Coffee maker
First Claim
1. A coffee maker with combined milling stage and brewing stage, comprising:
- (a) a rotational brewing basket for receiving coffee beans and hot water, the rotational brewing basket adapted to rotate about a longitudinal axis and comprising a sleeve extending along a portion of the longitudinal axis;
(b) a chopping blade provided inside the brewing basket;
(c) a locking mechanism for selectively suppressing rotation of the rotational brewing basket;
(d) a rotational shaft connected to the chopping blade for rotating the chopping blade to mill the coffee beans into milled coffee powder, the rotational shaft rotatably fitted within the sleeve of the rotational brewing basket and adapted to rotate about the longitudinal axis;
(e) a motor for providing a rotational force to the rotational shaft; and
wherein only the shaft rotates about the longitudinal axis to mill the coffee beans when the rotation of the brewing basket is suppressed by the locking mechanism; and
wherein when the rotation of the brewing basket is not suppressed by the locking mechanism, rotation of the shaft generates frictional forces inside the sleeve of the rotational brewing basket, the frictional forces drive the brewing basket to rotate about the longitudinal axis, and the rotation of the brewing basket generates a centrifugal force to cause the hot water inside the brewing basket to penetrate the milled coffee powder to produce brewed coffee.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A coffee maker with combined milling stage and brewing stage is provided. The coffee maker includes a shaft, a brewing basket, a chopping blade and a locking mechanism. The shaft includes a longitudinal axis and is capable of being rotated about the axis. The brewing basket is adapted to receive coffee beans and hot water. The brewing basket includes a sleeve. A portion of the shaft is movably fitted within the sleeve. The brewing basket is capable of being rotated about the axis. The chopping blade is attached to an end of the shaft and positioned within the brewing basket. The locking mechanism is adapted to lock the brewing basket and unlock the brewing basket. When the brewing basket is locked, rotation of the shaft drives the chopping blade to rotate about the axis to mill the coffee beans to produce milled coffee powder. When the brewing basket is unlocked, rotation of the shaft generates frictional forces on the brewing basket to drive the brewing basket to rotate to generate centrifugal forces, causing the hot water to penetrate the milled coffee powder to produce brewed coffee.
73 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A coffee maker with combined milling stage and brewing stage, comprising:
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(a) a rotational brewing basket for receiving coffee beans and hot water, the rotational brewing basket adapted to rotate about a longitudinal axis and comprising a sleeve extending along a portion of the longitudinal axis; (b) a chopping blade provided inside the brewing basket; (c) a locking mechanism for selectively suppressing rotation of the rotational brewing basket; (d) a rotational shaft connected to the chopping blade for rotating the chopping blade to mill the coffee beans into milled coffee powder, the rotational shaft rotatably fitted within the sleeve of the rotational brewing basket and adapted to rotate about the longitudinal axis; (e) a motor for providing a rotational force to the rotational shaft; and wherein only the shaft rotates about the longitudinal axis to mill the coffee beans when the rotation of the brewing basket is suppressed by the locking mechanism; and wherein when the rotation of the brewing basket is not suppressed by the locking mechanism, rotation of the shaft generates frictional forces inside the sleeve of the rotational brewing basket, the frictional forces drive the brewing basket to rotate about the longitudinal axis, and the rotation of the brewing basket generates a centrifugal force to cause the hot water inside the brewing basket to penetrate the milled coffee powder to produce brewed coffee. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A coffee maker with combined milling stage and brewing stage, comprising:
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(a) a rotational brewing basket for receiving coffee beans and hot water, the rotational brewing basket adapted to rotate about a longitudinal axis and comprising a sleeve extending along a portion of the longitudinal axis; (b) a chopping blade provided inside the brewing basket; (c) a rotational shaft connected to the chopping blade for rotating the chopping blade to mill the coffee beans into milled coffee powder, the rotational shaft rotatably fitted within the sleeve of the rotational brewing basket and adapted to rotate about the longitudinal axis; and wherein only the shaft rotates about the longitudinal axis to mill the coffee beans during the milling stage; and wherein, during the brewing stage, rotation of the shaft generates frictional forces inside the sleeve of the rotational brewing basket, the frictional forces drive the brewing basket to rotate about the longitudinal axis, and rotation of the brewing basket generates a centrifugal force to cause the hot water inside the brewing basket to penetrate the milled coffee powder to produce brewed coffee. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A coffee maker with combined milling stage and brewing stage, comprising:
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(a) a rotational brewing basket for receiving coffee beans and hot water, the rotational brewing basket adapted to rotate about a longitudinal axis and comprising a sleeve extending along a portion of the longitudinal axis; (b) a chopping blade provided inside the brewing basket; (c) a locking mechanism for selectively suppressing rotation of the rotational brewing basket; (d) a rotational shaft connected to the chopping blade for rotating the chopping blade to mill the coffee beans into milled coffee powder, the rotational shaft rotatably fitted within the sleeve of the rotational brewing basket and adapted to rotate about the longitudinal axis, wherein only the shaft rotates about the longitudinal axis to mill the coffee beans when the rotation of the brewing basket is suppressed by the locking mechanism, and wherein when the rotation of the brewing basket is not suppressed by the locking mechanism, rotation of the shaft generates frictional forces inside the sleeve of the rotational brewing basket, the frictional forces drive the brewing basket to rotate about the longitudinal axis, and the rotation of the brewing basket generates a centrifugal force to cause the hot water inside the brewing basket to penetrate the milled coffee power to produce brewed coffee; (e) a filter for filtering the brewed coffee; (f) a motor for providing a rotational force to the rotational shaft; and (g) a controller adapted to control sequence of the milling stage and the brewing stage.
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Specification