Abstract
The present disclosure includes many embodiments of devices and related methods for creating an infused extract from a mixture of infusible material and one or more liquids using “pour-over” type methodologies. Any desired infusible material can be used, as well as any desired combination of liquids.
Claims
1. A pour-over infusing container for making an infused extract from at least one liquid and at least one infusible material, comprising at least one peripheral wall that surrounds and at least partially defines an infusing chamber to hold a mixture of said at least one liquid and said at least one infusible material, a fluid entrance pathway for said liquid to enter said infusing chamber, and a fluid exit pathway for an infused extract to exit the infusing container, wherein said at least one peripheral wall includes an inner peripheral wall and an outer peripheral wall separated by a gap along at least a portion of their extent.
2. The pour-over infusing container of claim 1, wherein said gap includes an air filled gap.
3. The pour-over infusing container of claim 2, wherein said air filled gap functions as a dead air space.
4. The pour-over infusing container of claim 3, wherein said gap includes a dielectric material.
5. A pour-over infusing container for making an infused extract from at least one liquid and at least one infusible material, comprising at least one peripheral wall that surrounds and at least partially defines an infusing chamber to hold a mixture of said at least one liquid and said at least one infusible material, a fluid entrance pathway for said liquid to enter said infusing chamber, and a fluid exit pathway for an infused extract to exit the infusing container, wherein the peripheral wall includes at least one bend location that acts as an indicia for filling the infusing container with either infusible material or liquid.
6. The pour-over infusing container of claim 5, wherein the peripheral wall includes a plurality of bend locations that act as an indicia for filling the infusing container with either infusible material or liquid.
7. The pour-over infusing container of claim 5, wherein the peripheral wall of the infusing container includes a lower portion that transitions into a transverse filter element defining a plurality of openings therethrough, and an upper outwardly tapering portion that terminates in an upper peripheral opening of the infusing container.
8. The pour-over infusing container of claim 5, further comprising a filter paper disposed therein including a plurality of peripheral flutes.
9. The pour-over infusing container of claim 8, wherein the filter paper includes more than about twenty peripheral flutes.
10. A pour-over infusing container for making an infused extract from at least one liquid and at least one infusible material, comprising at least one peripheral wall that surrounds and at least partially defines an infusing chamber to hold a mixture of said at least one liquid and said at least one infusible material, a fluid entrance pathway for said liquid to enter said infusing chamber, and a fluid exit pathway for an infused extract to exit the infusing container, wherein the fluid exit pathway includes a filter element defining a plurality of orifices therethrough to permit the flow of infused extract therethrough, wherein the plurality of orifices are tapered along their length such that they have an increasing or decreasing cross sectional area from an entry opening to an exit opening thereof.
11. The pour-over infusing container of claim 10, wherein the plurality of orifices are tapered along their length such that they have an increasing cross sectional area from an entry opening to an exit opening thereof.
12. The pour-over infusing container of claim 11, wherein the plurality of orifices are configured to accelerate fluid flow therethrough by surface tension at a bottom surface of the filter element applying an enhanced drawing force to fluid passing through the filter element.
13. The pour-over infusing container of claim 11, wherein the plurality of orifices define a volume shaped as a conic section.
14. The pour-over infusing container of claim 10, wherein the plurality of orifices have a rounded cross section.
15. The pour-over infusing container of claim 10, wherein the plurality of orifices have a polygonal cross section.
16. The pour-over infusing container of claim 10, wherein the plurality of orifices define a plurality of sizes.
17. The pour-over infusing container of claim 10, wherein the plurality of orifices occupy more than about three percent of a planar area of the filter element.
18. The pour-over infusing container of claim 10, wherein the plurality of orifices occupy more than about five percent of a planar area of the filter element.
19. The pour-over infusing container of claim 10, wherein the plurality of orifices occupy more than about ten percent of a planar area of the filter element.
20. The pour-over infusing container of claim 10, wherein the further filter element follows the surface of the brewer, and further wherein the overall shape of the peripheral wall is not a conic section or cylindrical.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] The accompanying appendices, drawings, figures, images, etc. illustrate various example, non-limiting, inventive aspects, embodiments, and features (“e.g.,” or “example(s)”) in accordance with the present disclosure:
[0021] FIGS. 1A-1B are top and isometric views, respectively, of a first representative embodiment of a system for forming an infused extract in accordance with the present disclosure.
[0022] FIG. 1C presents an isometric view of a second embodiment of a system for forming an infused extract in accordance with the present disclosure
[0023] FIGS. 2A-2B show a side view and a cross sectional view, respectively, of the embodiment of FIGS. 1A-1B.
