With Signal, Indicator Or Observation Means Patents (Class 99/285)
  • Patent number: 5369398
    Abstract: The system described in the specification detects and visually indicates the presence of significant calcification in a conduit made of clear (i.e., light-transmitting) material. The present invention directly determines calcification and indicates cleaning of the clear water conduit. An infrared transmitting circuit emits an infrared pulse through the clear conduit. As long as calcification has not formed on the conduit to block the infrared pulse, a phototransistor or infrared receiving circuit receives the infrared pulse. When calcification has formed to a degree sufficient to block the emitted infrared pulse, the receiving circuit determines that calcification has occurred and provides a visual indication to a user that the conduit needs cleaning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1994
    Assignee: The West Bend Company
    Inventor: John Vancha
  • Patent number: 5359788
    Abstract: A coffee roaster which roasts coffee beans in an oven chamber employing both radiant and convection heating techniques while the beans are continually intermixed in a fluidized bed rotating in the horizontal plane. Roaster control means are provided to terminate the roasting process by quenching the beans and oven chamber while maintaining the beans in a fluidized bed to avoid scorching or further roasting by the residual heat of the coffee bean mass. The oven chamber includes an upper transparent section through which the roasting charge of beans may be viewed and thereby allow manual control of the process in response to visual observation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1994
    Inventor: Harold A. Gell, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5283854
    Abstract: An electrically heated continuous flow heater control system includes an electric switching element that has an open and a closed switching position and is electrically connected in series to a thermostat. Switching element (26) is always closed in the brewing process while it can be opened and closed again in the keep-warm process by a control circuit. The control circuit includes a temperature sensor which is in good heat contact with the infusion beverage. When in the initial phase of the keep-warm process the sensor temperature is in excess of a definable switching temperature, the control circuit keeps the switching element in its open position for as long as the sensor temperature remains higher than the switching temperature in the course of the consequently occurring cooling of the infusion beverage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 1, 1994
    Assignee: Braun Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Heinz Schiebelhuth
  • Patent number: 5249509
    Abstract: A device for brewing a cup or other small portion of a beverage to a desired strength is disclosed. The suitable strength is achieved by controlling the volume of hot water contacting a prepackaged, disposable filter containing beverage precursor particles. The device is adapted to control and vary the brewing process by regulating with some precision volume of hot water flowing through the filter and the volume of hot water bypassing the filter and flowing directly into a drinking cup without having contacting the brew particles. Visual indicators are provided to facilitate choosing a brew of desired strength. The process for preparation of a brewed beverage to a desired strength is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1993
    Inventor: Philip H. English
  • Patent number: 5245914
    Abstract: The invention herein described is a tea brewer comprising a plurality of removable dispensers which are filled from a central brewing unit. The central brewing unit comprehends provisions for developing a tea extract or concentrate which is then contemporaneously mixed with a dilutant within one of the removable dispensers; the ratio of extract to dilutant being controlled to provide a potable mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1993
    Inventor: Charles J. Vitous
  • Patent number: 5241898
    Abstract: A coffee dispensing and brewing apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention comprises components for dispensing a predetermined amount of coffee to a brew basket, the components including a hopper for holding a supply of coffee beans and an auger device communicating with the hopper for portioning coffee beans in a predetermined amount to a coffee grinder. The apparatus further includes a brew basket holding assembly for releasably holding the brew basket in a region adjacent a passageway to the grinder and a hot water making and delivery system for distributing a predetermined volume of hot water from a hot water holding tank to the region during a brewing cycle. The grinder motor has a right angle power transmission that couples the moter to the grinder with the motor being located below the grinder and adjacent a vertical side of the holding tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1993
    Assignee: Grindmaster Corporation
    Inventor: Brian D. Newnan
  • Patent number: 5239914
    Abstract: A machine for preparing brewed beverages includes a housing; a collecting vessel station disposed in the housing for receiving a brewed beverage collecting vessel thereon; a brewing water supplying station disposed in the housing above the collecting vessel station; a filter vessel for receiving a filter and a beverage material to be extracted therein; and a filter vessel holder for vertically receiving the filter vessel therein. The filter vessel holder is pivotally attached to the exterior of the housing for rotation between a brewing position in which the filter vessel received therein is substantially disposed between the brewing water supplying station and the collecting vessel station, and a filling position in which the filter vessel received in the filter vessel holder is spaced from the interior of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1993
    Assignee: Melitta Haushaltsprodukte GmbH & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft
    Inventors: Thomas Salomon, Hans-Jurgen Slomka
  • Patent number: 5239519
    Abstract: An apparatus that prepares food in cycles is achieved by tying in a timer which resets to zero and measures elapsed time from cycle to cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1993
    Assignee: Ashland Oil, Inc.
