Coffee maker
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A coffee maker comprising:
- a frame;
a water reservoir connected to the frame;
a peristaltic pump connected to the water reservoir; and
a heater connected to the peristaltic pump;
wherein the frame comprises a coffee pod holder for removably holding a coffee grounds containing pod such that hot water can be received from the heater into the coffee grounds containing pod and liquid coffee can pass out of the coffee grounds containing pod.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A coffee maker including a frame; a water reservoir connected to the frame; a peristaltic pump connected to the water reservoir; and a heater connected to the peristaltic pump. The frame comprises a coffee pod holder for removably holding a coffee grounds containing pod. Hot water can be received from the heater into the coffee grounds containing pod and liquid coffee can pass out of the coffee grounds containing pod.
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Citations
53 Claims
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1. A coffee maker comprising:
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a frame;
a water reservoir connected to the frame;
a peristaltic pump connected to the water reservoir; and
a heater connected to the peristaltic pump;
wherein the frame comprises a coffee pod holder for removably holding a coffee grounds containing pod such that hot water can be received from the heater into the coffee grounds containing pod and liquid coffee can pass out of the coffee grounds containing pod. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A coffee maker comprising:
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a frame;
a fluid conduit system extending through the frame, the fluid conduit system comprising a water heater;
a coffee pod holder connected to the frame, the coffee pod holder being adapted to simultaneously hold at least two pods; and
a coffee pod piercing system connected to the frame and having at least two needles connected to the fluid conduit system which are adapted to respectively pierce through the at least two pods in the coffee pod holder and allow heated water to separately flow into the at least two pods. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 14, 15)
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16. A coffee maker comprising:
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a frame;
a water heater connected to the frame, the water heater being arranged in a general vertical orientation with an inlet at a bottom and an outlet at a top;
a fluid conduit system connected to the water heater, the fluid conduit system comprising a liquid pump for pumping water into the inlet of the water heater; and
a controller connected to the pump and the water heater which is adapted to control the water heater and the pump for delivering about eight ounces of water from the outlet of the water heater at about 180°
F. in about one minute or less from a water supply at about room temperature. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A coffee maker comprising:
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a frame;
a fluid conduit system extending through the frame, the conduit system comprising a water heater;
a coffee pod holder connected to the frame, the coffee pod holder being adapted to simultaneously hold at least two separate pods; and
a coffee pod sensor adapted to separately sense the presence or absence of the at least two pods in the coffee pod holder. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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23. A coffee maker comprising:
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a frame;
a fluid conduit system extending through the frame, the fluid conduit system comprising a water heater;
a coffee pod holder connected to the frame, the coffee pod holder being adapted to hold at least one pod;
a coffee pod piercing system connected to the frame and having at least one needle connected to the fluid conduit system which is adapted to pierce through the at least one pod in the coffee pod holder and allow heated water to separately flow into the pod; and
a system for preventing a user from contacting the needle when the coffee pod holder is in an open position. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 28, 29)
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27. A coffee maker as in claim 27 further comprising a spring connected between the needle carriage and the shield plate to bias the needle carriage in a second predetermined position relative to the shield plate.
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30. A coffee maker comprising:
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a frame comprising a coffee pod holder;
a fluid conduit system extending through the frame, the fluid conduit system comprising a water heater;
a coffee pod piercing system connected to the frame, the coffee pod piercing system comprising a needle for piercing into at least one pod in the coffee pod holder and a handle connected to the needle for moving the needle; and
a system for automatically moving the needle out of engagement with the pod upon completion of a brewing cycle, wherein the handle is moved when the needle is moved such that the handle forms an indicator for indicating completion of the brewing cycle. - View Dependent Claims (31)
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32. A method of making coffee in a coffee maker comprising steps of:
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inserting at least two pods into the coffee maker;
piercing into the pods at substantially a same time by needles; and
delivering heated water to the pods through the needles, wherein contents of the pods are at least partially mixed with the heated water and dispensed from the coffee maker. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A method of indicating an end of a brew cycle in a coffee maker, the method comprising steps of:
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automatically moving at least one pod piercing needle out of engagement with at least one pod in the coffee maker at the end of the brew cycle; and
moving a user actuated control from a first position to a second position on a housing of the coffee maker when the pod piercing needle is moved out of engagement with the pod, wherein the user actuated control is mechanically connected to the pod piercing needle, and wherein the movement of the user actuated control to the second position indicates the end of the brew cycle. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. A method of making coffee in a coffee maker comprising steps of:
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pre-heating a water heater of the coffee maker to a predetermined temperature;
pumping water through the water heater at a substantially constant flow rate; and
delivering heated water from the water heater to at least one pod having coffee grounds therein, wherein the pump and the water heater are controlled by a controller for delivering about eight ounces of water from the outlet of the heater at about 180°
F. in about one minute or less from a water supply at about room temperature. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53)
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Specification