Abstract:
A press for brewing hot coffee and hot tea by compressing tea leaves or coffee grinds to the bottom in the drink container or vessel with a structural filter that both has an improved sealing member from the filter to vessel and includes a filter screen and most importantly, a movable flapper valve which opens under pressure as the apparatus is pushed through the water towards the coffee grinds or tea leaves to expose a filter so that the coffee grinds or tea leaves at the bottom of the container seep into the water to create hot brewed coffee or tea. For coffee, the coffee beans are ground and coffee grinds are used. For tea, tea leaves are used.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The field of the present invention relates to coffee and tea makers known generally as a french press. The process involves inserting tea leaves or coffee grinds into a container and adding hot water. The press is used to compress the coffee grinds or tea leaves. The press always includes a filter to push sediment to the bottom to make the coffee or tea. The present invention also relates to the field of drinking containers to drink hot liquids 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The present inventor obtained a design patent for “APPARATUS TO BREW COFFEE AND TEA”, Pat. No. D611,752 issued on Mar. 16, 2010. Over the years, the present inventor, Gary Ross, has invented significant improvements to his patented invention. To the best of the present inventor&#39;s knowledge, nobody has conceived of the improvements as described and claimed in the present application. 
     The present inventor has also invented a unique drinking container to drink the hot liquid after tea or coffee has been brewed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is an improved tea and coffee press apparatus for brewing hot tea and hot coffee and converting the apparatus to a press apparatus for creating iced tea and iced coffee. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a press for brewing hot coffee and hot tea by compressing tea leaves or coffee grinds to the bottom in the drink container or vessel with a structural filter that both has an improved sealing member from the filter to vessel and includes a filter screen and most importantly, a movable flapper valve which opens under pressure as the apparatus is pushed through the water towards the coffee grinds or tea leaves to expose a filter so that the coffee grinds or tea leaves at the bottom of the container seep into the water to create hot brewed coffee or tea. For coffee, the coffee beans are ground and coffee grinds are used. For tea, tea leaves are used. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to include a top seal adjacent to the top of a single stiff leg or flexible legs, and if there is a multiplicity of openings around the circumferential edge of the top seal, it will allow drinking anywhere on the top without having to look at the top. This seal will also provide more heat retention to keep the beverage hotter than if the drinking container had no lid. 
     It is an additional object of the present invention to remove the top seal and brew hot water to brew hot tea or hot coffee but designed to facilitate room to add ice in the drinking vessel for iced tea or iced coffee. 
     It is another object of the present invention to have a single non-flexible leg attached to the flapper valve assembly to brew tea or coffee. This embodiment includes a single pole. 
     It is further object of the present invention to have a spaced apart pair of non-flexible legs attached to the flapper valve assembly to brew tea or coffee 
     In all embodiment, the flapper valve can also be referred to as a check valve. 
     It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a special drinking container by which hot liquid can be consumed in the container due to an insulated double wall which permits the container be held in a bare hand and consumed through a single walled top sidewall. 
     Further novel features and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, discussion and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Referring particularly to the drawings for the purpose of illustration only and not limitation, there is illustrated: 
         FIG. 1  is a side perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention apparatus to brew hot coffee and to brew hot tea through a press method of compressing coffee beans or tea leaves in hot water; 
         FIG. 2  is a top perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention apparatus to brew hot coffee and to brew hot tea through a press method of compressing coffee beans or tea leaves in hot water, also illustrating the bottom of the upper sealing member; 
         FIG. 3  is a left side view of a first embodiment of the present invention apparatus to brew hot coffee and to brew hot tea through a press method of compressing coffee beans or tea leaves in hot water; 
         FIG. 4  is a right side view of a first embodiment of the present invention apparatus to brew hot coffee and to brew hot tea through a press method of compressing coffee beans or tea leaves in hot water; 
         FIG. 5  is a front elevational view of a first embodiment of the present invention apparatus to brew hot coffee and to brew hot tea through a press method of compressing coffee beans or tea leaves in hot water; 
         FIG. 6  is a rear elevational view of a first embodiment of the present invention apparatus to brew hot coffee and to brew hot tea through a press method of compressing coffee beans or tea leaves in hot water; 
         FIG. 7  is a top plan view of a first embodiment of the present invention apparatus to brew hot coffee and to brew hot tea through a press method of compressing coffee beans or tea leaves in hot water; 
         FIG. 8  is a bottom plan view of a first embodiment of the present invention apparatus to brew hot coffee and to brew hot tea through a press method of compressing coffee beans or tea leaves in hot water; 
         FIG. 9  is an exploded view of the apparatus with the top seal removed to show the plate which supports the press fit top seal onto the flexible legs; 
         FIG. 10  is a side view of the present invention apparatus to brew hot coffee and to brew hot tea through a press method with the apparatus inserted into the present invention special drinking container with tea leaves or coffee grinds compressed at the bottom of the glass and brewed tea in the portion of the glass above the flapper valve assembly, illustrating the flapper valve in the moved and opened condition to respectively permit tea or coffee to flow through the filter during the brewing process; 
         FIG. 11  is a side view of the present invention apparatus to brew hot coffee and to brew hot tea through a press method with the apparatus inserted into the present invention special drinking container with tea leaves or coffee grinds compressed at the bottom of the glass and brewed tea or brewed coffee in the portion of the glass above the flapper valve assembly after the tea or coffee is brewed; 
         FIG. 12  is a side perspective view of the double cross-leg assembly affixed to a flexible silicone fixed press member with a filter retained within the silicone fixed press member and having the flapper valve removed; 
         FIG. 13  is a top perspective view of a first embodiment of a flapper valve; 
         FIG. 14  is a side perspective view of the flexile legs affixed to a press seal with the flapper valve in the center of the press seal but with the top seal removed; 
         FIG. 15  is a side perspective view of the flexible legs illustrated in  FIG. 14  for a variation on the first embodiment of the present invention apparatus to brew coffee and to brew tea through a press method of compressing coffee beans or tea leaves in hot water, but with the top seal removed to enable ice and sugar to be inserted in the present invention special drinking container; 
         FIG. 16  is a side perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention apparatus to brew hot coffee and to brew hot tea through a press method of compressing coffee beans or tea leaves in hot water, with a single pole leg affixed to a variation on the flapper valve assembly illustrated in  FIG. 18 ; 
         FIG. 17  is a separated top plan view of the fixed silicone ring and metal filter and the flapper valve used with the alternative embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 18  is a side view of the assembled fixed silicone ring and filter with a flat flapper valve affixed to a rivet which can be affixed to the bottom of a single presser rod illustrated in  FIG. 16 ; and 
         FIG. 19  is a side perspective view of another alternative embodiment of the present invention with a double fixed pole attached to a flexible stopper seal and flat valve assembly as illustrated in  FIG. 18  and including the present invention special drinking container. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Although specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings, it should be understood that such embodiments are by way of example only and merely illustrative of but a small number of the many possible specific embodiments which can represent applications of the principles of the present invention. Various changes and modifications obvious to one skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains are deemed to be within the spirit, scope and contemplation of the present invention as further defined in the appended claims. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 10 . there is illustrated the first embodiment of the present invention apparatus to brew hot coffee and to brew hot tea through a press method of compressing ground coffee beans or tea leaves in hot water. The apparatus  10  comprises a flexible spring leg  20  with a rounded top portion  22  and a first leg section  24  and a second leg section  30  which cross each other at location  38  to provide a spring effect. The spring legs  24  and  30  will contact the sides of the vessel and this is important to provide stability when pressing. The spring also allows a good and easy way to locate the flapper valve where the legs terminate at the bottom filter. The flexible spring leg  20  and spring legs  24  and  30  are made from material selected from the group consisting of metal such as aluminum, steel and titanium and non-metal material such as carbon fiber and flexible elastomeric plastic. 
     First leg section  24  has a distal end  26  which is affixed to the fixed soft flexible press stopper  40  by affixation means such as a rivet  28 . Second leg section  30  has a distal end  32  which is affixed to the soft flexible stopper  40  by affixation means such as a rivet  34 . The soft flexible press stopper  40  is circular with a central opening  42  which surrounds a fixed filter  50  which is affixed to the soft flexible press stopper  40 . The soft flexible press stopper can be made of material selected from the group consisting of silicon and rubber. The fixed filter is preferably made of metal but can be made out of plastic and flexible member. Movably resting on the fixed filter  50  is a movable flapper valve  60  having a round base sized to fit within the opening  42  of soft flexible press stopper  40  and rest over filter  50 . The movable flapper valve  60  has a raised section  62  having a first arcuate top  64 , a second arcuate top  66  which join at a flat top section  68  which is aligned with the crossed location  38  of first leg section  24  and second leg section  30 . The movable flapper valve can be made out of material selected from the group consisting of silicone and rubber. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 7 and 9 , affixed adjacent the top portion  22  of spring legs  20  is a flexible sealing member  70  supported by a plate  71 . The flexible sealing member  70  can have a smooth circumference or a flowered circumference  72  with spaced apart petals such as 12 petals  74 A,  74 B, 74 C,  74 D,  74 E,  74 F,  74 G,  74 H,  74 I,  74 J,  74 K and  74 L. The flexible sealing member  70  has a central opening  76  with an interior circumference  78  by which the flexible sealing member  70  is press fit retained onto leg sections  24  and  30  adjacent leg top section  22  which acts as a handle. The flexible sealing member can be made out of material selected from the group consisting of silicone and rubber. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 10 and 11 , a multiplicity of tea leaves or coffee grinds from ground coffee beans  200  is placed in a drinking container or vessel  300  having a bottom wall  310 , a sidewall  315  having oppositely disposed first sidewall section  320 , second sidewall section  330  and an open top  340 . Bottom wall  310  has an exterior surface  312  and an interior surface  314 . First sidewall section  320  has an exterior surface  322  and an interior surface  324 . Second sidewall section  330  has an exterior surface  332  and an interior surface  334 . The interior surfaces  314 ,  324  and  334  surround an interior chamber  350  having an interior diameter “D 1 ” from interior sidewall surfaces  324  to interior sidewall surface  334 . 