    Inventors: David W. Nelson, Gary M. Grill, Raymond D. Pence, Robert A. Compton
  • Patent number: 5229751
    Abstract: A perishable fluid container assembly is disclosed as including a timing mechanism in conjunction with a coffee pot, wherein a visible indicator device is energized while the coffee within the pot remains fresh. When the coffee pot is filled with fresh coffee, the visible indicator device first becomes energized, and stays energized even though the coffee pot is temporarily tipped on its side for the dispensing of coffee. After the predetermined time duration has expired, the visible indicator device is de-energized to indicate that the character or freshness of the coffee has expired. Additionally if the coffee pot becomes empty, the visible indicator device becomes de-energized after a short time delay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1993
    Inventors: Curt M. Chandler, Rick G. Hubbard, Jerry E. Cravens
  • Patent number: 5224414
    Abstract: The present invention involves an improvement to a beverage making apparatus in which a slide valve assembly for preventing moisture from seeping into an area holding the solid component of a beverage mix is provided with a finger tab. The tab serves as a grasping device to manipulate the slide valve between open and shut positions and as a deflector of the solid material ejected from the holding area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1993
    Assignee: Grindmaster Corporation
    Inventor: Roderick C. Hunt
  • Patent number: 5207148
    Abstract: A automated, milk inclusive espresso coffee machine which includes a fully automatic coffee grinding and brewing apparatus and a steam generator for driving a venturi mixing device which draws ambient air and milk from a refrigerated source for making milk inclusive espresso beverages, all milk contacting surfaces being either refrigerated or steam cleaned with each beverage made and served. A novel microprocessor controls all operations including brewing, steam generating, water heating, refrigerating, operations parameters, measuring and monitoring, many "house-keeping" functions and others.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1993
    Assignee: Caffe Acorto, Inc.
    Inventors: Kyle T. Anderson, Duke W. Goss, Michael G Lee
  • Patent number: 5188019
    Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed herein for extracting a flavor from a natural leaf, powder of the like, such as tea leaves into a heated substance as a carrier such as a quantity of water. The apparatus employs a container with a heater for the water which will controllably bring the water to a boil. A tank is submerged in the water and includes a perforated strainer holding a quantity of loose tea leaves for wetting by the surrounding water. A dispensing nozzle is included, having a supply line from the water and a second supply line from the tea leaf tank. A valve arrangement selectively combines the supply lines to produce a desired flavor strength of the dispensed flavored liquid. A manually operable valve selectively intercommunicates the boiled water with the tea leaf tank and controls regulate the heater and temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1993
    Inventor: Abdolvahab K. Vahabpour
  • Patent number: 5183998
    Abstract: An automatic electric maker for coffee or the like, having user selectable AUTO, BREW, WARM or OFF modes. The temperature of the WARM mode is selectable by applying partial power to the heating element. Full power can be triggered using a phase controlled triggerable semiconductor. Monitoring devices measure temperature and time to control the operator of the apparatus and to detect malfunction. A temperature comparator is provided to determine if the water conduit should be cleaned and to determine if the BREW state of the machine should be converted to the WARM state, and to place the system in the OFF state if necessary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1993
    Assignee: Mr. Coffee Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald J. Hoffman, Lawrence M. Pillion, Paul L. Jewell
  • Patent number: 5080008
    Abstract: A plurality of carafes on a coffee machine primarily for restaurant and institution use can be filled selectively with decaffeinated or normal coffee via a distributor between a brewing chamber and the outlets to the carafes. The microprocessor controller operates the device selecting the coffee or delivery to the brewing chamber in response to signals received from the carafes if they are placed at respective stations on the machine so that a decaffeinated carafe at any station will receive only decaf and a normal carafe will receive only normal coffee regardless of the station at which it is placed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1992
    Inventor: Edward Helbling
  • Patent number: 5046409
    Abstract: An electric coffee or tea making machine wherein the housing resembles a carafe and has an annular outer chamber for hot beverage and a centrally located chamber for a body of water. The centrally located chamber is located above a heating unit, such as a standard electric resistance heater, a halogen lamp or a heater with one or more thick film conductors, and the heated liquid flows upwardly through a riser to be distributed over a supply of comminuted coffee beans or tea leaves in a removable filtering unit which has an outlet for admission of freshly brewed coffee or tea into the outer chamber. A cover above the filtering unit is threadedly connected to the upper end of the housing to ensure that the interior of the housing can be maintained well above atmospheric pressure without risking escape of hot water or steam. The device for uniformly distributing heated water in the filtering unit can constitute a nozzle or a foraminous top wall above the supply of flavoring agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1991
    Assignee: Robert Krups Stiftung & Co. KG.
