Air-tight coffee storage container

• US 6,945,014 B1
• Filed: 05/09/2003
• Issued: 09/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mark Quann
• Original Assignee: Mark Quann
• Inventors: Quann, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Gerrity, Stephen F.
• Application Number:
  US10/434,997
• Time in Patent Office: 865 Days
• Field of Search: 534/32, 534/36, 535/10, 994/72, 141/8, 141/65, 206/524.8, 215/231, 215/228, 215/311, 215/267, 220/231, 220/578, 220/580, 220/212, 220/367.1, 220/372, 220/521, 220/222, 220/360
• US Class Current: 53/432
• 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 31/14 Coffee or tea-making apparatus with filters placed in or behind pouring spouts
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/20 having immersible, e.g. rotatable, filters

Abstract

A coffee storage container, for storing a quantity of coffee within a jar having a bottom and a side wall, and using a piston having a top and bottom, and a one-way valve. The quantity of coffee is placed in the jar bottom. The piston extends within the jar and defines a storage volume beneath the piston bottom. A stem is selectively attached to the piston top to push the piston downward to allow air to escape through the one-way valve so that the storage volume becomes substantially the coffee volume and little or no air remains within the storage volume. The stem may be removed from the piston for storage.

Claims

1. A coffee storage method, for storing coffee within a jar having a bottom, a top rim, and a cylindrical side wall extending between the bottom and top rim which define an interior volume within the jar, using a piston having a top and bottom and which fits closely within the side wall and has a one way valve which allows air to escape from beneath the piston to above the piston, wherein the jar has a lid which is sized to rest upon the top rim of the jar, and a stem which is selectively attachable to the piston top, comprising the steps of:

placing a volume of coffee within the jar;

defining a storage volume within the jar interior volume beneath the piston by extending the piston within the container spanning between the side wall;

decreasing the storage volume until it is substantially equal to the coffee volume by allowing air to escape from the storage volume through the piston by mating the stem with the piston top and pressing the piston downward toward the jar bottom by pressing the stem downward.

2. The coffee storage method as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of decreasing the storage volume until it is substantially equal to the coffee volume is followed by the steps of detaching the stem from the piston and covering the jar with the lid by placing the jar upon the top rim of the jar.

3. The coffee storage method as recited in claim 2, wherein the steps as recited are repeated until the coffee within the jar is depleted and between such repetitions the method further comprises the steps of:

removing the lid from the jar;

removing the piston from the jar; and

removing a desired quantity of coffee from the jar.

4. The coffee storage method as recited in claim 3, wherein the jar has a handle extending laterally from the side wall, the handle having a vertical portion having a stem storage cavity having a stem storage cavity opening;

and wherein the step of mating the stem with the piston is preceded by the steps of storing the stem within the stem storage cavity by inserting the stem into the stem storage opening in the handle, and removing the stem from the stem storage cavity.