Abstract: A machine is provided for preparing a desired beverage product from infusible materials. The machine includes a brew chamber that is adapted to hold the infusible materials, the brew chamber having an inlet and an outlet. An inlet tube is provided for transferring a fluid from a fluid receptacle to the inlet of the brew chamber and a dispensing tube is provided for transferring fluid from the outlet of the brew chamber to the receptacle. A fluid pump is provided for recirculating fluid through the brew chamber. In another aspect, a machine is provided for preparing a desired beverage product containing a gas. The machine includes a fluid pump for recirculating fluid from a fluid receptacle through an inlet tube to a dispensing tube and back to said fluid receptacle. The machine further includes an air pump disposed between the inlet tube and the fluid pump for introducing air into said beverage fluid that is recirculated by said fluid pump. A pod for use with the machine is also provided.

Abstract: A beverage preparation machine for dispensing beverages from beverage cartridges containing one or more beverage ingredients, the beverage preparation machine comprising means for receiving, in use, a beverage cartridge and means for passing water through the beverage cartridge to thereby produce a beverage, the beverage preparation machine further comprising a code reader for interpreting a code provided on or in the beverage cartridge.

Abstract: A cartridge containing one serving of coffee powder for preparing a coffee beverage comprises a cartridge body having a cup-like shaped lower portion and a cover portion; the cup-like shaped lower portion having a bottom portion and a upper region; and a lower filter element located inside the cup-like shaped lower portion between the coffee powder and the bottom portion; in which the interior of the cup-like shaped lower portion of the cartridge is provided with engaging means, and in which the lower filter element is provided with a peripheral edge portion engaging the engaging means for clampingly fix the lower filter element to the cup-like shaped lower portion of the cartridge. In the preferred embodiments the engaging means are constituted by a groove provided in the interior or the exterior of the cup-shaped lower portion.

Abstract: A spray distribution assembly (14) for a hot beverage brewer (10) with a spray head (20) having a generally vertical passageway (22) for receipt of hot water and an umbrella-like member (34) with an underlying spray plate (38) having a downwardly, outwardly tapered top surface with radiating, outwardly, downwardly directed, upwardly facing grooves and an upwardly standing central core (58) snuggly received within the passageway (22) joined to the underside of the top of the umbrella-like member (34) with a plurality of vertical radially, outwardly facing grooves (68) extending from the top to the bottom to form a plurality of peripheral closed channels for passing hot water to upwardly facing grooves (74) of the umbrella-like body. The umbrella-like spray plate assembly may be attached to a cup shaped spray housing (144) in lieu of a flat spray plate (142) by means of a mounting adapter (158).

Abstract: The brewing system disclosed herein includes a moving inlet nozzle for use in intermixing hot water and coffee in a coffee cartridge. The inlet nozzle may include one or more flow ports that inject hot water into an inner chamber of the coffee cartridge at select angles, locations and pressures to create the desired fluidized mixture of hot water and beverage medium.

Abstract: An oven serves for heat-treating food pieces laid upon a grid in a cabinet by a heat source. The grid has an upper part of an endless chain running around a number of chain supports of which a lower and upper support defines a lower and upper end of the upper chain part. Portions of food pieces such as French fries can be quickly and easily heat-treated in rapid succession in this oven in a simple and economical manner.

Abstract: A coffeemaker including a shower head comprising at least one first hole for dispensing water in a downward direction; and a diverter located below the shower head. The diverter includes at least one second hole for substantially gravity only feed of the water from the shower head in the downward direction towards a coffee grounds pod. The at least one second hole is horizontally offset relative to the at least one first hole to allow velocity of the water from the shower head to decrease before exiting the at least one second hole.

Abstract: A coffee maker comprises a base, a main body, a filter unit, a sprinkling unit, and an upper cover. Mortises, a positioning groove, and a lower socket are disposed at the top and two sides of the base, respectively. The mortises, the positioning groove, and the lower socket correspond to tenons, a positioning post, and an upper socket at the lower portion of the main body to facilitate connection, dismantlement, and cleaning of the base and the main body. A transparent window is disposed at the front side of the main body, and an inner glass container is disposed in the main body. The filter unit and the sprinkling unit are received in the inner glass container. Through the transparent window and the inner glass container, one can view the situation of brewing coffee in the inner glass container, hence enhancing the fun of brewing coffee.

Abstract: A coffee maker comprises a base, a main body, a filter unit, a sprinkling unit, and an upper cover. Mortises, a positioning groove, and a lower socket are disposed at the top and two sides of the base, respectively. The mortises, the positioning groove, and the lower socket correspond to tenons, a positioning post, and an upper socket at the lower portion of the main body to facilitate connection, dismantlement, and cleaning of the base and the main body. A transparent window is disposed at the front side of the main body, and an inner glass container is disposed in the main body. The filter unit and the sprinkling unit are received in the inner glass container. Through the transparent window and the inner glass container, one can view the situation of brewing coffee in the inner glass container, hence enhancing the fun of brewing coffee.

