Disposable brew basket for electric coffee maker

• US 20050153037A1
• Filed: 09/16/2004
• Published: 07/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Douglas A. Albrecht
• Original Assignee: Douglas A. Albrecht
• Inventors: Albrecht, Douglas A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,311,037 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 426/433
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/06 Filters or strainers for coffee or tea makers ; Holders therefor
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/4467 by means of linear guides, e.g. drawer-type engagement
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/8061 Filters
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A method comprises the steps of: providing an electric coffee brewing machine; providing a single-use, disposable brew basket, inserting the disposable brew basket into the electric coffee brewing machine; brewing a single cup of coffee with the electric coffee brewing machine; and discarding the disposable brew basket after the single cup of coffee has been brewed. The electric coffee brewing machine has a cold water reservoir, an electric heating element for heating the water, and a basket receiving recess. The disposable brew basket has a bottom wall and at least one side wall extending generally upwardly from the bottom wall to define a brewing reservoir for receiving heated water from the electric coffee brewing machine. The bottom wall of the basket has at least one port located in a central portion thereof to permit brewed coffee to flow from the disposable brew basket. The disposable brew basket is inserted into the basket receiving recess of the electric coffee brewing machine before brewing.

Claims

1-15. -15. (canceled)

16. (canceled)

17. (canceled)

18. (canceled)

19. For use with a coffee dispenser having a water reservoir, a location for a brew basket, and an electrical heating element for heating water for dispensing into a brewing reservoir within which coffee is brewed;

a combination comprising;

(a) at least one disposable brew basket adapted for location in said dispenser, said brew basket defining said brewing reservoir for brewing coffee, the brewing reservoir open at the top and adapted to receive therein a disposable coffee filter pack, the disposable brew basket having at least one port for dispensing brewed coffee from the brew basket into a receiving vessel that may be positioned beneath the brew basket, and

(b) at least one disposable coffee filter pack containing ground coffee and adapted to be received within the brewing reservoir of said brew basket;

(c) said at least one brew basket and said at least one coffee filter pack being packaged for one-time use for making coffee.

20. The combination of claim 19, wherein at least one said brew basket and at least one said coffee pouch are packaged together in a single package for one-time use for making coffee with said coffee dispenser.

21. The combination of claim 19, wherein only one brew basket and at least one said coffee filter pack are packaged together in a single package for one-time use for making coffee with said coffee dispenser.

22. The combination of claim 19, wherein at least one said brew basket and only one said coffee filter pack are packaged together in a single package for one-time use for making coffee with said coffee dispenser.

23. The combination of claim 19, wherein only one said brew basket and only one said coffee filter pack are packaged together in a single package for one-time use for making coffee with said coffee dispenser.

24. The combination of claim 23, wherein said brew basket and coffee filter pack are packaged together in a single package with said coffee filter pack positioned within the brewing reservoir of said brew basket.

25. The combination of claim 19, wherein said brew basket further comprises an outwardly extending flange.

26. The combination of claim 19, wherein said brew basket is of a plastic molded, one-piece construction.

27. The combination of claim 19, wherein said brew basket is of plastic molded, vacuum formed, one-piece construction.

28. The combination of claim 19, wherein said brew basket further comprises a substantially flat bottom with substantially upstanding sides, and said coffee filter pack is of a thickness substantially less than the depth of said brew basket, said filter pack adapted to be positioned within said brew basket and supported on the bottom of said brew basket.

29. The combination of claim 28, wherein said brew basket is greater in a horizontal dimension than in the depth dimension.

30. The combination of claim 19, said brew basket further comprising an outwardly curved front wall.

31. The combination of claim 19, said brew basket further comprising a front wall, and a handle at said front wall for use in removing said brew basket and coffee filter pack from said dispenser after one-time use of said of said basket and filter pack.

32. The combination of claim 19, said brew basket further comprising generally smooth upstanding side walls.

33. The combination of claim 19, said coffee filter pack further comprising a liquid permeable paper pouch containing an amount of ground coffee.

34. The combination of claim 33 wherein, said amount of ground coffee makes approximately one cup of coffee.

35. For use with a coffee dispenser having a water reservoir, a location for a brew basket, and an electrical heating element for heating water for dispensing into a brewing reservoir within which coffee is brewed;

a combination comprising;

(a) a first package containing at least one disposable brew basket adapted for location in said dispenser, said brew basket defining said brewing reservoir for brewing coffee, the brewing reservoir open at the top and adapted to receive therein a disposable coffee filter pack, the disposable brew basket having at least one port for dispensing brewed coffee from the brew basket into a receiving vessel that may be positioned beneath the brew basket; and

(b) a second package containing at least one disposable coffee filter pack containing ground coffee and adapted to be received within the brewing reservoir of said brew basket.

36. The combination of claim 35, said first package containing only one disposable brew basket.

37. The combination of claim 35, said second package containing only one disposable coffee filter pack.

38. The combination of claim 35, said first package containing only one disposable brew basket, and said second package containing only one disposable coffee filter pack.