Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02517659 2005-08-30
DEVICE AND METHOD FOR REDUCING CARAFE SPLASHING
CROSS-REFERENCE
[0001] This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No.
60/605,964 filed August 31, 2004. The disclosure set forth in the referenced
provisional application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety,
including all
information as originally submitted to the United States Patent and Trademark
Office.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Brewed beverage, such as, for example, coffee, in a carafe or a pot is
subject
to sloshing in the carafe. Typically, a brewed beverage, such as coffee, is
served from
a dispenser such as a carafe or a brewing pot. Depending on the amount of the
beverage, the size and shape of the carafe and the amount of empty space in
the carafe,
sloshing of the beverage may occur. It is desirable to prevent or reduce such
sloshing
to minimize spilling and the associated mess.
[0003] Disclosed are structural and design characteristics of certain parts
for use with
a carafe or a brewing pot, such that the sloshing of the brewed beverage is
reduced
without substantially interfering with the brewing or the dispensing
processes.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] The drawings are provided to illustrate some of the embodiments of the
disclosure. It is envisioned that alternate configurations of the embodiments
of the
present disclosure maybe adopted without deviating from the disclosure as
illustrated
in these drawings.
[0005] Fig. 1 is a top view of a splash reducing device;
[0006] Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the splash reducing device ;
[0007] Fig. 3 is a side view of the splash reducing device;
[0008] Fig. 4 is a front view of the splash reducing device;
[0009] Fig. 5 is a side cross-sectional view of the splash reducing device
positioned
within a carafe; and
[00010] Fig. 6. is a perspective view of a device having another embodiment of
a grip
extending from a body portion of the device.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
(00011] While the present disclosure may be susceptible to embodiments in
different
forms, there is shown in the drawings, and herein will be described in detail,
embodiments with the understanding that the present description is to be
considered an
exemplification of the principles of the disclosure and is not intended to be
exhaustive
or to limit the disclosure to the details of construction and the arrangements
of
components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the
drawings.
[00012] The present disclosure relates to a device for reducing splashing in a
beverage
dispenser or server such as, for example, a carafe. The beverage may be a
brewed
beverage such as, for example, coffee. The splash reducing device 10
(hereinafter "the
device") has a body 11 defining a wall or structure 14 which is shown as a
curved
structure that is positioned or secured removably within a mouth or a neck of
a server
12 (Figs. 1-5). The body 11 is a radial asymmetric structure to help
facilitate orienting
the device in the server. The device 10 has a dispensing end 18 and a grip 22
extending from the body 11. The grip 22 is positioned away from surfaces of
the
channel 28 that contact beverage (Fig. 1 ). The wall 14 of the device 10
defines a
channel 28 that permits passage therethrough of a liquid beverage. The channel
28
includes a mouth 29 at one end and a port 31 spaced from the mouth 29. The
mouth
29 has a cross-sectional area which is greater than the cross-sectional area
of the port
31. The device is sized and dimensioned for positioning in a neck 68 of a
beverage
server 12. The device can also be sized and dimensioned for positioning over
an
opening in a beverage server 12. The device 10 can be sold separately to fit
into
beverage servers 12 that don't have the device or may be sold with servers.
[00013] The server 12 is shown as a type having a container portion 33 with an
extending neck 68 having a mouth 66 defining an opening through which beverage
passes. As shown the device is retainable in the neck 68 of the server 12 with
the
channel 28 communicating with the volume 35 defined by the container portion
33 of
the server 12. The device 10 also defines at least two non-tortuous chimney
passages
37, 39 which are generally axially aligned with a central axis 41 of the neck.
The
chimney passages facilitate the flow of heat energy off of the beverage in the
server to
help maintain a desired temperature. As shown, the chimney passages 37, 39 are
not
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covered to facilitate upward flow of heat energy but are directed in such a
manner so
as to deflect and redirect any beverage splashing in the container.
