Coffee brewing apparatus

Abstract

A coffee brewing apparatus which can prepare either hot or cold coffee extract having a filter body (8) and two reservoirs (14a and 14b). The filter body 8 is a hollow cylinder with male threaded ends (10a and 10b). A mesh filter (12) is affixed to interior of the filter body (8). Two self-supporting reservoirs (14a and 14b) have female threads (16a and 16b) near their ends. Coffee grounds (18) and either hot or cold water (20) are added to one of the reservoirs. The apparatus is then assembled by joining the cylinder's male threaded ends (10a and 10b) to both reservoirs' female threaded ends. The assembled apparatus is then allowed to sit for a period of time, while coffee flavors are extracted into the water. The entire apparatus is then inverted, the mesh filter (12) removes the coffee grounds from the coffee extract (22), and the coffee extract is collected in the now lower reservoir (14a). The apparatus is disassembled for consumption of the extract, and is cleaned and reused.

Claims

1. A coffee brewing filter body comprising: a) a first reservoir, having an open end and a closed end, for containing water and coffee grounds, being self-supporting on the closed end; b) a second reservoir, having an open end and a closed end, for containing coffee extract, being self-supporting on the closed end; c) a filter body, comprising a hollow cylinder having a first and second open end, one first end for temporary attachment to the open end of said first reservoir, one second end for temporary attachment to the open end of said second reservoir, and a mesh filter for filtering of extracted coffee grounds disposed within the middle interior wall of said filter body; and d.) a seal for preventing water from leaking between said first reservoir and said second reservoir wherein said seal is disposed between the interior surface of said first and second reservoirs forming a hermetic seal; wherein said filter body includes male threaded ends which is in operative connection with a mesh filter, said two reservoirs include female threads which threadingly connect to the male ends of the filter body when assembled or disassembled.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows side views of the filter body and two reservoirs before assembly.

(2) FIG. 2 shows a top view of the filter body.

(3) FIG. 3 shows a side view of the assembled filter body and reservoirs.

(4) FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the inverted assembled filter body and reservoirs with removed coffee grounds and coffee extract.

(5) FIGS. 5 and 6 show side views of the filter body with alternative seal designs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(6) One embodiment of the apparatus is shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4.

(7) In FIG. 1, the filter is hollow and has male threads 10a and 10b molded or cut into the exterior circumference of each of the filter body 8 ends. A mesh filter 12 is affixed by adhesion or welding to the interior of the filter body 8. Two self-supporting reservoirs 14a and 14b have female threads 16a and 16b molded or machined into the interiors, near the open ends. These threads mate with the filter body's male threaded ends 10a and 10b, which form a hermetic seal when assembled. Coffee grounds 18 and water 20 are shown contained in one reservoir 14b.

(8) In FIG. 2, a top view of the filter body is shown, with male threads 10a and mesh filter 12.

(9) FIG. 3 shows the assembled filter body 8 and reservoirs 14a and 14b with water 20 and coffee grounds 18 contained in one reservoir.

(10) FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the assembled and inverted filter body 8, mesh filter 12, reservoirs 14a and 14b, coffee grounds 18, and coffee extract 22.

(11) FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the filter body 8a having recesses 24a and 24b molded or cut into the exterior circumference of the filter body's top and bottom ends. These recesses may mate to the interior surface at the open end of two reservoirs by a close fit and form a hermetic seal.

(12) FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of the filter body 8b having notches 26a and 26b molded or cut into the outer circumference near the top and bottom of the filter body's ends which are fitted with rubberized O-rings 28a and 28b. These o-rings may mate to the interior surface at the open end of two reservoirs and form a hermetic seal.

(13) Operation.

(14) Ground coffee 18 and either hot or cold water 20 are added to a lower reservoir 14b. The amount and proportions of ground coffee and water, as well as the temperature of the water, may be varied by the consumer. The male threads 10b of the filter body 8 are then attached to the female threads 16b of the lower reservoir 14b. The female threads 16a of the upper reservoir 14a are then attached to the male threads 10a of the filter body 8. The ground coffee and water are allowed to mingle for an amount of time desired to produce coffee extract and to achieve the taste preferred by the consumer. During this time, the entire apparatus may also be kept at a cool temperature if cold brewed coffee is to be produced. The two reservoirs 14a and 14b and filter body 8 are then inverted as one unit to allow the coffee extract 22 to be separated from the coffee grounds 18 by gravity filtration, and collect into the now lower reservoir. The filter body 8 is then removed from the two reservoirs 14a and 14b and cleaned for reuse.

(15) The description above should not be construed as limiting in scope of the embodiments but as merely providing illustrations of some of several embodiments. For example, the mesh filter can have other shapes other than shown in the drawings such as cylindrical or cone shaped; the reservoirs can have alternate dimensions, such as varying the height to diameter ratio; the ratio of the filter body size to the reservoirs can be varied, etc.