[0024] FIGS. 3A-3B are top and isometric views, respectively, of a portion of a third representative embodiment of a system for forming an infused extract in accordance with the present disclosure.
[0025] FIGS. 4A-4B show a side view and a cross sectional view, respectively, of the embodiment of FIG. 3 in a fully assembled form.
[0026] FIGS. 5A-5B are isometric and planar cut away views of the embodiment of FIGS. 1A-1B showing placement of an infusible material in accordance with the present disclosure.
[0027] FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of a drain orifice in a filter element in accordance with the present disclosure.
[0028] FIG. 7 is an isometric view of an orifice distribution pattern of a filter element in accordance with the present disclosure.
[0029] FIG. 8A is a top view of an embodiment of an infusion chamber in accordance with the present disclosure including a pleated filter element disposed therein having infusible material. Further views of the illustrated filter element are depicted in FIGS. 8B-8F. FIG. 8G-8H illustrate aspects of the interaction between a thermal sleeve as illustrated in FIGS. 12A-12B disposed on the system illustrated in FIG. 1B and a flared filter element.
[0030] FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view of the embodiment of FIGS. 1A-1B illustrating indicia formed into the illustrated infusing container in accordance with the present disclosure.
[0031] FIG. 10 is an isometric view of an infusing container in accordance with the present disclosure disposed over a second container to receive an infused extract.
[0032] FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view of the embodiment of FIGS. 1A-1B having a rolled atraumatic peripheral edge.
[0033] FIGS. 12A-12B illustrate aspects of a dielectric sleeve in accordance with the present disclosure.
[0034] FIG. 13 is an isometric view of a scoop in accordance with the present disclosure displaying an instructive indicia.
[0035] FIGS. 14A-14D depicts isometric view of illustrative carafes and a lid in accordance with the present disclosure.
[0036] FIGS. 15A-15B depict bottom isometric and cross sectional views of the lid depicted in FIG. 14.
DESCRIPTION
[0037] Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The methods and corresponding steps of the disclosed embodiments will be described in conjunction with the detailed description of the disclosed devices.
[0038] In accordance with the disclosure, FIGS. 1A-1B are top and isometric views, respectively, of a first representative embodiment of a system for forming an infused extract in accordance with the present disclosure. FIGS. 2A-2B show a side view and a cross sectional view, respectively, of the embodiment of FIG. 1.
[0039] As illustrated, an infusing container 100 is depicted formed from an inner vessel having a compound shape formed from a cylinder and one or more intersecting conic sections. Container 100 includes an upper peripheral flange 110 that may include an insulating overmolded layer 109 (formed, for example, from a dielectric material such as plastic, wood or the like) to permit a user to hold or otherwise grip the flange when it includes hot contents. The overmolded layer can be overmolded onto the material of the container or can be molded separately and attached to the container by adhesive, or just by frictional forces. As illustrated, the layer 109 traverses upwardly along the side of the container, and traverses around a rolled edge of the upper peripheral flange and downwardly to surround the flange 110, and project radially inwardly into the container 100 to some extent. Flange 110 transitions into a first conical surface 108 that in turn transitions along an inflection line 116 to a second conical surface 112. Conical surface 112 in turn traverses downwardly and transitions along a second inflection line 118 to a generally cylindrical wall 114. The sections 108, 112, 114 can be shaped as indicated, or the peripheral wall may have a continuous curve such that it is a concave or convex bell shape. Wall section 114 depends downwardly and transitions into a floor section 130 that includes a plurality of perforations 132, 232 disposed therein (FIG. 6). An annular disc or plate 120 surrounds and is attached to a lower external portion of wall 114. Plate 120 includes a crescent shaped or arcuate notch 122 formed therein to permit a user to view the fluid level in a second container when the infusing container is in use, and to permit a user to dilute infused extract with water or to introduce other additives (FIG. 10). If formed from a sheet of metal, for example, plate 120 can have a circumferential periphery that terminates in an atraumatic rolled edge 126 (FIG. 11) that can be overmolded with a dielectric or other material (not shown).
[0040] FIG. 1C illustrates a further embodiment of an infusing container 100′ formed from an inner vessel having a compound shape formed from a cylinder and one or more intersecting conic sections, as with the previous embodiment. Container 100′ includes an upper peripheral flange that may similarly include an insulating overmolded layer (formed, for example, from a dielectric material such as plastic, wood or the like), or a removable sleeve such as that depicted in FIGS. 12A-12B to permit a user to hold or otherwise grip the flange when the container 100′ includes hot contents. The upper peripheral flange 110′ transitions into a first conical surface 108′ that in turn transitions along an inflection line 116 to a second conical surface 112′. Conical surface 112′ in turn traverses downwardly and transitions along a second inflection line 118′ to a generally cylindrical wall 114′. The sections 108′, 112′, 114′ can be shaped as indicated, or the peripheral wall may have a continuous curve such that it is a convex bell shape. Wall section 114′ depends downwardly and transitions into a floor section that includes a plurality of perforations disposed therein (as illustrated in FIG. 6). An annular disc or plate 120′ surrounds and is attached to a lower external portion of wall 114′. Plate 120′ defines therein a generally trapezoidally shaped opening, or window 122′ to permit a user to view the fluid level in a second container when the infusing container is in use, and to permit a user to dilute infused extract with water or to introduce other additives (FIG. 10). If formed from a sheet of metal, for example, plate 120′ can have a circumferential periphery that terminates in an atraumatic rolled edge (FIG. 11) that can be overmolded with a dielectric or other material (not shown).
[0041] FIGS. 3A-3B are top and isometric views, respectively, of a portion of a second representative embodiment of a system for forming an infused extract in accordance with the present disclosure. FIGS. 4A-4B show a side view and a cross sectional view, respectively, of the embodiment of FIG. 3 in an assembled form.
[0042] As illustrated, embodiment 200 has a number of the same features as that of FIGS. 1A-2B bearing like reference numbers. However, embodiment 200 differs from embodiment 100 in that it is of two piece construction, wherein an inner container (FIGS. 3A-3B) bears the same or similar components to embodiment 100, with the exception of the plate 120. Instead, as illustrated in FIGS. 4A-4B, an outer sleeve 240 is provided that in turn bears disc or plate 220. The inner component and outer sleeve of embodiment 200 can be permanently affixed to each other or may be separable for cleaning. The inner and outer components of embodiment 200 cooperate to form a cavity therebetween such as an annular cavity 260 that can act as a dead air space and/or be wholly or partially filled with a dielectric material 250 in order to enhance thermal resistance to maintain the contents of the infusing container 200 at a higher temperature. The dielectric material 250 may be specially configured so as to incorporate air cavities into it to enhance thermal resistance. As illustrated in FIGS. 12A-12B, the dielectric material sleeve the sleeve itself can be textured in a projected Fibonacci spiral pattern or other desired pattern, with protrusions on the exterior surface to provide grip, and matching pockets on the interior surface to provide air gap insulation.
[0043] All of the infusing containers herein can be made from a variety of materials such as metal, plastic and the like. The filter element 130, 230 can be integral or removable, as desired. In some implementations, the peripheral wall of the infusing container can be conical or otherwise tapered radially outwardly or funnel shaped. Some embodiments include a wall angle that is relatively steep (e.g., between 10 and 35 degrees from vertical, or any angle therebetween of about one degree inclusive of the endpoints of said range). This is typically steeper than infusing containers known in the art. This has the net effect, for a given volume of infused extract, to result in a taller water column and enhanced hydrostatic pressure within the coffee bed and filter element to drive flow through the infusing container.
[0044] The infusing containers can be any desired diameter (when circular, as depicted) having a diameter between about one inch and thirty six inches, for example, or any diameter therebetween in increments of about one half of an inch (1.0, 1.5, 2.0 . . . 19, 19.5, 20, 20.5 . . . 35.5, 36 inches). Thus, the infusing containers may be sized for personal use for brewing one cup of coffee or other beverage, or can be 20 inches in diameter for institutional or commercial use, as another example. It will be appreciated further that the infusing container may be polygonal in cross section, have an undulating cross-section, and the like.
[0045] Various embodiments are provided herein of an extract separation apparatus that are useful for separating an infused extract from a mixture of an infusible material and the extract. The apparatus can typically include an infusion container made of any of a variety of materials, including metals (e.g., stainless steel, copper, aluminum, magnesium, and the like), plastics (e.g., ABS, polyethylene terephthalate, acrylic, polypropylene, and the like), and/or composite materials, such as fiber reinforced resins, ceramics, combinations of these materials, and the like.
[0046] The filter elements in accordance with the present disclosure (e.g., 130, 230) may additionally be used in any type of brewing apparatus, such as espresso machines, traditional drip coffee makers, coffee presses, and the like. The disclosed embodiments may be modified with a suitable coupling at an upper end thereof to couple to an espresso machine. Thus, the present disclosure includes the disclosed infusion apparatus, as well as any electric or non-electric brewing apparatus that includes a filter made in accordance with the present disclosure or any electric or non-electric brewing apparatus that can receive a suitably configured infusion container as disclosed herein.
[0047] FIGS. 5A-5B are isometric and planar cut away views of the embodiment of FIG. 1 showing placement of an infusible material in accordance with the present disclosure. As illustrated, a coffee bed 300 is formed in the cylindrical section of the device, the occurrence of which tends to demonstrate a successful and even extraction procedure. The convex downwardly facing surface of the filter element 130 is readily perceptible which causes infused extract to hug the lower facing surface of the filter element 130 to permit it to form into a stream at a center thereof. If desired, a further flow guide, such as in the form of a boss, bump or other protrusion can be provided that depends directly downwardly from the centerpoint or other predetermined location on the filter element 130 to help the extract form a downward collimated stream.
[0048] FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of a drain orifice in a filter element 130, 230 in accordance with the present disclosure. While the orifice(s) 132, 232 passing through the filter element 130, 230 can have any desired cross sectional shape and cross sectional area along their length, the depicted orifices 132, 232 are defined by an upper cylindrical wall 238 that transitions to a conical wall 236 at an inflection line 238. Each orifice 132, 232 has an upper opening 231 and a lower exit 233.
[0049] FIG. 7 is an isometric view of an orifice distribution pattern of a filter element in accordance with the present disclosure. Pattern 280 can arrange the orifices 132, 232 in any desired arrangement. It will be appreciated that other arrangements can be used, including an X-Y grid pattern, a radial coordinate pattern, a pattern that spells out one or more characters, images or logos, and the like.
[0050] FIG. 8A is a top view of an embodiment of an infusion chamber in accordance with the present disclosure including a pleated filter element 290 disposed therein having infusible material. Filter element 290 preferably has a large number of pleats 292 in order to prevent their collapse and to help maintain structural stability of the filter element 290 in use. For example, filter element 290 preferably has between about 12 and 60 pleats, or any number of pleats therebetween as expressed by integers (13, 14, 15 . . . 59, 60). FIGS. 8B, 8C, 8D, 8E and 8F illustrate side plan, top plan, bottom plan, top interior isometric and side exterior isometric views of the filter element. Further views of the illustrated filter element can be seen in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/715,468. As illustrated, the filter element 290 is illustrated having 32 pleats, but any desired number of pleats can be used. The filter element can have a lateral projection, as depicted in FIG. 8B exhibits a concavity along the lateral side progressing from the top of the filter element to the bottom of the filter element. As illustrated, the side plan view, or side projection, or lateral projection of the filter element can have a longitudinal edge described by a first straight generally vertical portion that extends upwardly from the base 295 of the filter portion to define a generally cylindrical region 298 that adjoins a transition region 294 that begins at an inflection point (denoted by line 294b) where the longitudinal edge continues to travel upward and begins to curve radially outwardly. The transition region 294 terminates at a second inflection point (denoted by line 294a) where the longitudinal edge extends along a straight direction upwardly and radially outwardly to form a bell or flared region 296 that terminates in an undulating upper peripheral edge. As such, the filter element can be provided in a shape that is not entirely that of a conic section. For example, the shape can be bell shaped, a hyperboloid, and the like. Due to the illustrated shape, the filter element can be pre-shaped to match the contours of the illustrated brewer mechanism, such that the shape of the filter paper partially or fully follows the shape of the brewer from the bottom 295 of the filter paper to the top of the filter paper. Thus, while the filter element can have a straight longitudinal edge in a lateral projection, it may have a non-linear shape, such as an at least partially concave shape as illustrated, or a convex shape, or a combination of the two (e.g., undulating) as desired. The filter element can be manufactured from a variety of materials including paper and/or polymer, for example. During manufacture, the predetermined shape can be made by over-setting the shape (e.g., with a more extreme curvature than desired) in the event that some of the curvature is lost in later parts of the manufacturing process of the filter element.
[0051] FIG. 8G-8H illustrate aspects of the interaction between a thermal sleeve as illustrated in FIGS. 12A-12B disposed on the system illustrated in FIG. 1B and a flared filter element. Specifically, Applicant has come to appreciate that the flared filter element tends to spring upwardly and partially push itself out of the brewing apparatus. This can be mitigated by the thermal sleeve depicted in FIGS. 12A-12B, or any such thermal sleeve with a gripping surface that tends to mechanically trap the filter paper. The thermal sleeve of FIGS. 12A-12B includes an upper peripheral edge having a generally round cross section that has an inner face that is urged against by the flared filter element, tending to trap the filter element in place. This effect may also be accomplished by disposing a ring of silicone or other material with a gripping surface around the inner periphery of the brewer, or by providing a clip or other retainer to hold the filter paper in place prior to placing coffee grounds in the filter paper. Use of a filter paper with a continuous linear paper that is sufficiently shallow in angle tends to not push itself out of the brewer, at the expense of not matching the contour of the brewer as closely as the flared filter element.
