Hot beverage maker with cup-actuated dispenser

#This invention relates to a convenient hot beverage maker having a cup-actuated dispenser thereby allowing a user to dispense any amount of beverage desired.

#Many types and styles of hot beverage makers, especially coffee makers, are known and have been sold for many years. The standard components in these coffee makers include a stand or tower that has a warming plate on the bottom and a filter basket at the top. The coffee maker further includes a carafe that rests on the warming plate and below the filter basket in order to receive brewed liquid from the filter basket.

#A problem with traditional coffee makers is the mess that results from using the coffee maker. A user must clean both the carafe and filter basket after each use. Further, if there is no automatic pause and serve feature, then a user must wait for an entire batch to run before removing the carafe to pour a cup of coffee. Even after the batch is run, there may be additional drips that would spill onto the hot warming plate once a carafe is removed for pouring. Also, if a carafe is not properly aligned under a filter basket, it could cause spillage and waste as the hot coffee does not completely flow from the filter basket and into the carafe. Inevitably, a warming plate becomes dirty with overflow or excess dripage, thereby causing an unappealing aroma.

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a coffee maker in accordance with the present invention.

#FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the coffee maker shown in FIG. 1 with the lid in the open position.

#FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the coffee maker shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 with the brew tank removed and with the lid in the open position.

#FIGS. 1 through 7 illustrate a coffee maker that is a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Naturally, a design engineer having ordinary skill with the assembly of coffee makers will be able to create a coffee maker that incorporates the teachings of the present invention, but which may look different and incorporate different, alternative parts. It is the cup-actuated dispenser that makes the unit very convenient and very different from existing coffee makers that include, for instance, a carafe and other components unnecessary in the present invention.

#Turning now to FIG. 1, there is shown a coffee maker 10 that is made up of a stand 11, fresh water reservoir 12, brewed beverage tank 13, and a lid 14. The stand 11 forms the base of coffee maker 10 and supports the reservoir 12 and tank 13. The stand 11 includes a recess 20 in which is situated a push-button 21. Adjacent to recess 20 are the electrical switches 22 that operate the coffee maker 10 and allow the user to, for instance, program a start time or set the time of the clock 23. Of course, these electrical switches 22 may be analog or digital. Fewer or more controls may be applicable for a given model of coffee maker.

#The fresh water reservoir 12 has transparent sidewalls 30. The transparent sidewalls 30 allow users to easily and immediately determine whether and how much fresh water is in the coffee maker 10. Of course, nontransparent walls may be used, or a vertical window slot could be used. A water level indicator may also facilitate the ability of a user to accurately gauge the water volume.