
to turn the water heater on or off.
5. The coffee maker of claim 4 wherein the controller is configured
to turn the water heater on or off so that the temperature of the
water entering the brewing area is between approximately
195-205.degree. F.
6. The coffee maker of claim 1 wherein the controller is operative
to adjust the thermal output of the water heater.
7. The coffee maker of claim 6 wherein the controller is configured
to adjust the thermal output of the water heater so that the
temperature of the water entering the brewing area is between
approximately 195-205.degree. F.
8. A method of brewing coffee, comprising: supplying water to a
brewing area by directing the water through an in-line heater;
detecting a temperature of the water being received in the brewing
area; and controlling the thermal output of the inline-heater so
that the temperature of water being received by a brewing area is
at a predetermined temperature.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein controlling the thermal output of
the in-line heater further comprises controlling the thermal output
of the inline-heater so that the temperature of water being
received by a brewing area is approximately 195-205.degree. F.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein controlling the thermal output of
the in-line heater includes turning the in-line heater off for
approximately three seconds responsive to detecting the temperature
of the water being received in the brewing area is approximately
205.degree. F. or above.
11. A method of brewing coffee, comprising the steps for: supplying
water to a coffee maker; and heating the water using an in-line
heater so that water entering a brewing area has a temperature of
about 195-205.degree. F.
12. A coffee maker comprising: a housing; a water heater located
within the housing structured to receive a supply of water; a
pressure switch located between the supply of water and the water
heater; and a controller responsive to the pressure switch to
provide a control signal to the coffee maker.
13. The coffee maker of claim 12 wherein the coffee maker is an
in-wall coffee maker.
14. The coffee maker of claim 12 wherein the coffee maker is
affixed to a vertical surface.
15. The coffee maker of claim 12 wherein the pressure switch is a
pressure sensor.
16. The coffee maker of claim 12 wherein the controller is
operative to turn a portion of the coffee maker on or off
responsive to the pressure switch.
17. The coffee maker of claim 16 further comprising a valve located
between the water supply and the water heater, wherein the
controller is further operative to turn the water heater on or off
and further operative to open or close the valve.
18. The coffee maker of claim 17 wherein the controller is
configured to turn the heater off and close the valve in response
to a pressure of the supply of water below about 20 PSI.
19. A method of brewing coffee, comprising: supplying water to a
coffee maker from a water supply; detecting the pressure of the
water supply; and turning off a portion of the coffee maker when
the pressure is less than a predetermined pressure.
20. The method of claim 19 wherein the predetermined pressure is
about 20 PSI.
21. The method of claim 19 further comprising heating the water
from the water supply with an in-line heater, and wherein turning
off a portion of the coffee maker includes turning off the in-line
heater and stopping the supply of water to the in-line water
heater.
22. A method of preventing a coffee maker from running dry,
comprising the steps for: supplying water to the coffee maker; and
turning off a portion of the coffee maker when the water supply is
below a predetermined pressure.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional
Patent Application Ser. No. 60/589,354 filed on Jul. 19, 2004 whose
contents are incorporated herein for all purposes.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This disclosure relates to automatic coffee makers for home
use including coffee makers that are built into a wall of a
dwelling, recreational structure or vehicle. This disclosure also
relates to self-filling home and commercial coffee makers.
[0003] Even though coffee makers are commonly found and used in
homes and businesses throughout the world, these coffee makers
still have potential problems that can cause minor or major
headaches for the consumer.
[0004] One common problem with coffee makers is a lack of precise
control of the temperature of the water brewing the coffee beans.
Most coffee makers simply boil water in a reservoir to heat the
water and produce enough pressure and/or steam to force the water
into the brewing area. For optimal taste, however, coffee beans
should ideally be brewed at a temperature of between about
195-205.degree. F. which is below the boiling temperature of water.
The Specialty Coffee Association of America considers this water
temperature range to be an essential element of properly brewing
great coffee.
[0005] Another problem is the overflow of water in the brewing
basket when a coffee pot is removed during the middle of the
brewing process. Commonly found pause-and-serve valves located on
the brewing basket prevent coffee from being dispensed from the
brewing basket when a coffee pot is removed. The pause-and-serve
valve, however, does not stop water from continuing to enter the
brewing basket and thus a messy overflow of the basket can still
occur.
