Patent Application
20100294135
None
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Portions of the disclosure of this patent document contain material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
Coffee presses are known in the art. U.S. Pat. No. 6,797,304 to McGonagle discloses a steeping apparatus for steeping solid food material in liquid, imparting a flavor to the liquid, producing a flavored beverage. A container is provided to hold the solid food material and the liquid. A plunger movable with respect to the container between a first plunger position and a second plunger position includes a filter element that, as the plunger moves from the first plunger position to the second plunger position, permits the flow of liquid but inhibits the passage of solid food material. A buffer element is selectable between a closed position and an open position. When the second plunger position and buffering position are selected, the solid material is substantially decoupled from the flavored beverage. When the buffer element is at the non-buffering position, the solid food material is not substantially decoupled from the flavored beverage.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,422,133 to Brady discloses a steeping apparatus for steeping granular solid food material in a liquid to impart flavor to the liquid, producing a flavored beverage. The apparatus includes a container to hold solid material and liquid. A plunger is movable vertically with respect to the container between an upper plunger position and lower plunger position. The plunger includes a filter element that, as the plunger is moved from the upper plunger position to the lower plunger position, permits liquid flow but inhibits solid material passage. A buffer element above the plunger is movable with respect to the container from an upper position to a lower position. When the buffer is at the lower position, the granular solid food material is substantially decoupled from the flavored beverage.
Neither of these references are automatic, nor are they capable of stirring container bottom sediment.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,040,218 to Biolchini, Jr. discloses a stirring coffee press for brewing beverages, such as coffee or tea, and simultaneously compressing and agitating unfiltered liquid in a single container. The stirring coffee press includes a container with a fitted lid, a plunger attached to a hollow shaft slidably and rotatably received within the container and extending through a lid opening. A blade assembly attaches to a shaft extending and exiting through the hollow shaft of the plunger assembly. The hollow shaft has a handle adapted to be received and retained in the lid aperture, thereby preventing the plunger assembly from rotating. The blade assembly shaft has a knob attached to its open end allowing the blade assembly to freely rotate.
International patent application 2008/044948 to Hunter discloses a French press device comprising a plunger equipped with a stirring apparatus beneath the plunger for stirring the contents of a carafe. The stirrer is rotated on a single rod passing through the plunger/filter. An isolating connection allows the stirrer to be rotated by twisting the knob on the rod above the lid while the plunger/filter remains still, held by the friction of the plunger/filter apparatus pushing against the side of the container.
While these devices are capable of a combination French press/stirring action, they cannot operate automatically.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,240,833 to Sham, et al. discloses an automatic French press beverage maker incorporating an automatic hot water dispensing machine having a housing, a water tank and electric water heater. The dispensing machine is adapted to communicate with a French press plunger/strainer extractor that also functions as a serving carafe for hot infused beverages such as coffee and tea.
While this invention discloses automatic water heating, it cannot press or stir automatically.
Therefore it is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic French press comprising automatic filtration and stirring capabilities. A further object of the invention is to provide a French press with a time delay that allows material in the carafe to steep for a predetermined time prior to filtration. A further object of the invention is to provide a French press with a motor driven filter assembly that automatically urges a filter through liquid. A further object is to provide a stabilizing mechanism to stabilize the filter while driving it through the carafe. A further object of the invention is to provide an agitating mechanism for stirring up sediment from the bottom of the carafe prior to filtration. These and other objects will become apparent from the following summary, description and claims.
The device of the present invention comprises top and bottom sections in hinged communication. The bottom comprises a carafe supporting base, and the top comprises a handle, funnel, and control buttons. After coffee grounds are introduced into the carafe and the carafe placed on the base, liquid of a temperature determined by the user is introduced into the funnel and a control button is selected activating a delay timer. At a predetermined time, a motor in the top operates to agitate and filter the liquid in the carafe.
The underside of the top comprises a liquid spout extending to the carafe mouth and connected to the funnel, and a drive mechanism in communication with the motor for driving the filter assembly. The filter assembly comprises a threaded vertical member, or lead screw, disposed centrally in the carafe with a filter and stabilizer disposed at the top. When the device is in operation, the drive mechanism causes the lead screw to rotate, urging the filter and stabilizer down along the vertical member. In alternate embodiments, a ball screw, worm drive, rack and pinion, fluid power or electromagnetic power may be used in lieu of a lead screw.
