US3869968A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Coffee maker
Assignee: West Bend Co
•
Filing: 1973-09-24
•
Granted: 1975-03-11
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Expires: 1993-09-24
Abstract
Abstract A coffee maker wherein a gravity fed water boiler receives water in a lower portion thereof from a water reservoir having its outlet substantially above the upper portion of said boiler; said boiler having an outlet at its upper portion for delivering hot water to a coffee brewing basket; a boiler heater in said boiler; said boiler heater disposed to create a temperature gradient between the upper and lower portions of the boiler; a thermostatic switch disposed to sense a shut-off temperature substantially below the boiling point of water; said thermostatic switch disposed at an intermediate location between the upper and lower portions of said boiler; said thermostatic switch adapted to respond to said shut-off temperature at said intermediate location and disposed to de-energize said boiler heater when flow of water from said reservoir into said heater is depleted; and a coffee pot heater having means for transferring heat to said boiler to maintain a temperature at said thermostatic switch and to thereby maintain said boiler heater de-energized during the non-brewing portion of the cycle.
Inventors
- 👤 Russell E Ihlenfeld
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 20:25
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47J; A47J31/00; A47J31/44; A47J31/54; A47J31/542; A47J31/04; A47J31/057; A47J31/0573
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
432 words
In a coffee maker: a frame; a water reservoir supported on said frame; said water reservoir having a water outlet; a water boiler supported on said frame; said water boiler having upper and lower portions; said boiler having a cold water inlet in its lower portion; a first conduit means disposed to conduct water from said outlet of said reservoir into said inlet of said boiler at said lower portion thereof; an electric resistance heater in said boiler; said boiler having a hot water outlet at said upper portion thereof; a second conduit means communicating with said outlet of said boiler; said second conduit means extending upwardly above said boiler and having a hot water delivery portion adapted and disposed to deliver hot water to an upper portion of a coffee brewer, said resistance heater disposed in said boiler so as to be surrounded by water therein and to cause a temperature gradiant in said water ranging between the cold water temperature in said lower portion of said boiler to a water boiling temperature near said upper portion of said boiler; a normally closed thermostatic switch electrically coupled with said resistance heater and disposed to sense the temperature of said boiler at an intermediate location between said upper and lower portions thereof; said normally closed thermostatic switch adapted to open and de-energize said resistance heater in response to a shut-off temperature substantially below that of boiling water at said intermediate location between upper and lower portions of said heater, whereby said heater thermally dispenses hot water upwardly through said second conduit until water has gravitated from said reservoir to a level belOw said outlet in said upper portion of said boiler at which time hot water ceases to rise in said second conduit and said resistance heater continues to heat the remaining water in said boiler, whereupon the temperature gradiant changes until the temperature at said intermediate location of said boiler has been elevated to said shut-off temperature whereupon said thermostatic switch responds to said shut-off temperature and de-energizes said resistance heater; said frame further supporting a coffee pot heater; said coffee pot heater adapted to maintain a pot of coffee at a desired serving temperature; and means thermally coupled with said boiler and disposed and adapted to transfer heat from said coffee pot heater to said boiler for holding the temperature thereof such that a temperature is maintained at said intermediate location of said boiler to maintain said thermostatic switch in open position and thereby maintaining said electrical resistance heater de-energized to prevent boiling of said remaining water in said boiler.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
432 words
In a coffee maker: a frame; a water reservoir supported on said frame; said water reservoir having a water outlet; a water boiler supported on said frame; said water boiler having upper and lower portions; said boiler having a cold water inlet in its lower portion; a first conduit means disposed to conduct water from said outlet of said reservoir into said inlet of said boiler at said lower portion thereof; an electric resistance heater in said boiler; said boiler having a hot water outlet at said upper portion thereof; a second conduit means communicating with said outlet of said boiler; said second conduit means extending upwardly above said boiler and having a hot water delivery portion adapted and disposed to deliver hot water to an upper portion of a coffee brewer, said resistance heater disposed in said boiler so as to be surrounded by water therein and to cause a temperature gradiant in said water ranging between the cold water temperature in said lower portion of said boiler to a water boiling temperature near said upper portion of said boiler; a normally closed thermostatic switch electrically coupled with said resistance heater and disposed to sense the temperature of said boiler at an intermediate location between said upper and lower portions thereof; said normally closed thermostatic switch adapted to open and de-energize said resistance heater in response to a shut-off temperature substantially below that of boiling water at said intermediate location between upper and lower portions of said heater, whereby said heater thermally dispenses hot water upwardly through said second conduit until water has gravitated from said reservoir to a level belOw said outlet in said upper portion of said boiler at which time hot water ceases to rise in said second conduit and said resistance heater continues to heat the remaining water in said boiler, whereupon the temperature gradiant changes until the temperature at said intermediate location of said boiler has been elevated to said shut-off temperature whereupon said thermostatic switch responds to said shut-off temperature and de-energizes said resistance heater; said frame further supporting a coffee pot heater; said coffee pot heater adapted to maintain a pot of coffee at a desired serving temperature; and means thermally coupled with said boiler and disposed and adapted to transfer heat from said coffee pot heater to said boiler for holding the temperature thereof such that a temperature is maintained at said intermediate location of said boiler to maintain said thermostatic switch in open position and thereby maintaining said electrical resistance heater de-energized to prevent boiling of said remaining water in said boiler.