FILTER HOLDER FOR ESPRESSO COFFEE MACHINE AND MACHINE EQUIPPED WITH SUCH FILTER

Abstract

Filter holder for espresso coffee machines having a cup-shaped body of circular profile, suitable for internally housing the filter, as well as a pouring device of the beverage disposed under the cup-shaped body and provided with at least one pouring spout, the filter holder being provided with connections for connecting the pouring device to the cup-shaped body, wherein the connections enable a bayonet coupling between the pouring device and the cup-shaped body.

Claims

1. Filter holder for espresso coffee machines comprising: a cup-shaped body with circular profile, having a bottom wall with a lower side, said cup-shaped body being suitable for housing a filter; a discharge nozzle with cylindrical shape, projecting downwardly from the lower side of said bottom wall of the cup-shaped body; a pouring device comprising a cylindrical body in which said discharge nozzle of the cup-shaped body is inserted, said pouring device comprising at least one pouring spout; and connection means for connecting said pouring device to said cup-shaped body, wherein said connection means provide a bayonet coupling between the pouring device and the cup-shaped body.

2. The filter holder of claim 1, wherein said connection means comprises first connection means of the pouring device and second connection means of the cup-shaped body.

3. The filter holder of claim 2, wherein said first connection means of said pouring device comprise a pair of teeth arranged in opposite position on a circular edge of a mouth of said cylindrical body of the pouring device.

4. The filter holder of claim 3, wherein said teeth have an enlarged head.

5. The filter holder of claim 4, wherein said enlarged head of the teeth consists of a tab that projects outwardly.

6. The filter holder of claim 2, wherein said second connection means of the cup-shaped body comprise a pair of coupling seats for coupling said teeth, said coupling seats being on the lower side of said bottom wall in diametrically opposed positions with respect to the discharge nozzle, each coupling seat having a curvilinear shape and a longitudinal axis which develops along a section of arc of circumference in concentric position with respect to said discharge nozzle.

7. The filter holder of claim 6, wherein each coupling seat is provided with an inlet slot shaped like a keyhole that comprises an eye, from which a slot begins, the slot having a width lower than the width of the eye.

8. The filter holder of claim 7, wherein said inlet slot is obtained on a annular plate provided with a central hole for inserting the discharge nozzle.

9. The filter holder of claim 8, wherein said annular plate is stopped and fixed by means of a screw against the lower side of said bottom wall of the cup-shaped body.

10. The filter holder of claim 9, wherein said screw is inserted through a hole of the annular plate and is screwed in a threaded hole obtained on the lower side of said bottom wall of the cup-shaped body.

11. The filter holder according to claim 1, wherein it comprises fit-in coupling means to ensure a stable locking of said pouring device with respect to said cup-shaped body.

12. The filter holder of claim 11, wherein said fit-in coupling means comprise: a spherical seat on an inner wall of the mouth of said cylindrical body of the pouring device; and a sphere partially recessed in a seat in an external surface of said discharge nozzle and subjected to the thrust of an ejection spring housed in the seat that accommodates said sphere, said sphere being suitably dimensioned to be conjugated with said spherical seat.

13. Espresso coffee machine comprising: an electrical system; a water system for the supply of pressurized hot water; a beverage dispensing unit; a control unit connected to the electrical system, to the water system and to the beverage dispensing unit for controlling and managing the operation of the coffee machine, wherein it comprises a filter holder according to claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] For the sake of explanatory clarity, the description of the improved filter holder and of the espresso coffee machine according to the invention continues with reference to the appended drawings, which have only illustrative and non-limiting value, wherein:

[0022] FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional top view of the improved filter holder according to the invention, wherein the pouring device is mounted;

[0023] FIG. 2 is a three-dimensional exploded bottom view of all the components of the improved filter holder according to the invention;

[0024] FIG. 3 is a three-dimensional bottom view of the improved filter holder according to the invention, wherein the pouring device is dismounted;

[0025] FIG. 4 is a three-dimensional top view of the pouring device adopted in the improved filter holder according to the invention;

[0026] FIG. 5 is a section of the cup-shaped body of the improved filter holder according to the invention with a diametral plane, wherein the pouring device is engaged;

[0027] FIG. 6 shows the improved filter holder according to the invention engaged in an espresso coffee machine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0028] Referring to FIG. 1, according to a traditional construction technique, the filter holder (3) according to the invention comprises a circular cup-shaped body (30), externally equipped with a handle (31) that is grabbed by the operator to easily and quickly perform the manual operations that are to be executed every time the beverage is dispensed in order to engage and disengage the filter holder (3) with respect to the seat provided in the espresso coffee machine.

[0029] The cup-shaped body (30) of the filter holder (3) is suitable for exactly accommodating the filter, which is not shown in the appended figures because said filter does not fall within the scope of the present invention.

[0030] Said filter consists in a circular tub suitable for receiving a compact dose of ground coffee powder and provided with a bottom with small holes suitable for holding the coffee powder and for allowing the percolation of water through the coffee powder into said cup-shaped body (30).

[0031] Referring to FIG. 1, the filter holder (3) comprises a first and a second tab (32) projecting radially outward from the cup-shaped body (30), through which said cup-shaped body (30) can be attached in bayonet coupling mode to the relevant seat, where the hot, pressurized water produced by the boiler provided in the espresso coffee machine flows.

[0032] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, finally, the filter holder (3) includes at least one pouring device (10) of the beverage, located under the cup-shaped body (30) and provided with at least one pouring spout (11) from which the beverage drips into the cup used by the consumer to drink the espresso coffee.

[0033] According to a traditional construction technique, said pouring device (10) comprises a cylindrical body (12) suitable for being coupled in male-female coupling mode with the cup-shaped body (30), which is provided in its bottom wall (34) with a discharge nozzle (35) with cylindrical shape that projects vertically from the lower side (34a) of said bottom wall (34), as shown in FIG. 3.

[0034] Such a discharge nozzle (35) is exactly inserted into the mouth of said cylindrical body (12), with the interposition of a simple gasket ring (40), as shown in FIG. 5, which is partially recessed in an annular groove (35a) obtained on the outside of said discharge nozzle (35), as shown in FIG. 2.

[0035] The inner compartment (12a) of said cylindrical body (12) is in communication with said pouring spout (11), it being configured like an eagle-beak profiled channel with U-shaped cross-section.

[0036] As shown in the appended figures, said pouring device (10) comprises an opposite pair of said pouring spouts (11) through which the beverage can be simultaneously poured into a pair of cups.

[0037] The filter holder (3) according to the invention is characterized in that it comprises innovative connection means (50, 60) for connecting said pouring device (10) to said cup-shaped body (30).

[0038] Said innovative connection means (50, 60) enable a bayonet coupling between the pouring device (10) and the cup-shaped body (30).

[0039] More precisely, the connection means (50) provided in said pouring device (10) comprise a diametrically opposed pair of teeth (51) that project from the circular edge (12b) of the mouth of said cylindrical body (12) and terminate at the top with an enlarged head (52), preferably consisting in a tab (52) that projects outward, as shown in FIG. 4.

[0040] The connection means (60) provided in the cup-shaped body (30) comprise a pair of curvilinear coupling seats (61) for said teeth (51) obtained in the lower side (34a) of said bottom wall (34) in a diametrically opposite position with respect to the discharge nozzle (35), as shown in FIG. 3.

[0041] Each coupling seat (61) has a longitudinal axis developed along a section of an arc of circumference that is concentric to said discharge nozzle (35).

[0042] Each coupling seat (61) has an inlet slot (62) shaped like a keyhole and provided with an eye (62a), from which a slot with lower width (62b) begins.

[0043] The coupling seat (61) is developed on the back of said inlet slot (62) and is suitable for slidingly receiving each tooth (51), in such a way that, after being inserted into the eye (62a) of the inlet slot (62), the enlarged head (52) is fitted in the back of the inlet slot (62b).

[0044] In the preferred embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 2, said inlet slot (62) is obtained on an annular plate (70) provided with a central hole (71) where the discharge nozzle (35) is inserted, as shown in FIG. 2.

[0045] According to such an embodiment, said annular plate (70) is engaged and fixed against the flat lower side (34a) of said bottom wall (34) by means of a small screw (80).

[0046] Said screw (80) is inserted through a hole (72) of the annular plate (70) and is screwed into a threaded hole (34b) obtained in the flat lower side (34a) of said bottom wall (34).

[0047] In view of the foregoing description, it is easy to understand how the pouring device (10) is coupled to the cup-shaped body (30) of the filter holder (3).

[0048] The first operation to be performed is to insert the enlarged head (52) of the teeth (51) of the pouring device (10) into the eye (62a) of the inlet slot (62) of the coupling seats (61).

[0049] The second operation to be performed is to rotate the pouring device (10) around the discharge nozzle (35) until the end of the travel, in such a way that the teeth (51) can slide inside said inlet slots (62) and the enlarged heads (52) are fitted on the back of the slots (62b) of the inlet slots (62).

[0050] The second operation is performed forcedly due to the frictional action of the gasket ring (40), which is also used to ensure the stable locking of the pouring device (10) at the end of its rotation.

[0051] As an additional means to secure the stable locking of said pouring device (10) with respect to said cup-shaped body (30), a fit-in coupling between a retractable tooth and its coupling seat is also preferably provided.

[0052] More precisely said fit-in coupling means include: [0053] a seat (90) shaped like a segment of a sphere located on the inner wall of the mouth of said cylindrical body (12) of the pouring device (10); [0054] a sphere (91) partially embedded in the outer surface of said discharge nozzle (35) and subject to the thrust of an ejection spring housed in the seat that also accommodates said sphere (91), said sphere (91) being suitably dimensioned to be perfectly conjugated with said spherical seat (90) at the end of the engagement travel of the pouring device (10).

[0055] The present invention also relates to an espresso coffee machine (100) equipped with the improved filter holder (3) according to the invention.

[0056] The espresso coffee machine (100) conventionally comprises: [0057] an electrical system; [0058] a hydraulic system for the production of hot water under pressure; [0059] a beverage dispensing unit, including a filter holder with one or more pouring spouts (11); [0060] a control unit connected to the electrical system, to the hydraulic system and to the beverage dispensing unit in order to control and manage the operation of the espresso coffee machine.

[0061] The espresso coffee machine (100) according to the invention is characterized in that it is provided with an improved filter holder (3) such as the one described above.