Patent Description:
Various systems and methods for brewing a beverage, such as coffee, are known. Known systems include drip brewing systems in which hot water is brewed through coffee grounds and into a carafe and French press systems in which coffee grounds and hot water are mixed in a container and a water permeable plunger is pressed into the container from above to trap the ground coffee at the bottom of the container.

<CIT> discloses a coffemaker having a brew basket holder mounted pivotally to the housing, and an actuator operable by placing a carafe in the coffeemaker to open an outlet from the brew basket.

According to the present invention there is provided a beverage system as defined in claim <NUM>. The dependent claims define optional features.

According to one embodiment, a beverage system is provided including a housing and a brew basket body mounted to said housing for receiving a fluid. The brew basket body is pivotably mounted to said housing for movement between a retracted position and an extended position. The brew basket body includes a brew chamber for receiving a flavorant and at least one outlet through which fluid exits said brew basket.

In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, in further embodiments said brew basket body includes at least an open first end and a closed second end, said at least one outlet being formed in said second, closed end.

In alternative examples not claimed, a plug operably coupled to a biasing mechanism is arranged within said at least one outlet, said plug being movable between a sealed position and an open position.

Alternative examples not claimed comprise a cap mounted to said second end via said at least one biasing mechanism, said cap being operably coupled to said plug to move said plug between said sealed position and said open position.

In alternative examples not claimed, during movement of said brew basket body between an extended position and a retracted position, said cap is configured to associate with an adjacent cam surface to apply a force to said at least one biasing mechanism.

In alternative examples not claimed, said association of said cap with said cam surface causes said brew basket body to move vertically as said body rotates from said extended position to said retracted position.

In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, in further embodiments when said brew basket body is in said retracted position, said first end of said brew basket body is arranged in sealing contact with an adjacent component of said beverage brewing system.

Alternative examples not claimed comprise a drip stop assembly associated with said brew basket body, said drip stop assembly being rotatable to selectively restrict a flow through said at least one outlet.

In embodiments in accordance with the invention, said at least one outlet includes a siphon having a pipe fluidly coupled to said brew chamber and extending from said a sidewall of said brew basket body.

Movement of said brew basket body from a retracted position to an extended position pinches said pipe to restrict a flow there through.

A support is connected to said housing and said brew basket body is insertable into said support.

A collar is arranged within a hollow interior of said support, said collar being rotatable relative to said support.

Said collar is coupled via a linkage to said housing.

In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, in further embodiments said collar maintains a relative position during said movement of the brew basket body between said retracted position and said extended position.

In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, in further embodiments said brew basket body includes at least one protrusion associated with said collar such that said brew basket body rotates with said collar relative to said support.

According to another embodiment, a beverage system includes a housing and a brew basket body connected to said housing. The brew basket body is movable between a retracted position and an extended position. When said brew basket body is in said retracted position, said brew basket body is arranged in sealing contact with an adjacent component of said beverage system.

In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, in further embodiments said adjacent component of said beverage system includes a shower head.

According to another embodiment, a beverage system includes a housing a brew basket body. The brew basket body is connected to the housing and is movable between a retracted position and an extended position. The brew basket body includes at least one outlet. The at least one outlet is sealed when said brew basket body is moved from said retracted position to said extended position.

In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, in further embodiments comprising an indicator that identifies when said brew basket body is in said retracted position.

In addition to one or more of the features described above, or as an alternative, in further embodiments comprising an indicator that identifies when said at least one outlet of said brew basket body is sealed.

According to another embodiment, a beverage system includes a housing and a brew basket body. The brew basket body is connected to the housing and is pivotable between a retracted position and an extended position. The brew body includes at least one outlet. An orientation of the brew basket body remains generally constant during movement between the retracted position and the extended position.

The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming a part of the specification embodies several aspects of the present disclosure and, together with the description, serves to explain the principles of the disclosure. In the drawings:.

Aspects and embodiments disclosed herein include a system and method for preparing various brewed beverages. Although the disclosure is described herein with reference to preparing a brewed coffee beverage, preparation of other brewed beverages is within the scope of the disclosure. As the term is used herein, "coffee" refers to a beverage including solids extracted from coffee beans and dissolved in water. Brewed coffee is typically prepared by passing hot water through dried and ground coffee beans, referred to herein as "ground coffee. " Solids from the ground coffee are dissolved in the hot water as it passes there through.

Referring now to <FIG>, a schematic diagram of an example of a basic automatic beverage brewing system <NUM>, such as a coffee maker for example, is illustrated in more detail. The apparatus includes a housing <NUM>, a reservoir <NUM>, a heating mechanism <NUM>, a shower head <NUM>, and a brew basket assembly <NUM>. The reservoir <NUM>, heating mechanism <NUM>, showerhead <NUM>, and brew basket <NUM> are arranged sequentially in fluid communication. Upon activation of the system <NUM>, water or another fluid stored within the reservoir <NUM>, is provided to a heating mechanism <NUM>. After being heated to a desired temperature, the water is provided to the shower head <NUM>. The shower head <NUM> is aligned with and disposed vertically above the brew basket assembly <NUM>. The water is configured to flow through one or more holes formed in the shower head <NUM> onto coffee grounds or another flavorant contained within the brew basket assembly <NUM>. The fluid containing a portion of the flavorant, is provided to a container <NUM> via an outlet formed near the bottom of the brew basket assembly <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, a flow meter <NUM> may be arranged within a conduit extending between the water reservoir <NUM> and the heating mechanism <NUM>. As shown, the water reservoir <NUM> may be vertically aligned with the flow meter <NUM> such that water is fed to the system <NUM>, and more specifically to the flow meter <NUM>, by gravity. The flow meter <NUM> is configured to monitor an amount of water passing there through, which is generally indicative of the amount of water provided to the shower head <NUM>. Various types of flow meters are within the scope of the disclosure. For example, the flow meter <NUM> may be a rotatable paddle wheel where each rotation generates a signal indicating that a known amount of water has passed through the flow meter <NUM>. It should be understood that the beverage brewing system <NUM> illustrated and described herein is intended as an example only, and any other apparatus for preparing a brewed beverage, for example an apparatus including a pump for moving water there through, is within the scope of the disclosure.

Referring now to <FIG>, the brew basket assembly <NUM> is illustrated in more detail. The brew basket assembly <NUM> includes a support <NUM> pivotally mounted to a portion of the housing <NUM>, such as a sidewall <NUM> thereof for example, for movement between a retracted position (<FIG>) and an extended position (<FIG>). With reference to <FIG>, the support <NUM> has a generally hollow interior <NUM> and a cross-sectional area of the hollow interior <NUM> generally decreases between a first open end <NUM> and a second open end <NUM> such that the support <NUM> has at least a partially conical shape. In one embodiment, a tab <NUM> protrudes from an exterior of the support <NUM> and is received within a corresponding track <NUM> formed in an adjacent surface <NUM> of the housing <NUM> when the brew basket assembly <NUM> is in the retracted position.

Mounted concentrically within a portion of the support <NUM>, such as adjacent the first end <NUM> thereof for example, is a collar <NUM>. In one embodiment, the collar <NUM> is arranged within a recessed portion of the support <NUM> such that an interior surface <NUM> of the collar <NUM> is substantially flush with an adjacent interior surface <NUM> of the support <NUM>. In other embodiments, however, the collar includes a lip for preventing water ingress into the assembly <NUM>. The collar <NUM> is attached via a linkage <NUM> (see <FIG>) to a portion of the housing <NUM>, such that collar <NUM> is configured to rotate relative to the support <NUM> as the support <NUM> pivots between the retracted and extended positions. In one embodiment, the linkage <NUM> is configured to maintain a relative positioning of the rotatable collar <NUM> during the movement of the support <NUM>.

