초록 ▼

A hygiene device for a coffee or espresso machine comprises an upper surface for receiving hot water from the machine, a lower surface adapted to be contaminated by flavor-containing materials in a basket while preventing the flavor-containing materials from contaminating the machine, a sufficiently

A hygiene device for a coffee or espresso machine comprises an upper surface for receiving hot water from the machine, a lower surface adapted to be contaminated by flavor-containing materials in a basket while preventing the flavor-containing materials from contaminating the machine, a sufficiently small opening for allowing hot water to pass through to the flavor-containing materials and preventing the flavor-containing materials from reaching the upper surface, and a handle for allowing a user to move the hygiene device to allow the flavor-containing materials contaminated on the lower surface to be washed away. The hygiene device may comprise a seal member for forming an airtight seal with the rim or side wall of basket to enable a vacuum building-up therein to prevent dripping when disposing the wet flavor-containing materials. The hygiene device may also comprise a connector such as a hinge for connecting the hygiene device to basket to allow a user to move the hygiene device to open and close the basket.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A hygiene device for use with or in an apparatus capable of generating and delivering hot water under pressure to a supply of flavor-containing materials in a container to produce a drink, said hygiene device comprising: an upper surface for receiving the hot water from the a

What is claimed is: 1. A hygiene device for use with or in an apparatus capable of generating and delivering hot water under pressure to a supply of flavor-containing materials in a container to produce a drink, said hygiene device comprising: an upper surface for receiving the hot water from the apparatus; a lower surface for facing the supply of flavor-containing materials in the container, said lower surface being adapted to be contaminated by the flavor-containing materials while preventing the flavor-containing materials in the container from contaminating the apparatus; at least one opening for allowing the hot water from said upper surface to pass through to said lower surface and to the flavor-containing materials in the container, said at least one opening being sufficiently small to substantially prevent the flavor-containing materials from reaching said upper surface; a handle for allowing a user to move said hygiene device to allow the flavor-containing materials contaminated on said lower surface to be washed away; and a seal member adapted to form an airtight seal with one of the rim and side wall of the container. 2. A hygiene device as defined in claim 1 wherein said at least one opening is adapted to enable a vacuum to form in the container when wetted by the hot water, thereby preventing the container from dripping when the user moves the container to a waste disposal area to dispose the used wet flavor-containing materials therein. 3. A hygiene device for use with or in an apparatus capable of generating and delivering hot water under pressure to a supply of flavor-containing materials in a container to produce a drink, said hygiene device comprising: an upper surface for receiving the hot water from the apparatus; a lower surface for facing the supply of flavor-containing materials in the container, said lower surface being adapted to be contaminated by the flavor-containing materials while preventing the flavor-containing materials in the container from contaminating the apparatus; at least one opening for allowing the hot water from said upper surface to pass through to said lower surface and to the flavor-containing materials in the container, said at least one opening being sufficiently small to substantially prevent the flavor-containing materials from reaching said upper surface; a handle for allowing a user to move said hygiene device to allow the flavor-containing materials contaminated on said lower surface to be washed away; and wherein said lower surface has a smaller area than said upper surface to taper the side wall between said upper and lower surfaces to facilitate the insertion of the hygiene device into the container. 4. A hygiene device for use with or in an apparatus capable of generating and delivering hot water under pressure to a supply of flavor-containing materials in a container to produce a drink, said hygiene device comprising: an upper surface for receiving the hot water from the apparatus; a lower surface for facing the supply of flavor-containing materials in the container, said lower surface being adapted to be contaminated by the flavor-containing materials while preventing the flavor-containing materials in the container from contaminating the apparatus; at least one opening for allowing the hot water from said upper surface to pass through to said lower surface and to the flavor-containing materials in the container, said at least one opening being sufficiently small to substantially prevent the flavor-containing materials from reaching said upper surface; a handle for allowing a user to move said hygiene device to allow the flavor-containing materials contaminated on said lower surface to be washed away; and a connector for connecting said hygiene device to the container, said connector being adapted to allow said hygiene device to move between a first position, in which said hygiene device is away from the container to allow flavor-containing materials to be added into or cleaned from the container, and a second position, in which said hygiene device closes the container to prevent the flavor-containing materials from contaminating the apparatus during brewing. 