GB2325848A - Insulated cafetiere - Google Patents

Abstract

An insulated cafetiere comprises a glass beaker B and a plunger P in a surrounding frame. The frame comprises two semi-cylindrical translucent or transparent side walls held by upper and lower rings (F1,F2; Fig 1). An annular evacuated space is formed between the wall of the beaker and the walls of the frame to provide the required heat insulation.

Description

CAFETIERE The invention relates to a cafetiere. Typically a cafetiere comprises a tall glass beaker and a plunger reciprocally movable in the beaker, the plunger having a annular base adapted to engage the inner wall of the beaker and carrying a filter gauze at its lower end. A cap is present at the top end of the plunger. The beaker stands in a frame usually comprising an upper and lower rings, the rings being joined together and defining an open cylinder to receive the beaker. A side handle is present. The frame may be made of metal or plastics.

Cafetieres are popular but the coffee liquid tends to cool quickly. This has been realised and a cafetiere having an insulated wall has been proposed. This takes the (RT M) form of a THERMOS/tlask, having opaque walls. While there is an increase in the period over which the coffee will remain hot, because the device does not look like a conventional cafetiere, it is not as acceptable as it might be. It is not easy to dismantle and clean.

It is one object of this invention to provide a cafetiere in which the liquid coffee will remain hot for a prolonged period and which is sufficiently transparent for the level of liquid in the beaker to be seen. It is a second object to provide such a cafetiere which can easily be dismantled for cleaning purposes.

According to the invention in one aspect there is provided a cafetiere comprising a beaker receivable in a frame therefor, a plunger reciprocally movable in the beaker and having an annular base adapted to engage the inner wall of the beaker and carrying a filter plate characterised in that the frame includes a cylindrical sidewall formed of a material which is at least translucent and which defines with the beaker an annular heat insulating space.

Preferably the frame comprises a separate lower ring part and a separate upper ring part, and the cylindrical sidewall is engaged with the upper and lower parts whereby the frame is held together. Preferably a handle extends between the lower ring part and the upper ring part of the frame and joined to each.

It is a much preferred feature of the invention that the sidewall is moulded of plastics, which is heat resistant, shatterproof and translucent or transparent. A suitable plastics is a styrene acrylonitrile copolymer. Preferably means are present at each end of the wall to engage the ring parts; most preferably radially spaced apart teeth are present at each end and engaged with complementary sockets in the lower ring part and the upper ring part ofthe frame respectively. Conveniently the side wall is in two or more parts.

Preferably a seal member is engaged with one or both ends of the side wall to seal the annular clearance in between the side wall and the beaker. Advantageously the upper ring part of the frame includes a depending socket to receive the upper end of the cylindrical sidewall and part of the seal member. Preferably the seal member has an annular gasket having formations shaped to fit in between the teeth of the sidewall, whereby to anchor the seal in position, and also has a sealing portion to seal the annular space and to reduce noise caused by movement of the two walls relative to each other as the plunger is withdrawn, e.g. for washing.

In order that the invention may be well understood it will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a front elevation of one cafetiere ofthe invention; Figure 2 shows a vertical section of the cafetiere of Figure 1 taken parallel to the front of the cafetiere of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a vertical section through the cafetiere of Figure 1 taken at right angles to the view of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a sectional view ofthe lower frame part; Figure 5 is a sectional view of the upper frame part; Figure 6 is a plan view of the sealing grommet; Figure 7 is an elevation of a semisylindrical wall; and Figure 8 is a cross section of the beaker.

The cafetiere includes a glass beaker B having a pouring lip L. A plunger P is reciprocally movable in the beaker B. The plunger P comprises a metal shaft 1 having a circular gauze filter G at its base and a ball handle H at its top. A lid M is present at the top of the plunger P. The lid is made of ABS or like material.

