Abstract: Apparatus for brewing a beverage is disclosed. Typically, the brewed beverage is coffee, but it might be hot tea, iced tea, or soup. The beverage is brewed by delivering heated brew water to a product to be brewed by passing the heated brew water through the product to extract flavor therefrom. The brewed product is dispensed into a brewed beverage container. The apparatus includes a microprocessor, a controllable inlet valve for water entering the apparatus, and a controllable brew valve for delivery of heated brew water to the product. The inlet valve and the brew valve are under the control of the microprocessor, so that they may be opened or closed in keeping with signals sent thereto by the microprocessor. There is a control panel for the microprocessor, having a plurality of switches, each of which has a designated primary function for controlling a specific predesignated operating function of the brewing apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus for brewing a selected quantity of a brewed beverage comprises a water heater tank having a heating element, a water supply line having an inlet valve and an outlet disposed within the water heater tank adjacent the bottom, a water level sensor mounted within the water heater tank to activate the inlet valve when the level of water within the tank is below a controlled water level, and a temperature control to maintain water in a region adjacent the controlled water level within a predetermined temperature range. A brew chamber retains product therein. Heated brew water passes through the product in order to extract flavor therefrom. The heated brew water passes from the brew chamber into the brewed beverage container. A heated brew water outlet is disposed in water dispensing relation to the brew chamber and has a brew water valve to control the flow of heated brew water therefrom.

Abstract: A control system for a coffee brewer having a microprocessor in which the water heated in the heater tank must be a predetermined temperature before brewing. A double brewing cycle is prevented. Upon the system not being activated for a period of time, i.e., the water temperature is allowed to drop a greater magnitude for energy saving and component protection.

Abstract: A control system for a coffee brewer having a microprocessor in which the water heated in the heater tank must be a predetermined temperature before brewing. A double brewing cycle is prevented. Upon the system not being activated for a period of time, i.e., the water temperature is allowed to drop a greater magnitude for energy saving and component protection.

Abstract: A glass container for holding hot liquids and having a shatter resistant plastic coating which resists fragmenting of the glass and which is serviceable for containers that are subjected to intermittent heating and cooling during use.

Abstract: An improved decanter vessel formed of a rigid receptacle and a pouring spout unit permanently engaged about the neck of the receptacle. The pouring spout unit has formed therein an internal annular cavity shaped to accommodate the neck of the receptacle. The receptacle and pouring spout unit are joined by a flexible material which surrounds the neck portion of the receptacle forming a mechanical lock between the neck portion and the pouring spout unit. During assembly of the decanter, the flexible material is in a liquid state to facilitate joining of the receptacle and the pouring spout unit and assure that the material evenly and completely surrounds the neck and fills the annular cavity. The flexible material solidifies after assembly of the decanter vessel.

Abstract: A tea brewer which automatically inlets a proportion of dilute water and brewing water to a siphon system to brew an extract for blending with the diluting water. The tea brewer includes a hot water tank having a volume of heated water therein and a fill tube for receiving a volume of cold water at the bottom of the hot water tank commensurate with the amount of hot water required to be siphoned therefrom to brew the tea leaves and make the extract. A vent for the hot water tank is provided to ensure that the full amount of hot water is siphoned. A cold water inlet line to the hot water tank is vented whereby to prevent cold water from being siphoned back along the cold water inlet line during the end of the cycle. The tea brewer further includes a line restrictor for creating a venturi effect along the dilute water inlet line. A needle valve is maintained at a slight back pressure in order to prevent starving the cold water inlet line carrying the displacement volume of cold water to the hot water tank.

Abstract: An improved brew chamber with filter spacer and support frame for use in an electric coffeemaker. The support frame being resiliently engagable within said brew chamber to be spaced from the chamber bottom whereby filter paper may be received within said brew chamber for receipt therein of a load of fresh ground coffee. During receipt of hot brewing water the filter paper is spaced above the bottom of the brew chamber and is prevented from sagging and clogging the brew chamber so that extracted coffee freely flows through said filter paper and outwardly of the brew chamber through an outlet orifice. The brew chamber and support frame are made of stainless steel and are resiliently engagable whereby used coffee grounds and filter paper may be discarded therefrom without accidental disengagement of the support frame.

Abstract: An improved beverage-making device, particularly useful for brewing coffee, provides a safety thermostat arrangement for quickly detecting excessive temperatures of a hot water container generally near a heating element arranged therein. A running thermostat provides a self-supporting sensing tube means in cooperation with a capillary tube and thermostat which detect the mean temperature of the hot water and are responsive to a narrow range of temperature variations within the hot water container. The improvement further includes a tap-off hot water system which provides hot water separately and independently of the brewing water heated in said container. The system is connected upstream of the cold water inlet valve of the device and directs cold water into a water coil means residing within the hot water container. Outlet pipe means convey heated water from the coil to an outlet faucet projecting exteriorly of the device.

Abstract: The hot water storing container of a beverage making device is provided with a high wattage electric immersion heating element having a plurality of coil loops located in the lower portion of the container and extending around the interior of the container near the side wall thereof. A running thermostat controls the heating element to maintain the stored water at a predetermined temperature. A manually resettable safety thermostat in series with the running thermostat is resiliently biased against the exterior of the container side wall at or below the midpoint height thereof and close to the upper coil loop of the heating element for deactivating the heating element upon sensing of an excessive container side wall temperature.

Abstract: The hot water container of a beverage-making device is provided with a removable cover sealed thereto and has arranged therein, an electric immersion coil-type heating element controlled by a running thermostat and a safety thermostat for heating a volume of cold water admitted into the container through an inlet tube extending through the cover and controlled by a timed inlet valve, the hot water being discharged from the container at a brewing station through a siphon tube also extending through the cover. An improved running thermostat, sensing tube and mounting system is provided for sensing temperature variations in a range of less than 6.degree. F. whereby to be quickly responsive to temperature changes and thereby activate and de-activate the heating element, which is arranged in electric communication therewith. The improved running thermostat system includes a thin, elongate generally self-supporting sensing tube having a diameter no greater than about 0.

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.

Abstract: An improved beverage-making device, particularly useful for brewing coffee, provides a safety thermostat arrangement for quickly detecting excessive temperatures of a hot water container generally near a heating element arranged therein. A running thermostat provides a self-supporting sensing tube means in cooperation with a capillary tube and thermostat which detect the mean temperature of the hot water and are responsive to a narrow range of temperature variations within the hot water container. The improvement further includes a tap-off hot water system which provides hot water separately and independently of the brewing water heated in said container. The system is connected upstream of the cold water inlet valve of the device and directs cold water into a water coil means residing within the hot water container. Outlet pipe means convey heated water from the coil to an outlet faucet projecting exteriorly of the device.

Abstract: The hot water container of a beverage making device is provided with a removable cover sealed thereto and has arranged therein an electric immersion heating element controlled by a running thermostat and a safety thermostat for heating a volume of cold water admitted into the container through an inlet tube extending through the cover and controlled by a timed inlet valve, the hot water being discharged from the container at a brewing station through a syphon tube also extending through the cover.

Abstract: A decanter vessel formed of a rigid receptacle and a pouring spout unit matingly engaged about the neck of the receptacle in a sealing fashion. The pouring spout has formed therein an internal annular cavity shaped to accommodate the neck portion of the receptacle. The receptacle and pouring spout are joined by a flexible adhesive material which surrounds the neck portion of the receptacle forming both an adhesive and a mechanical bond between the receptacle and the pouring spout, sealing their junction to prevent leakage of liquid therebetween. During assembly of the decanter, the flexible adhesive material is in a liquid state to facilitate joining of the receptacle and pouring spout and assure that the material evenly and completely surrounds the neck portion and fills the annular cavity. The flexible adhesive material solidifies after assembly of the decanter vessel.

Abstract: A coffee-making apparatus of the pour-over type wherein the liquid for brewing coffee is contained in an electrically heated state within an upright container and is siphoned out when cold liquid is introduced into the container; the apparatus having a hot water container, the cover of which covers and seals the same while at the same time providing a support for a water inlet, a siphon outlet, a vent, and all the electrical components necessary for heating the liquid.

Abstract: A portable apparatus for use in deliming conduits and containers and other devices utilizing a water supply in which deposits of lime occur during use, with the apparatus providing a directional valve structure in the water supply line and a reusable container of deliming solution, with the container having conduits providing quick connectors by which the container is readily attached to and detached from the directional valve in the water supply line of the apparatus requiring deliming.