Patent Description:
Coffee is globally one of the world's most widely consumed beverages. It is generally made by extracting soluble components using hot water from so-called ground coffee. The taste of coffee however varies substantially, even with identical ground coffee as the starting material, depending upon the precise conditions under which the extraction is carried out.

A widely used method of making coffee comprises passing a relatively small quantity of hot water through a compacted block of coffee grounds under relatively high pressure in order to force the water through the block. This specific method of making coffee results in so-called espresso. In order to produce espresso, it is common to use a counter-top sized machine, which generally requires an electrical supply and a complex assembly of elements for generating hot water under pressure and expelling a quantity of it through a pot containing a compressed block of coffee grounds. Such apparatuses are unfortunately rather expensive, both in purchase as in maintenance.

Alternatively, hand-operated devices are available which do not require a power supply, nor do they require the amount of maintenance of regular, automated apparatuses. The fact that these devices are not fully automated however have the disadvantage that operation is a lot less intuitive and straightforward. Such a device is known from e.g. <CIT>. While the coffee maker according to EP '<NUM> allows for the brewing of espresso coffee, operation is not as intuitive as one would expect. In fact, the movement of the levers of the device disclosed in EP '<NUM> is under control of the user, and can be controlled accordingly to expel hot water relatively slowly and at a relatively low pressure, or relatively fast at a considerably higher pressure. The mechanism of EP '<NUM> however does not provide the user with the appropriate feedback during operation, such that the user can adjust the speed and pressure during operation. If the levers are not operated correctly, the user will simply not be able to obtain a the right and constant pressure, thus extraction of the coffee grounds will be incomplete. It is thus clear that the quality of the resulting coffee is completely dependent on the speed at which the user operates the levers. However, without the appropriate feedback, the user will only know that the built pressure was inadequate, and that his attempt at brewing a coffee has failed until after he has finished operation the device. A user without sufficient knowledge and/or operating skills would thus not be able to produce a qualitative espresso in an intuitive manner.

Another hand-operated coffee maker is known from <CIT>. The device according to US '<NUM> shows the same disadvantages as the correct operation of the levers is completely at the discretion of the user. A user without sufficient knowledge and/or operating skills will not succeed in producing a pressure which is constant and/or sufficiently high in order to extract the coffee grounds and in order to obtain a qualitative espresso. <CIT> shows another example of hand-operated coffee press.

Accordingly, there remains a need in the art for a hand-operated coffee maker which allows intuitive and unambiguous operation, even by an unskilled user, resulting in the optimal pressure for brewing decent espresso coffee.

The present invention aims to resolve at least some of the problems and disadvantages mentioned above.

The present invention and embodiments thereof serve to provide a solution to one or more of above-mentioned disadvantages. To this end, the present invention relates to a hand-operated coffee press according to independent claim <NUM> and to a method of making a coffee with said hand-operated coffee press according to claim <NUM>.

The present invention concerns a hand-operated coffee press.

By way of example, "a fiber" refers to one or more than one fiber.

Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner, as would be apparent to a person skilled in the art from this disclosure, in one or more embodiments, within the boundaries defined by scope of the appended claims.

The hand-operated coffee press according to the invention comprises:.

wherein the pushing rod of the pressing assembly, is configured to actuate the piston of the brewing assembly, wherein the first pin and the toothed comb are releasable coupled to each other and wherein a movement of the third pin from the first axial slot edge to the second axial slot edge corresponds to a movement of the first pin of the pushing rod over a distance between two consecutive teeth of the toothed comb.

A "pressing assembly" as described herein, relates to any means, or combination of means, suitable to be pressed by a user in order for the present coffee press to be operated. In this respect, whereas other coffee making devices generally require an electrical supply, the present invention is driven by hand-operation of a user through the pressing assembly. In particular, the lever as herein described is operated by a user to convey a force onto the pushing rod, which in its turn actuates the piston.

