Abstract: A beverage brewer includes a container, a container collar, a brewing material holder, a mesh element, and a drive assembly. The container has an open top, a closed sidewall, and a closed bottom. The container collar is configured to cover a rim of the open top. The brewing material holder is configured to hold brewing material and to be suspended from the container collar and into an interior of the container. The brewing material holder includes a sidewall having an opening, an open top, and a bottom. The mesh element covers the opening in the sidewall of the brewing material holder. The drive assembly is positionable on the container collar and is configured to be mechanically coupled to and rotate the brewing material holder.

Abstract: A beverage brewer includes a pump, an intake tube assembly connected to an inlet port of the pump at a pump end, an outflow tube assembly connected to an outlet port of the pump at a pump end, a brewing material holder assembly configured to hold ground brewing material and arranged at an issue end of the outflow tube assembly, and a container volume configured to accommodate a container assembly, arranged at an issue portion of the holder assembly. A suction end of the intake tube assembly is arranged within an interior of the container volume. The pump is configured to draw fluid from within the container volume through the intake tube assembly and to issue the fluid into the holder assembly through the outflow tube assembly, thereby brewing a beverage in the holder assembly. The holder assembly is configured to issue the brewed beverage into the container volume.

Abstract: A beverage brewer includes a container configured to hold liquid and having an open top, and a brewing material holder configured to be suspended into the container and to hold beverage brewing material in contact with liquid held in the container. The brewer also includes a pressure assembly operable to provide pressurized liquid flow through the brewing material holder within the container, and/or a heating element configured to be arranged at least partially in an interior of the container and operable to heat liquid held in the container.

Abstract: A beverage brewer includes a brewing chamber, a hollow injection nozzle, a rotation member, and a motor. The brewing chamber is configured to receive and hold a brewing cartridge. The injection nozzle is arranged in fluid communication with a liquid supply and configured to enter a brewing cartridge when the brewing cartridge is disposed in the brewing chamber and to provide fluid communication from the liquid supply to an interior of the brewing cartridge. The rotation member is arranged at a periphery of the brewing chamber. The motor is configured to rotate the rotation member. The beverage brewer can also include a hollow extraction nozzle arranged opposite an opening of the brewing chamber and configured to enter the brewing cartridge when the brewing cartridge is disposed in the brewing chamber and to provide fluid communication from an interior of the brewing cartridge to an exterior of the brewing chamber.

Abstract: A brewing cartridge adapter includes a base, a passage wall, and an entry port. The base includes a floor. and a base wall extending from the floor and having an outer edge opposite the floor, defining an enclosed interior. The passage wall is arranged outside the wall and defines an enclosed extraction passage. The passage wall is closed at a bottom and extends to an outlet port proximal to the outer edge. The entry port is arranged between the extraction passage and the interior. The extraction passage is arranged in fluid communication with the interior through the entry port, and in fluid communication with an exterior of the base through the outlet port. At least a portion of the extraction passage is separated from the interior by the wall at the outer edge of the wall. The outlet port is arranged in a plane defined by the outer edge.

Abstract: A reusable form for creating conduit paths in concrete slabs is described. The form comprises a flexible tube that is positioned prior to pouring a concrete slab. The form includes a keep to keep material out of the hole formed by the form. The form also includes a key structure to permit easy removal of the form once the concrete is set. The system further includes a sighting device to permit rapid and precise alignment for placement of a form when forming conduits in a multi-level building. An accessory is also provided permitting filling in the opening created by the form once wiring, piping and other objects have been installed within the conduit.

Abstract: An adjustable scoop includes an indexed plunger rotatable to vary a scoop volume. The plunger includes exterior spiral grooves and the scoop includes angled interior tabs which fit into the the spiral grooves. The grooves include angularly spaced apart teeth which index with the interior tabs to retain the plunger at selected depths in the scoop. Index lines are angularly spaced apart on a base of the scoop and a pointer on the plunger is alignable with each of the index lines to set the plunger depth. The plunger is substantially hollow and includes a top surface providing a floor for the scoop, and an open bottom including a horizontal bar graspable to rotate the plunger. A level is slidably attached to a scoop handle and includes a leveling arc slidable across a scoop mouth to level material contained in the scoop.