A brew basket <NUM> is receivable within the hollow interior <NUM> of the support <NUM> and the collar <NUM>. As best shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the brew basket <NUM> includes at least one sidewall that defines a hollow brew chamber <NUM> configured to receive a permanent or temporary filter (not shown) for holding a volume of flavorant, such as ground coffee for example. In the illustrated, non-limiting embodiment, the brew basket <NUM> has a generally conical shape and is generally complementary to the interior surfaces <NUM>, <NUM> of the support <NUM> and collar <NUM>. Arranged adjacent a first open end <NUM> of the brew basket <NUM> is a handle <NUM>. The handle <NUM> may be used, via application of a force thereto, to pivot the brew basket assembly <NUM> between the retracted and extended positions. In embodiments where a permanent filter (not shown) is receivable within the brew basket <NUM>, the permanent filter may include a handle complementary to and disposed in overlapping arrangement with handle <NUM>, such that an operator of the beverage system <NUM> may easily empty the contents of the brew basket <NUM> and permanent filter, such as by turning the brew basket <NUM> upside down while holding both the handle <NUM> and the corresponding handle on the permanent filter for example.

Extending outwardly from an exterior surface <NUM> of the brew basket <NUM> is at least one protrusion <NUM>. The at least one protrusion <NUM>, best shown in <FIG>, is configured to abut an adjacent portion of the collar <NUM> to restrict rotation of the brew basket <NUM> relative to the collar <NUM>. Because the brew basket <NUM> and the collar <NUM> are configured to rotate together, the brew basket <NUM> similarly maintains a relative position during movement of the support <NUM> between the retracted and the extended positions. In one embodiment, as the support <NUM> rotates between the retracted position and the extended position, the brew basket <NUM> remains in a position such that the handle <NUM> is always arranged at the front of the beverage system <NUM>, facing an operator (see <FIG>).

At least one outlet <NUM> (best shown in <FIG>) is formed near a closed second end <NUM> of the brew basket <NUM>. The at least one outlet <NUM> provides an opening through which fluid drains from the brew basket <NUM> to an adjacent container <NUM>. The flow of fluid through the outlet <NUM> may be selectively controlled. In one example not claimed, the brew basket assembly <NUM> includes a drip stop assembly <NUM> configured to selectively block the flow of a brewed beverage from the brew basket assembly <NUM>, such as to allow the container <NUM> within which the brewed beverage is being collected to be changed. The drip stop assembly <NUM> includes a movable collar <NUM> mounted to the support <NUM> and configured to cooperate with the at least one outlet <NUM> formed near the second end <NUM> of the brew basket <NUM>. The drip stop collar <NUM> has a specific geometric configuration including at least one gasket <NUM> and is rotatable between a first position (<FIG>) and a second position (<FIG>). When the drip stop collar <NUM> is in the first position, the geometric configuration and the at least one gasket <NUM> are arranged to allow the brewed beverage to drip from at least one outlet <NUM> of the brew basket <NUM>. When the collar <NUM> is in the second position, the geometric configuration and the at least one gasket <NUM> interfere with the at least one outlet <NUM> to block a flow of fluid there through.

