Abstract:
An arrangement for a coffee machine includes a filter holder adapted to receive a filter to be filled with ground coffee. The filter holder includes an outlet below which a container to be filled with coffee may be positioned. A bracket is arranged on the coffee machine. The bracket and coffee holder are constructed so that the filter holder is removably attached to the bracket. A locking mechanism is attached to the bracket to lock the filter holder in a locked position when the container to be filled with coffee is arranged below the outlet.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the priority of German Patent Application DE 20 2012 103 158.2, filed on Aug. 21, 2012, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a coffee machine, comprising a filter holder into which can be inserted a filter bag to be filled with ground coffee, as well as to a bracket for attaching said filter holder thereto, in such a way that it can be detached again, wherein a container that can be filled with coffee is arranged below an outlet of the filter holder in the position where the filter holder is locked in place. 
         [0003]    Known are coffee machines where a brewing unit feeds hot water into a filter holder with therein arranged filter paper insert that is filled with ground coffee. An outlet is provided on the bottom of the filter holder which allows the brewed coffee to flow into a container which is arranged below the filter holder. In most cases, the filter holder can be inserted into a guide that is arranged on an upper edge of the filter holder. To replace the filter bag, the filter holder must first be removed from hot water supply region and can then be moved around freely for disposing of the used filter paper insert. This action is considered cumbersome since numerous steps are required for taking out the filter holder. The problem furthermore exists that the filter holder must be positioned in a defined position above the container, so as to ensure that the container is arranged below the outlet. The container must be positioned precisely, relative to the filter holder, in particular if a closable valve is provided on the outlet. Numerous coffee machines do not offer the security of preventing an incorrect positioning of the filter holder. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    It is therefore the object of the present invention to create a coffee machine which permits an easy removal and insertion of the filter holder and furthermore also ensures a precise positioning of this holder. 
         [0005]    The above and other objects are accomplished according to the invention, wherein in one embodiment there is provided an arrangement for a coffee machine, comprising: a filter holder adapted to receive a filter to be filled with ground coffee, the filter holder including an outlet below which a container to be filled with coffee is positionable; a bracket arranged on the coffee machine, the bracket and coffee holder being constructed so that the filter holder is removably attached to the bracket; and a locking mechanism attached to the bracket to lock the filter holder in a locked position when the container to be filled with coffee is arranged below the outlet. 
         [0006]    Thus, by virtue of the locking mechanism assures a precise positioning of the filter holder in the bracket, wherein the filter holder can be pulled of easily during the unlocking of the locking mechanism, thereby facilitating assembly and dismantling operations. 
         [0007]    According to one embodiment of the invention, the filter holder in the locked-in position may be secured against being pulled from the holder. This avoids incorrect activations and prevents an undesirable movement of the filter holder during the brewing operation. To unlock the filter holder, an activation element can be provided which is operated by the user during a dismantling operation. 
         [0008]    The locking mechanism may include at least one movable latch which can be locked in place on the bracket. The at least one latch in this case can be pre-tensioned via a spring into the locked position, so that the latch can be locked in place easily when the filter holder is installed on the bracket. Two latches can also be provided which are pre-tensioned in opposite directions via the spring, to obtain a secure locking in place of the filter holder on the bracket. 
         [0009]    For an easy activation, the filter holder may include a handle with a thereon arranged activation element. As a result, an activation with one hand is possible, wherein the filter holder may be gripped with one hand and the activation element may be simultaneously activated. In this way, the user can remove the filter holder with one hand from the coffee machine and can also install it again in this way, for example by inserting it in horizontal direction. 