In light of the present invention, a "brewing assembly" should be interpreted as any means, or combination of means, capable of brewing a beverage, in particular coffee. Alternatively, the brewing assembly of the present invention could be used for brewing tea, or other beverages based on extraction of solids, e.g. of ground coffee, tea, herbs, or combinations thereof. The brewing assembly therefore comprises a "portafilter" which is generally known in the art and should be interpreted as a holder for ground coffee. The brewing assembly further comprises a liquid container, which for the purpose of making coffee should be filled with hot, if not boiling, water. By actuating the piston, the water is compressed through the ground coffee, thus producing a beverage, in particular a coffee, more in particular an espresso. Alternatively, the present invention also allows the brewing of tea, infusions, or a combination thereof.

A "comb", more in particular a "toothed comb" as described herein, indicates a specifically shaped element of the piston, which comprises a plurality of rigid teeth, each of said teeth configured substantially perpendicular relative to the longitudinal line of the piston, wherein said teeth are configured such that in between each pair of teeth a pin, in particular the first pin according to the present invention, can be releasably coupled.

In light of the present invention, a "pushing rod" relates to a rod which through a pushing movement is able to actuate the piston. The pushing rod thereto comprises a first pin which is releasably coupled to the piston, in particular to the toothed comb of the piston. As a result, the piston can be pushed towards the brewing assembly, in particular through the liquid container.

The configuration of the pressing assembly as herein described has the advantage that operation of the lever does not correspond to a complete movement of the piston from its start position, i.e. removed the furthest from the liquid container, to its end position, i.e. moved the furthest inside the liquid container. Instead, operation of the lever corresponds to a travel of the piston which is only incremental, and which only corresponds to a pre-defined distance between two or more teeth.

Repeated operation of the lever thus corresponds to the following sequence of events:.

As a result, repeated operation of the lever results in the piston moving in pre-defined increments from its start position to its end position, thus intuitively obtaining optimal pressure and brewing time, and providing the user with live feedback during operation. As a matter of fact, the user will feel the counter-pressure and speed of the mechanism, thus receiving valuable feedback during operation. As a result, a user does not need to have substantial knowledge about how to operate the device, how fast the lever should be pressed, nor about how different operation speeds could influence brewing time, pressure, extraction, and final quality of the obtained coffee. The user will build sufficient operating experience upon using the present coffee press, and will intuitively learn and/or know how to prepare a good coffee.

By preference, the pressing assembly of the hand-operated coffee press comprises a retention rod, said retention rod is rotably coupled to said post, and said retention rod comprises a second pin, wherein the second pin and the toothed comb are releasably coupled to each other.

The term "retention rod" herein relates to a rod which is able to retain the piston into an advanced position relative to the toothed comb and herein comprises a second pin which is releasably coupled to the toothed comb. Repeated operation of the lever thus corresponds to the following sequence of events:.

As a result, repeated operation of the lever results in the piston moving in pre-defined increments from its starting position to its end position, wherein the first pin is the driving force moving the piston into an advanced position, while the second pin is the retaining force avoiding the piston to move back to its starting position. As such, by the present configuration the piston is only allowed a one-way movement, from its start position towards its end position, i.e. towards and inside the liquid container.

According to a further or another embodiment, the pressing assembly comprises a gas spring, said gas spring comprises a first end and a second end, said first end is coupled to the post, and said second end is coupled to the pushing rod.

In light of the present invention, the term "gas spring" is to be interpreted as a type of spring that, unlike a typical mechanical spring that relies on elastic deformation, uses compressed gas contained within an enclosed cylinder sealed by a sliding piston to pneumatically store potential energy and withstand external force applied parallel to the direction of the piston shaft. According to the present embodiments, the gas spring exerts a pressure which aims at moving the piston back to its start position, and is particularly useful to restore the pressing assembly into its initial state. In a working state, the coffee press will thus allow the incremental movement of the piston from its start position towards its end position by operation of the lever. Once the advancement of the piston to its end position has completed, the gas spring is able to push the piston back towards its start position, allowing the start of a new operation cycle and further improving the usability of the coffee press.

