WO2016074382A1

WO2016074382A1 - Container system for beverage making appliance

Info

Publication number: WO2016074382A1
Application number: PCT/CN2015/073803
Authority: WO
Inventors: Weizhong Li; Yewu Zhong
Original assignee: Top Electric Appliances Industrial Ltd.
Priority date: 2014-11-10
Filing date: 2015-03-06
Publication date: 2016-05-19

Abstract

A container system (10) for a beverage maker comprises a first container (20), a second container (30) in fluid communication with the first container (20), wherein the first container (20) and the second container (30) are releasably engageable via magnetic attraction. An appliance (1) for making beverage comprises a heating means (9) and the container system (10) according to the above.

Description

A CONTAINER SYSTEM FOR A BEVERAGE MAKING APPLIANCE

Technical Field

The invention relates to a container system for a beverage maker. Particularly but not exclusively, the invention relates to a container system for a beverage making appliance.

Background Art

Among the various coffee making devices available in the market, vacuum coffee makers, or the so-called “siphon coffee makers”, are widely used for extracting coffee from ground coffee granules or powder to produce “siphon coffee”. Despite the differences in the designs and configurations of the various vacuum coffee makers, they generally include an upper brewing unit for accommodating the ground coffee, and a lower container unit for containing water. In use, the water in the lower container is heated to boiling. The water vapor generated develops a higher vapor pressure in the lower container which drives the heated water upwards via a feed tube into the upper brewing unit container where the coffee beverage is brewed. When the brewing is finished and external heating is removed, the water in the lower container cools such that the vapor pressure between the upper and the lower containers will slowly equalize. The brewed coffee then flows downward from the upper container to the lower container via the feed tube under the force of gravity.

The upper and the lower containers of a conventional vacuum coffee maker are typically connected via a mechanical locking arrangement, which is known to create potential problems in practice such as the inconvenience in cleaning the locking parts after use, and also, the possible mis-alignment of the locking parts which may result in an insufficient pressure build up at the lower container and thus, an unsatisfactory performance of the coffee maker.

Technical Problem

An object of the invention is to mitigate or obviate to some degree one or more problems associated with the prior art, or to provide a useful alternative.

Technical Solution

The above object is met by the combination of features of the main claims; the sub-claims disclose further advantageous embodiments of the invention.

One skilled in the art will derive from the following description other objects of the invention. Therefore, the foregoing statements of object are not exhaustive and serve merely to illustrate some of the many objects of the present invention.

Advantageous Effects

In a first main aspect of the present invention, there is provided a container system for a beverage maker. The container system comprises a first container, a second container in fluid communication with the first container, wherein the first container and the second container are releasably engageable via magnetic attraction. In some embodiments, the containers are releasably engageable via magnetic attraction only. In other embodiments, there may be provided mechanical engagement means in addition to the magnetic coupling means.

In a second main aspect of the invention, there is provided an appliance for making beverage comprising a heating means and the container system according to the first aspect of the invention.

The summary of the invention does not necessarily disclose all the features essential for defining the invention; the invention may reside in a sub-combination of the disclosed features.

Description of Drawings

The foregoing and further features of the present invention will be apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments which are provided by way of example only in connection with the accompanying figures, of which:

Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a first embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a magnified view of the area indicated by the circle in dashed line of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 5 is an exploded view of the second embodiment of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the third embodiment of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is an exploded view of the third embodiment of Figure 6;

Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view showing an upper container of a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view of an upper container of a fifth embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view of an upper container of a sixth embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view of an upper container of a seventh embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 13 is a partial cross-sectional view of an upper container of an eight embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 14 is cross-sectional view of a ninth embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 15 is an exploded view of the ninth embodiment of Figure 14;

Figure 16 is a perspective view of a tenth embodiment of the present invention; and

Figure 17 is a perspective view of the upper container of the embodiment of Figure 16.

Mode for Invention

The following description is of preferred embodiments by way of example only and without limitation to the combination of features necessary for carrying the invention into effect.

Reference in this specification to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of the phrase "in one embodiment" in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, nor are separate or alternative embodiments mutually exclusive of other embodiments. Moreover, various features are described which may be exhibited by some embodiments and not by others. Similarly, various requirements are described which may be requirements for some embodiments but not other embodiments.

Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a first embodiment of a container system 10 for a beverage maker appliance 1 of the present invention. The container system 10 comprises a first container 20, and a second container 30 which is in fluid communication with the first container 20, wherein the first container 20 and the second container 30 are releasably engageable via magnetic attraction. Specifically, the second container 30 is positioned below the first container 20, with a lower portion 24 of the first container 20 arranged to engage an upper portion 36 of the second container 30.

The chamber 21 of the first container 20 and the chamber 31 of the second container 30 are fluidly connected via a tube member 40. The tube member 40 comprises an inlet 42 located within the chamber 31 of the second container 30, and adjacent the lower portion 34 of the second container 30. The tube member 40 also comprises an outlet 44 distal to the inlet 42. The outlet 44 is positioned adjacent to, and is arranged to connect with the lower portion 24 of the first container 20. In one embodiment, the free, inlet end of the tube member 40 is arranged to be inserted into the chamber 31 of the second container 30 via an opening 38 at the top portion 36 of the second container 30.

A lid 22 can be optionally provided to cover a top opening of the first container 30 to avoid contamination of its contents. The container system 10 can be supported at a base 7 of the appliance 1. The base 7 may comprise a heating means 9 for heating the content within the container system 10. Alternatively, the base 7 may form part of the second container 30 which comprises a heating means 9 at a base portion of the second container 30 for heating the content within the container system 10. The base 7 may also comprise a control means 11 for controlling operation of the appliance 1, for example, to control the heating temperature and duration, and to process operating instructions from the user, etc.

Referring to Figure 2, provided is a magnified view showing the connection between the first 20 and the second 30 containers. Specifically, the lower portion 24 of the first container 20 may comprise at least one first magnetic member 50a adapted to magnetically attach to the upper portion 36 of the second container 30. The upper portion 36 of the second container 30 may also comprise at least one second magnetic member 50b adapted to magnetically attach to the lower portion 24 of the first container 20. The first and/or the second magnetic member 50a, 50b can be made of any suitable magnetic materials such as, but not limited to, permanent magnets, or non-magnet but magnetizable materials such as ferromagnetic metals or metal compounds, etc.

At least one sealing member 56 can also be provided between the first 20 and the second 30 containers for sealing a connection the containers. In the embodiment as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the sealing member 56 is in the form of a sealing ring located around the opening 38 to avoid leaking of water at the junction in use, although any other suitable forms of sealing may be used.

Preferably, the lower portion 24 of the first container 20 is configured to comprise at least one first engaging means 25 adapted to mechanically engage at least one second engaging means 35 at the upper portion 36 of the second container 30. The first engaging means 25 and the second engaging means 35 may each comprise at least one corresponding recess or ridge adapted to cooperate with one another and mechanically register the position of the first container 20 relative to the second container 30. The first and the second engaging means 25, 35 may also be arranged to allow the first and the second containers 20, 30 to be magnetically aligned.

More preferably, the lower portion 24 of the first container 20 is configured to comprise a first coupling means 27 adapted to cooperate with a second coupling means 37 at the upper portion 36 of the second container 30. Structures of the first and the second coupling means can be seen most clearly in Figures 2 and 3, in which the first coupling means 27 is shown to comprise a funnel portion having a shape of an inverted conical frustum extending downwardly into the opening 38 of the second container 30. Specifically, the conical frustum funnel portion of the first coupling means 27 comprises a tapered cylindrical wall adapted to be snugly received by a respective, inverted conical frustum shaped collar of the second coupling means 37 having a corresponding tapered cylindrical wall. The close fitting between the first and the second coupling means 27, 37, as well as the engagement provided by the first and the second engaging means 25, 35 and the magnetic couplings, enable a secure engagement between the first and the second containers 20, 30, and thus a substantially leak-proof and air-tight connection to provide an effective vacuum to the container system 10.

