HOT BEVERAGE MAKER

• US 20110236546A1
• Filed: 06/06/2011
• Published: 09/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Scott D. Maurer
• Original Assignee: Scott D. Maurer
• Inventors: Maurer, Scott D.
• Application Number:
  US13/153,827
• Publication Number:
  US 20110236546A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 426/433
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/0631 with means for better or quicker spreading the infusion liquid over the filter spreader plates for drip coffee makers A47J31/4478

Abstract

A process for making a hot beverage, such as coffee or tea, includes placing ground coffee or tea into a filter, inserting the filter into a filter basket to support the filter with respect to a reservoir that is to receive a brewed beverage; introducing water into the filter; and repeatedly deforming the filter to alter its shape as water passes through the filter and ground coffee or tea en route to the reservoir. A device for making a hot beverage includes a drive and a filter basket. The filter basket defines a filter basket chamber for receiving an associated filter. The filter basket includes a movable component operably connected to the drive and movable for deforming the associated filter. The movable component is operable between a first operating position where the filter chamber has a first dimension and a second operating position where the filter chamber has a second dimension that is smaller than the first dimension.

Claims

1. A process for making a beverage comprising:

placing ground coffee or tea into a filter;

inserting the filter into a filter basket to support the filter with respect to a reservoir that is to receive a brewed beverage;

introducing water into the filter; and

repeatedly deforming the filter to alter its shape as water passes through the filter and ground coffee or tea en route to the reservoir.

2. The process of claim 1, wherein the repeatedly deforming further includes cyclically radially pressing against a side of the filter.

3. The process of claim 2, wherein the deforming further includes pressing against the side of the filter at a first location and at a second location at the same time.

4. The process of claim 1, wherein the deforming further includes compressing and releasing the filter in a cycle and repeating at greater than about 30 cycles per minute.

5. The process of claim 4, wherein the deforming further includes repeating at less than about 360 cycles per minute.

6. A process for making a beverage comprising:

placing ground coffee or tea into a filter;

inserting the filter into a filter basket having a side wall such that the filter basket supports the filter with respect to a reservoir that is to receive a brewed beverage;

introducing water into the filter such that the water passes through the ground coffee or tea in the filter; and

repeatedly displacing the filter away from the side wall of the filter basket while the water is passing through the ground coffee or tea in the filter.

7. The process of claim 6, wherein repeatedly displacing the filter further includes repeatedly displacing the filter with a paddle.

8. The process of claim 7, wherein repeatedly displacing the filter with the paddle further includes rotating the paddle about a generally horizontal axis away from and back towards the side wall of the filter basket.

9. The process of claim 6, wherein the filter basket defines a filter basket chamber having a generally vertical axis, wherein repeatedly displacing the filter further includes repeatedly displacing the filter away from the side wall of the filter basket towards the generally vertical axis.

10. The process of claim 6, wherein repeatedly displacing the filter further includes repeatedly displacing the filter using an electrically powered drive mechanism.

11. The process of claim 10, wherein repeatedly displacing the filter using the electrically powered drive mechanism further includes repeatedly displacing the filter using a filter deforming member connected with the electrically powered drive mechanism, wherein the filter deforming member rotates about a generally horizontal axis

12. The process of claim 10, wherein the electrically powered drive mechanism includes an electromechanical solenoid, a linear motor or a linear actuator.

13. The process of claim 10, wherein repeatedly displacing the filter using the electrically powered drive mechanism further includes using the electrically powered drive mechanism to move a paddle that is connected with the filter basket.

14. The process of claim 13, wherein repeatedly displacing the filter using the electrically powered drive mechanism further includes using the electrically powered drive mechanism to rotate the paddle about a generally horizontal axis.

15. A process for making a beverage comprising:

inserting a filter into a filter basket chamber defined by a filter basket having a side wall and a filter deforming member;

placing ground coffee or tea into the filter;

introducing water into the filter basket chamber; and

repeatedly driving the filter deforming member away from or back towards the side wall of the filter basket while water is flowing through the ground coffee or tea.

16. The process of claim 15, wherein repeatedly driving further includes repeatedly driving the filter deforming member using an electrically powered drive mechanism.

17. The process of claim 16, wherein the electrically powered drive mechanism includes an electromechanical solenoid, a linear motor or a linear actuator.

18. The process of claim 16, wherein repeatedly driving further includes repeatedly driving the filter deforming member using the electrically powered drive mechanism to rotate the filter deforming member about a generally horizontal axis.

19. The process of claim 16, wherein repeatedly driving further includes repeatedly driving the filter deforming member using the electrically powered drive mechanism to rotate the filter deforming member toward a generally vertical axis defined by the filter chamber.