DEVICE AND METHOD FOR REDUCING CARAFE SPLASHING

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for reducing splashing of a liquid retained in a container such as a beverage carafe, when the container is moved. The splash reducing device having a body, defining a channel that permits passage of liquid through the device and into the container and resists outflowing of liquid, such as by splashing, when the container is moved. The device is removably retained at least partially covering an opening or in a neck of the container. The device also has a grip positioned generally outside of any surfaces which might be contacted by food or beverage.

Description

BACKGROUND

Brewed beverage, such as, for example, coffee, in a carafe or a pot is subject to sloshing in the carafe. Typically, a brewed beverage, such as coffee, is served from a dispenser such as a carafe or a brewing pot. Depending on the amount of the beverage, the size and shape of the carafe and the amount of empty space in the carafe, sloshing of the beverage may occur. It is desirable to prevent or reduce such sloshing to minimize spilling and the associated mess.

Disclosed are structural and design characteristics of certain parts for use with a carafe or a brewing pot, such that the sloshing of the brewed beverage is reduced without substantially interfering with the brewing or the dispensing processes.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings are provided to illustrate some of the embodiments of the disclosure. It is envisioned that alternate configurations of the embodiments of the present disclosure may be adopted without deviating from the disclosure as illustrated in these drawings.

FIG. 1 is a top view of a splash reducing device;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the splash reducing device

FIG. 3 is a side view of the splash reducing device;

FIG. 4 is a front view of the splash reducing device;

FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional view of the splash reducing device positioned within a carafe; and

FIG. 6. is a perspective view of a device having another embodiment of a grip extending from a body portion of the device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While the present disclosure may be susceptible to embodiments in different forms, there is shown in the drawings, and herein will be described in detail, embodiments with the understanding that the present description is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the disclosure and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the details of construction and the arrangements of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings.

The present disclosure relates to a device for reducing splashing in a beverage dispenser or server such as, for example, a carafe. The beverage may be a brewed beverage such as, for example, coffee. The splash reducing device 10 (hereinafter “the device”) has a body 111 defining a wall or structure 14 which is shown as a curved structure that is positioned or secured removably within a mouth or a neck of a server 12 (FIGS. 1-5). The body 11 is a radial asymmetric structure to help facilitate orienting the device in the server. The device 10 has a dispensing end 18 and a grip 22 extending from the body 11. The grip 22 is positioned away from surfaces of the channel 28 that contact beverage (FIG. 1). The wall 14 of the device 10 defines a channel 28 that permits passage therethrough of a liquid beverage. The channel 28 includes a mouth 29 at one end and a port 31 spaced from the mouth 29. The mouth 29 has a cross-sectional area which is greater than the cross-sectional area of the port 31. The device is sized and dimensioned for positioning in a neck 68 of a beverage server 12. The device can also be sized and dimensioned for positioning over an opening in a beverage server 12. The device 10 can be sold separately to fit into beverage servers 12 that don't have the device or may be sold with servers.

The server 12 is shown as a type having a container portion 33 with an extending neck 68 having a mouth 66 defining an opening through which beverage passes. As shown the device is retainable in the neck 68 of the server 12 with the channel 28 communicating with the volume 35 defined by the container portion 33 of the server 12. The device 10 also defines at least two non-tortuous chimney passages 37, 39 which are generally axially aligned with a central axis 41 of the neck. The chimney passages facilitate the flow of heat energy off of the beverage in the server to help maintain a desired temperature. As shown, the chimney passages 37, 39 are not covered to facilitate upward flow of heat energy but are directed in such a manner so as to deflect and redirect any beverage splashing in the container.