Figures 4 and 5 illustrate a second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, similar structures as discussed in the previous embodiments have also been exemplified, which include the first and the second containers 20, 30, the first and the second engaging means 25, 35, and the tube member 40. A filter member 70 is further provided adjacent to the outlet 44, and is arranged to cooperatively connect at the lower portion 24 to substantially cover the outlet 44. Specifically, the filter member 70 comprises a filter support 74 adapted to position and support a filter 72 which prevents any brewing residues from entering the tube member 40 and thus the second container 30. The filter member 70 may optionally comprise a flange 76 for engaging with the bottom opening 28 of the first container 20. The engagement between the flange 76 and the bottom opening 28 can be made releasable, so that by disengaging the flange 76 from the bottom opening 28, the filter member 70 can be removed from the first container 20 for easy cleaning.

Preferably, a conduit 60 can be arranged to fluidly connect with the outlet 44 of the tube member 40. Specifically, the conduit 60 comprises a first end 62 and a second end 64. The first end 62 is adapted to fluidly connect with the outlet 44 of the tube member 40, with the conduit 60 extending upwardly from the outlet 44 into the chamber 21 of the first container 20. In one embodiment, the first end 62 of the conduit 60 is arranged at the filter member 70, and specifically, the filter support 74 of the filter member 70. The conduit 60 can be releasably attached to the filter member 70, and can be taken off from the filter support 74 for cleaning. Alternatively, the conduit 60 may also be configured as a part of the filter member 70, for example, in the form of a handle portion of the filter member 70, or may form an integral part of filters support 74.

It can also be seen in this embodiment that the second container 30 may be configured to comprise a base portion 8 which accommodates a heating means 9, a control means 11 and a temperature sensing means 13. The base 7 of the appliance 1 may further comprises a control panel with input buttons and display (not shown).

Further embodiments of the present invention are shown in Figures 6 to 9 in which the filter member 70 is adapted to be attached to the lower portion 24 of the first container 20 via magnetic arrangements. Specifically, a magnet member 82 can be provided at the filter member 70 to enable it to be magnetically, but releasably attached with the lower portion 24. Another magnet member 84 may also be provided at the upper portion 36 of the second container 30 so as to allow it to be magnetically, but releaseably attached to the filter member 70. The magnet members 82, 84 can be made with identical or different magnetic materials, which can be permanentt magnets or magnetizable materials such as ferromagnetic metals or metal compounds as discussed above. The magnet members 82, 84 can each be arranged in the form of corresponding magnet blocks. Alternatively, the magnet members 82, 84 may be arranged in the form of corresponding magnet rings as shown in Figure 9.

Similar magnetic coupling arrangement may also be provided to magnetically attach the lid 22 to the first container 20 to cover the top opening. As shown in Figures 10 to 12, corresponding magnet members 92 and 94 can be arranged at a flange portion 90 of the lid 22, and at the corresponding peripheral region of the top opening of the first container 20, respectively. Specifically, the magnet member 92 can be made of a permanent magnet and that the magnet member 94 can be made of a non-magnet but magnetizable material (as shown in Figure 10). Alternatively, both of the magnet members 92, 94 may comprise permanent magnets (as shown in Figure 11), or with the magnet member 92 being made of a non-magnet material but the magnet member 94 being made of a permanent magnet (as show in Figure 12), etc.

In yet a further embodiment, the magnetic coupling arrangement may also be provided between the lid 22 and the filter support 74 of the filter member 70 so as to keep the filter member in place within the first container 20. As shown in Figure 13, the bottom, center portion of the lid 22 is provided with a magnet member 102 which allows the lid 22 to be magnetically attachable to a corresponding magnet member 104 arranged at an end 78 of the handle portion of the filter support 74. Similarly, the magnet members 102, 104 can be made of identical or different magnetic materials, which can be permanent magnets or magnetizable materials such as ferromagnetic metals or metal compounds as discussed above.

Figures 14 and 15 show another embodiment of the present invention which comprises a strainer basket 110 in the first container 20 for accommodating beverage materials such as tea leaves, dried flowers or coffee granules for brewing a beverage. The strainer basket 110 can be arranged to be mechanically or magnetically attached to the lid 22.