5. A hygiene device as defined in claim 4 wherein said connector comprises an elongated slot formed on said lower surface and a sliding member receivable in said elongated slot on the container. 6. A hygiene device as defined in claim 4 wherein said handle includes one of a protruded member on said upper surface, a recessed area on said upper surface, and a side wall between said upper and lower surfaces. 7. A hygiene device for use with or in an apparatus capable of generating and delivering hot water under pressure to a supply of flavor-containing materials in a container to produce a drink, said hygiene device comprising: an upper surface for receiving the hot water from the apparatus; a lower surface for facing the supply of flavor-containing materials in the container, said lower surface being adapted to be contaminated by the flavor-containing materials while preventing the flavor-containing materials in the container from contaminating the apparatus; at least one opening for allowing the hot water from said upper surface to pass through to said lower surface and to the flavor-containing materials in the container, said at least one opening being sufficiently small to substantially prevent the flavor-containing materials from reaching said upper surface; a handle for allowing a user to move said hygiene device to allow the flavor-containing materials contaminated on said lower surface to be washed away; and a hinge for connecting said hygiene device to the container. 8. A hygiene device as defined in claim 7 wherein said hinge is positioned a predetermined distance apart from an edge of said lower surface to enable the user to turn said hygiene device, thereby opening the container, by simply pushing the part of said upper surface between said edge and hinge. 9. A hygiene device as defined in claim 7 wherein said hinge is adapted to allow said hygiene device to turn substantially horizontally. 10. A hygiene device as defined in claim 7 wherein said hinge is adapted to allow said hygiene device to turn substantially vertically. 11. A hygiene device for use with or in an apparatus capable of generating and delivering hot water under pressure to a supply of flavor-containing materials in a container to produce a drink, said hygiene device comprising: an upper surface for receiving the hot water from the apparatus; a lower surface for facing the supply of flavor-containing materials in the container, said lower surface being adapted to be contaminated by the flavor-containing materials while preventing the flavor-containing materials in the container from contaminating the apparatus; at least one opening for allowing the hot water from said upper surface to pass through to said lower surface and to the flavor-containing materials in the container, said at least one opening being sufficiently small to substantially prevent the flavor-containing materials from reaching said upper surface; a handle for allowing a user to move said hygiene device to allow the flavor-containing materials contaminated on said lower surface to be washed away; and a seal member adapted to form a watertight seal with the container and a chamber in communication with the apparatus for introducing hot water to said upper surface, said seal member being adapted to cause substantially all hot water from said chamber to pass through the flavor-containing materials to brew a drink. 12. A hygiene device for use with or in an apparatus capable of generating and delivering hot water under pressure to a supply of flavor-containing materials in a container to produce a drink, said hygiene device comprising: an upper surface for receiving the hot water from the apparatus; a lower surface for facing the supply of flavor-containing materials in the container, said lower surface being adapted to be contaminated by the flavor-containing materials while preventing the flavor-containing materials in the container from contaminating the apparatus; at least one opening for allowing the hot water from said upper surface to pass through to said lower surface and to the flavor-containing materials in the container, said at least one opening being sufficiently small to substantially prevent the flavor-containing materials from reaching said upper surface; a handle for allowing a user to move said hygiene device to allow the flavor-containing materials contaminated on said lower surface to be washed away; and a water-impermeable wall above said upper surface, a chamber formed between said upper surface and water-impermeable wall, a hot water inlet on said water-impermeable wall for allowing the hot water from the apparatus to enter said chamber, and a seal member adapted to form a watertight seal with the container, said hot water inlet and said handle being adapted to allow the user to removably mounting the hygiene device to the apparatus. 