US 5,902,620 AGranted

Apparatus and method for making beverages in a microwave oven

AssigneeHP Intellectual Corp.

InventorPatrick B Nolan

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Abstract

An apparatus for preparing beverages comprises a liquid container and a drink medium container including a housing having a tubular member extending downward into the liquid container. The drink medium container includes a filter apparatus capable of containing a drink medium. A drink container includes a tubular liquid inlet in fluid flow communication with the drink medium container. The liquid container is in fluid communication with the drink container such that when liquid in the liquid container is heated, the liquid can flow upward from the liquid container through the tubular member, filter apparatus, and through the tubular liquid inlet into the drink container. The liquid container includes a double wall construction to maintain the temperature on an outer surface thereof at a relatively low level. The drink container includes an outer surface having longitudinally extending grooves which function to direct steam venting from the liquid container upwardly and away from the outer surface of the liquid container.

Claims14

Dependent claims

An apparatus for preparing beverages comprising:

a liquid container capable of containing a liquid and comprised of a material permeable to microwaves;
a drink medium container for holding a drink medium and including an upper housing, a tubular member extending downwardly from the upper housing, said upper housing including a filter body therein and a second filter spaced above said filter body for substantially retaining the drink medium while permitting the passage of liquid and steam, said drink medium container being insertable into said liquid container;
a filtrate container detachably connectable to the liquid container, said drink medium container being connected to the liquid container such that the drink medium container is generally intermediate the liquid container and the filtrate container, said filtrate container having a tubular liquid inlet in fluid flow communication with said drink medium container whereby fluid can flow upward from said liquid container through said tubular member, said filter body and through said tubular liquid inlet into said filtrate container;
and said liquid container comprising a first outer cylindrical member and a second cylindrical member radially inwardly spaced from said first cylindrical member, said second inner cylindrical member including an inner surface forming a water reservoir.

1 more element

An apparatus for preparing beverages comprising:

a liquid container capable of containing a liquid;
a drink medium container having a housing and a tubular member extending downwardly from said housing into said liquid container;
a filter apparatus associated with said housing for containing a drink medium;
a drink container detachably connected to the liquid container including a tubular liquid inlet for placing said liquid container in fluid communication with said drink container whereby fluid can flow upward from said liquid container through the tubular member, filter apparatus and through said tubular liquid inlet into said drink container, said liquid container comprising a material permeable to microwaves whereby, upon heating with microwave energy, liquid and steam formed in the liquid container is pressurized and directed through the tubular member and filter apparatus containing the drink medium and into the drink container;
and
said drink container including an outer surface having a plurality longitudinally extending grooves which extend upward from a junction of the outer surface of said drink container with a surface of the liquid container.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.