Abstract: An automatic beverage brewing apparatus for automatically brewing beverages such as coffee. The apparatus includes a brew chamber assembly with a throat in a top portion, a drain in a bottom portion, and a filter position therebetween. A movable piston is provided to controllably open and close the throat and drain during brewing and flushing cycles. A discharge line from the brew chamber has a controllable discharge valve to direct flow from the brew chamber through a dispensing line, a waste line, or to prevent flow through either line. Water may be controllably accumulated in the brew chamber by controlling the discharge valve to prevent flow through either line. At the initiation of the brewing cycle the valve is operated to block the dispensing line and the waste line, whereupon a brewing substance and brewing water are introduced into the brew chamber. The brewing substance floats on and steeps in the brewing water which is accumulated in the brew chamber.

Abstract: A beverage brewing apparatus which employs a water control assembly, a moisture recovery assembly, an improved thermostatic and low water sensor configuration and an easily removable sprayhead. The control assembly controllably regulates the flow of water from the fill basin into the reservoir using a valve which is interconnected with a lid covering a fill opening in the hood portion. Water from the basin will not flow into the reservoir, and thus will not produce a brewed beverage, until the lid is closed by the user. The moisture recovery assembly employs a baffle opening and a collection portion on a vent to return condensation which may accumulate on the vent to the fill basin. A sleeve is positioned in the fill water opening in the hood portion to collect condensation and to reduce the surface area of the water which may be affected by air movements through the brewing apparatus.

Abstract: A tray assembly for use in receiving and retaining used moist brewing substances and the like from a beverage brewing apparatus and separating a liquid portion therefrom. The tray assembly is in communication with an entry port which deposits moist brewing substances therein. A drain line in the brewing apparatus carries separated liquids away from said tray assembly. The tray assembly includes a tray body, a liquid separation portion retained in said tray body for drawing off liquids from moist brewing substances, and a controllably sealable tray valve assembly attached to the tray body and operatively engaging the drain line for draining liquids from the tray assembly. A first area in the tray body between the entry port and the liquid separation portion communicates with the entry port and defines a receiving and retaining space. A second area in the tray body between the liquid separating portion and the valve assembly communicates with the tray valve assembly and defines a liquid collection space.

Abstract: A pitcher for holding and serving liquids including a jar portion, a ring member engageable with the jar portion, and a cover assembly engageably with the ring member. A rim portion of the cover assembly is defined by an aperture formed through the cover assembly and an integral spout is formed in a section of the rim portion for controllably pouring liquids from the pitcher. A mouth is formed at one end of the jar and a necked portion is formed on a surface of the jar spaced apart from the mouth. A diameter of the necked portion is smaller than a diameter of the mouth and includes a concave portion which is sized and dimensioned for matably engaging the ring member. Thread portions formed on cooperative surfaces of the cover assembly and the ring member attach the cover assembly to the jar. Included in the cover assembly is a cap for covering the aperture in the cover assembly and a lid assembly carried on the cap and movable relative to the cap and the spout formed on the rim portion.

Abstract: a spool for use with a piston assembly in an automatic beverage brewing apparatus including a brew chamber having an inlet and an outlet, a filter disposed therein, and a water distribution system for introducing brew water and flush water therein. A flush water dispenser of the water distribution system is positioned centrally in the brew chamber for rinsing inside surfaces of the brew chamber. The piston assembly includes the spool and a device for controllably moving the spool in axial and rotary directions. The spool has a head, a base, and a necked portion extending between the head and the base. The head and base have external dimensions which are less than or substantially equal to an internal dimension of an opening in the filter. The external dimension of the head is less than or substantially equal to the external dimension of the base. The dimensions of the head, base and necked portion allow the filter assembly to be installed and removed over the head and base.

Abstract: For use with coffee bean grinders, a safety switch is actuated by a pivot arm having a pivot point located below a contact area at which a removeable container engages the pivot arm. The pivot arm pivots about the pivot point on a substantially horizontal axis between a forward and a retracted position. Also, the contact area is disposed forwardly of a vertical plane containing the pivot point and the horizontal axis. This construction reduces the amount of force necessary to move the pivot arm and actuate the switch. Because this force is smaller than before, this safety switch can be used with thin-walled containers, like plastic bags, without compromising the proper operation or safety of the grinder.

Abstract: A low wattage two-four cup displacement water heating apparatus includes a fill basin positioned above a thermostatically controlled electrically heated water reservoir and communicating therewith through a fill tube extending downwardly from the basin to the lower portion of the reservoir. A dome in communication with the reservoir protrudes upwardly therefrom into the basin. A discharge tube having an entry end located in the dome and positioned approximately the bottom level of the basin extends downwardly through the reservoir to an external discharge end. The dome and a venting tube associated with the discharge tube minimize evaporative water loss from the reservoir through the discharge tube.

Abstract: A reconfigurable beverage brewing apparatus having an independently configurable funnel support device and control device for orienting the apparatus in more than two operational configurations. The apparatus includes an overhanging hood and a funnel supported under the hood for retaining brewing substance. A discharge tube is retained in the hood proximate to the funnel and extends through the hood portion for delivering heated water to the brewing substance retained therein. The funnel support device includes a base with two channel members attached thereto and anchoring devices. Open ends of each of the channel members are positioned opposite each other and spaced apart a distance for receiving and retaining the funnel. The discharge tube projects through a passage formed through the base. The anchoring devices attach the base to an underside of the hood and prohibit rotation of the base portion.