The dispensing end 18 of the device 10 defines a pouring passage 19 which includes a lip 30 shown in the Figures as a curvilinear or an arched lip that extends upward and outward from the curved wall 14 (FIG. 2). The pouring passage 19 is spaced apart from the channel 28. As illustrated, the pouring passage 19 is spaced on the opposite side of the wall 14 from the channel 28. A vertical member 34 extends below the arched lip 30 to form a contiguous baffle with the carafe 12. The vertical member 34 may be curved to engage the carafe 12. The lip 30 and the vertical member 34 define a pouring spout or a dispensing passage 35 and fits towards a pouring edge 70 of the carafe 12 (FIG. 5). The lip 30 and the vertical member 34 of the device 10 are positioned within the mouth 66 of the carafe 12 such that a dispensing passage 35 is present to enable passage therethrough of a liquid beverage (See FIG. 5 and the description below herein). The lip 30 may extend fully or partially into the pouring edge 70 of the carafe 12. The size and shape of the lip 30 may have other suitable configurations to engage the device 10 with the pouring edge 70 of the carafe 12. The curved wall 14 has a vertical support leg 38 with a finger or beveled bottom 42 (FIG. 2). There may be two support legs 38 on either side of the curved wall 14 (FIG. 4). The size and shape of the lip 30, the vertical member 34, and the support legs 38 are appropriately configured to provide a snap-fit or an interference fit and a suitably tight retaining grip within the carafe 12 or a brewing pot of various sizes.

The lip 30 forms a passage 35 which facilitates the updrafting or “chimney effect” of heat rising from the coffee retained in the carafe 12. This helps to prevent the accumulation of heat within the carafe. It is believed that other devices may block the chimneying effect by covering the passage. Such prior art devices actually cause the heat in the carafe to escalate thereby increasing the heat in the beverage and possibly decreasing the hold time of the beverage.

The channel 28 of the device 10, defined by an upper rim structure 54 also defining the mount 29, a first well or middle conical structure 58 and a second well or lower conical structure 62 forms a frusto-conical or a funnel shaped interior, narrows downward towards an opening 26 at an angle (FIG. 3). The angled narrow opening 26 towards the liquid in the carafe 12 creates an interference or baffle, which reduces splashing, in part due to a reduced volume of liquid that may enter the opening 26 (See FIG. 5).

The funnel shaped interior surface, defined by the channel 28 of the device 10 deflects and redirects some of the sloshing liquid back into the carafe 12. A larger opening or mouth 56 defined by the upper annular rim structure 54 permits flow of the brewed beverage into the carafe from a brewer or a similar device. The larger mouth 56 also aids in easy transferring of the beverage from another container into the carafe 12. The enlarged well or channel defined by wells 58 and 62 provide a large volume well for receiving coffee, whether it is from a brewer or another server. It is believed that some prior art devices may provide a much smaller volume well which could result in overflowing of the well should there be any form of obstruction in the opening 26 or upon high volume transfer into the carafe through the well.

The curved lip 30 and the vertical member 34 of the device 10 fits within a mouth 66 of the carafe 12 and against a neck 68 and towards the pouring edge 70 of the carafe or the brewing pot (FIG. 5). The annular rim structure 54 along with the arched lip 30, the vertical member 34, and the support legs 38 engage the device 10 within the carafe 12 from being dislodged or loosened or removed during dispensing or pouring the beverage. The opening 26 of the device 10, the length and width of the vertical member 34 and the angle of the funnel-shaped interior defining the channel 28 can be suitably adjusted to accommodate carafes or dispensers of various sizes. the support legs 38 define one form of retainer 43. The leg 38 of the retainer 43 extends from the body 11 with finger 42 extending from the leg. The retainer 43 is flexible for providing an interference fit with an inside surface of the neck 68 of the server 12. The retainer may even extend into the container 33 with the finger 42 contacting the inside surface of the container 33. The retainer 43 helps removably retain the device 10 on the server 12.

The annular rim structure 54 and the lip 30 along with the vertical member 34 may provide sufficient engagement within the server 12, thus eliminating the need for any vertical support legs 38. In an embodiment, the vertical member 34 may extend below to a sufficient depth within the server 12 depending upon the length of the neck 68 of the server 12. The vertical member 34 may aid in reflecting and redirecting some of the splashed liquid beverage back into the server 12 that other wise may escape through the channel 28 of the device 10.

