Device and method for cleaning espresso machines

• US 10,638,875 B2
• Filed: 12/09/2016
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alexander Senger
• Original Assignee: Alexander Senger
• Inventors: Senger, Alexander
• Primary Examiner(s): Spisich, Mark
• Application Number:
  US16/061,288
• Publication Number:
  US 20190335945A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,243 Days
• Field of Search: 1510403, 1510404, 15104001, 151591, 15160
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 2200/30 Brushes for cleaning or polishing
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 2200/3033 Household brush, i.e. brushes for cleaning in the house or dishes
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 2200/3073 Brush for cleaning specific unusual places not otherwise covered, e.g. gutters, golf clubs, tops of tin cans, corners
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 9/02 Position or arrangement of bristles in relation to surface of the brush body, e.g. inclined, in rows, in groups
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/60 Cleaning devices
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 1/12 Brushes
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/166 Part of the system directly actuated by booster pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/662 characterised by specified functions of the control system components
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/686 in hydraulic systems or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/745 acting on a hydraulic system, e.g. a master cylinder
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/347 3 Channel systems B60T8/345 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/4018 Pump units characterised by their drive mechanisms B60T8/4095 takes precedence

Abstract

A method and a device for cleaning espresso machines, wherein the device (10) comprises at least one annular or hollow-cylindrical bristle carrier element, wherein at least one groove-bristle element (18) for cleaning a portafilter groove (66) is arranged on an end face or lateral surface of the bristle carrier element, wherein the at least one groove-bristle element (18) projects from the end face or lateral surface, wherein at least a partial section of the at least one groove-bristle element (18) projects in the radial direction, and/or at least a partial section of the groove-bristle element (18) is concavely curved and/or in that at least one bristle element (17) is arranged on an inner lateral surface of the annular or hollow-cylindrical bristle carrier element.

Claims

1. A device for cleaning espresso machines, wherein the device can be inserted similar to a portafilter in a group head of an espresso machine for cleaning, wherein the device comprises at least one cup-shaped element wherein at least one bristle element is arranged on a bottom surface of the cup-shaped element, characterized in that at least one further bristle element is arranged on an inner lateral surface of the cup-shaped element;

characterized in that

at least one or the other or both of the following is provided;

(i) the said at least one bristle element arranged on the bottom surface is arcuately disposed, wherein both a first end of the bottom surface bristle element and another end of the bottom surface bristle element are each connected to the bottom surface and (ii) and the said at least one further bristle element is arcuately disposed, wherein both a first end of the further bristle element and another end of the further bristle element are each connected to the inner lateral surface.

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the cup-shaped element has an end face, and that at least one additional further bristle element is arranged on the end face of the cup-shaped element.

3. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one of said bristle elements is plate-shaped or comprises fibers or is embodied as a wiping element.

4. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one or the other or both of the following is provided:

(i) the bottom surface bristle element is formed by a slotted plate, and (ii) the further bristle element is formed by a slotted plate.

5. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the cup-shaped element has an end face, and that the end face of the cup-shaped element in a cup-shaped state has at least on recess.

6. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the device has or embodies at least one guide means for guiding the water flowing out of an inner volume of the cup-shaped element.

7. The device according to claim 6, characterized in that the cup-shaped element has or embodies at least one drain channel on an outer lateral surface.

8. The device according to claim 6, characterized in that the device comprises or embodies at least one funnel-shaped element.

9. The device according to claim 6, characterized in that at the device comprises or embodies at least one guide rib.

10. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the device comprises at least one attaching means for attaching the device to or in the group head of the espresso machine.

11. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the cup-shaped element is embodied by at least one insert element and at least one holder element, wherein the insert element has or embodies at least one bristle element, wherein the insert element may be arranged in, upon, or on the holder element.

12. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the cup-shaped element is embodied by at least one insert element and at least one holder element, wherein the insert element has or embodies at least one bristle element, wherein the insert element may be arranged in, upon, or on the holder element, and wherein the insert element comprises at least one bottom part and at least one lateral part, wherein the bottom part has or embodies at least one bristle element of the bottom surface and the at least one lateral part has or embodies at least one bristle element of the inner lateral surface.

