Foods and beverages: apparatus – Beverage – Infusors
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-01
2001-08-07
Alexander, Reginald L. (Department: 1761)
Foods and beverages: apparatus
Beverage
Infusors
C099S285000, C099S304000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06269735
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to coffee brewers in general. More specifically to a watertight coffee brewer enclosure with liquid detection to prevent overflowing of water from leakage within the brewer.
BACKGROUND ART
Previously, many types of enclosures have been used to protect and envelop coffee brewing apparatus however in most cases the enclosures have been constructed of sheet metal formed by bending into specific shapes. In most cases the enclosures are not watertight and do not provide any assurance of protection if a leak is encountered within the system.
A search of the prior art did not disclose any patents that read directly on the claims of the instant invention, however the following U.S. patents are considered related:
Patent Number
Inventor
Issue Date
5,875,703
Rofles
Mar. 2, 1999
5,836,236
Rofles et al.
Nov. 17, 1998
5,404,794
Patel et al.
Apr. 11, 1995
5,063,836
Patel
Nov. 12, 1991
Rofles own U.S. Pat. No. 5,875,703 teaches an improvement on a coffee brewer and hot water dispenser which permits larger capacity by the use of a bypass hot water cycle adding a predetermined volume of water to the container and supplementing the control by expanding its capabilities using multiple sequencing or the brew cycle for increasing the volume of brewed coffee. The enclosure is conventional metal components including a separate base column, housing, cover, back, plate etc. No liquid detector is included in the solid state electronic controller.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,836,236 issued to Rofles et al., in which the first named inventor is the present inventor, discloses a coffee brewer and hot water dispenser which brews both coffee and also dispensed hot water from a separate system, both housed in the same enclosure. The enclosure is the same as above being fabricated utilizing conventional sheet metal techniques which are cut in the flat and bent or joggled to form the structure then painted and finally bolted or riveted together to complete the enclosure. Again no mention is given to add a liquid detector as its use would not be practical with the type of construction taught for fabricating the enclosure.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,404,794 of Patel et al. discloses a coffee making machine having a reservoir connected to an external water supply via a valve which divides the water into separate hot and cold water tanks. Heated water from a boiler is fed into an expansion chamber and then discharged into the ground coffee through a spray head at the end of an expansion chamber. The enclosure is made of a pair of laterally spaced rectangular arms forming a base with a column located at one end which basically houses most of the operating parts of the coffee-making machine. Again no provisions are made for any leak prevention.
Patel in U.S. Pat. No. 5,063,836 teaches a coffee making machine of the type adapted to be connected to city water supply. The device includes a reservoir having a level sensor controlling a water refill valve to the reservoir and a heating element which heats the water therein. A level sensor functions to permit automatic refill of the reservoir at the appropriate level for subsequent brewing of a full pot of coffee irrespective of the water pressure and the previous route of the water. A solid state circuit board controls the operational sequence and functions of the machine. The device includes a base with a warming plate on which a coffee pot may rest and columns upon which most of the operating components are mounted. There is little more taught about the enclosure however in viewing the product protected by this patent the material is metal formed and attached together in a conventional manner. As above, no mention is made of the desirability of protecting the machine from leakage since its construction would not permit this function.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
In the past enclosures used in coffee brewers for the workplace, in both the automatic types connected to a constant water supply and those that require the manual addition of water to start the brewing process, have been contained within metallic enclosures which function well and are sturdy however they have drawbacks that allow room for improvement. One of the undesirable features is that if any water is present within the container, such as caused by a leak in the connecting piping or by splashing, it simply seeps out onto the surface on which the brewer is resting through the interface between the metal panels that make up the enclosure. It is therefore a primary object of the invention to fabricate an enclosure out of thermoplastic in one piece which is impervious to water and as such creates a reservoir in the bottom retaining any water that is present within. The invention utilizes this type of construction, formed by the rotation molding process, which produces a completely water tight surface since no joints are present that could permit the passage of water. Further the housing may still have removable panels and access openings at the appropriate locations and structure inside to mount the brewing apparatus common to this equipment.
Since the enclosure is watertight it is now possible to include another important object of the invention which is the addition of a liquid detector disposed within enclosure itself between the bottom and an arbitrary level created by the limitations set by the access opening in the back. This area becomes a sump retaining the water present and the liquid detector then senses the presence of this liquid permitting de-energizing of brewing apparatus contained within the enclosure preventing an undesirable overflowing of water. This is accomplished by the use of a pair of sensing probes that are located within the interior of the housing consisting of metallic rods distending adjacent to each enclosure side and reach almost to the bottom. An electrical signal is continually transmitted from a control module to one of the metallic rods and when water is present current is then passed through the accumulated water in the enclosure, acting as a conductor completing the electrical circuit through the remaining probe, which is also in contact with liquid, and then back to the control module. The control module sends a signal to the brewing equipment which de-energizes the inlet water supply circuit preventing overflow. The module simultaneously lights an indicator that registers this condition to the users of the brewer permitting them to remedy the immediate problem without water damage to the surrounding area which would be obviously undiscovered if the brewer was unattended.
Another object of the invention is that with this type of construction there are no seams or sharp corners making the enclosure easy to clean. Since the brewer produces a food product it is essential that the surfaces are clean and sanitary at all times which may be a problem with metallic enclosures that have inherent overlapping seams and joints where fungus and microorganisms may grow and reproduce if not cleaned properly.
Still another object of the invention is that with a molded construction the server cradle may be configured to perfectly position the server every time it is used. This advantage is realized by being able to duplicate the exact shape of the server in reverse image as the enclosure is molded from a pattern that is always uniform permitting a consistent fit for precise alignment with the brew cone above.
Yet another object of the invention is that the enclosure is now formed from a dielectric material that prevents electrical shock as the brewing apparatus utilizes electrical power that may be shorted against the inside of the enclosure. The electrical conductivity of the thermoplastic material is almost nil therefore the equipment may be used without any fear from any electrical shock anomaly.
A final object of the invention is that molded thermoplastic permits a sleek contemporary design that is appealing to the eye and improves the cosmetic appearance of a coffee brewer in an office or commercial environment. Further, the cost of production of using this typ
Alexander Reginald L.
Anderson Gordon K.
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