Patent ID: 6101924
Filing Date: 2000-08-15
Classification: A47J

Abstract:
In a coffee maker having a water reservoir, an automatic drip heater assembly communicating with said reservoir, and a vertically-extending hot water delivery tube disposed within said reservoir and carrying heated water from said heater assembly to a filter basket, the improvement comprising a valve assembly intermediate said water delivery tube and said filter basket, said valve assembly comprising:a valve body element extending along a vertical axis and having an inlet connected to said hot water delivery tube, a vertically-extending, water supply port communicating with said inlet, and a water return port opening to said water reservoir; anda valve closure element disposed within said valve body and rotatable about said vertical axis, said valve closure element having an axially-extending water delivery passageway and defining a bypass passageway, and being rotatable between a first position wherein said water delivery passageway is aligned with and overlies said water supply port and a second position wherein said water delivery passageway is not aligned with said water supply port and said bypass passageway overlies said water return port, whereby heated water from said hot water delivery tube passing through said water-receiving port when said valve closure element is in said second position passes through said bypass passageway and back into said water reservoir through said water return port.