EP3102075A1

EP3102075A1 - A multipurpose hot beverage preparation machine

Info

Publication number: EP3102075A1
Application number: EP15703549.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Mert ENGIN; Canyigit Atay; Sahin ODACI; Korhan Ozkalay; Anil TURK
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2014-02-05
Filing date: 2015-01-30
Publication date: 2016-12-14
Also published as: TR201401328A2; WO2015117895A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a hot beverage preparation machine (1) comprising a water container (2) suitable to be filled with water, a heater (3) enabling the water inside the water container (2) to be heated, a brewing chamber (4) wherein the water heated inside the water container (2) is delivered and wherein the brewing process is performed as the result of the interaction between the raw beverage material and water, and a cover (5) that is located on the brewing chamber (4) and that provides access into the brewing chamber (4) by being opened at least partially.

Description

A MULTIPURPOSE HOT BEVERAGE PREPARATION MACHINE

The present invention relates to a multipurpose hot beverage preparation machine.
Multifunction products that single - handedly accomplish the tasks performed by more than one device are preferred since they occupy less space and provide ease of utilization. In state of the art hot beverage preparation machines, the water filled into the water container is heated by a heater and is transferred to the brewing chamber containing therein the raw material of the beverage to be prepared. The brewing process is performed in the brewing chamber as a result of the interaction between the raw beverage material and water. Devices of this type are suitable for only hot beverages that are prepared by brewing. The filter elements should be integrated simply in the hot beverage preparation machines by the user in order to also prepare hot beverages like coffee that require the realization of the filtering process in the preparation phase in the hot beverage preparation machines that perform the brewing process.
In the state of the art European Patent Application No. EP2005865, a hot beverage preparation machine is disclosed, that enables automatic preparation of tea or coffee which includes a kettle, an operation cup and a thermal carafe.
The aim of the present invention is the realization of a hot beverage preparation machine that enables the preparation of more than one type of hot beverage.
In the hot beverage preparation machine realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention and explicated in the claims, the water heated in the water container is transferred into the brewing chamber through the cover covering the brewing chamber. The brewing process is performed in the brewing chamber as a result of the interaction between the raw beverage material and water. The hot beverage preparation machine comprises more than one opening arranged on the cover, enabling the water transferred onto the cover to flow into the brewing chamber and a filter element that enables the filtering operation to be performed by being mounted on the cover by the user when required.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the filter element is composed of at least two elements, namely a housing and a water collection member. The water collection member collects the water poured thereon on its surface by means of the hole due to the effect of its geometry and thus enables water to be homogeneously transferred into the housing suitable to place the beverage material thereon. The filter element can be easily cleaned due to its simple structure and makes utilization convenient.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the filter element is mounted on the cover by rotating by means of more than one locking element forming protrusions on the water collection member and the recesses situated on the cover. Thus, the filter element and the cover are interlocked to one another. In cases where the filter element is not used, the filter element is dismounted by being rotated in the reverse direction of mounting on the cover.
In an embodiment of the present invention, when the filter element is mounted on the cover, the cross-sectional area of the housing gets narrower from the water collection member towards the base of the brewing chamber. Thus, the housing facilitates draining of the hot beverage into the brewing chamber.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the housing comprises a grill-shaped draining element therein where the hot beverage material is drained by dropping hot water thereon and a support member that supports the draining element.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the water collection member has the shape of a hollow half-sphere and comprises more than one water transfer hole arranged almost at its center. Thus, the water that is collected at the center of the water collection member drops into the brewing chamber by means of the water transfer holes.
The hot beverage preparation machine realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:
Figure 1 – is the perspective view of a hot beverage preparation machine.
Figure 2 – is the perspective view of the brewing chamber, the filter element and the cover when the filter element is mounted on the cover related to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 3 – is the partial perspective view of the brewing chamber, the filter element and the cover when the filter element is not mounted on the cover related to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 4 – is the perspective view of the filter element, when the water collection member is mounted on the housing related to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 5 – is the perspective view of the filter element, when the water collection member is not mounted on the housing relating to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 6 – is the top view of the cover related to an embodiment of the present invention.
The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

Hot beverage preparation machine
Water container
Heater
Brewing chamber
Cover
Opening
Filter element
Housing
Water collection member
Recess
Locking element
Draining element
Support member
Water transfer hole
Handle

