Apparatus for storage and dispensing coffee
OwnerMarion E. Pinckley, William G. Carlininventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for brewing, dispensing and storing coffee involves the use of a movable liquid-gas separation member floatingly mounted on the top level of the brewed coffee so as to exclude air therefrom. The liquid-gas separation member is mounted so as to separate the storage container into a liquid containing portion and a gas containing portion. A vent from the gas containing portion of the container allows for the passage of air into and out of the container as coffee is introduced into the container or is withdrawn therefrom. By this method, the coffee can be stored for long periods of time at serving temperature without developing an acrid or strong, objectionable taste.
Claims13
A storage receptacle for brewed coffee, which comprises:
- A. a container;
- B. means for introducing coffee into said container in which said means for introducing coffee into said container is an inlet at the bottom of said container;
- C. a movable liquid-gas separating member adapted to variably separate said container between an upper gas containing portion and a lower liquid containing portion and which floats vertically on the top of the coffee in said container responsive to the liquid level therein;
- 1. said movable liquid-gas separating member being in the form of a flat piston head, conforming to the shape of said container and slideably mounted in close engagement with the walls of said container and which is raised vertically by the introduction of brewed coffee into said inlet on the bottom of said container;
- D. vent means for allowing the passage of air in and out of said container;
- E. outlet means for withdrawing coffee from said container;
- F. the further combination therewith of a pipe operatively connected with the coffee inlet in the bottom of the container and a pump in operative relation therewith for pumping the coffee, under pressure, into said container.
A storage receptacle which comprises:
- A. a container in the form of a coffee urn;
- B. means for introducing coffee into said container;
- C. a movable liquid-gas separating member adapted to variably separate said container between an upper gas containing portion and a lower liquid containing portion and which floats vertically on the top of the coffee in said container responsive to the liquid level therein;
- D. vent means for allowing the passage of air in and out of said container and;
- E. outlet means for withdrawing coffee from said container;
- F. said storage receptacle forming the bottom portion of said coffee urn and which comprises:
- 1. a partition closing the upper part of said receptacle and which separates said bottom portion from said urn;
- 2. a liquid conduit in communication with said urn and said bottom portion of said container.
A storage receptacle for brewed coffee, which comprises:
- A. a container in the form of a standard coffee pot, adapted to receive the coffee from a commercial coffee maker;
- B. a closure member which fits onto the neck of said coffee pot, and which comprises:
- 1. a movable liquid-gas separating member in the form of a flexible diaphragm, floatingly disposed on the top of said coffee to variably separate said container between an upper gas containing portion and a lower liquid containing portion and which moves vertically on top of the coffee in said pot responsive to the liquid level therein;
- 2. vent means located at the top of said closure member and in communication with said flexible diaphragm;
- C. outlet means for withdrawing coffee from said container.
A coffee dispensing system, which comprises in combination:
- A. a coffee brewing station;
- B. a coffee storage receptacle in the form of a closed container and having a movable liquid-gas separation member mounted therein;
- C. a coffee dispensing station;
- D. conduit for transporting coffee from said coffee station to said coffee storage receptacle;
- E. conduit for transporting coffee from the bottom of said storage receptacle to said coffee dispensing stations;
- F. said liquid-gas separation member being floatingly disposed on the top of the level of brewed coffee in said container and vertically movable with the level of brewed coffee therein;
- and
- G. vent means being located in the top of said container for the passage of air into and out of said storage receptacle upon the introduction and withdrawing of coffee therefrom.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.