In some embodiments, the pressing assembly comprises a first spring, said first spring is coupled to the pushing rod and to the post, and is configured to push the first pin towards the toothed comb.

Herein, a "spring" relates to an elastic object that stores mechanical energy. Springs are typically made of spring steel. The spring as described herein pushes the first pin towards the toothed comb, and thus further improves the configuration wherein the first pin, and thus the pushing rod, is releasably coupled to the toothed comb, allowing smooth operation of the pressing assembly and providing for adequate movement of the piston towards an advanced position.

According to a further or another embodiment, the pressing assembly comprises a second spring, said second spring is coupled to the retention rod and to the post, and is configured to push the second pin towards the toothed comb. The spring as described herein pushes the second pin towards the toothed comb, and thus further improves the configuration wherein the second pin, and thus the retention rod, is releasably coupled to the toothed comb, allowing smooth operation of the pressing assembly and providing for adequate retention of the piston.

According to the invention, the lever comprises a third pin, and the pushing rod comprises a sliding slot, said sliding slot having axial slot edges, wherein said.

third pin is slidably mounted in between said between said two axial slot edges. The presence of the sliding slot comprising two axial slot edges allows the definition of two boundaries of movement of the lever. As such, it is clear to the user in between which positions the lever should be operated in order to effectively operate the pushing mechanism of the coffee press.

A movement of the third pin from the first axial slot edge to the second axial slot edge herein corresponds to a movement of the first pin of the pushing rod over a distance between two consecutive teeth of the toothed comb, allowing the incremental advancement of the piston with each lever operation.

According to a further or another embodiment, a movement of the third pin beyond the first or second axial slot edge herein invokes a rotational movement of the pushing rod in respect to the toothed comb. As such, by pushing the lever further than the boundaries as defined by the axial slot edges, the pushing rod can be rotated away from the toothed comb, thereby releasing the first pin from the toothed comb.

In some embodiments of the hand-operated coffee press according to the present invention, the retention rod comprises a fourth pin, and the pushing rod comprises an indent, wherein said fourth pin and said indent are configured for a rotational movement of the pushing rod in respect to the toothed comb to invoke a corresponding rotational movement of the retention rod in respect to the toothed comb. As such, by pushing the lever further than the boundaries as defined by the axial slot edges, the pushing rod can be rotated away from the toothed comb, thereby releasing the first pin from the toothed comb. At the same time, the fourth pin of the retention rod hooks into the indent of the pushing rod, whereby the retention rod can be rotated away from the toothed comb, thereby releasing the second pin from the toothed comb. In this configuration, a movement of the lever further than the boundaries as defined by the axial slot edges, thus rotates both the pushing rod as the retention rod, decoupling both the first pin and the second pin from the toothed comb of the piston. As such, said lever movement completely decouples the piston, allowing it to be returned towards its starting position.

In these embodiments, a typical operation of the coffee press by a user, will thus comprise the repeated operation of the lever, resulting in a movement of the piston from its start position towards its end position, followed by a continued operation of the lever further than the boundaries as defined by the axial slot edges, consequently resulting in decoupling of the piston, which is allowed to move back towards its starting position.

Some embodiments of the present invention relate to the hand-operated coffee press, wherein the toothed comb of the piston comprises at least four teeth. The presence of four teeth on the toothed comb thus relates to an operation in three steps. By preference, the toothed comb of the piston comprises at least five teeth, more by preference at least six teeth, even more by preference at least seven teeth.

According to some embodiments, the teeth of the toothed comb, have a height of between <NUM> and <NUM>. By preference, the teeth of the toothed comb have a height of between <NUM> and <NUM>, more by preference of between <NUM> and <NUM>.

