Abstract:
A method and apparatus for brewing coffee or the like uses a cartridge having filters on two opposed sides that is filled with ground coffee and then pressed through a container of heated liquid. The pressing forces the liquid into one filter, through the ground coffee, and out the other filter to produce the brewed beverage.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for brewing coffee, tea or the like and more particularly to a method employing an apparatus wherein a cartridge of the material to be brewed, with input and output filters, is moved relative to a heated liquid. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Brewing coffee or tea or the like involves bringing ground roasted coffee, tea leaves or the like into contact with heated water to infuse the water with the flavor of the grounds or leaves. Particular brewing devices are designed to practice variations of this method such as percolators, automatic coffee makers in which hot water drips onto coffee grounds held in a filter, and French presses in which ground coffee and hot water are combined in a cylindrical vessel and left to brew for a few minutes before a circular filter is plunged through the vessel to force the grounds to the bottom of the vessel. 
     Each of these methods has various advantages and disadvantages in terms of the strength and flavor of the brewed coffee, the time that it requires to brew the coffee, and the difficulty of brewing and cleaning the brewing apparatus after use, and coffee drinkers often advocate one method over the others. 
     Despite the number of alternative methods and apparatus for brewing coffee which are available, there still exists a need for a process and apparatus for performing the process which produces flavorful coffee or like beverages relatively quickly with the apparatus being quick and easy to use and clean after use. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is therefore directed to a novel method and apparatus for brewing coffee which produces a flavorful beverage and is inexpensive, quick and simple to use and easy to clean. The present invention is directed toward a method which may be viewed as an improvement in the French press method. In that process ground coffee and hot water are combined in a vessel which is usually cylindrical and left to brew for a few minutes. A filter having dimensions complementary to the cylinder so as to fit snugly in the cylinder is fixed to a plunger which is then pushed down from the top to force the grounds in the coffee to the bottom of the vessel and brewed liquid to pass through the filter to the top. Because the ground coffee is in direct contact with the water, all the coffee oils remain in the beverage, making it stronger than coffee made by an automatic coffee machine, but leaving some sediment in the brewed coffee. Many people object to the presence of coffee ground residues in the final product. Moreover, when compared to processes in which the water is forced through the coffee under some pressure, such as espresso machines, French brewed coffee often seems relatively mild. 
     The present invention broadly improves over the French press process by containing the coffee grounds or tea or the like in a closed cartridge which eliminates the need for a filter of the type used with a French press machine. The cartridge has filters both on its underside, which contacts the hot water and admits it into the cartridge as it is pressed down through a container of heated water, where the water is infused by the coffee, and on its top side through which the brewed coffee passes. The top filter may simply involve a small cross-section port, a mesh filter, or both. 
     The exit filter of this cartridge is fine enough to prevent any substantial amount of the ground coffee residue from passing with the brewed coffee into the upper portion of the container. The brewed coffee may then be poured from the top of the container into a separate drinking vessel. By adjusting the porosities of the input and output filters of the cartridge, or the size of the output port, the pressure of the liquid in the cartridge may be controlled thereby controlling the degree of infusion of the grounds into the liquid and the force required to plunge the cartridge through the liquid. In addition the brewed coffee exiting the output filter could pass through a user adjustable outlet valve. 
     In other embodiments of the invention, the brewing apparatus also allows a user to drink directly from the apparatus as well as to pour or selectively retain the brewed coffee in the apparatus. The basic brewing apparatus may be used in combination with an external power source for heating the liquid within the coffee maker. 
     All of these embodiments are capable of being used to produce cold beverages such as iced coffee, or to work with tea or other infusion materials. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other objects, advantages, and applications of the present invention will be made apparent by reviewing the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment and a number of alternative embodiments of the invention. The description makes reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view, in exploded form, of the components of a first embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  with the components assembled into a lower open top container adapted to be filled with heated water or other liquid, and a cylindrical output container which supports a cartridge for receiving the ground coffees or the like in its lower end; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the coffee cartridge with its screw lid positioned above the cartridge; 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of the components of a second embodiment of the invention wherein the grounds-containing cartridge is pressed into the heated liquid container using a rod with a handle at its end; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of the invention illustrated in  FIG. 4  with the grounds-containing cartridge disposed at the top of the heated liquid container ready to plunge; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an exploded version of a third embodiment of the invention which is a variation of the second embodiment with elements to act as a sealing valve against the container for heated liquid; 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-section, through an assembled version of the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 6  with the grounds cartridge disposed at the bottom of the heated liquid container; 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-section through an assembled version of the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 6  with the grounds cartridge disposed at the top of the heated liquid container; 
         FIG. 9  is an alternative embodiment of the invention illustrated in perspective exploded form which incorporates an alternative lid assembly and handle design that allows the user to drink directly from the brewing apparatus, as well as pour and selectively seal the brewed contents; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 10  in assembled form with the cartridge handle depressed to the lower limit; 
         FIG. 11  is an exploded view of a fifth embodiment of the invention employing an alternative lid assembly, handle design and removable bottom; and 
         FIG. 12  is an assembled view of the fifth embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The preferred embodiments of the invention described herein are intended to brew coffee and are described as such. However, the same structures or minor variations thereon could be used to brew tea leaves, herbs, or the like and use of the term coffee should not be taken as restrictive of the scope of the invention. Additionally, while the preferred embodiments are described as brewing heated beverages, in general they are capable of making cold beverages such as iced tea, cold brewed coffee, or the like. 
