Coffee filter basket

• US 8,906,440 B2
• Filed: 06/16/2011
• Issued: 12/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Javajig Coffee Sociedad Anonima
• Original Assignee: Javajig LLC
• Inventors: Otto, Jay D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sheikh, Humera
• Assistant Examiner(s): MCCLAIN-COLEMAN, TYNESHA L.
• Application Number:
  US13/161,785
• Publication Number:
  US 20120321769A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,272 Days
• Field of Search: 426/433, 426/109, 426/110, 426/112, 426/115, 426/126, 426/127, 426/77, 426/84
• US Class Current: 426/433
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/0626 with means for securing the filter holder to the beverage container
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/0642 specially adapted to cooperate with a cartridge, e.g. having grooves or protrusions to separate cartridge from the bottom of the brewing chamber A47J31/0668 takes precedence

Abstract

A coffee filter basket includes a filter retainer having an outer shell with an upper end having open top and a bottom including an opening, an insert having an upper collar of a less than the diameter than the upper end of the retainer to fit therein and having a lower extension which when a filter is disposed within the retainer and the insert is disposed within the filter, the insert press-fits within the retainer to retain the filter adjacent the retainer shell, and a removable top having an outer perimeter lip portion of at least that of the diameter of the upper end of the retainer and a lower collar portion of a diameter less than the diameter of the upper collar and configured to press-fit therein to secure the insert in the retainer, wherein the removable top has an opening. A method of use is provided.

Claims

1. A reusable filter basket for containing ground coffee for use with a single use filter for use in a single cup brewer having a water delivery conduit, comprising:

a filter retainer of a configuration to fit with the single cup brewer having an upper end having open top and a bottom including an opening therein and a continuous side wall interconnecting said upper end and said bottom and wherein said bottom opening is of a size to permit one'"'"'s finger to be inserted therethrough;

an insert defining an opening through which fluid passes, said insert having an upper end of a diameter less than a diameter of said upper end of said filter retainer to fit therein and having a lower extension in spaced relation to said continuous side wall which when the filter which has a bottom portion and a continuous upper extending wall portion is disposed within said filter retainer, and said insert is disposed within the filter, said lower extension of said insert can fit within and adjacent the continuous upper extending wall portion of the filter and within said filter retainer to retain the filter adjacent said continuous side wall of said filter retainer; and

a removable top having an outer perimeter lip portion with a diameter approximate that of the diameter of said upper end of said filter retainer and a lower collar portion of a diameter less than the diameter of said upper end of said insert, and said lower collar portion of said top and said upper end of said insert are configured with a complementary detent mechanism to snap fit together and secure said insert within said filter and said filter retainer for use and removal, and wherein said filter retainer, said insert and said top interconnect and said removable top has an inner opening therethrough of a size and configuration to enable receipt of the water delivery conduit of the single cup brewer in a manner to prevent back flow.

2. The reusable filter basket of claim 1, wherein said insert includes a lip portion at least that of the diameter of said upper end of said filter retainer.

3. The reusable filter basket of claim 1, wherein said lower extension includes a plurality of fingers.

4. The reusable filter basket of claim 1, wherein said bottom of said filter retainer includes an annular collar which extends radially inward therefrom defining said bottom opening which aids to retain said filter.

5. The reusable filter basket of claim 1, wherein said upper end of said insert includes a peripheral lip of a diameter at least that of the upper end of said filter retainer to aid in removal of said insert.

6. The reusable filter basket of claim 5, wherein an edge of one of said peripheral lip of the insert and said lip portion of the top is one of recessed and extended to aid in separation of the two once connected.

7. The reusable filter basket of claim 2, wherein one of the lip portion of said insert and said outer perimeter lip portion of said removable top has one of a tab and cutaway to aid in separation of said top and said insert once connected.

8. A single cup brewing method comprises the steps of:

(a) providing a single cup brewing machine having a water delivery conduit for water injection into a filter;

(b) providing a reusable single cup brew basket having a reusable filter retainer configured to fit with the single cup brewing machine and having an upper end having open top and a bottom including an opening therein and a continuous side wall interconnecting said upper end and said bottom, a single use filter having a bottom portion and a continuous upper extending wall portion, a reusable insert defining an opening through which fluid passes, said insert having an upper end of a less diameter than a diameter of said upper end of said reusable filter retainer to fit therein and having a lower extension which when said single use filter is disposed within said reusable filter retainer and said insert is disposed within single use filter, said insert fits within said reusable filter retainer with its lower extension adjacent said continuous upper extending wall portion to retain said single use filter adjacent said continuous side wall of said filter retainer, and a removable top having an outer perimeter lip portion of at least that of the diameter of said upper end of said reusable filter retainer and a lower collar portion of a diameter less than the diameter of said upper end of said insert and configured to fit therein and to secure said insert within said reusable filter retainer, wherein said filter retainer, said insert and said top interconnect and said removable top has an opening therethrough of a size and configuration to receive the water delivery conduit of the single cup brewer in a manner to prevent back flow;

(c) disposing the single use filter between said reusable filter retainer and said insert in a manner to cause the continuous upper extending wall portion of the filter to be press-fit therebetween;

(d) subsequent to step (c) providing ground coffee into the filter;

(e) subsequent to step (d) connecting the removable top onto said reusable retainer such that said lower collar portion fits to said insert;

(f) subsequent to step (e) inserting said reusable brew basket into the single cup brewing machine and brewing a single cup with said brewing machine; and

(g) removing said single use filter by inserting one'"'"'s finger through said bottom opening and pushing out said single use filter with used ingredients therein.

9. The method of claim 8, which further includes disassembling said basket, removing said single use filter with ingredients therein and discarding the same while retaining said basket for reuse.