Abstract: A liquid-dispersion member includes inlet and dispersal chambers. The inlet chamber has a sidewall and an open end to receive a nozzle. The dispersal chamber extends from the inlet chamber and includes a distal wall having ports, and a sidewall having a distal rim attached to the distal wall and a proximal rim that can couple to a brewing material holder lid. A brewing material holder lid assembly includes a brewing material holder lid and the liquid-dispersion member. The proximal rim can be attached to the brewing material holder lid with an opening arranged in fluid communication with the open end of the inlet chamber. A brewing material holder includes a receptacle for holding brewing material, and the brewing material holder lid assembly. The brewing material holder lid can be coupled to an open end of the receptacle to extend the liquid-dispersion member within the interior of the receptacle.

Abstract: A cold coffee brewing device reduces the time required to produce cold brewed coffee. The cold brewer includes a container, preferably transparent, and an elongated brewing material holder suspended from a lid of the container. The brewing material holder is enclosed in a mesh to retain brewing material in the brewing material holder. In one embodiment, the mesh is a fine nylon mesh or a 75 micron opening nylon mesh. The lid includes a mechanism to rotate the brewing material holder. The container is filled with water and the brewing material holder is filled with brewing material. Movement of the brewing material submerged in water substantially reduces the time required for cold brewing.

Abstract: A coffee maker (10) provides a controlled release of heated water into brewing material (28). In one embodiment the coffee maker (10) includes a spiraling nozzle (74) releasing heated water over the brewing material held (74) in the coffee maker (10). The nozzle (74) provides a single release point at each instant providing improved exposure of the brewing material (28) to the heated water. In another embodiment the coffee maker (10) includes a rotating sprinkler arm (202a) releasing heated water into the brewing material (74). In either embodiment motion may be provided by the flow of heated water, or by an electric motor (100).

Abstract: A multi-mode beverage brewer includes a body, a brewing chamber in the body configured to receive beverage brewing material, a flow controller in the body, a selector, and a tray. The flow controller is configured to control a flow of water to the brewing chamber such that in a first mode a first quantity of water or in a second mode a second quantity of water is provided to the brew chamber. The selector is configured to actuate the first mode or the second mode of the flow controller. The tray is configured to support a brewed beverage container to receive a brewed beverage from the brewing chamber. The selector is configured as a magnet and a magnetic sensing element. One each of the magnet and the magnetic sensing element is arranged in the body and in the tray.

Abstract: A coffee maker includes an injection needle producing a dispersed spray and a rotating brewing chamber. The brewing chamber may include rollers for rotating a brewing cartridge and a centered extraction needle, or may include a rotating cradle including one or more offset extraction needles. The injection needle includes radially oriented ports providing the dispersed spray into the cartridge interior. As the cartridge is rotated, the dispersed spray prevents or reduces the formation of channels or clumping of the brewing material thus providing better extraction of brewed beverage from the brewing material.

Abstract: A brewing material holder includes a closed bottom water dispersing member including ports providing streams of water from just under a holder lid bottom, for uniformly dispersing water into the brewing material in the holder. When water is injected into the holder, the flow of water is captured in the water dispersion member and directed up to the ports and sprayed horizontally or vertically into the brewing material, and sinks into brewing material contained in the brewing chamber. The water dispersion member may be attached to the holder lid or be part of the holder lid. A single centered port may be provided in the bottom of the dispensing member provides an additional spray and also helps drain the dispensing member after use.

