Plunger Type Patents (Class 99/297)
  • Patent number: 5067395
    Abstract: A device for preparing hot drinks is disclosed having a liquid-storage vessel 3, an electric heating element 14 arranged therein, a current supply circuit 17 and a collecting vessel 1 for the prepared drink. This device can be used very advantageously, particularly in vehicles. It is characterized in that the storage vessel 3 is designed as a unit separate from the current supply circuit 17 and closed by valve 10-13 which opens irreversibly at a predetermined pressure inside the storage vessel 3, and is provided with contacts 16 for the supply of electrical current which are connected to the heating element 14 via an electric line 15 which is interrupted when the valve 10-13 is opened. The storage vessel 3 is insertable into the collecting vessel 1 in such a way that in an operative position of the storage vessel 3, a collecting space of the collecting vessel 1 is situated essentially below the storage vessel 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1991
    Inventor: Eberhard Timm
  • Patent number: 4852472
    Abstract: The single driven part of the apparatus is an axially movable scalding cylinder, in which a piston is located which is free to move in the axial direction. This piston is positioned by a guide bush or moved with the scalding cylinder. A supporting block comprises, furthermore, an abutment for the disk of the piston. A second piston is arranged stationary or may be moved also axially against the force of a spring against a further supporting block. By the movement of the scalding cylinder ground coffee which has been inserted between the pistons is compressed and drinkable coffee is produced by feeding hot water thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1989
    Inventors: Jean-Paul In-Albon, Heinz-Anton Eicher
  • Patent number: 4833979
    Abstract: An automatic machine for making coffee or a similar beverage includes an infusion chamber at atmospheric pressure and adapted to accommodate a mixture of liquid such as hot water and a material serving as the base of the beverage. The infusion chamber has at the bottom thereof a surface permeable to fluids and impermeable to the material. An extraction chamber is positioned below the bottom of the infusion chamber and communicates therewith through the surface. A first control mechanism is positioned within the extraction chamber for moving upwardly therein to force air through the surface into the mixture in the infusion chamber and for moving downwardly within the extraction chamber to extract beverage from the infusion chamber through the surface into the extraction chamber. A second control mechanism is provided within the extraction chamber for forcing beverage within the extraction chamber therefrom under pressure to a dispensing area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1989
    Assignee: Zanussi Grandi Impianti S.p.A.
    Inventors: Augusto Garulli, Gaetano Donizetti, Mauro Bandelli
  • Patent number: 4796521
    Abstract: The automatic coffee-making machine according to the invention comprises a filter carrier having on its base a movable filter for filtering the coffee infusion, there being introducible into the carrier in sealing-tight manner a piston having means for delivering pressurized hot water supplied by a metering unit, the piston being operated for its movements of descent, introduction into the filter carrier element, compression of the coffee powder, raising and lateral rotation by a rod having resilient piston-pulling means and connected to a rotating disc actuated by a geared motor, means being provided to support and guide the piston in its movement, the latter means providing an irreversible transmission of the movement from the motor to the piston, automatic means being provided to expel the spent coffee powder and to supply fresh powder to the filter carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1989
    Inventor: Lucio Grossi
  • Patent number: 4721035
    Abstract: Apparatus and method of removing desirable constituents from an infusible material by infusion extraction, where a piston operating in a first chamber draws a solvent into the first chamber where it may be heated, and then moves the heated solvent into a second chamber containing the infusible material, and where infusion extraction takes place. The piston then moves the solvent containing the extract through a filter into the first chamber, leaving the extraction residue in the second chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1988
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics & Space Administration
    Inventor: Franklin R. Chang-Diaz
  • Patent number: 4650583
    Abstract: This invention relates to an infusion filter, in particular for use in coffee percolators, which includes a first rigid disc having an open space therein and a second rigid disc having an open space therein. The infusion filter includes a filter element having an inclined edge and a circular part having an open space therein. The filter element and the circular part are disposed between the first and second discs. The inclined edge of the filter element abuts the inclined edge of the circular part. The first and second rigid disc are molded such that the inclined edge of the filter element and the inclined edge of the circular part extend beyond the discs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1987
    Inventor: Faliero Bondanini
  • Patent number: 4583450
    Abstract: A coffee machine comprises a boiling chamber, two pistons adjustable independently of each other and adapted to be pushed into the boiling chamber from opposite sides and defining between them a boiling space to hold and boil a predetermined quantity of powdered coffee, a source of boiling water having a through-flow heater and a boiling water pressure generator, and a hydraulic actuating device for the pistons having a pressurized medium circuit including a pressurized medium pump. The boiling water pressure generator is constituted by a media converter, of which one side is incorporated into the water supply to the boiling chamber while its other side is connectible to the pressurized medium pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 22, 1986
    Assignee: Cafag AG
    Inventors: Kurt Rost, Ueli Casty
  • Patent number: 4365544
    Abstract: Apparatus for preparing a beverage, such as coffee, by extraction of soluble matter from a solid flavoring material into a liquid, in which a jug in the form of a thick walled vessel supported in a frame, acts as a cylinder, and a piston in the form of a capsule containing a flavoring material such as coffee, is arranged to rotate as it is moved axially within the cylinder. The capsule has liquid permeable membranes in axially opposed regions to allow liquid to be forced through the capsule to extract the flavor from the material within it without any of this material being able to escape. The capsule is detachable from the piston for refill or replacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1981
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1982
    Inventor: George Howitt
  • Patent number: 3977313
    Abstract: A container in which a beverage may be brewed from a ground or powdered substance comprises a sealing piston having surfaces of different sizes upon which hot water impinges during the brewing operation, thus creating a pressure differential which ensures proper sealing between the stationary body and the movable head of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1975
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1976
    Assignee: Hagezet-Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Karl Bieri
  • Patent number: 3935318
    Abstract: The invention is directed to an apparatus for brewing a beverage such as coffee or tea. A disposable disc-shaped receptacle contains a predetermined quantity of solid beverage material. The flat lower surface of the receptacle contains a plurality of perforations permitting a flow of hot water into the receptacle for brewing the beverage material. The upper portion of the receptacle is a concave flexible membrane. An actuating rod or stick is attached to the membrane for manually flexing the membrane up and down during brewing. The user places the receptacle into a cup of hot water and using the stick, manually flexes the membrane up and down inducing successive positive and negative pressure variations inside the receptacle. These pressure variations suck and expel hot water through the perforations and thoroughly circulate the water inside the receptacle and throughout the beverage material for brewing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1974
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1976
    Inventor: Sergio Mihailide