US3560714A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrically heated coffee pot
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1968-08-08
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Granted: 1971-02-02
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Expires: 1988-08-08
Abstract
Abstract This invention relates to coffee pots; more particularly, to a coffee pot that is heated by electricity; still more particularly, to an electrically heated coffee pot whose heat is controlled by means of light passing through coffee as it is being made.
Inventors
- 👤 Bruce A Mcdonald
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 18:18
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47J; A47J31/00; A47J31/44; A47J31/50; A47J31/505; A47J27/00; A47J27/004; A47J31/54; A47J31/56
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
106 words
Apparatus comprising: a container for liquid having a hollow member extending from a portion thereof and substantially smaller than the remainder of the container, the hollow member being filled with whatever liquid is placed in the container, at least a portion of the hollow member being of a transparent material; means for detecting the transmittancy of liquid in the hollow member, and generating output signals as a function of the transmittancy of the liquid; means for shielding the detecting means from external light; means for heating liquid in the container; and means for controlling the heating means in response to output signals from the detecting means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
106 words
Apparatus comprising: a container for liquid having a hollow member extending from a portion thereof and substantially smaller than the remainder of the container, the hollow member being filled with whatever liquid is placed in the container, at least a portion of the hollow member being of a transparent material; means for detecting the transmittancy of liquid in the hollow member, and generating output signals as a function of the transmittancy of the liquid; means for shielding the detecting means from external light; means for heating liquid in the container; and means for controlling the heating means in response to output signals from the detecting means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the hollow member is located along the lower portion of the container but above the bottom thereof, the hollow member having a capacity and width that is substantially smaller than that of the remainder of the container.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 2 wherein the detecting means comprises a light source and a light detector, with the transparent portion of the hollow member interposed between the light source and detector.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein the transparent portion of the hollow member is substantially flat, so that light from the light source traverses the hollow member at an angle approximately perpendicular thereto.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
74 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein the heating means comprises an electrical heating element and the control means comprises electrical components selectively coupled between the light detector and the heating element, the apparatus further defined by a support for the container, the support comprising a hollow base having a movable top located thereon, the heating element located in the movable top directly under the container, the electrical components located in the hollow base.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
60 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 5 wherein the shielding means comprises a vertically disposed portion of the hollow base on one side thereof that is provided with a horizontally disposed hollow recess and structure that embodies a hollow chamber in the top of the said vertically disposed portion of the hollow base, the light detector being located in the chamber.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 6 wherein the light detector is a photocell.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 6 wherein the light detector is a photoelectric device.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
108 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 6 wherein the light source is mounted in the hollow base directly under the light detector, the hollow member of the container extending into the horizontally deposited recess in the vertically disposed portion of the hollow base between the light source and light detector when the container is located on the movable top; the apparatus further defined by two electric switches located inside of the hollow base for controlling the application of electrical energy to the apparatus, one of the switches being closed upon pressing down oN the movable top with a predetermined amount of force, and opened upon removal of the force.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 9 wherein the light source is an electric light bulb.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
50 words
Apparatus as recited in claim 9 wherein the vertically disposed portion of the hollow base shields the light detector from external light, so that substantially all of the light incident to the light detector is from the light source via the transparent portion of the hollow member of the container.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2502844A
Cited
US3319514A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-02-01 | 1974-08-03 | 1975-02-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-02-01 | 1978-08-03 | 1979-02-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-02-01 | 1982-08-03 | 1983-02-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |