Carafe lid extension system and method

• US 10,638,861 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2014
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bunn-O-Matic Corporation
• Original Assignee: Bunn-O-Matic Corporation
• Inventors: Cable, Fred, Anhalt, Todd
• Primary Examiner(s): Buechner, Patrick M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Melaragno, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US15/026,215
• Publication Number:
  US 20160235227A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,044 Days
• Field of Search: 2224751, 222571
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 19/14 Coffee or tea pots filters, strainers A47J31/06
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 19/145 Drip catchers for coffee or tea pots
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/44 Parts or details or accessories of beverage-making apparatus filters or strainers A47J31/06
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 36/14 Pouring-spouts, e.g. as parts separate from vessel

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a beverage serving device such as a carafe which includes structures and methods of operation for preventing dripping of beverage from the pouring spout after dispensing as well as improve control of liquid flow during dispensing and the structure and function of an extension portion of the cover or lid carried on the carafe.

Claims

1. A carafe for use in receiving, retaining, and dispensing liquid, the carafe comprising:

a container;

an opening formed on the container;

a handle on the container;

a mouth defined as a part of the opening by a protruding portion of the container extending outwardly from a wall of the container generally opposite the handle and through which liquid can be poured from the carafe;

a lid covering a first portion of the opening and leaving at least a portion of a second portion of the opening uncovered with the second portion being defined by the mouth; and

an elongated cantilevered extension defining a channel extending from the lid across the second portion of the opening defined by the mouth, with open areas of the mouth defined between the lid, the mouth, and the spaced apart sides of the extension positioned on both outer sides of the extension and not covered by the lid or extension, the extension extending outwardly from the container beyond a rim of the mouth, at least a portion of the channel of the extension contacting liquid from the container during pouring to direct flow of liquid from the container through the mouth and over the lip and to reduce the formation of drips from the container when ceasing pouring.

2. The carafe of claim 1, further comprising the extension contacting a rim of the mouth.

3. The carafe of claim 1, further comprising the extension and lid being removably attachable to one of the handle and container.

4. The carafe of claim 1, further comprising the extension and lid being movably retained on one of the handle and container.

5. The carafe of claim 1, further comprising the extension contacting and being movable by a stream of liquid flowing through the mouth during pouring for directing flow of liquid through the mouth.

6. The carafe of claim 1, further comprising the mouth forming a generally acute angle defining a pouring spout, the extension positioned proximate to at least a portion of the spout.

7. The carafe of claim 1, further comprising the extension having structure to provide surface tension with liquid flowing through the mouth when the carafe is tipped for pouring.

8. The carafe of claim 7, further comprising the extension defining a channel for producing capillary action with liquid flowing through the mouth.

9. The carafe of claim 8, the extension having walls defining the channel therebetween, the walls of the extension being configured and oriented to position the channel of the extension in the mouth in the path of flow through the mouth when pouring liquid for the carafe.

10. The carafe of claim 8, further comprising a portion of the extension positioned within the mouth oriented at least partially inwardly towards a cavity defined by the container for directing liquid in the channel at the end of pouring back into the cavity of the container and not dripping from the container.

11. The carafe of claim 8, further comprising a portion of the extension positioned within the mouth oriented at least partially inwardly towards a cavity defined by the container for directing liquid in the channel at the end of pouring back into the cavity of the container and not dripping from the container, and including at least one fin extending from a portion of the channel towards the cavity, the fin helping to laminate the stream of liquid flowing from the mouth while pouring and facilitating dripping into the cavity at the end of pouring.

12. The carafe of claim 1, further comprising the extension protruding into the mouth and spaced away from sides of the mouth.

13. The carafe of claim 1, further comprising a hole defined in a portion of the lid for allowing liquid to flow from above the carafe through the lid and into a cavity defined by the container to receive the liquid into the container.

14. The carafe of claim 1, further comprising a hinge attaching the lid to one of the handle and container to facilitate hinged retention and movement of the lid on the container.

15. A carafe for use in receiving, retaining, and dispensing liquid, the carafe comprising:

a container having a wall defining a cavity therein;

a portion of the wall providing a rim defining an opening to the cavity of the container;

a generally V-shaped mouth defined as a part of the opening by a protruding portion of the rim extending outwardly from a wall of the container and through which liquid can be poured from the container;

a lid covering a first portion of the opening while leaving at least a portion of a second portion of the opening uncovered with the second portion being defined by the V-shaped mouth; and

an elongated cantilevered extension defining a channel extending from the lid, the extension extending from the lid across an opening defined by the mouth and beyond the lip of the mouth, with open areas of the mouth on both outer sides of the extension and not covered by the lid or extension, at least a portion of the channel of the extension contacting and directing liquid from the container during pouring to direct flow of liquid from the container through the mouth and over the lip and to reduce the formation of drips from the container when ceasing pouring.

16. The carafe of claim 15, further comprising a handle attached to the container for gripping to tip the container and pour liquid therefrom, the handle being positioned generally opposite the mouth for directing liquid through the mouth.

17. The carafe of claim 15, further comprising a hinge attaching the lid to one of the handle and container to facilitate hinged retention and movement of the lid relative to the container.

18. The carafe of claim 15, the mouth forming a generally acute angle defining a pouring spout, the extension positioned proximate to at least a portion of the spout, the extension contacting and being movable by a stream of liquid flowing through the spout during pouring for directing flow of liquid through the spout.

