Abstract:
An apparatus for storing both coffee in a reservoir and nested stacks of cup-shaped coffee filters, and then automatically filling individual filters with selected amounts of coffee and brewing the coffee while protecting the reservoir. Through a series of gears, an electric motor rotates an elastic projection with teeth and a disengaging curved tooth against the topmost filter in the stack, dragging it into a filter well beneath a coffee storage receptacle and then dropping it. Simultaneously, a rotating coffee dispenser fills with a selectable quantity of coffee and then dumps the coffee into the filter. The apparatus also includes a stirring device for insuring the stored coffee falls to the bottom of the coffee receptacle. A hot water dispenser operates in conjunction with a valve means for cutting off steam from the coffee reservoir.

Description:
PRIORITY 
   This patent claims priority based on provisional patent application 5,799,713 filed Dec. 16, 2004. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,799,713 to Moore, shows a mechanism for dispensing a filter into a tray in a measured amount using a coffee dispenser  42  having a single cavity  56  for measuring coffee. 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   This invention relates to coffee storage canisters and to automatic drip coffee filters, and more. particularly to an apparatus which stores coffee and coffee filters and automatically separates and fills individual filters with coffee for brewing. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Coffee storage canisters are of course well known. Further, as can be seen by reference to U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,121,726; 5,067,627; 5,097,984; and 5,197,630, the prior art is replete with devices for storing nested stacks of cup-shaped coffee filters and then individually dispensing the filters. However, none of these devices store coffee as well as filters, and then fill individual filters with coffee in preparation for brewing. 
   GENERAL DISCUSSION OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention discloses an apparatus for storing coffee and stacks of coffee filters as well as a method of dispensing these and pouring coffee through these without requirement of a person handling the coffee and filters. 
   The primary purpose of the invention is a method of dispensing a powdered or ground substance (coffee, tea, etc.) from a storage reservoir having an amount for specified numbers of use into a water receiving reservoir for the purpose of dissolving, in part, the substance while protecting the unused portion of dispensed substance powder or granulated (or flaked substance.) 
   The preferred embodiment of granulated or flaked substance is a ground coffee or tea product. 
   One aspect of the invention is to provide a mechanism to insure that a proper measure of the substance is dispensed for a particular use and in order to insure that the dispensed substance can be partially dissolved without an excessive amount of moisture reaching the un-dispensed portion in the reservoir. 
   A further concept is to allow the device to be mechanized with a minimum number of moving parts in order to insure that the user does not have physical contact with the substance after it is initially loaded into the dispenser. 
   A reservoir for containing pre-ground coffee or a reservoir for holding coffee is located above a brewing mechanism. 
   At least one measuring means is used for measuring at least one pre-specified amount of coffee located below the said reservoir. The measuring means further comprises a release means for releasing the pre-measured quantity into a final location below the measuring means through a funnel means. A blocking means is used for blocking the movement of Steam from hot water dispensed below the funnel means. A basket means is used for receiving the coffee below the funnel means and further defined as receiving a water heating dispensing means having a water dispensing means and wherein said water dispensing is a portion of the filter means preferably inside and along the perimeter of the filter holding means. 
   A vacuum means maybe present for presenting a partial vacuum or cooling the powdered substance in order to increase the lifetime. 
   Using mechanical or motor actuating mechanisms an elastic projection with a unique frictional grasping mechanism is rotated against the top most filter in a stack and pulls it then drops one filter into a place with an aligning means for holding the filter and receiving coffee and hot water to brew the coffee under the funnel means for limiting the movement of steam into the coffee reservoir. After the coffee filter is put in the appropriate location, a rotating coffee measurer and dispenser fills a coffee funnel which releases the coffee into the filter and then seals the bottom of the coffee funnel to allow hot water to go into the filter within the filter funnel without allowing the hot water from the steam into the coffee reservoir. 
   A rotating coffee dispenser (preferably a drum) selects a quantity of coffee and dumps the coffee into the top funnel. The invention may also include a stirring or vibrating device for ensuring that coffee falls to the bottom of the coffee receptacle and to ensure that the coffee is dispensed appropriately into the dispenser. 
   It is therefore one object of the invention to provide a method of preparing a dispensable substance to be diluted with water over a period of time and in particular with filter and heated water so that subsequent users need not come into physical contact with the substance or any of the ingredients to be added to it prior to the ultimate dispensing of the final product or the requirement to add additional initial powder substances. 
