COVER OF A KNOCKBOX BAR FOR ESPRESSO COFFEE MACHINES

Abstract

Disclosed is a substantially tubular device reversibly applicable to a knockbox bar for espresso coffee machines to cover the bar. The device is elastically deformable and is applicable to a knockbox bar by spreading a slot extending longitudinally into the device over the entire length thereof. The device protects the knockbox bar on which it is applied from both the impact against the filter holder assembly and the coffee powder ejected therefrom. The device includes, close to a first end, flaps arranged longitudinally allowing easy cleaning of the filter edge from any powder possibly compacted therein. The device further includes, close to a second end opposite the first, grooves acting as facilitated cutting lines and by virtue of which it is possible to shorten, if required, the device so as to adapt it to the length of the knockbox bar to which it is be applied.

Claims

1. A device which is reversibly connectable to a knockbox bar for espresso coffee machines so as to cover said bar at least partially, said device being elongated in shape so as to comprise a first end and a second end opposite to said first end, said device extending from said first end to said second end in the longitudinal direction, said device comprising: a wall extending in said longitudinal direction, said wall being at least partially concave so as to delimit, at least partially, a cavity also extending in said longitudinal direction, said wall being partially delimited by a first and a second edge mutually opposite to each other and each of which extending in said longitudinal direction, said wall, at least at said cavity, being elastically deformable so as to reduce the curvature of said wall, said cavity acting as a seat where a knockbox bar for espresso coffee machines is housable, at least partially, following an elastic deformation of said wall, at least at said cavity, which has reduced the curvature thereof, when a knockbox bar for espresso coffee machines is housed, at least partially, in said cavity, said knockbox bar being: at least partially covered by said wall, reversibly connected to said wall due to an elastic return of the wall and de-housable from said cavity by elastically deforming said wall, at least at said cavity, so as to reduce the curvature of said wall; a plurality of reliefs each of which protruding, from a first portion of said wall, from the opposite side with respect to said cavity, each of said reliefs being elongated in shape and extending, at least partially, in a direction which is not orthogonal to said longitudinal direction, wherein said first portion of said wall is closer to said first end than to said second end, a further portion of said wall, consecutive to said first portion and further away from said first end than said first portion, being devoid of said reliefs.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein said wall, at least at said cavity, is in the shape of a cylindrical wall portion, the generatrixes of which extend in said longitudinal direction.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein said cylindrical wall portion, and said cavity and said first and second edges therewith, extend from said first end to said second end.

4. The device according to claim 3, wherein said first and second edges are opposite to each other so that said wall, at least at said cavity, is substantially in the shape of a hollow cylindrical element extending from said first end to said second end and comprising a through slot also extending in said longitudinal direction from said first end to said second end, said first and second edges corresponding to two lips of said slot, respectively, so that a knockbox bar is housable, at least partially, inside said hollow cylindrical element or de-housable from the hollow cylindrical element by elastically spreading said slot.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein said reliefs are placed side by side.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein said first portion of said wall extends from said first edge to said second edge.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein each of said reliefs extends in said longitudinal direction.

8. The device according to claim 1, further comprising one or more non-through grooves obtained in said wall at a second portion of the wall, on the opposite side with respect to said cavity, said second portion of said wall being closer to said second end than to said first end, said further portion of said wall being interposed between said first and second portions of said wall, said grooves being placed side by side and each of them extending from said first edge to said second edge.

9. The device according to claim 2, wherein each of said reliefs extends in said longitudinal direction.

10. The device according to claim 3, wherein each of said reliefs extends in said longitudinal direction.

11. The device according to claim 4, wherein each of said reliefs extends in said longitudinal direction.

12. The device according to claim 5, wherein each of said reliefs extends in said longitudinal direction.

13. The device according to claim 6, wherein each of said reliefs extends in said longitudinal direction.

14. The device according to claim 2, further comprising one or more non-through grooves obtained in said wall at a second portion of the wall, on the opposite side with respect to said cavity, said second portion of said wall being closer to said second end than to said first end, said further portion of said wall being interposed between said first and second portions of said wall, said grooves being placed side by side and each of them extending from said first edge to said second edge.

15. The device according to claim 3, further comprising one or more non-through grooves obtained in said wall at a second portion of the wall, on the opposite side with respect to said cavity, said second portion of said wall being closer to said second end than to said first end, said further portion of said wall being interposed between said first and second portions of said wall, said grooves being placed side by side and each of them extending from said first edge to said second edge.

16. The device according to claim 4, further comprising one or more non-through grooves obtained in said wall at a second portion of the wall, on the opposite side with respect to said cavity, said second portion of said wall being closer to said second end than to said first end, said further portion of said wall being interposed between said first and second portions of said wall, said grooves being placed side by side and each of them extending from said first edge to said second edge.

17. The device according to claim 5, further comprising one or more non-through grooves obtained in said wall at a second portion of the wall, on the opposite side with respect to said cavity, said second portion of said wall being closer to said second end than to said first end, said further portion of said wall being interposed between said first and second portions of said wall, said grooves being placed side by side and each of them extending from said first edge to said second edge.

18. The device according to claim 6, further comprising one or more non-through grooves obtained in said wall at a second portion of the wall, on the opposite side with respect to said cavity, said second portion of said wall being closer to said second end than to said first end, said further portion of said wall being interposed between said first and second portions of said wall, said grooves being placed side by side and each of them extending from said first edge to said second edge.

19. The device according to claim 7, further comprising one or more non-through grooves obtained in said wall at a second portion of the wall, on the opposite side with respect to said cavity, said second portion of said wall being closer to said second end than to said first end, said further portion of said wall being interposed between said first and second portions of said wall, said grooves being placed side by side and each of them extending from said first edge to said second edge.