    Inventor: Stefan Henn
  • Patent number: 4969393
    Abstract: An electric steam iron, tea making machine of coffee making machine contains a supply of water softening agent which is contacted by tap water issuing from a container whereby the volume of the supply of softening agent increases when its water softening capacity is reduced or exhausted. A monitoring device generates signals when the supply of softening agent expands to indicate that a fresh supply must be inserted into the appliance. The supply can be confined in a bellows, and the monitoring device can be designed to generate visible signals in response to detected expansion of the bellows as a result of a reduction or exhaustion of the water softening capacity of the confined supply of softening agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 13, 1990
    Assignee: Robert Krups Stifting & Co. KG
    Inventors: Gotthard Chr. Mahlick, Michael Borgmann
  • Patent number: 4951556
    Abstract: A coffee brewing apparatus is disclosed which incorporates in its base a neon lamp indicator within a transparent housing which may be operated manually or automatically by a temperature sensing thermal switch to indicate proper brewing temperature and/or steam pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 28, 1990
    Assignee: Smart Kids, Inc.
    Inventor: Norman Ng
  • Patent number: 4936515
    Abstract: A coffee bean delivery and grinding system for producing a charge of ground coffee comprising a bin and hopper for storing coffee beans, an auger being at least partially disposed in the bottom of the hopper, and a grinder having grinding wheels driven by a grinder motor. An auger motor is connected to one end of the auger for turning the auger to convey coffee beans from the hopper to the grinder. A control mechanism is provided for operating the grinder motor and the auger motor during the cycle of operation of the system. The end of the auger opposite the motor is located generally in an opening in the grinder housing such that the end of the auger is adjacent the grinding wheels for feeding coffee beans to the grinding wheels upon initiation of rotation of the auger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 26, 1990
    Assignee: Unidynamics Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew F. Poag, Franklin D. Newkirk
  • Patent number: 4889041
    Abstract: An electric coffee or tea maker wherein a supply of water softening agent is installed in the region of the outlet of a water tank so that the stream of water which is discharged by the tank when the maker is in use is acted upon by the softening agent before it enters the conduit or conduits which convey the stream through an electric heater and thereupon into a receptacle for comminuted coffee beans or tea leaves. This prevents gradual clogging of the conduits with boiler scale. The supply of softening agent can be replenished or replaced. This is determined by looking through an observation window so as to ascertain the color of the softening agent. The color is indicative of the condition of the softening agent, i.e., whether or not the softening agent is still capable of performing its water-softening function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1989
    Assignee: Robert Krups Stiftung & Co. KG
    Inventors: Gotthard C. Mahlich, Michael Borgmann
  • Patent number: 4873918
    Abstract: A utensil specifically designed to boil and strain the water from food items. This utensil also produces a whistle to alert the user when the water has come to a boil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1989
    Inventor: Geri I. Goldman
  • Patent number: 4872402
    Abstract: A coffee brewing unit is disclosed which enables a brew cycle to be initiated automatically upon insertion of a coffee receiving vessel into its coffee receiving position, but which prevents a brew cycle from proceeding if a number of required operating conditions are not implemented. If all operating conditions again become implemented after a brew cycle, once underway, is interrupted, the brew cycle continues on to completion. Visual signals indicate that a brew cycle is in progress and also when sufficient mineral deposits are present that cleaning of the unit is recommended. An insulated carafe is used as the vessel to receive brewed coffee thereby eliminating the need for a warmer plate. The unit may be mounted under a cabinet to thereby maximize usable countertop space and a coffee basket for the unit utilizes a dispensing valve which is opened by the carafe when inserted into position but which closes when the carafe is withdrawn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 10, 1989
    Assignee: Black & Decker Corporation
    Inventors: Paul D. Johnson, Robert E. Kubicko, Louis C. Martone, Gregory E. Moores
  • Patent number: 4872403
    Abstract: The automatic coffee maker has a saddle valve attachment for connecting it to a cold water line via a small plastic water hose, thereby producing an automatic water supply to the coffee maker. The desired number of cups of coffee can be selected and activated using a dial/pushbutton set of controls. A water level indicator on the water reservoir assembly allows the user to automatically refill the automatic coffee maker in accordance with projected demand for coffee. A light indicator provides a visual cue that the automatic water supply valve is activated. An adjustable cup-setting dial and automatic timer allow the user to select the appropriate water level for the number of cups desired. Water can also be poured into the top of the water reservoir assembly for operation when the automatic coffee maker is not connected to the water supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 10, 1989