The cafetiere includes a frame made up of a lower frame base ring part F1 and an upper frame ring part F2, each moulded of plastics such as ABS. The base part F1 comprises a moulded dish 2 having lower external feet 3. Inner walls 4 are present to define vertical slots or sockets 4. An inner circular wall 5 is present to act as a stand for the beaker B. An integral arm 6 extends from one side of the dish, and ends in an upwardly facing socket 7. The upper frame part F2 is of similar external shape to the lower frame part F, but of course is inverted. It has a side arm 8 ending in a downwardly facing socket 9. A side hole 10 is present diametrically opposite the arm 7 to define an outlet for the lip L of the beaker. A depending side wall 11 is present within the upper frame part F2.

Two semisylindrical walls 12 extend between the lower and upper frame parts F1, F2 and are joined together at their sides by vertical columns 13 which are received in slots in the lower and upper frame parts F1,F2. The cylinder walls have radial teeth 14 dimensioned to be received in the sockets in the upper and lower frame parts. A seal 15 comprises a grommet formed of polypropylene or the like. As shown in Figure 6 the grommet is a disc having radially spaced apart teeth receiving sockets 16. The seal is received in the upper frame part F2, the seal facing inwards to seal the annular clearance between the beaker B and the cylinder 12. The cylinder walls are made of transparent material so that absence of coffee or the level of liquid coffee in the beaker can be seen; in the traditional way.

The handle comprises a moulding 15 having pegs 16 at each end to be received in the sockets 7,9 of the arms of the frame parts.

The lid M comprises a plastics cap having a top recess 16 to receive the ball handle H of the plunger below which is a hollow body having at one side a recess 17 to complement the hole 10 for the lip ofthe beaker B.

The cafetiere is assembled by fitting the cylinder walls in the respective sockets in the lower frame part together with the teeth 13 followed by fitting of the top frame part; the parts of which are received in the respective slots. The grommet is then fitted, followed by the beaker B, followed by the plunger P and lid M.

The annular space between the cylinder 12 and beaker B forms a permanent vacuum chamber sealed by the grommet. The cafetiere is used in the usual way. When the lid M is rotated so that the recess 17 is not facing the lip 10 of the beaker the cafetiere is sealed. When the lid is rotated to align the lip 10 and the recess 17 coffee can be poured in the usual way.

Our investigations have shown that coffee in the cafetiere of the invention will keep its temperature for double the period of an ordinary single walled cafetiere.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment shown. For example, the plastics wall may be made in one piece; parts made of materials other than those specified; and the like.

Claims (9)

1. A cafetiere comprising a beaker receivable in a frame therefor, a plunger reciprocally movable in the beaker and having an annular base adapted to engage the inner wall of the beaker and carrying a filter gauze characterised in that the frame includes a cylindrical sidewall formed of material which is at least translucent and which defines with the beaker an annular heat insulating space.

2. A cafetiere according to Claim 1, wherein the frame comprises a separate lower part and a separate upper part, and the cylindrical sidewall is engaged with the upper and lower parts whereby the frame is held together.

3. A cafetiere according to Claim 2, including a handle extending between the lower part and the upper part of the frame and joined to each.

4. A cafetiere according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the sidewall is moulded of plastics, and has radially spaced apart teeth at each end engaged with complementary sockets in the lower part and the upper part of the frame respectively.

5. A cafetiere according to Claim 4, wherein a seal member is engaged with one or both ends ofthe side wall to seal the annular clearance in between.

6. A cafetiere according to Claim 5, wherein the upper part of the frame includes a depending socket to receive the upper end of the cylindrical sidewall and part ofthe seal member.

7. A cafetiere according to Claim 6, wherein the seal member has an annular gasket having formations shaped to fit in between the teeth of the sidewall, to anchor the seal in position, and also has a sealing portion to seal the annular space in between the beaker and the plunger filter gauze.

8. A cafetiere according to any preceding Claim, wherein the side walls are moulded of styrene acrylonitrile polymer.

9. A cafetiere according to any preceding Claim, wherein the sidewall comprises two or more portions.