WO2017097651A1

WO2017097651A1 - A coffee machine with improved user safety

Info

Publication number: WO2017097651A1
Application number: PCT/EP2016/079227
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ismail GERZELI; Nihat Gunduz; Emre KARAAGAC; Omer Burak Coban; Eren MUTLU; Emre AYAROGLU
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2015-12-08
Filing date: 2016-11-30
Publication date: 2017-06-15
Also published as: TR201515628A2

Abstract

The present invention relates to a coffee machine (1) comprising a body (2); a brewing chamber (3) wherein the brewing process is performed by adding coffee and water, that is disposed in the body (2) and that is configured so as to be taken out of the body (2), and a compartment (4) wherein the brewing chamber (3) is placed and that is disposed in the body (2).

Description

A COFFEE MACHINE WITH IMPROVED USER SAFETY

The present invention relates to a coffee machine wherein the coffee is brewed and delivered into a cup.

In coffee machines, first the coffee is brewed in the brewing chamber and then the coffee is delivered into a cup. The brewing chambers can be taken out of the coffee machine for purposes such as cleaning etc. When the brewing chamber is taken out of place while the coffee is brewed or delivered into the cup, the hot coffee in the brewing chamber may cause the user to get injured. At the same time, in case the coffee is poured or splattered on the coffee machine, the electronic parts of the coffee machine may be damaged. Moreover, the coffee splattered around needs to be also cleaned.

In the state of the art American Patent Application No. US2008148954, a coffee machine is disclosed, wherein the brewing process is not started when the carafe is not in place.

In the state of the art International Patent Application No. WO2011007266, a coffee machine using capsules is disclosed.

In the state of the art Turkish Patent Application No. TR200100549, a coffee machine using capsules is disclosed.

The aim of the present invention is the realization of a coffee machine wherein the brewing chamber is prevented from being displaced during the coffee brewing or delivery processes.

The coffee machine realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the claims, comprises a locking mechanism that is oppositely disposed on the brewing chamber wherein the coffee is brewed and the body of the coffee machine, and that prevents the brewing chamber from being taken out of the compartment wherein the same is placed during the coffee brewing or coffee delivery processes. While the brewing chamber can be easily taken out of the body when no brewing or delivery is performed, the brewing chamber cannot be taken out of the body during the brewing or the delivery by means of the locking mechanism. The locking mechanism comprises a first member and a second member that are disposed on the brewing chamber and the body and that are opposite to each other when the brewing chamber is in the compartment.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the brewing chamber moves upwards while the coffee is being brewed. In this embodiment, the locking member comprises the first member that has a recess disposed at the compartment ceiling and the second member that is disposed on the brewing chamber and that has a protrusion that enters the recess by the upwards movement of the brewing chamber. Thus, the protrusion that is seated into the recess when the brewing chamber is tried to be taken out during the coffee brewing process prevents the brewing chamber from being taken out.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the locking mechanism has the first member that comprises a first arm that is operationally connected to a valve that is disposed on the brewing chamber and that enables the brewing chamber to be discharged, in other words that extends towards the back of the body wall by moving when the valve switches to the open position. In this embodiment, during the delivery of the coffee to an external cup by opening the valve, the first arm prevents the brewing chamber from being taken out of the body by extending towards the back of the body. Moreover, the locking mechanism has the second member that comprises a clasp that is disposed on the body and that enables the first arm moving when the valve switches to the open position to be retained. The clasp prevents the brewing chamber from leaving the body in any condition by locking the first arm. Thus, the brewing chamber is prevented from being taken out of the body also when the coffee delivery is performed after the brewing process is completed.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the locking mechanism has the first member that comprises a second arm that is operationally connected to a valve that is disposed on the brewing chamber and that enables the brewing chamber to be discharged and the second member that comprises an extension that is disposed as a part of the body at the rear surface of the cover that enables the compartment wherein the brewing chamber is placed to be closed, and with which the second arm that moves after the valve is opened engages. As the valve switches to the open position, the second arm and the extension engage with each other and the cover is prevented from opening. By preventing the cover from being opened, the brewing chamber is also indirectly prevented from being taken out of the body.

In the coffee machine of the present invention, by means of the locking mechanism the brewing chamber cannot be taken out of the body while the coffee is being brewed or the coffee is being delivered into the cup, and possible injuries and malfunctions are prevented. By means of the locking mechanism operating with the coffee brewing process or the delivery process in an integrated manner, the brewing chamber is easily taken out of the body at other times.

The coffee machine realized to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:

Figure 1 – is the perspective view of a coffee machine.

Figure 2 – is the perspective view of the brewing chamber in an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 3 – is the front schematic view of the coffee machine in another embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 4 – is the partial schematic view of the coffee machine in an embodiment of the present invention.

The elements illustrated in the figures and the steps are numbered as follows:

Coffee machine
Body
Brewing chamber
Compartment
Locking mechanism
First member
Second member
Heater
Recess
Protrusion
Valve
First arm
Clasp
Cover
Second arm
Extension
Lug
Leaf spring

The coffee machine (1) comprises a body (2); a brewing chamber (3) wherein the brewing process is performed by adding coffee and water, that is disposed in the body (2) and that is configured so as to be taken out of the body (2); and a compartment (4) wherein the brewing chamber (3) is placed and that is disposed in the body (2).

The coffee machine (1) of the present invention comprises a locking mechanism (5) that has a first member (6) and a second member (7) that are oppositely disposed on the brewing chamber (3) and the body (2), and that prevent the brewing chamber (3) from being taken out of the compartment (4) during the coffee brewing or the delivery of the brewed coffee processes.

In the coffee machine (1) of the present invention, the brewing chamber (3) can be easily taken out of the compartment (4). While the coffee is being brewed in the brewing chamber (3) or the brewed coffee is being delivered into an external cup, the locking mechanism (5) prevents the brewing chamber (3) from being taken out of the body (2) by means of the first member (6) and the second member (7) that face each other on the body (2) and the brewing chamber (3). The first member (6) and the second member (7) are triggered during the coffee brewing process or the delivery of the brewed coffee and prevent the brewing chamber (3) from being taken out of the body (2) by engaging with each other.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the coffee machine (1) comprises a heater (8) that is disposed at the base of the compartment (4) and that pushes the brewing chamber (3) upwards by moving upwards as the brewing process begins, and the locking mechanism (5) comprises the first member (6) that has a recess (9) that is disposed at the ceiling of the compartment (4) and the second member (7) that has a protrusion (10) that is disposed at the upper portion of the side wall that surrounds the brewing chamber (3) and that enters the recess (9) by being triggered by the heater (8) during the brewing process. In this embodiment, during the coffee brewing process, the protrusion (10) on the brewing chamber (3) is triggered by the heater (8) and prevents the brewing chamber (3) from being taken out by entering the recess (9) at the compartment (4) ceiling, and thus the user is prevented from getting injured while taking out the brewing chamber (3) while the coffee is being brewed. When the brewing process is completed, the heater (8) moves downwards, and thus the brewing chamber (3) moves downwards too and the protrusion (10) is released from the recess (9) and the brewing chamber (3) can be easily taken out of the body (2).

In another embodiment of the present invention, the coffee machine (1) comprises a valve (11) that is disposed at the side surface of the brewing chamber (3) and that enables the brewing chamber (3) to be discharged preferably by being triggered from outside, and the locking mechanism (5) comprises the first member (6) that has a first arm (12) that is disposed on the valve (11), that is operationally connected to the valve (11) and that extends towards the back of the body (2) by moving when the valve (11) is open and the second member (7) that has a clasp (13) that is disposed on the body (2) and that enables the first arm (12) to be retained by of being triggered by the valve (11). In this embodiment, by being triggered by the valve (11), in other words by the valve (11) being opened during the delivery of the brewed coffee in the brewing chamber (3) to an external cup, the first arm (12) that is operationally connected to the valve (11) extends towards the back of the body (2) enters the clasp (13), thus preventing the brewing chamber (3) from being taken out of the compartment (4). When the delivery process is completed and the valve (11) switches to the closed position, the first arm (12) moves again to be released from the clasp (13) and allows the brewing chamber (3) to be taken out of the compartment (4).

In another embodiment of the present invention, the body (2) comprises a cover (14) that enables the compartment (4) to be closed, and the locking mechanism (5) comprises the first member (6) that has a second arm (15) that is disposed on the valve (11), that is operationally connected to the valve (11), and that extends towards the back of the body (2) by moving when the valve (11) is open and the second member (7) that has an extension (16) that is disposed on the cover (14) and that prevents the cover (14) from being opened by engaging with the second arm (15) after being triggered by the valve (11). In this embodiment, when the valve (11) is open, the second arm (15) moves and engages, in other words interlocks with the extension (16), and thus the cover (14) is prevented from being opened when the valve (11) is open. The cover (14) not being able to be opened indirectly causes the brewing chamber (3) to be prevented from being taken out. When the valve (11) switches to the closed position, the second arm (15) leaves the extension (16) and allows the cover (14) to be opened.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the locking mechanism (5) comprises at least one lug (17) that is disposed on the brewing chamber (3) and at least one leaf spring (18) that is disposed at the compartment (4) side walls and that makes taking the brewing chamber (3) out of the compartment (4) difficult by applying pressure to the lug (17). The leaf spring (18) makes taking the brewing chamber (3) out of the body (2) difficult by applying force to the lug (17) while the brewing chamber (3) is being taken out of the compartment (4). In case the brewing process or the delivery of the coffee is not performed, the brewing chamber (3) is pulled outwards so as to enable the lugs (17) to crush the leaf springs (18) and thus, the brewing chamber (3) is taken out of the body (2).

In another embodiment of the present invention, the coffee machine (1) is suitable to brew Turkish coffee. The coffee is brewed in the brewing chamber (3) and is transferred into the cup.

In the coffee machine (1) of the present invention, while the coffee is being brewed or delivered into a cup, the brewing chamber (3) cannot be displaced by means of the locking mechanism (5), and thus the user is prevented from getting injured in any way, for example by hot coffee being poured onto his/her hand. By means of the present invention, a coffee machine (1) that is operated in a safer manner is attained.

Claims

A coffee machine (1), comprising a body (2); a brewing chamber (3) wherein the brewing process is performed by adding coffee and water, that is disposed in the body (2), and that is configured so as to be taken out of the body (2) and a compartment (4) wherein the brewing chamber (3) is placed and that is disposed in the body (2); characterized by a locking mechanism (5) that has a first member (6) and a second member (7) that are oppositely disposed on the brewing chamber (3) and the body (2), and that prevent the brewing chamber (3) from being taken out of the compartment (4) during the coffee brewing or the delivery of the brewed coffee processes.
A coffee machine (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by a heater (8) that is disposed at the base of the compartment (4) and that pushes the brewing chamber (3) upwards by moving upwards as the brewing process begins, and the first member (6) that has a recess (9) that is disposed at the ceiling of the compartment (4) and the second member (7) that has a protrusion (10) that is disposed at the upper portion of the side wall that surrounds the brewing chamber (3) and that enters the recess (9) by being triggered by the heater (8) during the brewing process.
A coffee machine (1) as in Claim 1 or 2, characterized by a valve (11) that is disposed at the side surface of the brewing chamber (3) and that enables the brewing chamber (3) to be discharged, and the first member (6) that has a first arm (12) that is disposed on the valve (11), that is operationally connected to the valve (11) and that extends towards the back of the body (2) by moving when the valve (11) is open and the second member (7) that has a clasp (13) that is disposed on the body (2) and that enables the first arm (12) to be retained by of being triggered by the valve (11).
A coffee machine (1) as in Claim 3, characterized by a cover (14) that is disposed on the body (2) and that enables the compartment (4) to be closed, and the first member (6) that has a second arm (15) that is disposed on the valve (11), that is operationally connected to the valve (11) and that extends towards the back of the body (2) by moving when the valve (11) is open and the second member (7) that has an extension (16) that is disposed on the cover (14) and that prevents the cover (14) from being opened by engaging with the second arm (15) after being triggered by the valve (11).