   A further object is to provide a mechanism for providing this which can be hand operated or mechanically operated. 
   As a further object of the invention is to provide a method for dispensing coffee or tea utilizing a mechanism which has a storage means which is gravity fed into a hot water filtered basket which is the way the steam from the hot water does not affect the outer reservoir. 
   These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become better understood hereinafter from a consideration of the specification with reference to the accompanying drawings forming part thereof, and in which like numerals correspond to parts throughout the several views of the invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective, diagrammatic view of the prior art with the external case shown only in an outline so as to view the internal components. 
       FIG. 2  is a diagrammatic sectional side view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the measuring device. 
       FIG. 4  is a side view of the invention with the enclosure removed. 
       FIG. 5  is a transparent top view of  FIG. 4  through the  5 - 5  axis showing the coffee 
       FIG. 6  shows a side view of an alternate embodiment a valve for the funnel. 
       FIG. 7  shows a bottom view of the embodiment of  FIG. 8  through the axis  7 - 7  showing the door. 
       FIG. 8  shows the view in  FIG. 6  as the door is moved to the open position along the  8 - 8  axis. 
       FIG. 9  is a cross sectional view of the filter dispense showing the functional parts as the elastic projection  84  bends against the plastic glider  88  before being released at the gap  85  between the bottom of the glider  88  and the bottom of opening  87  of the filter opening  77 . 
       FIG. 10  shows a front detailed view of the plastic glider  88  and the filter opening  77  in the holding wall  71 . 
       FIG. 11  shows a prospective view of the projection  84  against the plastic glider  88 . 
       FIG. 12  shows a side see through view of the device with the flexible spindle arm, elastic projection  84  with the serrated teeth  75  and combs  89  beginning to contact the bottom slant  81  of the stack of filters  86 . 
       FIG. 13  shows a filter being pulled out of the filter slot with the teeth behind the curved front tooth  83  beginning to release from the filter so that only the end curved front tooth  83  which functions as a releasing means  76  to push the other teeth  75  out of contact as the elastic projection  84  has straightened out and in response to the filter coming out of contact with the left and right filter walls  65  and  66  respectively as shown in  FIG. 10 . 
       FIG. 14  shows a transparent view of the filter released to the bottom of the filter well  68  with the curved front teeth continuing to pull it below the final exit  8 . 
       FIG. 15  shows a transparent view as the elastic projection is about to come free of the top of the filter 
       FIG. 16  shows a transparent view of the filter in place after water has been added and has begun to drain through the opening  63  below the filter into a coffee pot  25 . 
       FIG. 17  shows the transparent view of the filtered coffee with the arm now held above the coffee filter and above the glider surface. 
       FIG. 18  shows a detailed view of the elastic projection  84  showing how it bends when it comes in contact with the plastic glider  88 . 
       FIG. 19  shows a cross section of an alternate embodiment providing for multiple coffees and flavors to be dispensed into a given filter at the election of the user. In  FIG. 19  there would be a means for selecting which of the four dispensers  42  were opened in order to receive either fluid or coffee. Hence, it can be seen that dispensers  42  are nothing more than a means for regulating the flow of coffee from the reservoir  14  in a measured amount to the filter  45 . 
       FIG. 20  shows how multiple filters may be used with multiple funnels from a single reservoir where usage would require this. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  3  shows a related prior art method of measuring a given amount of coffee into a filter. 
     FIG. 4 and 5  show respectively a cross-sectional view and a transparent top view of the preferred embodiment of the invention taking the elements from  FIG. 1 ,  2  and  3  and incorporating them into a mechanism allowing for the brewing coffee. 
   As can best be seen by reference to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , looking at the invention from the top (respectively), there is a coffee storage receptacle  14  to serve as a reservoir for coffee beside which is a filter storage receptacle  18  storing a stack of filters  86 . There is also a guide passage  2  so that as the frictional contact, teeth  75  of comb in  FIG. 3  and rubber tip  3  in  FIG. 4 , at the end of the elastic projection  84  contacts the top filter  45 , it pulls the filter through the guide passage  2  down ramp  67 , into the filter well  4 . This is done by operation of a filter arm motor  13  which also turns feed gear  15  which turns the cylinder  44  so that it is alternately exposed to an opening  47  at the bottom of the coffee storage receptacle  14  to receive coffee and then is spun upside down in order to empty the coffee from a cut out  54  in the cylinder  44  into the funnel  5 . A spring  6  is a spring means for allowing the valve  7  to open to allow the coffee to drop into the selected filter  45  and then re-closing the valve  7 . The valve  7  may be forced open by operation of the spring gear  26  which in turn spins against the geared end  27  of the coffee dispenser  42  or the spring  6  may just give way to the weight of the coffee that comes into it. 
