GB2310794A - Coffee-brewing machine and electric kettle - Google Patents

Description

Coffee-brewing machine The present invention relates to a coffee-brewing machine according to the preamble of Claim 1. A machine of this type is generally known in the prior art. In a machine of this type a coffee pot is placed on the heating element. A filter holder, into which the heated water originating from the reservoir is introduced, is then placed on the coffee pot. There are many variants of such coffee-brewing machines, adapted to the various requirements of the users.

It is becoming increasingly common for one or more people in a group to prefer tea, or another product prepared with hot water, to coffee In such a case, water is heated at the same time as the coffee is brewed. This water heating can be carried out on a gas cooker or the like, but increasingly a separate electric kettle is being used for this purpose. A kettle of this type works quickly and does not require cleaning because it is intended exclusively for boiling water.

However, a kettle of this type has the disadvantage that it takes up a great deal of space and is difficult to stow away neatly. This problem is made greater because many kettles nowadays are provided with a baseplate on which the electrical connections are arranged, which baseplate is separate from the actual container containing the heating element. The kettle couples to the baseplate via a coupling system.

The aim of the present invention is to provide a more practical construction with which it is furthermore possible to obtain a tidier whole with fewer components.

This aim is achieved with a coffee-brewing machine as described above in that the baseplate is provided with an extension constructed as a platform, provided with coupling means for electrical and mechanical connection to a kettle (water boiler).

The invention is based on the insight that boiling water and brewing coffee have to be carried out at the same time.

After all, with many coffee-brewing machines it is possible to prepare hot water by not placing any coffee in the machine, but it is not possible to prepare hot water in this way at the same time as preparing coffee. With the machine according to the invention, this simultaneous preparation is possible, so that hot water, for example for tea or soup, can be prepared at the same time as brewing coffee. The baseplate and the platform according to the invention assume the function of the baseplate in conventional divided water-heating equipment.

Preferably, the coffee-brewing machine is constructed in such a way that the water reservoir and the means for heating and carrying up the water in the water reservoir are of a shape which matches the shape of the kettle. An integrated construction can be obtained in this way.

The coupling means between kettle and baseplate or platform can comprise any suitable coupling means such as a coupling block of electrically insulating material provided with an opening in which electric contacts are arranged.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, the positioning of the various components, and in particular the coupling means, on the platform is such that the handle of the kettle extends away from the coffee-brewing machine, that is to say the kettle is particularly easy for the user to take hold of.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the water reservoir is arranged in the middle of the baseplate and the receptacle for the coffee pot and receptacle for the kettle are arranged projecting left and right, respectively.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with the aid of an illustrative embodiment shown in the drawing. In the drawing: Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of the coffee-brewing machine according to the invention, with the kettle arranged thereon; Fig. 2 shows a machine according to Fig. 1 with the kettle removed therefrom.

In Figs 1 and 2 the coffee-brewing machine according to the invention is indicated in its entirety by 1. This machine comprises a baseplate 2. A heating element 3, a water reservoir 4 and a platform 6 are arranged on said baseplate. A coffee pot 13 with a filter holder 14 placed on top of it can be placed on the heating element 3. Means for carrying up water out of the water reservoir into the filter holder 14, which are not shown in more detail, are located in/under the water reservoir 4.

Said means can comprise any constructions known in the prior art, that is to say a device for separate carry-up and separate heating or boiling of the water, or a device in which the two features are combined.

The platform 6 is provided with a connector 7. A connection 5 for connecting to the power supply is arranged at the rear of baseplate 2. The on and off switch for the coffee-brewing machine is indicated by 15.

It can be seen from the figures that a separate kettle 10 can be placed on platform 6. Kettle 10 is provided with a receptacle 9 for connector 7. Moreover, this kettle is provided with a handle 8 which, as can be seen from Fig. 1, is arranged oriented away from the baseplate. An on and off switch 11 and a lamp 12, which indicates the operating status of the switch and thus of the kettle 10, are arranged on the bottom of the handle 8. The kettle 10 is provided with a heating element, in a manner which is not shown in more detail.

As can be seen in particular from Fig. 1, the coffeebrewing machine according to the invention constitutes a particularly compact construction which is simple to place on a table, worktop or the like. It is no longer necessary for two separate pieces of equipment to be positioned separately from one another, with two separate connections to the power supply.

With the construction according to the invention a particularly tidy whole is obtained and any one of the pieces of equipment can be operated, as desired.

Although the machine has been described above with reference to a preferred embodiment, it must be understood that numerous variants are possible. For instance, it is possible to arrange the kettle in a different position with respect to the water reservoir or the coffee pot. These and further variants are obvious to a person skilled in the art and fall within the scope of the appended claims after reading the above.

Claims (6)

1. CLAIMS 1. Coffee-brewing machine comprising a baseplate provided with a heating element, a water reservoir, means for heating and carrying up water originating from the water reservoir, and a connection for connecting to the power supply, characterised in that the baseplate is provided with an extension constructed as a platform, provided with coupling means for electrical and mechanical connection to a kettle.
2. 2. Coffee-brewing machine according to claim 1, wherein the water reservoir, or the means for heating and carrying up water originating from the water reservoir, are constructed in a shape which matches the shape of the kettle.
3. 3. Coffee-brewing machine according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the coupling means comprise a coupling block made of electrically insulating material provided with openings in which electric contacts are arranged.
4. 4. Coffee-brewing machine according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the kettle has a handle, and the coupling means and the corresponding parts of the kettle are arranged such that, when the kettle is in position on the platform, the handle extends in the direction of the free end of the baseplate.
5. 5. Coffee-brewing machine according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the baseplate comprises two projecting end sections connected by a mid section located further inwards, one of said end sections comprising said platform.
6. 6. Coffee-brewing machine substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.