[0006] Another problem can occur with coffee makers located beneath
cabinets or other structures when excess steam escapes the brewing
area during the brewing process. Continued exposure of this excess
steam can result in heat and/or moisture damage to the overlying
cabinets or other structures. This problem can be prevalent with
in-wall coffee makers as it is a popular choice to locate an
in-wall coffee maker off of a counter and below a cabinet to
conserve kitchen space.
[0007] Using coffee makers in unstable environments such as
recreational vehicles (RVs) and boats can present yet another
problem. The coffee pot can potentially fall out of the coffee
maker either during the brewing process or after the brewing
process when the coffee pot contains hot, messy coffee.
[0008] Coffee makers utilizing dedicated water supplies, such as
can be used with in-wall coffee makers, can be damaged if the water
pressure drops too low and the coffee maker continues to attempt a
brewing process. The low pressure can drastically reduce the amount
of water in the coffee maker which can result at least in a poor
batch of coffee and possibly even permanent damage to the coffee
maker or its components.
[0009] Water-supplied coffee makers (and other appliances utilizing
dedicated water supplies) also need a clean supply of water to
ensure the coffee maker (or other appliance) does not get clogged
with small bits of debris which could damage the coffee maker (or
other appliance). Currently bulky, expensive and sometimes hard to
reach filters are used to filter out particulate matter if a filter
is used at all.
[0010] A problem particular to in-wall coffee makers is the
potential damage from a leaky coffee maker. With the coffee maker
installed in a wall cavity, any water leaking from a faulty coffee
maker could make its way into the wall causing hard to reach water
damage.
[0011] It is desirable to solve these problems for coffee makers,
in-wall coffee makers and other appliances.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an in-wall or on-wall coffee
maker according to embodiments of the invention.
[0013] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a coffee maker according to
another embodiment of the invention, shown on a counter top.
[0014] FIG. 3 is a schematic side elevation view of the coffee
maker of FIGS. 1 and 2.
[0015] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of low pressure and
temperature sensing systems according to another embodiment of the
invention.
[0016] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a mounting box configured to
secure the in-wall coffee maker of FIG. 1 within a wall cavity.
[0017] FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the in-wall coffee
maker of FIG. 1 and the mounting box of FIG. 5.
[0018] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the mounting box of FIG.
5 taken along line 7-7 in FIG. 5.
[0019] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a coffee maker according to
another embodiment of the invention showing a coffee pot holder,
coffee pot detector, and brew basket configuration.
[0020] FIG. 9 is a detailed perspective view of the coffee maker of
FIG. 8 showing a restraining clip installed on the coffee pot
holder.
[0021] FIG. 10 is a cross-section view of the brew basket and
coffee maker of FIG. 9 taken along line 10-10 in FIG. 9 showing the
brew basket seal.
[0022] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the brew basket and
coffee maker of FIG. 9 taken along line 11-11 in FIG. 9 showing the
fit of the brew basket in the coffee maker.
[0023] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an in-line filter according
to another embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0024] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an in-wall or on-wall coffee
maker 20 according to embodiments of the invention. The in-wall or
on-wall coffee maker 20 is convenient because it can occupy or
protrude over minimal counter space or be affixed to a wall or
cabinet that includes a dedicated water supply eliminating the need
to manually fill the coffee maker 20 with water.
[0025] Many advantages of an in-wall coffee maker 20 are described
in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,253,663 and 6,892,626 to Spencer (the '663 and
'626 patents) including the utilization of a mounting box for
installation of the coffee maker and utilization of an in-line
water heater within the coffee maker. The '663 and '626 patents are
owned by the same inventor as the present application and are
incorporated by reference herein.
[0026] An on-wall coffee maker 20 that is affixed to a vertical
surface of a wall or cabinet (similar to mounting a clock on a
wall) shares many of the advantages of an in-wall coffee but would
not require the creation of a wall cavity. The on-wall coffee maker
20 can also include a dedicated water supply.
[0027] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a coffee maker 24 according
to another embodiment of the invention located on counter 26.
Coffee maker 24 can be connected to dedicated water supply. Some
embodiments of the invention, however, do not require that the
coffee maker 24 be connected to dedicated water supply.
[0028] FIG. 3 is a schematic side elevation view of the coffee
maker 24 according to an embodiment of the invention. The coffee
maker 24 is shown connected to dedicated water supply line 28. The
coffee maker 24 includes in-line water heater 30 that heats the
water from water supply 28 as the water passes through the heater.
The in-line water heater 30 acts differently than standard
reservoir heaters (not shown) because reservoirs heaters heat a
volume of water that statically resides in the heater while the
in-line heater 30 heats the water dynamically as it passes through
the in-line heater 30.
[0029] A thermal sensor 32 is positioned to sense the temperature
of the water entering the brewing area 34. Controller 36 (see FIG.
4), responds to the thermal sensor 32 and provides a signal to the
in-line heater 30. The signal to the in-line heater 30 can be to
turn the in-line heater 30 on or off such that the temperature of
the water entering the brewing area 34 is between approximately
195-205.degree. F., which is an ideal brewing temperature range for
producing the best-tasting coffee, according to the Coffee
Institute and the Specialty Coffee Association of America.
[0030] The signal from the controller 36 (see FIG. 4), responsive
to the thermal sensor 32, can also adjust the thermal output of the
in-line water heater 30 to achieve a water temperature in the
brewing area 34 of approximately 195-205.degree. F.
[0031] Still referring to FIG. 3, the coffee maker 24 can include a
pressure switch or sensor 38 located between the water supply 28
and the water heater 30. While an in-line water heater 30 is shown
her in FIG. 3, the pressure switch or sensor 38 can also be
operative with a reservoir heater (not shown).
[0032] When a pressure switch 38 is used, the switch 38 can be
maintained in an "off" state when the water pressure remains above
a predetermined amount and flip to an "on" state when the water
pressure dips below the predetermined amount.
[0033] The controller 36 (see FIG. 4) responds to the pressure
switch or sensor 38 to provide a control signal to the coffee maker
24. The control signal can be to turn a portion of the coffee maker
24 on or off.
[0034] A valve 42 can be located between the water supply 28 and
the water heater 30. The valve 42 is shown here located between the
pressure switch or sensor 38 and the water heater 30. However, the
valve 42 can be located "upstream" of the pressure switch or sensor
38 or the pressure switch or sensor 38 can be incorporated into the
valve 42. The controller 36 (see FIG. 4) can be adapted to respond
to the pressure sensor 38 by turning on or off the water heater 30
and further to open or close the valve 42.
[0035] The controller 36 (see FIG. 4) can be configured to turn the
heater 30 off and the close the valve 42 when the pressure sensor
38 senses a pressure of the supply of water below about 20 PSI or
some other predetermined level. Then, the heater 30 does not burn
out and the water running at too low a pressure is kept from
running through coffee maker 24.
[0036] While FIG. 3 shows coffee maker 24, an in-wall or on-wall
coffee maker 20 according to other embodiments of the invention
could utilize all of the elements described in FIG. 3. The elements
of FIG. 3 would be advantageous for in-wall or on-wall coffee
makers 20. The in-line heater 30 and thermal sensor 32 would ensure
properly brewed coffee every time as it would for any kind of
coffee maker. The pressure sensor 38 along with valve 42 and
controller 36 (see FIG. 4) would be helpful for the in-wall coffee
maker 20 because the water supply 28 would normally be hidden from
the user when the coffee maker 20 is mounted in a wall cavity as
shown in FIG. 1.
[0037] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of low pressure and
temperature sensing systems in coffee maker 24 according to another
embodiment of the invention. FIG. 4 will be used to help describe
methods brewing coffee.
[0038] Water is supplied to brewing area 34 from water supply 28 by
directing the water through the in-line heater 30. The temperature
of the water being received in the brewing area 34 is detected by
thermal sensor 32. The thermal output of the in-line heater 30 is
then controlled by a signal from controller 36 responsive to the
thermal sensor 32 so that the water being received by the brewing
area 34 is at a predetermined temperature. The temperature of the
water received in the brewing area 34 can be about 195-205.degree.
F., which is range of temperature preferred for brewing good
tasting coffee.
[0039] The thermal output of the in-line heater 30 can be
controller by turning the in-line heater 30 off for approximately
three seconds in response to the thermal sensor 32 detecting the
temperature of the water being received in the brewing area 34 to
be approximately 205.degree. F. or above. The controller 36 can
also be adapted to turn the water heater 30 on when the sensed
water temperature is below a threshold value and turn the water
heater 30 off when the sensed water temperature is above another
higher threshold value.
[0040] As the water is supplied to the coffee maker 24 from water
supply 28, the pressure of the water supply 28 is detected by
pressure switch or sensor 38. The controller 36 turns off a portion
of the coffee maker 24 when the pressure detected by pressure
switch or sensor 38 is less than a predetermined pressure. The
predetermined pressure can be about 20 PSI or can be another
selected value set by the pressure switch 38 or by the controller
36.
[0041] When an in-line heater 30 is used to heat the water (as
opposed to a reservoir heater [not shown]), turning off a portion
of the coffee maker 24 can include turning off the in-line heater
30 responsive to a signal from the controller 36 and stopping the
supply of water to the coffee maker 24 with valve 42 that can be
activated by solenoid 44 responsive to a signal from the controller
36.
[0042] While coffee maker 24 is used to describe the elements in
FIG. 4, in-wall coffee maker 20 (see FIG. 1) can also utilize the
elements shown and described in reference to FIG. 4.
[0043] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of mounting box 50 configured
to secure the in-wall coffee maker 20 of FIG. 1 within a wall
cavity 52 (see FIG. 6). The mounting box 50 can be a rough-in sheet
metal box that includes a top wall 54, a bottom wall 56, two side
walls 58, 60 and a rear wall 62.
[0044] Although the material for the mounting box 50 can be made
from sheet metal because of its ease of manufacture and
adaptability, other materials, such as plastic, wood, etc. could
also be used for the mounting box 50. The use of other materials
would require only minor modifications to the mounting box 50.
Also, although the mounting structure of the foregoing embodiment
is a mounting box 50, it should be noted that any mounting
structure that is capable of supporting the coffee maker 20 in
place in the wall cavity 52 is within the contemplation of the
embodiment of the invention.
[0045] FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the in-wall coffee
maker 20, mounting box 50 and wall cavity 52 illustrating the
interface of these three. The mounting box 50 receives and supports
the in-wall coffee maker unit 20 within wall cavity 52 and provides
the necessary water 64 and power 66 interconnections. The mounting
box 50 is configured to have bottom wall 56 positioned below the
coffee maker 20 when the coffee maker 20 is installed in the
mounting box 50.
[0046] The bottom wall 56 provides both structural support to the
mounting box 50 and a surface that is slants from an upper rear
portion 68 down to a lower front portion 70. The slanted surface
allows for run-off of any water escaping from the coffee maker 20
to run out toward the counter space (see FIG. 1) so as not to be
trapped in the wall cavity 52. The bottom wall 56 is a solid
surface that does not allow any water to escape from the coffee
maker 20 to drip down into the wall. The water interconnection 64
enters through the bottom wall 56, but is sealed with rubber
grommet 65.
[0047] A user would first install the mounting box 50 in the wall
cavity 52. Then coffee maker 20 would be mounted in the mounting
box 50 with the coffee maker 20 positioned above the bottom wall
56.
[0048] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the mounting box 50
taken along line 7-7 in FIG. 5. Bottom wall 56 is shown as slanting
from an upper rear portion 68 down to a lower front portion 70. The
water interconnection 64 is entering the box 50 through the sealed
rubber grommet 65.
[0049] The box 50 can include a lower lip 71 that extends
slantingly outward from the box 50 down and away from the lower
front portion 70. By slanting the lower lip 70, any water escaping
the coffee maker 20 will be directed along the slanting bottom wall
56 and out and away from a wall. Escaping water would then not be
allowed to merely drip down the face of the wall but can be
captured on an underlying countertop for easier clean-up.
[0050] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a coffee maker 24 according
to another embodiment of the invention showing a coffee pot holder
72, coffee pot detector 100, and sealing brew basket 76 (see FIG.
9) inserted into brewing area 34.
[0051] The coffee maker 24 includes a coffee pot cavity 80 shaped
to receive and hold coffee pot 82 (see FIGS. 1-2). Coffee pot
holder 72 is releasably mounted in the coffee pot cavity 80 and
includes a pair of opposed resilient arms 84 and 86. The opposed
resilient arms 84, 86 are shaped to embrace and receive the upper
portion of coffee pot 82 when the coffee pot 82 is located in the
coffee pot cavity 80, thereby releasably securing the coffee pot
82.
[0052] An alternative coffee pot holder can be a slot (not shown)
formed in the coffee pot cavity 80 that is shaped to receive and
retain a mating feature (not shown) on a coffee pot 82. The mating
feature on the coffee pot 82 would be inserted into the slot
thereby securing the coffee pot 82 in the coffee pot cavity 80.
