GB2229354A

GB2229354A - Filter coffee machine

Info

Publication number: GB2229354A
Application number: GB8901705A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Steven Lord
Original assignee: Russell Hobbs Tower Ltd
Current assignee: Russell Hobbs Tower Ltd
Priority date: 1989-01-26
Filing date: 1989-01-26
Publication date: 1990-09-26
Also published as: GB8901705D0

Abstract

<IMAGE> <H0> Filter coffee machine </H0> A filter coffee maker includes a reservoir (6) for the water, a cover (8) for the reservoir (6) and a filter holder (7). The filter holder (7) is releasably secured to the reservoir (6) in a biased manner by a leaf spring. When the spring is released, the filter holder (7) is partially ejected from the recess in which it is held. The cover (8) extends over the reservoir (6) and filter holder (7) to prevent the escape of steam when the coffee maker is in use. A duct (52) from the filter holder guides the steam to a suitable exit such as an outlet adjacent to the coffee outlet (25). <IMAGE>

Description

APPARATUS FOR MAKING HOT DRINKS This invention relates to apparatus for making hot drinks, for example coffee, and has particular reference to apparatus for making coffee by the filter method.

Apparatus for making coffee by the filter method conventionally employs a water reservoir that supplies water via a heater through a riser pipe to a filter holder containing a filter paper and ground coffee.

GB 2137075 describes a filter coffee maker of this general type, in which the filter holder is contained within an extension of the reservoir itself. Such a coffee maker is compact and economic to produce and handle.

However, the construction of the filter holder and reservoir is such that the filter holder cannot be easily removed from the reservoir for cleaning. In the illustrated embodiment of GB 2137075 the filter holder and the reservoir comprises a one-piece moulding of a plastics material. An attempt has been made to manufacture the filter holder as a separate component which can be clipped in place in the reservoir but the insertion and removal of such a filter holder can still be awkward. Further difficulties can arise with the construction of coffee maker described in GB 2137075 in that, because the filter holder is within the reservoir, coffee grains intended to be supplied to the filter holder during filling can spill over into the reservoir and block up the valves in the riser pipe. This affects the water flow and can damage the coffee maker.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided apparatus for making hot drinks comprising: a body defining a reservoir for water from which the drink is to be made; a cover portion for covering the reservoir in use of the apparatus; a filter holder for receiving a filter; means for supplying hot water from the reservoir to the filter holder when the apparatus is in use; and means for releasably securing the filter holder to the body defining the reservoir and beneath the cover portion in a biased manner so that on release of the releasable securing means the filter holder is at least partially ejected from beneath the cover portion so as to enable it to be charged.

The means for supplying water to the filter holder may be a riser tube which is located within the reservoir.

The filter holder may be of cup-like shape, the internal surfaces of the side wall and base of the holder being smooth.

The apparatus may further include a filter for insertion in the filter holder, the filter perhaps comprising an imperforate base and a side wall composed at least in part of a filter material. The filter may comprise a one-piece frame that supports the filter material.

Preferably cold water is supplied from the reservoir to heating means from whence it is guided, having been heated, to the filter holder.

Preferably, the cover portion, or a part thereof, can be moved to enable the reservoir to be filled with water. However, since the filter holder can be ejected from beneath the cover portion, it can be filled with coffee without moving the cover portion (or said part).

In this way, contamination of the water in the reservoir with coffee granules during filtering can be avoided.

Preferably the apparatus has a stop for limiting the distance by which the filter holder is ejected from beneath the cover portion.

The filter holder can be arranged so as to be removable completely from the body for cleaning.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided apparatus for making hot drinks comprising: a reservoir for water from which the drink is to be made; a filter holder for receiving a filter and having an outlet for the drink made by the apparatus; means for supplying hot water to the filter holder when the apparatus is in use; and a cover portion extending over the reservoir and the filter holder thereby substantially preventing the escape of steam from the apparatus when in use, there being a duct to guide steam produced therein to a suitable exit.

Such an exit could be adjacent the drink outlet of the filter holder, whereby the drink and condensed steam can pass to a common receptacle.

Preferably the duct is at least partially defined by a channel formed in a wall of the filter holder itself, resulting in a compact structure.

For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side view of apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a plan view, in slightly larger scale, of the apparatus of Figure 1 with a filter holder thereof ready for use; Figure 3 is a section on line III-III of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a plan view corresponding to that of Figure 2 but with the filter holder partially ejected from the housing for filling; Figure 5 is a plan view of an alternative embodiment; Figure 6 is a cross-section through part of the filter holder, showing a steam vent; and Figure 7 is a partial section along line VII-VII of Figure 6.

The apparatus shown in Figure 1 comprises a base 1 contoured to provide an upstanding rear portion 2 and a forward ledge 3 with an inset hot plate 4 for receiving a coffee receptacle 4a.