Some embodiments comprise each individual tooth of the toothed comb being between <NUM> and <NUM> apart from a consecutive, individual tooth. By preference, consecutive teeth are spaced between <NUM> and <NUM> apart from each other, more by preference between <NUM> and <NUM> apart from each other.

According to a further or another embodiment, the piston comprises a pressure-valve on the axial side facing the liquid container, allowing pressure control inside the liquid container.

The term "pressure valve", "relief valve" or "pressure relief valve (PRV)" relates to a type of safety valve used to control or limit the pressure in a system. Pressure might otherwise build up and create a process upset, instrument or equipment failure, or fire. The pressure is relieved by allowing the pressurized fluid to flow from an auxiliary passage out of the system. The relief valve is generally designed or set to open at a predetermined set pressure to protect pressure vessels and other equipment from being subjected to pressures that exceed their design limits. When the set pressure is exceeded, the relief valve becomes the "path of least resistance" as the valve is forced open and a portion of the fluid is diverted through the auxiliary route.

The presence of a pressure valve herein serves to avoid overpressure inside the brewing assembly. As such, the pressure valve preferably keeps the pressure in the brewing assembly between <NUM> and <NUM> bar, more preferably between <NUM> and <NUM> bar.

The liquid container, according to some embodiments, comprises a liquid jet breaker on the side facing the portafilter, said jet breaker comprising a plurality of openings. The presence of the liquid jet breaker thus allows for an even water distribution inside the portafilter, allowing optimal extraction of ground coffee.

The hand-operated coffee press according to some embodiments, comprises a liquid container which is removable from the brewing assembly. This way, the liquid container can either be filled while assembled within the brewing assembly, or otherwise be filed while being removed from the brewing assembly.

A second aspect of the present invention concerns a method of making a coffee with a hand-operated coffee press as previously described, said coffee press comprising said pressing assembly and said brewing assembly, the method comprising the steps of:.

In light of the above, and in particular regarding coffee to be the beverage of choice, the term "extraction liquid" relates to water, while the "substance to be extracted" relates to ground coffee. Alternatively, the substance to be extracted could be tea or equivalents thereof. The extraction liquid is preferably brought to a temperature between <NUM> and <NUM> before bringing it into the liquid container. By preference, the extraction liquid is brought to a temperature of between <NUM> and <NUM>, more by preference between <NUM> and <NUM>. Said temperatures allow for optimal extraction of ground coffee through the coffee press according to the present invention.

The invention is further described by the following figures which illustrate the invention, and are not intended to, nor should they be interpreted to, limit the scope of the invention.

<FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG> respectively show a front, side and back view of a hand-operated coffee press according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. <FIG> shows a perspective view of a hand-operated coffee press according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. Furthermore, <FIG> and <FIG> serve to better illustrate the internals of the coffee press, showing a cross-sectional side view of a hand-operated coffee press according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

The hand-operated coffee press herein shows a pressing assembly <NUM> comprising a post <NUM>, a pushing rod <NUM> and a lever <NUM>, wherein the lever <NUM> is rotably coupled to an axial end 3a of said post <NUM>. The coffee press further comprises a brewing assembly <NUM> comprising a portafilter <NUM>, a liquid container <NUM> and a piston, wherein said piston is configured to move through the liquid container <NUM> to compress a liquid through the portafilter <NUM>. It is further shown that said lever <NUM> is configured to rotate about an eccentrical axis <NUM> within said post <NUM>.

Herein, lever <NUM> is furthermore rotably coupled to an axial end 4a of said pushing rod <NUM>, wherein said lever <NUM> and said pushing rod <NUM> are configured to rotate about a centrical axis <NUM>. The pushing rod <NUM> of the pressing assembly <NUM> is configured to actuate the piston <NUM> of the brewing assembly <NUM>, wherein the pushing rod <NUM> comprises a first pin <NUM> and the piston <NUM> comprises a toothed comb <NUM>, wherein the first pin <NUM> and the toothed comb <NUM> are releasable coupled to each other. The coffee press allows operation of the lever <NUM> corresponding to a travel of the piston <NUM> which is only incremental, and which only corresponds to a pre-defined distance between two or more teeth. Repeated operation of the lever <NUM> results in the piston <NUM> moving in pre-defined increments from its start position to its end position, thus intuitively obtaining optimal pressure and brewing time. As a result, a user does not need to have substantial knowledge about how to operate the device, how fast the lever <NUM> should be pressed, nor about how different operation speeds could influence brewing time, pressure, extraction, and final quality of the obtained coffee. Instead, the mechanism will provide the user with live feedback during operation, allowing the user to feel the counter-pressure and speed of the mechanism. As a result, the user will build sufficient operating experience upon using the present coffee press, and will intuitively learn and/or know how to prepare a good coffee without requiring substantial knowledge beforehand. For further ease of use, the coffee press be provided with one or more connective means <NUM> for connecting the coffee press to e.g. a wall. The coffee press may furthermore provide for a cup stand and/or liquid collection container <NUM>, which comprises a grille <NUM> in order for any spilled liquid to seep through and be collected.

The pressing assembly <NUM> of the hand-operated coffee press comprises a retention rod <NUM>, said retention rod <NUM> is rotably coupled to said post <NUM>, and said retention rod <NUM> comprises a second pin <NUM>, wherein the second pin <NUM> and the toothed comb <NUM> are releasably coupled to each other. Repeated operation of the lever <NUM> results in the piston <NUM> moving in pre-defined increments from its starting position to its end position, wherein the first pin <NUM> is the driving force moving the piston <NUM> into an advanced position, while the second pin <NUM> is the retaining force avoiding the piston <NUM> to move back to its starting position. As such, by the present configuration the piston <NUM> is only allowed a one-way movement, from its start position towards its end position, i.e. towards and inside the liquid container <NUM>.

Further shown is a gas spring <NUM>, said gas spring <NUM> comprises a first end 15a and a second end 15b, said first end 15a is coupled to the post <NUM>, and said second end 15b is coupled to the pushing rod <NUM>. The gas spring <NUM> exerts a pressure which aims at moving the piston <NUM> back to its start position, and is particularly useful to restore the pressing assembly <NUM> into its initial state. The pressing assembly <NUM> furthermore comprises a first spring <NUM>, said first spring <NUM> is coupled to the pushing rod <NUM> and to the post <NUM>, and is configured to push the first pin <NUM> towards the toothed comb <NUM>. Similarly, a second spring <NUM> is provided, said second spring <NUM> is coupled to the retention rod <NUM> and to the post <NUM>, and is configured to push the second pin <NUM> towards the toothed comb <NUM>.

