Patent ID: 6302307
Filing Date: 2001-10-16
Classification: A47G

Abstract:
A coffee system, comprising:a coffee pot comprising:a coffee container for holding liquid coffee, said coffee container having an interior portion in which said liquid coffee may be contained;a pouring spout associated with said coffee container; anda movable member associated with said coffee container, said movable member being movable between a closed position in which substantially no vapor may escape from said interior portion of said coffee container to the atmosphere and an open position in which liquid coffee can be poured into said coffee container from a location outside of said coffee container;a coffee pot heating unit comprising:a base;a first circular heating area associated with said base, said first heating area having a size sufficient to accommodate a bottom portion of said coffee container, said first heating area having a circular lip with a raised elevation so as to retain said coffee container over said first heating area;a first heating element associated with said first heating area to heat said first heating area, said first heating element having an electrical resistance such that said first heating element generates no greater than about 80 watts of electrical power when said heating unit is connected to a 120-volt electrical power source; anda first switch associated with said first heating element that selectively interrupts current flow through said first heating element so as to allow said first heating element to be turned on and off;a second circular heating area associated with said base, said second heating area having a size sufficient to accommodate a bottom portion of said coffee container, said second heating area having a circular lip with a raised elevation so as to retain said coffee container over said second heating area;a second heating element associated with said second heating area to heat said second heating area, said second heating element having an electrical resistance such that said second heating element generates no greater than about 80 watts of electrical power when said heating unit is connected to a 120-volt electrical power source; anda second switch associated with said second heating element that selectively interrupts current flow through said second heating element so as to allow said second heating element to be turned on and off; anda coffee brewing system operatively associated with said coffee pot heating unit, said coffee brewing system having a coffee discharge opening through which freshly brewed coffee may pass, said coffee discharge opening being aligned with one of said heating areas so that, when said coffee pot is placed on said one heating area, freshly brewed coffee may pass through said coffee discharge opening and into said coffee pot.