13. A device for cleaning espresso machines, wherein the device can be inserted similar to a portafilter in a group head of an espresso machine for cleaning, wherein the device comprises at least one cup-shaped element wherein at least one bristle element is arranged on a bottom surface of the cup-shaped element, characterized in that at least one further bristle element is arranged on an inner lateral surface of the cup-shaped element;

characterized in that the cup-shaped element is embodied by at least one insert element and at least one holder element, wherein the insert element has or embodies the at least one bristle element, wherein the insert element is arrangeable in, upon, or on the holder element; and

characterized in that the at least one insert element comprises at least one bottom part and at least one lateral part, wherein the at least one bottom part has or embodies the at least one bristle element of the bottom surface and the at least one lateral part has or embodies the at least one bristle element of the inner lateral surface; and

characterized in that the at least one lateral part is pivotally attached to the bottom part.

14. The device according to claim 13, characterized in that the bottom part and/or the lateral part has or embodies at least one connecting means for mechanically connecting the insert element to the holder element.

15. The device according to claim 14, characterized in that the insert element comprises at least two lateral parts, wherein the edge sections of the lateral parts are embodied such that, in a cup-shaped state of the insert element, at least one or the other or both of the following is provided:

(i) at least one connecting pin disposed on the insert element for arrangement in a recess on the holder element, and (ii) at least one recess is disposed on the insert element for receiving a connecting pin on the holder element.

16. The device according to claim 14, characterized in that the bottom part has or embodies at least one recess for receiving a connecting pin on the holder element.

17. A method for cleaning an espresso machine, comprising:

a) inserting a device for cleaning espresso machines similar to a portafilter in a group head of an espresso machine for cleaning, the device comprising at least one cup-shaped element having a center longitudinal axis wherein at least one bristle element is arranged on a bottom surface of the cup-shaped element, characterized in that at least one further bristle element is arranged on an inner lateral surface of the cup-shaped element;

wherein at least one or the other or both of the following is provided;

(i) the said at least one bristle element arranged on the bottom surface is arcuately disposed, wherein both a first end of the bottom surface bristle element and another end of the bottom surface bristle element are each connected to the bottom surface and (ii) and the said further bristle element is arcuately disposed, wherein both a first end of the further bristle element and another end of the further bristle element are each connected to the inner lateral surface, and

b) rotating the device from an initial position about the center longitudinal axis of the cup-shaped element of the device.

18. A device for cleaning espresso machines, wherein the device can be inserted similar to a portafilter in a group head of an espresso machine for cleaning, wherein the device comprises at least one cup-shaped element wherein at least one bristle element is arranged on a bottom surface of the cup-shaped element, characterized in that at least one further bristle element is arranged on an inner lateral surface of the cup-shaped element, wherein the device has or embodies at least one guide means for guiding the water flowing out of an inner volume of the cup-shaped element, wherein the cup-shaped element has or embodies at least one drain channel on an outer lateral surface, wherein the drain channel is embodied by a section projecting from the outer lateral surface of the cup-shaped element, wherein the drain channel is embodied as an integral section of the cup-shaped element.

19. A device for cleaning espresso machines, wherein the device can be inserted similar to a portafilter in a group head of an espresso machine for cleaning, wherein the device comprises at least one cup-shaped element wherein at least one bristle element is arranged on a bottom surface of the cup-shaped element, characterized in that at least one further bristle element is arranged on an inner lateral surface of the cup-shaped element, wherein the device has or embodies at least one guide means for guiding the water flowing out of an inner volume of the cup-shaped element to a drip cup of the espresso machine when the device is inserted into the group head, wherein the device comprises or embodies at least one funnel-shaped element providing the guide means, wherein a gap for receiving water is presented between the funnel-shaped element and an outer lateral surface of the cup-shaped element.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the funnel-shaped element has a diameter, and wherein the diameter of the funnel-shaped element is larger than a diameter of the receiving section of the group head into which the cup-shaped element is inserted.