20. The device according to claim 9, further comprising one or more non-through grooves obtained in said wall at a second portion of the wall, on the opposite side with respect to said cavity, said second portion of said wall being closer to said second end than to said first end, said further portion of said wall being interposed between said first and second portions of said wall, said grooves being placed side by side and each of them extending from said first edge to said second edge.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0054] Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of embodiments thereof and from the accompanying drawing (FIG. 1), given by way of mere non-limiting example, which shows a perspective view of a device of the invention. The scale and proportions of the various depicted elements do not necessarily correspond to the real ones.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0055] FIG. 1 shows a device 1 of the invention, which is reversibly connectable to a knockbox bar for espresso coffee machines so as to cover said bar at least partially. The device 1 is elongated in shape so as to comprise a first end 2 and a second end 3 opposite to the end 2. More precisely, the device 1 comprises a wall 4 preferably extending from the end 2 to the end 3 in the longitudinal direction. The wall 4 is at least partially concave, so as to delimit, at least partially, a cavity 5 also extending in the longitudinal direction, preferably from the end 2 to the end 3. The wall 4 is partially delimited by a first edge 6 and a second edge 7 which are mutually opposite to each other and each of which extending in the longitudinal direction, preferably from the end 2 to the end 3. As can be seen in the figure, the wall 4 is preferably in the shape of a cylindrical wall portion, the generatrixes of which extend in a longitudinal direction. More preferably, the edges 6 and 7 are opposite to each other so that the wall 4 is substantially in the shape of a hollow cylindrical element (i.e. of a tubular element) extending from the end 2 to the end 3 and comprising a through slot also extending in the longitudinal direction from the end 2 to the end 3. The edges 6 and 7 correspond to the two lips of the aforesaid slot.

[0056] Incidentally, like the wall 4, the device 1 extends in the longitudinal direction from the end 2 to the end 3.

[0057] The wall 4 is elastically deformable (at least at the cavity 5) so as to reduce the curvature of said wall 4 (i.e. so as to reduce the deviation of the wall 4 from a flat development). For this purpose, the wall 4 is preferably made of silicone and/or polyurethane rubber and/or polyvinyl chloride and/or a similar material.

[0058] The cavity 5 acts as a seat where a knockbox bar for espresso coffee machines is housable, at least partially, by elastically deforming the wall 4 so as to reduce the curvature thereof. When a knockbox bar is at least partially housed in the cavity 5, said bar is at least partially covered by the wall 4 and reversibly connected to the latter (i.e. to the device 1) due to the elastic return of said wall 4. In order to de-house a knockbox bar from the cavity 5 (and therefore disconnect the device 1 from said bar), it is simply necessary to deform the wall 4 elastically again so as to reduce the curvature thereof. Since the knockbox bars are substantially cylindrical and the wall 4 is preferably in the shape of a hollow cylindrical element, the device 1 tends to adhere to the knockbox bar to which it is applied, covering it almost entirely. In addition to this, since the edges 6 and 7 are preferably opposite to each other so as to correspond to the two lips of the aforementioned through slot which extends into the wall 4, in order to house a knockbox bar in the cavity 5, or to de-house said bar from said cavity 5, it is necessary to elastically spread the aforesaid slot.

[0059] The device 1 comprises one or more reliefs 8 projecting from a portion 9 of the wall 4, on the opposite side with respect to the cavity 5 (i.e. outwards, from the outer surface of the wall 4). The reliefs 8 are elongated in shape, so as to appear as “flaps”, and extend, at least partially, in a direction which is not orthogonal to the longitudinal direction in which the wall 4 extends (and the device 1 therewith). Preferably, the device 1 comprises a plurality of reliefs 8 placed side by side so that the portion 9 of the wall 4 appears “in relief”. More preferably, the reliefs 8 are mutually parallel and extend in the longitudinal direction. The portion 9 preferably extends from the edge 6 to the edge 7. The reliefs 8 are preferably present on an entire cylindrical section of the wall 4. The portion 9 is preferably off-center. More precisely, the portion 9 is closer to the end 2 than to the end 3.

[0060] As can be seen in the FIGURE, the reliefs 8 are obtainable by creating a plurality of adjacent grooves on the outer surface of the wall 4. In fact, two adjacent grooves extending into the wall 4 so as to delimit a ridge are equivalent to a relief projecting from said wall 4.

[0061] The device 1 preferably comprises one or more non-through grooves 10 obtained in the wall 4 in a second portion 11 of the latter, on the opposite side with respect to the cavity 5 (i.e. outwards, from the outer surface of the wall 4). The grooves 10 are placed side by side and are preferably arranged orthogonally to the longitudinal direction in which the device 1 extends. Each groove 10 preferably extends from the edge 6 to the edge 7. Since the wall 4 is preferably substantially in the shape of a hollow cylindrical element and the grooves 10 are preferably arranged orthogonally to the longitudinal direction in which the device 1 extends, each groove 10 is preferably in the shape of an arc of circumference. The portion 11 is preferably off-center. More precisely, the portion 11 is closer to the end 3 than to the end 2.

[0062] The device 1 has a length preferably between 310 mm and 330 mm, and more preferably equal to 320 mm. The device 1 has an inner diameter preferably between 30 mm and 45 mm, and more preferably between 35 mm and 40 mm. The distance (measured in the longitudinal direction) between the end 2 and the groove 10 closest to the latter is preferably between 210 mm and 230 mm, and is more preferably equal to 220 mm.

[0063] Based on the description given for a preferred embodiment, it is obvious that changes may be introduced by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.