Abstract: Described is a coffee machine (1) comprising a brewing member (5, 5′), a support surface (15) for ground coffee and a member (3, 6, 7) for applying water to the ground coffee, in which it is possible to level off the ground coffee positioned on the support surface (15) in a constructionally simple and generally applicable manner to obtain a layer having a substantially uniform thickness. To this end there is provided a member (22, 24, 25, 122, 222, 322) which guides water in a purposefully non-uniform manner over the ground coffee such that the ground coffee is distributed over the support surface (15) in a layer having a substantially uniform thickness.

Abstract: A lid mounting structure for opening/closing and connecting/disconnecting the lid of, e.g. a pot, thermos bottle, electronic jar, and the like, wherein are provided a fastening unit and a bearing unit engaged with each other and formed at the periphery of the mouth of the vessel to which the lid is mounted; a spindle held in the bearing unit and inserted in a groove formed in the fastening unit; a fastening member disposed in the fastening unit for fastening the spindle inserted in the groove and for preventing extraction of the spindle; and an urging device provided in direction of fastening of the fastening member to the spindle inserted in the groove; thereby to securely prevent falling off of the lid from the mouth when the lid is turned, and to enable easy simple operation of connecting and disconnecting the lid from the vessel.

Abstract: A brewing pot for tea includes a container including an upper portion having a top rim defining at least one cavity, and a lower portion defining a chamber, and an abutting edge formed between the upper portion and the lower portion. A supporting base supported on the abutting edge includes an upright post. A cylindrical body is slidably mounted on the supporting base and includes a top portion formed with an annular flange and a bottom portion defining a socket. At least one block is formed on the annular flange and abuts on the top rim of the container, and a control ball is received in the socket. The cylindrical body and the supporting base can be rotated relative to the container to a position where the block is received in the cavity such that the body can be moved downward relative to the supporting base while the control ball can be moved toward the post such that the control ball can be urged by the post to rise from the socket.

Abstract: A coffee brewing assembly preferably of the percolation type having a cover assembly that releasably receives a disposable coffee containing annular insert, insertable upwardly into the cover assembly. A percolation tube is fixed to the cover assembly and its end engages and strikes-out a removal tab from the insert as the user slides the insert over and up the tube into an annular recess in the underside of the cover assembly. The coffee insert is also unique and includes an annular semi-rigid frame that holds an annular filter-coffee packet. The insert frame has flanges or projections that snap over cooperating flanges in the cover assembly that suspend the frame in the cover assembly annular recess.

Abstract: The In-Car Coffee Maker allows the driver of a motor vehicle to brew a cup or other single portion of brewed beverage without taking attention from the road. The device is stabilized by an anchored base. There is a rotatable holder clamp to level the coffee maker on an uneven floor or other surface of a motor vehicle, and an interlock mechanism prevents commencement of the brewing cycle unless the drinking cup is applied in proper position adjacent the coffee maker. A showerhead configuration above a brewing chamber allows heated water to dispersably contact a prepackaged filter containing beverage precursor particles. A thermostat control causes automatic shut-off when a single portion has brewed. A water reservoir is removable and resealable. Splash guard features are provided in the drinking cup for safety.

Abstract: A vacuum bottle of the electric heater type includes a body having a tubular outer shell and a tubular inner shell disposed within the outer shell to form a hermetically sealed thermal insulation vacuum space therebetween. A tubular connecting member has an open lower end and an upper end wall having an aperture formed therethrough. The upper end wall of the connecting member is fixedly hermetically secured to a lower surface of a bottom wall of the inner shell with the apertures therein in communication, and the tubular connecting member is fitted in an aperture of a bottom wall of the outer shell and fixedly hermetically secured thereto adjacent to the open lower end thereof to hold the bottom walls of the inner and outer shells in spaced sealed relation to each other. An electric heater is mounted within the inner shell for heating contents of the inner shell.

Abstract: A percolator/dispenser is disclosed which includes an insulated container having a hinged lid. A percolator heater tube and basket are mounted inside the container, and a manually operated pressure pump is included in the lid of the container. This pressure pump operates to pump air from outside the container to the inside of the container when operated. A discharge spout is movable between a vented position, a pump position, and a sealed position. A pressure lock system prevents the spout from being moved from the sealed position to the pump position when excessive pressure is present within the container. A lid stop system prevents the lid from being closed when the spout is in the pump position. A lid lock system prevents the lid from being opened when the container is pressurized.