   The coffee then comes out of the filter exit  8  and falls placed into the selected filter  45  waiting in the filter well  4 . 
   Another way of accomplishing this same thing is shown in  FIGS. 6 ,  7 , and  8  which shows how the funnel valve  7  is replaced with a door  7   a  which moves according to the spring gear  26  against teeth  24  on the door  7   a  to open the door and then back to close the door and the funnel exit  8 . 
   As shown, a hand crank or one geared motor may operate all the parts together or they may be operated by separate motors controlled by a motor controlling means which may be a cpu (not shown) or other device for controlling the sequential operation of the gears and other moving parts. 
   Having one set of gears sequentially controlling all parts is preferable to simplify operation. The motors may shut off automatically or by action of the user. 
   The spring gear  26  may reverse direction in accordance with means known for reversing motor direction or gear directions after a certain point in travel as known in the prior art or it may rotate from an opened to a closed position, as shown in  FIG. 7 , where the door  7   a  is attached to and rotates around the spring gear  26  opening and re-closing the door  7   a.    
   The filter well  4  has a filter well bottom  28  which defines openings (not shown but in the prior art) so that the solvated coffee from the filter may drop through into the coffee pot  29 . 
   In order to brew the coffee, there is a tube  17  to a water source (not shown but in the prior art) which water source supplies a predetermined amount of water as by water in a reservoir (not shown but in the prior art). A water heater  11  heats the water which then flows through water tubes  10  to a water drip  9  which is above the filled filter and on at least one side of the funnel exit  8  in order to minimize the hottest water from traveling back into the funnel exit  8 . 
   In this way, the invention provides that a coffee filter may be dressed in place over the filter well  4  and then filled with coffee and have hot water added without having heated fumes move directly up into the coffee reservoir or the opening of the coffee reservoir into the cylinder  44  of the coffee dispenser  42 . A fan  19  may assist in pulling steam from above the filter wall to the housing and flow steam out of the housing  12 . 
   Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views, the prior art is depicted in  FIG. 1  with the housing  12  shown in phantom so that the internal components may be seen. The housing  12  and most other components of the invention are preferably fabricated from molded plastic, although other materials may be appropriate. The invention incorporates the elements of a funnel-shaped coffee storage receptacle  14 , accessed through a cover  16 , and a filter storage receptacle  18 , accessed through a separate cover  20 . The coffee storage receptacle  14  is preferably capable of storing at least several servings of coffee, while the filter storage receptacle  18  should hold a nested stack of at least fifty cup-shaped coffee filters  86 . In the current embodiment, clear up inspection port or sensor would prevent operation when the filter storage receptacle  18  is empty. The lower portion of the housing  12  (in the prior art) includes a drawer  22  for removal of the coffee filters after they have filled, the invention replaces this as discussed above. 
   The invention as shown in the prior art, may be powered by a 12 volt electric motor  30  which turns a first gear  34  through one revolution each time it is actuated by a pushbutton  32 . The first gear  34  is in driving contact with a second gear  36 , which is in turn in driving contact with a third gear  38  and a fourth gear  40 . These four gears  34 ,  36 ,  38 ,  40  are each of identical size so that as the first gear  34  rotates through one revolution, so do each of the three remaining gears  36 ,  38 ,  40 . 
   Second gear  36  is secured to and drives a coffee dispenser  42 , also seen in  FIG. 3 , which comprises a sleeve  46  which slides over and may be manually rotated upon a cylinder  44 . The sleeve  46  has a lip  48  within its open end  50  to engage a groove  52  in the cylinder  44  to hold the sleeve  46  on the cylinder  44  while allowing it to rotate about the cylinder  44 , albeit with some minimal level of force required to accomplish such rotation. A cutout  54  in the sleeve  46  is adapted to selectively encompass a cavity  56  in the cylinder  44 , leaving the cavity  56  open, or to selectively close the cavity  56  by rotation of the sleeve  46  upon the cylinder  44 . 