It is further shown that the lever <NUM> may comprise a third pin <NUM>, and that the pushing rod <NUM> thereto may comprise a sliding slot <NUM>, said sliding slot <NUM> having axial slot edges 19a,19b, wherein said third pin <NUM> is slidably mounted in between said between said two axial slot edges 19a,19b. The presence of the sliding slot <NUM> comprising two axial slot edges 19a,19b allows the definition of two boundaries of movement of the lever <NUM>. A movement of the third pin <NUM> from the first axial slot edge 19a to the second axial slot edge 19b herein corresponds to a movement of the first pin <NUM> of the pushing rod <NUM> over a distance between two consecutive teeth of the toothed comb <NUM>, allowing the incremental advancement of the piston <NUM> with each lever <NUM> operation. Movement of the third pin <NUM> beyond the first 19a or second axial slot edge 19b herein invokes a rotational movement of the pushing rod <NUM> in respect to the toothed comb <NUM>. As such, by pushing the lever <NUM> further than the boundaries as defined by the axial slot edges 19a,19b, the pushing rod <NUM> can be rotated away from the toothed comb <NUM>, thereby releasing the first pin <NUM> from the toothed comb <NUM>. Furthermore, the retention rod may comprise a fourth pin <NUM>, and the pushing rod <NUM> may therefore comprise an indent <NUM>, wherein said fourth pin <NUM> and said indent <NUM> are configured for a rotational movement of the pushing rod <NUM> in respect to the toothed comb <NUM> to invoke a corresponding rotational movement of the retention rod <NUM> in respect to the toothed comb <NUM>. As such, by pushing the lever <NUM> further than the boundaries as defined by the axial slot edges 19a,19b, the pushing rod <NUM> can be rotated away from the toothed comb <NUM>, thereby releasing the first pin <NUM> from the toothed comb <NUM>. At the same time, the fourth pin <NUM> of the retention rod <NUM> hooks into the indent <NUM> of the pushing rod <NUM>, whereby the retention rod <NUM> can be rotated away from the toothed comb <NUM>, thereby releasing the second pin <NUM> from the toothed comb <NUM>. In this configuration, a movement of the lever <NUM> further than the boundaries as defined by the axial slot edges 19a,19b, thus rotates both the pushing rod <NUM> as the retention rod <NUM>, decoupling both the first pin <NUM> and the second pin <NUM> from the toothed comb <NUM> of the piston <NUM>. As such, said lever <NUM> movement completely decouples the piston <NUM>, allowing it to be returned towards its starting position.

It is shown in the Figures that the piston <NUM> may comprise a pressure-valve <NUM> on the axial side facing the liquid container <NUM>, allowing pressure control inside the liquid container <NUM>. To provide for more detail, <FIG> shows a cross-sectional side view of a piston <NUM> according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. The presence of a pressure valve <NUM> herein serves to avoid overpressure inside the brewing assembly <NUM>. The pressure valve <NUM> thereto comprises a spring <NUM>, providing for the right amount of pressure on the inside of the piston <NUM>. It is further shown that the piston <NUM> is provided with a toothed comb <NUM>, comprising a plurality of teeth 12a. Facing the liquid container, the piston <NUM> comprises a piston plate 10a which liquid- and airtightly fitted onto the piston <NUM> using multiple bearings <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A hand-operated coffee press comprising:
a. a pressing assembly (<NUM>) comprising a post (<NUM>), a pushing rod (<NUM>) comprising a first pin (<NUM>) and a sliding slot (<NUM>) having two axial slot edges (19a, 19b), and a lever (<NUM>) comprising a third pin (<NUM>), wherein said third pin (<NUM>) is slidably mounted between said two axial slot edges (19a, 19b), wherein
i. said lever (<NUM>) is rotably coupled to an axial end (3a) of said post (<NUM>), and wherein said lever (<NUM>) is configured to rotate about an eccentrical axis (<NUM>) within said post (<NUM>), and
ii. said lever (<NUM>) is rotably coupled to an axial end (4a) of said pushing rod (<NUM>), and wherein said lever (<NUM>) and said pushing rod (<NUM>) are configured to rotate about a centrical axis (<NUM>),
b. a brewing assembly (<NUM>) comprising a portafilter (<NUM>), a liquid container (<NUM>) and a piston (<NUM>) comprising a toothed comb (<NUM>), wherein said piston (<NUM>) is configured to move through the liquid container <NUM> to compress a liquid through the portafilter (<NUM>),
wherein the pushing rod (<NUM>) of the pressing assembly (<NUM>) is configured to actuate the piston (<NUM>) of the brewing assembly (<NUM>), wherein the first pin (<NUM>) and the toothed comb (<NUM>) are releasable coupled to each other, and wherein a movement of the third pin (<NUM>) from the first axial slot edge (19a) to the second axial slot edge (19b) corresponds to a movement of the first pin (<NUM>) of the pushing rod (<NUM>) over a distance between two consecutive teeth of the toothed comb (<NUM>).