The hot beverage preparation machine (1) comprises a water container (2) suitable to be filled with water, a heater (3) enabling the water inside the water container (2) to be heated, a brewing chamber (4) wherein the water heated inside the water container (2) is delivered and wherein the brewing process is performed as the result of the interaction between the raw beverage material and water, and a cover (5) that is located on the brewing chamber (4) and that provides access into the brewing chamber (4) by being opened at least partially. When hot beverage is desired to be prepared in the hot beverage preparation machine (1), water is filled into the water container (2) and the water inside the water container (2) is enabled to be heated by operating the heater (3). The heated water is transferred into the brewing chamber (4) manually or automatically.
The hot beverage preparation machine (1) comprises at least one opening (6) that is arranged on the cover (5) and that enables water to be transferred into the brewing chamber (4), and a portable filter element (7) that is detachably mounted on the cover (5). A detachable filter element (7) on the cover (5) is used during the preparation of hot beverages like coffee that require a filtering process. Thus, the hot beverage preparation machine (1) can be used to prepare tea or filter coffee as per the preference of the user.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the filter element (7) comprises a housing (8) wherein the raw material of the beverage to be prepared is placed and a water collection member (9) that is mounted to the housing (8) and that enables the water transferred through the cover (5) to be collected thereon and transferred into the housing (8). The surface of the water collection member (9) facing the cover (5) is concave and collects the water flowing from the cover (5) on its surface towards its center.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the hot beverage preparation machine (1) comprises more than one recess (10) arranged on the cover (5) and more than one locking element (11) that is situated on the water collection member (9) and that is seated into the recess (10) when the filter element (7) is placed on the cover (5) thus enabling the filter element (7) to be mounted on the cover (5). After the locking elements (11) are positioned so as to be almost aligned with the recesses (10), the filter element (7) is firmly fixed on the cover (5) when the filter element (7) is rotated counterclockwise. When the filter element (7) ) is rotated clockwise, the locking elements (11) rotate inside the recesses (10) and enable the filter element (7) to be dislodged from the cover (5).
In an embodiment of the present invention, the housing (8) is of frustoconical configuration. Thus, the housing (8) works as a funnel and facilitates water to be collected therein and drain into the brewing chamber (4).
In an embodiment of the present invention, the housing (8) comprises a draining element (12) that is formed by more than one wire intersecting such that water is enabled to drain therebetween and that enables he beverage to be drained into the brewing chamber (4), and a support member (13) whereon the draining element (12) is mounted and the water collection member (9) is placed thereon. The support member (13) is situated between the draining element (12) and the water collection member (9) and increases the rigidness of the housing (8).
In an embodiment of the present invention, the water collection member (9) comprises more than one water transfer hole (14) arranged almost at its center.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the opening (6) is arc shaped and the width of the opening (6) is so narrow as to enable the water to flow at a low flow rate. Thus, the water transferred onto the cover (5) is enabled to flow into the housing (8) by seeping. Consequently, the quality of the filtering process is improved.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the hot beverage preparation machine (1) comprises a handle (15) that is disposed on the cover (5) so as to form an extension outwards from the cover (5) and that makes grasping the cover (5) easy. While the filter element (7) is being mounted on the cover (5), the cover (5) is grasped from the handle (15) and held firmly, thus facilitating the mounting of the filter element (7) on the cover (5).
By means of the present invention, a hot beverage preparation machine (1) is realized, that can be used multifunctionally by means of the detachable filter element (7) on the cover (5). Since both tea and coffee can be prepared by the hot beverage preparation machine (1) of the present invention, the area in the kitchen is used effectively and ease of utilization is provided. Furthermore, the portable filter element (7) composed of two parts, namely the housing (8) and the water collection member (9) is cleaned easily. Hence, consumer satisfaction is improved.

Claims

A hot beverage preparation machine (1) comprising

- a water container (2) suitable to be filled with water,

- a heater (3) enabling the water inside the water container (2) to be heated,

- a brewing chamber (4) wherein the water heated inside the water container (2) is delivered and wherein the brewing process is performed as the result of the interaction between the raw beverage material and water

- a cover (5) that is located on the brewing chamber (4) and that provides access into the brewing chamber (4) by being opened at least partially,

characterized by

- at least one opening (6) that is arranged on the cover (5) and that enables water to be transferred into the brewing chamber (4), and

- a portable filter element (7) detachably mounted on the cover (5).
A hot beverage preparation machine (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by the filter element (7) comprising a housing (8) wherein the raw material of the beverage to be prepared is placed and a water collection member (9) that is mounted to the housing (8) and that enables the water transferred through the cover (5) to be collected thereon and transferred into the housing (8).
A hot beverage preparation machine (1) as in Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterized by more than one recess (10) arranged on the cover (5) and by more than one locking element (11) that is situated on the water collection member (9) and that is seated into the recess (10) when the filter element (7) is placed on the cover (5) thus enabling the filter element (7) to be mounted on the cover (5).
A hot beverage preparation machine (1) as in Claim 2 or Claim 3, characterized by the frustoconical housing (8).
A hot beverage preparation machine (1) as in any one of the Claims 2 to Claim 4, characterized by the housing (8) comprising a draining element (12) that is formed by more than one wire intersecting such that water is enabled to drain therebetween and that enables the beverage to be drained into the brewing chamber (4), and a support member (13) whereon the draining element (12) is mounted and the water collection member (9) is placed thereon.
A hot beverage preparation machine (1) as in any one of the Claims 2 to Claim 5, characterized by more than one water transfer hole (14) arranged almost at the center of the water collection member (9).
A hot beverage preparation machine (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the arc-shaped opening (6).
A hot beverage preparation machine (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by a handle (15) that is disposed on the cover (5) so as to form an extension outwards from the cover (5) and that makes grasping the cover (5) easy.