   As seen in  FIG. 1 , the coffee dispenser  42  extends between the opposing side walls  60 ,  62  of the housing  12  and abuts against and seals the semicircular bottom of the coffee receptacle  14 . The geared end of the coffee dispenser  42  has a small central spindle  41  which rotates within a small hole in the side wall  62 . The non-geared end of the coffee dispenser  42  extends through and rotates within a hole  64  in the side wall  60 . This arrangement allows the sleeve  46  to be grasped and rotated upon the cylinder  44 , adjusting the size of the opening in the cavity  56 . Thus when the coffee dispenser  42  is rotated within the semicircular bottom of the coffee storage receptacle  14  by the 12 volt electric motor  30  through first and second gears  34 ,  36 , a selectable amount of coffee falls into the cavity  56  and then falls out as the cavity  56  is rotated to face downward. 
   A coffee stirrer  69 , comprising a rod  72  having a series of radial projections  74 , is rotatably supported by opposing sides of the coffee storage receptacle  14  and driven by third gear  38 . 
   A filter dispenser  80 , comprising a rod  82  having an elastic projection  84 , is rotatably supported by the opposing sidewalls  60 ,  62  of the housing  12  and driven by fourth gear  40 . As the rod  82  rotates, the elastic projection  84 , preferably made of rubber, encounters the top filter in the stack of filters  86  and drags it from the stack and down into the drawer  22 , in the prior are and the filter well  4  in the present invention, where it is then filled with coffee by the coffee dispenser  70 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 11  the parameters of the teeth in the comb can be fairly important. 
   The front tooth is curved or beveled. 
   There is approximately ½ inch (between ¼ and ¾ inches) between this beveled end and the first tooth. 
   There are approximately 10 teeth per inch for the size of the blades and typically the blades are between a quarter of an inch and three quarters of an inch since a quarter of an inch doesn&#39;t have sufficient grasping power and three quarters of an inch is too big and can tear the filters. 
   These parameters might be modified somewhat by adjusting the sharpness. 
   The purpose of having the flexible arm with the teeth with the beveled end at the front of the teeth is in order to provide that with an eight inch filter having a six inch width (because the filter is folded) moving through a five inch opening  79  ( FIG. 10 ). The filters need to be dragged through the opening  79  thereby the arm  84  flexes and flexes like a half inch plastic batten as shown in  FIG. 11  until it hits the bottom filter wall  81  of the top filter when the teeth grasp the edge of the filter and there needs to be at least one tooth but preferably as many as ten in two parallel rows. The movement through opening  79  compresses the filter and pulls it through the five inch opening  79  and then as the arm  84  straightens out as its resilient nature forces arm  84  into its unbent original shape and completing arm  84  turn toward the point of beginning and the beveled end pushes the filter out of contact with the teeth which are between a quarter of an inch and three quarters of an inch long. 
   While ten teeth per inch are a preferred measurement, typically anywhere between two teeth per inch and fifteen teeth per inch can work. 
   The blade needs to be sufficient so it is not so fine as to rip the filters and there needs to be a sufficient number of teeth to distribute the pressure of the teeth over the filter so they don&#39;t dig too far. 
   Operation 
   Operation of the invention begins by selecting the amount of coffee to be dispensed into the filter. This may be accomplished by rotating the sleeve  46  of the coffee dispenser to adjust the size of the opening into the cavity  56  as shown in the prior art, changing the size of the cavity  56  or by having any mechanical or electronic means available to select an amount dispensed by the reservoir. In the hand-operated version, a crank would be used, in the embodiment showing this is the motor. An electronic motor may have a pushbutton  32  which is then depressed, causing the motor  30  to drive each of the four gears through one complete revolution. As the coffee dispenser  42  begins to rotate, coffee falls from the coffee storage receptacle  14  into the cavity.  56 . Simultaneously, the filter dispenser  80  (in the new invention item  84 ) also rotates and drags a filter from the filter stack and down into the drawer  22  or into filter well  4  in the present invention, below the coffee dispenser  42 . As the coffee dispenser  42  continues to rotate, it dumps its contents of coffee into the filter placed below it. In the present invention it goes through the sealable funnels. The filter may be removed by withdrawing the drawer  22 , but it is brewed in the embodiment in  FIGS. 4 and 5  in place. During the operation, a coffee stirrer  69  (shown in the prior art) also rotates within the coffee storage receptacle  14  to ensure the coffee falls to the bottom. It may be replaced by a vibration or other agitating means. 