[00014] The dispensing end 18 of the device 10 defines a pouring passage 19
which
includes a lip 30 shown in the Figures as a curvilinear or an arched lip that
extends
upward and outward from the curved wall 14 (Fig. 2). The pouring passage 19 is
spaced apart from the channel 28. As illustrated, the pouring passage 19 is
spaced on
the opposite side of the wall I4 from the channel 28. A vertical member 34
extends
below the arched lip 30 to form a contiguous baffle with the carafe 12. The
vertical
member 34 may be curved to engage the carafe 12. The lip 30 and the vertical
member
34 define a pouring spout or a dispensing passage 35 and fits towards a
pouring edge
70 of the carafe 12 (Fig. 5). The lip 30 and the vertical member 34 of the
device 10 are
positioned within the mouth 66 of the carafe 12 such that a dispensing passage
3S is
present to enable passage therethrough of a liquid beverage (See Fig. 5 and
the
description below herein). The lip 30 may extend fully or partially into the
pouring
edge 70 of the carafe 12. The size and shape of the lip 30 may have other
suitable
configurations to engage the device 10 with the pouring edge 70 of the carafe
12. The
curved wall 14 has a vertical support leg 38 with a finger or beveled bottom
42 (Fig.
2). There may be two support legs 38 on either side of the curved wall I4
(Fig. 4). The
size and shape of the lip 30, the vertical member 34, and the support legs 38
are
appropriately configured to provide a snap-fit or an interference fit and a
suitably tight
retaining grip within the carafe 12 or a brewing pot of various sizes.
[00015] The lip 30 forms a passage 35 which facilitates the updrafting or
"chimney
effect" of heat rising from the coffee retained in the carafe 12. This helps
to prevent
the accumulation of heat within the carafe. It is believed that other devices
may block
the chimneying effect by covering the passage. Such prior art devices actually
cause
the heat in the carafe to escalate thereby increasing the heat in the beverage
and
possibly decreasing the hold time of the beverage.
[00016] The channel 28 of the device I 0, defined by an upper rim structure 54
also
defining the mount 29, a first well or middle conical structure 58 and a
second well or
lower conical structure 62 forms a frusto-conical or a funnel shaped interior,
narrows
downward towards an opening 26 at an angle (Fig. 3). The angled narrow opening
26
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towards the liquid in the carafe 12 creates an interference or baffle, which
reduces
splashing, in part due to a reduced volume of liquid that may enter the
opening 26 (See
Fig. 5).
[00017] The funnel shaped interior surface, defined by the channel 28 of the
device 10
deflects and redirects some of the sloshing liquid back into the carafe 12. A
larger
opening or mouth 56 defined by the upper annular rim structure 54 permits flow
of the
brewed beverage into the carafe from a brewer or a similar device. The larger
mouth
56 also aids in easy transferring of the beverage from another container into
the carafe
12. The enlarged well or channel defined by wells 58 and 62 provide a large
volume
well for receiving coffee, whether it is from a brewer or another server. It
is believed
that some prior art devices may provide a much smaller volume well which could
result in overflowing of the well should there be any form of obstruction in
the
opening 26 or upon high volume transfer into the carafe through the well.
[00018] The curved lip 30 and the vertical member 34 of the device 10 fits
within a
mouth 66 of the carafe 12 and against a neck 68 and towards the pouring edge
70 of
the carafe or the brewing pot (Fig. 5). The annular rim structure 54 along
with the
arched lip 30, the vertical member 34, and the support legs 38 engage the
device 10
within the carafe 12 from being dislodged or loosened or removed during
dispensing
or pouring the beverage. The opening 26 of the device 10, the length and width
of the
vertical member 34 and the angle of the funnel-shaped interior defining the
channel 28
can be suitably adjusted to accommodate carafes or dispensers of various
sizes. the
support legs 38 define one form of retainer 43. The leg 38 of the retainer 43
extends
from the body 11 with finger 42 extending from the leg. The retainer 43 is
flexible for
providing an interference fit with an inside surface of the neck 68 of the
server 12.
The retainer may even extend into the container 33 with the finger 42
contacting the
inside surface of the container 33. The retainer 43 helps removably retain the
device
on the server 12.
[00019] The annular rim structure 54 and the lip 30 along with the vertical
member 34
may provide sufficient engagement within the server 12, thus eliminating the
need for
any vertical support legs 38. In an embodiment, the vertical member 34 may
extend
below to a sufficient depth within the server 12 depending upon the length of
the neck
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68 of the server 12. The vertical member 34 may aid in reflecting and
redirecting some
of the splashed liquid beverage back into the server 12 that other wise may
escape
through the channel 28 of the device 10.
[00020] The gripping end 22 of the device 10 may have a grip 46 that extends
from a
base 50 of the curved wall 14 (Figs. 1-3). The grip 46 may be in the shape of
a flange
or a longitudinal protrusion that enables easy handling and removal or lifting
the
device 10 out of the carafe 12 for cleaning, maintenance or for any other
purposes.
The grip 46 allows a user to hold the device 10 without reaching into or
touching
directly or near the food contact surfaces. The grip 46 may also have an
indicia
imprinted on its outer surface or have a provision for engraving or attaching
a
desirable indicia by a user. In an embodiment, the grip 46 may also have by
way of
example and not limitation a suitable gripping surface such as a suitable
rubber
coating, a rough, ribbed, serrated grooved outer surface for an adequate grip
by an user
to lift the device 10 out of the carafe 12 or to place or adjust the device 10
on the
carafe 12 without being interfered by a handle 74 of the carafe 12. The grip
46 may
have other suitable configurations that provide a means for lifting or
adjusting the
device 10 within the carafe 12. In an embodiment shown in Fig. 6, the grip 46
may
protrude contiguously from the base curved wall 14, the curvature of grip 46
may be
congruent with the curvature of the curved wall 14. In this embodiment, the
grip 46
provides an additional feature of creating a further barrier for splashing
upon dispense
of liquid from a carafe. Also, the larger gripping surface conveniently places
the grip
completely outside of any food contact areas.
[00021] The vertical member 34 and the vertical support legs 38 may extend
below as
much as the channel 28, which extends from the upper annular rim structure 54
to the
lower conical structure 62. In another embodiment, the vertical member 34 and
the
vertical support legs 38 may extend below to a length that is longer than the
channel
28, such as, for example, to engage a longer neck 68 of the carafe 12. In
another
embodiment, the vertical member 34 and the vertical support legs 38 may be
shorter
than the length of the channel 28 or shorter than the length of the neck 68 of
the carafe
12. In an embodiment, the vertical member 34 and the vertical support legs 38
may not
all extend to a uniform length below the curved wall 14. The support legs 38
may
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extend below the curved wall 14 to greater depth than the vertical member 34
and vice
versa.
[00022] The channel 28 defined by the upper annular rim structure 54, the
middle
conical structure 58 and the lower conical structure 62 may be suitably
adjusted to
form a smooth continuous frusto-conical or a funnel shaped interior, wherein
the upper
annular rim structure S0, the middle conical structure 58 and the lower
conical
structure 62 forms a single continuous frusto-conical or a funnel shaped
interior such
that the channel 28 of the device 10 narrows downward towards the opening 26
at an
angle.
[00023] The device 10 relates to a splash reducing device made of an injection
molded
plastic or other suitable materials made by other standard processes. A
suitable
material may have desirable characteristics such as food safety, ease of
cleaning, stain
resistance, heat resistance, shear resistance, and capable of handling
ordinary
beverages. The device 10 can be sized and dimensioned for being retro-fitted
to an
existing carafe 12 or the carafe 12 can be manufactured with a pre-installed
device 10.
The device 10 may be removable to enable easy cleaning and maintenance of the
device 10 and the carafe 12. The device 10 can also be modified to fit the
carafe 12 as
a lid that also acts as a splash-reducing device. For example, a screw-top lid
for the
carafe 12 may be suitably configured such that the lid has a frusto-conical
interior
wherein the channel 28 narrows downward towards the liquid at an angle. The
support
legs 38 and the vertical member 34 may not be necessary if the modified lid
can be
fitted as a screw-top lid or by other means.
