Filter pouch cleaner and method of use

• US 5,888,313 A
• Filed: 03/07/1997
• Issued: 03/30/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Coffee Dispenser Cleaner Company LLC
• Original Assignee: Coffee Dispenser Cleaner Company LLC
• Inventors: West, Steve F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Warden, Jill
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHAUDHRY, SAEED T
• Application Number:
  US08/813,477
• Time in Patent Office: 753 Days
• Field of Search: 134/22.1, 134/22.17, 134/22.19, 134/35, 134/42, 510/439, 510/218, 510/219, 510/378, 510/509, 510/512
• US Class Current: 134/22.17
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/60 Cleaning devices
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 3/04 Cleaning involving contact with liquid
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 17/048 Soap or detergent bars or cakes with an inner core consisting of insoluble material floating soaps C11D17/02
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 2111/14 Hard surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/3942 Inorganic per-compounds C11D3/3902 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 7/12 Carbonates bicarbonates
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 7/14 Silicates
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 7/16 Phosphates including polyphosphates

Abstract

A filter pouch cleaner, for cleaning coffee and tea makers, has a top and bottom filter layer made from tea bag paper. The top and bottom filter layers are joined together along and adjacent to their outer edges to form a sealed pouch therebetween. The pouch is filled with a powdered cleaner compound that includes trisodium phosphate, sodium metasillicate and sodium perborate, along with soda ash as a filler. To facilitate the biodegradability and the safety of the cleaner compound, tripolyphosphate and a trace of blue dye powder are included in the cleaner compound. To clean a brewbasket and dispenser of a coffee or tea maker, the filter pouch cleaner is placed in the brewbasket. The brewbasket is then placed above the dispenser and filled with hot water. The hot water soaks through the filter and dissolves the cleaner compound. The hot water and dissolved cleaner flows out of the brewbasket and fills the dispenser.

Claims

1. A method for cleaning a coffee or tea maker'"'"'s brewbasket and dispenser comprising steps of

placing a filter pouch cleaner in a brewbasket for a coffee or tea maker, said filter pouch cleaner being filled with a cleaner compound,

positioning the brewbasket with the filter pouch cleaner in place on the coffee or tea maker to run a normal brew cycle,

positioning a dispenser beneath the brewbasket, and

running the normal brew cycle of the coffee or tea maker.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said cleaner compound comprises trisodium phosphate in a concentration of about 27-33% by weight, soda ash in a concentration of about 36-44% by weight, sodium metasilicate in a concentration of about 9-11% by weight, sodium perborate in a concentration of about 4-6% by weight, and tripolyphosphate in a concentration of about 13-17% by weight.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of discarding the depleted filter pouch cleaner upon the completion of the brew cycle.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising the steps of

filling the brewbasket with hot brew cycle water,

soaking the brew cycle water through the filter layers of the filter pouch cleaner, and

dissolving the cleaner compound.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of filling the dispenser with brew cycle water and dissolved cleaner compound as it drains through the filter pouch cleaner and out of the brewbasket.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of mixing the cleaner compound in the brew cycle water.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising the steps of

contacting the interior surfaces of the brewbasket and dispenser with the dissolved cleaner compound and

cleaning the interior surfaces of the brewbasket and dispenser.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of discarding the depleted filter pouch cleaner.

9. A method for cleaning a coffee or tea maker'"'"'s brewbasket and dispenser comprising the steps of

placing a filter pouch cleaner in a brewbasket, said filter pouch cleaning having a cleaning material therein,

positioning the brewbasket and filter pouch cleaner above a dispenser,

filling the brewbasket with hot brew cycle water, and

soaking brew cycle water through the filter pouch and out of the brewbasket to fill the dispenser.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said cleaning material comprises trisodium phosphate in a concentration of about 27-33% by weight, soda ash in a concentration of about 36-44% by weight, sodium metasilicate in a concentration of about 9-11% by weight, sodium perborate in a concentration of about 4-6% by weight, and tripolyphosphate in a concentration of about 13-17% by weight.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of mounting the brewbasket with the filter pouch cleaner on the coffee or tea maker to run a normal brew cycle.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising the steps of

dissolving the cleaner compound, and

mixing the cleaner compound in the brew cycle water.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of filling the dispenser with brew cycle water and dissolved cleaner compound as it drains through the filter pouch cleaner and out of the brewbasket.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the steps of

contacting the interior surfaces of the brewbasket and dispenser with the dissolved cleaner compound, and

cleaning the interior surfaces of the brewbasket and dispenser.

15. A method for cleaning a coffee maker'"'"'s brewbasket and associated dispenser comprising the steps of

placing a filter pouch cleaner in a brewbasket of a coffee maker, said filter pouch cleaner including a cleaner compound comprising trisodium phosphate in a concentration of about 27-33% by weight, soda ash in a concentration of about 36-44% by weight, sodium metasilicate in a concentration of about 9-11% by weight, sodium perborate in a concentration of about 4-6% by weight, and tripolyphosphate in a concentration of about 13-17% by weight,

mounting the brewbasket with the filter pouch cleaner in place on the coffee maker,

positioning a dispenser beneath the brewbasket,

filling the brewbasket with hot brew cycle water,

soaking the brew cycle water through the filter layers of the filter pouch cleaner, and

dissolving the cleaner compound,

filling the dispenser with brew cycle water and dissolved cleaner compound as it drains through the filter pouch cleaner and out of the brewbasket,

mixing the cleaner compound in the brew cycle water,

contacting the interior surfaces of the brewbasket and dispenser with the dissolved cleaner compound,

cleaning the interior surfaces of the brewbasket and dispenser, and

discarding the depleted filter pouch of the filter pouch cleaner.