    Inventors: Michael F. LaGesse, Sally LaGesse
  • Patent number: 4858523
    Abstract: A coffee brewing machine utilizes a microprocessor controller and, preferably, preformed coffee filter packs in which the filter packs form a rectangular array. The microprocessor controller regulates the temperature of the prepared coffee in the reservoir at the base of the machine, the operation of the water distributor in the swingable lid or cover of the machine and of other operating conditions thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1989
    Inventor: Edward Helbling
  • Patent number: 4857897
    Abstract: An alarm which can be used in lieu of the knob of the cover of a teapot or an ordinary pot which provides the capability of sounding a musical alarm when the water temperature inside the teapot or kettle nears the boiling point. The alarm contains a body member, an upper plate, a sensor, a speaker and an electronic assembly. The sensor detects the vapor temperature variations in a teapot through a sensing plate beneath the teapot cover and produces an electrical signal corresponding to the vapor temperature level. This signal is then changed to musical sounds through an electronic assembly when the water nears its boiling point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1989
    Inventor: Mu H. Chen
  • Patent number: 4857758
    Abstract: A hybrid analog and electronic cycle timer has a mechanical movement and cam-operated cycle switch driven by a low-RPM synchronous motor. Electronic control logic divides the power line frequency to obtain pulses for pulsing the synchronous motor. The control logic also includes an activation interval timer and a lockout flip-flop which inhibits the activation interval timer. The activation interval timer is otherwise triggered by closure of the cycle switch. The lockout flip-flop is set after a power failure and at the end of the activation interval, and is reset by a manual reset signal. The activation interval timer may include an activation enable flip-flop and an activation interval counter. The state of the control circuit is conveniently indicated by an indicator which is activated continuously during the activation interval, and which is activated intermittently when the activation interval timer is inhibited by the lockout flip-flop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1989
    Assignee: Worldtronics International
    Inventors: Anthony W. Rigazio, Gerald C. Koehler
  • Patent number: 4843954
    Abstract: A tea making machine wherein the bottom wall of an upper vessel can be used to seal the open top of a lower vessel which contains a supply of water. The upper vessel contains a supply of tea leaves and its bottom wall has an upright tubular portion for a riser with an open upper end in the upper vessel and an open lower end in the lower vessel. The riser is adjustable so that its lower end can be moved to any one of a number of different levels above the bottom of the lower vessel. When the supply of water in the lower vessel is heated, the pressure in the lower vessel rises and boiling water is compelled to flow up the riser and into the upper vessel where it contacts the tea leaves. When the level of the supply of water in the lower vessel descends below the lower end of the riser, such water must be evaporated in order to rise into the upper vessel. The interval which elapses for evaporation determines the steeping time in the upper vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1989
    Assignee: Robert Krups Stiftung & Co. KG
    Inventor: Stefan Henn
  • Patent number: 4841849
    Abstract: An electric siphon coffee maker including a lower container for containing water and an upper container for containing coffee powder is disclosed. The upper container is placed over the lower container so that a water feed tube of the upper container is inserted into the lower container. Heat is applied by a heater to the lower container containing water and the hot water is transferred from the lower container to the upper container by aerial pressure in the lower container. A temperature sensor senses the temperature of a portion of the device, which temperature is increased in accordance with the increase of the temperature of the water contained in the lower container in the case where heat is applied to the lower container. A heater input power control circuit acts to reduce the heater input power in accordance with the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1989
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Nobuo Shimomura, Tomio Hotta
  • Patent number: 4838152