13. A brew station for an apparatus having a heater for generating hot water and an outlet for the hot water, said brew station comprising: a container for receiving flavor-containing materials and for allowing the flavor-containing materials to interact therein with the hot water to produce a drink; a holder for holding said container in position in the apparatus; and a movable hygiene device for preventing the flavor-containing materials in said container from contaminating the apparatus, said hygiene device comprising an upper surface for facing the outlet of the apparatus, a lower surface for facing the flavor-containing materials in said container and being adapted to be contaminated by the flavor-containing materials while preventing the flavor-containing materials from contaminating the apparatus, at least one opening for allowing the hot water from said upper surface to pass through to said lower surface and to the flavor-containing materials in said container, said at least one opening being sufficiently small to substantially prevent the flavor-containing materials from reaching said upper surface, and a handle for allowing a user to move said movable hygiene device to allow the flavor-containing materials contaminated on said lower surface to be washed away; and a seal member adapted to form an airtight seal with one of the rim and side wall of said container, wherein said at least one opening is adapted to allow a vacuum to form in the container when wetted by the hot water, thereby preventing the container from dripping when the user moves the container to a waste disposal area to dispose the used wet flavor-containing materials therein. 14. A brew station for an apparatus having a heater for generating hot water and an outlet for the hot water, said brew station comprising: a container for receiving flavor-containing materials and for allowing the flavor-containing materials to interact therein with the hot water to produce a drink; a holder for holding said container in position in the apparatus; a movable hygiene device for preventing the flavor-containing materials in said container from contaminating the apparatus, said hygiene device comprising an upper surface for facing the outlet of the apparatus, a lower surface for facing the flavor-containing materials in said container and being adapted to be contaminated by the flavor-containing materials while preventing the flavor-containing materials from contaminating the apparatus, at least one opening for allowing the hot water from said upper surface to pass through to said lower surface and to the flavor-containing materials in said container, said at least one opening being sufficiently small to substantially prevent the flavor-containing materials from reaching said upper surface, and a handle for allowing a user to move said movable hygiene device to allow the flavor-containing materials contaminated on said lower surface to be washed away; and a connector for connecting said hygiene device to the container, said connector being adapted to allow said hygiene device to move between a first position, in which said hygiene device is away from the container to allow flavor-containing materials to be added into or cleaned from the container, and a second position, in which said hygiene device closes the container to prevent the flavor-containing materials from contaminating the apparatus during brewing. 15. A brew station as defined in claim 14 wherein said connector comprises a hinge. 16. A brew station for an apparatus having a heater for generating hot water and an outlet for the hot water, said brew station comprising: a container for receiving flavor-containing materials and for allowing the flavor-containing materials to interact therein with the hot water to produce a drink; a movable hygiene device for preventing the flavor-containing materials in said container from contaminating the apparatus, said hygiene device comprising an upper surface for facing the outlet of the apparatus, a lower surface for facing the flavor-containing materials in said container and being adapted to be contaminated by the flavor-containing materials, at least one opening for allowing the hot water from said upper surface to pass through to said lower surface and to the flavor-containing materials in said container, said at least one opening being sufficiently small to substantially prevent the flavor-containing materials from reaching said upper surface, and a handle for allowing a user to move said movable hygiene device to allow the flavor-containing materials contaminated on said lower surface to be washed away; and a seal member adapted to form a watertight seal with said container and a chamber in communication with the outlet for introducing hot water to said upper surface, said seal member being adapted to cause substantially all hot water from the outlet and said chamber to pass through the flavor-containing materials in said container to brew a drink. 17. A brew station as defined in claim 16 further comprising a brew head containing the outlet for hot water and a connector for removably mounting said hygiene device to said brew head. 18. A brew station as defined in claim 17 wherein said seal member is affixed to said hygiene device for forming said watertight seal between said hygiene device and said container, thereby causing said seal member to be removed together with said hygiene device from said brew head for cleaning. 19. A brew station as defined in claim 17 further comprising a second seal member for forming a watertight seal between said brew head and said movable hygiene device to cause all or substantially all hot water from the outlet to flow through said at least one opening into the container. 