Patents by Inventor Douglass Nance

Douglass Nance has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 5542342
    Abstract: A coffee bean grinding and brewing apparatus having a control circuit for initiating grinding and brewing cycles. The control circuit has a brew basket sensing switch that is positioned adjacent the brew basket retaining arms and is engaged into an open position by one of the arms when no basket is positioned between the arms and becomes closed when a basket is positioned between the arms. The control circuit does not initiate any cycle as long as the sensing switch is open avoiding the problem of grounds being delivered accidentally when no basket is present. Additionally, the control circuit has a grind-only switch and a brew-only switch that respectively permit an operator to select a grind-only or a brew only cycle when a basket is held properly between the arms. Finally, the circuit may be provided with a partial and full brew selector switches that permit an operator to select a full and predetermined amount of ground coffee and/or hot water to be delivered to the brew basket or a lesser amount, e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1996
    Assignee: Grindmaster Corporation
    Inventors: Robert C. McNeill, Douglass Nance