The gripping end 22 of the device 10 may have a grip 46 that extends from a base 50 of the curved wall 14 (FIGS. 1-3). The grip 46 may be in the shape of a flange or a longitudinal protrusion that enables easy handling and removal or lifting the device 10 out of the carafe 12 for cleaning, maintenance or for any other purposes. The grip 46 allows a user to hold the device 10 without reaching into or touching directly or near the food contact surfaces. The grip 46 may also have an indicia imprinted on its outer surface or have a provision for engraving or attaching a desirable indicia by a user. In an embodiment, the grip 46 may also have by way of example and not limitation a suitable gripping surface such as a suitable rubber coating, a rough, ribbed, serrated grooved outer surface for an adequate grip by an user to lift the device 10 out of the carafe 12 or to place or adjust the device 10 on the carafe 12 without being interfered by a handle 74 of the carafe 12. The grip 46 may have other suitable configurations that provide a means for lifting or adjusting the device 10 within the carafe 12. In an embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the grip 46 may protrude contiguously from the base curved wall 14, the curvature of grip 46 may be congruent with the curvature of the curved wall 14. In this embodiment, the grip 46 provides an additional feature of creating a further barrier for splashing upon dispense of liquid from a carafe. Also, the larger gripping surface conveniently places the grip completely outside of any food contact areas.

The vertical member 34 and the vertical support legs 38 may extend below as much as the channel 28, which extends from the upper annular rim structure 54 to the lower conical structure 62. In another embodiment, the vertical member 34 and the vertical support legs 38 may extend below to a length that is longer than the channel 28, such as, for example, to engage a longer neck 68 of the carafe 12. In another embodiment, the vertical member 34 and the vertical support legs 38 may be shorter than the length of the channel 28 or shorter than the length of the neck 68 of the carafe 12. In an embodiment, the vertical member 34 and the vertical support legs 38 may not all extend to a uniform length below the curved wall 14. The support legs 38 may extend below the curved wall 14 to greater depth than the vertical member 34 and vice versa.

The channel 28 defined by the upper annular rim structure 54, the middle conical structure 58 and the lower conical structure 62 may be suitably adjusted to form a smooth continuous frusto-conical or a funnel shaped interior, wherein the upper annular rim structure 50, the middle conical structure 58 and the lower conical structure 62 forms a single continuous frusto-conical or a funnel shaped interior such that the channel 28 of the device 10 narrows downward towards the opening 26 at an angle.

The device 10 relates to a splash reducing device made of an injection molded plastic or other suitable materials made by other standard processes. A suitable material may have desirable characteristics such as food safety, ease of cleaning, stain resistance, heat resistance, shear resistance, and capable of handling ordinary beverages. The device 10 can be sized and dimensioned for being retrofitted to an existing carafe 12 or the carafe 12 can be manufactured with a pre-installed device 10. The device 10 may be removable to enable easy cleaning and maintenance of the device 10 and the carafe 12. The device 10 can also be modified to fit the carafe 12 as a lid that also acts as a splash-reducing device. For example, a screw-top lid for the carafe 12 may be suitably configured such that the lid has a frusto-conical interior wherein the channel 28 narrows downward towards the liquid at an angle. The support legs 38 and the vertical member 34 may not be necessary if the modified lid can be fitted as a screw-top lid or by other means.

By way of operation, during a brewing process or a transferring process (See FIG. 5), a liquid 90 enters the channel 28 through the void 56 defined by the upper annular rim structure 54 and flows downward through the middle conical structure 58, the lower conical structure 62 and flows or drips out of the device 10 through the opening 26 into the carafe 12. The funnel-shaped or the frusto-conical structure of the device 10 permits the liquid 90 to flow down the device 10 at an adequate flow rate without substantial stagnation or other impediments. During dispensing or by any other movement, some of the liquid 90 that sloshes is redirected or reflected back into the carafe 12 by the conical or the frusto-conical interior channel 28 of the device 10. The vertical member 34 also redirects or reflects a part of the liquid 90 that may splash or slosh within the carafe 12. During dispensing, the liquid enters the dispensing passage 35 and flows outward through the dispensing channel 72 in the carafe 12. The dispensing passage 35 and the dispensing channel 72 are of sufficient dimensions to permit dispensing of the liquid at a desirable dispensing flow rate.