20. A brew station as defined in claim 19 wherein said second seal member has a periphery substantially smaller than the periphery of said seal member. 21. A brew station as defined in claim 19 wherein said second seal member is affixed to said hygiene device. 22. A brew station as defined in claim 19 wherein said second seal member is affixed to said brew head. 23. A brew station as defined in claim 17 wherein said connector and said handle are so configured that said handle is pushed toward said brew head to mount said hygiene device to said brew head and is pulled to remove said hygiene device from said brew head for cleaning. 24. A brew station for an apparatus having a heater for generating hot water and an outlet for the hot water, said brew station comprising: a container for receiving flavor-containing materials and for allowing the flavor-containing materials to interact therein with the hot water to produce a drink; a movable hygiene device for preventing the flavor-containing materials in said container from contaminating the apparatus, said hygiene device comprising an upper surface for facing the outlet of the apparatus, a lower surface for facing the flavor-containing materials in said container and being adapted to be contaminated by the flavor-containing materials, at least one opening for allowing the hot water from said upper surface to pass through to said lower surface and to the flavor-containing materials in said container, said at least one opening being sufficiently small to substantially prevent the flavor-containing materials from reaching said upper surface, and a handle for allowing a user to move said movable hygiene device to allow the flavor-containing materials contaminated on said lower surface to be washed away; and a water-impermeable wall above said upper surface, a chamber formed between said upper surface and water-impermeable wall, a hot water inlet on said water-impermeable wall for allowing the hot water from the outlet of the apparatus to enter said chamber, and a seal member adapted to form a watertight seal with the container, said handle being adapted to allow the user to removably mount the hygiene device to the apparatus. 25. A brew station as defined in claim 24 wherein said water-impermeable wall is connected to said movable hygiene device and wherein said seal member is connected to one of said water-impermeable wall and said movable hygiene device, thereby allowing said water-impermeable wall, chamber, seal member and hygiene device to be removed as an assembly for cleaning. 26. A brew station as defined in claim 24 further comprising a second seal member to form a watertight seal between said hot water inlet on said water-impermeable wall and the outlet of the apparatus. 27. A brew station for an apparatus having a heater for generating hot water and an outlet for the hot water, said brew station comprising: a container for receiving flavor-containing materials and for allowing the flavor-containing materials to interact therein with the hot water to produce a drink; a movable hygiene device for preventing the flavor-containing materials in said container from contaminating the apparatus, said hygiene device comprising an upper surface for facing the outlet of the apparatus, a lower surface for facing the flavor-containing materials in said container and being adapted to be contaminated by the flavor-containing materials while preventing the flavor-containing materials from contaminating the apparatus, at least one opening for allowing the hot water from said upper surface to pass through to said lower surface and to the flavor-containing materials in said container, said at least one opening being sufficiently small to substantially prevent the flavor-containing materials from reaching said upper surface, and a handle for allowing a user to move said movable hygiene device to allow the flavor-containing materials contaminated on said lower surface to be washed away; and a drain valve for draining the hot water above said upper surface of said hygiene device after the pressure in said container decreases to a predetermined value. 28. A brew station for an apparatus having a heater for generating hot water and an outlet for the hot water, said brew station comprising: a container for receiving flavor-containing materials and for allowing the flavor-containing materials to interact therein with the hot water to produce a drink; a movable hygiene device for preventing the flavor-containing materials in said container from contaminating the apparatus, said hygiene device comprising an upper surface for facing the outlet of the apparatus, a lower surface for facing the flavor-containing materials in said container and being adapted to be contaminated by the flavor-containing materials while preventing the flavor-containing materials from contaminating the apparatus, at least one opening for allowing the hot water from said upper surface to pass through to said lower surface and to the flavor-containing materials in said container, said at least one opening being sufficiently small to substantially prevent the flavor-containing materials from reaching said upper surface, and a handle for allowing a user to move said movable hygiene device to allow the flavor-containing materials contaminated on said lower surface to be washed away; and an expandable water distribution head having an inlet in communication with the outlet of the apparatus and a seal member, said distribution head being adapted to expand in length to cause said seal member to form a watertight seal with said container when the hot water is introduced under pressure into said inlet. 