WO1995023545A1

WO1995023545A1 - Domestic coffee-maker with a multi-nozzle dispenser

Info

Publication number: WO1995023545A1
Application number: PCT/IT1994/000034
Authority: WO
Inventors: Oronzo Cotugno
Original assignee: Micro Meccanica S.R.L.
Priority date: 1994-03-01
Filing date: 1994-03-24
Publication date: 1995-09-08
Also published as: ITMI940363A0; AU6688194A; ITMI940363A1; EP0725589A1; IT1273352B

Abstract

Coffee-maker for use in the home (10) having a spherical dispenser (30) and several radial nozzles (40), said dispenser being supported by the head of a distribution column (20) placed at the top of a spherical water heater (11), there passing through said column two sets of spokewise dispensing holes, one set numbering more than the other, for directly dispensing coffee into cups (51) placed on a tray (50) underneath the nozzles (40), through all or some of said nozzles according to the angular position given to the dispenser (30).

Description

DOMESTIC COFFEE-MAKER WITH A MULTI-NOZZLE DISPENSER

The invention concerns coffee-makers particularly those used in the home.

A variety of coffee-makers, especially the type known as !espresso¹ are objects of every-day use.

Water is heated inside the water-tight base and, on reach¬ ing the right pressure, rises into a filter, mixes with the ground^', coffee, passes up through a column and emerges through holes in the top, then depositing in the dispensing section situated above the base. From there it is poured out into cups.

Other models have one or two arched nozzles at the top of the column and through these the coffee goes straight into the cup or cups. If more, or less, coffee is needed the only way to get it is to use different sized coffee- -makers .

An assortment of sizes however creates practical problems of space apart from the .-question of cost. In no case, once the coffee-maker has been prepared, can the quantity be changed according to the number of cups required.

Neither can several cups be- filled at once because there is not enough space for them under the nozzles.

The above invention eliminates these drawbacks, permit¬ ting a more rational use to be made of the espresso-type coffee-maker as will be explained below. Subject of the invention is a portable coffee-maker com- prising a dispenser communica ing with the water-heating base through a perforated column.

In the dispensing part there is a central body and a number of nozzles formed by substantially horizontal ra¬ dial arms through which passes an axial hole. The central body of the dispenser part is preferably spherical .

The nozzles consist of bars each having an axial hole; said bars branch out spokewise from a central body at a slightly downward inclination and also taper slightly towards a spherical head at the end. On reaching said sphe¬ rical head, the bars, each with an axial hole, form a mouth bent at a sharply downward angle. In the body of the dispenser there is an axial cavity shaped like a truncated cone with the larger base below, matching at the top with- the dispensing column also trun¬ cated-cone shaped at the summit .

A threaded pin at the top permits a knob to be screwed on Pressure on the dispensing column is made by screwing the knob down until it locks on the column. : In the truncated-cone shaped head of the column there are two sets of transversal dispensing-holes ^'.placed spokewise The holes in one set are the same in number as the noz^¬ zles and are arranged at an equal angular distance in such a way as to connect the column with all the nozzles. The holes in the second set are intermediate with the first ones and are fewer in number.

In a certain position therefore the dispenser permits distribution through all the nozzles while, if rotated over the angular distance between the two sets of holes, coffee is dispensed only through the nozzles that coin- cide with the holes in the second set.

In one execution the number of holes in the second set is half the number in the first set.

At the top of the column is an aligner spot and two such spots are placed on the lower part of the dispenser. Coincidence of the first aligner spot on the dispenser with that on the column corresponds to alignment of the first set of transversal holes in the cone-shaped head with the nozzles. Coincidence of the second aligner spot on the dispenser with that on the column corresponds to alignment of the second set of transversal holes in the cone-shaped head of the column with the nozzles.

The purpose of this is to facilitate regulation of the dispenser for dispensing through all the nozzles or else through only some of them.

Between the dispenser and the column there is a regula¬ ting device consisting of a pin that projects from the lower part of the dispenser's central body, parallel to its axis, and of a pair of holes at the top of the column, also parallel to its axis.

Angular distance between said pair of holes is equal to half that between the nozzles, while their distance from the axis of the dispenser is substantially equal to that of the pin.

It follows that the position of the dispenser at one or other of the angular positions, corresponding to distri¬ bution from all the nozzles or from some only, is assured by insertion of the pin in one pair of holes or the other. Such insertion can obviously be obtained by axial move¬ ment of the dispenser before and after rotating it for regulation.