     Soft flexible press stopper  40  has an outer diameter “D 2 ” which is sized to be press fit against interior diameter “D 1 ”. Flexible sealing member  70  has an outer diameter “D 3 ” which is sized to be press fit against interior diameter “D 1 ”. 
     In operation, after the multiplicity of tea leaves or coffee grinds  200  is placed into the interior chamber  350  of drinking container or vessel  300  so that the tea leaves or coffee grinds  200  rest on the interior surface  314  of bottom surface  310 , the chamber  350  is filled with hot water  400 . The apparatus  10  is inserted into the interior chamber  350  and pushed down so that spring legs  324  and  330  cause the bottom surface  41  of fixed soft flexible press stopper  40  to compress the tea leaves or coffee grinds  200 . The diameter “D 2 ” is slightly smaller than the diameter “D 1 ” so the fixed soft flexible press stopper  40  seals off the tea leaves or coffee grinds from the hot water. The pressure of the fixed soft flexible press stopper  40  causes tea or coffee to flow through filter  50  and movable flapper value  60  moves upwardly toward the crossing point  38  of spring legs  24  and  30  and flat top  66  comes in contact with the crossing point  38  to prevent the movable flapper valve  60  from further rising in the water, but the movement creates an opening above the filter  50  so that hot water is immersed with tea or coffee. After the downward pressure on the apparatus is released, the movable flapper valve  60  returns to its position above filter  50 . The filter can be made out of material selected from the group consisting of metal such as aluminum, steel and titanium or plastic or polycarbonate or flexible mesh material. 
     The flexible sealing member  70  prevents hot water  400  from flowing out of the interior chamber  350  since the diameter “D 3 ” is slightly smaller than the diameter “D 1 ” to create a top seal. The openings  76 A,  76 B,  76 C,  76 D,  76 E,  76 F,  76 G,  76 H,  76 I,  76 J,  76 K and  76 L between the petals  74 A,  74 B,  74 C,  74 D,  74 E,  74 F,  74 G,  74 H,  74 I,  74 J,  74 K and  74 L permit the hot tea  410  to be sipped through the top opening  340  of drinking container or vessel  300 . 
       FIGS. 10 and 11  also illustrate the unique drinking container  300  of the present invention. The drinking container or vessel  300  has a bottom wall  310 , a sidewall  315  having oppositely disposed first sidewall section  320 , second sidewall section  330  and an open top  340 . Bottom wall  310  has an exterior surface  312  and an interior surface  314  with surround an insulating air channel  316 . First sidewall section  320  has an exterior surface  322  and an interior surface  324  which surround an insulating air channel  328 . Second sidewall section  330  has an exterior surface  332  and an interior surface  334  which surround an insulating air channel  338 . In effect the sidewall  315  has a combined exterior surface  317  and interior surface  319  which surround an insulating air channel  321 , forming a double wall. As a result, the drinking container  300  can be held in one hand because the insulating double wall  315  provides insulation from hot liquid  400  within the interior chamber  350 . The top  340  has a single wall section  380  through which the hot liquid  400  can be consumed. The double wall insulated body sidewall  315  and single wall drinking top  380  are unique. The top  380  can also be double walled with an exterior wall and an interior wall surrounded by an air cannel. The bottom can also be a single wall. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 12 through 14 , in an alternative embodiment the upper flexible sealing member  70  is removed. The tea leaves or coffee grind  200  are placed into the chamber  350  and then hot water is added and used to brew the tea or coffee. Iced tea or iced coffee is made if enough room is left in the drinking container  300  to add ice to neutralize the hot brew. The user can also add sugar. The removal of the top filter allows easy access to add more sugar and ice so that iced tea or coffee can be consumed directly from the drinking container  300 . The apparatus  10 A is pressed down into the interior chamber  350 . In operation, after the multiplicity of tea leaves or coffee grinds  200  is placed into the interior chamber  350  of drinking container or vessel  300  so that the tea leaves or coffee grinds  200  rest on the interior surface  314  of bottom surface  310 , the chamber  350  is filled with hot water  430 . The apparatus  10 A is inserted into the interior chamber  350  and pushed down so that spring legs  324  and  330  cause the bottom surface  41  of fixed soft flexible press stopper  40  to compress the tea leaves or coffee grinds  200 . The diameter “D 2 ” is slightly smaller than the diameter “D 1 ” so the fixed soft flexible press stopper  40  seals off the tea leaves or coffee grinds from the hot water  430 . The pressure of the fixed soft flexible press stopper  40  causes tea or coffee to flow through filter  50  and movable flapper valve  60  moves upwardly toward the crossing point  38  of spring legs  24  and  30  and the flat top  66  comes in contact with the crossing point  38  to prevent the movable flapper valve  60  from further rising in the water, but the movement creates an opening above the filter  50  so that hot water is immersed with tea or coffee. After the downward pressure on the apparatus is released, the movable flapper valve  60  returns to its position above filter  50 . Since the top  340  is open, ice can be placed into the interior chamber  350  to make iced tea or iced coffee. 