[0053] In FIG. 8, each of the opposed resilient arms 84, 86 of the
coffee pot holder 72 can be further shaped to have recurved flanges
88 at the outward end of each arm 84, 86. The recurved flanges 88
are shaped so that a rounded surface on the coffee pot 82 cammingly
engages the recurved flanges 88 to spread the resilient arms 84, 86
and guide and position the coffee pot 82 to be positioned below the
brew basket 76 (see FIG. 9).
[0054] The coffee pot holder 72 can include a flange 94 that is
structured to be releasably secured in sleeve 96 which is located
on a side wall of the coffee pot cavity 80. The releasable nature
of this type of attachment of the coffee pot holder 72 can be
useful when a user wants to brew coffee into a mug (not shown)
rather than into the coffee pot 82. When a mug is used, the coffee
pot holder 72 can be in the way of the mug and, thus, the coffee
pot holder 72 should be temporarily removed.
[0055] FIG. 9 is a detailed perspective view of the coffee pot 82
being held in the coffee pot cavity 80 by coffee pot holder 72. The
opposed resilient arms 84, 86 embrace the curved upper portion 90
of the coffee pot 82. The coffee pot 82 is further secured with
restraining clip 92 placed over the arms 84, 86. The restraining
clip 92 can be comprised of a resilient material and can even be
comprised of a rubber band. The restraining clip 92 resiliently
holds the opposing arms 84, 86 together around the coffee pot
82.
[0056] Coffee pot holder 72 and restraining clip 92 can be useful
when the coffee maker 24 is an in-wall or on-wall coffee maker 20,
especially when the in-wall or on-wall coffee maker 20 is used in
unstable environments such a recreational vehicles (RVs) or boats.
Even if an RV is being driven or a boat is being rocked by wave
action, the coffee pot 82 will be retained in the coffee pot cavity
by coffee pot holder 72 and even more securely retained by the
addition of restraining clip 92 to the coffee pot holder 72.
[0057] Referring to FIGS. 8-9, a method of securing a coffee pot 82
in a coffee maker 84 will now be described. Coffee pot 82 is
disposed at least partially in the coffee pot cavity 80 of coffee
maker 24. The coffee pot 82 is releasably secured in the coffee pot
cavity 80 by engaging an upper portion of the coffee pot 82 with
opposed resilient arms 84, 86 as the coffee pot 82 is moved toward
the rear portion of the coffee pot cavity 80. This movement causes
the resilient arms 84, 86 to spread around the upper portion of the
coffee pot 82 and then receive the upper portion of the coffee pot
82 between the arms 84, 86.
[0058] The coffee pot 82 can be removed by moving the coffee pot 82
away from the rear portion of the coffee pot cavity 80 thereby
causing the resilient arms 84, 86 to spread and release the coffee
pot 82.
[0059] To further secure the coffee pot 82, the opposed resilient
arms 84, 86 can be restrained with restraining clip 92. The
restraining clip 92 can resiliently restrain the arms 84, 86 when
the clip 92 is made of a resilient material such as a rubber
band.
[0060] For convenience of a variety of vessels including coffee
mugs (not shown), the coffee pot holder 72 can be releasably
secured to the coffee maker 24. The coffee pot holder 72 can
include flange 94 which can be inserted into sleeve 96 in the
coffee pot cavity 80. The coffee pot holder 72 can then be released
from the coffee maker 24 by removing the flange 94 from the sleeve
96 and removing the coffee pot holder 72 from the coffee pot cavity
80.
[0061] Releasably securing the coffee pot 82 can be useful for
in-wall or on-wall coffee maker 20, especially when the in-wall or
on-wall coffee maker 20 is installed in relatively unstable
environments such as RVs and boats.
[0062] Still referring to FIG. 8, the coffee maker 24 includes a
detector 100 that is operable to detect the presence of a coffee
pot 82 or a coffee mug (not shown) in the coffee pot cavity 80.
[0063] The detector 100 is located in the housing of the coffee
maker 24 and includes a sensor 100 located on a sidewall of the
coffee pot cavity 80 and a controller 36 (see FIG. 4) that is
structured to provide a control signal indicating the presence or
absence of a coffee pot 82 or mug in the coffee pot cavity 80
responsive to the sensor 100.
[0064] The sensor 100 can be an infrared sensor that can include a
lens 102 that is adapted to filter environmental light in the
coffee pot cavity 80.
[0065] Referring to FIGS. 8 and 4, the coffee maker 24 can include
an in-line water heater 30 and a brewing area 34 that is structured
to receive water from the water heater 30. The coffee maker 24 can
further include a valve 42 located between the water heater 30 and
the water supply 28 with the valve 42 being operative to stop a
flow of water from the water supply 28 to the water heater 30 (and
thus to the brewing area 34) a predetermined amount of time after
the detector 100 detects that a coffee vessel, such as a coffee pot
82 or coffee mug (not shown), is no longer in the coffee pot cavity
80. The heater, valve and/or the brewing system can be controlled
by the controller 36 responsive to signals from the sensor 100.
[0066] By shutting off the supply of water from the water supply 28
an overflow of water in the brewing basket 76 can be prevented. The
coffee maker 24 can further include a standard pause-and-serve
valve 106 on the brewing basket 76 that prevents fluid from
escaping the brewing basket 76 when a coffee pot 82 is not in place
below the brewing basket 76.
[0067] If the coffee maker 24 includes a reservoir (not shown) for
storing and heating water, the valve 42 can be structured to stop a
flow of water into the reservoir after a predetermined amount of
water has entered the reservoir. The valve 42 can be a pump that
supplies water to the reservoir and can be turned on and off. The
coffee maker 24 can further include a second valve (not shown)
located between the reservoir and brewing area 34 that is operative
to stop a flow from the reservoir to the brewing area 34 a
predetermined amount of time after the detector 100 detects a
coffee vessel is no longer in the coffee pot cavity 80. The second
valve prevents water from overflowing the brewing basket 76. The
second valve can also be a pump that pumps water from the reservoir
to the brewing area 34 and can be turned on and off.
[0068] A pause-and-serve valve 106 (see FIG. 4) can also be coupled
to the brewing basket 76 to prevent fluid from escaping the brewing
basket 76 when a coffee pot 82 is not positioned properly below the
brewing basket 76.
[0069] The detector 100 can also be used in in-wall or on-wall
coffee makers 20. The detector 100 and shut-off valve 42 can be
useful for preventing water from overflowing the brewing basket 76.
In an in-wall coffee maker 20, the detector 100 can include a
micro-switch 108 that is structured to detect the presence of a
coffee pot 82 or coffee mug (not shown) in the coffee pot cavity 80
by detecting a pressure applied to the micro-switch 108 by the
weight of a coffee pot 82 or coffee mug.
[0070] Referring to FIGS. 3, 4 and 8, a method of dispensing coffee
from a coffee maker 24 will now be described. The coffee maker 24
detects whether a coffee pot 82 or coffee mug (not shown) is
located within the coffee pot cavity 80. The detection can be made
by detecting an infrared signal emitted from and reflected to the
sensor 100. When a coffee pot 82 or mug is not present in the
coffee pot cavity 80, the flow of water into the brewing basket 76
is prevented by closing a valve 42 and the water heater 30 can also
be turned off until a pot 82 or mug is detected again.
[0071] An in-wall or on-wall coffee maker 20 can also detect the
presence of a coffee pot 82 or mug using the detector 100. The
in-wall coffee maker 20 can also detect the presence of a coffee
pot 82 or mug by detecting a pressure of the weight of the coffee
pot 82 or mug on a micro-switch 108 located in the coffee pot
cavity 80.
[0072] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the brew basket 76 and
coffee maker 24 taken along line 10-10 in FIG. 9 showing the
brewing basket seal 110. The basket seal 110 is shown mounted on
the vertical surface of the lipped shelf structure 12 in brewing
basket cavity of coffee maker 24. The brewing basket 76 includes a
complementary shaped lipped shelf structure 116 that mates against
the brewing basket seal 110 when the brewing basket 76 is installed
in the brewing basket cavity. The mating of the brewing basket 76
against the brewing basket seal 110 substantially prevents steam
from escaping the brewing basket 76 during a brewing process.
[0073] The brewing basket 76 includes a top rim 116 and a front lip
118 that extends around the top rim 116 and across the front
portion of the brewing basket 76 (see FIG. 9).
