Patent Application
20240245253
The disclosure relates to coffee makers and more particularly pertains to a new coffee maker for brewing coffee without accessing a power grid. The present invention discloses a coffee maker that is powered by a battery which is capable of selectively powering the coffee maker or any one of a plurality of implements.
The prior art relates to coffee makers, which may comprise coffee makers that are powered by external batteries, such as car batteries. Related prior art includes battery powered beverage dispensers. What is lacking in the prior art is a coffee maker that is powered by a battery that is selectively engageable to the coffee maker by insertion into a compartment, wherein the battery engages an electrical connector that is that same as that of a plurality of implements, thereby allowing the battery to selectively power either the coffee maker or one of the implements. Further lacking in the prior art is such a coffee maker having external lights, ports for charging auxiliary devices, and a radio.
An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a housing, which defines an interior space. A plurality of walls is attached to the housing and defines a reservoir, a brewing compartment, and a power compartment within the interior space. An opening, a first cutout, and a second cutout are positioned in the housing and open into the brewing compartment, the reservoir, and the power compartment, respectively. The reservoir is configured for addition of water. A pipe is attached to and extends between a bottom of the reservoir and an upper end of the brewing compartment. A heater is positioned in-line with the pipe. A switch is attached to the housing and is operationally engaged to the heater. A basket is selectively attachable to the upper end of the brewing compartment so that the basket is positioned to receive hot water from the pipe. The basket is configured for insertion of a filter and coffee grounds. A carafe is selectively positionable in the brewing compartment below the basket.
A first connector is attached to the housing, is positioned in the power compartment, and is operationally engaged to the switch. The first connector is complementary to a second connector of a battery that is configured to selectively power a plurality of implements, wherein each implement comprises a first connector. The first connector is configured to selectively engage the second connector to operationally engage the battery to the switch. The switch is configured to be switched to actuate the heater to heat the water so that hot water flows through the pipe into the basket. The carafe is configured to receive coffee from the basket.
Another embodiment of the disclosure includes a method of brewing coffee absent access to a power grid. Provision steps entail providing coffee grounds and water, providing a cordless coffee making device, according to the disclosure above and providing a battery, which comprises a second connector that is complementary to the first connector. The battery is configured to selectively power a plurality of implements that each have a first connector, such as blowers, drills, saws, trimmers, fans, and the like.
Setup steps of the method are positioning the filter and the coffee grounds in the basket, attaching the basket to the upper end of the brewing compartment, positioning the carafe below the basket, and engaging the first connector to the second connector to operationally engage the battery to the switch. An operational step of the method is switching the switch to actuate the heater to heat the water so that hot water flows through the pipe into the basket so that coffee is collected in the carafe.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.
The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to
As best illustrated in
The reservoir 18 is configured for addition of water. A pipe 42 is attached to and extends between a bottom 44 of the reservoir 18 and an upper end 46 of the brewing compartment 20. A heater 48 is positioned in-line with the pipe 42. A switch 50 is attached to the housing 12 and is operationally engaged to the heater 48. A basket 52 is selectively attachable to the upper end 46 of the brewing compartment 20 so that the basket 52 is positioned to receive hot water from the pipe 42.
As shown in
A carafe 62 is selectively positionable in the brewing compartment 20 below the basket 52, as shown in
A first connector 64 is attached to the housing 12, is positioned in the power compartment 22, and is operationally engaged to the switch 50. The first connector 64 is complementary to a second connector 66 of a battery 68 that is configured to selectively power a plurality of implements, wherein each implement comprises a first connector 64. A number of manufacturers offer sets of implements wherein each implement is compatible with a single battery 68. The present invention anticipates the first connector 64 being of a variety of configurations that are compatible with the respective configurations of the second connectors 66 of the batteries 68 offered by the various manufacturers.
The present invention also anticipates the cordless coffee making device 10 including a battery 68. The first connector 64 is configured to selectively engage the second connector 66 to operationally engage the battery 68 to the switch 50. The switch 50 is configured to be switched to actuate the heater 48 to heat the water so that hot water flows through the pipe 42 into the basket 52. The carafe 62 is configured to receive coffee from the basket 52.