    Abstract: A coffee brewing machine utilizes an insulated carafe to receive the brewed coffee and automatically turns itself off a short time after completion of a brew cycle. The machine also turns off automatically a specified time after a brew cycle is initiated when calcification is so extreme that flow of water through the unit is totally prevented. Additionally, as a safety feature, the system also turns off automatically in the case of a "dry run", that is, a short specified time after accidental energization when no water is in the reservoir. A lamp is lighted when a brew cycle is in progress but is extinguished at other times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1989
    Assignee: Black & Decker
    Inventors: Robert E. Kubicko, Gregory E. Moores, William H. Younger
  • Patent number: 4833978
    Abstract: A coffee brewing unit is disclosed which enables a brew cycle to be initiated manually or automatically at a preset time, but which prevents a brew cycle from proceeding if a number of required operating conditions are not implemented. If all operating conditions again become implemented after a brew cycle, once underway, is interrupted, the brew cycle continues on to completion. Visual and audible signals indicate the current status of the brew cycle and/or of the brewing unit itself. An insulated carafe is used as the vessel to receive brewed coffee thereby eliminating the need for a warmer plate. The unit may be mounted under a cabinet to thereby maximize usable countertop space and the brew basket utilizes a dispensing valve which is opened by the carafe when inserted into position but which closes when the carafe is withdrawn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1989
    Assignee: Black & Decker, Inc.
    Inventors: Louis C. Martone, Robert F. Burkholder, Lars F. Asbjornsen, Luis O. Cavada
  • Patent number: 4829889
    Abstract: A dispenser includes a cartridge moving mechanism and a hopper. The cartridge moving mechanism moves between a cartridge receiving position and an extracting position and between the extracting position and a cartridge exhaust position. The hopper has a dropping unit and is disposed immediately above the cartridge receiving position. The dropping unit serves to drop a cartridge consisting of a fluid-impermeable outer frame and a filters. A space defined between the filters and the outer frame and contains a powdery or granular material to be extracted. An extracting mechanism of the dispenser has an upper extracting head, and a lower extracting head including an extracting tank. The upper extracting head is provided above the extracting position and has an extracting chamber. The extracting tank is provided below the extracting position to face the upper extracting head, and another extracting chamber is formed in the extracting tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1989
    Assignees: Nitto Kohki Co., Ltd., Key Coffee Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirosato Takeuchi, Akira Takanaka, Masanori Nishikiori, Nobuyuki Nozawa, Toshio Sato
  • Patent number: 4827837
    Abstract: For a coffee brewing machine, an indicating system which operates to notify the user when it is time to clean the water supply conduit of accumulated mineral deposits. When a self contained removable reservoir is inserted into its operative position connecting to the water supply conduit, it closes the contacts of a temperature sensitive switch. During normal operation, the switch opens when water is depleted from the reservoir and the brewing cycle is completed. However, if the switch opens while water remains in the supply conduit upstream of the heater mechanism, this is a sure indication that there is a substantial accumulation of mineral deposits in the supply conduit. Thus, a sensing mechanism is employed to detect the presence of water in the supply conduit after the temperature sensitive switch opens, and a lamp is energized to indicate the condition. In one embodiment, the sensing operation is performed by an electromechanical device, and in another embodiment by logic circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1989
    Assignee: Black & Decker, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul D. Johnson, Robert E. Kubicko, Louis C. Martone, Gregory E. Moores
  • Patent number: 4825759
    Abstract: An ADC coffee maker has a brewed coffee container and a cold water compartment surrounding part of the brewed coffee container located in a single housing. The coffee maker housing includes an upper housing member made from a thermoplastic material and a lower housing made from a thermoplastic material and forming the lower part of the brewed coffee container, such lower part being closed by a stainless steel warmer plate. A cold water fill port is located adjacent the upper end of the brewed coffee container. A uniquely constructed brew basket is provided and a uniquely constructed lid that covers the brewed coffee container and the fill port is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1989
    Assignee: WearEver-ProctorSilex, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald C. Grome, Joseph F. Moore, Terry L. Myers, Thomas J. Ryan, Kenneth E. Wilkinson
  • Patent number: 4825758