Shape of the water-heating base is spherical and by making an imaginary cut in the top on a geometrical horizontal plane, an upper mouth is created together with a hollow head in the form of a spherical segment. The neck of this mouth in the water heater is surrounded by a flat edge for connection by means of a screw thread or in some other way, to the spherical segment-shaped head. On said head there is a flat edge opposite to that of the mouth of the water-heating base. Between said base and its head a tray is placed through which the above neck passes, and on this the coffee cups, one under each nozzle, can stand. The invention offers evident advantages. By simple and practical means the desired number of cups can be served at once and their number even be decided at the last moment.

The presence of several radial nozzles above a tray set close under them makes it possible for the cups to be filled straight from said nozzles. The choice of how many nozzles to close or keep open is done quickly and easily by simply rotating the knob. The form of a sphere given to the water-heater base and the position of the tray below the edge of the head com¬ prised in the spherical body, creates a highly original, compact and attractive whole. Emphasis is conferred on this pleasing design by the sphe¬ rical heads on the ends of the nozzles themselves that lead off from the spherical body.

Harmony of the whole is thus attained as the "sphere motif" is repeated in the essential parts of the coffee-maker. In this way an elegant, convenient to use and easily ma¬ naged object solves structural and practical problems that are so frequently and so widely encountered.

Characteristics and purposes of the invention will be made still clearer by the following example of its execution illustrated by diagrammatically drawn figures.

Fig.1 Side view of the portable coffee-maker with its dis¬ penser comprising several nozzles placed at the top of a column . Fig.2 Cross section of said column seen from below. Fig.3 An axial section of the dispenser.

The coffee-maker 10 is formed of a spherical water-heater base 11, of aluminium or cast steel, through which, towards the top, an imaginary cut is made on a horizontal geometrical plane to form an upper mouth 12 and a hed 13 taking the shape of a hollow segment of a sphere.

On the above mouth 12 is a neck 11 with an external thread surrounded by a flat edge 14 for connection to said head 13. This latter has a flat edge 15 threaded Internally to connect to the external thread on the neck of the water heater 11. The circular tray 50 on which the coffee cups 51 stand, can be placed between the flat edge 14 of the mouth of the water heater 11 and the flat edge 15 of the head 13. At the top of the head 13, shaped as the segment of a sphere, is a dispensing column 20 with a tapering base 21 and a top 22 tapering in the opposite direction, said column having an axial distribution hole 25 communica¬ ting with the inside of the head 13.

At the top 22 of the column 20 is a truncated-cone shaped head 23, the smaller base being uppermost, from which a threaded pin 24 projects. Said truncated-cone shaped head 23 supports a dispenser 30 comprising a ^'spherical body 31 and a truncated-cone shaped chamber 32 to match up with said head 23. In the spherical body 31 there are also radial seats 33, at an equal angular distance, with a slightly downward inclination, for the nozzles 40 fitted into said seats 33. The body 41 of said nozzles 40 tapers slightly and has a spherical head 42 at the end; an axial hole passes along said nozzles and, on reaching the head 42, takes the form of a mouth 44 turned sharply downwards. Through the walls of the chamber 32 inside the spherical body 31 of the dispenser 30, pass a first set of six transversal holes placed at an equal angular distance, and when the aligner spot 16, marked on the top of the column 20, coincides with the aligner spot 17 on the lower part of the spherical body 31, these holes will be in line with the holes 43 in the nozzles 40 which are thereby .con¬ nected to the axial hole 25 in the column 20. Between said holes 35 is a second set of three holes of substantially the same size and in the same positions but half as many as the first set, also placed at an equal angular distance. For the sake of simplicity the figures do not show this second set of holes.

On turning the dispenser for approximately 30° round the axis of the column 20 until it coincides with another aligner spot 18 (in the figure this is indicated by the number 3) placed at an angular distance of 30° with the already mentioned aligner spot 17 and with aligner spot 16 on the column, the above three holes of the second set will be in line with the holes passing through three nozzles. The other three intermediate nozzles will not then commu- nicate with the axial hole in the column 20. It follows that by moving the dispenser to one or another of said radial orientations, the coffee in the dispenser can be run into six cups or into three cups. The dispenser is fixed in the one position or in the other by screwing the knob 26, with its threaded head 27, on the pin 24 in the column 20.-

The coffee-maker can be built in sizes for respectively 2, 4, 6 or 12 cups. It is clear that the number of holes in the two sets,passing through the chamber in the dispenser's spherical body, hich connect the nozzles with the axial hole in the column, will vary as shown below; the first set is here indicated by the letter (f) and the second set by the. letter (s). 2-cup coffee-maker: 2 holes in set (f), 1 hole in set (s) 4-cup coffee-maker: 4 holes in set (f), 2 holes in set (s) 6-cup coffee-maker: 6 holes in set (f), 3 holes in set (s) 12-cup coffee-maker: 12 holes in set (f), 6 holes in set (s) The water in the base 11 can be heated either on an elec- trie hotplate or on a gas burner.