Figures 16 and 17 illustrate a further embodiment of the present invention in which the first and the second containers 20, 30 are connected via mechanical interlocking along with the magnetic coupling arrangement. For example, the lower portion 24 of the first container 20 may comprise a plurality of ribs 25 adapted to interlock a plurality of corresponding clasps 35 arranged at the upper portion 36 of the second container 30. Specifically, after the lower portion 24 of first container 20 is seated upon the upper portion 36 of the second container 30, the body of the first container 20 can be rotated to allow interlocking between the ribs 25 and the clasps 35 thereby mechanically connecting the first and the second containers 20, 30. The connection is further enhanced by the magnetic attraction between the first and the second magnet members 50a, 50b, which are also located at the lower portion 24 of the first container 20 and the upper portion 36 of the second container 30, respectively.

In yet a further embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an electrical appliance 1 for making beverage comprising the container system 10 as discussed above. The appliance 1 may also comprise a heating means for heating the content of the container system, and a control means for controlling operation of the appliance 1 such as, but not limited to, controlling the degree of heating, heating temperature and heating duration, etc. The control means may optionally include a printed circuit board for processing the user’s instructions, a memory unit for storing the instructions, and a communication module for communicating the user’s instructions, and/or wirelessly receiving the user’s instructions.

It is appreciated that the aforesaid embodiments are only exemplary embodiments adopted to describe the principles of the present invention, and the present invention is not merely limited thereto. Various variants and modifications can be made by those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and essence of the present invention, and these variants and modifications are also covered within the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, although the invention has been described with reference to specific examples, it is appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention can be embodied in many other forms. It is also appreciated by those skilled in the art that the features of the various examples described can be combined in other combinations.

Claims

A container system for a beverage maker, comprising:

a first container,

a second container in fluid communication with the first container,

wherein the first container and the second container are releasably engageable via magnetic attraction.
The container system according to claim 1, wherein the first container comprises at least one first magnetic member adapted to magnetically attach to the second container.
The container system according to claim 1, wherein the second container comprises at least one second magnetic member adapted to magnetically attach to the first container.
The container system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one sealing member arranged between the first and the second containers for sealing a connection therebetween.
The container system according to claim 1, wherein the second container is positioned below the first container, and that a lower portion of the first container is adapted to engage an upper portion of the second container.
The container system according to claim 5, wherein the lower portion of the first container comprises at least one first engaging means adapted to mechanically engage at least one second engaging means at the upper portion of the second container.
The container system according to claim 6, wherein the at least one first engaging means and the at least one second engaging means each comprises at least one corresponding recess or ridge.
The container system according to claim 6, wherein the at least one first engaging means is adapted to register with the at least one second engaging means.
The container system according to claim 6, wherein the at least one first engaging means is adapted to engage the at least one second engaging means so that the first and the second containers are magnetically aligned.
The container system according to claim 6, wherein the at least one first engaging means is adapted to mechanically interlock the at least one second engaging means.
The container system according to claim 5, wherein the lower portion of the first container comprises a first coupling means adapted to cooperate with a second coupling means at the upper portion of the second container.
The container system according to claim 11, wherein at least one of the first and the second coupling means comprises a tapered wall.
The container system according to claim 11, wherein at least one of the first and the second coupling means is at least partially shaped as an inverted conical frustum.
The container system according to claim 1, further comprising a tube member adapted to fluidly connect the first container and the second container, the tube member comprising an inlet positioned within the second container, and an outlet adjacent the lower portion of the first container.
The container system according to claim 14, further comprising a filter member arranged adjacent the outlet of the tube member.
The container system according to claim 15, wherein the filter member is adapted to cooperatively connect at the outlet of the tube member.
The container system according to claim 15, further comprising a conduit with a first end adapted to fluidly connect with the outlet of the tube member.
The container system according to claim 17, wherein the conduit is arranged to extend away from the outlet.
The container system according to claim 17, wherein the conduit comprises a second end distal to the first end in fluid communication with the first end.
The container system according to claim 15, wherein the filter member comprises a filter and a filter support adapted to support the filter.
The container system according to claim 15, wherein the conduit is connected with the filter member.
The container system according to claim 15, wherein the conduit is part of the filter member.
The container system according to claim 20, wherein the conduit is integrally formed with the filter support.
The container system according to claim 15, wherein the filter member is magnetically attached to the first container.
An appliance for making beverage comprising a heating means and the container system according to any one of the preceding claims.
The appliance according to claim 25 further comprising a control means adapted to control operation of the appliance.