   Although only an exemplary embodiment of the invention has been described in detail above, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this invention as defined in the following claims. 
   In the claims, means-plus-function clauses are intended to cover the structures described herein as performing the recited function and not only structural equivalents but also equivalent structures. Thus although a nail and a screw may not be structural equivalents in that a nail employs a cylindrical surface to secure wooden parts together, whereas a screw employs a helical surface, in the environment of fastening wooden parts, a nail and a screw may be equivalent structures. 
   By rotating the filter arm motor  13 , grinds will fall from the dispenser  42  as the feed gear  15  rotates the cylinder  44 . Simultaneously, the elastic projection  84  will slide down the plastic glider  88  which guides a sharp comb  89 . Once the comb reaches the end of the plastic glider  88  individual teeth  75  will grab a single filter  45  from the filter storage receptacle  18  through a restricted opening and down a ramp and continue to move the selected filter  45  into the filter well  4  and drop it directly under the funnel  5 . A burner  59  may help insure the filter stays in the well  4 . As the cylinder  44  rotates to 180 degrees, the grinds will pass through the cut out in the cylinder  44  then fall through the funnel  5  and into the just placed filter  45 . The weight of the grinds may trigger the water heater  11  to dispense a pre set amount of water through the water tubes  10  to drop  9  or the motor may dispense water automatically or the user may turn on the water. The water may be from a measured source in a reservoir as shown the prior art. Water will then shower out through the water ring  90  and into the filter on top of the grinds. 
   Looking at FIGS.  4  and  12 - 18 , the fiction may thereby be described as having a projection gliding means for guiding the elastic projection past the middle of the filters contacting and holding the filters in some embodiments so that the teeth  75  of the comb  89  mounted onto the bottom  73  of the elastic projection  84  only contact the filter when the comb passes by the top of the filter and contacts the bottom slant  81  of the next filter to be dispensed through the filter opening  77 . As can be seen where the gliding means (glider  88 ) is long enough, it is pressed by the projection  84  into the filters to hold them in place and is then released when the projection passes by the glider (thereby releasing it) to glide or snap (depending on the distance traveled past the glider) onto the filter slant  81 . The glider  88  preferably flexes, but need not in all embodiments. 
   The left filter wall  65  and the right filter wall  66  ( FIG. 10 ) serve to be slightly less wide than the width of the filter so that the filter is pulled through the total opening  79  at the bottom of the filter opening  77  after the filter arm has passed through the arm opening  78  over the plastic glider  88  to contact the bottom slant  81  of the filter to be dispensed so that the filter pops out assisting the curved front tooth  83  ( FIG. 18 ) and pushing the rear teeth  75  of the comb  89  out of contact with the filter so that the filter may be released and dropped into place in the wall  4  below the coffee pot  25 . 
   There is preferably an access opening allowing the user to adjust the position below the coffee pot if individual filters are not removed and placed below a separate coffee pot. 
   The glider may be replaced with a wall which holds the filter above the location where the flexible elastic projection  84  comes in so that the plastic glider  88  may be eliminated. 
   In the preferred embodiment the elastic glider  88  may move backwards slightly in order to assist in holding the filters in place until the comb  89  of teeth  75  are at the proper location to grab the filter. 
   The comb has two rows of teeth in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 18  at least the first tooth of either side of the comb or on one side of the comb may be curved so as to push the sharpened back teeth out of contact with the filter as it drops down the ramp. Also, the teeth may be set back enough so the curved form with the elastic project serves the functions of the front curved tooth. 
   As can best be seen by  FIG. 19 , one method of practicing the invention allows for multiple reservoir  14   a - 14   d  emptying into multiple funnels  5   a - 5   d  respectively with the other elements being the same. 
   In this way, the user can select which type of coffee he wants to dispense  14   a  and  14   b  and choose from one of at least two flavors from  14   c  and  14   b.    
   Because many varying and different embodiments may be made within the scope of the inventive concept herein taught and because many modifications may be made in the embodiment(s) herein detailed in accordance with the descriptive requirements of the law, it is to be understood that the details herein are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.