    Abstract: A coffee and/or tea disperser having a cold water reservoir connected to a water heater which is connected in turn to a spray head. Below the head is a container for a bed of coffee grains or tea leaves and below which again is a tank for the infused beverage. Cups of freshly infused coffee or tea can be metered from the tank by a dispensing valve. In order to ensure that the amount of coffee dispensed does not vary by any significant amount as the head of liquid in the tank varies, the tank is disposed above the surface on which the cup rests by a distance, measured from the maximum head of liquid in the tank to said datum, which is at least six times the maximum displacement of liquid in the tank. Moreover the tank is wide and low. The tank is preferably dismountable for easy cleaning and level probes normally protruding into the tank are arranged to be swung out of the tank to assist dismounting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1989
    Assignee: W. M. Still & Sons Limited
    Inventors: Malcolm R. Snowball, Cecil Hayes
  • Patent number: 4793246
    Abstract: A beverage maker for coffee or the like operated electrically and in which the water container is resilient so that it is expandable within the confines of the beverage maker so that a greater beverage capacity is achieved selectively. The beverage is made by pumping up the water from a lower compartment to an upper compartment having the flavored substance therein wherein the water drips through the flavored substance and through apertures in the upper container to an annular receptacle surrounding the expandable water container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1988
    Inventor: George Barradas
  • Patent number: 4793244
    Abstract: A coffee brewing machine includes a housing having a front wall, a viewing window provided on the front wall, and a coffee brewing compartment adjacent the window in the front wall. The coffee brewing compartment includes a pouring assembly in a pour area. The elongated duct extends along an edge of the window and adjacent the brewing compartment. The duct has an inlet opening adjacent the pour area and inlet openings adjacent the windows. A vacuum pump is provided at the other end of the duct, and an exhaust opening is provided in a wall of the housing communicating with the duct and vacuum pump so that vapors being formed in the brewing compartment and the pour area as well as the window are withdrawn by negative pressure through the duct and exhausted outboard of the coffee brewing machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1988
    Assignee: Vendking International Ltee
    Inventor: Alan M. King
  • Patent number: 4790239
    Abstract: A method and system for brewing one or more hot beverages, such as gourmet coffees. The gourmet coffee is brewed, at a brewing temperature, in the liners of a brewing urn. After brewing, the coffee can be transferred to any one of three storage tanks by means of manual or solenoid valves, and, if desired, a gravity-assist pump. The shelf-life of the brewed coffee is increased substantially when stored at a serving temperature which is lower than the brewing temperature. Coffee contained in feed lines leading from each of the storage tanks passes through a pressurizing line to a tap tower located to provide efficient service to the coffee-purchasing customers. Hot water from the water jacket of the brewing urn is circulated in hot water lines retained in close proximity to the feed lines between storage tanks and the tap tower, thereby keeping the coffee in the feed lines at a desirable serving temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1988
    Assignee: Starbucks Corporation
    Inventor: Alan R. Hewitt
  • Patent number: 4787299
    Abstract: The invention concerns a detection and display device for automatic service expresso coffee machine which automatically outputs and displays water or ground coffee doses according to the capacity of the filter-holder bowl engaged on the bowl-holder of the coffee machine.Detection and display are obtained by means of an actuator-detector system generating electric signals, such as one or more magnetic elements (5) mounted on filter-holder bowl (1) and a Hall effect detector (A) mounted on bowl-holder (11) of the coffee grinder or coffee machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1988
    Inventors: Mario Levi, Jean-Pierre Levi
  • Patent number: 4784050
    Abstract: An apparatus for preparing "espresso" coffee in a household environment comprises a powder coffee metering dispenser assembly, a hot water dispenser assembly, an emptying device for the cup-like percolator movable along guide-forming means extending below said powder coffee metering dispenser assembly, said hot water dispenser assembly and said emptying device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1988
    Inventors: Alfredo Cavalli, deceased, by Cesarina Filippi, heir, by Massimo F. Cavalli, heir, by Silvia Cavalli, heir
  • Patent number: 4763566
    Abstract: A manually operated coffee-making machine comprises, water storage reservoir and a hand-operated pump element which extends into the interior of the reservoir. The pump element is actuatable from the exterior of the reservoir. The delivery side of the pumping element is connected to an infusion chamber assembly which accommodates the coffee powder and is in communication with a dispensing tap opening to the exterior of the reservoir. An hydraulic accummulator is also provided. This hydraulic accummulator branches off a conduit connecting the delivery side of the pumping element to the infusion chamber assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1988
    Assignee: SPIDEM S.r.l.
