Foods and beverages: apparatus – Beverage – Infusors
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-30
2001-02-06
Alexander, Reginald L. (Department: 1761)
Foods and beverages: apparatus
Beverage
Infusors
C099S295000, C099S30200C
Reexamination Certificate
active
06182554
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to brewers for brewing hot beverages from extracts contained in hermetically sealed disposable cartridges of the type described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,840,189 entitled “Beverage Filter Cartridge”, assigned of record to the assignee of the present invention, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference. As disclosed in this patent, the cartridge is placed in a cup shaped housing which is then closed by a vertically adjustable lid. The lid and housing are provided respectively with upper and lower apertured probes which pierce the top and bottom of the cartridge to establish a liquid flow path therethrough during the brewing cycle. At the completion of the brewing cycle, the lid is raised, and the spent cartridge is manually removed and discarded. Removal is sometimes hindered by the lower probe which has a tendency to remain lodged in the bottom of the cartridge.
The present invention improves on the foregoing by providing a mechanism for automatically dislodging and discharging the spent cartridge from the brewer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Briefly, the cup shaped holder is internally provided with an ejection mechanism which serves to automatically dislodge a spent beverage cartridge from an upwardly extending piercing member when the lid is opened at the end of a brewing cycle. In addition, the holder is mounted on externally protruding trunnions for pivotal movement between a ready position and a beverage brewing position. The lid as a dependency arm that coacts with a pawl on the holder trunnions to automatically manipulate the holder between its upright and inclined positions. During the transition from the brewing position to the ready position the arm engages the pawl causing the cartridge to be discharged from the holder.
In one embodiment, the holder comprises a base surface that includes a base opening coaxial with the upwardly extending hollow piercing member secured to the base surface, and a slidable cartridge platform having a bore formed therein coaxial with the upwardly extending piercing member to allow the hollow piercing member to extend through the slidable cartridge platform. The holder also includes a cartridge ejection arm having a first axial end connected with the slidable cartridge platform and a second axial end, and a sidewall extending axially from the base surface and including an interior surface that defines a chamber sized to receive the cartridge. The interior surface includes a guide channel that engages the cartridge ejection arm allowing the slidable cartridge platform to axially move within the chamber. A resilient member is located between the base surface and the slidable cartridge platform. When the cartridge is placed into the holder, a radially outwardly protruding lip of the cartridge rests on the second axial end of the cartridge ejection arm, and when a axial positioning force is applied to the radially outwardly protruding lip, the slidable cartridge platform moves downward causing the hollow piercing member to extend through the bore and pierce a bottom surface of the cartridge to provide an exit flow path for a brewed beverage through the base opening.
The resilient member is preferably a spring of sufficient size, such that, when the axial positioning force is removed, the resilient member causes the cartridge to withdraw from the hollow piercing member. The sidewall may shaped cylindrically or as a truncated cone.
To discharge the cartridge from the holder, the sidewall includes an exterior surface that comprises a pair of radially outwardly extending trunnions that pivotally support the holder. In addition, the holder may include a first pawl attached to the sidewall, wherein the first pawl is engaged to cause the cartridge holder to quickly pivot about the pair of radially outwardly extending trunnions and discharge the cartridge from the chamber.
The cartridge holder cooperates with an axially moveable lid, which is drivenly manipulated between the ready position and the beverage brewing position. In the ready position the axially moveable lid is located a spaced distance above the holder. In the beverage brewing position the lid applies the axial positioning force to the radially downwardly protruding lip of the cartridge, causing the hollow piercing member to penetrate the bottom surface of the cartridge. The lid includes an axially downward projecting apertured probe that pierces a cover of the cartridge to establish an entry flow path for liquid (e.g., hot water) into the cartridge.
The lid cooperates with at a least one downwardly projecting pivot positioning arm that controls the orientation of the cartridge holder about the radially outwardly extending trunnions that pivotally support the holder. The downwardly projecting pivot positioning arm engages the first pawl to cause the cartridge holder to pivot about the pair of radially outwardly extending trunnions and discharge the cartridge from the chamber.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in light of the following detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
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Stan McLean, VKI Technologies; Mechanical Desktop application: Zuma Brewer; World Wide Web, www.autodesk.com/prodsol/mech/spotlite/zuma3.htm.
Beaulieu Roderick H.
Focht Kenneth A.
Kwo Jennie
Sweeney Richard P.
Sylvan John E.
Alexander Reginald L.
Keurig, Inc.
Samuels , Gauthier & Stevens, LLP
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