Abstract: An automatic juicer turns and pushes an upward facing juicing cone into a fruit for releasing and collecting juice. The juicer includes a base containing a motor, gear and shaft assembly which rises as a unit with the juicing cone. A fixed guide extends upward from the base and inner and outer shafts reside inside the fixed guide and are driven by the motor and gear assembly to rotate and advance the juicing cone into the fruit. The juicing cone, strainer and a bowl release and catch the juice. The outer shaft includes threads to vertically advance and retreat the outer and inner shafts when the outer shaft turns. The inner shaft rises with the outer shaft and lifts and rotates the juicing cone, thereby releasing juice from the fruit. The bowl is fixed to the base.

Abstract: A brewing cartridge containing a filter containing brewing material and configured to reside generally horizontally in a coffee maker. The filter has a top rim sandwiched between a coffee holder cover and a coffee holder base, and the cartridge may be disassembled after use to recycle and/or reuse components thereof, the rim facilitating removing the filter and brewing material from the used cartridge. The coffee maker includes a reservoir, a pump, a heater, and a nozzle for injecting heated water into the cartridge. The cartridge receives the heated water through the coffee holder cover and releases brewed liquid through a passage on a side of the cartridge. The cover may be a plastic cover or a foil cover, and the filter may be provided to a consumer as an empty filter for filling by the consumer, or as a pre-packed filter containing brewing material.

Abstract: A coffee maker and coffee holder cooperate to provide either single-cup or multi-cup brewing. A single-cup coffee holder in insertable into the coffee maker for preparing a single serving of coffee, and a multi-serving coffee holder is insertable into the coffee maker for preparing multiple servings of coffee. A coffee holder lid is attached to the coffee maker and is configured to close both the singe serving and multi-serving coffee holders. The holder lid is configured to either spray heated water into the coffee holders, or to inject the heated water through needles into coffee in the coffee holder. In one embodiment, the coffee is held in a filter paper package with a rim, and the rim is sandwiched between the coffee holder and the holder cover. A tamper may be included which tamps the coffee before brewing.

Abstract: A coffee maker and coffee holder cooperate to tamp coffee in the coffee holder. The coffee holder may include a top tamping spring, a bottom tamping spring, or a top or bottom passage allowing entry of a tamper into the coffee holder. The coffee maker includes an actuator above or below the coffee holder, or a fixed tamper attached to a ceiling or platform of the coffee maker. The coffee holder may be inserted between the ceiling and platform, or into a moving drawer of the coffee maker. The actuator may be a solenoid actuator or a hydraulic actuator actuated by water pressure of heated water used for brewing.

Abstract: A single serving beverage filter cartridge is formed by placing a single serving portion of brewing material into a reusable coffee holder having a lid and a base. The reusable coffee holder includes a recessed region at the bottom of a base of the holder and is insertable into a cartridge housing of a single serving coffee maker having an offset needle reaching up vertically from the base of the housing, the recessed region may be a large annular recessed region or a smaller off-center recessed region thereby avoiding the offset bottom needle. The coffee holder defines a frustoconical exterior and includes mesh filtering material for retaining brewing material inside the coffee holder. The mesh material may be a metal mesh or plastic mesh. The reusable coffee holder is configured for use in single serving coffee makers having the offset bottom needle and designed for single use cartridges.

Abstract: A self-tamping coffee holder tamps loose ground coffee obtaining richer flavor. The coffee holder includes a holder base and a holder cap. Coffee is loosely deposited in the coffee holder and the holder cap is attached to the holder base. An internal filter chamber holds the coffee and allows tamping of the coffee into a compacted state. The filter chamber may be formed by a fixed filter or by a removeable filter constructed of filter paper, nylon mesh, metal mesh, or any material capable of holding the coffee while allowing a flow of heated water through the coffee. The tamping may be by a spring or by a resilient solid material attached to the coffee holder and may push the coffee down inside the filter or push the filter and the coffee up against the holder lid.

Abstract: A single serving beverage filter cartridge is formed by placing a single serving portion of brewing material into a reusable coffee holder having a lid and a base. The reusable coffee holder includes a recessed annular region at the bottom of a base of the holder and is insertable into a cartridge housing of a single serving coffee maker having an offset needle reaching up vertically from the base of the housing, the recessed annular region avoiding the offset bottom needle. The coffee holder defines a frustoconical exterior and includes mesh filtering material for retaining brewing material inside the coffee holder. The mesh material may be a metal mesh or plastic mesh. The reusable coffee holder is configured for use in single serving coffee makers having the offset bottom needle and designed for single use cartridges.

Abstract: A single serving beverage filter cartridge is formed by placing a single serving portion of brewing material into a reusable coffee holder having a lid and a base. The reusable coffee holder includes an offset passage in the bottom of the base and is insertable into a cartridge housing of a single serving coffee maker having an offset bottom needle reaching up vertically from the base of the housing, the offset passage providing clearance for the offset bottom needle. The coffee holder defines a frustoconical exterior and includes mesh filtering material for retaining brewing material inside the reusable coffee holder. The mesh material may be a metal mesh or plastic mesh. The reusable coffee holder is configured for use in single serving coffee makers having the offset bottom needle and designed for single use cartridges.

Abstract: A filter paper cup manufacturing machine produces filter paper cups packaging suitable for containing a brewing material. The filter paper cup packaging has similar depth and diameter. The machine exercises ordered steps of first cutting a receptacle portion and cover portion for each individual packaging and then forming a recess in the receptacle portion for receiving the brewing material. Performing the cutting step first facilitates forming the recess because surrounding filter paper which would resist forming the recess has been eliminated.

Abstract: A filter paper cup manufacturing machine produces filter paper cups containing a brewing material. The filter paper cups have similar depth and diameter. The machine exercises ordered steps of first cutting a receptacle portion and then forming a recess in the receptacle portion for receiving the brewing material. Performing the cutting step first facilitates forming the recess because surrounding filter paper which would resist forming the recess has been eliminated.

Abstract: An automatic juicer turns and pushes an upward facing juicing cone into a fruit for releasing juice. The juicer includes a base containing a motor, gear and shaft assembly. A fixed guide extends upward from the base and inner and outer shafts reside inside the fixed guide and are driven by the motor and gear assembly to rotate and advance the juicing cone into the fruit. The inner shaft includes threads to vertically advance and retreat a shaft nut and the outer shaft rotates with the inner shaft, but is lifted by the shaft nut when the inner shaft turns. The juicing cone releases the juice and a stationary bowl catches the juice.

Abstract: An automatic juicer turns and pushes an upward facing juicing cone into a fruit for releasing and collecting juice. The juicer includes a base containing a motor, gear and shaft assembly which rises as a unit with the juicing cone. A fixed guide extends upward from the base and inner and outer shafts reside inside the fixed guide and are driven by the motor and gear assembly to rotate and advance the juicing cone into the fruit. The juicing cone, strainer and a bowl release and catch the juice. The outer shaft includes threads to vertically advance and retreat the outer and inner shafts when the outer shaft turns. The inner shaft rises with the outer shaft and lifts and rotates the juicing cone, thereby releasing juice from the fruit. The bowl is fixed to the base.

Abstract: An automatic juicer turns and pushes an upward facing juicing cone into a fruit for releasing and collecting juice. The juicer includes a base containing a clutch and gearing assembly connected to a motor. A center column assembly rotates and advances the juicing cone. The juicing cone, strainer, and a bowl release and catch the juice. The center column includes an outer column fixed to the base, a rotating drive shaft driven by the motor but not advancing vertically, and a driven shaft which rotates with the drive shaft and advances and retreats vertically. The bowl is fixed to the base. The strainer advances vertically with juicing cone but does not rotate. The juicing cone is attached to the driven shaft and rotates and advances vertically, thereby releasing juice from the fruit. Knife edges on the bottom of the juicing cone scrape pulp from the strainer to prevent clogging.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for electrocution and disposal of pests includes a reusable power source and a low cost disposable portion. The reusable power source includes batteries and a circuit to provide a high voltage and low current signal through external leads to the disposable portion, to electrocute small pests without presenting a risk to humans or pets. The disposable portion is constructed from low cost material, for example, cardboard, and may be packaged for sale in a flat folded state, and easily configured into a container with a floor including conducting surfaces connected to the external leads. In one embodiment, the conducting surfaces are formed of a conducting material formed or glued on the floor of the disposable portion and the conducting material further forms internal leads reaching to a male connector surface configured to cooperate with a female connector of the external leads.

