Abstract A spacer for positioning intermediate the bottom of a beverage container and a planar heating surface of an electrically heated hot plate of a coffee maker is formed as a continuous heat conductive wire element positioned to rest immediately above and in contact with the planar surface to support a beverage container and to space said container a small distance above the heat source. The spacer may be fabricated of a stainless steel wire of suitable dimension such as one of approximately 1/16 of an inch in diameter, and may be bent in a form which provides uniform support for a coffee pot over the surface of the hot plate. The spacer is secured in place by means of lateral arms which are attached by means of a hinge to the base of the apparatus so that the spacer can be made to swivel upwardly about the hinge and out of the way to facilitate cleaning or to permit the option of nonuse of the spacer if so desired. By use of the appropriate detent means, the spacer can be urged in an operative, or alternatively, in an inoperative position.
In an automatic coffee maker having an electrically heated hot plate having a planar heated surface adapted to support a coffee pot for maintaining a beverage at a constant elevated temperature, the improvement comprising a spacer positioned intermediate the pot and the planar surface of a hot plate to prevent excessive heating of coffee in the pot, the spacer comprising a continuous heat conductive wire element shaped to rest immediately above and in contact with the planar surface of the heat source to support a coffee pot and to space the pot at a small distance above the heat source, arm portions on the wire element extending laterally away from the hot plate in one direction, the arm portions being retained in pivotal retention in hinge means on said hot plate, the wire element being resilient, and wherein the wire element, when positioned in either vertical or horizontal position, is under tension sufficient to exert slight pressure against the hinges to retain the wire element in position, whereby the spacer is held in place over the hot plate when the spacer is in operating position and whereby the spacer can swivel upwardly to an approximately vertical position to permit cleaning of the surface of the hot plate or use of the surface without the spacer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
215 words
In an automatic coffee maker having an electrically heated hot plate having a planar heated surface adapted to support a coffee pot for maintaining a beverage at a constant elevated temperature, the improvement comprising a spacer positioned intermediate the pot and the planar surface of a hot plate to prevent excessive heating of coffee in the pot, the spacer comprising a continuous heat conductive wire element shaped to rest immediately above and in contact with the planar surface of the heat source to support a coffee pot and to space the pot at a small distance above the heat source, arm portions on the wire element extending laterally away from the hot plate in one direction, the arm portions being retained in pivotal retention in hinge means on said hot plate, the wire element being resilient, and wherein the wire element, when positioned in either vertical or horizontal position, is under tension sufficient to exert slight pressure against the hinges to retain the wire element in position, whereby the spacer is held in place over the hot plate when the spacer is in operating position and whereby the spacer can swivel upwardly to an approximately vertical position to permit cleaning of the surface of the hot plate or use of the surface without the spacer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The device of claim 1, wherein the hinge is provided with at least two detent portions, one urging positioning of the spacer in the horizontal operative position and the other urging the spacer to maintain a vertical position.