[0052] FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 illustrating indicia 116, 118 formed into the illustrated infusing container in accordance with the present disclosure. The lower indicia 118 can be used as a fill line for the amount of infusible material to place in the infusing container, and the upper indicia 116 can indicate the fill line for water, for example.
[0053] Any desired second or receiving container can be used, such as growlers, thermoses, flasks, beakers, cups, mugs, and the like. In some embodiments, the receiving container can be made from a transparent, translucent, and/or opaque material. The material of the receiving container itself can include a glass, a polymer, a ceramic, and/or a metal, for example.
[0054] The second container can be reusable or disposable, as desired. The second container can have any desired shape, including at least partially cylindrical, or can have a horizontal cross section along at least a part of its length that is rectangular (e.g., square), pentagonal, hexagonal, or the like. The second container can be provided with a flat base, an indented base, or a petaloid base (having one or more bosses, 3, 5, 7, etc.), for example. The second container in some embodiments can include a re-sealable or re-closable bag, pouch, or other flexible container that is opaque or translucent or transparent. In another embodiment, the receiving container is a travel cup or travel mug that can include an enhanced thermal mass. FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 having a rolled atraumatic peripheral edge.
[0055] FIG. 14A illustrates a side isometric view of a single wall container or carafe 600 for receiving infused extract from a brewing device, such as that set forth herein. As illustrated, the container includes indicia 602 formed on a sidewall thereof, wherein the indicia includes a recipe, or instructions, for preparing pour over brew coffee of a desired strength. As an illustrative example, the lowest positioned indicia on the sidewall depicted in FIG. 14A includes a single circle for filling water. Matching indicia 402 in the form of a single circle is provided on a measuring scoop 400 depicted in FIG. 13. In this case, the indicia 402 provides instructions to fill the brewer with three scoops of coffee (e.g., level or heaping), corresponding to the single circular indicia. The container 600 is correspondingly filled to the lower single circular visual indicia with water, which can then be heated and poured over the coffee in the brewer. Likewise the double marked indicia on the scoop instructs a user to place six scoops of ground coffee into the brewer, and use an amount of water corresponding to the double indicia on the carafe. The indicia 602 on the carafe can be located on an outer surface of the carafe 602, as depicted. With reference to FIGS. 14B-D, a double walled carafe is depicted that can be provided with or without a handle, as desired. In this embodiment, the outer wall of the carafe 600′ may be transparent or translucent to permit visual perception of indicia 602′ formed on the outer surface of the inner wall of the vessel, as indicated by the cutaway view of FIG. 14D that removes a portion of the outer vessel. If desired, the outer shell can simply be provided with a transparent or translucent portion, such as a window, that permits viewing of the indicia formed on the outwardly facing surface of the inner wall of the carafe 600′.
[0056] FIGS. 14A and 15A-15B depict aspects of a lid or cover 500 for the carafe 600, wherein the lid can be received by an open top of the container or carafe 600. FIG. 15A depicts the underside of the lid 500, which depicts two raised bosses 502 separated by a linear groove bisecting the lid, and surrounded by a peripheral annular trench. As depicted in the cross section FIG. 15B, the bosses 502 of the lid 500 are formed with a concave dish shape as prescribed by line of curvature 506 that is configured to match the convex lower surface of the brewer. Thus, the brewer can be placed on the surfaces formed by bosses 502 with the lid 500 inverted after the brewer is used on top of a container such as a cup, in order to capture any drips that continue to come out of the brewer.
[0057] It will be appreciated that a variety of alternatives in materials, construction techniques, configurations, shapes and the like can be made to any of the embodiments disclosed herein. For example, any feature discussed with respect to any embodiment of the infusing system, including but not limited to alignment structures and valves, may be suitably incorporated into any other embodiment of the infusing system. It will also be appreciated that the brewing reservoir of any disclosed embodiment can be configured so as to not actually touch the receiving container. Thus, while the present disclosure herein has been described with reference to particular preferred embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and applications of the disclosure. Therefore, modifications may be made to these embodiments and other arrangements may be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.
