Abstract:
A coffee grinder having a grinder bin for containing an amount of coffee beans therein, a grinder base for supporting the grinder bin disposed on an upper surface area of the grinder base, and a grinder lid for covering the grinder bin disposed on the grinder base is provided. The grinder bin is removably connected to the grinder base.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to a coffee grinder. More particularly, the present invention relates to a coffee bean grinder having a removable bin for containing the coffee beans.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0004]    In the prior art, there are known commercial grade coffee grinders for use in restaurants and other high volume business environments. Commercial grade coffee grinders tend to be large and expensive to own and operate. Commercial grade coffee grinders also tend to be difficult and cumbersome to maintain and clean. Personal/consumer coffee grinders also tend to be cumbersome and difficult to clean since the grinder bin is an integral (i.e., fixed) part of the coffee grinder.  
           [0005]    While many people savor the flavor of coffee attained from freshly ground coffee beans, the expense and time required to set-up, use, and clean the coffee grinder is viewed as too cumbersome and time-consuming for many coffee drinkers.  
           [0006]    Therefore, there exists a need to provide a coffee bean grinder that is easily and safely operated, including unloading ground coffee from the grinder bin and cleaning of the grinder bin.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a coffee grinder being easily activated and controlled.  
           [0008]    It is another object of the present invention to provide such a coffee grinder having a removable grinder bin.  
           [0009]    It is still another object of the present invention to provide such a coffee grinder that facilitates convenient unloading and cleaning of the grinder bin.  
           [0010]    The present invention includes a coffee grinder having a grinder bin for containing an amount of coffee beans therein, a grinder base for supporting the grinder bin disposed on an upper surface area of the grinder base, and a grinder lid for covering the grinder bin disposed on the grinder base, where the grinder bin is removably attached to the grinder base.  
           [0011]    The above and other objects, advantages, and benefits of the present invention will be understood by reference to following detailed description and appended sheets of drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a coffee grinder having a removable grinder bin in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the coffee grinder shown in FIG. 1, depicting some of the major components thereof;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the coffee grinder shown in FIG. 1, depicting in detail substantially all of the components thereof; and  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the coffee grinder shown in FIG. 1, including a partial cut-away of the grinder lid to illustrate the switch mechanism thereof. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0016]    Referring to the drawings and in particular FIG. 1, there is provided a coffee grinder generally represented by reference numeral  5 . The coffee grinder  5  has a grinder lid  10  and a grinder base  15 . Grinder lid  10  has a switch actuator  20  incorporated therewith. In one aspect of the present invention, switch actuator  20  is integrally incorporated into grinder lid  10 , thereby providing, for example, a reliable switch actuator.  
         [0017]    Grinder lid  10  can be selectively disposed on and removed from atop of grinder base  15 . As depicted in FIG. 1, grinder lid  10  is disposed on grinder base  15 . Referring to FIG. 2, it is shown that grinder lid  10  is removed from (i.e., not disposed on or connected to) grinder base  15 . Grinder lid  10  can, in one aspect hereof, be selectively and removably connected to grinder base  15  without the necessity of engaging a lock, a clamp, or other type of faster. Accordingly, grinder lid  10  may be easily removed and connected to grinder base  15 .  
         [0018]    In an aspect of the present invention, grinder lid  10  and grinder base  15  are shaped such that the proper orientation of the grinder lid and the grinder base can be quickly and easily determined. Proper orientation of grinder lid  10  and grinder base  15  is desired to facilitate operation of grinder  5 , as will be discussed in greater detail below. Regarding the shape of grinder lid  10  and grinder base  15 , the grinder lid and the grinder base may be asymmetrically shaped as depicted in the accompanying figures to provide an indication of the relative orientation between the grinder lid and the grinder base in order to properly align the grinder lid and base when connecting the grinder lid on the grinder base.  
         [0019]    It should be appreciated that a visual indicator and/or mechanical means (e.g., grinder lid  10  is “keyed” to mate with grinder base  15  in a specific orientation) can be used in lieu of or in combination with the shaped grinder lid and base to achieve the proper, desired orientation between the grinder lid and the grinder base in the instance that grinder lid and base are mated together.  
         [0020]    Coffee grinder  5  includes a grinder bin  30  that is removably disposed in a recess provided in grinder base  15 . Grinder bin  30  provides a holding container for coffee beans operatively ground by coffee grinder  5 . Grinder bin  30  may act as a holding container for the coffee beans before they are ground, while they are being ground, and after they are ground.  
         [0021]    In an aspect of the present invention, grinder bin  30  has connected thereto a grinder bin base  35 , a blade assembly  55  for grinding coffee beans disposed in grinder bin  30 , and a coupling  57  for securing the grinder bin, grinder bin base  35 , and blade assembly  55  together. Coupling  57  provides an interface between a motor  85  for driving the blade assembly and grinder bin  30 .  
         [0022]    Details of an exemplary configuration for coupling  57  are depicted in FIG. 3. Certain details of the configuration of coupling  57  may be varied within the scope of the present invention, such as, for example the particular order and size of bushings, etc. comprising the coupling. In one aspect hereof, blade assembly  55  is preferably threaded onto or otherwise removably connected to coupling  57 . In this manner, blade assembly  55  may be selectively removed (i.e., disengaged) from grinder bin  30  and coupling  57  for the purpose of, for example, cleaning and sharpening blade assembly  55 .  
         [0023]    In another aspect of the present invention, grinder bin  30  may be conveniently cleaned by removing the grinder bin from grinder base  15  and cleaning the grinder bin by, for example, rinsing grinder bin in soapy water.  
