Abstract: An improved coffee or tea brewer having mounted within a casing a cold water tank and infusing arrangement with a water heater connected between the two and mounted under the tank, the heater having a cover for cleaning the water fed interior of the heater, the cover opening rearwardly and shielded from electrical components by a shield so that only the rear of the heater can be accessed from a rear access opening in the closing; the heater cover preferably has the heater inlet and outlet mounted thereon so that the heater can be more effectively cleaned.

Abstract: An assembly directed to the preparation or production of individual servings of a predetermined, variable quantity beverage, wherein the assembly is primarily intended for the production of Expresso Coffee or like beverage. The assembly may be manually operated and includes the directing of liquid from a liquid storage facility under pressure to a liquid dispersement receptacle. One or more filter receptacles having the beverage forming ingredient therein are brought into sealing engagement with the liquid receiving receptacle for the purpose of forcing the liquid into direct contact with the beverage ingredients resulting in the formation of the intended beverage and its delivery to a pre-positioned serving receptacle in aligned relation to the subject filter receptacle.

Abstract: An automatic electric coffee maker has a housing including a base and a hood mounted atop the base. The base includes a horizontal support for supporting a coffee decanter so as to be located immediately underneath an overhanging portion of the hood from which a coffee basket is supported. The base has a body which extends from one side of the decanter support and extends upwardly toward and is attached to the hood. The hood has walls defining a water chamber for containing water to be heated. An electric water pump heater is mounted within the body adjacent its upper end and has a pump tube extending from a pump well thereof upwardly through an aperture in the top wall of the body through the water chamber to a discharge spout which extends through the overhanging hood portion and terminates in a discharge outlet which extends downwardly through the hood so as to discharge heated water into a coffee basket located therebelow.

Abstract: An expresso coffee maker for use in a microwave oven. The water is stored in a microwave transparent reservoir or container which is adjacent to the pot. The pot and reservoir are coupled in a fixed spacial relationship by a collar. The collar includes a strainer which presses against a layer of coffee grounds when the collar is rigidly secured to the reservoir. The compressed coffee grounds in combination with the strainer form a pressure resistant seal over the opening of the reservoir. The water in the reservoir is heated by microwave energy. The pressure rises to a level sufficient to force steam and water through the coffee grounds into the pot.

Abstract: A portable coffee maker (10) is adapted to be used with a package of ground coffee (58) and a package of water (40). The coffee maker (10) includes a water heating chamber (12) and a coffee brewing chamber (14) Within the water heating chamber (12) is a device (38) to pierce the package of water (40) and a perculator (30) to heat the water (W) and direct it to the brewing chamber (14). The brewing chamber (14) included a tray (56) to hold the package of ground coffee (58) and a pedestal (60) to position a cup (62) therein to receive the brewed coffee (C).

Abstract: An electric thermostatically controlled drip coffeemaker has a generally upright C-shaped housing with a lower horizontal leg having a heated carafe support, an upper horizontal leg having a water spreader, and a vertical leg enclosing an accessible water reservoir. An electrically heated hot water generator in the lower leg has an inlet connected to the water reservoir and an outlet connected to the spreader by tubes through a separate definitive condenser located in the vertical leg entirely below the reservoir. The condenser includes an elongated generally cylindrical member larger in cross section than the connecting tubes and having an off-center radially directed water inlet from the hot water generator at the bottom thereof. Shaped and aligned baffle and flow directing means are disposed in the member to impart a non-swirling, vortex preventing, upward flow to the heated water. A captured, limited travel ball check valve disposed in an outlet at the top of the member permits vertical outflow only.

Abstract: An electric drip coffeemaker has a generally upright C-shaped housing with a lower horizontal leg having a heated carafe support, an upper horizontal leg having a water spreader, and a vertical leg enclosing an accessible water reservoir. An electrically heated hot water generator in the lower leg below the carafe support has an inlet connected to the reservoir through a one-way inlet valve and an outlet connected to the spreader by tubes through an interposed separate definitive steam condenser located in the vertical leg entirely below the reservoir. The condenser includes a plenum chamber larger in cross section than the connecting tubes and has a single inlet for water from the hot water generator at its bottom and a single outlet to the spreader at its top. A check valve in the chamber outlet permits only unidirectional water outflow from the condenser to create a "scrubbing" effect cleansing the passages of mineral deposits and preventing clogging.

