Coffeemaker pod carrier

• US 7,093,530 B2
• Filed: 10/09/2003
• Issued: 08/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Applica Consumer Products Incorporated (Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Applica Consumer Products Incorporated (Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Meister, Peter C., Scarchilli, John Joseph, Trout, James Earl, Tebo, James A. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Alexander, Reginald L.
• Application Number:
  US10/683,133
• Publication Number:
  US 20050076786A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,048 Days
• Field of Search: 992/95, 993/23, 992/84, 993/02.R, 993/16, 992/96
• US Class Current: 99/295
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/0647 with means to adjust the brewing chamber volume to accommodate different quantities of brewing material
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/0668 specially adapted for cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/0684 Sealing means for sealing the filter holder to the brewing head
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/4496 Means to produce beverage with a layer on top, e.g. of cream, foam or froth

Abstract

A brewing apparatus pod carrier including a frame forming a first pod receiving cavity on a first side of the frame and a second pod receiving cavity on a second opposite side of the frame, and a liquid flow path between the first and second pod receiving cavities. The first and second pod receiving cavities comprise different sizes.

Claims

1. A brewing apparatus pod carrier comprising a frame forming a first pod receiving cavity on a first side of the frame and a second pod receiving cavity on a second opposite side of the frame, and a liquid flow path between the first and second pod receiving cavities, wherein the first and second pod receiving cavities comprise different sizes.

2. A brewing apparatus pod carrier as in claim 1 wherein the second pod receiving cavity is about twice as large as the first pod receiving cavity.

3. A brewing apparatus pod carrier as in claim 1 further comprising a center support connected to the frame and located between the first and second pod receiving cavities, the center support comprising the liquid flow path therethrough.

4. A brewing apparatus pod carrier as in claim 3 wherein the center support comprises a metal mesh screen.

5. A brewing apparatus pod carrier as in claim 4 wherein the frame is over molded onto the metal mesh screen to form a connection between the frame and the metal mesh screen.

6. A brewing apparatus pod carrier as in claim 1 wherein the frame further comprises a handle extending outward along a plane proximate a junction of the first and second pod receiving cavities.

7. A brewing apparatus pod carrier as in claim 1 wherein the first pod receiving cavity has a first open entrance aperture on the first side of the frame, the entrance aperture being defined by a perimeter wall with an inner side forming a sealing surface adapted to be engaged by a seal, and a shelf at a bottom of the sealing surface adapted to have a rim of a pod clamped thereon.

8. A brewing apparatus pod carrier as in claim 1 wherein the frame further comprises a first set of outwardly extending projections, the first set of projections being located proximate a first open entrance aperture into the first pod receiving cavity, the first set of projections being adapted to be received in a rotatable camming ring of a brewing apparatus when the pod carrier is orientated in a first orientation.

9. A brewing apparatus pod carrier as in claim 8 wherein the frame further comprises a second set of outwardly extending projections, the second set of projections being located proximate a second open entrance aperture into the second pod receiving cavity, the second set of projections being adapted to be received in the rotatable camming ring of the brewing apparatus when the pod carrier is orientated in a second orientation.

10. A brewing apparatus comprising:

a frame having a first section with a pod carrier receiving area and a second section with a movable lid;

a hot water delivery system comprising a heater connected to the frame and a hot water discharge head connected to the lid;

a brewing apparatus pod carrier as in claim 1 removably located in a receiving area of the first section, the pod carrier being vertically movable in the receiving area; and

a combined locking and camming ring member rotatably connected to the frame, wherein the combined locking and camming ring member can be rotated to lock the lid in a closed position relative to the first section, and vertically move the pod carrier in an upward direction by a camming action against the pod carrier.

11. A brewing apparatus pod carrier, comprising:

a first pod receiving section having a first pod receiving area;

a second pod receiving section having a second larger pod receiving area;

a handle extending outward along a plane proximate a junction of the first and second pod receiving sections;

a first set of outwardly extending projections, the first set of projections being located proximate a first open entrance aperture into the first pod receiving area, the first set of projections being adapted to be received in a rotatable camming ring of a brewing apparatus when the pod carrier is orientated in a first orientation; and

a second set of outwardly extending projections, the second set of projections being located proximate a second open entrance aperture into the second pod receiving area, the second set of projections being adapted to be received in the rotatable camming ring of the brewing apparatus when the pod carrier is orientated in a second orientation.