A coffee- or tea-making machine is to be constructed so that its space-occupancy during non-use is considerably smaller than its space occupancy during use. For this purpose the maximum inner width, or alternately inner diameter of the receptacle for the filtrate is larger than the outer maximum width, or alternately, outer diameter of the filter container above a supporting flange of the filter container. The fresh-water container of the coffee- or tea-making machine has a base surface which corresponds at least to that of the receptacle, and the inner height of the fresh-water container corresponds at least to the combined height of the receptacle and of the filter container, when the filter container is inserted into the receptacle in a position reverse from a normal operating position of the filter container. By means of these features the filter container and the receptacle can be stored during non-use of the coffee- or tea-making machine in the fresh-water container, so that the space occupancy of the coffee- or tea-making machine during non-use is considerably smaller than during use thereof when coffee or tea is filtered.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a coffee- or tea-making machine which 
includes a base, a container adapted to contain fresh water, and which has 
a discharge conduit, a heater adapted to heat the fresh water, which is 
adapted for passing the heated fresh water to the discharge conduit, a 
receptacle being adapted for receiving the fresh water converted to coffee 
or tea from the discharge conduit, a filter container which has a 
supporting flange, and wherein the supporting flange supports the filter 
container near a rim thereof in an operating position of the filter 
container. 
Coffee- or tea-making machines of the above-noted kind are known in 
manifold implementations. 
Coffee- or tea-making machines of this type have hitherto been constructed 
in such a manner that the space they occupy is invariant, namely they 
occupy exactly the same space during use as during non-use. 
This is of subordinate value, as long as a coffee- or tea-making machine of 
this type occupies a certain, and more-or-less predetermined location in 
the kitchen, and wherein this space is not urgently required for any other 
kitchen work. 
If, however, the question of space occupancy during non-use of the machine 
is of significant importance, be it either because of the location of use 
insufficient space is available, or if it is desired to take a machine of 
this type along for any journeys, coffee- or tea-making machines of the 
hitherto known type can no longer be considered satisfactory. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is accordingly a principal object of the present invention to so design 
a coffee- and or tea-making machine of the aforedescribed kind, that its 
space occupancy during non-use is considerably smaller than its space 
occupancy during operation thereof. 
This object is attained by a coffee- or tea-making machine of the aforesaid 
type, which includes a base, a container adapted to contain fresh water, 
and having a discharge conduit, heating means adapted to heat the fresh 
water, and for passing the heated fresh water to the discharge conduit, a 
receptacle adapted for receiving the fresh water converted to coffee or 
tea from the discharge conduit, a filter container having a supporting 
flange, the supporting flange supporting the filter container near a rim 
thereof in an operating position of the filter container, by requiring the 
receptacle to have a maximum inner width exceeding a maximum outer width 
of the filter container above the supporting flange, by the fresh water 
container having a base surface area corresponding at least to that of the 
receptacle, by an inner height of the fresh water container corresponding 
at least to a combined height of the receptacle and the filter container 
when the filter container is inserted into the receptacle in a position 
reverse from a normal operating position of the filter container. 
A coffee- or tea-making machine of this type offers the advantage that the 
filter container and the receptacle for coffee or tea may be stowed in the 
fresh water container during non-use of the coffee- or tea-making machine, 
so that the space occupancy of such a coffee- or tea-making machine during 
its non-use is considerably less that its space occupancy during operation 
thereof. 
It is further advantageous if the inner width of the receptacle is an inner 
diameter thereof, and if the maximum outer width of the filter container 
is an outer diameter thereof. 
In a further development of the invention the filter container further 
includes a cover disc provided with a throughgoing opening, and having an 
outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the receptacle. 
It is further desirable if a tube is provided, which extends upwardly in an 
operating position thereof, has upper and lower portions, and communicates 
with a lower end thereof with the discharge conduit, and if there is 
further provided an overflow tube rigidly connected with the upper tube 
portion, and wherein the upper tube portion s axially displaceable, and 
rotatable with respect to the lower tube portion. 
In a further advantageous development the overflow tube is pivotable and 
lowerable into the interior of the fresh water container in a 
non-operating position of the overflow tube. 
It is further desirable if the freshwater container addtionally includes a 
cover hingeably attached thereto for closing the freshwater container. 
The heating means is further advantageously adapted to pass the fresh water 
therethrough.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
The coffee- or tea-making machine illustrated in the drawing includes a 
base 10, which receives in a known manner, a heater 101 adapted for 
passing liquid therethrough. 