As shown in
As shown in
A microprocessor 76 is attached to the housing 12, is positioned in the electronics compartment 26, and is operationally engaged to the switch 50, the first connector 64, the heater 48, and the heating plate 72. The microprocessor 76 thus is enabled to selectively actuate the heater 48 and the heating plate 72. A brew timer 78 and a warming timer 80 are attached to the housing 12, are positioned in the electronics compartment 26, and are operationally engaged to the microprocessor 76. The microprocessor 76 is enabled to actuate the brew timer 78 and the warming timer 80 to control an operational time for the heater 48 and the heating plate 72, respectively. For example, the warming timer 80 may have an operational time of two hours upon switching of the switch 50.
The cordless coffee making device 10 also may include a first receiver 82, a control screen 84, and a speaker 86. The first receiver 82, which is configured to receive radio waves, is attached to the housing 12, is positioned in the electronics compartment 26, and is operationally engaged to the microprocessor 76. The speaker 86 and the control screen 84 are attached to the housing 12 and are operationally engaged to the microprocessor 76. The control screen 84 is enabled to signal the microprocessor 76 to set a reception band for the first receiver 82, essentially selecting a radio station. The speaker 86 is configured to broadcast a radio signal that is received by the first receiver 82.
The cordless coffee making device 10 also may include a second receiver 88, which is attached to the housing 12, is positioned in the electronics compartment 26, and is operationally engaged to the microprocessor 76. The second receiver 88 is configured to pair with an electronic device 90 of a user, such as a cellphone 92. The second receiver 88 is configured to receive an audio file from the electronic device 90, which then can be broadcast by the speaker 86.
An audio button 94 is attached to the housing 12 and is operationally engaged to the microprocessor 76. The audio button 94 is configured to be depressed a first time to signal the microprocessor 76 to power the first receiver 82, the second receiver 88, and the control screen 84 and to be depressed a second time to deactuate the first receiver 82, the second receiver 88 and the control screen 84. The present invention anticipates the audio button 94 comprising other switching means, such as, but not limited to, slides, toggles, or the like.
The cordless coffee making device 10 also may include a plurality of bulbs 96, which is attached to the housing 12 and which is operationally engaged to the microprocessor 76. The microprocessor 76 thus is enabled to selectively actuate the plurality of bulbs 96 so that the plurality of bulbs 96 is configured to illuminate a space proximate to the housing 12. Each bulb 96 may comprise a light emitting diode 98, or other illumination means, such a phosphorescent lights, fluorescent lights, or the like. As shown in
A light button 102 is attached to the housing 12 and is operationally engaged to the microprocessor 76. The light button 102 is configured to be depressed a first time to signal the microprocessor 76 to power the plurality of bulbs 96 and to be depressed a second time to deactuate the plurality of bulbs 96. The present invention anticipates the light button 102 comprising other switching means, such as, but not limited to, slides, toggles, or the like.
The cordless coffee making device 10 also may include a plurality of ports 104, which is attached to the housing 12 and which is operationally engaged to the microprocessor 76. Each port 104 is configured for insertion of a plug 106 of a respective charging cord 108 to power or to charge an auxiliary device of the user. Each port 104 may comprise a Universal Serial Bus port 110, or other connecting means, such as, but not limited to, sockets for barrel connectors, Molex connectors, or the like. The plurality of ports 104 may be sealably closed by means of a flap 160, which is hingedly attached to the housing, to prevent entry of moisture.
The cordless coffee making device 10 also may include a carrying case 112, as shown in
In use, the cordless coffee making device 10 enables a method of brewing coffee absent access to a power grid 142, such as may be desirable when traveling, camping, fishing, or the like, or at remote worksites. The method 142 comprises a first provision step 144, which entails providing coffee grounds 60 and water. A second provision step 146 of the method 142 is providing a cordless coffee making device 10, according to the specification above. A first setup step 148 of the method 142 is adding the water to the reservoir 18 and positioning the filter 58 and the coffee grounds 60 in the basket 52. A second setup step 150 of the method 142 is attaching the basket 52 to the upper end 46 of the brewing compartment 20. A third setup step 152 of the method 142 is positioning the carafe 62 below the basket 52.
A third provision step 154 of the method 142 is providing a battery 68, which comprises a second connector 66 that is complementary to the first connector 64. The battery 68 is configured to selectively power a plurality of implements, wherein each implement comprises a first connector 64. Such implements include, but are not limited to, blowers, drills, saws, trimmers, fans, and the like. A fourth setup step 156 of the method 142 is engaging the first connector 64 to the second connector 66 to operationally engage the battery 68 to the switch 50. An operational step 158 of the method 142 is switching the switch 50 to actuate the heater 48 to heat the water so that hot water flows through the pipe 42 into the basket 52 and so that coffee collects in the carafe 62.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.
