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Gear-driven locking assembly for brew head assembly

a technology of locking assembly and brew head, which is applied in beverage vessels, domestic applications, kitchen equipment, etc., can solve the problem that the lever cannot be mounted on the front center of the brew head, and achieve the effect of facilitating the mating of the cams

Inactive Publication Date: 2007-01-25
ELECTRICAL & ELECTRONICS LTD
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0017] In one embodiment, the cams and corresponding recesses are situated and dimensioned in a way such that the cams can only engage the recesses when the lid frame or upper brew head closes off the brew head bottom of the brew head assembly completely. In a preferred embodiment, the cams and corresponding recesses are wedge-shaped to facilitate the mating of the cams with the corresponding recesses.

Problems solved by technology

A drawback of using such a toggle joint lever system to move the slider is that, for proper operation, the lever can only be mounted on the front center of the brew head.

Method used

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  • Gear-driven locking assembly for brew head assembly
  • Gear-driven locking assembly for brew head assembly
  • Gear-driven locking assembly for brew head assembly

Examples

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Effect test

example 1

Gear-driven Rotating Lock Plate Locking Assembly

[0058] The gear-driven locking assembly of the present invention is useful for locking and unlocking the brew head assembly of a coffee maker. The gear-driven locking assembly comprises a lever, a drive rod with a gear or gear-tooth surface, a drive rod clamp, a lock plate with a gear-tooth surface or gear disposed on its upper surface, a lock plate stopper, a lid mount, and a brew head bottom, all operatively linked to form the gear-driven locking assembly. As used herein, gear includes, but is not limited to, annular bevel gear, bevel gear, crown wheel, wheel with cogs or teeth, and crown wheel and pinion. Other types of gears which are suitable and which are well-known to those skilled in the art may be found, for example, at “Gears Manufacturers Marketplace” http: / / www.gears-manufacturers.com / crown-wheel-pinion.html

[0059] A gear is mounted onto the drive rod. The drive rod is mounted on the lid mount and is attached to the lever....

example 2

Gear-driven Sliding Lock Plate Locking Assembly

[0071] The gear-driven locking assembly of the present invention is useful for locking and unlocking the brew head of a coffee maker. The gear-driven locking assembly comprises a lever, a drive rod with ribs for holding gear(s), gear(s) or gear-tooth surface, a drive rod clamp, a sliding lock plate provided with a gear-tooth surface disposed on its upper surface, a gear stopper, a lid mount, and a brew head bottom, all operatively linked to form the gear-driven locking assembly.

[0072] In a preferred embodiment, two gears are attached to the drive rod. The drive rod is rotatably-mounted on the lid mount and is attached to the lever. When the drive rod rotates, the gears on the drive rod also rotate in the same direction. The sliding lock plate is moveably mounted on the lid mount. The gear-tooth surface disposed on the upper surface of the lock plate is intermeshed with the gear(s) or gear-tooth surface provided on the drive rod. Rotat...

example 3

Sealing Assembly

[0083] The sealing assembly comprises a seal ring, a water spreader, a pod ejector, a metal filter, a pod holder, and a coffee collector. The sealing assembly may further comprise a brew head bottom. In one embodiment, the shape of the seal ring is round with a flap end on the bottom side and is capable of withstanding pressures of up to four (4) bars. In a particular embodiment, the seal ring is a seal, O-ring, or gasket. In another embodiment, the seal ring is made of natural rubber, silicon rubber, rubber-like polymer, or synthetic plastic or material possessing similar characteristics. The seal ring is made of a suitable material capable of preventing leaks at pressures up to four (4) bars. In a preferred embodiment, the seal ring is made of an elastomer material, preferably silicone rubber.

[0084]FIG. 15 shows a sealing assembly of the present invention. The sealing assembly is mounted on the under side of the lid mount 5. In FIG. 11, the water spreader 22 is a...

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PUM

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Abstract

The present invention pertains to a brew head assembly comprising a gear-driven locking assembly and a sealing assembly, whereby the brew head assembly is capable of sustaining pressures up to four (4) bars. The locking assembly comprises a lever, drive rod having a gear or gear-tooth surface, drive rod clamp, lock plate having a gear-tooth surface or gear on its upper surface, lock plate or gear stopper, lid mount, and brew head bottom, all operatively linked to form the locking assembly. In a preferred embodiment, the lock plate is in the form of a sliding member or rotating disc. The gear or gear-tooth surface on the lock plate will mate or mesh with the corresponding gear or gear-tooth surface on the drive rod, such that movement of the lever translates into rotation of the drive rod and movement of the lock plate into a locked or unlocked position.

Description

[0001] Throughout this application, various publications are referenced. The disclosures of these publications in their entireties are hereby incorporated by reference into this application to more fully describe the state of the art to which this invention pertains. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Single-serving coffee makers have become more popular in recent years. Most of these single-serving machines use a lower pressure pump for the brewing process. As a result, many different kinds of low pressure locking mechanisms designed for coffee makers have been described or are in use. Many locking mechanisms in the prior art use a slider to lock the brew head of the coffee maker. WO2004028318 describes a locking mechanism that uses a toggle joint lever system to move the slider to the open or closed position. A drawback of using such a toggle joint lever system to move the slider is that, for proper operation, the lever can only be mounted on the front center of the brew head. [00...

Claims

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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): A47J31/44
CPCA47J31/4407A47J31/3666
Inventor CHEN, ANDREW YUEN CHINSO, TIN YIU
Owner ELECTRICAL & ELECTRONICS LTD