    Inventor: Luciano Paoletti
  • Patent number: 4762055
    Abstract: A coffee maker includes a water reservoir, a drip case for containing coffee powder, a heating pipe for heating water fed from the water reservoir through one of two ends thereof and for feeding hot water to the drip case from the other end, a heater for applying heat to the heating pipe through a heat-transferring plate to cause the hot water to flow through the heating pipe to the end communicating to the drip case, by the force of boiling pressure, a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of the heat-transferring plate, a first comparator for deciding a time period required to increase the temperature of the heat-transferring plate to reach a predetermined value, in response to a decision signal from the temperature sensor, and a second comparator for comparing the time period decided by the first comparator with a predetermined value to produce an alarm signal in case that the time period decided by the first comparator takes a smaller value than the predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1988
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Nobuo Shimomura
  • Patent number: 4759274
    Abstract: A coffee maker includes a housing which supports a fresh water container above a receptacle for the coffee. A resistive heating element is mounted in the container to heat the water. The bottom of the container is provided by a downwardly sloping element having an outlet to release heated water to a filter vessel which is releasably connected to the bottom element by a bayonet lock. The filter vessel has an upper rim which is pressed toward an annular shoulder on the underside of the bottom element to create a seal, so that a bubble forms beneath the bottom element when coffee is being brewed. The upper side of the bottom element has arms which mount a temperature-sensitive bimetallic snap element over the outlet. A resilient stopper is mounted on the snap element and is raised from the outlet by the snap element when the water is hot enough for coffee.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1988
    Assignee: Melitta-Werke Bentz & Sohn
    Inventor: Heinrich Schmidt
  • Patent number: 4704954
    Abstract: A compact self-contained compact hot beverage or drip coffee maker is provided which includes a base unit suitable to contain water for heating and a water heating unit. In the travel or storage mode, a hot beverage holder, a beverage mix storage container, at least one beverage drinking cup, and a beverage filter basket/filler assembly are internested in the base unit in order to provide a compact unit suitable for storage in a travel bag. In the brew mode, the coffee maker kit provides gourmet quality drip coffee.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1987
    Inventor: David V. Mollenhoff
  • Patent number: 4682537
    Abstract: A coffee and/or tea dispenser having a cold water reservoir connected to a water heater which is connected in turn to a spray head. Below the head is a container for a bed of coffee grains or tea leaves and below which again is a tank for the infused beverage. Cups of freshly infused coffee or tea can be metered from the tank by a dispensing valve. In order to ensure the head of liquid applied to the valve is within reduced limits the tank is wide and low. The tank is preferably dismountable for easy cleaning and level probes normally protruding into the tank are arranged to be swung out of the tank to assist dismounting. The dispensing valve is preferably formed with a flexible liquid conduit squeezed between three abutments so that the tube is not clamped but rather distorted into a closed state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1987
    Assignee: W. M. Still & Sons Limited
    Inventors: Malcolm R. Snowball, Cecil Hayes
  • Patent number: 4676149
    Abstract: A coffee-making and dispensing machine wherein coffee discharges from a brewing funnel into a reservoir from which increments of coffee are withdrawn through a dispensing spout into consumers' cups. The brewing funnel and reservoir are insertable and removable through the front access side of the machine into a reservoir compartment. The dispensing spout is located at the lower portion of the front access side and receives coffee from the reservoir through a conduit. A sight glass is also connected by a conduit providing communication with the reservoir. A quick connect-disconnect fluid-tight connection is provided between the reservoir and the inlet to the conduits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1987
    Assignee: Bunn-O-Matic Corporation
    Inventor: Kenneth W. Stover
  • Patent number: 4665808
    Abstract: Described is a coffee percolator having a reservoir provided with means for sensing the filling level of coffee meal therein. The filling level sensing means comprises an electro-optical sensor secured to the outer side of the reservoir across a corner formed by portions of a sidewall and a bottom wall. An emitter and a receiver of said electro-optical sensor are disposed along an optical axis extending through the interior of the reservoir substantially diagonally across the corner, the sidewall and the bottom wall being optically transparent at least at the locations whereat the optical axis passes therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1987
    Assignee: Wuerttembergische Metallwarenfabrik AG.
