GB2333946A - Drink infuser - Google Patents

Abstract

A drink infuser comprises an open-topped container 11, a domed lid 14, a pourer spout 15, and a plunger 15 having 1) a piston 16; 2) an actuator rod 17 carrying the piston 16 and slidably mounted in a mounting passage 18 formed in the lid 14; and 3) a filter 19 incorporated within the piston 16 and operable upon depression of the plunger to press solid particles downwardly toward the bottom of the container when infusion has been completed: in which the periphery of the piston 16 comprises two annular sealing portions 20, 21, which define a "V" shape, with the upper sealing portion 20 extending outwardly and upwardly and the lower sealing portion 21 extending outwardly and downwardly, whereby one sealing portion forms a wiping seal with the container wall during downward movement and the other sealing portion forms a wiping seal during upward movement.

Description

DRINK INFUSER This invention relates to a drinks infuser comprising an open - topped container for receiving an infusible mixture of liquid and solid particles and having a substantially constant cross section throughout its height, a domed lid for closing the open top of the container, a pourer spout, and a plunger having 1) a piston of similar cross section to the container and slidable up and down within the container; 2) an actuator carrying the piston and slidably mounted in a mounting passage formed in the lid; and 3) a filter incorporated within the piston and operable upon depression of the plunger to press the solid particles towards the bottom of the container when required infusion has been completed.

A typical infused drink with which the drinks infuser of the invention be used is coffee derived from ground coffee beans, in which case the infuser is usually known as a "cafetiere".

In the operation of a cafetiere, a substantial downward force has to be applied to the top of the actuator rod, because there has to be a tight sliding fit between the piston periphery and the internal wall of the container, so as to prevent solid particles present in the liquid below the piston from migrating into the liquid above the piston.

Similarly, a substantial lifting force is required in order to raise the plunger again ready for a further infusion.

The present invention seeks to ease the sliding movement of the piston, while still maintaining a satisfactory sealing engagement with the wall of the container.

According to the invention there is provided a drinks infuser comprising an open-topped container for receiving an infusible mixture of liquid and solid particles and having a substantially constant cross section throughout its height; a domed lid for closing the open top of the container; a pourer spout; and a plunger having: 1) a piston of similar cross section to the container and slidable up and down within the container alongside the inner wall thereof; 2) an actuator rod carrying the piston and slidably mounted in a mounting passage formed in the lid: and 3) a filter incorporated within the piston and operable upon depression of the plunger to press the solid particles downwardly towards the bottom of the container when required infusion has been completed; in which the periphery of the piston comprises two annular sealing portions which define a "V" shape, seen in radial cross section, with the upper sealing portion extending outwardly and upwardly and the lower sealing portion extending outwardly and downwardly, whereby one sealing portion forms a wiping seal with the container wall during downward movement and the other sealing portion forms a wiping seal during upward movement The wiping actions of the sealing portions provide easy slidability of the piston, while maintaining a satisfactory sealing action to prevent movement of granular particles from one side of the piston to the other.

To facilitate lifting movement of the actuator rod, preferably a shaped knob is provided on the upper end of the rod, which cooperates with the domed cover to allow easy finger and thumb gripping of the knob between the underside of the knob and the adjacent upper surface of the domed cover.

The annular sealing portions may be moulded in one piece with an annular wall of the piston, and the filter may comprise a circular disc of metal or other filter material located in the piston within the annular wall.

A preferred embodiment of drinks infuser according to invention will now be described in detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings: Fig 1 is a side view of a drinks infuser according to invention, and taking the form of a "cafetiere"; Fig 2 is an underplan view of a piston/filter mounted on an actuator rod which is vertically slidably moveable within the container.

Referring now to the drawings, a drinks infuser according to invention is designated by reference 10 and comprises an open topped container 11 made of moulded plastics, and taking the shape of a jug, and which may be of an internal volume to allow a few cups of coffee to be infused. The container 11 has a moulded base (12) on which it stands, and an open top 13, and has a substantially constant cross section (circular) throughout its height. The container 11 serves to receive an infusible mixture of liquid and solid particles, such as a mixture of boiling water and ground coffee beans.

A domed lid 14, also of moulded plastics, closes the open top 13 of the container 11, and a pourer spout 15 is provided in the upper surface of the wall of the container near the upper open end.

A plunger, designated generally by reference 15, has a piston 16 of similar cross section to the container, and which is slidable up,and down within the container 11 alongside the inner wall of the container. An actuator rod 17 carries the piston 16, and is slidably mounted in amounting passage 18 formed in the dome lid 14. A filter 19 is incorporated within the piston 16 and is operable, upon depression of the plunger 15, to press the solid particles in the liquid below the piston downwardly towards the bottom 12 of the container, when required infusion has been completed.

Figure 1 shows upper and lower positions of the piston 16, and the periphery of the piston carries two annular sealing portions which are engageable slidingly alongside the inner wall of the container 11. The sealing portions define a "V" shape, as seen in radial section, and comprise an upper sealing portion 20 which extends radially outwardly and upwardly, and a lower sealing portion 21 which extends radially outwardly and downwardly.

The sealing portions therefore are able to form wiping seals with the container wall during upward and downward movement, and operating somewhat in the matter of a bicycle pump, whereby a satisfactory sealing action is maintained with the inner wall of the container 11, to minimise the risk of solid particles migrating from the liquid below the piston to the liquid above the piston, while providing a relatively easy slidability of the piston to minimise the downward and upward forces which require to be applied to the actuator rod 17.

To facilitate lifting movement of the actuator rod 17 to return the piston 16 to the upper position, a shaped knob 22 is provided on the upper end of the rod 17, and which cooperates with the domed cover 14 to allow easy finger and thumb gripping of the knob 22 between the underside of the knob and the adjacent surface of the domed cover 14.

The annuler sealing portions 20 and 21 are moulded in one piece with an annular wall 23 of the piston and the circular mesh filter 19, preferably of metal, is located in the piston 16 within the confines of the annular wall 23, as shown in Figure 2.

A carrying handle 24 of moulded plastics is provided on the wall of the container 11, to allow easy handling of the infuser 10.

The illustrated embodiment is particularly suitable for making relatively smaller quantities of infused coffee or other drinks, and will be of use in restaurants, fast food outlets, or even in the home.

Claims (5)

1. CLAIMS: 1. A drinks infuser comprising an open-topped container for receiving an infusible mixture of liquid and solid particles and having a substantially constant cross section throughout its height; a domed lid for closing the open top of the container; a pourer spout; and a plunger having: 1) a piston of similar cross section to the container and slidable up and down within the container alongside the inner wall thereof; 2) an actuator rod carrying the piston and slidably mounted in a mounting passage formed in the lid; and 3) a filter incorporated within the piston and operable upon depression of the plunger to press the solid particles downwardly towards the bottom of the container when required infusion has been completed; in which the periphery of the piston comprises two annular sealing portions which define a "V" shape, seen in radial cross section, with the upper sealing portion extending outwardly and upwardly and the lower sealing portion extending outwardly and downwardly, whereby one sealing potion forms a wiping seal with the container wall during downward movement and the other sealing portion forms a wiping seal during upward movement.
2. 2. A drinks infuser according to claim 1, in which a shaped knob is provided on the upper end of the rod, which cooperates with the domed cover to allow easy finger and thumb gripping of the knob between the underside of the knob and the adjacent upper surface of the domed cover.
3. 3. A drinks infuser according to claim 1 or 2, in which the annular sealing portions are moulded in one piece with an annular wall of the piston.
4. 4. A drinks infuser according to claim 3, in which the filter comprises a circular disc of metal or other filter material located in the piston within said annular wall.
5. 5. A drinks infuser according to claim 1 and substantially as hereinbefore described with references, and as shown in the accompanying drawings.