During dispensing, when the carafe 12 is tilted, the angled frusto-conical shaped interior channel 28 acts as a barrier to the liquid 90 that sloshes or otherwise tries to escape through the device 10 (FIG. 5). When the carafe 12 is tilted at an angle, for example, 60° to the horizontal, the outer angled surface 76, the inner surface defining the channel 28, and the vertical member 34 act as barriers to the liquid 90 that sloshes or otherwise may escape through the device 10. The slope of the outer angled surface may vary depending upon the desired downward flow rate of the liquid 90 and the dispensing flow rate. For example, the outer angled surface may have an angle “α” 94 of about 20° to about 80° with respect to the vertical member 34 of the device 10 (See FIG. 5). The liquid 90, during dispensing, is reflected or deflected off of the outer angled surface 76 and the inner surface defining the channel 28 and flows back into the carafe 12. The liquid 90 is retained within the carafe 12 from sloshing out and is permitted to be dispensed through the dispensing passage 35 and the dispensing channel 72 (FIG. 5). In other words, the liquid 90 is held or retained by the device 10 within the carafe 12 as in a reservoir and is allowed to be dispensed through the dispensing channel 72 within the pouring edge 70 of the carafe 12.

It is envisioned that a reduction in the downward flow rate during a brewing process or a transferring process due to the device 10, if undesirable, may be adjusted by increasing the size of the opening 26 of the device 10 or by adjusting the angle of the frusto-conical interior defined by the channel 28. In this regard, a larger opening 26 or a less steep channel 28 may increase the flow rate of the liquid if necessary. If an increase in the downward flow rate of the liquid alter the splash-reducing capability of the device 10, appropriate reduction in the size of the opening 26 or an increase in the angle of the channel 28 may be implemented, such that there is an appropriate balance between the downward or dispensing flow rate and the splash reduction. The dispensing flow rate through the dispensing channel 72 may be adjusted by adjusting the area of the dispensing passage 35, or by adjusting the area of the dispensing channel 72, or by adjusting the length of the vertical member 34.

By preventing or minimizing sloshing of the beverage during dispensing or due to any other movement, the device 10 minimizes general inconvenience to the user without substantially interfering with the brewing or the transferring process.

While this disclosure has been described as having exemplary embodiments, this application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations using the general principles set forth herein. It is envisioned that those skilled in the art may devise various modifications and equivalents without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as recited in the features, elements, steps, or combinations thereof. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within the known or customary practice within the art to which it pertains.

CROSS-REFERENCE

This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/605,964 filed Aug. 31, 2004. The disclosure set forth in the referenced provisional application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, including all information as originally submitted to the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

BACKGROUND

Brewed beverage, such as, for example, coffee, in a carafe or a pot is subject to sloshing in the carafe. Typically, a brewed beverage, such as coffee, is served from a dispenser such as a carafe or a brewing pot. Depending on the amount of the beverage, the size and shape of the carafe and the amount of empty space in the carafe, sloshing of the beverage may occur. It is desirable to prevent or reduce such sloshing to minimize spilling and the associated mess.

Disclosed are structural and design characteristics of certain parts for use with a carafe or a brewing pot, such that the sloshing of the brewed beverage is reduced without substantially interfering with the brewing or the dispensing processes.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings are provided to illustrate some of the embodiments of the disclosure. It is envisioned that alternate configurations of the embodiments of the present disclosure may be adopted without deviating from the disclosure as illustrated in these drawings.

FIG. 1 is a top view of a splash reducing device;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the splash reducing device;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the splash reducing device;

FIG. 4 is a front view of the splash reducing device;

FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional view of the splash reducing device positioned within a carafe; and

FIG. 6. is a perspective view of a device having another embodiment of a grip extending from a body portion of the device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While the present disclosure may be susceptible to embodiments in different forms, there is shown in the drawings, and herein will be described in detail, embodiments with the understanding that the present description is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the disclosure and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the details of construction and the arrangements of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings.

The present disclosure relates to a device for reducing splashing in a beverage dispenser or server such as, for example, a carafe. The beverage may be a brewed beverage such as, for example, coffee. The splash reducing device 10 (hereinafter “the device”) has a body 11 defining a wall or structure 14 which is shown as a curved structure that is positioned or secured removably within a mouth or a neck of a server 12 (FIGS. 1-5). The body 11 is a radial asymmetric structure to help facilitate orienting the device in the server. The device 10 has a dispensing end 18 and a grip 22 extending from the body 11. The grip 22 is positioned away from surfaces of the channel 28 that contact beverage (FIG. 1). The wall 14 of the device 10 defines a channel 28 that permits passage therethrough of a liquid beverage. The channel 28 includes a mouth 29 at one end and a port 31 spaced from the

Claims

1. A splash reducing device for use with a beverage server, the splash reducing device comprising: a body having at least one wall; the wall defining a channel having a mouth and a port spaced from the mouth, the mouth generally having a cross sectional area which is greater than the cross sectional area of the port; and a portion of the wall defining a pouring passage, generally spaced apart from the channel.

2. The splash reducing device of claim 1, further comprising a grip extending from the body.

3. The splash reducing device of claim 2, wherein the grip is positioned away from surfaces of the channel that contact beverage.

4. The splash reducing device of claim 1, wherein the channel is oriented to direct liquid passing through the channel away from the portion of the wall defining a pouring passage.

5. The splash reducing device of claim 1, wherein the channel is oriented to prevent passage of liquid from the container through the channel when the container is positioned for dispensing liquid through the pouring passage.

6. The splash reducing device of claim 1, wherein the device is sized and dimensioned for positioning in a neck of a beverage server.

7. The splash reducing device of claim 1, wherein the device is sized and dimensioned for positioning over an opening in beverage server.

8. The splash reducing device of claim 1, further comprising at least one retainer on the body for engaging the beverage server to removably retain the device on the server.

9. The splash reducing device of claim 8, wherein the retainer is flexible for providing an interference fit with the beverage server.

10. The splash reducing device of claim 8, wherein the retainer includes a leg extending from the body and a finger extending from the leg.

11. The splash reducing device of claim 1, further comprising at least two non-tortuous chimney passages, the non-tortuous passages being generally axially aligned with a neck of the server.

12. The splash reducing device of claim 11, wherein the non-tortuous chimney passages include the channel in the device body and the pouring passage.

13. The splash reducing device of claim 1, wherein the body is radially asymmetric.

14. A splash reducing device in combination with a beverage server, the beverage server having a container portion and a handle attached to the container portion, a neck extending from the container portion having a mouth defining an opening through which beverage passes, the splash reducing device comprising: a body having at least one wall; the wall defining a channel having a mouth and a port spaced from the mouth, the mouth generally having a cross sectional area which is greater than the cross sectional area of the port; the device generally being retained in the neck of the server with the channel communicating with the container; and a portion of the wall defining a pouring passage relative to the neck and mouth of the server, generally spaced apart from the channel.

15. The splash reducing device in combination with a beverage server of claim 8, further comprising a grip extending from the body of the device for gripping the device when inserting and removing the device relative to the server neck.

16. The splash reducing device in combination with a beverage server of claim 14, wherein the grip is positioned away from surfaces of the channel that contact beverage.

17. The splash reducing device in combination with a beverage server of claim 14, wherein the channel is oriented to direct liquid passing through the channel away from the portion of the wall defining a pouring passage.

18. The splash reducing device in combination with a beverage server of claim 14, wherein the channel is oriented to prevent passage of liquid from the container through the channel when the container is positioned for dispensing liquid through the pouring passage.

19. The splash reducing device in combination with a beverage server of claim 14, further comprising at least one retainer on the body for engaging the beverage server to removably retain the device on the server.

20. The splash reducing device in combination with a beverage server of claim 19, wherein the retainer is flexible for providing an interference fit with the beverage server.

21. The splash reducing device in combination with a beverage server of claim 19, wherein the retainer includes a leg extending from the body and a finger extending from the leg.

22. The splash reducing device in combination with a beverage server of claim 14, further comprising at least two non-tortuous chimney passages, the non-tortuous passages being generally axially aligned with a neck of the server.

23. The splash reducing device in combination with a beverage server of claim 22, wherein the non-tortuous chimney passages include the channel in the device body and the pouring passage.

24. The splash reducing device in combination with a beverage server of claim 8, wherein the body is radially asymmetric.

25. A method of reducing splashing from a beverage dispenser, the method comprising the steps of: providing a body having at least one wall, the wall defining a channel having a mouth and a port spaced from the mouth, the mouth generally having a cross sectional area which is greater than the cross sectional area of the port; providing a portion of the wall defining a pouring passage, generally spaced apart from the channel; dispensing beverage through the channel to the beverage dispenser; and directing beverage which contacts the body back into the dispenser.