[00024] By way of operation, during a brewing process or a transferring
process (See
Fig. 5), a liquid 90 enters the channel 28 through the void 56 defined by the
upper
annular rim structure 54 and flows downward through the middle conical
structure 58,
the lower conical structure 62 and flows or drips out of the device 10 through
the
opening 26 into the carafe 12. The funnel-shaped or the frusto-conical
structure of the
device 10 permits the liquid 90 to flow down the device 10 at an adequate flow
rate
without substantial stagnation or other impediments. During dispensing or by
any
other movement, some of the liquid 90 that sloshes is redirected or reflected
back into
the carafe 12 by the conical or the frusto-conical interior channel 28 of the
device 10.
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The vertical member 34 also redirects or reflects a part of the liquid 90 that
may splash
or slosh within the carafe 12. During dispensing, the liquid enters the
dispensing
passage 35 and flows outward through the dispensing channel 72 in the carafe
12. The
dispensing passage 35 and the dispensing channel 72 are of sufficient
dimensions to
permit dispensing of the liquid at a desirable dispensing flow rate.
[00025] During dispensing, when the carafe 12 is tilted, the angled frusto-
conical
shaped interior channel 28 acts as a barrier to the liquid 90 that sloshes or
otherwise
tries to escape through the device 10 (Fig. 5). When the carafe 12 is tilted
at an angle,
for example, 60° to the horizontal, the outer angled surface 76, the
inner surface
defining the channel 28, and the vertical member 34 act as barriers to the
liquid 90 that
sloshes or otherwise may escape through the device 10. The slope of the outer
angled
surface may vary depending upon the desired downward flow rate of the liquid
90 and
the dispensing flow rate. For example, the outer angled surface may have an
angle "a"
94 of about 20° to about 80° with respect to the vertical member
34 of the device 10
(See Fig. 5). The liquid 90, during dispensing, is reflected or deflected off
of the outer
angled surface 76 and the inner surface defining the channel 28 and flows back
into
the carafe 12. The liquid 90 is retained within the carafe 12 from sloshing
out and is
permitted to be dispensed through the dispensing passage 35 and the dispensing
channel 72 (Fig. 5). In other words, the liquid 90 is held or retained by the
device 10
within the carafe 12 as in a reservoir and is allowed to be dispensed through
the
dispensing channel 72 within the pouring edge 70 of the carafe 12.
[00026] It is envisioned that a reduction in the downward flow rate during a
brewing
process or a transferring process due to the device 10, if undesirable, may be
adjusted
by increasing the size of the opening 26 of the device 10 or by adjusting the
angle of
the frusto-conical interior defined by the channel 28. In this regard, a
larger opening
26 or a less steep channel 28 may increase the flow rate of the liquid if
necessary. If an
increase in the downward flow rate of the liquid alter the splash-reducing
capability of
the device 10, appropriate reduction in the size of the opening 26 or an
increase in the
angle of the channel 28 may be implemented, such that there is an appropriate
balance
between the downward or dispensing flow rate and the splash reduction. The
dispensing flow rate through the dispensing channel 72 may be adjusted by
adjusting
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the area of the dispensing passage 35, or by adjusting the area of the
dispensing
channel 72, or by adjusting the length of the vertical member 34.
[00027] By preventing or minimizing sloshing of the beverage during dispensing
or due
to any other movement, the device 10 minimizes general inconvenience to the
user
without substantially interfering with the brewing or the transferring
process.
[00028] While this disclosure has been described as having exemplary
embodiments,
this application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations
using the
general principles set forth herein. It is envisioned that those skilled in
the art may
devise various modifications and equivalents without departing from the spirit
and
scope of the disclosure as recited in the features, elements, steps, or
combinations
thereof. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from
the present
disclosure as come within the known or customary practice within the art to
which it
pertains.
_g_
