Express-coffee-machine loadable with wafers

• US 5,921,168 A
• Filed: 02/05/1998
• Issued: 07/13/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CMA Incorporated
• Original Assignee: C.M.A. S. P. A.
• Inventors: Nello, Dal Tio
• Primary Examiner(s): Alexander, Reginald L.
• Application Number:
  US09/019,371
• Time in Patent Office: 523 Days
• Field of Search: 99/320 R, 99/289 R, 99/303, 99/302 P, 99/295
• US Class Current: 99/295
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/368 Permeable cartridges being employed

Abstract

Express-coffe-machine loadable with wafers (36) of coffee blend for family or professional use, includes a casing (2) containing one vessel (12) for the water to be heated, a boiler (16) in which the water is heated to a pre-established temperature and a unit (4) formed by one fixed lower head (5) and one movable upper head (6), which can be engaged one to the other so as to press a wafer (36) therebetween for delivering a beverage. The movable upper head (6) is carried by an arm (24) connected to a control lever (26), made integral with a fork (28) engaging the lower head (5), an is also provided with a spout (7) for distributing the beverage.

Claims

1. An express coffee machine loadable with wafers (36) of coffee blend, including a casing (2) containing one vessel (12) for water to be heated, a boiler (16) provided with a heating resistance (17) and communicating with said vessel (12) through an electric pump (14), said pump being actuated by switch means (10) in order to suck the water from said vessel (12) and lead it into said boiler (16), for being heated by said heating resistance (17) to a pre-established temperature and also including a unit (4) comprising one fixed lower head (5) communicating with said boiler (16) through a solenoid valve (18) and one movable upper head (6) carried by an arm (24) hinged at one end portion and connected at the other end portion thereof by means of a joint (25) with a control lever (26), said lever being provided with a handle (27), said movable upper head (6) being moved by said control lever (26) from a position disengaged from said lower head (5) to a position engaged with said lower head (5), in which a wafer (36) is pressed between both heads (5,6), the heated water being supplied from said boiler (16), when said solenoid valve (18) is actuated, by passing through said wafer (36) so as to make a beverage, wherein said control lever (26) is connected integrally with a fork (28) provided with end portions in which cavities (30) are present, and wherein said lower head (5) is provided with projections (31) engaging the cavities (30) of said fork (28) in the position in which said movable upper head (6) is engaged with said lower head (5), said cavities (30) being provided with flared edges in order to facilitate the introduction of said projections (31) therein and wherein said upper head (6) is provided with a spout (7) for distributing the beverage.

2. The express coffee machine according to claim 1, wherein said control lever (26) contains a resilient spring element (34), said spring moving away said lever (26) of an opening angle with respect to said arm (24) when it is inoperative.

3. The express coffee machine according to claim 2, which comprises blocks (35) and wherein said control lever (26) co-operates with said blocks (35) for regulating the opening angle of the same lever with respect to said arm (24).