     In the disclosed embodiments the devices including the liquid containers are generally cylindrical but could be square or other configurations in cross-section. 
     Referring to the  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a first embodiment of the invention is illustrated. It broadly comprises a cylindrical top cap  10 , a cylindrical barrel  12 , a cartridge lid  14 , a cartridge body  16 , and a liquid container  18 . As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the elements  10 ,  12 ,  14 , and  16  may all be joined together into a unitary body with threaded connections, press fits, keyed connections or the like. The outer diameters of the barrel  12 , cartridge lid  14 , and cartridge body  16  are all cylindrical with diameters complementary to the inner diameter of the liquid container  18 . Thus the barrel  12  may be pressed into the liquid container  18  through its open top and snugly fit within the inner diameter of the container. Previous to that, ground coffee is inserted into the hollow top of the cartridge  16  which is closed off by the screw lid  14 . Heated water or other liquids are placed within the container  18 , or, for hot beverages, the liquid may be heated within the container, preferably by electrical resistance heating elements or by microwave energy. The sides of the cartridge body  16  are grooved to receive upper and lower O-rings, with similar resilient seals  17   a  and  17   b , ( FIG. 3 ) which allow sections of the seals to project beyond the sides of the cartridge and bear against the inner diameter of the liquid container  18 . The other embodiments of the invention incorporate similar seals. 
     The proportions of the water and coffee are a function of the strength of the brew that it is desired. The water is typically boiled so that when it is poured into the container  18 , which is typically cooler, its temperature has dropped to the range of about 170 to 190 degrees F. This is typically considered to be the desired brewing temperature for coffee in a French press. 
     In use the cartridge body  16 , illustrated in  FIG. 3 , should be filled with the desired quantity of ground coffee or the like and then covered by attaching the cartridge lid  14 . The bottom of the cartridge body contains a filter  20  which may be divided into one or more separated areas and the cartridge lid  14  contains an outlet port  22 . When the barrel assembly with the attached cartridge  16  is plunged into the liquid container  18 , the heated liquid in the container  18  is forced through the filter  20  into the cartridge body where the liquid becomes infused with the ground coffee or the like. The infused liquid is then forced out of the cartridge lid  14  through the port  22 . 
     The size of the filter area  20  and the outlet port  22  may be controlled so as to set the pressure experienced by the liquid as it passes through the cartridge body. The outlet port  22 , and any port filter, will preferably be of smaller area than the input filters  20  so as to create some pressure within the cartridge body. The port  22  is either small enough, or equipped with a fine filter, to prevent any appreciable quantity of the coffee grounds in the cartridge  16  from passing through with the brewed beverage. 
     The coffee exiting from the port  22  enters the barrel  12  which is covered by the top cap  10 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the top cap may have a side port  24  from which any pressurized steam may escape. The top cap may also be equipped with a central port  26  at its top. The port  26  also allows venting both during the plunging of the barrel into the liquid container and the extracting of the plunging barrel. 
     When the elements of  FIG. 1  are joined together by either mating screw surfaces, or interface fits, into the plunging assembly centered on the barrel  12 , and the cartridge  16  has been filled with coffee and the container  18  with the heated liquid, the barrel may be grasped at its top end and plunged downwardly into the container, through its open top, thus forcing the heated liquid into the cartridge body  16  through the filter  20  and out of the cartridge body, after infusion with the ground coffee, through the port  22  into the barrel  12 . In this plunging process, the resistance to fluid flow created by the port  22  will control the resistance the user experiences while plunging and thus the rate at which the user plunges for a given plunging force. This affects the final brew characteristics by varying the time of plunging and thus the time of brewing. 
     The beverage may then be consumed directly from the barrel  12  by removing the cap  10  or it may be poured into another container, such as a coffee cup, for consumption. 
     Alternatively to filling the cartridge  16  with lose ground coffee, the coffee or the like could be contained in a disposable pod or simply between upper and lower plates which trap the grounds. 