Abstract: A percolator/dispenser is disclosed which includes an insulated container having a hinged lid. A percolator heater, tube, and basket are mounted inside the container, and a manually operated pressure pump is included in the lid of the container. This pressure pump operates to pump air from the outside of the container to the inside of the container when operated. A discharge spout is movable between (1) a vented position, in which a vent path is provided between the spout and an upper portion of the interior of the container, (2) a dispensing position, in which the spout is connected to a tube which extends down to a lower portion of the interior of the container, and (3) a sealed position, in which the spout is sealed. An interlock is provided which insures that the percolator can not be activated unless the spout is in the vented position, thereby automatically preventing overpressurization of the insulated container due to inadequate venting during operation of the percolator.

Abstract: A percolator/dispenser is disclosed which includes an insulated container having a hinged lid. A percolator heater, tube, and basket are mounted inside the container, and a manually operated pressure pump is included in the lid of the container. This pressure pump operates to pump air from the outside of the container to the inside of the container when operated. A normally open vent path is provided between a spout of the container and the upper portion of the interior of the container. When the manually operated pump is operated, a vent valve is controlled to close this vent path in order to seal the container such that air introduced into the container by means of the pump operates to force liquid out of the spout of the container.

Abstract: A coffee brewing device of the percolator type. Fundamentally, the invention comprises a pot for receiving liquid therein and having positioned at the bottom thereof a cylindrical pump member characterized by an essentially flat top and by a tubular pump chamber of greater radial length than the vertical depth of the pump chamber at the top of the pump member. Six to ten uniform holes or orifices of a total area of between about 0.0258 and 0.043 square inches are provided in uniformly spaced relationship about the bottom of the pump assembly. Received within the pump is a dual element fat-topped heater consisting of a core having two heating element wires wrapped thereabout in a parallel spiraling fashion. The flat top of the pump member is spaced from between 1/16" and 1/8" from the flat top of the heater.

Abstract: Better coffee is made in a conventional percolator when the percolator is heated on a metal heating plate having a planar top surface and a locating recess centered in the surface. A small metal spacer having two oppositely directed, substantially planer and parallel faces is provided with a fixed locating projection on one of its faces. The dimensions of the projection permit it to be slidably received in the locating recess of the plate so that the bottom face of the spacer makes heat-transmitting area contact with the surface of the plate. When a water-filled percolator is placed on the top surface of the heating plate in the absence of the spacer, the water may be quickly heated almost to a boil. When the spacer then is inserted and the percolator centered on the top face of the spacer, direct heating of the water in the percolator is limited to water in the pumping assembly of the percolator during coffee brewing.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for improving coffee grounds usage wherein a removable insert means is provided for confining coffee grounds within a substantially annular area of a coffee grounds receptacle. In an alternative embodiment, a coffee grounds receptacle for a coffee maker is provided, having an inner spacer means whereby coffee grounds are confined to an annular area between the inner spacer means and the outer wall of the receptacle. In each of the embodiments, the insert means or the coffee grounds receptacle is provided with an aperture means for accommodating a tube conveying rising hot liquid to an area above the coffee grounds, and further includes a plug for the aperture means so that the insert or coffee grounds receptacle is adapted to be used in a drip-type coffee maker.

Abstract: A filter for liquids and particularly coffee comprises a container having a planar horizontal base formed with at least one filtrate drainage opening, and on its inner face formed with a plurality of radial ribs and a central support member which together support a generally planar filter element of thin sheet material in spaced parallel relationship to the base. In use the arrangement produces a toroidal circulation of liquid which prevents compaction of the filter cake and reduces clogging of the filter element.

Abstract: A container or reservoir for liquid to be heated, has a pump well and heater assembly secured to and depending from the bottom wall of the container, and a pump and pump tube assembly can be positively locked on the well for pumping function but is easily and quickly removable for cleaning or replacement. The assembly is locked on the well by a retainer plate fixed to an outer pump tube and having locking portions coactive with locking portions on the side wall of the well, with said outer tube being telescopically slidable and rotatable on an inner pump tube which carries a pump plate to seat in the well and a valve disk co-operative with said valve plate. A compression spring is disposed between the retainer plate and the pump plate locking portions to hold the retainer plate interlocked with the well locking portions and to hold the pump plate seated in the well.

Abstract: An electric percolator having a liquid containing section formed from an assembly of glass and other materials fixed together by means of a locking collar. The lid of the percolator is held in place by means of a quick-release latching mechanism which prevents the lid from being disengaged by the lifting motion normally used to open a lid and instead requires a twisting motion which rapidly releases the lid. Simplified electrical circuitry in the percolator utilizes a single lamp that indicates both the "Brewing" and the "Keep Warm" modes of percolator operation.A method is also set forth for assembling a composite apparatus having a glass component which does not require threading, strapping or gluing of the glass component.