Referring again to <FIG>, in another example not claimed, a plug <NUM> may be associated with each outlet <NUM> and may be movable between a closed position (in contact with an adjacent surface) and an open position (separated from the adjacent surface by a distance) to selectively allow the fluid to flow there through. A biasing mechanism <NUM> may be configured to bias the plug <NUM> into the closed position. In the illustrated example, not claimed, of <FIG>, a cap <NUM> operably coupled to the plug <NUM> is movably mounted adjacent the second end <NUM> of the brew basket <NUM> with at least one biasing mechanism <NUM>. Association of the brew basket <NUM> with the body <NUM> may be configured to apply a force to the biasing mechanism <NUM> to open the plug <NUM>. In one example not claimed, illustrated in <FIG>, one or more sloped tracks <NUM>, configured as cam surfaces may be formed in the interior surface <NUM> of the support <NUM>. When the brew basket <NUM> and cap <NUM> are positioned within the interior <NUM> of the support <NUM>, a protrusion <NUM> formed in the cap <NUM> engages a complementary track <NUM> of the support <NUM>. As the support <NUM> is rotates from an extended position to a retracted position, the movement of the protrusion <NUM> within the track <NUM> not only vertically lifts the brew basket <NUM> relative to the support <NUM>, but also applies a force to the at least one biasing mechanism <NUM> causing the plug <NUM> to move to the open position. The vertical movement of the brew basket <NUM> relative to the support <NUM> moves the first end <NUM> of the brew basket <NUM> into contact with an adjacent surface, such as a mating ring on the shower head <NUM> for example.

In an embodiment according to the invention, illustrated in <FIG>, the at least one outlet <NUM> includes a siphon having a pipe <NUM> fluidly coupled to the brew chamber <NUM> and extending parallel to or at an angle to a sidewall <NUM> of the brew chamber <NUM> such that an exit point <NUM> of the pipe <NUM> is disposed vertically below the lowest surface holding fluids in the brew chamber <NUM>. In such embodiments, fluid is configured to flow out of the brew basket <NUM> in a siphoned manner if during the brewing process at least enough water has been poured into the brew chamber <NUM> to completely fill the bend <NUM> in the pipe <NUM>. A brew basket <NUM> having a siphoned stream provides the added benefits of reduced splashing due to a more laminar flow and a clean cut off with minimal dripping at the end of a brew operation. To selectively control the flow of fluid through pipe <NUM>, the support <NUM> or collar <NUM> is configured to apply a pressure to or squeeze the pipe <NUM> to restrict a flow there through when the support <NUM> is rotated to an extended position relative to the housing <NUM>.

The system <NUM> may include one or more indicators, such as a light for example, configured to indicate to user whether the brew basket assembly <NUM> is in the retracted position ready for a brewing operation. Alternatively, or in addition, the system may <NUM> include one or more indicators configured to indicate whether the at least one outlet <NUM> of the brew basket <NUM> is open to allow a brewed beverage to flow freely to an adjacent container <NUM>.

The use of the terms "a" and "an" and "the" and similar referents in the context of describing the disclosure (especially in the context of the following claims) is to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., "such as") provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the disclosure and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the disclosure unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the disclosure.

Claim 1:
A beverage system, comprising:
a housing (<NUM>);
a brew basket (<NUM>) connected to said housing (<NUM>) and being movable between a retracted position and an extended position, said brew basket (<NUM>) including at least one outlet (<NUM>), wherein said at least one outlet (<NUM>) is sealed when said brew basket (<NUM>) is moved from said retracted position to said extended position; and
a support (<NUM>) pivotally mounted to a portion of the housing (<NUM>);
a collar (<NUM>) mounted concentrically within a portion of the support (<NUM>);
the collar (<NUM>) being attached via a linkage (<NUM>) to a portion of the housing (<NUM>) and configured to rotate relative to the support (<NUM>) as the support (<NUM>) pivots between the retracted and extended positions of the brew basket (<NUM>);
the brew basket (<NUM>) being receivable within a hollow interior (<NUM>) of the support (<NUM>) and the collar (<NUM>);
said beverage system being characterised in that
said at least one outlet (<NUM>) includes a siphon having a pipe (<NUM>) fluidly coupled to a brew chamber (<NUM>) of said brew basket (<NUM>); and
the support (<NUM>) or the collar (<NUM>) is configured to apply a pressure to, or to squeeze, the pipe (<NUM>) to restrict a flow therethrough when the support (<NUM>) is rotated to an extended position relative to the housing (<NUM>).