Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
I
SPECIFICATION
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This invention relates generally to innovations and
improvements in beverage brewers of the cold water, pour-in
type which have a generally C-shaped body providing upper and
lower horizontal leg portions interconnected from the
underside and topside, respectively by an upright leg
portion, and which have a shallow elongated cold water basin
housed within said upper leg portion and deep hot water tank
depending from the cold water basin and housed mainly within
the upright leg portion, the cold water basin and hot water
tank together form an inverted L-shaped receptacle. These
novel beverage brewers are relatively narrow and have the
pour-in opening in the top adjacent the front end with two
top warmers behind the pour-in opening in addition to the
usual bottom warmer which supports a beaker or carafe under
the brewer funnel. The brewer is capable of brewing a
two-quart batch of coffee or other beverage and two quarts of
cold water can be rapidly dumped into the pour-in opening
Cold water pour-in beverage makers of known type in
which a supply of hot water is maintained until displaced by
cold water, are in extensive use, primarily in homes and
small offices. For example, cold water pour-in beverage
makers are disclosed in the following patents: Martin
3,220,334, Loran 3,354,810, Martin 3,450,024, Reynolds
3,479,949, Martin 3,494,276, Bloom field et alp 3,513,767,
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Martin 3,691,932, Martin 3,736,155 and Poetry 4,192,~27. In
restaurant and larger offices, the beverage brewer are
generally of the automatic type in which batches of cold
water are introduced from a cold water supply line
discharging into a cold water basin under the control of an
electrically operated valve. Beverage brewers of the
automatic type are disclosed in the following patent: Burn
3,100,434, Martin 3,691,933, Martin 3,793~934, Martin,
4,094l233 and Burn Reissue 25,663. Also known are beverage
brewer which normally are operated automatically, but which
can also be operated as cold water pour-in beverage brewer.
Such dual type beverage makers are disclosed in Canada
Patent Application No. 437,146 filed September 20~
1984 and assigned to the assignee of the present
invention.
The cold water, pour-in type of beverage brewer
offer several important advantage, over the automatic type.
Two of the most important being that they are portable and do
not require a plumbing connection. On the other hand, the
pour-in type beverage brewers tend to have less capacity than
the automatic and, in at least Rome model, a full batch of
cold water cannot be rapidly dumped into the pour-in opening.
The object of the present invention, generally
stated, is provision of an improved beverage brewer
characterized by having a generally Keypad body housing an
inverted L-shaped receptacle provided by an elongated shallow
cold water basin integrally joined to a deep hot water tank
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and having, if desired, a capacity to maintain at least two
quarts of water in heated condition in the hot water tank
ready for use in brewing with provision for two quarts of
cold water to be rapidly introduced into the cold water
basin, such a brewer being improved in respect to reduced
evaporation from the hot water tank and ample venting of the
cold water basin.
A further object of the invention is the provision
of an improved beverage maker of the foregoing type and
character which is relatively narrow from side to side so as
to take up a small amount of counter space from left to right
and has a readily accessible cold water pour-in opening
adjacent the front end, and one or more beaker warmers
mounted on a top heater unit rearwardly of the pour-in
opening.
The increased capacity [e.g. up to two quarts of
cold water), rapid fill and rapid beverage production
features permit the improved beverage brewers of my invention
to be utilize in a number of places where currently
available cold water, pour-in type beverage or coffee brewers
are not considered to have adequate capacity.
A further object of the invention is the provision
of an improved beverage brewer of the foregoing type and
character wherein the bottom of the elongated, shallow cold
water basin has an opening thereon that mates with the top
opening of the deep hot water tank and such opening is closed
by a plate which has a drain opening therein which is
substantially smaller than the interior of the cold water
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tube aligned therewith and which plate also carries a vent
tube with a small bore which communicates between the head
space in the hot water tank and the upper portion of the cold
water basin.
Still another important object of the invention is
the provision of a beverage brewer of the foregoing type and
character wherein the shallow elongated cold water basin is
removably supported prom the upper edge of a top opening in
the brewer body, and a removable cover on the body covers the
top of the basin as well as the top opening in the brewer
body with an elongated vent opening between the cover and
cold water basin.
Certain other objects of the invention will be
apparent from the following detailed description of a
presently preferred embodiment of the invention taken in
connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a cold water,
pour-in coffee brewer forming one embodiment of the present
invention and wherein three coffee beakers or carafes are
shown in broken outline along with a removable brewer funnel.
Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of
the brewer shown in Fig. 1, certain parts being shown in
elevation.
Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation Al detail
view on enlarged scale showing the inside of one of the guide
rails for the removable brewer funnel.
Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail bottom plan view of
the guide rail construction shown in Fig. JO
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Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary detail sectional
view taken on line I of Fig. 2.
Fig. 6 is a fragmentary top plan view taken on line
6-6 of Fig. 5.
Fig. 7 is a fragmentary detail view taken on line
7-7 of Fig. 3.
Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the integral
inverted L-shaped, combination elongated shallow cold water
basin and relatively deep hot water tank housed in the brewer
shown in Figs. 1 and 2.
Fig. 9 is a top plan view of the integral cold
water basin-hot water tank shown in Fig. 8 with the addition
of a lid disc in place over the hot water tank and held down
by three clamps.
Fig. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary detail sectional
view taken on line 10-10 of Fig. 9.
Referring to Fig. 1, a cold water, pour-in coffee
brewer is indicated general at 5 which has a generally
Shaped body 6 which includes an upper leg portion 7, a
lower leg portion 8, and an interconnecting upright leg
portion 9. The brewer body 6 is fabricated in known manner,
desirably from stainless steel sheet, but it may be
fabricated from other metals, from known plastics having
suitable strength and durability, or from combinations of
materials. brewer funnel of known type indicated at 10 is
removably supported in known manner by a pair of horizontal
guide rails 11-11 (Figs. 4 and 7) underneath the upper leg
portion 7. A coffee beaker or carafe 12 is removably
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supported on the leg 8 underneath the funnel 10 on a heated
warming plate or disc 13 mounted on the lower leg portion 8.
A cold water, pour-in opening 14 is located on the
top front (Fig. 2) of the upper leg portion 7. Rearwardly
thereof, a top warmer unit 15 is mounted which includes a
pair of warming plates 16 and 17 on which two additional
beakers or carafes 18 (Fig. 1) may be mounted.
The C-shaped brewer body 6 houses a receptacle in
the form of an integral, inverted L-shaped, combination
elongated cold water basin and relatively deep hot water tank
indicated generally at 20 in Figs. 8 and 9. The elongated
cold water basin 21 is desirably die-pressed in known manner
from stainless steel sheet and the relatively deep hot water
tank 22 is welded to a bottom opening formed adjacent the
deep end of the basin 21. The opening in the bottom of the
basin 21 is formed in such a manner as to have a
circumferential depression or recess 23 (Figs. 2 and 8) with
a circumferential collar or lip 24 (Fig. 5) integrally formed
on the bottom of the depression 23. The upper
I circumferential edge of the deep tank 22 is welded (W Fig. 5)
to the bottom edge of the collar 24 so as to make the basin
and tank 22 the integral inverted L-shaped receptacle or
container 20. The tank 22 is preferably fabricated from
stainless steel sheet in known manner.
The upper edge of the shallow cold water pan or
basin 21 is provided with a continuous out-turned, horizontal
flange comprising side portions 25-25 and end portions 26-26.
33
It will be seen from Fig. 2 that the bottom 31 of
the basin 21 slopes toward the bottom recess 23 so that cold
water poured into the basin 21 will flow and drain into the
tank 22.
The manner in which the unit 20 is mounted and
supported within the housing or body 6 of the brewer is shown
in Figs. 2 and 5. Referring to Figs. 2 and 5, it will be
noted that the upper leg portion 7 of the body 6 has an
in-turned horizontal flange 32 formed around the upper edge
thereof. The out-turned flange 25-26 on the upper edge of
the basin 21 is dimensioned so as to fit over and rest
flyweights upon the in-turned flange 32.
The height of the deep tank 22 is so dimensioned
that the bottom 33 thereof is spaced at least slightly above
the top wall 34 of the lower leg portion 8 so that the
lateral flange 25-26 on the basin 21 will rest on the
in-turned flange 32.
In a brewer 5 capable of making two-quart batches
of coffee, the tank 22 can have, by way of illustrative
example, an inside diameter of 5 inches and a depth of 14
inches giving it a capacity of 275 cubic inches (i.e. 4.76
fluid quarts). The capacity of the shallow basin 21 suitable
for a hot water tank 22 of such capacity is 155 cubic inches
(i.e. 2.68 quarts) with the interior of the basin having a
length of 15-1/4 inches, a width of 6~1/4 inches and a depth
ranging from 1-3/4 to 1-1/2 inches.