Abstract: A disposable pod adaptor assembly for use in a single serve beverage brewer. The assembly is designed for use in brewers configured for cup-shaped beverage extract cartridges. The assembly includes a receptacle and a cover configured to engage with the receptacle. The receptacle includes a raised portion in it's interior, which raised portion is adapted to push a beverage pod residing inside the receptacle upward against the cover to create a tamping effect. In some implementations, the receptacle and raised portion are molded as a single piece to provide a low cost disposable pod adapter.

Abstract: A filter paper cup for making a beverage pod. The filter paper cup includes a cover and a base (or receptacle). The filter paper cup is formed by forming pleats in walls and a rim around the tops of the wall. Preferably, a heat seal filter paper is used and the pleats in the walls and rim are adhered by the heat to retain the shape. The base in inserted into a pod holder and brewing material is placed into the base. The cover is folded over the rim, and a lid is attached to the pod holder to sandwich the cover and rim to seal the pod. The cover is held taut by the lid of the pod holder to facilitate penetration of the cover by a needle to inject water into the pod.

Abstract: A self-tamping coffee holder tamps loose ground coffee obtaining richer flavor. The coffee holder includes a holder base and a holder cap. Coffee is loosely deposited in the coffee holder and the holder cap is attached to the holder base. An internal filter chamber holds the coffee and allows tamping of the coffee into a compacted state. The filter chamber may be formed by a fixed filter or by a removeable filter constructed of filter paper, nylon mesh, metal mesh, or any material capable of holding the coffee while allowing a flow of heated water through the coffee. The tamping may be by a spring or by a resilient solid material attached to the coffee holder and may push the coffee down inside the filter or push the filter and the coffee up against the holder lid.

Abstract: Coffee making apparatus and methods provide a tamped packing of loose ground coffee thereby obtaining richer flavor. The Coffee maker includes a reservoir, a pump, a heater, and a check valve. Coffee grounds are first loosely deposited in a coffee holder and then tamped onto a compacted state. The coffee holder may be filled loosely with the coffee and then placed into the coffee making apparatus and compacted, or the coffee may be compacted in the coffee holder and then the coffee holder placed into the coffee making apparatus. The compacting may be by a spring or by a resilient solid material and may be part of the coffee holder or part of the coffee making apparatus.

Abstract: A multi-mode coffee maker facilitates switching between a carafe mode and a single cup mode. The coffee maker includes switches for selecting the amount of coffee brewed, a drip valve normally closed to prevent dripping and opened by insertion of a carafe or a single cup adapter into the coffee maker, and a hot plate for maintaining the temperature of coffee in the carafe, the hot plate independent switchable on and off. An upper edge of the carafe, and an arm reaching from the single cup adapter, engage a lever opening the drip valve. The hot plate may be manually turned on and off, or the single cup adapter may cooperate with a switch in the coffee maker to turn the hot plate off.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for electrocution and disposal of pests includes a reusable power source and a low cost disposable portion. The reusable power source includes batteries and a circuit to provide a high voltage and low current signal through external leads to the disposable portion, to electrocute small pests without presenting a risk to humans or pets. The disposable portion is constructed from low cost material, for example, cardboard, and may be packaged for sale in a flat folded state, and easily configured into a container with a floor including conducting surfaces connected to the external leads. In one embodiment, the conducting surfaces are formed of a conducting material formed or glued on the floor of the disposable portion and the conducting material further forms internal leads reaching to a male connector surface configured to cooperate with a female connector of the external leads.