Contained in the base 1, but not shown, is an electric water heater together with control circuitry for the water heater and for the hot plate 4. Figure 1 shows the actuating member 5 of an electric switch that controls energisation of the water heater and hot plate.

It will be understood that the apparatus is conveniently powered from a mains supply of electricity.

The upper surface of the rear portion 2 provides a surface for receiving and supporting a body defining a reservoir 6. The surface has spaced recesses (not shown) of inverted frusto-conical form in which locate bosses integral with the base 8 of the reservoir 6 when the latter is correctly positioned on the surface. To secure the reservoir 6 in position, screws (not shown) are passed upwardly through the bases of the recesses and are screwed into the bosses.

The surface is also apertured to allow penetration of an outlet pipe (not shown) in the base 8 and of the lower extremity 10 of a riser tube 9 that is integral with the base 8 and extends upwardly within the reservoir 6. The riser tube 9 terminates at the level of the upper edge of the reservoir.

Internally of the base 1, the outlet pipe is joined by a conduit (not shown) to the inlet of the electric water heater (not shown) whose outlet is joined by another conduit (not shown) to the lower extremity 10 of the riser tube 9.

The reservoir 6 comprises a one-piece moulding of a plastics material, for example SAN/polycarbonate, and comprises a lower portion 12 and an upper, horizontal extension 14.

The reservoir 6 has vertical side and rear walls 15 contoured to blend smoothly with the contours of the walls of the portion 2 of the base 1. An inner wall 16 of the portion 2 is concavely curved to accommodate more readily the coffee receptacle 4a referred to above and the corresponding front wall 17 of the reservoir 6 is curved in like manner. The wall 17 is continued upwardly within the reservoir to form an upper portion 17a which defines a recess (Figures 2 and 4) for receiving a filter holder 7. The filter holder 7 is of generally cup-shaped form, as described in GB 2137075. More particularly, referring to Figures 1 to 3, the filter holder 7 is formed in one piece and has a base 23 and a surrounding wall 19 which extends upwards to the rear of the holder to provide an angled rear part 19a and an upstanding rear wall 19b.The base 23 is apertured centrally at 24 to receive an outlet boss 25. Carried by the boss 25 is an anti-drip device 35 which is described in more detail in GB 2137075. AS can be seen in Figure 3, the filter holder 7 has an upper surrounding lip with a depending part 70 which rests and slides on guides 21 which form part of the reservoir moulding and which extend inwardly from the upper portion 17a of the wall.

Detachably mounted on the upper end of the riser tube 9 is a spout 27 that can be swivelled on the tube to extend forwardly over the filter holder 7.

Reference is made to GB 2137075 which describes and illustrates a filter which is intended to be located within the filter holder 7.

A cover portion or lid 18 fits over the reservoir 6 and filter holder 7 when the apparatus is in use. The cover portion 18 consists of a fixed part 20a and a sliding part 20b, the latter sliding in a direction out of the plane of Figure 1 to permit water to be poured into the reservoir.

The filter holder 7 is releasably secured to the reservoir in a biased, for example spring-loaded, manner in the recess defined by the wall 17a. Referring to Figures 2 and 3, in one embodiment the filter holder 7 is held in the recess defined by the reservoir wall 17a against the action of a leaf spring 38 by a catch 22.

In an alternative embodiment (Figure 5), a helical spring 42 arranged close to the axis of the catch is used in place of the leaf spring 38. Since this embodiment is otherwise the same as that of Figures 1 to 4, the reference numerals are not repeated.

The catch 22 is a resilient moulded part which is held in place by ribs 39 which form part of the reservoir moulding and by a portion 20 of the lid 18. The catch 22 comprises a knob 33 slidable within a groove 34 formed in the reservoir wall. An arm 35 attached to the knob 33 carries a protrusion 36 which engages a notch 37 provided in the wall of the filter holder 7. As shown in Figure 3, a depending portion 180 of the fixed part 20a of the cover portion 18 serves to prevent vertical movement of the catch.

When the knob is moved to the right in Figure 2, the filter holder is released and is urged forward by the spring 38 so as to be partially ejected from the recess.

A boss 40 forming part of the reservoir moulding extends into the space above the filter holder in such a position as to abut the rear wall 19b of the filter holder to prevent the filter holder from being ejected completely from the recess. However, the filter holder can be removed completely for cleaning purposes when desired by raising the front of the filter holder 7 and pulling it forwards so that the rear wall does not catch the boss 40. The angled part 19a of the filter holder facilitates this movement.

The apparatus is used as follows.

The sliding part 20b of the cover portion 18 is slid to expose the reservoir 12, which is then filled with water. The sliding part 20b of the cover portion is returned to conceal the aperture and, with the sliding part 20b of the cover portion in place, the filter holder 7 is partially ejected and a filter is placed therein.