The interior of the carafe accommodates the threaded vertical member, filter, stabilizer and agitator. The agitator disposed at the bottom of the threaded vertical member in a preferred embodiment. The agitator comprises vanes to stir sediment at the carafe bottom. A mechanism to hold the bottom of the vertical member or in the alternate the agitator is disposed at the bottom of the carafe is provided.
The threads of the vertical member, filter and stabilizer are complimentary so that when the vertical member rotates, the filter and stabilizer are driven downward along the interior of the carafe. Since the carafe is not circular in plan view, the filter and stabilizer are unable to rotate along with the vertical member. Because the agitator is smaller in circumference than the narrowest part of the carafe, it rotates freely.
In one preferred embodiment, the threads of the vertical member, filter and stabilizer allow the vertical member to turn in one direction to rotate the agitator, while keeping the filter and stabilizer at the top of the vertical member. When the threaded member turns in the opposite direction, it urges the filter and stabilizer downward along the threaded vertical member.
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In order to secure the threaded vertical member 32 in place as it rotates, a mechanism 38 for holding the bottom of the threaded vertical member 32 in place is disposed at the bottom of the carafe 18. In one preferred embodiment the mechanism 38 comprises a dimple corresponding to a complimentary form at the bottom of the vertical member 32 or agitator 40. In another embodiment, the lower end of the vertical member is chamfered, enabling it to push through the material to be steeped and connect with the holding mechanism
The threads of the vertical member 32, filter 34 and stabilizer 36 are complimentary, so that when the threaded vertical member 32 rotates, the filter 34 and stabilizer 36 are driven downward along the interior of the carafe 18. Since the carafe 18 is not circular in plan view, the filter 34 and stabilizer 36 cannot rotate along with the threaded vertical member 32. The agitator 40 is smaller in circumference than the narrowest part of the carafe permitting it to rotate freely.
In one preferred embodiment, the threads of the threaded vertical member 32, and the filter 34 and stabilizer 36 are designed to allow the vertical threaded member to turn in one direction, spinning the agitator, while keeping the filter 34 and stabilizer 36 at the top of the vertical threaded member 32. When the threaded member turns in the opposite direction, the filter 34 and stabilizer 36 are urged downward along the threaded vertical member 32.
The structure of the invention having been shown and described, operation of the invention is now described.
In order to use the automatic French press, a material to be steeped, including coffee grounds or tea, is introduced into the carafe. Thereafter the threaded vertical member bearing the filter, stabilizer and agitator is introduced. The bottom of the threaded member agitator assembly is disposed on the anchor mechanism at the center of the bottom of the carafe. In an alternate method, the vertical member and agitator are set in place prior to the introduction of material into the carafe. The filter and stabilizer are positioned thereafter.
With the carafe prepared, the top of the device is lifted, and the carafe and filter assembly placed on the base of the device. Lowering the top engages the drive mechanism and vertical member, and positions the boiling water entry to direct liquid into the carafe.
Boiling water is introduced into the funnel, directing it into the carafe to mingle with the material to be steeped. A control button is selected to determine the desired steeping time. The control buttons activate a timer causing a predetermined time delay prior to motor activation. At the end of the predetermined delay time, the motor causes the vertical member to spin in one direction so that the threads of the vertical member do not engage the complimentary threads on the filter and stabilizer assembly. In this manner, the device causes the agitator to spin, stirring up sediment at the bottom of the carafe.
After a second predetermined time, the motor reverses direction, causing the threads on the vertical member to engage the threads on the filter and stabilizer assembly, thereby urging the filter and stabilizer downward along the vertical member and filtering the material in the carafe. The filter and stabilizer are prevented from rotating with the vertical member by virtue of the non-circular carafe shape. The agitator is able to rotate freely since its diameter is smaller than the narrowest point of the carafe. Once the filter and stabilizer have been driven to the bottom of the carafe, the carafe can be removed from the device, and a brewed beverage decanted from the carafe. Optionally, the agitator may spin in a single, filter-driving direction.
All features disclosed in this specification, including any accompanying claims, abstract, and drawings, may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.
Any element in a claim that does not explicitly state “means for” performing a specified function, or “step for” performing a specific function, is not to be interpreted as a “means” or “step” clause as specified in 35 U.S.C. §112, paragraph 6. In particular, the use of “step of” in the claims herein is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112, paragraph 6.
Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, various modifications and substitutions may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the present invention has been described by way of illustration and not limitation.
