DE20119704U1 - Electrically operated device for preparing hot infusion drinks - Google Patents

Description

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PATENT ATTORNEYS

..&ngr;,. 17/39741-001

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ROLF BOCKERMANN

DIPL.-ING.

PETER KOLL
DR-ING. DIPL-ING.

APPROVED BY
EUROPEAN PATENT OFFICE EUROPEAN PATENT ATTORNEYS MANDATAIRES AGREES EUROPEEN

EUROPEAN TRADEMARK ATTORNEYS

Bergstrasse 159
D-44791 BOCHUM

PO Box 102450
D-44724 BOCHUM

04.12.2001 XK/Mo

Cloer Elektrogeräte GmbH Von-Siemens-Str. 12. D-59757 Arnsberg

Electrically operated device for preparing hot Infusion drinks

The invention relates to an electrically operated device for preparing hot infusion beverages, in particular tea, according to the features in the preamble of claim 1.

Such a device is considered state of the art under 38 21 994 A1. The device comprises a device housing for accommodating switching and control devices and a fresh water tank with an associated heating device for generating hot water. The hot water is fed via a supply line to a brewing container in which a brewing insert with openings is arranged. The brewing material to be brewed is poured into the brewing insert and hot water is applied. After a predetermined time has elapsed, the finished tea is transferred to a collecting container via an outlet in the brewing container. This outlet can be closed by a spring-loaded valve and opened by a timer. A position-adjustable lever is arranged between the timer and the valve.

Telephone (02 34) S 19 57 / 58 / 59 ■ Fax (02 34) 51 05 12 · e-mail: info@bochumpatent.de
Commerzbank AG BochlJrri.r$Jrito no.:?8§4.7S2 (QCZ 430,JtOQS^ "PisiOaeklEssen, (Jonfc-Mi 74 47-431 (BLZ 360 100 43)

The timer also has a detachable lock that is moved to its release position by a thermal switch, such as a bimetal switch. The thermal switch is used to release the timer. Once the release position is reached, the timer can start running. Once the timer has expired, the valve on the outlet on the brewing container is opened and the finished tea can flow into the collecting container underneath.

To fill and clean the brewing container is removed together with the brewing insert and the automatic timer. In normal household use, this can cause the valve operating mechanism to suffer.

Overall, the known device appears to be complex in terms of design and manufacturing technology, particularly with regard to the electromechanical actuation of the outlet valve. The construction volume of the known device is also comparatively large.

Based on the prior art, the invention is based on the object of creating a device for preparing hot infusion drinks that is improved in terms of design and handling, with which it is possible to prepare a high-quality infusion drink. Furthermore, the invention is intended to show a method for preparing a high-quality infusion drink.

The solution to the objective part of the problem according to the invention consists in an electrically operated device for preparing hot infusion drinks with the features of patent claim 1.

The core of the invention is a filter and brewing system consisting of a jacketed container with a pull-out insert arranged therein. According to the invention, the device has a pull-out insert that can be inserted into the jacketed container. An outlet valve is provided at the bottom of the pull-out insert.

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Above the outlet valve, the brewing insert has a brewing area that is closed on the circumference and above which an overflow for the brewed beverage is provided.

To prepare a hot infusion drink, especially tea, the brewing liquid (tea) is filled into the brewing insert. This can be conveniently done using a standard filter bag.

By pressing the power button, the first amount of hot water is prepared. The necessary heating device as well as control and regulation components are known and are designed in the usual way, in accordance with legal regulations, and housed in the housing of the device.

The brewed product is then initially poured over with the first amount of water in the brewing insert and is left to brew for a predetermined amount of time. This creates a concentrated brew. After the brewing or brewing time has elapsed, the brew is poured over with a second amount of hot water. This hot water runs into the brewing insert. The brew is then vigorously mixed together with the brewed product so that the ingredients such as caffeine, aromas and tannins are washed out of the brewed product very well. The infusion drink then rises in the brewing insert until it reaches the overflow and from there flows into the jacket container. At about the same time, the outlet valve on the bottom of the brewing insert opens so that the prepared infusion drink flows via the outlet valve on the bottom of the jacket container into a receiving container, usually a thermos flask.

In principle, the overflow for the infusion drink in the brewing container can be designed in different ways. In practice, it is advisable to design the overflow through at least one opening, preferably a series of openings, in the brewing insert, as provided for in patent claim 2.

