Apparatus for preparing coffee

• US 6,009,792 A
• Filed: 09/29/1998
• Issued: 01/04/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Douwe Egberts BV (Mondelez International, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Sara Lee / De N.V. (Sara Lee Corporation)
• Inventors: Kraan, Diederik
• Primary Examiner(s): ALEXANDER, REGINALD
• Application Number:
  US09/162,834
• Time in Patent Office: 462 Days
• Field of Search: 99/295, 99/302 R, 99/307, 99/289 R
• US Class Current: 99/295
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/0668 specially adapted for cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/368 Permeable cartridges being employed
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/4407 Lids, covers or knobs
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/4496 Means to produce beverage with a layer on top, e.g. of cream, foam or froth
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/467 for the infusion

Abstract

An apparatus for preparing coffee, with a holder arranged for receiving a pouch made of filter material and filled with a product to be extracted. The holder has at least one outflow opening and an access opening for placing the pouch in the holder. The apparatus has a cover for closing and releasing the access opening and a clamping device for pressing the holder and the cover towards each other when the cover closes off the access opening of the holder. The clamping device engages at least a position of the cover located on an external surface of the cover. The apparatus has a housing to which the holder is detachably connected, the clamping device has a rotation element with a first and second opposite ends. The rotation element is connected adjacent its first end to the housing for rotation about a horizontally directed first rotation axis between a first and second rotational position for closing the access opening in the second rotational position and releasing it in the first rotational position. The apparatus has a closing arrangement for detachably connecting the rotation element to the housing adjacent the second end when the cover closes off the access opening. The cover is connected to the rotation element such that in the second rotational position the rotation axis extends along a first side of the cover and the second end is located on a second side of the cover opposite the first side.

Claims

1. An apparatus for preparing coffee, comprising a holder arranged for receiving a pouch made of filter material and filled with a product to be extracted, the holder comprising at least one outflow opening and an access opening for placing the pouch in the holder, the apparatus further comprising a cover for closing and releasing the access opening and clamping means for pressing the holder and the cover towards each other when the cover closes off the access opening of the holder, wherein the clamping means for pressing the cover and the holder towards each other when the cover closes off the access opening of the holder engage at least a position of the cover located on an external surface of the cover, wherein the apparatus further comprises a housing to which the holder is detachably connected, the clamping means comprising a rotation element with a first and second opposite ends, the rotation element being connected adjacent its first end to the housing for rotation about a horizontally directed first rotation axis between a first and second rotational position for closing the access opening of the holder in the second rotational position and releasing the access opening in the first rotational position, the apparatus further comprising a closing arrangement for detachably connecting the rotation element to the housing adjacent the second end when the cover closes off the access opening in the second rotational position, the cover being connected to the rotation element such that in the second rotational position the rotation axis extends along a first side of the cover and the second end is located on a second side of the cover, located opposite the first side.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the external surface is of at least substantially circular design.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cover is movably connected to the rotation element.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first rotation axis is located above a flat plane through the access opening of the holder.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that an underside of the cover is located at least substantially below a plane defined by the first rotation axis and the second end when the cover closes off the holder in the second rotational position.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that the first rotation axis is parallel to the plane through the access opening.

7. An apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that the plane defined by the first rotation axis and the second end and the plane through the access opening include an acute angle when the cover closes off the holder in the second rotational position.

8. An apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that the plane defined by the first rotation axis and the second end and the plane through the access opening have an intersecting line located adjacent the second end when the cover closes off the holder in the second rotational position.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that the cover is connected to the rotation element for rotation through a limited angle of rotation about a second rotation axis, the second rotation axis running at least substantially parallel to the first rotation axis.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that the apparatus further comprises spring means which exert such a force on the cover that an underside of the cover comes to lie approximately parallel to the plane defined by the first rotation axis and the second end by rotation of the rotation element about the second rotation axis when the cover is lifted off the holder by rotation of the rotation element about the first rotation axis.

11. An apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that the spring means comprise a flexible hose which is attached to the cover for supplying hot water to the holder.

12. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first rotation axis is located at least substantially in a flat plane through the access opening of the holder.

13. An apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that an underside of the cover is located at least substantially in a plane defined by the rotation axis and the second end when the cover closes off the holder.

14. An apparatus according to claim 13, characterized in that the first rotation axis is parallel to the plane through the access opening.

15. An apparatus according to claim 13, characterized in that the plane defined by the rotation axis and the second end and the plane through the access opening extend at least substantially parallel to each other when the cover closes off the holder in the second rotational position.

16. An apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that the cover is movably connected to the rotation element.

17. An apparatus according to claim 16, characterized in that the cover is connected to the rotation element for movement through a limited solid angle.

18. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a knob-shaped pressure part of the rotation element presses onto approximately the center of the outside of the cover when the cover closes off the access opening and the rotation element is in the second rotational position.

19. An apparatus according to claim 18, characterized in that the outside of the cover comprises a knob-shaped element which is engaged by the knob-shaped pressure part when the cover closes off the access opening and the rotation element is in the second rotational position.