As the above invention has been described and explained as an example only, in no way limited to this, and merely to show its essential features, numerous variations can be made to it according to industrial, commercial or other requirements, and other systems and means may be added to it without thereby departing from its sphere of operat ions .

It is therefore understood that the application to patent includes any equivalent use of the concepts and any equi¬ valent product executed and/or in operation in fulfilment of any one or more of the charac eris ics set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. Portable coffee-maker ( 10) comprising a dispenser (30) communicating with a water-heater base ( 11) through an axial hole in a column (20), characterized in that the dispenser (30) has^" a central body (31) from which depart several nozzles (40) formed of radial arms (41) each with an axial hole (43) and sub¬ stantially horizontal.

2. Portable coffee-maker ( 10) as in claim 1, characterized in that the central body (31) of the dis¬ penser (30) is 'spherical.

3. Coffee-maker ( 10) as in claim 1, characterized in that the nozzles (40) consist of bars (4!) each having an axial hole (43) and branching off spokewise from the central body (30) at a slightly down¬ ward inclination.

4. Coffee-maker ( 10) as in claim 1, characterized in that the perforated bare (41) of the nozzles (40) taper slightly towards the end, formed of a spherical head (42), the axial hole (43) through said bars (41) taking a sharp downward turn at the spherical heads (42) and ending in a mouth (44).

5. Coffee-maker ( 10) as in claim 1, characterized in that inside the dispenser (30) there is an axial cavity (32) shaped like a truncated cone whose larger base is at the bottom, matching with the top of the distribution column (20) whose head (23) is shaped as a truncated cone and through which pass transversal dispensing holes (35), there being at the top of said head (23) a threaded pin (24) onto which may be screwed a knob (26) which, when screwed down, presses on the dispenser (30) and locks onto the column (20).

6. Coffee-maker ( 10) as in claim 5, characterized in that the truncated-cone shaped head (23) on the column (20) has in it two sets of transver¬ sal spokewise dispensing holes, the number of holes(35) of one set being the same as one set of nozzles (40) and placed at the same angular distance as said nozzles so as to allow the dispensing column (20) to connect with all the nozzles (40), there being also a second set of fewer intermediate holes, so that, in one angular position, the dispenser (30) can dispense through all the nozzles (40) wfiile, after turning it for an angular dis¬ tance equal to that between the two sets of holes, the dispenser will only dispense through the nozzles that coincide with the holes forming the second set.

7. Coffee-maker ( 10) as in claim 6, charac erized in that the number of holes in the second set is half the number in the first set.

8. Coffee-maker ( 10) as in claim 6, characterized in that, at the top of the column (20) there is an aligner spot ( 16) and in the lower part of the dispenser (30) there are two aligner spots ( 17, 18) whose angular distance is the same as that of the two sets of transversal dispensing holes, coincidence with the aligner spot ( 16) on the column (20) corresponding to alignment of the first and the second sets respec¬ tively of said transversal holes with the nozzles (40), the purpose of this being to facilitate angular adjust¬ ment of the dispenser (30) for dispensing through all the nozzles (40) or through some only.

9. Coffee-maker ( 10) as in claim 6, characterized in that between the dispenser (30) and the column (20) there is a regulating device consisting of a pin that projects from the lower end of the dispenser's central body parallel to its axis, and of a pair of holes at the top of the dispensing column parallel to its axis, angular distance of said pair of holes being equal to half that of the dispensing nozzles and distance from the dis¬ tribution axis being subs antially equal to that of the pin so that positioning of the dispenser at one angular po¬ sition or another, corresponding to distribution through all the nozzles or through some only, is assured by inser- tion of the pin in one or other of the pair of holes by moving the dispenser axially before and after its rotation.

10. Coffee-maker ( 10) as in claim 1, characterized in that the water heater base ( 11) is sphe¬ rical in shape and, by means of an imaginary cut made on a horizontal geometrical plane through the top of said base, an upper mouth is formed and also a head ( 13) shaped as a hollow segment of a sphere.

11. Coffee-maker ( 10) as in claim 10, characterized in that at the mouth of the water heater base ( 11) there is a neck surrounded by a flat edge ( 14) to be connected by threading or by some other means to the head ( 13), shaped as a segment of a sphere, on which there.is a flat edge ( 15) opposite that on the mouth of the water hea¬ ter ( 11), there being placed between the water heater ( I I) and its head ( 13) a tray (50), through which passes the neck of the water heater ( I 1 ) and on which the coffee cups (51) stand each under its respective nozzle (40).