The outlet valve on the brewing container is expediently temperature-controlled, in particular controlled by a bimetal (patent claim 3). In this way, the outlet valve can be triggered by the hot brewing beverage itself. As soon as the hot brewing beverage from the brewing container contacts the temperature-controlled outlet valve via the overflow, the valve goes into the open position and the prepared brewing beverage can drain off.

According to the features of claim 4, the drawing insert is positioned in the jacket container by means of spacer elements, forming a gap. The spacer elements can basically be designed in different ways. They can be located on both the jacket container and the drawing insert. The spacer elements ensure a gap between the jacket container and the drawing insert, through which the liquid overflowing at the overflow can flow downwards to the outlet valve on the bottom of the jacket container.

Advantageously, at least the pull-out insert is funnel-shaped (patent claim 5). This shape enables the use of commercially available paper filter bags. In this case, the jacket container is also expediently designed to be funnel-shaped.

In the advantageous embodiment according to claim 6, a temperature-controlled valve is integrated in the supply line between the heating device and the outlet. This valve only opens when hot water of the desired temperature is available. This ensures that hot water of the required temperature is used to prepare the brew.

The solution to the procedural part of the problem is characterized in the measures of claim 7. The procedure has already been explained above. According to the invention, the brewed product is first poured over with a first amount of hot water in a drawing insert. This

The mixture can then be steeped so that a concentrated brew is produced. The brewing time can be predetermined and is controlled by means of conventional, particularly electronic, automatic timers. The resulting brew is then mixed with a second amount of hot water after a predetermined time, after which the infusion drink is transferred from the brewing insert via the jacket container into a receiving container.

In this way, a high-quality infusion drink is produced. The brewed material is mixed thoroughly when the first and second amounts of water are added. The ingredients and aromas are washed out intensively. The aroma and quality of the resulting infusion drink is intense and rich.

The invention is described in more detail below using an embodiment shown in the drawings.

Figure 1 shows a front view of a device according to the invention, partially

presented in a technically simplified manner;

Figure 2 also shows the front view of the filter and brewing system of the device according to the invention in the closed valve position and

Figure 3 shows the representation according to Figure 2, but with the outlet valve on the pulling insert open.

Figure 1 shows an electrically operated household appliance, generally designated 1, for preparing hot infusion drinks, especially tea. The illustration is partly technically simplified. Control and regulating devices including automatic timers and the electrical supply line are not shown.

The household appliance 1 has a device housing 2 in which the aforementioned switching and control devices are housed. The device housing 2 can be made of plastic, but also of stainless steel.

Attached to the device housing 2 is a base part 3 on which a collecting container in the form of a thermos flask 4 can be placed. A warming heater 5 can be accommodated in the base part 3.

Fresh water is stored in a water tank 6 in the device housing 2. The water can be drawn off from this via a bottom outlet 7 using a pump 8. It then passes through a curved pipe section 9 to a heating device 10. Hot water of the desired temperature is generated in the heating device 10 and from there fed to a filter and brewing system 12 via a supply line 11. A valve 13 is integrated into the supply line 11, which only opens the supply line 11 for flow when the water has been heated to the desired hot temperature.

The filter and brewing system 12 (see also Figures 2 and 3) consists of a pull insert 14 which can be inserted into a jacket container 15.

The jacket container 15 is funnel-shaped and has a pot-like depression 16 on the bottom, in the bottom 17 of which an outlet valve 18 is arranged. The outlet valve 18 is a conventional drip stop valve. The outlet valve 18 has a valve body 19 with an anchor-shaped cross-section and a valve tappet 21 carrying a sealing ring 20. The sealing ring 20 is pressed against the sealing seat 23 by a compression spring 22 that concentrically surrounds the valve tappet 21. By adjusting the thermos flask 4, the valve body 19 is moved upwards in the plane of the image. The sealing ring 20 lifts off the sealing seat 23 and the outlet valve 18 opens (not shown in the figures).