The required amount of ground coffee is placed in the filter. The filter holder is then returned to its fixed position beneath the cover portion. Since the filter holder is in its ejected position while it is being changed, and the cover portion 18 is in place, there is no risk of contamination of the reservoir water with ground coffee. A coffee receptacle 4a is then placed underneath the filter holder 13, the receptacle resting on the hot plate 4. AS the receptacle is inserted beneath the filter holder, the edge of the receptacle contacts the anti-drip device 35 and pivots the latter upwardly to open the boss 25.

By actuating control member 5, the electric heater and hot plate are energised and after a few minutes hot water feeds up the riser tube 9 and passes via spout 27 into the filter and over the ground coffee therein.

The water level in the filter slowly rises and quickly reaches a point where it flows through the mesh of the filter through the opening in the boss 25 and into the coffee receptacle 4a now being warmed by the hot plate 4.

The rate of flow of hot water into the filter is calculated to give the hot water a residence time in the filter sufficient to produce a satisfactory infusion of coffee into the water. When hot water is delivered from the spout, the coffee has to steep in it for a short period until the water level builds up sufficiently to overcome surface tension effects and allow the water to discharge through the mesh filter. If the base of the filter is imperforate hot water cannot trickle directly through the coffee but must flow sideways through the mesh filter as just described.

When the water content of the reservoir has flowed into the filter, the receptacle is removed so that a user can pour coffee in the receptacle into cups. Kemoval of the receptacle closes the boss 25.

After use, the apparatus is extremely easy to clean. The filter holder and filter can be completely removed from the recess by releasing the catch 22 and tipping the filter holder as described above and can then be cleaned in any convenient manner before reinsertion.

If desired, the filter described in GB 2137075 could be replaced by a so-called "cup-cake" filter paper in cases where finer filtering is required. Such a filter paper requires the use of a spacer to hold the base of the filter away from the base 23 of the filter holder.

The use of the apparatus with a filter paper is basically the same as with the mesh filter.

After use, the filter paper carrying the coffee grounds is removed. The spacer can then be taken out of the holder and washed easily as can the inside of the holder itself.

The coffee maker described above is virtually a completely enclosed container with the advantage of a compact structure but in which no venting can take place through the cover portion 18. This helps to maintain the temperature during the brewing process (by preventing loss of steam), but may have the result that steam will be forced out of any gaps around the filter holder itself. This could cause condensed steam to run onto the hot plate 4. To overcome this, the apparatus can include a moulded part 50, shown in Figure 6, which forms with the outer wall 19 of the filter holder 7 a venting conduit 52 through which steam from the filter holder is directed and which opens adjacent the outlet boss 25 where coffee issues. The moulded part 50 can be clipped or welded in place. To form the lower part of the venting conduit, a channel 56 (Figure 7) is formed in the base of the filter holder 7, into which is clipped a moulded channel part 54 of a flat U-shaped cross-section.

AS shown in Figure 6, the venting conduit can be arranged at the front of the filter holder. Alternatively it could be arranged at the side where it would be less conspicuous.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. Apparatus for making hot drinks comprising: a body defining a reservoir for water from which the drink is to be made; a cover portion for covering the reservoir in use of the apparatus; a filter holder for receiving a filter; means for supplying hot water from the reservoir to the filter holder when the apparatus is in use; and means for releasably securing the filter holder to the body defining the reservoir and beneath the cover portion in a biased manner so that on release of the releasable securing means the filter holder is partially ejected from beneath the cover portion so as to enable it to be charged.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the apparatus is such that cold water is supplied from the reservoir to heating means of the apparatus from whence it is guided, having been heated, to the filter holder.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2 in which the cover portion, or a part thereof, can be moved to enable the reservoir to be filled with water.

4. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, which further comprises a stop for limiting the distance by which the filter holder is ejected from beneath the cover portion.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the filter holder is arranged so as to be removable completely from the body for cleaning.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the cover portion extends over the reservoir and the filter holder in such a manner as substantially to prevent the escape of steam from the apparatus when in use, there being a duct extending from the filter holder to guide steam produced therein to a suitable exit.

7. Apparatus for making hot drinks comprising: a reservoir for water from which the drink is to be made; a filter holder for receiving a filter and having an outlet for the drink made by the apparatus; means for supplying hot water to the filter holder when the apparatus is in use; and a cover portion extending over the reservoir and the filter holder thereby substantially to prevent the escape of steam from the apparatus when in use, there being a duct extending from the filter holder to guide steam produced therein to a suitable exit.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 or 7, in which the filter holder has an outlet for the drink made by the apparatus and in which said exit is adjacent the outlet, whereby the drink and condensed steam can pass to a common receptacle located at said outlet.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, 7 or 8, in which the duct is at least partially defined by a channel formed in a wall of the filter holder itself.

10. Apparatus for making hot drinks substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 to 5, or those figures as modified by Figs. 6 and 7, of the accompanying drawings.