Abstract: An electric single-pass drip-type coffeemaker includes a plastic base having an upper half with an opening surrounded by a downward lip. A metal warming plate closes the opening and is laterally immobilized by downwardly projecting spaced bosses around the opening. A central upward protuberance on the lower half of the base terminates in a high temperature silicone pad which engages the underside of the warming plate and presses the plate up against a gasket seated in a groove in the lip to vertically immobilize the warming plate between the lip and the silicone pad when the upper and lower base halves are secured together. A U-shaped metallic extrusion is welded or soldered to the underside of the warming plate and includes an upper passage containing an electric heating element controlled by an adjustable thermostat secured to the extrusion and a lower water heating passage connected to the cold water reservoir and hot water discharge spout of the coffeemaker.

Abstract: Coffee and tea making or brewing apparatus of the type in which heated water is caused to flow through a spray head, the resulting spray impinging on a bed of ground coffee (or tea) through which the hot water passes to produce coffee or tea liquor.In accordance with the invention the spray head is provided with a number of dimples. The heads of the dimples being provided or formed with a surface to which a drop of liquid emerging through a spray hole in the dimple, may cling.With this construction the drops fall over the coffee or tea bed in a random fashion which may be compared with raindrops and this helps properly to prevent nuclei being formed in the coffee bed.

Abstract: An automatic drip coffee maker makes drip coffee by providing a relatively small water reservoir that holds less than the total quantity of water. The coffee maker automatically transfers the remainder of the total quantity of water to the beverage storage container. The coffee maker also automatically heats the water in the reservoir and transfers it to a basket of ground coffee to make a concentrated brew which drips into the storage space which already contains a quantity of water sufficient to dilute the concentrated brew to a desired drinking strength. The same beverage strength is produced over a narrow range of brewing times for a wide range of cups brewed. The coffee maker is significantly smaller overall than conventionally configured drip coffee makers. The convenience of conventional coffee makers is maintained, e.g. structural components to be handled by the user do not exceed those of a conventional percolator. Other than one or more bimetal thermostats, there are no moving parts.

Abstract: Fully automatic brewing apparatus is disclosed for economically and efficiently brewing large quantities of beverage. Beverage concentrate is first brewed from a dry, beverage-making material, such as granulated tea leaves contained in a rotatable funnel which may be pivoted for emptying the concentrate into selected one of a pair of large reservoirs. The concentrate is then automatically diluted to an acceptable strength and temperature by the timed addition of water to the reservoir in a stream which provides complete mixing of the concentrate with the diluting water.

Abstract: Pump chambers usable in beverage makers, for example, have a liquid-contacting heated surface provided with abrupt discontinuities--e.g. sharp edges or corners--to promote flaking-off of mineral deposits. These edges may be fins of rectangular or triangular cross-section.

Abstract: A coffee brewing apparatus has a hot water reservoir which sets, unconnected, on a housing above a grounds basket. The carafe rests upon a warming plate below the basket. The control unit is attached to the reservoir and the control unit is held by two screws to the housing so that the control unit and the reservoir may be readily removed as a unit from the housing for maintenance. The pouring tray is clamped to the top of the reservoir to form a vapor seal between the hot water reservoir and pouring tray. The vapor seal prevents the machines "boiling dry" by preventing vapors from escaping to condense on the apparatus.

Abstract: Calcification sufficient to cause material impairment of heat transfer is indicated in a water heater in an electric appliance, such as a coffee maker. The water heater has a first and a second temperature-dependent switch thermally coupled thereto. The first switch serves as a final interrupter or temperature control. The switching temperature of the second switch is below that of the first one in the range of temperatures which occur in the water heating operation if excessive calcification is present. A time delay member after a predetermined time actuates an indicating signal. The time delay member is in operation when only the second temperature-dependent switch is in responded condition. The time delay member ceases operation and returns to its original state when both temperature-dependent switches are in the responded state or the original condition.

Abstract: A coffee maker has a reservoir for water connected to a conduit which terminates above a holder for coffee grounds which sits atop a coffee carafe. A heater is provided in this conduit which can heat the water therein and displace it along the conduit into the coffee-ground holder. The heater is energized for a brief period of time to supply a small quantity of the water to the coffee-ground holder, and is then shut down so that this limited quantity of water can brew with and pass through the ground coffee. Thereafter the heater is again energized to heat and displace the rest of the liquid in the reservoir into the holder.

Abstract: An electric coffee maker having a coffee pot in the form of a Dewar flask supported in a shock-proof outer housing surrounding the flask. A fresh water container and a coffee filter are disposed above the coffee pot. An electric flow-through heater is disposed in the housing below the top of the Dewar flask. Fresh water conduit means are conducted from the fresh water container through the interior of the housing to the flow-through heater. The hot-water conduit means from the heater to the top of the filter are routed through a handle formed from the housing.

Abstract: A coffee or tea pot is placed on a base plate of the coffee/tea maker. A boiler zone which includes a boiler vessel is located laterally adjacent the pot so that the pot is heated from the side when placed on the base plate in a predetermined position, as determined, for example, by locating notches or grooves. The boiler unit is laterally extended to partly surround the circumference of the side walls of the pot with extension wings. The back of the extension wings is insulated, for example by a housing, which also surrounds the boiler. The arrangement permits a short path of boiling water or steam from the boiler to the top of the pot, while efficiently transferring heat thereto.

Abstract: A coffee or tea maker has a freshwater receptacle which is connected with a continuous flow heater by a freshwater intake. Heated water leaves the continuous flow heater through a riser. The freshwater intake and the riser are coupled by a conduit in which cold freshwater and heated water admix and in which a thermostat switch is disposed. The latter controls the energization of the heater as a function of the temperature changes of the water mixture in the conduit. An additional heating means arranged in heat exchange relationship with the thermostat switch maintains the heater in a deenergized state after completion of the brewing process. An adjustable throttle valve may be provided for regulating the admission of fresh water into the conduit.

Abstract: A coffee brewing apparatus having a plurality of water heating devices connected in series for sequentially heating water to a beverage brewing temperature. Each of the devices is provided with a vent. The individual vents are brought to adjacent the brewing cartridge for discharging vented fluids thereinto during operation of the coffee brewer. The outlet of the water heating structure is connected to an inlet to the brewing cartridge and the vent conduits are connected adjacent the water delivery inlet. The vent conduit may be formed of synthetic resin. The vents may extend horizontally outwardly from the water heating devices and may extend vertically downwardly to the cartridge brewing chamber.

Abstract: A filter coffee machine mainly intended for domestic use is provided consisting of a unit which includes a filter and a water container. This unit is mountable on a coffee pot which is itself connected to an electric continuous flow heater which can also serve as a hot plate for the coffee pot. An outlet from the water container and a cold water feed pipe to the heater are detachably connected to each other and a heated water riser pipe is made up of an upper and a lower part detachably interconnected. It is preferred to have a closure for the lower pipe part which automatically closes when the said unit is removed from the coffee pot.

Abstract: In a coffee making apparatus, a throughflow heater for heating water to be passed to a filter, said heater being included in a water throughflow passage extending from a water reservoir to an outlet pipe extending over said filter, is made, at least in part, of transparent material to enable the user to see whether the heater is fouled with scale deposits so that cleaning is necessary. Safety is enhanced by making the heater of transparent heat resistant glass and using one or more heating elements of the submersible type therein.