         [0010]    According to a different embodiment of the invention, the bracket for the filter holder may be arranged in the lower region of the filter holder, adjacent to the outlet. A particularly precise positioning can thus be achieved since the bracket adjacent to the output ensures a high functional safety for the filter holder, especially when a valve is used at the outlet. The bracket for the filter holder could also be provided at an upper edge of the filter holder, wherein the arrangement at the lower edge of the filter holder ensures an extremely compact configuration. In the latter case, the bracket can be embodied as a holding bar which essentially projects horizontally from a body of the coffee machine. This holding bar can comprise a V-shaped receptacle, designed to accommodate a projection on the filter holder, wherein the filter holder can be inserted into the V-shaped receptacle while locking it into place with the locking or locking mechanism. 
         [0011]    The filter holder may include a projecting edge along the bottom which can be placed onto a flat surface, so the filter holder may remain standing. The edge in that case projects from the underside of the filter holder so that the filter holder can be put down, thereby simplifying the handling. In addition, the locking mechanism can be arranged within this edge, so that the locking mechanism is not visible from the outside. 
         [0012]    To configure the locking mechanism with only a few components, the activation element may be embodied integrally with at least one latch, wherein this latch can be positioned pivoting on the filter holder. The activation element can be connected via one or several bendable webs to the at least one latch, so that during a displacement of the activation element, the latch is correspondingly released from the locking position. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    The invention is explained in further detail in the following, with the aid of an exemplary embodiment and with reference to the enclosed drawings, wherein these show in: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  A view from the side of a coffee machine according to the invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  An enlarged view of the filter holder for the coffee machine according to  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  A perspective view of the locking mechanism for the filter holder according to  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  A perspective view from below of the filter holder in the fully assembled position; 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  A view from below of the filter holder without a locking mechanism during the assembly; 
           [0019]      FIGS. 6 &amp; 7  Two views of the locking mechanism for the filter holder, showing different positions; and 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  A detailed view of the locking mechanism for the filter holder. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0021]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a coffee machine  1  that comprises a water reservoir  2  arranged on a unit  3 , provided with a control unit and a heating unit for heating the water, as well as a pump and the respective switches, wherein this unit  3  is arranged on a base plate  4 . 
         [0022]    On the top of the coffee machine  1 , a horizontal line  5  projects through which hot water can flow into a filter holder  6 . A filter, for example a filter paper insert containing ground coffee, can be arranged inside the filter holder  6 , wherein the filter holder  6  is secured via a bracket  7  on the coffee machine  1 , so that it can be detached again. The filter holder  6  comprises a bow-shaped handle  8  with an activation element  9 . A container  10 , in particular a glass carafe, with a handle segment  11  is provided below the filter holder  6  and is positioned on a heating plate  12  on the bottom plate  4 . 
         [0023]    The filter holder  6  is shown in further detail in  FIG. 2 . One or several guide elements  13  in the form of grooves or ribs are provided on the handle  8 , so that the activation element  9  can be positioned displaceable on the handle  8 . 
         [0024]    The filter holder  6  is tapered toward the lower end in the shape of a wedge or truncated cone and comprises an outlet  14  at the lower end which can be closed off by a valve  15 . The valve  15  can be opened with the aid of a lever  16  which is pivoted when the container  10  is inserted below the filter holder  6 . 
         [0025]    Embodied on the filter holder  6  is an essentially horizontal outer filter plate  17  which is provided with an opening that serves to channel the coffee into the carafe in case of an overflow. Corresponding channeling devices and an overflow opening can be embodied for this on the outside of the filter holder  6 . The filter holder  6  is embodied flat on its underside  18  and can be placed onto a flat surface, such that it remains standing. 
         [0026]    A locking mechanism  20  is furthermore provided in the lower region of the filter holder  6 , adjacent to the outlet  14 . The locking mechanism  20  may include two latches  21  that can be locked in place on the bracket  7 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 3  shows the locking mechanism  20  together with the activation element  9 . The activation element  9  is made of plastic and may be connected integrally with the two latches  21 . The latches  21  are formed onto a lever  22  which is provided with an opening  23  for inserting a pivot pin on the filter holder  6 . The lever  22  is furthermore connected via a bendable web  24  to a plate-shaped section  25  of the activation element  9 . One or several guide elements  26  may be embodied on this activation element  9  to operate jointly with the guide elements  13  that are embodied on the handle  8 , so that the activation element  9  may be positioned displaceable on the handle  8 . 