     A second embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in exploded form in  FIG. 4  and in assembled form in  FIG. 5 . The second embodiment of the invention broadly employs a solid rod  34  to connect a handle  36  to a cartridge  38  for the ground coffee which may be then plunged into a liquid container  40 . The rod  34  is connected to the cartridge  38  through a ported carrier  42  which supports the cartridge  38  and gives stability to the cartridge as it moves through the inner diameter of the liquid container  40 . It also provides an area to decelerate and redirect substances flowing out of the cartridge  38  during plunging to prevent any high pressure, uncontrolled spray of the contents of the container up and out of the apparatus during the plunging operation. 
     The connections between the various components of the second embodiment, as well as the other embodiments, can be made by screw threads, interference fits, key locking connectors, and the like. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the handle  36  may be connected to the top of the rod  34 . The rod may then be passed through the central hole in the cap  44  which is adapted to thread onto the top of the liquid container  40 . The lower end of the rod  34  is threaded and is adapted to be joined to the top of ported carrier  42 . The ported carrier in turn screws to the outside of a coffee cartridge cap  46 . 
     Like the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the coffee cartridge  38  has a bottom filter  48  and the screw cap  46  for the cartridge has a central output port  50 . The ported carrier  42  has a pair of downward directed fins  52  having outer diameters complementary to the inner diameter of the liquid container  40  to stabilize the cartridge  38  as it is plunged into the liquid container  40 . The ported carrier  42  further has output filter areas  58  on its upper surface which diffuse the upward flow through the port  50  when the cartridge  38  is plunged into the container  40 . 
       FIG. 5  is a cross-section through the elements illustrated in  FIG. 4  assembled into the second embodiment of the invention. 
     An alternative embodiment of the invention, illustrated in  FIGS. 6 ,  7 , and  8 , is very similar to the second embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , with the exception of employing a handle  60  formed with a stopper  62 . Otherwise, the same numerals are employed in  FIGS. 6-8  that were employed for  FIG. 4 . 
     The stopper  62  is sized to completely obstruct the central opening  66  ( FIG. 6 ) in the cap  44  when the handle  60  is in its closed position illustrated in  FIG. 7 . In this state the coffee container may be stored empty. In the open position illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the handle has been moved to an open position. In this position a flow gap  68  is formed between the stopper section  62  and the hole  66  in the cap  44  through which there is adequate clearance for emptying the contents of the container  40  for pouring or drinking. 
     Alternative to rotating the handle  60  on its threaded connection with the rod  34  to move between the open and closed states, another mechanism such as a key or spring-loaded mechanism could be employed. 
     Still another embodiment of the invention, a fourth embodiment, is illustrated in  FIGS. 9 and 10 .  FIG. 9  is comparable to  FIG. 4  except for the provision of a pour spout  70 , a modified cap  72 , and the provision of a cooperating cap valve  74  between the cap  72  and the ported carrier  42 . 
     In  FIG. 10  this fourth embodiment of the invention is shown after plunging. After completing the plunging operation, the cap valve  74  may be utilized to either open or close the cap  72  by rotating the cap  72  clockwise or counterclockwise relative to the cap valve  74 . With the cap  72  in its open position relative to the valve  74 , the final contents of vessel  40  are ready for pouring. With cap  72  in its closed position relative to the valve  74 , the contents of the container  40  are partially or completely sealed. 
     A fifth embodiment of the invention, illustrated in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , employs an alternative lid assembly and handle design that allows a user to drink directly from the apparatus as well as pour and selectively seal the contents of the container. In the exploded view of  FIG. 11  those elements which are common with the exploded view of  FIG. 4  have been given the same numbers. A modified form of handle  80 , cap  82 , cap valve  84 , and a vessel cap bottom  86  have been provided. The low profile handle eliminates interference with the user&#39;s face when drinking from the apparatus. 
     Cap  82  may be rotated relative to cap valve  84  to selectively allow drinking, pouring or sealing of the contents of liquid container  40 . Cap  82  has a pouring opening  81  and a relatively smaller drinking opening  83  to allow appropriate flow for pouring or drinking and to minimize the likelihood of accidental spillage. Cap valve  84  has a pouring passage  85 , pouring vent  87 , drinking passage  89 , and drinking vent  91 . By rotating cap  82  to align pouring opening  81  with pouring passage  85 , drinking opening  83  is aligned with pouring vent  87 , allowing vented pouring from pouring opening  81 . By rotating cap  82  to align drinking opening  83  with drinking passage  89 , pouring opening  81  is aligned with drinking vent  91 , allowing vented drinking from drinking opening  83 . Cap  82  may be further rotated relative to cap valve  84  so that no openings on cap  82  align with any passages or vents on cap valve  84 , thus selectively sealing the contents of liquid container  40 . 
     The bottom cap  86  which is removably screwed into the open bottom end of the container  40  allows the container  38  to be easily cleaned after use. The container  38  may be separated from the ported carrier  42  by unscrewing it or with other suitable removable connections. A reloaded cartridge could be connected to the ported carrier to allow the preparation of a second portion of coffee or the like. 
     The assembled version of the fifth embodiment of the invention is shown in  FIG. 12 .