Expresso coffeemaker

Claim 2

An electric coffeemaker comprising a lower vessel including a section in which water may be contained, said water-containing section comprising a base having a heating element integrally molded therein, an upper vessel which is releasably secured to said lower vessel, said upper vessel having a pouring spout and a coffee percolate supply means for supplying the coffee percolate to the upper vessel for storage, electrical means including an electrical connector for supplying electrical energy to said heating element, a coffee ground container comprising a hollow pipe-like structure for supplying water from the lower vessel through the coffee grounds in the coffee ground container and into the upper vessel and thermostatic switch means connected in series with said heating element and position in contact with the underside of said base of said water-containing section, said lower vessel and said upper vessel providing good heat conduction between said heating element and the contents of said upper vessel, said thermostatic switch means constructed to provide overload protection for said coffeemaker and to keep the temperature of the contents of said upper vessel substantially within a predetermined temperature range by the cyclic operation of said heating element.

Claim 3

An electric coffeemaker comprising a lower vessel including a section in which water may be contained, said water-containing section comprising a base having a heating element integrally molded therein, an upper vessel which is releasably secured to said lower vessel, said upper vessel having a pouring spout and a coffee percolate supply means for supplying the coffee percolate to the upper vessel for storage, electrical means including an electrical connector for supplying electrical energy to said heating element, a coffee ground container comprising a hollow pipe-like structure for supplying water from the lower vessel through the coffee grounds in the coffee ground container and into the upper vessel and thermostAtic switch means connected in series with said heating element and positioned in contact with the underside of said base of said water-containing section, said thermostatic switch means constructed to provide overload protection for said coffeemaker and to keep the temperature of the contents of said upper vessel substantially within a predetermined temperature range, said thermostatic switch means comprising a thermostatic switch mounting means for holding said thermostatic switch against the underside of said base of said water-containing section of said lower vessel, threaded holes in the underside of said base of said lower vessel which do not extend through said base and securing means in contact with said mounting means and screwed into said threaded holes for securing said thermostatic switch means against said base to said water-containing portion.

Claim 4

An electric coffeemaker comprising a lower vessel including a section in which water may be contained, said water-containing section comprising a base having a heating element integrally molded therein, an upper vessel which is releasably secured to said lower vessel, said upper vessel having a pouring spout and a coffee percolate supply means for supplying the coffee percolate to the upper vessel for storage, electrical means including an electrical connector for supplying electrical energy to said heating element, a coffee ground container comprising a hollow pipe-like structure for supplying water from the lower vessel through the coffee grounds in the coffee ground container and into the upper vessel and thermostAtic switch means connected in series with said heating element and positioned in contact with the underside of said base of said water-containing section, said thermostatic switch means constructed to provide overload protection for said coffeemaker and to keep the temperature of the contents of said upper vessel substantially within a predetermined temperature range, said thermostatic switch means comprising a thermostatic switch mounting means for holding said thermostatic switch against the underside of said base of said water-containing section of said lower vessel, threaded holes in the underside of said base of said lower vessel which do not extend through said base and securing means in contact with said mounting means and screwed into said threaded holes for securing said thermostatic switch means against said base to said water-containing portion.

Claim 5

The coffeemaker of claim 2 wherein the coffee ground containing means comprises a cylindrical wall, a funnel-shaped section that slopes downwardly from the lower end of said cylindrical wall and a hollow pipe that extends downwardly from an aperture at the center of said funnel-shaped section for supplying water to coffee grounds in said coffee ground container, said coffee ground container also comprising at least one inwardly projecting ridge and a removable circular filter disc comprising a notch on its outer periphery, said filter disc also comprising an upwardly projecting handle, said notch on said disc and said ridge being related to that rotation of said filter disc by manipulation of said handle so as to provide for alignment of said notch and said ridge allows said filter disc to be removed from said coffee ground container when it is desired to clean said funnel-shaped section.

Claim 6

An electric coffeemaker comprising a lower vessel including a section in which water may be contained, said water-containing section comprising a base having a heating element integrally molded therein, an upper vessel which is releasably secured to said lower vessel, said upper vessel having a pouring spout and a coffee percolate supply means for supplying the coffee percolate to the upper vessel for storage, electrical means including an electrical connector for supplying electrical energy to said heating element, a coffee ground container comprising a hollow pipe-like structure for supplying water from the lower vessel through the coffee grounds in the coffee ground container and into the upper vessel and thermostatic switch means connected in series with said heating element and positioned in contact with the underside of said base of said water-containing section, said thermostatic switch means constructed to provide overload protection for said coffeemaker and to keep the temperature of the contents of said upper vessel substantially within a predetermined temperature range, said electrical connector and said thermostatic switch means being enclosed by a plastic housing member which comprises the base surface of the coffeemaker, said base surface having an aperture therein, and means for securing said plastic housing member to the lower vessel of the coffeemaker comprising a downwardly extending threaded boss at the center of said base of said water-containing section, an elongated rod threaded at both ends, one end of said rod being secured to said downwardly-extending boss and the other end of said rod projecting through said aperture in said base surface and securing means on said projecting end of said rod for securing said base on said coffeemaker.

