Beverage brewing device

• US 10,226,147 B2
• Filed: 01/06/2017
• Issued: 03/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: David Harper
• Original Assignee: David Harper
• Inventors: Harper, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Weier, Anthony J
• Application Number:
  US15/400,869
• Publication Number:
  US 20180192809A1
• Time in Patent Office: 795 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/043 Vacuum-type coffee-making apparatus with rising pipes in which hot water is passed to the upper bowl in which the ground coffee is placed and subsequently the heat source is cut-off and the water is sucked through the filter by the vacuum in the lower bowl
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/20 having immersible, e.g. rotatable, filters

Abstract

A beverage brewing device is configured to brew beverages such as coffee and tea. A brewing canister having a filter at a bottom end is held partially within a receiving beaker, and a seal is created between the canister outer surface and the beaker inner surface. Brewing media such as coffee grounds and brewing fluid such as hot water are added to the canister, mixed, and allowed to brew. At a desired time, the receiving beaker is moved relative to the brewing canister so that the brewing canister is partially removed from the receiving beaker. As such, a vacuum is formed between the bottom end of the brewing canister and the receiving beaker. The filter stops brewing media from flowing into the receiving beaker, but the vacuum draws the brewed beverage through the brewing media and filter and into the receiving beaker.

Claims

1. A brewing device, comprising:

a frame having a first holder;

a lift that is movable relative to the frame, the lift having a second holder;

a brewing canister configured to be supported by one of the first and second holders, the brewing canister having an outer diameter and having a filter, a brewing chamber defined within the brewing canister above the filter;

a receiving beaker configured to be supported by the other of the first and second holders, the receiving beaker having an inner diameter that is greater than the outer diameter of the brewing canister;

the brewing canister and receiving beaker configured so that the brewing canister can be inserted into the receiving beaker so that the filter of the brewing canister is within the receiving beaker, and an upper portion of the brewing canister is not within the receiving beaker;

a sealing member configured to establish a seal between the brewing canister and the receiving beaker when the brewing canister is inserted into the receiving beaker; and

the brewing chamber configured to receive a fluid and a brewing media therewithin so as to brew a brewed fluid therefrom;

wherein when the lift is moved relative to the frame, the receiving beaker is moved vertically relative to the brewing canister between a first position, in which the brewing canister is inserted into the receiving beaker and a second position, in which the brewing canister is completely removed from the receiving beaker.

2. A brewing device as in claim 1, wherein when the receiving beaker is in the first position and fluid and brewing media are disposed in the brewing chamber, moving the lift so that the receiving beaker is moved toward the second position will create a vacuum between the filter and the receiving beaker, and wherein the vacuum will draw brewed fluid from the brewing chamber through the filter and into the receiving beaker.

3. A brewing device as in claim 2 additionally comprising a detent mechanism configured to temporarily stop movement of the lift toward the second position, the detent mechanism configured to stop movement of the lift at a third position between the first and second positions, wherein the seal between the receiving beaker and the brewing canister is still established when the lift is at the third position.

4. A brewing device as in claim 2, wherein when the receiving beaker is in the second position, the receiving beaker can be removed from the respective first or second holder independently from the brewing canister.

5. A brewing device as in claim 4, wherein when the receiving beaker is in the second position, the brewing canister can be removed from the respective first or second holder independently from the receiving beaker.

6. A brewing device as in claim 5, wherein the brewing canister comprises a connector configured to engage the first holder so that the brewing canister is prevented from moving vertically relative to the frame.

7. A brewing device as in claim 6, wherein the receiving beaker is configured to be supported by the second holder so that the receiving beaker moves vertically with the lift.

8. A brewing device as in claim 7, wherein the second holder is configured so that when the receiving beaker is engaged with the second holder on the lift, and the brewing canister is engaged with the first holder, the receiving beaker is aligned with the brewing canister.

9. A brewing device as in claim 1, wherein the sealing member is supported by the brewing canister.

10. A brewing device as in claim 9, wherein the brewing canister comprises a first end and a second end, the filter being disposed at or adjacent the second end, and wherein the sealing member is arranged between the first end and the second end.

11. A brewing device as in claim 9, wherein the brewing canister comprises a first end and a second end, the brewing canister being open at the first end, a removable cap being disposed at the second end, the removable cap comprising a filter seat configured to releasably receive the filter, the filter being held securely in place when the cap is attached to the brewing canister, the filter being removable from the filter seat when the cap is removed from the brewing canister.

12. A brewing device as in claim 11 additionally comprising a filter support that interchangeably fits into the filter seat of the cap in place of the filter, and additionally comprising a compliant filter configured to be supported by the filter support when the cap is attached to the brewing canister.