    Inventor: Peter Pulvermuller
  • Patent number: 4653390
    Abstract: A beverage brewing apparatus of the infusion type in which a hot water tank contains several infusion charges, the tank is connected at the top to a conduit extending to an infusion sprayer over a pan containing granular matter to be infused, replenishing water is supplied to the bottom of the tank and is used to force a top charge of water in the tank into the pan, a heater for the tank is controlled by a lower thermostat in the tank and an upper thermostat indicates when the top charge is at the correct temperature for infusion to take place. The arrangements ensure a ready supply of hot water for further infusions while reducing the instant power requirements for the heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1987
    Assignee: W. M. Still & Sons Limited
    Inventor: Cecil Hayes
  • Patent number: 4621571
    Abstract: A satellite coffee brewing system (10) includes a central brewing unit (11) cooperative with a plurality of like satellite receptacle units (12) for the storage and dispensing of hot coffee while positioned with the central brewing unit or at remote stations in a restaurant. The central brewing unit (11) comprises a siphon-type hot water system that directs the hot brewing water to an adjustable brew chamber (14) which is capable of discharging coffee in at least two different orientations whereby to alternately fill satellite units (12) arranged at any of said filling orientation. The central brewing unit includes a by-pass valve (44) capable of directing a portion of the hot water to by-pass the coffee grounds held inside a filter (50) in the brew chamber (14) by a basket (49) and spacers (47) so that the by-pass water flows around the filter (50) and into the satellite receptacle whereby the coffee grounds are prevented from being overextracted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1986
    Assignee: Bloomfield Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Melvin F. Roberts
  • Patent number: 4572060
    Abstract: This invention concerns about an automatic coffee boiler, especially one that can feed automatically a certain amount of coffee powder and boil the coffee powder with a certain quantity of water vapor previously fixed. Its main characteristics is to use two time adjusters in a controlled circuit to respectively set a period of time for activating a coffee feeding device and an electric heater in water tank, and also to use a sequence controlling circuit which can automatically activate in sequence the coffee powder feeder, the heater in the water tank and a music alarm. Through the above-mentioned devices, coffee powder can be automatically fed out and boiled with vapor to become liquid coffee ready for drinking.One of the other specialities of this invention is that an electromagnetic valve set at the outlet of the coffee feeding device is able to act simultaneously with said coffee feeding device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1986
    Inventor: Wei Y. Yung-Kuan
  • Patent number: 4566374
    Abstract: A coffee maker comprises a housing and a water tank supported by the housing. Included are a filter device and a flow heater having a heating element for heating water from the water tank and feeding the same to the filter device, the flow heater being positioned within the housing. A thermal cut-out is associated with the flow heater, and an on/off indicator lamp is situated adjacent the thermal cut-out. Provision is made for actuating the thermal cut-out and includes an actuator button having an opening and an actuating arm made of a transparent material and serving as a light guide when the indicator lamp is on, one end of the actuating arm being located near the indicator lamp and the other end of the actuating arm projecting through the opening in the actuator button.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1984
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1986
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Pieter W. Medema, Elmo I. Benjamins
  • Patent number: RE34473
    Abstract: An ADC coffee maker has a brewed coffee container and a cold water compartment surrounding part of the brewed coffee container located in a single housing. The coffee maker housing includes an upper housing member made from a thermoplastic material and a lower housing made from a thermoplastic material and forming the lower part of the brewed coffee container, such lower part being closed by a stainless steel warmer plate. A cold water fill port is located adjacent the upper end of the brewed coffee container. A uniquely constructed brew basket is provided and a uniquely constructed lid that covers the brewed coffee container and the fill port is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1993
    Assignee: Hamilton Beach/Proctor-Silex, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Ryan, Donald C. Grome, Joseph F. Moore, Kenneth E. Wilkinson, Terry L. Myers