Coffee filter retaining insert

• US 5,536,393 A
• Filed: 08/22/1995
• Issued: 07/16/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rebecca C. Weeks
• Original Assignee: Rebecca C. Weeks
• Inventors: Weeks, Rebecca C.
• Primary Examiner(s): WALKER, WANDA LYNNE
• Application Number:
  US08/517,742
• Time in Patent Office: 329 Days
• Field of Search: 99/295, 99/305, 99/306, 426/77, 210/86, 210/473, 210/474, 210/479, 210/482, 210/232
• US Class Current: 210/86
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 2031/0694 with indicating means to aid the measurement of ground coffee contained therein
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/446 Filter holding means; Attachment of filters to beverage-making apparatus

Abstract

A coffee filter retaining insert including a retaining body having a first section that is slidably positionable with respect to a second section thereof to provide a variable diameter enclosure area, at least four resilient standoff arms having a first end secured to the exterior of the retaining body, a plurality of spaced, parallel oriented, coffee ground level indicators disposed along the interior wall of the retaining body, and a indicator assembly secured to the interior wall adjacent the spaced level indicators having a marking bead positionable along a rod member running perpendicular to the orientation of the level indicators.

Claims

1. A coffee filter retaining insert comprising:

a retaining body having a first section slidably positionable with respect to a second section thereof to provide a variable diameter enclosure area;

at least four resilient standoff arms having a first end secured to an exterior surface of said retaining body;

a plurality of spaced, parallel oriented, coffee ground level indicators disposed on an interior wall of said retaining body, and an indicator assembly secured to said interior wall adjacent said spaced level indicators having a marking device positionable by a user to indicate a desired coffee ground level indicator.

2. The coffee filter retaining insert of claim 1, wherein:

said indicator assembly includes a marking bead positionable along a rod member running perpendicular to said orientation of said level indicators.

3. The coffee filter retaining insert of claim 1, wherein:

said indicator assembly includes a marking bead having a central bore and a rod member positioned above said interior surface of said retaining body and through said bore of said marking bead.

4. The coffee filter retaining insert of claim 3 wherein:

said bore is sized in relation to said rod member in a manner to allow said marking bead to remain in a user selected position.

5. The coffee filter retaining insert of claim 1 wherein:

a first top edge of said first section of said retaining body is curled to form a cylindrically shaped track member; and

a second top edge of said second section of said retaining body is curled to form a trackway for slidably receiving said track member.

6. The coffee filter retaining insert of claim 5 wherein:

said trackway has a diameter dimensionsed such that said trackmember is frictionally gripped by said trackway.

7. The coffee filter retaining insert of claim 1 wherein:

said standoff arms are constructed from a resilient plastic, and each said standoff arm includes a first end secured to an exterior surface of said retaining body and a second end moveable with respect to said retaining body.

8. The coffee filter retaining insert of claim 1, wherein:

four flow apertures are spaced along a bottom edge of said retaining body.

9. The coffee filter retaining insert of claim 1, further including:

a second plurality of spaced, parallel oriented, coffee ground level indicators disposed on an interior wall of said retaining body.

10. The coffee filter retaining insert of claim 3 wherein:

a first top edge of said first section of said retaining body is curled to form a cylindrically shaped track member; and

a second top edge of said second section of said retaining body is curled to form a trackway for slidably receiving said track member.

11. The coffee filter retaining insert of claim 10 wherein:

said trackway has a diameter dimensionsed such that said trackmember is frictionally gripped by said trackway.

12. The coffee filter retaining insert of claim 10, wherein:

four flow apertures are spaced along a bottom edge of said retaining body.

13. The coffee filter retaining insert of claim 10, further including:

a second plurality of spaced, parallel oriented, coffee ground level indicators disposed on an interior wall of said retaining body.

14. The coffee filter retaining insert of claim 8, further including:

a second plurality of spaced, parallel oriented, coffee ground level indicators disposed on an interior wall of said retaining body.

15. The coffee filter retaining insert of claim 8 wherein:

said standoff arms are constructed from a resilient plastic, and each said standoff arm includes a first end secured to an exterior surface of said retaining body and a second end moveable with respect to said retaining body.

16. The coffee filter retaining insert of claim 3, wherein:

four flow apertures are spaced along a bottom edge of said retaining body.

17. The coffee filter retaining insert of claim 4 wherein:

a first top edge of said first section of said retaining body is curled to form a cylindrically shaped track member; and

a second top edge of said second section of said retaining body is curled to form a trackway for slidably receiving said track member.

18. The coffee filter retaining insert of claim 17 wherein:

said trackway has a diameter dimensionsed such that said trackmember is frictionally gripped by said trackway.

19. The coffee filter retaining insert of claim 18, wherein:

four flow apertures are spaced along a bottom edge of said retaining body.

20. The coffee filter retaining insert of claim 1 wherein:

said standoff arms are constructed from a resilient plastic, and each said standoff arm includes a first end secured to an exterior surface of said retaining body and a second end moveable with respect to said retaining body.