19. The carafe of claim 15, the extension having walls defining a channel for producing capillary action with liquid flowing thought the mouth, the walls of the extension being configured and oriented to position the channel of the extension in the mouth in the path of flow through the mouth when pouring liquid from the carafe.

20. The carafe of claim 15, further comprising a portion of the extension positioned within the mouth oriented at least partially inwardly towards the cavity defined by the container for directing liquid in the channel at the end of pouring back into the cavity of the container and not dripping from the container.

21. The carafe of claim 15, further comprising a portion of the extension positioned within the mouth oriented at least partially inwardly towards the cavity for directing liquid in the channel at the end of pouring back into the cavity and not dripping from the container, and including at least one fin extending from a portion of the channel towards the cavity, the fin helping to laminate the stream of liquid flowing from the mouth while pouring and facilitating dripping into the cavity at the end of pouring.

22. The carafe of claim 15, further comprising the extension protruding into the mouth and spaced away from sides of the mouth.

23. The carafe of claim 15, further comprising a hole defined in a portion of the lid for allowing liquid to flow from above the carafe though the lid and into a cavity defined by the container to receive the liquid into the container.

24. A lid for use with a carafe used to receive, retain, and dispense liquid;

the carafe including a container having a wall defining a cavity, an opening formed on the upper part of the wall of the container, a handle provided on the container, a generally V-shaped mouth defined as a part of the opening by a protruding portion extending outwardly from a wall of the container generally opposite the handle through which liquid can be poured from the container;

the lid having a hole for receiving a stream of liquid flowing into the container, the lid is sized and dimensioned for covering a first portion of the opening of the container while leaving a second portion of the opening uncovered with the second portion being defined by the mouth, an elongated cantilevered extension defining a channel carried on the lid and extending from the lid across the second portion of the opening defined by the mouth, with open areas of the mouth defined between the lid, the mouth, and the spaced apart sides of the extension positioned on both outer sides of the extension and not covered by the lid or extension, the extension extending outwardly from the container beyond an outer edge of the mouth, and at least a portion of the channel of the extension interacting with fluid during pouring and after ceasing pouring to facilitate the flow of liquid from the container through the mouth and to reduce the formation of drips from the container upon ceasing pouring.

25. The lid of claim 24, further comprising the extension being integrally formed with the lid of a single material.

26. The lid of claim 24, the extension having walls defining a channel for producing capillary action with liquid flowing through the mouth of the carafe, the walls of the extension being configured and oriented to position the channel of the extension in the mouth in the path of flow through the mouth when pouring liquid from the carafe.

27. The lid of claim 24, further comprising a portion of the extension sized and dimensioned for positioning within the mouth and oriented at least partially inwardly towards the cavity for directing liquid in the channel at the end of pouring back into the cavity and not dripping from the container, and including at least one fin extending from a portion of the channel towards the cavity, the fin helping to laminate the stream of liquid flowing from the mouth while pouring and facilitating dripping into the cavity at the end of pouring.

28. The lid of claim 24, further comprising a hole defined in a portion of the lid for allowing liquid to flow from above the lid though the lid and into a cavity defined by the container to receive the liquid into the container.

29. A beverage maker for combining ingredients to produce a beverage, the beverage maker including a carafe for receiving beverage from the beverage maker and retaining the beverage for dispensing, the carafe comprising:

a container having a wall defining a cavity therein;

an opening formed on the container;

a handle on the container;

a generally V-shaped mouth defined as a part of the opening by a protruding portion extending outwardly from the wall of the container generally opposite the handle and through which liquid can be poured from the container;

a lid covering a first portion of the opening while leaving at least a portion of a second portion of the opening uncovered with the second portion being defined by the V-shaped mouth; and

an elongated cantilevered extension defining a channel extending from the lid extending across at least a portion of the second portion of the opening defined by the mouth, the extension extending outwardly from the container beyond an outer edge of the mouth, with open areas of the mouth on both outer sides of the extension and not covered by the lid or extension, at least a portion of the channel of the extension contacting beverage from the container during pouring to direct flow of beverage from the container through the mouth and to reduce the formation of drips from the container when ceasing pouring.

30. A method of pouring liquids from a carafe, the method including the steps of:

providing a carafe for use in receiving, retaining, and dispensing liquid, the carafe including a container, an opening formed on the container, a handle provided on the container, a mouth defined as a part of the opening by a protruding portion of the container extending outwardly from a wall of the container and through which liquid can be poured from the container, the mouth positioned generally opposite the handle, and a lid portion associated with the carafe and covering a first portion of the opening while leaving at least a portion of a second portion of the opening uncovered with the second portion being defined by the mouth;

providing an elongated cantilevered extension defining a channel extending from the lid across the second portion of the opening defined by the mouth of the carafe, with open areas of the mouth defined between the lid, the mouth, and on both outer sides of the extension and not covered by the lid or extension, the extension extending outwardly from the container beyond an outer edge of the mouth, at least a portion of the channel of the extension interacting with fluid during pouring to facilitate the flow of liquid from the container through the mouth and to enable flow around the at least a portion of the elongated cantilevered extension extending through empty space across the second portion of the opening and after ceasing pouring to reduce the formation of drips from the container upon ceasing pouring;

positioning the container to promote the movement of liquid in the container towards the mouth;

passing liquid through the mouth of the container and interacting with at least a portion of the elongated cantilevered extension;

initiating cessation of pouring of liquid through the mouth; and

retaining of liquid by surface tension on the at least a portion of the channel of the elongated cantilevered extension to reduce the formation of drips when pouring is completely ceased.