Auto-off coffee brewing system

• US 4,838,152 A
• Filed: 07/21/1988
• Issued: 06/13/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Applica Consumer Products Incorporated (Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Black & Decker Corporation (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Younger, William H., Moores, Gregory E., Kubicko, Robert E.
• Primary Examiner(s): JENKINS, ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US07/222,195
• Time in Patent Office: 327 Days
• Field of Search: 99/279, 99/280, 99/281, 99/282, 99/283, 99/295, 99/285, 99/299, 99/300, 99/302 R, 99/304, 99/305, 99/307, 426/433, 219/308, 219/309, 219/333
• US Class Current: 99/280
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/0573 with flow through heaters flow through heaters as part of a water boiling vessel in a beverage making machine A47J31/542
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/545 Control or safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/56 having water-level controls; having temperature controls
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/58 Safety devices

Abstract

A coffee brewing machine utilizes an insulated carafe to receive the brewed coffee and automatically turns itself off a short time after completion of a brew cycle. The machine also turns off automatically a specified time after a brew cycle is initiated when calcification is so extreme that flow of water through the unit is totally prevented. Additionally, as a safety feature, the system also turns off automatically in the case of a "dry run", that is, a short specified time after accidental energization when no water is in the reservoir. A lamp is lighted when a brew cycle is in progress but is extinguished at other times.

Claims

1. A coffee brewing machine comprising:

a water reservoir of finite capacity;

a brewing station;

a water supply conduit in communication with and extending between said reservoir and said brewing station;

a first electrically energizable heat generator intermediate said water reservoir and said brewing station for heating water in said water supply conduit to a sufficient extent as it flows from said reservoir to said brewing station to enable coffee to be brewed at said brewing station, said reservoir being substantially depleted of water at the end of a normal complete brew cycle;

first and second temperature sensitive switches electrically in series with said first heat generator, said first switch being biased to a closed position and responsive to the temperature at said first heat generator and automatically movable to an open position when the temperature at said first heat generator exceeds a predetermined magnitude and automatically returning to a closed position when the temperature at said first heat generator falls below said predetermined magnitude by reason of the cooling effect of the continued flow of water through said supply conduit; and

a second heat generator associated with said second switch electrically in parallel with said first switch and operable to generate heat upon opening of said first switch, said second switch being responsive to operation of said second heat generator to open if, after a predetermined lapse of time, said first switch is also open, a condition indicative of the absence of the flow of water through said supply conduit.

2. A coffee brewing machine as set forth in claim 1 including:

indicator means for indicating that a brew cycle is in progress so long as said second switch remains in the closed position.

3. A coffee brewing machine as set forth in claim 2

wherein said indicator means is a neon lamp electrically in series with said second switch.

4. A coffee brewing machine as set forth in claim 1

wherein said second heat generator is substantially thermally isolated from said first heat generator.

5. A coffee brewing machine as set forth in claim 1

wherein said second switch includes a reset button for selectively moving said second switch to the closed position.

6. A coffee brewing machine comprising:

a water reservoir of finite capacity;

a brewing station;

a water supply conduit in communication with and extending between said reservoir and said brewing station;

a first electrically energizable heat generator intermediate said water reservoir and said brewing station for heating water in said water supply conduit to a sufficient extent as it flows from said reservoir to said brewing station to enable coffee to be brewed at said brewing station, said reservoir being substantially depleted of water at the end of a normal complete brew cycle;

a first thermostat in heat exchange relationship with said first heat generator operable to control the temperature thereof, said first thermostat biased to a closed position to energize said first heat generator but movable to an open position to deenergize said first heat generator when the temperature thereof exceeds a predetermined value;

a second electrically energizable heat generator responsive to operation of said first thermostat for generating heat when said first thermostat is in said open position and nonfunctioning when said first thermostat is in said closed position; and

a manual reset thermostat in heat exchange relationship with said second heat generator and movable between a closed position for energizing said first heat generator when said first thermostat is closed and an open position to deenergize said first heat generator a predetermined period of time after water ceases to flow through said supply conduit.

7. A coffee brewing machine as set forth in claim 6

wherein said first thermostat is automatic such that, upon the formation of mineral deposits within said supply conduit, said first thermostat is caused to open and close intermittently so long as water continues to flow through said supply conduit and is caused to open and remain open so long as said manual reset thermostat is closed and water ceases to flow through said supply conduit;

and

wherein said manual reset thermostat, in response to the heat produced by said second heat generator, is caused to open said predetermined time after said automatic thermostat opens and remains open.