29. A brew basket for a brewing apparatus having a heater for generating hot water and a brew head, said brew basket comprising: a container for receiving flavor-containing materials, said container being adapted to be removably mounted to the brew head to receive the hot water and to allow the hot water to interact with the flavor-containing materials therein to produce a drink; and a movable hygiene device for preventing the flavor-containing materials in said container from contaminating the brew head of apparatus, said hygiene device comprising an upper surface for facing the brew head of the apparatus, a lower surface for facing the flavor-containing materials in said container and being adapted to be contaminated by the flavor-containing materials while preventing the flavor-containing materials from contaminating the brew head of the apparatus, at least one opening for allowing hot water from said upper surface to pass through to said lower surface and to the flavor-containing materials in said container, said at least one opening being sufficiently small to substantially prevent the flavor-containing materials from reaching said upper surface, and a handle for allowing a user to move said movable hygiene device to allow the flavor-containing materials contaminated on said lower surface to be washed away. 30. A brew basket as defined in claim 29 wherein said movable hygiene device further comprises a seal member adapted to form an airtight seal with one of the rim and side wall of said container, wherein said at least one opening is adapted to have a sufficiently high air-breakthrough pressure when wetted by the hot water to enable a vacuum to build up in the container, thereby preventing the container from dripping when the user moves the container to a waste disposal area to dispose the used wet flavor-containing materials therein. 31. A brew basket as defined in claim 29 wherein said lower surface and handle of said movable hygiene device are adapted to allow the user to use said hygiene device to tamp the flavor-containing materials in the container. 32. A brew basket as defined in claim 29 wherein said movable hygiene device further comprises a connector for connecting said hygiene device to said container, said connector being adapted to allow said hygiene device to move between a first position, in which said hygiene device is away from said container to allow flavor-containing materials to be added into or cleaned from the container, and a second position, in which said hygiene device closes said container to prevent the flavor-containing materials from contaminating the brew head and apparatus during brewing. 33. A brew basket as defined in claim 32 wherein said connector comprises a hinge. 34. A hygiene device for use with a container adapted to contain a supply of flavor-containing materials and to receive hot water from a brewing apparatus, containing a new brew head, the container being in direct contact with the new brew head and allow the hot water to interact with the flavor-containing materials therein to produce a drink, said hygiene device comprising: an upper surface adapted to face the brew head of the apparatus; a lower surface adapted to face the flavor-containing materials in the container and to be contaminated by the flavor-containing materials; at least one opening for allowing hot water from said upper surface to pass through to said lower surface and to the flavor-containing materials in said container, said at least one opening being sufficiently small to substantially prevent the flavor-containing materials from reaching said upper surface; a handle for allowing a user to remove said hygiene device from the container to allow the flavor-containing materials contaminated on said lower surface to be washed away; a peripheral side wall between said upper and lower surfaces, said side wall being adapted to allow one to hold said handle to slide or insert said hygiene device into the container prior to a brewing process and to remove said hygiene device from the container after the brewing process for washing or rinsing, said peripheral sidewall comprises a seal member dimensioned to allow said device to fit slidably or snugly into the container; and wherein during a brewing process, said hygiene device is adapted to stay inside the container to keep the supply of flavor-containing materials substantially below said lower surface of said hygiene device in the container, thereby preventing the brewing apparatus and the brew head from being contaminated by the flavor-containing materials. 35. A brew basket as defined in claim 34 wherein said peripheral side wall is sufficiently small to allow said hygiene device to be pressed sufficiently into the container to cause said lower surface to tamp or compress the flavor-containing materials therein. 36. A brew basket as defined in claim 34 wherein the central part of said hygiene device is recessed. 37. A brew basket as defined in claim 34 wherein said lower surface comprises a material that is non-sticky to coffee grounds or coffee oil to facilitate the washing or rinsing of said hygiene device after the brewing process.