Patent ID: 6964222
Filing Date: 2005-11-15
Classification: A47J

Abstract:
1. A tea brew basket, in combination with a coffee maker, the coffee maker including a vertical superstructure with an overhanging sub-structure extending therefrom, water reservoir in the superstructure, a heating unit for said water, a removable carafe to hold a beverage retained beneath said overhanging sub-structure, and a water conduit for transferring heated water from said reservoir through said overhanging sub-structure to said carafe, and a basket hanger on one of said superstructure and said sub-structure, said tea brewer comprising: a tea brewer basket with a basket hanger complementary to said basket hanger on said coffee maker, said tea brewer basket adapted to be hung beneath said overhanging sub-structure to receive said heated water; a chute leading to a drop port on said tea brewer basket; a tea leaf holder shaped to fit in said chute, said tea leaf holder adapted to retain tea leaves therein; a controllable latch to release said tea leaf holder from said chute and out said drop port and into said tea brewer basket; a controllable valve at the bottom of said tea brewer basket for controlling water flow therefrom to said carafe adapted to be disposed beneath said tea brewer basket; a high water sensor and a low water sensor to detect water levels in said tea brewer basket; a temperature sensor proximate said low water sensor; a controllable air vent near a top of said tea brewer basket to vent air therefrom; a user actuatable control to select one or more controls from the group of controls including brew time and brew temperature; and a controller means, coupled to said user actuable control, said high and low water sensors, said temperature sensor, said controllable valve and said controllable latch, for monitoring water level and temperature, actuating said latch resulting in the dropping of said tea leaf holder into said tea brew basket and actuating said valve after temperature and time meet said controls.