Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02341071 2007-04-10
Description
Title
= Dual Electric Coffee/Tea Making Device
Technical Field
= This invention relates to coffee/tea making devices, more
particularly to an electric coffee/tea making device.
Background Art
= There are many instances where it would be desirable to be
able to prepare coffee and tea in a single machine.
= A number of patents disclose electric coffee/tea making
devices for making coffee and/or tea.
= Canadian Patent 2 058 854 discloses "HOT/ICED BEVERAGE MAKER
AND METHOD". This prior art has an on/off flow control for
steep/serve, but does not have 2 carafes to make coffee
and/or tea.
= U.S. Patent 3 808 961 discloses "MACHINE FOR THE PREPARATION
OF DRINKS". This prior art has two carafes, but does not have
a filter assembly with volumetric capacity substantially
equal to that of the carafe in order to steep tea.
= U.S. Patent 5 916 351 and U.S. Patent 6 029 562 discloses
"Modular beverage brewing system with interlocking assembly".
This prior art has multiple modules each of which can be used
for either coffee or tea, but each module requires a separate
cold water reservoir, a separate control panel, a separate
electric heating element, etc.
= These prior art arrangements do not have two carafes and
separate variable flow control of coffee/tea liquid in order
to make one of the following combinations in the two carafes:
coffee and coffee, coffee and tea, tea and tea.
Description of the Invention
= It is a primary object of the invention to provide an
electric coffee/tea making device having two carafes, one
water reservoir and one control assembly.
= It is another object of the invention to provide an electric
coffee/tea making device having variable flow control of
coffee/tea liquid in order to make one of the following
combinations in two carafes: coffee and coffee, coffee and
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tea, tea and tea.
= It is another object of the invention to provide an electric
coffee/tea making device having a hot liquid valve which
discharges coffee/tea liquid into the carafe in laminar flow.
= An electric coffee/tea making device comprises two carafes, a
casing having two side-by-side chambers, a cold water
reservoir, two filter assemblies, and a control assembly.
Each filter assembly has volumetric capacity substantially
equal to that of the carafe. Each filter assembly comprises a
brewing vessel for mixing hot water and coffee/tea
particulate, and a hot liquid valve for variably controlling
the flow rate of coffee/tea liquid into the carafe.
Horizontal movements of the arm of the hot liquid valve of
each filter assembly is capable of variably setting the flow
rate of coffee/tea liquid into the carafe in order to vary
the steeping time and thus the strength of coffee/tea so that
the electric coffee/tea making device can make one of the
following combinations in the two carafes: coffee and coffee,
coffee and tea, tea and tea.
Brief Description of the Figures in the Drawings
= In drawings which illustrate embodiments of the invention:
o Figure 1 marked "Prior Art" is a perspective view of a
conventional electric coffee/tea making device;
o Figure 2 is a perspective view of one embodiment of an
electric coffee/tea making device according to the
invention;
o Figure 3 is an expanded sectional view of the invention
along line I-I of Figure 2;
o Figure 4 is an expanded sectional view of the invention
along line II-II of Figure 2 at a closed position; and
o Figure 5 is an expanded sectional view of the invention
along line ii-iI of Figure 2 at an open position.
Modes for Carrying Out the Invention
= One conventional electric coffee making device shown in
Figure 1 marked "Prior Art" comprises a carafe 1-0 for
holding coffee liquid, a casing 2-0 having one chamber, a
cold water reservoir 3-0 for receiving an amount of cold
water, a filter assembly 4-0, and a control assembly 5-0.
= The casing 2-0 has one chamber, capable of receiving only one
carafe 1-0.
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= In one embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 2, an
electric coffee/tea making device comprises two carafes 1-0
for holding coffee/tea liquid, a casing 2-0 having two side-
by-side chambers, a cold water reservoir 3-0 for receiving an
amount of cold water, two filter assemblies 4-0, and a
control assembly 5-0.
= Each carafe 1-0 comprises a concave lid 1-1. The concave lid
1-1 has portions defining a centre aperture 1-2.
= The carafe 1-0 may be a thermally insulated container.
= The casing 2-0 has an upper portion, a lower portion, and a
bottom portion. Each chamber is capable of receiving one
carafe 1-0 at the lower portion. The bottom portion of the
casing 2-0 comprises an electric warmer plate 2-1 for keeping
coffee/tea liquid in the carafe 1-0 warm.
