In-wall coffee maker

• US 6,253,663 B1
• Filed: 03/28/2000
• Issued: 07/03/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: William L. Spencer
• Original Assignee: William L. Spencer
• Inventors: Spencer, William L.
• Primary Examiner(s): ALEXANDER, REGINALD
• Application Number:
  US09/537,973
• Time in Patent Office: 462 Days
• Field of Search: 992/79, 992/81, 993/00, 993/04, 993/05, 993/06, 993/07, 992/90, 992/84, 248/906, 248/27.1, 248/27.3
• US Class Current: 99/279
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/00 Apparatus for making beverages household machines or implements for straining foodstuffs A47J19/00; preparation of non-alcoholic beverages, e.g. by adding ingredients to fruit or vegetable juices, A23L2/00; coffee or tea pots A47G19/14; tea infusers A47G19/16; brewing of beer C12C; preparation of wine or other alcoholic beverages C12G
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/005 Portable or compact beverage making apparatus, e.g. for travelling, for use in automotive vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/4403 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/445 an electrical heating element being used for the flow-through heater
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 45/02 for fastening kitchen utensils to tables, walls, or the like

Abstract

An in-wall coffee maker includes a coffee maker unit received in a mounting structure mounted within a wall cavity. The mounting structure includes engagement tabs to enable engagement of the mounting box to one or more wall structures and attachment flanges or tabs with apertures to receive fasteners from mating apertures in the coffee maker unit to attach the coffee maker unit in the mounting structure. The in-wall coffee maker unit can also include a metered water connection to facilitate a self-filling capability.

Claims

1. An in-wall coffee maker comprising:

a coffee maker unit; and

a mounting structure for mounting the coffee maker unit within a wall cavity, the mounting structure including engagement structures to enable engagement of the mounting structure to one or more wall structures;

wherein the coffee maker unit is connected to an electrical power source and further comprises one or more electrical outlets located on a front face of the coffee maker unit to provide electrical power to other devices.

2. An in-wall coffee maker according to claim 1, wherein the mounting structure is integral with a housing of the coffee maker unit.

3. An in-wall coffee maker according to claim 1, further comprising:

a metering system for regulating an amount of water supplied from an incoming water line to the coffee maker unit.

4. An in-wall coffee maker according to claim 1, wherein the engagement structures include tabs for engaging a wall panel.

5. An in-wall coffee maker according to claim 1, wherein the mounting structure is provided separate from a housing of the coffee maker unit and wherein the in-wall coffee maker further comprises attachment structures to enable attachment between the mounting structure and the coffee maker unit.

6. An in-wall coffee maker according to claim 1, wherein the attachment structures comprise one or more flanges extending from one or more wall portions of the mounting structure, each flange including one or more holes to enable fasteners to secure the coffee maker unit to the mounting structure through mating holes in the coffee maker unit.

7. An in-wall coffee maker according to claim 1, wherein the coffee maker unit is connected to an electrical power source and further comprises one or more electrical outlets located on a front face of the coffee maker unit to provide electrical power to other devices.

8. An in-wall coffee maker according to claim 1, wherein the mounting structure is a mounting box comprising a top wall, a bottom wall, two side walls, and a rear wall.

9. A coffee maker according to claim 8, wherein the mounting box is a rough-in sheet metal box.

10. A self-filling, in-wall coffee maker comprising:

a coffee maker unit comprising a water reservoir;

a metering system for regulating an amount of water supplied from an incoming water line to the water reservoir of the coffee maker unit;

a mounting box for mounting the coffee maker unit within a wall cavity, said mounting box comprising a top wall, a bottom wall, and two side walls;

a frontal opening defined in the mounting box between the two side walls and between the top and bottom walls shaped to receive the coffee maker unit;

a receiving aperture defined within one of the walls of the mounting box for communicating with the incoming water line; and

engagement structures located along one or more walls of the mounting box to allow attachment of the mounting box to one or more wall structures.

11. A self-filling, in-wall coffee maker according to claim 10, wherein the mounting box comprises a rough-in box.

12. A self-filling, in-wall coffee maker according to claim 11, wherein the engagement structures comprise tabs formed in the top, bottom, and side walls that extend outwardly to attach the mounting box to one or more wall panels.

13. A self-filling, in-wall coffee maker according to claim 10, wherein the engagement structures comprise one or more fasteners located along a side wall to enable attachment of the mounting box to a wall stud.

14. A self-filling, in-wall coffee maker according to claim 10, further comprising an electrical junction box located along one of the walls of the mounting box.

15. A coffee maker comprising:

a housing;

a water reservoir located within the housing to receive a supply of water;

a brewing area located within the housing to contain a supply of coffee grounds and to receive water from the water reservoir;

a coffee pot receptacle located within the housing to house a coffee pot such that the coffee pot is located to receive coffee from the brewing area,

wherein the housing of the coffee maker is shaped and configured to fit within a wall cavity and attach to one or more wall structures, and

wherein the housing further comprises a mounting structure comprising engagement structures to engage one or more wall structures and a unit body housing the water reservoir, the brewing area, and the coffee pot receptacle, and wherein the mounting structure is formed separate from the unit body and is configured to receivingly engage the unit body.

16. A coffee maker according to claim 15, wherein the mounting structure comprises a connector to supply power to the coffee maker and wherein the unit body comprises a mating connector to receive power from the mounting structure.

17. A coffee maker according to claim 15, further comprising a water meter for regulating the supply of water in the water reservoir.

18. A coffee maker according to claim 15, wherein the housing further comprises a unit body housing the water meter, the water reservoir, the brewing area, and the coffee pot receptacle, and wherein the mounting structure is formed separate from the unit body and is configured to receivingly engage the unit body.

19. A coffee maker according to claim 18, wherein the mounting structure comprises a connector to supply water to the coffee maker and wherein the unit body comprises a mating connector to receive water from the mounting structure.