Abstract: A household coffee machine of the type including a thermostatically controlled electric flow heater coupled to cold water supply and having a hot water outflow is provided with a calcification indicator connected electrically in parallel with the heater thermostat. The calcification indicator includes an indicator, such as a buzzer or glow lamp, in series with a thermal cut-out switch which is disposed in thermally responsive association with the line coupling the cold water supply to the flow heater. The series connected thermal cut-out switch and indicator have a high impedance in order to insure that the calcification indicator does not respond when the heater thermostat is closed.

Abstract: A continuous automatic beverage brewer is provided for producing a brewed liquid beverage, such as coffee, in any desired pre-selectable amount. The brewer includes means for supplying a liquid, such as heated water, and a solid particulate beverage ingredient, such as ground coffee, to a mixing duct through which the mixture passes for a time sufficient to effect proper brewing. A moving filter intercepts the mixing duct so that a fresh surface of the filter is continually presented to the mixture of brewed beverage and spent solid residue of the beverage ingredient to thereby achieve effective filtering. Preferably the moving filter comprises a continuous belt of filter material, the surface of which moves continually past the output of the mixing duct so as to continually remove the spent solid residue. When continuously brewing a hot liquid beverage (e.g.

Abstract: A vaporizing and warming device for beverage-preparing machines, such as household coffee machines and the like of the type which include a hot plate for keeping the prepared beverage warm, a vaporizer tube carrying water for preparing the beverage and a heating element for transferring the heat required for the respective vaporization and warming processes. The heating element is thermally conductively connected with the vaporizer tube and is arranged together with the vaporizer tube at one side, preferably the underside of a horizontally extending hot plate. The heating element is arranged laterally offset with respect to the vaporizer tube and with its apex at a perpendicular distance from the hot plate which is smaller than the height of the vaporizer tube perpdendicularly to the hot plate, whereby conductive heat transfer from the heating element to the hot plate is avoided while still providing heat to the vaporizer tube, which vaporizer tube is in contact with the hot plate.

Abstract: The hot water pump of a coffee maker includes a water heating chamber and heating means therefor, a vertical hot water lift tube which extends upwardly from the water heating chamber, a pair of check valve discs on the bottom portion of the vertical lift tube which cover the top of the water heating chamber, a horizontal hot water transfer conduit coupled to the top of the vertical lift tube and extending transversely over the coffee pot stand with an outlet for discharging the hot water into a coffee basket on top of a coffee pot, means for removably connecting the water transfer conduit to the coffee maker housing at a point intermediate the ends of the water transfer conduit, and spring means surrounding the vertical lift tube and bearing at the bottom end on the uppermost check valve disc or on a ridge on the tube and bearing at the top end on the end of the transfer conduit which is coupled to the vertical lift tube, thereby removably locking the water pump structure in a predetermined position within th

Abstract: A valve assembly with a water dispersing and spreading system preferrable for use in drip-type beverage maker comprising a housing having a passage extending therethrough with the passage having an inlet, an outlet, and a valve seat therebetween. A thermostatic dish-shaped snap-acting bimetallic disk constitutes the valve member and is positioned in the passage in engagement with the valve seat thereby to block communication through the passage while in the first curvature position and while in the second curvature position to move clear of the valve seat to permit the flow of fluid therepast. The disk is movable from the first curvature position to the second and back again upon changes in temperature of the disk. A spring member biases the disk toward the valve seat in sealing engagement when the disk is in its first curvature position.

Abstract: An automatic coffee brewing system for brewing coffee in a chamber and dispensing the brewed coffee into a container. The chamber is automatically flushed upon completion of the brewing cycle. A predetermined amount of coffee grinds is automatically inserted into the coffee brewing chamber through an open lid. The brewing chamber is then rotated until the lid is closed. Hot brewing water is then inserted into the chamber, while the lid is automatically locked to prevent leakage of the brewed coffee. The brewed coffee then is removed from the chamber. The chamber is then rotated to enable the coffee grounds to be flushed from the chamber. The chamber is then rotated into position for brewing another container of coffee. A conical-shaped filter in the chamber enables brewed coffee to pass through to an outlet and simultaneously, retains the grounds in the chamber. During the flush cycle, water is forced into the chamber and the coffee grounds are cleared from the filter.