         [0028]    The two latches  21  may be pre-stressed toward the outside via a spring  28 , wherein a slanted stop face  27  may be embodied on the outside of the latches  21 , so that the latches  21  are compressed during the insertion into the bracket  7 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 4  shows the filter holder  6  in the position where it is installed on the bracket  7 . The openings  23  are positioned to be rotatable on the filter holder  6 , and the latches  21  are pushed by the spring  28  toward the outside, so that they extend through an edge  60  on the underside of the filter holder  6 . The edge  60  converges wedge-shaped and encompasses a tip  61 , wherein the edge  60  and the tip  61  can be inserted into an essentially V-shaped receptacle on the bar-shaped bracket  7 . Furthermore visible is the valve  15  which can be activated with the aid of the lever  16 . 
         [0030]    In the locked position, the latches  21  engage in receptacles in the bracket  7 , so that the filter holder  6  is protected against being pulled from the bracket  7 . 
         [0031]    The assembly of the filter holder  6  without the locking mechanism is shown in  FIG. 5 . The bracket  7  is embodied as a holding bar, provided with an essentially V-shaped receptacle  73 , which is surrounded by two legs  70 . A receptacle  71  for accommodating a latch  21  is embodied on the inside of each leg  70 . The V-shaped receptacle  73  comprises inside walls  72  that surround an edge  60  on the underside of the filter holder  6 , as well as the tip  61 . The filter holder  6  additionally comprises a ring-shaped outer edge  62  in the lower region which extends to two webs  63  that are embodied on the underside of the handle  8 . The edge  60 , the tip  61 , the edge  62 , as well as the webs  63  are embodied such that they form a level, lower support surface for the filter holder  6 . 
         [0032]    The locking mechanism  20  of the filter holder  6  is shown in further detail in  FIGS. 6 and 7 .  FIG. 6  shows the locking mechanism in the locked position in which the spring  28  presses the latches  21  toward the outside. If the activation element  9  is pulled toward the handle  8 , the position shown in  FIG. 7  is reached. By pulling the activation element  9  toward the right side, as shown in  FIG. 7 , the webs  24  are also correspondingly displaced, thus causing the respective lever  22  to be pivoted around the axis in the opening  23 . By pivoting the levers  22 , the latches  21  are pushed counter to the force of the spring  28  toward the inside and thus are disengaged from the receptacles  71  on the bracket  7 . The filter holder  6  can then be pulled without resistance from the bracket  7  to replace a filter for the ground coffee. Following this, the filter holder  6  can again be pushed into the bracket  7 , wherein the activation element  9  can then optionally be pulled tight in order to compress the latches  21 , or the slanted stop faces  27  on the latches are made to engage in the legs  70  of the bracket  7  during the insertion of the filter holder  6  and are thus compressed. The latches  21  can then be locked in place in the receptacles  71  during the insertion of the filter holder  6 . 
         [0033]    The locked position of the latches  21  is shown in further detail in  FIG. 8 . The latches  21  are pressed via the spring  28  into the receptacles  71 , to prevent the filter holder  6  from being pulled out. Tolerances which exist of necessity can thus be compensated by providing two latches  21 . 
         [0034]    For the exemplary embodiment shown herein, two latches  21  are provided for locking in place the filter holder  6  on the bracket  7 . Of course, it is also possible to provide only one latch  21  or more than two latches  21 . The locking or unlocking of the activation element  9  can furthermore be realized through a sliding movement or by other mechanical means. In addition, several components and other different locking mechanisms can also be used. 
         [0035]    It will be understood that the above description of the present invention is susceptible to various modifications, changes and adaptations, and the same are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the appended claims.