The circular opening at the bottom of the collar 24
on the bottom 31 of the basin 21 mates with the opening at
to
the top of the tank 22 and is closed by a disc or baffle 36
which rests on a ring gasket 35 fig. 5) seated in the recess
23~ A central drain opening 37 is provided in the disc 36
which is aligned with the upper end of a vertical cold water
tube 38 ( Fig O 2), the upper end of which is attached as
indicated at 19 to the underside of the disc 35 with the
provision of at least one vent opening 29. The bottom end of
the cold water tube 38 terminates adjacent the bottom 33 of
the tank 22 so that as cold water flows downwardly through
the tube 38, it is discharged in the lower portion of the
tank 22 and thereby displaces upwardly the hot water contents
in the tank 22. This manner of operation is well-known in
connection with brewers of the cold water, pour-in-type.
It will be noted, particularly, from Fig. 2, that
the drain opening 37 is substantially smaller in size than
the interior of the cold water tube 38. By virtue of the
small area of the opening 37, the problem of hot water
evaporation from the tank 22 is eliminated to an acceptable
degree.
In order to provide for venting the head space in
the hot water tank 22 when cool or cold water is flowing from
the basin 21 through the drain opening 37 into the cold water
tube 38, a vent tube 27 is mounted on the disc 35. The small
bore through the vent tube communicates between the head space
in the hot water tank 22 and the upper portion of the cold
water basin 21 so that venting of the head space is permitted
even when the basin is nearly filled with water.
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An inverted siphon cup 40 is positioned adjacent
the top of the tank 22 and the side thereof facing the
removable brewer funnel 10. The cup 40 is carried by the
inner end of a nipple 41 which projects in fluid-tight
relationship through a suitable opening in the wall of the
tank 22. The outer end of the nipple 41 connects with a
downwardly slanted tube 42 having a down-turned outer or
distal end 43 on the lower end of which a hot water spray
head 44 is fastened in known manner. The end 43 passes
through a spray head panel 28 and secured thereto by a
two-part fastener 39 of known typo.
Water within the tank 22 is heated in known manner
by a heating element 45 that may take the form of a Colorado
element or other known electrically energized heating
element.
The top of the basin 21 is covered and enclosed by
a cover member 46 which forms the top of the upper portion 7
of the C-shaped body 6. This cover 46 is formed with a
downwardly extending flange 47 so as to fit in spaced
relationship over the out-turned flange 25-26 at the top of
the cold water basin 21 and also the upper edge of the
vertical side walls forming the upper leg portion 7. The
inter-fitting relationship between the in-turned flange 32 on
the vertical sidewalls of the upper leg portion 7, and
out-turned flange 25-26 on the cold water basin 21 and the
outer margin 48 and down-turned flange 47 on the cover 46 is
well-shown in Fig. 5. An important feature of the invention
is the provision of adequate venting of the cold water basin
go
21. This is accomplished by providing a plurality of
up-turned U-shaped slot formations 51 (Fig. 8) in the side
flanges 25 on the cold water basin 21. The formations 51 are
integrally formed from the flanges 25 and serve as spacers
for the cover 46 to rest on and provide an elongated vent
path between the margin 48 of the cover and the out-turned
flange 25-26 on the basin 21. This vent path is indicated by
the arrows a-a in Fig. 5. The inter-fitting relationship of
the cover margin 48 and flange 47 with the basin flange 25-26
and in-turned housing flange shown in Figs. 2 and 5 Jay be
readily secured and maintained by four screws, one so which
i's indicated at 50 in Fig. 5. The four screws 50 pass
downwardly through openings in the cover margin 48 through
the U-shaped spacer formations 51 and registered openings in
the in-turned flange 32.
The cold water, pour-in opening 14, formed in he
cover 46 adjacent the front of the brewer 5, is preferably
provided with a screen 52 (Fig. I so as to prevent foreign
objects from entering the enclosed basin 21. Preferably, a
cover 49 is provided for the screened opening 14. The
upstanding rib around the border of the screen 52 is
preferably reduced in height on the front side as indicated
at aye in order to provide an additional vent path at the
front of the screen opening.
The cover 46 not only covers the cold water basin
21 but also serves as a floor support for the upper and top
heater unit 15. The vertical sidewalls 55-55, and front and
rear end walls 56 and 57, of the heater unit 15, are
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preferably provided with in-turned feet or flanges 58 (Figs.
2 and 5) whereby these in-turned flanges support the heater
unit on the top of the cover I 'rho warmer units 16 and 17
are mounted in a top wall of the heater unit 15 in known
manner.