= The cold water reservoir 3-0 has volumetric capacity
substantially equal to that of the carafe 1-0. The cold water
reservoir 3-0 is mounted on the casing 2-0.
= Preferably, the cold water reservoir 3-0 is removable from
the casing 2-0.
= The cold water reservoir 3-0 may be mounted between the two
chambers of the casing 2-0 as shown in Figure 2, or behind
the two chambers of the casing 2-0.
= Each filter assembly 4-0 has volumetric capacity
substantially equal to the total volumetric capacity of the
two carafes 1-0. Each filter assembly 4-0 is mounted on the
upper portion of the casing 2-0. Each filter assembly 4-0
comprises a brewing vessel 4-A for mixing hot water and
coffee/tea particulate, and a hot liquid valve 4-B for
variably controlling the flow rate of coffee/tea liquid into
the carafe 1-0.
= Figure 3 is an expanded sectional view of the filter assembly
4-0 along line I-I of Figure 2. Figure 4 is an expanded
sectional view of the filter assembly 4-0 at a closed
position along line II-II of Figure 2, and Figure 5 is an
expanded sectional view of the filter assembly 4-0 at an open
position along line II-II of Figure 2.
= The brewing vessel of the filter assembly 4-0 has an open top
portion 4-1, a cylindrical middle portion 4-2 and a conical
bottom portion 4-3. The cylindrical middle portion 4-2 has
threads. The conical bottom portion 4-3 has a plurality of
equicentric openings in order to discharge coffee/tea liquid
by gravity.
= The brewing vessel of the filter assembly 4-0 is capable of
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receiving a pre-packaged coffee bag or a pre-packaged tea
bag. Alternatively, the brewing vessel of the filter assembly
4-0 may receive a combination of a disposable paper filter
and coffee particulate, or a combination of a disposable
paper filter and tea particulate.
= The hot liquid valve of the filter assembly 4-0 has a
cylindrical top portion 4-4 and a conical bottom portion 4-5.
The cylindrical top portion 4-4 has threads in order to
sealably engage with the cylindrical middle portion 4-2 of
the brewing vessel in screw motion. The cylindrical top
portion 4-4 integrally forms an arm 4-6. The conical bottom
portion 4-5 has a central aperture in order to discharge
coffee/tea liquid into the central aperture of the concave
lid of the carafe 1-0 in laminar flow. The hot liquid valve
is rotatably mounted around the cylindrical middle portion 4-
2 of the brewing vessel forming a nozzle.
= Preferably, the filter assembly 4-0 is removable from the
casing 2-0. The filter assembly 4-0 may be generally dome-
shaped.
= The filter assembly 4-0 may further comprise a permanent mesh
filter. The permanent mesh filter may be removable from the
filter assembly 4-0.
= The filter assembly 4-0 may further comprise an interrupt
valve for temporarily stopping the discharge flow at the
central aperture of the hot liquid valve of the filter
assembly 4-0 in order to provide a so-called "Pause & Save"
or "Pause & Pour" feature.
= The control assembly 5-0 is securely housed in the casing 2-
0. The control assembly 5-0 comprises means for providing
fluid communication between the cold water reservoir 3-0 and
the two filter assemblies 4-0, a cold water valve 5-1 for
directing the cold water to one of the two specified filter
assemblies 4-0, an electric heater element 5-3 for
transforming cold water into hot water, and two on/off
switches 5-2.
= The cold water valve 5-1 of the control assembly 5-0 is
securely attached to the means for providing fluid
communication. Preferably, a visual sign is provided in order
to indicate the direction of the cold water flow.
= The electric heater element of the control assembly 5-0 is
securely attached to the means for providing fluid
communication.
= Each on/off switches 5-2 of the control assembly 5-0 is
electrically connected to the electric warmer plate 2-1 and
to the electric heater element 5-3.
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= The control assembly 5-0 may further comprise a clock/timer
unit for turning on/off the electric coffee/tea making device
at a specified time.
= Horizontal movements of the arm 4-6 of the hot liquid valve
of each filter assembly 4-0 is capable of variably setting
the flow rate of coffee/tea liquid into the carafe 1-0 in
order to vary the steeping time and thus the strength of
coffee/tea so that the electric coffee/tea making device can
make one of the following combinations in the two carafes:
coffee and coffee, coffee and tea, tea and tea.
= The flow rate control setting may include "Off", "Strong
Tea", "Medium Tea", "Weak Tea", "Coffee", etc.