8. A coffee brewing machine as set forth in claim 7 including:

indicator means for indicating that a brew cycle is in progress so long as said manual reset thermostat remains in the closed position.

9. A coffee brewing machine as set forth in claim 8

wherein said indicator means is a neon lamp electrically in series with said manual reset thermostat.

10. A coffee brewing machine as set forth in claim 7

wherein said automatic thermostat and said manual reset thermostat are both electrically in series with said first heat generator.

11. A coffee brewing machine as set forth in claim 6

wherein said second heat generator is substantially thermally isolated from said first heat generator.

12. A coffee brewing machine as set forth in claim 6

wherein said manual reset thermostat includes a reset button for selectively moving said manual reset thermostat to the closed position.

13. An electrically operated coffee brewing system for selective connecton to a source of electrical power comprising:

a water reservoir of finite capacity;

a brewing station from which brewed coffee can be delivered to an insulated receptacle;

a water supply conduit in communication with and extending between said reservoir and said brewing station;

an electrically energizable heat generator intermediate said water reservoir and said brewing station for heating water in said water supply conduit to a sufficient extent as it flows from said reservoir to said brewing station to enable coffee to be brewed at said brewing station, said reservoir being substantially depleted of water at the end of a normal complete brew cycle; and

interruption means for deenergizing said coffee brewing system including said heat generator a predetermined time after water ceases to flow through said supply conduit

wherein said interruption means includes;

sensing means operable for detecting the absence of water in said supply conduit;

first switch means movable between a closed position for electrically energizing said heat generator and an open position for deenergizing said heat generator, said switch means being biased to a closed position and responsive to operation of said sensing means to move to said open position; and

second switch means operatively associated with said first switch means movable from a closed position for electrically energizing said brewing system from the source of electrical power to an open position disconnecting said brewing system from the source of electrical power when said first switch means has remained open for a predetermined time period.

14. An electrically operated coffee brewing system comprising:

a water reservoir of finite capacity;

a brewing station from which brewed coffee can be delivered to an insulated receptacle;

a water supply conduit in communication with and extending between said reservoir and said brewing station;

an electrically energizable heat generator intermediate said water reservoir and said brewing station for heating water in said water supply conduit to a sufficient extent as it flows from said reservoir to said brewing station to enable coffee to be brewed at said brewing station, said reservoir being substantially depleted of water at the end of a normal complete brew cycle; and

interruption means for deenergizing said coffee brewing system including said heat generator a predetermined time after water ceases to flow through said supply conduit wherein said interruption means includes;

an automatic thermostat in heat exchange relationship with said heat generator operable to control the temperature thereof, said heat generator being a primary heat generator, said automatic therostate biased to a closed position to energize said first heat generator but movable to an open position to deenergize said first heat generator when the temperature thereof exceeds a predetermind value;

an auxiliary electrically energizable heat generator responsive to operation of said automatic thermostat for generating heat when said automatic thermostat is in said open position and nonfunctioning when said automatic thermostat is in said closed position; and

a manual reset thermostat in heat exchange relationship wtih said auxiliary heat generator and movable between a closed position for energizing said primary heat generator when said automatic said primary heat generator when said automatic thermostat is closed and an open position to deenergize said primary heat generator a predetermined period of time after water ceases to flow through said supply conduit.

15. A coffee brewing system as set forth in claim 14 including:

indicator means for indicating that a brew cycle is in progress so long as said manual reset thermostat remains in the closed position.

16. A coffee brewing system as set forth in claim 15

wherein said indicator means is a neon lamp electrically in series with said manual reset thermostat.

17. A coffee brewing system as set forth in claim 14,

wherein said automatic thermostat and said manual reset thermostat are both electrically in series with said first heat generator.

18. A coffee brewing machine as set forth in claim 14

wherein said auxiliary heat generator is substantially thermally isolated from said first heat generator.

19. A coffee brewing machine as set forth in claim 14

wherein said manual reset thermostat includes a reset button for selectively moving said manual reset thermostat to the closed position.

20. A coffee brewing machine as set forth in claim 14

wherein said heat generator is of a substantially greater power rating than said auxiliary heat generator.