A fresh-water container 11 is mounted on the base 10. The fresh-water 
container 11 is provided at its lowermost location with a discharge 
conduit 12, which communicates with the liquid passage in the aforesaid 
heater. 
An upwardly extending tube 13 communicates with the discharge conduit 12 of 
the aforesaid liquid passage which, in turn, communicates with an overflow 
tube 14. 
The coffee- or tea-making machine further includes a filter container 15 
and a receptacle 16 for receiving the prepared beverage. 
A cover disc 17, which is formed with an opening 18, is placed onto the 
filter container 15. 
As can be particularly clearly seen from FIG. 5, the filter container 15 is 
provided at its lower end, as seen in an operating position thereof, with 
a supporting flange 19, which supports the filter container 15 near a rim 
thereof. 
As is also shown in FIG. 5, the upwardly extending tube 13 is formed in two 
parts; its upper part 13a, which is rigidly connected with the overflow 
tube 14, is telescopically slidable with respect to the lower part of the 
tube 13, and is rotatable about its longitudinal axis. 
The upper side of the fresh water container 11 is closable by a cover 20 
hinged thereonto. 
The inner maximum width, or, in a preferred embodiment, the inner diameter 
of the receptacle 16, is larger than the outer maximum width, or in a 
preferred embodiment, the outer maximum diameter of the filter container 
15 above its supporting flange 19, and also larger than the outer diameter 
of the cover 17. In this manner it is possible to introduce the filter 
container 15 together with its covering disc 17, in a position reversed 
compared to the operating position thereof, into the receptacle 16. It 
will be understood, of course, that while a circular configuration of the 
receptacle, filter container and cover is a preferred embodiment, other, 
for example, polygonal configuration, such as an octogonal perimeter, are 
equally possible. 
The surface area of the base of the fresh water container 11 corresponds 
to, but preferably exceeds that of the surface area of the base of the 
receptacle 16, and the inner height of the fresh water container 11 
corresponds at least to the height of a combination of the receptacle 16, 
together with the filter container 15, when the latter is inserted in the 
aforesaid reverse position thereof into the receptacle 16. 
As can be seen particularly clearly from FIGS. 3 and 4, the fresh water 
container 11 is formed in its interior with a recess 22, which corresponds 
to a projection surface of a handle 21 secured to the receptacle 16. Next 
to the recess 22 there is located another "grip recess" 23. 
By the aforedescribed features of the coffee- or tea-making machine shown 
in the preceding Figs., it is possible to store the receptacle 16 together 
with the filter container 15 during non-use in the fresh water container 
11. It is possible to first insert the filter container 15 with its cover 
17 into the fresh water container 11, and then to place the receptacle 16 
thereover, as has been indicated in FIG. 1. It is alternately possible to 
insert the filter container 15 in a reverse position into the receptacle 
16, and then to place the receptacle 16 in its operating position into the 
fresh water container 11. 
The overflow tube 14 can, in the case of non-use of the coffee- or 
tea-making machine, also be brougth into the region of the fresh water 
container 11, as is indicated in FIG. 4. Due to the aforedescribed 
telescopic construction of the overflow tube 14, the overflow tube 14 and 
the tube portion 13a connected thereto, can be lowered by a downward axial 
displacement of the tube portion 13a, following a pivoting thereof, into 
the interior space of the freah water container 11, to such an extent that 
the overflow tube 14 no longer projects beyond the upper border of the 
fresh water container 11. 
Operation of the coffee- or tea-machine, according to the present 
invention, is achieved in a manner opposite to the aforedescribed process, 
i.e. after opening of the cover 20 at first the overflow tube 14 is 
raised, and pivoted out of the region of the fresh water container 11. 
Thereafter the receptacle 16, together with the filter container 15 and 
the cover disc 17, are removed, and placed into an operating position 
shown in FIG. 2, after the filter container 15 has filled with coffee or 
tea. 
The fresh water container 11 is filled with the desired amount of water, 
and following actuation of the ON-OFF switch 24, the coffee- or tea-making 
machine is ready to operate. 
While the present invention has been described and illustrated herein as 
embodied in a specific construction of a coffee- or tea-making machine, it 
is not limited to the details of this particular construction, since 
various modifications and structural changes are possible and contemplated 
by the present invention. Thus the scope of the present invention will be 
determined exclusively by the appended claims.