System and method for brewing beverages

• US 6,817,280 B2
• Filed: 03/18/2003
• Issued: 11/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Brewbot Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Brewbot Incorporated
• Inventors: Hall, Robert C., Barry, Michael R., Waymire, Gary L., Washburn, Shane
• Primary Examiner(s): ALEXANDER, REGINALD
• Application Number:
  US10/390,805
• Publication Number:
  US 20030213369A1
• Time in Patent Office: 609 Days
• Field of Search: 992/92, 993/03
• US Class Current: 99/292
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/047 with automatic cut-off of heat supply

Abstract

Systems and methods for brewing beverages in accordance with the present invention can improve the flavor of brewed beverages and reduce the vertical space required for a system using suction. One such assembly comprises a brewing chamber adapted to hold a filter having an intake duct for receiving fluid for brewing, and an output duct for expelling a brewed beverage. The brewing chamber is positioned above a pressurizable container, or carafe, having an adjustable standpipe and containing the fluid. The carafe has a heated base, which when heated causes pressure to build up, forcing the fluid up the standpipe, through a check valve, through the intake duct and into the filter. Once substantially all of the fluid has been urged into the brew chamber, the heat is removed, creating a partial vacuum that pulls the brewed beverage back into the carafe. This description is not intended to be a complete description of, or limit the scope of, the invention. Other features, aspects, and objects of the invention can be obtained from a review of the specification, the figures, and the claims.

Claims

1. A two-chamber brewing system comprising:

a first chamber adapted for holding a filter and capable of receiving and expelling a fluid;

wherein the first chamber is connected with a frame having a pedestal to position the second chamber such that a sealing surface of the first chamber can be brought into contact with the second chamber so that the standpipe is isolated from atmosphere;

wherein the pedestal includes one of grooves and tracks to align the sealing surface with the standpipe; and

a second chamber capable of creating a pressure differential between the first chamber and the second chamber, the second chamber having a heated base and a standpipe to allow fluid to flow between the first chamber and the second chamber;

wherein the second chamber includes one of tracks and grooves to engage the one of grooves and tracks of the pedestal.

2. A two-chamber brewing system, comprising:

a first chamber adapted for holding a filter and capable of receiving and expelling a fluid;

wherein the first chamber is connected with a frame having a pedestal to position the second chamber such that a sealing surface of the first chamber can be brought into contact with the second chamber so that the standpipe is isolated from atmosphere; and

a second chamber capable of creating a pressure differential between the first chamber and the second chamber, the second chamber having a heated base and a standpipe to allow fluid to flow between the first chamber and the second chamber;

wherein the frame includes a latch to bring the sealing surface of the first chamber into contact with the second chamber.

3. The two-chamber brewing system of claim 2, wherein when the chambers are unlatched such that the sealing surface of the first chamber does not contact the second chamber, the second chamber is adapted to be disengaged from the pedestal and used as a serving pitcher without adjusting the first chamber.

4. A system for brewing beverages, comprising:

a brewing chamber adapted to hold a filter;

a pressurizable container adapted to hold a fluid; and

a standpipe positioned within the pressurizable container to allow the fluid to flow between the brewing chamber and the pressurizable container;

wherein the brewing chamber is adapted to receive the fluid from a nozzle positioned within the filter and to expel the fluid through a check valve positioned below the filter;

wherein the check valve is opened when a pressure in the pressurizable container drops below a pressure in the brewing chamber.

5. The system for brewing beverages of claim 4, wherein the standpipe includes a vent hole.

6. The system for brewing beverages of claim 5, wherein the pressurizable container includes a heated base to heat the fluid within the pressurizable container.

7. The system for brewing beverages of claim 6, wherein the pressurizable container is capable of forming a partial vacuum.

8. The system for brewing beverages of claim 7, wherein the brewing chamber is connected with a housing having a pedestal to position the pressurizable container such that a sealing surface of the brewing chamber is capable of being brought into contact with the pressurizable container so that the standpipe is isolated from atmosphere.

9. The system of brewing beverages of claim 8, wherein when the sealing surface of the brewing chamber does not contact the pressurizable container, the pressurizable container is adapted to disengage the pedestal and using as a serving pitcher without adjusting the brewing chamber.

10. The system for brewing beverages of claim 8, wherein the heated base of the second chamber includes a heater element;

wherein the housing has an electrical outlet for engaging the heated base such that power is provided to the heater element.

11. The system of claim 4, wherein the standpipe is adjustably connected with the pressurized container such that a vertical space between a bottom end of the standpipe and the base can be increased or decreased.

12. The system of claim 4, wherein said pressurizable container can be removed from the system without removing the standpipe from the pressurizable container.

13. A system for brewing beverages comprising:

a brewing chamber adapted to hold a filter, the brewing chamber having;

a first pathway adapted to receive a fluid, the first pathway having a first check valve and a nozzle positioned above the filter; and

a second pathway adapted to expel the fluid, the second pathway having a second check valve below the filter;

a pressurizable container adapted to hold the fluid; and

a standpipe positioned within the pressurizable container to allow the fluid to flow between the brewing chamber and the pressurizable container;

wherein the second check valve is adapted to open when a pressure in the pressurizable container drops below a pressure in the brewing chamber to allow the fluid to flow through the second pathway and the standpipe into the pressurizable container;

wherein said pressurizable container can be removed from the system without removing the standpipe from the pressurizable container.