Sound reducing device for a coffee grinder and other kitchen appliances

• US 20040256173A1
• Filed: 07/22/2004
• Published: 12/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Brett Eilers
• Original Assignee: Brett Eilers
• Inventors: Eilers, Brett
• Application Number:
  US10/897,052
• Publication Number:
  US 20040256173A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 181/200
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 42/38 Parts or details
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 43/07 Parts or details, e.g. mixing tools, whipping tools
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/16 Methods or devices for protecting against, or for damping, noise or other acoustic waves in general G10K11/36 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 5/24 specially adapted for suppression or reduction of noise or vibrations

Abstract

A device and a method for reducing or muffling sound from kitchen appliances such as coffee grinders. The sound reducing or muffling device can be left on the appliance even when not in use, providing a decoration to the kitchen in a style appropriate to it'"'"'s surroundings. Using the muffling device, a person can enjoy fresh-ground coffee at anytime with the assurance that the sound from the coffee grinder is well insulated. The device is particularly easy to deploy and use, requires no moving parts, and is flexible enough to work with the majority of coffee grinder products currently on the market. Other embodiments can be used with other forms of kitchen appliances.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a housing enclosure made of a sound reducing material and having a substantially cylindrical shape, said housing enclosure including a curved sidewall defining an open bottom of said housing enclosure, said open bottom configured to receive a kitchen appliance, said curved sidewall further defining a closed peripheral top end of said housing enclosure; and

,

wherein pressure can be applied to said top end to activate said kitchen appliance.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said sound reducing material is an acoustic foam.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said housing enclosure is fabricated from a material that flexibly adapts to the contours of said kitchen appliance.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said closer peripheral end includes a stiffening element.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said stiffening element is a laminar plastic insert.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said kitchen appliance is a coffee grinder.

7. A method for operating a kitchen appliance comprising the steps of:

covering a kitchen appliance with a housing enclosure, said housing enclosure made of a sound reducing material and having a substantially cylindrical shape, said housing enclosure including a curved sidewall defining an open bottom of said housing enclosure, said open bottom configured to receive a kitchen appliance, said curved sidewall further defining a closed peripheral top end of said housing enclosure; and

,

applying pressure to said top end to activate said kitchen appliance.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said sound reducing material is an acoustic foam.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein said housing enclosure is fabricated from a material that flexibly adapts to the contours of said kitchen appliance.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein said peripheral end includes a stiffening element.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said stiffening element is a laminar plastic insert.

12. The method of claim 7 wherein said kitchen appliance is a coffee grinder.

13. An apparatus for reducing the sound of a kitchen appliance, said apparatus comprising:

a housing enclosure having a substantially cylindrical shape, said housing enclosure including a curved sidewall defining an open bottom of said housing enclosure configured to receive a kitchen appliance, said curved sidewall further defining a closed peripheral top end of said housing enclosure, wherein said housing enclosure includes a sound reducing material;

a stiffening element located within said peripheral top end; and

,

wherein pressure can be applied to said stiffening element to activate said kitchen appliance.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said sound reducing material is an acoustic foam.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said acoustic foam is bonded to said housing enclosure.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said housing enclosure is fabricated from a material that flexibly adapts to the contours of said kitchen appliance.

17. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said stiffening element is a laminar plastic insert.

18. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said kitchen appliance is a coffee grinder.