[0074] While the brewing basket seal 110 is shown mounted on the
coffee maker 24, the seal 110 could be mounted on the brewing
basket 76.
[0075] It would be useful to use the brewing basket seal 110 in an
in-wall or on-wall coffee maker 20 because the in-wall or on-wall
coffee maker 20 could be installed in a wall cavity or on a wall
that is positioned below kitchen cabinets. Thus, preventing steam
from escaping the brewing basket 76 prevents heat and moisture
damage to any structures located above the in-wall or on-wall
coffee maker 20.
[0076] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the brewing basket 76
and the coffee maker 24 taken along line 11-11 in FIG. 9 showing
how the brewing basket 76 can be releasably secured in the brewing
basket cavity. The brewing basket 76 can include a protrusion 120
on a mating surface 122 of the brewing basket 76. The brewing
basket cavity can further include a small opening 124 on the mating
surface 126, the opening 124 sized to receive the brewing basket
protrusion 120.
[0077] As the brewing basket 76 is slid into the brewing basket
cavity, the protrusion 120 on the basket 76 which is typically made
of a pliable material temporarily deforms to allow the protrusion
120 to slide along the mating surface 126. When the brewing basket
76 reaches a position that seals the brewing basket 76 against the
brewing basket seal 110 (see FIG. 10), the opening 124 allows the
brewing basket 76 to return to its normal width by allowing the
protrusion 120 to rest in the opening 124.
[0078] The interface between the protrusion 120 and the sides of
the opening 124 then prevents the brewing basket 76 from being
released from the brewing basket cavity until a predetermined
amount of force is exerted on the brewing basket 76. The
protrusions and openings 120 and 124 can be sized and structured to
alter the required pressure for both insertion and removal of the
brewing basket 76 such that pressure from steam emanating from the
brewing basket 76 does not force the basket 76 be released from the
brewing basket seal 110 (see FIG. 10).
[0079] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an in-line sediment filter
130 for use in filtering sediment from a water supply to an
appliance such as a coffee maker 24 according to another embodiment
of the invention. Water is supplied to many built-in appliances
like the in-wall coffee maker 20 shown in FIG. 1 with dedicated
water supply lines. Other appliances that use dedicated water
supply lines can include dishwashers, washing machines and
refrigerators. While some appliances like refrigerators include a
filter designed for improving the taste and quality of water, loose
sediment in the water supply lines can still clog the water supply
lines before the water ever gets to the filter in the
appliance.
[0080] The appliance using a dedicated water supply line will
include an appliance water intake line 132. A quick connector 134
can be positioned on the intake end of the intake line 132. A quick
connector 134 can also be positioned on the outflow end of the
water supply line 136. The sediment filter unit 130 is connected to
the outflow end of the water supply line 136 and the intake end of
the intake line 132 such that the water supply line 136 is in fluid
communication with the water intake line 134.
[0081] The sediment filter unit 130 includes a sediment filter 138
positioned between to quick connectors 140 that are positioned on
opposing ends of the sediment filter unit 130. The quick connectors
140 on the sediment filter unit 130 connect to the quick connectors
134 on the water supply and intake lines 136 and 134. The quick
connectors 140 and 134 allow a user to quickly and easily remove
the sediment filter 138.
[0082] The sediment filter unit 130 can include a first half
housing 142 that includes the quick connector 140 and a second half
housing 144 that also includes a quick connector 140. The first and
second half housings 142, 144 can then be releasably secured to
allow for easy replacement of a sediment filter (not shown) placed
between the housings 142, 144.
[0083] FIG. 12 shows the water supply line 136 and the intake line
132 with female quick-connectors 134 and the sediment filter unit
130 with male quick-connectors 140. This configuration of male and
female quick-connectors 140, 134 can be altered without affecting
the ability of the sediment filter unit 130 to filter sediment from
the water supplied to the coffee maker 20 or other appliances.
[0084] The preceding embodiments are exemplary. Those of skill in
the art will recognize that the concepts taught herein can be
tailored to a particular application in many other advantageous
ways. In particular, those skilled in the art will recognize that
the illustrated embodiments are but one of many alternative
implementations that will become apparent upon reading this
disclosure.
[0085] Although the specification may refer to "an", "one",
"another", or "some" embodiment(s) in several locations, this does
not necessarily mean that each such reference is to the same
embodiment(s), or that the feature only applies to a single
embodiment.
* * * * *