     An alternative embodiment is illustrated in  FIGS. 16 to 18 . A soft flexible press stopper  140  is circular with a central opening  142  which surrounds a fixed filter  150  which is affixed to the soft flexible press stopper  140 . The filter  150  includes a central opening  152 . The fixed filter  150  is preferably made of metal. Movably resting on the fixed filter  150  is a flat movable flapper valve  160  having a round base sized to fit within the opening  142  of soft flexible press stopper  140  and rest over filter  150 . The movable flapper valve  160  has a central opening  162 . A threaded shaft  180  or rivet extends through a first thread washer or nut  190  positioned below filter  250 , extends through opening  152  in filter  150 , extends through opening  162  in flat movable flapper valve  160  and a second threaded washer or nut  192  resting above flat movable flapper valve  160 . The threaded shaft  180  extends to and is connected to an elongated shaft  182  terminating in a round handle  186  for the complete apparatus  110 . 
     In this embodiment, the flapper valve  160  functions the same as the previous flapper valve  50  but is fixed to the center of filter  150 . For this embodiment, the filter  150  must be a structural filter made from a hard material such as stainless steel and have many perforations in the filter  150  so it acts as a filter. In this embodiment, the flapper valve  160  having memory will lay flat on the filter  150  shutting off contact of the hot water with the tea leaves or coffee grinds but allows the tea or coffee to percolate through the filter  150  when it is brewing. In this embodiment, the single rod with the flapper valve at the bottom more easily allows different size drinking containers as the spring legs  24  and  30  are not required to hold down the flapper valve  150 . 
     In operation, after the multiplicity of tea leaves or coffee grinds  200  are placed into the interior chamber  350  of drinking container or vessel  300  so that the tea leaves or coffee  200  rest on the interior surface  314  of bottom surface  310 , the chamber  350  is filled with hot water  440 . The apparatus  110  is inserted into the interior chamber  350  and pushed down so that shaft  186  and its lower section  182  cause the bottom surface  141  of fixed soft flexible press stopper  140  to compress the tea leaves or coffee grinds  200 . The diameter “D 4 ” is slightly smaller than the diameter “D 1 ” so the fixed soft flexible press stopper  140  seals off the tea leaves or coffee grinds from the hot water. The pressure of the fixed soft flexible press stopper  140  causes the movable flapper valve  160  to move upwardly to open filter  150 . Upward movement of the movable flapper valve  160  is stopped by second nut  192 . With the upward movement of the movable flapper valve  160 , the filter  150  is opened and tea or coffee flows through filter  150  and movable flapper value  160  moves upwardly but is restrained in movement by nut  192 . The movement of the flapper valve  160  creates an opening above the filter  150  so that hot water is immersed with tea or coffee. After the downward pressure on the apparatus  110  is released, the movable flapper valve  160  returns to its position above filter  150 . This creates hot tea or coffee. Since the top  340  is open, ice can be placed into the interior chamber  350  to make iced tea or iced coffee. 
       FIG. 19  is a variation on the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 16 through 18 . The flapper valve assembly is the same but instead of a single shaft  186 , there is a double shaft  124  and  130  extending to larger handle  280 , each double shaft  124  and  130  respectively affixed to stopper  140  by affixation means such as a rivet. 
     Of course the present invention is not intended to be restricted to any particular form or arrangement, or any specific embodiment, or any specific use, disclosed herein, since the same may be modified in various particulars or relations without departing from the spirit or scope of the claimed invention hereinabove shown and described of which the apparatus or method shown is intended only for illustration and disclosure of an operative embodiment and not to show all of the various forms or modifications in which this invention might be embodied or operated.