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein: means is provided for electrically energizing said resistance element of said coffee pot heater independently of said thermostatic switch.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein: said thermostatic switch is thermally conductively coupled to an outer side of said boiler housing at said intermediate location and thereby remote from direct contact of liquid in said boiler housing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
111 words
In a coffee maker; a water boiler housing having an electrical boiler heater; a thermostatic switch coupled to said boiler heater for electrically energizing and de-energizing it; said thermostatic switch disposed to sense the temperature of said boiler for controlling said heater; a coffee pot heater; and thermally conductive means disposed and adapted to transfer heat from said coffee pot heater to said boiler to thereby hold said thermostatic switch at a temperature to maintain said boiler heater de-energized after water flow through said boiler has been reduced and depleted and after said thermostatic switch has initially responded to an increase in boiler temperature which has thereby de-energized said boiler heater.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
111 words
In a coffee maker; a water boiler housing having an electrical boiler heater; a thermostatic switch coupled to said boiler heater for electrically energizing and de-energizing it; said thermostatic switch disposed to sense the temperature of said boiler for controlling said heater; a coffee pot heater; and thermally conductive means disposed and adapted to transfer heat from said coffee pot heater to said boiler to thereby hold said thermostatic switch at a temperature to maintain said boiler heater de-energized after water flow through said boiler has been reduced and depleted and after said thermostatic switch has initially responded to an increase in boiler temperature which has thereby de-energized said boiler heater.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
111 words
In a coffee maker; a water boiler housing having an electrical boiler heater; a thermostatic switch coupled to said boiler heater for electrically energizing and de-energizing it; said thermostatic switch disposed to sense the temperature of said boiler for controlling said heater; a coffee pot heater; and thermally conductive means disposed and adapted to transfer heat from said coffee pot heater to said boiler to thereby hold said thermostatic switch at a temperature to maintain said boiler heater de-energized after water flow through said boiler has been reduced and depleted and after said thermostatic switch has initially responded to an increase in boiler temperature which has thereby de-energized said boiler heater.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
111 words
In a coffee maker; a water boiler housing having an electrical boiler heater; a thermostatic switch coupled to said boiler heater for electrically energizing and de-energizing it; said thermostatic switch disposed to sense the temperature of said boiler for controlling said heater; a coffee pot heater; and thermally conductive means disposed and adapted to transfer heat from said coffee pot heater to said boiler to thereby hold said thermostatic switch at a temperature to maintain said boiler heater de-energized after water flow through said boiler has been reduced and depleted and after said thermostatic switch has initially responded to an increase in boiler temperature which has thereby de-energized said boiler heater.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
137 words
The invention as defined in claim 4 wherein said water boiler housing includes upper and lower portions and said thermostatic switch is disposed to sense temperature at an intermediate location between said upper and lower portions of said boiler housing; said thermostatic switch adapted to respond to an elevated temperature below the boiling point of said liquid to thereby de-energize said heater; said intermediate location being above said inlet; said electrical boiler heater having a pair of portions extending generally in upward and downward directions; said pair of heater portions straddling said intermediate location above said inlet to provide for upward thermal flow of unheated liquid from said inlet to said intermediate location to prevent the occurrence of said elevated temperature at said intermediate location until flow of unheated liquid into said inlet reaches a predetermined minimum.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
74 words
The invention as defined in claim 5, wherein: said pair of heater portions being upright U-shaped portions; and an inverted U-shaped heater portion integral with said pair of upright U-shaped heater portions; said inverted U-shaped heater portion being generally above said intermediate location; said boiler heater having opposite end portions integral with said upright U-shaped portions; said opposite end portions of said boiler heater extending outward through said upper portion of said boiler housing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The invention as defined in claim 6, wherein: said liquid outlet is disposed between said opposite end portions of said boiler heater.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-03-10 | 1978-09-09 | 1979-03-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-10 | 1982-09-09 | 1983-03-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-10 | 1986-09-09 | 1987-03-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |