BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[1] The present invention relates generally to a coffee brewer including a funnel insert that raises the coffee cartridge from a bottom portion to provide improved quality coffee.

[2] Coffee brewers are used to make coffee. One type of coffee brewer employs a coffee cartridge. A coffee cartridge includes a predetermined amount of coffee contained within a sealed porous paper shell. The coffee cartridge is added to a funnel insert. When brewing is complete, the funnel insert is removed from the coffee brewer and discarded. A new coffee cartridge can then be added to the funnel insert to make a fresh pot of coffee.

[3] A drawback to employing coffee cartridges is that they do not produce the same quality coffee as fresh ground coffee in an open coffee filter. When the hot water flows into the funnel insert containing the coffee cartridge, the water bypasses the bottom of the coffee cartridge that is flush against the bottom of the funnel insert. The hot water contacts a reduced surface area of the coffee cartridge, weakening the coffee.

[4] A wire funnel insert has been employed to allow hot water to flow under the coffee cartridge. However, a drawback to the wire funnel insert is that the water passes directly through the wire funnel insert, reducing the strength of the coffee.

[5] Hence, there is a need in the art for a coffee brewer including a funnel insert that raises the coffee cartridge from a bottom portion that provides high quality coffee and overcomes the shortcomings and drawbacks of the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[6] A coffee brewer includes a body portion and a solid funnel insert that holds a coffee cartridge. The coffee cartridge is a porous paper shell that contains ground coffee. Heated water flows into the funnel insert through a brewer spray head. The water saturates the coffee cartridge and forms coffee. The coffee flows through an exit hole in the funnel insert and collects in a coffee pot for serving.

[7] The funnel inset includes an inner cup portion that contains the coffee cartridge and an outer cup portion. The inner cup portion includes a bottom portion having a centered exit hole and a side wall angled with respect to the bottom portion. The size of the exit hole can be adjusted for a desired taste of the coffee.

[8] The bottom portion of the funnel insert also includes a plurality of elongated raised projections on the bottom portion that extend radially from the exit hole. The funnel insert also includes a plurality of elongated raised projection on the side portion of the funnel insert. The elongated raised radially projections raise the coffee cartridge from the bottom portion of the funnel insert, allowing the hot water to flow under the coffee cartridge.

[9] When making coffee, the coffee cartridge is placed in the funnel insert. Water from a brewer spray head fills the inner cup portion and completely saturates the coffee cartridge. The plurality of elongated raised projections raise the cartridge from the bottom portion of the coffee cartridge, and therefore the hot water does not bypass the bottom of the coffee cartridge. The coffee drains from the funnel insert through the exit hole and collects in a coffee pot.

[10] These and other features of the present invention will be best understood from the following specification and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[11] The various features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the currently preferred embodiment. The drawings that accompany the detailed description can be briefly described as follows:

[12] Figure 1 illustrates a front view of a coffee brewer of the present invention;

[13] Figure 2 illustrates a side view of the coffee brewer of the present invention;

[14] Figure 3 illustrates a perspective view of the funnel insert of the present invention; and

[15] Figure 4 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the funnel insert.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[16] Figures 1 and 2 schematically illustrate the coffee brewer 20 of the present invention.

The coffee brewer 20 includes a cord 23 that is connected to an electrical source (not shown) that powers the coffee brewer 20. The coffee brewer 20 includes a body portion 22 and a solid funnel insert 24 having a handle 21 that contains a coffee cartridge 26. The solid funnel insert 24 includes an outer cup portion 27 and an inner cup portion 25.

[17] An operator pulls the handle 21 to move the funnel insert 24 between an open position and a closed position. A hot water tank (not shown) stores water that is heated and filtered through the coffee cartridge 26 in the inner cup portion 25 to make coffee. The coffee cartridge 26 is a porous paper shell that contains ground coffee. The cartridge can also contain other materials, such as loose tea. The coffee cartridge 26 can be square, rectangular, or round.

[18] When an operator wants to begin a brew cycle, the operator presses a brew switch 36.

If the coffee brewer 20 is non-automatic, the operator pours water into the coffee brewer 20. The brew switch 36 can be pressed by the operator to begin the coffee brewing cycle. The coffee brewer 20 can be adjusted to brew the appropriate volume of coffee. The water in the hot water tank is heated by a heater (not shown) and pressurized.

[19] The heated water flows into the funnel insert 24 through a brewer spray head 66, shown in Figure 4. The water from the brewer spray head flows into and collects in the outer cup portion 27. The water saturates the coffee cartridge 26 and forms coffee. The coffee flows through an exit hole 48 in the inner cup portion 25 and collects in a coffee pot 32 supported on a shelf 34.

[20] In one example, the coffee brewer 20 includes volume select switches (not shown) which can be pressed to adjust the volume of coffee brewed. The coffee brewer 20 can also include a hot water dispense switch or a hot water faucet 42. The hot water dispense switch or hot water faucet 42 is pressed or pulled, respectively, by an operator to dispense hot water from the coffee brewer 20 that does not flow through the coffee cartridge 26. The hot water dispensed can be used to make other hot beverages, such as tea, etc. When the coffee is ready to brew and the water in the hot water tank is heated, a ready to brew light 44 is illuminated.

[21] Figure 3 schematically illustrates the funnel insert 24 of the present invention. The funnel insert 24 can be made of plastic or stainless steel. The funnel inset 24 includes arms 58 that rigidly attach and center the inner cup portion 25 with respect to the outer cup portion 27 and space the inner cup portion 25 apart from the outer cup portion 27. The space between the inner cup portion 25 and the outer cup portion 27 can be varied. Preferably, the funnel insert 24 includes four arms 58 that center the inner cup portion 25 with respect to the outer cup portion 27. Although four arms 58 are illustrated and described, it is to be understood that any number of arms 58 can be employed.

[22] As shown in Figure 4, the inner cup portion 25 includes a bottom portion 50 having the exit hole 48 which is substantially centrally located in the bottom portion 50. The bottom portion 50 is inclined downwardly with respect to a horizontal plane towards the exit hole 48. The inner cup portion 25 also includes a side wall 52 that is angled with respect to the bottom portion 50. The bottom portion 50 and the side wall 52 define a compartment 54 that receive the coffee cartridge 26. The outer cup portion 27 also includes an exit hole 64 that is substantially aligned with the exit hole 48.

[23] The size of the exit hole 48 in the bottom portion 50 can be adjusted to obtain a desired coffee taste. The larger the exit hole 48, the faster the hot water will exit the compartment 54 due to the increased size of the exit hole that receives the coffee cartridge 26, making the coffee weaker. The smaller the exit hole 48, the slower the hot water will exit the compartment 54 due to the decreased size of the exit hole 48, making the coffee stronger.

[24] The inner cup portion 25 of the funnel insert 24 also includes a plurality of elongated raised projections 60 and 62 on the bottom portion 50 that extend radially from the exit hole 48. The plurality of elongated raised projections 60 extend from the exit hole 48 and to the side wall 52 of the inner cup portion 25. The plurality of elongated raised projections 62 extend from the exit hole 48 and upwardly along the side wall 52 of the funnel insert 24.

[25] The elongated raised projections 60 and 62 raise the coffee cartridge 26 from the bottom portion 50 of the funnel insert 24, allowing the hot water to flow under the coffee cartridge 26. That is, the hot water is able to flow between the bottom portion 50 and the bottom surface of the coffee cartridge 26. This increases the surface area of the coffee cartridge 26 that is contacted by the hot water, increasing the brewing strength of the coffee cartridge 26. The elongated raised projections 62 prevent the coffee cartridge 26 from sticking to the side wall 52 of the funnel insert 24. The elongated raised projections 62 also center the coffee cartridge 26 relative to the funnel inset 24.

[26] In one example, the elongated raised projections 60 and 62 alternate. That is, each elongated raised projection 60 is between two elongated raised projections 62. In one example, there are six elongated raised projections 60 and six elongated raised projections 62. However, it is to be understood that any number of elongated raised projections 60 and 62 can be employed.

[27] When making coffee, the coffee cartridge 26 is placed in the inner cup portion 25 of the funnel insert 24. When the funnel insert 24 is inserted into the coffee brewer 20, the

coffee cartridge 26 is near the brewer spray head 46, preventing the coffee cartridge 26 from floating. When the coffee brewer 20 is operational, hot water from the brewer spray head fills the compartment 54 of the inner cup portion 25 of the funnel insert 24 and completely saturates the coffee cartridge 26, forming coffee. The elongated raised projections 60 and 62 raise the coffee cartridge 26 from the bottom portion 50 of the coffee cartridge 26, and therefore the hot water does not bypass the bottom of the coffee cartridge 26, but flows under it. The coffee drains from the funnel insert 24 through the exit hole 48, flows through the exit hole 64 in the outer cup portion 27, and collects in a coffee pot 32 for serving. The side wall 52 also assist in draining the coffee from the compartment 54.

[28] The foregoing description is only exemplary of the principles of the invention. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than using the example embodiments which have been specifically described. For that reason the following claims should be studied to determine the true scope and content of this invention.