Preferably, the rear wall 57 of the heater unit 15
is made so as to be a removable panel, and likewise, the rear
wall 60 of the vertical leg portion 9 is preferably made as a
removable panel, whereby convenient access may readily be had
to the interiors of the heater unit 15 and of the body 6 for
such servicing as may be required
It will be understood that suitable electrical
wiring and controls, including a thermostatic control 59 for
the heater element 45, will be provided in known manner, the
same not forming any part of the present invention. The
electrical conductors leading to the top warmers 16 and 17
are arranged to pass through a opining in the cover I which
registers with an aperture 61 (Fig. 8) in the rear flange 26
on a basin 21. These registering openings are preferably
provided with a resilient grommet 62 (Fig. 2) and the
conductors for the heaters 16 and 17 can pass through the
grommet.
Suitable electrical switches for controlling the
water heater element 45 in the tank 22, the bottom warmer 13
and the top warmers 16 and 17 are indicated at 63, 64 and 65
in Fig. 1.
The operation of the brewer 5 will be readily
understood since it generally parallels the operation of
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known cold water, pour-in type beverage brewers. In putting
brewer 5 into operation, sufficient cold water is dumped into
the basin 21 so as to completely fill the hot water tank 22
The fact that the tank is filled will be known when water
commences to siphon out through the side tube 42 and
discharge through the spray head I When the hot water tank
is thus filled, the heating element 45 may be energized and,
thereafter, the warmers 13, 16 and 17 likewise energized as
needed. Once the cold water contents of the tank 22 have had
an opportunity to come to the desired elevated temperature, a
filter with the proper amount of ground coffee may be placed
in the brewer funnel 10 and inserted into place on the
underside of the top leg portion 7 so as to be supported
beneath the spray head 44 on the in-turned rails 11-11
mounted on the underside of the leg portion 7.
Assuming that a two-quart batch of coffee is to be
brewed, a pitcher containing two quarts ox cold waxer is
rapidly dumped into the basin 21 through the opening 14. The
cold water will immediately start to flow downwardly through
the drain opening 37 and cold water tube 38 at a fast enough
rate so that the basin 21 will no overflow even with fast
dumping of the two quarts of cold water through the opening
14. The entrance of the cold water into the bottom of the
hot water tank 22 is at such a rate that it does not mix to a
substantial extent with the hot water therein, but rather,
the incoming cold water displaces the hot water upwardly so
that it commences the flow out through the side tube 42.
Once this flow has started, it will continue due to the
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siphoning action until the water level in the tank 22 drops
below and exposes the bottom of the inverted siphon cup 40.
As is well-known, hot water sprays from the spray head 44
onto the ground coffee in the brewing funnel 10 and the
coffee beverage forms in the funnel and discharges through
the bottom opening of the funnel 10 into the carafe or beaker
12 setting on the warmer plate 13.
It will be seen that up to three batches or carafes
of coffee may be prepared and maintained at one time on the
brewer 5 by using the three warmers 13, 16 and 17.
It will also be seen that the interior of the hot
water tank 22 can be readily reached for cleaning by simply
removing the cover 46 and lifting the cover together with the
heater unit 15 prom the upper leg portion 7. Since periodic
cleaning or servicing of the interior of the heater tank is
normally required, this ready access is a highly desirable
feature.
The inverted L-shaped configuration of the
combination cold water basin 21 and deep hot water tank I
allows the brewer 5 to have a relatively narrow profile from
left to right so that it takes up only a small space prom one
side to the other on a counter top or table. Generally,
counter space is at a premium and often limited or
restricted. Accordingly, this narrow configuration is highly
desirable
In Figs. 9 and 10, an alternate means for clamping
the hot water tank lid 36 is shown which may be used in place
of, or in conjunction with, spaced hold-down legs 53 (Fig
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53. This alternate means comprises three upstanding studs
63-63 welded to the floor 31 of the cold water basin around
the depression 23 therein Inverted U-shaped clamp members
64 fit loosely over the threaded ends of the studs 63 and
nut 65-65 are provided for tightening down the clamps 64 on
the top of the disc 36 thereby compressing the ring gasket 35
to the desired degree. It will be seen that by loosening the
nuts 65, the clamps 64 may be rotated or removed so that the
lid 36 may be lifted and removed
The invention, a disclosed and incorporated in the
cold water, pour-in brewer 5; may be incorporated in the
dual-type (autom~tic/pour-in~ brewer such as disclosed in
the above-mentioned Canadian Patent Application No. 437,146.
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