         [0024]    Grinder bin  30 , including grinder bin base  35  connected thereto, is preferably removably connected to grinder base  15  in a secure manner to facilitate safe and reliable operation of coffee grinder  5 . To increase the operational safety and reliability of coffee grinder  5 , it is desired that grinder bin  30  is securely held in position within grinder base  15  during the grinding process provided by the coffee grinder. Tabs  40  (only one shown) located on grinder bin base  35  are provided to engage with cammed (i.e., angled) slots  45  of grinder base  15  such that grinder bin  30  can be removably secured to the grinder base via a “twist-lock” maneuver. The twist-lock maneuver entails sitting tabs  40  in the open, wide end of cammed slots  45  and turning grinder bin  30  such that the grinder bin is urged into a locked, secure position as the grinder bin is turned and tabs  40  are acted upon by the cammed slots.  
         [0025]    It should be appreciated that other means and methods of securing grinder bin  30  to grinder base  15  may be used in lieu of and in combination with the cammed slots  45  and cooperating tabs  40  discussed above. For example, each of tabs  40  and cammed slots  45  can be cammed (i.e., slanted).  
         [0026]    Regarding the operation of coffee grinder  5  and referring to FIGS. 1-3, the exemplary actuator  20  is provided to actuate a master on/off switch of the coffee grinder. Movement of actuator  20  is transferred to a switch  80  via link members  60  and  70 . As depicted, link members  60  and  70  are preferably rods that operate to transfer movement of actuator  20  to switch  80 . Switch  80  operates to energize motor  85 .  
         [0027]    For example, a downward pressure applied to actuator  20  causes a downward movement of link  60 , bias member  65 , and link  70 . Link  70  interfaces with switch  80  and the downward movement of the link results in the closing of the switch  80 , thereby completing a circuit that energizes motor  85 .  
         [0028]    A bottom end of link  60  engages with an upper end  25  of link  70  when grinder lid  10  is disposed on grinder base  15  and a downward pressure is applied to actuator  20  sufficient to overcome the force of bias member  65  (e.g., a spring). Upper end  25  is preferably recessed below an upper surface of grinder base  15 . This being recessed below an upper surface of grinder base  15  provides a degree of safety in the operation of coffee grinder  5 . Arranged in this manner, the risk of unintentionally operating coffee grinder  5  is greatly reduced.  
         [0029]    In one aspect of the present invention, grinder bin  30  is fully seated in grinder base  15  in a locked position in order for grinder lid  10 , and consequently actuator  20  and link  60 , to sufficiently engage with grinder base  15  and link  70  to activate the motor and grinding process, respectively.  
         [0030]    Motor shaft  90  rotates when motor  85  is energized. Rotating motor shaft  90  rotates toothed gear  50  connected thereto. Rotating toothed gear  50  cooperatively engages with coupling  57  to rotate blade assembly  55  connected to coupling  57 . In this manner, coffee beans disposed in grinder bin  30  can be ground by blade assembly  55  when actuator  20  is depressed.  
         [0031]    In an aspect of the present invention, actuator  20  is disposed in a prominent position in or on grinder lid  10 . Preferably, actuator  20  is disposed on or near an upper surface of grinder lid  10  such that actuator  20  presents a convenient and readily accessible control for coffee grinder  15 . Preferably, actuator  20  extends along a substantial length of an upper surface of the grinder lid  10 . Accordingly, coffee grinder  5  is preferably easily activated and controlled.  
         [0032]    In another aspect of the present invention, motor  85  is energized so long as switch  80  is in the closed position. Thus, motor  85  is energized so long as actuator  20  is depressed. Accordingly, coffee grinder can be controlled to operate in a pulse grind mode and a continuous grind mode depending on the length of time actuator  20  is activated (i.e., depressed).  
         [0033]    In an aspect hereof, grinder lid  10  has a circular flange  100  that extends downward from a top underside of grinder lid  10 . Circular flange  100  is preferably sized to extend down into grinder bin  30  disposed in grinder base  15  when the grinder lid and the grinder base are engaged together as illustrated in FIG. 1. Circular flange  100  operates to retain coffee beans and ground coffee inside of grinder bin  30  during the coffee grinding process.  
         [0034]    It should be appreciated that the flange&#39;s shape may be varied from that of a circle in order to matingly engage with grinder bins of differing shapes and sizes.  
         [0035]    In another aspect of the present invention, grinder base  15  and at least a portion of grinder lid  10  are covered by a metallic finish covering  17 ,  19  and  12 . The metallic finish covering provides a durable and aesthetically pleasing finish that can be easily cleaned.  
         [0036]    In an aspect hereof, coffee grinder  5  of the present invention is preferably rated to operate on a 120 VAC, 60 Hz power source. The coffee grinder  5  preferably operates under a no load condition as a speed of (16,000-20,000) rpm.  
         [0037]    It should be appreciated that the actuator, flange, and other aspects of coffee grinder  5  discussed above are exemplary of the coffee grinder of the present invention and do not preclude the inclusion, exclusion, and combination of other coffee grinder functions, controls, and other aspects thereof.  
         [0038]    It should also be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the particular coffee grinder functions and other aspects of the teachings herein are but examples of the present invention. Thus, they do not limit the scope or variety of applications that the present invention may be suitably implemented. Thus, it should be understood that the foregoing description is only illustrative of a present implementation of the teachings herein. Various alternatives and modification may be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variances that fall within the scope of the appended claims.