Abstract: A smart phone acoustic enhancer provides a support body and sound enhancing acoustic passages ending in horns. The body allows either vertical or horizontal placement of the smart phone, and includes entry ports into the sound enhancement acoustic passages for both vertical and horizontal smart phone positions. The ports align with smart phone speakers in both vertical and horizontal smart phone positions and flow into the sound enhancement acoustic passages. The horns are formed at ends of the acoustic passages to improve an acoustic impedance match between a sound source and free air thereby improving the efficiency with which sound waves are transferred to the air. The body is preferably assembled from two pieces, both pieces made by injection molding.

Abstract: A single serving brewing cartridge adapter fits into known single serving horizontal coffee makers and allows use of a common single serving cartridge made for a vertical coffee maker. The cartridge adapter includes a fixed extraction needle in the base of cartridge adapter and defines walls rising from the base to guide a cartridge into position. The extraction needle pierces a single use cartridge to release brewed beverage into the cartridge adapter. An injection needle in the horizontal coffee maker lid punctures a foil cover of single use cartridges and passes through a permanent opening in a lid of the cartridge adapter and an extraction needle in the horizontal coffee maker cooperates with the cartridge adapter to carry brewed drink from the cartridge adapter. Reusable cartridges including permanent openings to receive the injection needle and to release brewed beverage may also be used with the cartridge adapter.

Abstract: A multi-mode coffee maker facilitates switching between a carafe mode and a single cup mode. The coffee maker includes switches for selecting the amount of coffee brewed, a drip valve normally closed to prevent dripping and opened by insertion of a carafe or a single cup adapter into the coffee maker, and a hot plate for maintaining the temperature of coffee in the carafe, the hot plate independent switchable on and off. A single cup adapter includes a swing-out platform which cooperates with a multi-mode coffee maker to allow switching from a small amount to a large amount of brewed drink when the platform is moved to provide space for a large cup. A slide may also be provided to select the mode.

Abstract: An adjustable scoop includes an indexed plunger rotatable to vary a scoop volume. The plunger includes exterior spiral grooves and the scoop includes angled interior tabs which fit into the the spiral grooves. The grooves include angularly spaced apart teeth which index with the interior tabs to retain the plunger at selected depths in the scoop. Index lines are angularly spaced apart on a base of the scoop and a pointer on the plunger is alignable with each of the index lines to set the plunger depth. The plunger is substantially hollow and includes a top surface providing a floor for the scoop, and an open bottom including a horizontal bar graspable to rotate the plunger. A level is slidably attached to a scoop handle and includes a leveling arc slidable across a scoop mouth to level material contained in the scoop.

Abstract: A cold coffee brewing device reduces the time required to produce cold brewed coffee. The cold brewer includes a container, preferably transparent, and an elongated brewing material holder suspended from a lid of the container. The brewing material holder is enclosed in a mesh to retain brewing material in the brewing material holder. In one embodiment, the mesh is a fine nylon mesh or a 75 micron opening nylon mesh. The lid includes a mechanism to rotate the brewing material holder. The container is filled with water and the brewing material holder is filled with brewing material. Movement of the brewing material submerged in water substantially reduces the time required for cold brewing.

Abstract: An espresso cartridge includes contours under a rim of the espresso cartridge for guiding and sealing the espresso cartridge in an espresso brewing machine. Espresso brewing machines inject a high pressure flow of water heated to near boiling temperature into the espresso cartridge to brew espresso. As a result, a very good seal is required between the espresso cartridge rim and the espresso brewing machine to prevent leaking. The contours includes a first contour which centers the espresso cartridge in the machine and a second contour which is crushed to seal the espresso cartridge to a brewing chamber base.

Abstract: A coffee maker provides a controlled release of heated water into brewing material. In one embodiment the coffee maker includes a spiraling nozzle releasing heated water over brewing material held in the coffee maker. The nozzle provides a single release point at each instant providing improved exposure of the brewing material to the heated water. In another embodiment the coffee maker includes a rotating sprinkler arm releasing heated water into the brewing material. In either embodiment motion may be provided by the flow of heated water, or by an electric motor.