Foods and beverages: apparatus – Beverage – Infusors
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-21
2001-08-28
Alexander, Reginald L. (Department: 1761)
Foods and beverages: apparatus
Beverage
Infusors
C099S306000, C099S323000, C426S433000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06279460
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a brewing funnel having a delay mechanism therein for prolonging the steep time of a brewed beverage within the brewing funnel prior to the brewed beverage being drained from the brewing funnel.
Generally, brewing funnels do not have any means by which to prolong the steep time of a brewed beverage therein. Commonly, water is sprayed into a brewing funnel containing a charge of brewing substance. The water is then infused with the brewing substance to create a brewed beverage. However, because there is no mechanism to control the steep time of the brewed beverage, the final product that is drained from the brewing funnel is a combination of brewed beverage with a long steep time and brewed beverage with a short steep time. This inconsistency in the infusion process provides for an inconsistent tasting brewed beverage.
Other brewing funnels which do contain means for prolonging the steep time, however, also cause other problems for the user. The delay mechanisms can be lost or damaged during the cleaning of the brewing funnel. For instance, if a delay mechanism is not securely attached to the brewing funnel, the delay mechanism may be lost in the garbage when a user bangs the brewing funnel over a receptacle to remove any unused brewing substance contained therein. The user may not realize right away that a piece of the delay mechanism was lost during this process until the next time the funnel is used, which may be too late. But, if a delay mechanism is permanently attached to the brewing funnel, the brewing funnel and delay mechanism will cause other problems in cleaning both the brewing funnel and the delay mechanism.
Reports have also surfaced that when the steep time of a brewed beverage is too short, bacteria that is contained in the brewing substance is not killed off by the infusion process. These reports have stated that as the steep time for a brewed beverage is extended, more bacteria will be killed within the brewed beverage.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to prolong the steep time of a brewed beverage prior to the brewed beverage draining from a brewing funnel.
Another object of the present invention is to prolong the steep time of the brewed beverage, thereby providing a better tasting brewed beverage.
Yet another object of the present invention is to prolong the steep time of a brewed beverage, thereby killing any bacteria that may exist within the brewed beverage.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a delay mechanism that is securely attachable to a brewing funnel so that the delay mechanism itself, or pieces thereof, will not be lost or broken when the brewing funnel is cleaned out or in use.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a delay mechanism that is detachable from a brewing funnel so that the delay mechanism, as well as the brewing funnel, can be thoroughly and separately cleaned.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a delay mechanism that has many detachable parts, thereby allowing easy cleaning of each and every piece of the delay mechanism.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a delay mechanism that will prevent a brewing substance from entering it and thereby possibly clogging the delay mechanism.
Briefly, and in accordance with the foregoing, the present invention provides a novel tea brewing funnel for prolonging the steep time of a brewed beverage. The brewing funnel has a sump in its bottom surface, as well as a drain aperture in the sump proximate to the sidewall of the brewing funnel. A delay mechanism is provided in the brewing funnel. The delay mechanism is formed of a housing having top and bottom openings and an orifice near the bottom opening. A cap is fitted over the top opening and a filter structure is fitted into the orifice. The filter structure allows brewed beverage into the housing while excluding any brewing substance. The bottom of the housing is inserted into the drain aperture so that the filter structure rests in the sump and the housing sits within the brewing funnel. A tube assembly is positioned within the housing through the drain aperture and connects to the housing, connecting the delay mechanism to the brewing funnel. When in use, brewed beverage is formed in the brewing funnel. Brewed beverage flows through the filter structure and rises in the housing at the same rate as does brewed beverage within the brewing funnel. When brewed beverage within the housing reaches a height higher than that of the tube assembly within the housing, brewed beverage enters the tube assembly and drains from the brewing funnel. Once the brewed beverage begins to drain out of the brewing funnel through the delay mechanism, most, if not all, of the brewed beverage within the brewing funnel is drained from the brewing funnel and through the delay mechanism by a siphon process.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1962165 (1934-06-01), Wilcox
patent: 1990508 (1935-02-01), Wilcox
patent: 2856844 (1958-10-01), Price
patent: 4527467 (1985-07-01), Siemensma
patent: 4642190 (1987-02-01), Zimmerman
patent: 5927179 (1999-07-01), Mordini et al.
Alexander Reginald L.
Barnes & Thornburg
Bunn-O-Matic Corporation
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