An outlet valve 26, which is temperature-controlled by a bimetal body 25, is arranged on the bottom 24 of the drawing insert 14. The outlet valve 26 comprises a valve body 27 with a valve tappet 29 carrying a sealing element 28. The sealing element 28 is arranged in a pot-like recess 30 of the funnel-shaped drawing insert 14. The valve tappet

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29 passes through the outlet opening 31 in the base 24 of the drawing insert 14 and is in operative contact with the bimetal body 25 with its end 32 opposite the sealing element 28. The valve tappet 29 is concentrically surrounded by a compression spring 33 which presses the valve body 27 with the sealing element 28 against the sealing seat 34 on the circumference of the outlet opening 31 into the closed position.

Under the influence of heat, i.e. when it comes into contact with the hot infusion drink, the bimetal body 25 responds and changes its shape or position. This positional shift causes the outlet valve 26 to open. The valve tappet 29 is pushed upwards in the image plane, the sealing element 28 is lifted from the sealing seat 34 and the outlet opening 31 is released (see Figure 3).

The lower section of the drawing insert 14 forms a brewing area 35 that is closed on the circumference. An overflow 36 for the infusion drink is provided above the brewing area 35. In the embodiment shown here, the overflow 36 is formed by three rows of openings 37 (rows of holes) arranged one above the other in the drawing insert 14.

On the outside 38 of the drawing insert 14 there are spacer elements in the form of narrow ribs 39 extending over the height of the drawing insert 14. These position the drawing insert 14 in the jacket container 15 so that gaps 40 are formed between them. The infusion drink coming from the overflow 36 can flow downwards via the gap 40.

The jacket container 15 is suitably detachably attached to the housing 2 and can be removed together with the brewing insert 14 for filling and cleaning. To prepare tea, the tea is filled into a paper filter bag and placed in the brewing insert 14. The tea is then located in the brewing area 35 of the brewing insert 14. The tea is then poured over with a first amount of water and brewed for a predetermined time, so

that a concentrated tea brew is created. After the desired brewing time has elapsed, the brew is poured over with a second amount of hot water. The brew is vigorously mixed together with the tea. As a result, the ingredients are washed out of the tea very intensively. The infusion drink rises in the brewing insert 14 (arrow P1) until it overflows at the overflow 36 (arrow P2) and then runs downwards via the gap 40 between the jacket container 15 and the brewing insert 14 (arrow P3). As soon as the bimetal body 25 is contacted by the hot infusion drink, the outlet valve 26 opens (Figure 3) and the prepared infusion drink can flow into the thermos flask 4 via the outlet valve in the brewing container 14 and the outlet valve 18 in the jacket container 15.

Reference number list

1 - Household appliance

2- Device housing

3- Foot part

4 - Thermos flask

5- Warming heater

6- Water tank 7 - Outlet

8- Pump

9- Pipe section

10- Heating device

11- Supply line

12 - Filter and brewing system

13- Valve

14- Pull insert

15- Jacketed container

16- Deepening

17- Floor of 16

18- Outlet valve

19- Valve body

20- Sealing ring 21 - Valve tappet

22- Compression spring

23- Sealing seat

24- Floor of 14

25- Bimetal body 26 - Outlet valve

27- Valve body

28- Sealing element

29- Valve tappet

Claims (6)

1. Electrically operated device for preparing hot infusion drinks, in particular tea, with a device housing ( 2 ) for accommodating switching and control devices and with a water container ( 6 ) and an associated heating device ( 10 ) for generating hot water, wherein the hot water can be fed via a supply line ( 11 ) to a drawing insert ( 14 ) which receives the brewing material to be brewed and which is arranged in a jacket container ( 15 ) with a bottom-side outlet valve ( 18 ), characterized in that an outlet valve ( 26 ) is provided on the bottom ( 24 ) of the drawing insert ( 14 ) and the drawing insert ( 14 ) has a brewing area ( 35 ) which is closed on the circumference, wherein an overflow ( 36 ) for the infusion drink is provided above the brewing area ( 35 ). 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the overflow ( 36 ) is formed by at least one opening ( 37 ) in the drawing insert ( 14 ). 3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the outlet valve ( 26 ) is temperature-controlled, in particular by a bimetal body ( 25 ). 4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the pulling insert ( 14 ) is positioned by spacer elements ( 39 ) in the casing container ( 15 ) to form a gap ( 40 ). 5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that at least the pulling insert ( 14 ) is funnel-shaped. 6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a temperature-controlled valve ( 13 ) is incorporated in the supply line ( 11 ).