Patents by Inventor Christian E. O'Connor

Christian E. O'Connor has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7594469
    Abstract: An apparatus for brewing tea in accordance with an aspect of the invention includes a brew chamber that holds water. An infuser disposed in the chamber holds tea leaves and allows the water to contact the tea leaves. A heater heats the water in the brew chamber. A control sets a tea characteristic of the tea leaves. The tea characteristic can include one or both of tea format (loose or bagged) and tea type. The control can also set tea strength. A control circuit communicates with the heater. The control circuit controls power to the heater to heat the water to a steep temperature and then controls power to the heater to maintain the steep temperature for a steep time. The control circuit determines the steep temperature and the steep time based on the set tea characteristic or characteristics. It can further determine steep time based on the set tea strength. The tea leaves steep in the heated water until the expiration of the steep time to produce a brewed tea.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Sunbeam Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Christian E. O'Connor, Augusto Picozza, Patricia Bassett
  • Publication number: 20070283815
    Abstract: An apparatus for brewing tea in accordance with an aspect of the invention includes a brew chamber that holds water. An infuser disposed in the chamber holds tea leaves and allows the water to contact the tea leaves. A heater heats the water in the brew chamber. A control sets a tea characteristic of the tea leaves. The tea characteristic can include one or both of tea format (loose or bagged) and tea type. The control can also set tea strength. A control circuit communicates with the heater. The control circuit controls power to the heater to heat the water to a steep temperature and then controls power to the heater to maintain the steep temperature for a steep time. The control circuit determines the steep temperature and the steep time based on the set tea characteristic or characteristics. It can further determine steep time based on the set tea strength. The tea leaves steep in the heated water until the expiration of the steep time to produce a brewed tea.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2006
    Publication date: December 13, 2007
    Inventors: Christian E. O'Connor, Augusto Picozza, Patricia Bassett
  • Publication number: 20070283816
    Abstract: An apparatus for brewing tea in accordance with an aspect of the invention includes a brew chamber that holds water. An infuser disposed in the chamber holds tea leaves and allows the water to contact the tea leaves. A heater heats the water in the brew chamber. A control sets a tea characteristic of the tea leaves. The tea characteristic can include one or both the tea format (loose or bagged) and tea type. The control can also set tea strength. A control circuit communicated with the heater. The control circuit controls power to the heater to heat the water to a steep temperature and then controls power to the heater to maintain the steep temperature for a steep time. The control circuit determines the steep temperature and the steep time based on the set tea characteristic or characteristics. It can further determine steep time based on the set tea strength. The tea leaves steep in the heated water until expiration of the steep time to produce a brewed tea.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2007
    Publication date: December 13, 2007
    Inventors: Christian E. O'Connor, Augusto Picozza, Patricia Bassett
  • Patent number: D481902
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Sunbeam Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Christian E. O'Connor, Anthony D. Shoemaker