Claim 7

An electric coffeemaker comprising a lower vessel including a section in which water may be contained, said water-containing section comprising a base having a heating element integrally molded therein, an upper vessel which is releasably secured to said lower vessel, said upper vessel having a pouring spout and a coffee percolate supply means for supplying the coffee percolate to the upper vessel for storage, electrical means including an electrical connector for supplying electrical energy to said heating element, a coffee ground container comprising a hollow pipe-like structure for supplying water from the lower vessel through the coffee grounds in the coffee ground container and into the upper vessel and thermostatic switch means connected in series with said heating element and positioned in contact with the underside of said base of said water-containing section, said thermostatic switch means constructed to provide overload protection for said coffeemaker and to keep the temperature of the contents of said upper vessel substantially within a predetermined temperature range, said electrical connector and said thermostatic switch means being enclosed by a plastic housing member which comprises the base surface of the coffeemaker, said base surface having an aperture therein, and means for securing said plastic housing member to the lower vessel of the coffeemaker comprising a downwardly extending threaded boss at the center of said base of said water-containing section, an elongated rod threaded at both ends, one end of said rod being secured to said downwardly-extending boss and the other end of said rod projecting through said aperture in said base surface and securing means on said projecting end of said rod for securing said base on said coffeemaker.

Claim 8

The coffeemaker of claim 4 wherein said heating element is C-shaped and said thermostatic switch is mounted intermediate the outer periphery of said downwardly extending boss and the inner periphery of said C-shaped heating element.

Claim 9

The coffeemaker of claim 4 wherein said lower vessel has a downwardly extending annular rim and said plastic housing member has an upwardly extending annular notched surface a portion of which abuts the lower surface of said aNnular rim.

Claim 10

The coffeemaker of claim 4 wherein the coffee ground containing means comprises a cylindrical wall, a funnel-shaped section that slopes downwardly from the lower end of said cylindrical wall and a hollow pipe that extends downwardly from an aperture at the center of said funnel-shaped section for supplying water to coffee grounds in said coffee ground container, said coffee ground container also comprising at least one inwardly projecting ridge and a removable circular filter disc comprising a notch on its outer periphery, said filter disc also comprising an upwardly projecting handle, said notch on said disc and said ridge being related so that rotation of said filter disc by manipulation of said handle so as to provide for alignment of said notch and said ridge allows said filter disc to be removed from said coffee ground container when it is desired to clean said funnel-shaped section.

Claim 11

An electric coffeemaker comprising upper and lower die cast vessels for receiving brewed coffee and water respectively, coupling means on the top of said lower vessel and the bottom of said upper vessel for locking said vessels together in sealed engagement, a brewed coffee delivery tube in said upper vessel communicating with the top of said lower vessel and the top of said upper vessel, a coffee ground container positioned in said lower vessel in obstructing relation to said delivery tube and having a water entry tube which extends to the bottom of said lower vessel whereby water may be forced by pressure through the coffee grounds in said container through said delivery tube into said upper vessel, a heating element in good heat transfer relation with the bottom of said lower vessel, a normally closed thermostatic switch mounted on said bottom and electrically connected in series with said heating element, said thermostatic switch bein constructed to be operative so as to electrically open the current path for said heating element at an elevated temperature after the water in said lower vessel has been forced into said upper vessel, and so as to thereafter repeatedly electrically open and close said current path for said heating element so that the brewed coffee in said upper vessel is kept warm by the cyclic operation of said heating element.

Claim 12

An electric coffeemaker comprising upper and lower die cast vessels for receiving brewed coffee and water respectively, coupling means on the top of said lower vessel and the bottom of said upper vessel for locking said vessels together in sealed engagement, a brewed coffee delivery tube in said upper vessel communicating with the top of said lower vessel and the top of said upper vessel, a coffee ground container positioned in said lower vessel in obstructing relation to said delivery tube and having a water entry tube which extends to the bottom of said lower vessel whereby water may be forced by pressure through the coffee grounds in said container through said delivery tube into said upper vessel, a heating element in good heat transfer relation with the bottom of said lower vessel, a normally closed thermostatic switch mounted on said bottom and electrically connected in series with said heating element, said thermostatic switch bein constructed to be operative so as to electrically open the current path for said heating element at an elevated temperature after the water in said lower vessel has been forced into said upper vessel, and so as to thereafter repeatedly electrically open and close said current path for said heating element so that the brewed coffee in said upper vessel is kept warm by the cyclic operation of said heating element.

Claim 13

The coffeemaker of claim 8 wherein said upper and lower vessels and said coupling means are constructed to provide good heat transfer between said heating element and said upper vessel whereby said heating element supplies an appropriate amount of heat to maintain the brewed coffee in said upper vessel at an elevated temperature when said lower vessel is empty of water and said thermostatic switch is cycling.

Claim 14

The coffeemaker of claim 9 wherein said upper and lower vessels are cylindrical aluminum vessels that have a wall thickness of at least 0.115 inches.

Claim 15

The coffeemaker of claim 9 wherein said coupling means comprises peripherally extending, interlocking ledges are integrally formed on said upper vessel and said lower vessel, said upper vessel ledges and said lower vessel ledges being constructed to engage each other over substantial areas thereof so as to facilitate heat transfer from said lower vessel to said upper vessel.