Abstract: A coffee grinder comprises a bin for holding a supply of coffee beans to be ground, a grinding assembly for receiving beans from the bin and grinding the same to a desired grind size, and a collection receptacle for receiving the ground coffee from the grinding assembly. The grinding assembly comprises blades for cutting the beans to a relatively uniform size, which blades are configured and located for feeding the cut beans in an auger-like fashion to burrs. The burrs are configured and arranged for grinding the beans to a desired grind size and for delivering the same to the collection receptacle, such that the beans make a single pass through a grinding path comprising the blades and the burrs.

Abstract: A temperature control device and method for controlling water temperature for a fill water displacement beverage brewing apparatus. The beverage brewing apparatus includes a heated water reservoir for retaining a predetermined volume of water in a heated state and a thermostatically controlled heating device for heating the water in the heated water reservoir within a predetermined temperature range. The temperature control device includes a brew cycle activation device which automatically overrides the thermostatically controllable heating device for activating the heating device upon initiation of the brew cycle. The method heats fill water introduced into the reservoir regardless of the temperature of the water retained in the heated reservoir to reduce the time required to heat fill water to a desired water temperature.

Abstract: A digital control system for a coffee bean grinder, particularly one with a dual hopper, which is conveniently programmable and automatically operable for selecting bean type and grinding with a high degree of accuracy bean quantities ranging from a few ounces (e.g., 3 ounces or less) for brewing a few cups of coffee, to large quantities (e.g., 2 pounds or more) for brewing several gallons of coffee. The invention may be confined entirely to a grinder, or may be incorporated in a brewing system consisting of a brewer and one or more grinder. The invention allows one grinder to accommodate one or more coffee grinders either of the same type or of different types (i.e., a brewer for making multi-cup quantities or urns for making gallon quantities).

Abstract: A material flow inducing device for use in a material grinding apparatus. The grinding apparatus includes a grinding mechanism for grinding material, a motor for driving the grinding mechanism, and a hopper portion for holding a quantity of material for grinding in the grinding mechanism during a grinding operation. The flow inducing device includes a stirring member having extending arms which curve in a direction complimentary to a direction of rotation of the stirring member. The arms of the stirring member are compressibly flexible. Also included in the flow-inducing portion is an auger positioned between the stirring member and the grinding mechanism. Both the stirring member and the auger are operatively associated with the motor such that the stirring and auger rotate during a grinding operation. A material metering portion is positioned in the grinding apparatus in a surrounding relation to the auger member and has multiple downwardly spiraling inwardly sloping troughs formed in a top surface.

Abstract: A beverage brewing device that can be used to make either hot coffee or iced tea has a retractable decanter support platform which is capable of translation between an extended position and a retracted position. When the support platform is in the extended position, it can accept and support a small decanter for use in receiving the brewed beverage. The support platform has a warming plate which maintains the temperature of the beverage. When the support platform is in the retracted position, the platform is positioned to enable a large decanter to be placed on the base of the device. The beverage brewing device also has an electric circuit capable of causing the beverage brewing device to brew coffee when the decanter support platform is in the extended position, and causing the beverage brewing device to brew tea when the decanter support platform is in the retracted position.

Abstract: An automatic beverage brewing apparatus which includes: a brew chamber assembly; a piston assembly projecting through the brew chamber assembly; a drive apparatus attached to the piston assembly for moving the piston assembly through the brew chamber; and a water distribution system for distributing brew water and flush water to the brew chamber assembly. The piston assembly can be controllably axially displaced and rotated. The piston assembly includes: a generally elongated spool member and an elongated shank portion connected to the spool member; a central axis extending coaxially through both the spool member and the shank portion; a flush water bore extending through the spool member and the shank portion generally coaxial with the central axis. A throat is formed through a top end of the brew chamber and a drain hole formed in a bottom end of the brew chamber.

Abstract: An adjustable measuring apparatus for repeatably measuring a selected volume. The adjustable measuring apparatus includes a hollow sleeve having two sleeve apertures formed through opposed spaced apart surfaces of said sleeve. A first sleeve aperture formed on a top side of the sleeve is formed for receiving material therethrough. A second sleeve aperture formed on a bottom surface of the sleeve is formed for dispensing material therethrough. A cylinder is rotatably retained in the sleeve and has a cylinder aperture formed therethrough for selectively communicating with the first and second sleeve apertures. A piston is adjustably retained in the cylinder for adjustably controlling a volume of the cylinder. An adjustment member is provided and attached to the piston for adjustably positioning said piston in the cylinder.

Abstract: The invention relates generally to an improved method for connecting a two-part brewing funnel generally used to make cold, freshly brewed beverages. The funnel consists of an inner part and an outer part. The outer part has a plurality of notches and tabs disposed about its upper flange. The notches are disposed with one side being in abutment with a tab. The inner part has a plurality of tangs disposed about its upper portion, with their disposition coordinated with the disposition of the notches of the outer part so that the tangs are insertable into the notches. One end of each tang is elongated to form a tang tab and a tang notch disposed between the tang and the tang tab. When the inner and outer parts are joined, the tabs of the outer part move over and behind the tang tabs of the inner part and lock in a rest position in the tang notches. Meanwhile, the tang tabs move under and behind the tabs of the outer part and lock in a rest position behind the tabs.