Beverage brewing device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9844296-B2
Application number	US-201514612809-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 3, 2015
Priority date	Mar 11, 2014
Publication date	Dec 19, 2017
Grant date	Dec 19, 2017

Abstract

A beverage brewing device includes a water tank, a base, a filter, a plug assembly, and an actuator mechanism. The base supports the water tank above a support surface. The plug assembly connects with the water tank and is operable between an open operating position in which water can flow from the water tank through the plug assembly and a closed operating position in which water is precluded from flowing through the plug assembly. The actuator mechanism is movable between a first operating position and a second operating position. The actuator mechanism is cooperates with the plug assembly such that when in the first operating position the plug assembly is in the closed operating position and when in the second operating position the plug assembly is in the open operating position. The actuator mechanism includes an operator actuated surface that is accessible from an exterior of the base.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A beverage brewing device comprising:
a water tank;
a base configured to cooperate with the water tank to support the water tank above a support surface;
a filter connected with the water tank;
a plug assembly connected with the water tank and operable between an open operating position in which water can flow from the water tank through the plug assembly and a closed operating position in which water is precluded from flowing through the plug assembly; and
an actuator mechanism movably connected with the base, the actuator mechanism being movable between a first operating position and a second operating position, the actuator mechanism is configured to cooperate with the plug assembly such that when in the first operating position the plug assembly is in the closed operating position and when in the second operating position the plug assembly is in the open operating position, wherein the actuator mechanism includes an operator actuated surface that is accessible from an exterior of the base and is engaged by an operator for moving the actuator mechanism between the first operating position and the second operating position,
wherein the water tank includes a lower wall having a lower opening, and the plug assembly includes a housing removably connected with the water tank beneath the lower wall and at the lower opening, the housing including an upper wall with a central hole coaxial with the lower opening,
wherein the plug assembly includes a valve located in the plug assembly housing and having a seal configured to cover the central hole, the valve movable between an open position allowing the passage of water through the central hole and a closed position precluding the passage of water through the central hole, and the actuator mechanism is separate from the plug assembly and is configured to directly contact the valve and maintain the valve in the open position when the actuator mechanism is in the second operating position.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the plug assembly threadably connects with the water tank.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the water tank includes an outer lower annular flange configured to cooperate with the base to properly locate the water tank on the base.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the actuator mechanism includes an arm configured to contact the valve, wherein the arm contacts the valve and maintains the valve in the open position when the actuator mechanism is in the second operating position.

5. The device of claim 4 , wherein the valve is biased toward the closed position.

6. The device of claim 5 , further comprising a spring connected with the arm for biasing the actuator mechanism toward the first operating position and the second operating position.

7. The device of claim 5 , wherein the actuator mechanism includes the arm and an axle, wherein the arm pivots about the axle and translates with respect to the base when moving the actuator mechanism from the first operating position toward the second operating position.

8. The device of claim 7 , wherein the actuator mechanism includes a post extending from the arm and a flange having an upper notch and a lower notch, wherein the post is received in the upper notch when the actuator mechanism is in the first operating position and the post is received in the lower notch when the actuator mechanism is in the second operating position.

9. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a carafe, wherein the actuator mechanism includes a locking flange configured to cooperate with an upper edge of the carafe to inhibit removal of the carafe from beneath the water tank when the actuator mechanism is in the second operating position.

10. The device of claim 9 , wherein the locking flange is positioned above the upper edge of the carafe when the actuator mechanism is in the first operating position and the carafe is positioned beneath the plug assembly to receive water flowing through the plug assembly, and the locking flange is positioned below the upper edge of the carafe when the actuator mechanism is in the second operating position and the carafe is positioned beneath the plug assembly to receive water flowing through the plug assembly.

11. The device of claim 10 , wherein the locking flange is configured such that when the actuator mechanism in the second operating position and a force is applied to locking flange by the carafe in a direction to remove the carafe from beneath the water tank, the actuator mechanism is urged toward the first operating position.

12. The device of claim 1 , wherein the base includes an outer side wall having a slot, wherein the actuator mechanism includes a handle that extends through the slot and a hand grip, which defines the operator actuated surface, connects with the handle.

13. The device of claim 12 , wherein the hand grip moves downward from a first position, which is when the actuator mechanism is in the first operating position, toward a second position, which is when the actuator mechanism is in the second operating position.

14. The device of claim 13 , wherein the hand grip connects with an arm which is biased to place the actuator mechanism in either the first operating position or the second operating position depending on a location of the hand grip with respect to the base.

15. A beverage brewing device comprising:
a water tank including a lower wall having a lower opening;
a base configured to cooperate with the water tank to support the water tank above a support surface;
a filter connected with the water tank;
a plug assembly connected with the water tank and operable between an open operating position in which water can flow from the water tank through the plug assembly and a closed operating position in which water is precluded from flowing through the plug assembly, the plug assembly including a housing removably connected with the water tank beneath the lower wall and at the lower opening and having an upper wall, and the filter which is separate from both the water tank and the plug assembly is sandwiched between the upper wall of the housing and the lower wall of the water tank; and
an actuator mechanism movably connected with the base, the actuator mechanism being movable between a first operating position and a second operating position, the actuator mechanism is configured to cooperate with the plug assembly such that when in the first operating position the plug assembly is in the closed operating position and when in the second operating position the plug assembly is in the open operating position, wherein the actuator mechanism includes an operator actuated surface that is accessible from an exterior of the base and is engaged by an operator for moving the actuator mechanism between the first operating position and the second operating position.

16. The device of claim 15 , wherein the plug assembly housing threadably connects with the water tank.

17. The device of claim 15 , further comprising a carafe, wherein the actuator mechanism includes a locking flange and a carafe locating flange, the locking flange configured to cooperate with the carafe to inhibit removal of the carafe from beneath the water tank when the actuator mechanism is in the second operating position and urge the carafe toward the carafe locating flange when the actuator mechanism is moved from the first operating position toward the second operating position.

18. The device of claim 17 , wherein the locking flange is positioned above an upper edge of the carafe when the actuator mechanism is in the first o

Assignees

• Helen Of Troy Ltd

Inventors

• Stein Benjamin
• Johnson Jens
• Worden Iv Morris Elijah
• Bramley Alistair Douglas
• Stowell Davin
• Katz Paul

Classifications

• A47J31/462 Primary

  with an intermediate liquid storage tank · CPC title