초록 ▼

Device having a cover to be positioned on a vessel with an interior wall. A shaft extends through a transverse passageway in the cover. A basket for holding a flavoring substance is mounted to the end of the shaft. The basket can thus be raised and lowered within the vessel through action of the sh

Device having a cover to be positioned on a vessel with an interior wall. A shaft extends through a transverse passageway in the cover. A basket for holding a flavoring substance is mounted to the end of the shaft. The basket can thus be raised and lowered within the vessel through action of the shaft. A continuous lip of flexible polymer surrounds the periphery of the basket, for engagement with the interior wall of the vessel. With flavoring substance in the basket, liquid is poured into the vessel in such a way as to retain air in the space between the basket and the bottom of the vessel. The basket is pushed downwards, causing at least part of the air retained in the space between the basket and the bottom portion of the vessel to displace the flavoring substance while the air rises within the vessel, resulting in improved infusion of the flavoring substance.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A device for making coffee, comprising: (a) a cover adapted to be positioned on a vessel with an interior wall, said cover comprising a transverse passageway therethrough, an upper surface, an undersurface and a distribution system for allowing fluid communication between sai

What is claimed is: 1. A device for making coffee, comprising: (a) a cover adapted to be positioned on a vessel with an interior wall, said cover comprising a transverse passageway therethrough, an upper surface, an undersurface and a distribution system for allowing fluid communication between said upper surface and said undersurface, said distribution system comprising a plurality of apertures adapted to cause liquid poured onto said upper surface to emerge from said undersurface as a fine shower and wherein said cover defines a basin for temporarily storing a limited quantity of liquid prior to its entering the vessel through said distribution system; (b) a shaft extending through said passageway of said cover, said shaft comprising an end intended to remain outside the vessel; (c) a handle attached to said end of said shaft, said handle being of a dimension suitable to occlude said apertures when said handle is lowered onto said cover; (d) a basket adapted to hold a flavoring substance, said basket having a periphery, said basket being mounted to said shaft such as to allow said basket to be raised and lowered within the vessel through action of said shaft; and (e) a continuous lip of flexible polymer surrounding the periphery of said basket for engagement with the interior wall of the vessel. 2. The device defined in claim 1, wherein said handle comprises a set of plugs registering with corresponding ones of said apertures to close said corresponding ones of said apertures when said handle is lowered onto said cover. 3. The device defined in claim 2, wherein said basket comprises a screen for limiting the size of particulate matter capable of passing therethrough. 4. The device defined in claim 3, further comprising a lock capable of acquiring a locked state in which said basket is retained proximate said undersurface of said cover and an unlocked state in which said basket is capable of moving with respect to said undersurface of said cover. 5. A device for making coffee, comprising: (a) a cover adapted to be positioned on a vessel with an interior wall, said cover comprising a transverse passageway therethrough, an upper surface facing away from the interior wall of the vessel and an opposite undersurface facing toward the interior wall of the vessel, said upper surface comprising a plurality of apertures for allowing liquid poured onto said upper surface to emerge from said undersurface and soak ground coffee beans without significantly agitating them; (b) a shaft extending through said passageway of said cover; and (c) a basket for holding the ground coffee beans, said basket being mounted to said shaft such as to allow said basket to be raised and lowered within the vessel through action of said shaft; wherein said upper surface of said cover defines a basin for temporarily storing a limited quantity of liquid prior to its entering the vessel; and wherein sizes and locations of said apertures allow the liquid to emerge from said undersurface of said cover as a fine shower. 6. The device defined in claim 5, wherein said shaft comprises an end intended to remain outside the vessel and wherein said device comprises a handle attached to said end of said shaft. 7. The device defined in claim 6, wherein said basket has a periphery with a continuous lip for engaging the interior wall of the vessel. 8. The device defined in claim 7, wherein said lip is capable of wiping the interior wall of the vessel when said basket is raised towards said cover. 9. The device defined in claim 6, wherein said handle is of a dimension suitable to occlude said apertures when said handle is lowered onto said cover. 10. The device defined in claim 5, wherein, once infusion is completed, said basket is movable proximate said undersurface of said cover such that infused ground coffee beans remain out of contact with the coffee. 11. The device defined in claim 10 further comprising a lock capable of acquiring a locked state in which said basket is retained proximate to said undersurface of said cover. 12. The device defined in claim 10 further comprising first and second locking mechanisms, said first locking mechanism, when engaged, being capable of retaining said basket proximate to said undersurface of said cover and said second locking mechanism, when disengaged, allowing a sliding movement of said shaft with respect to said basket. 13. The device defined in claim 12, wherein said second locking mechanism, when engaged, prevents sliding movement of said shaft with respect to said basket. 14. The device defined in claim 13, wherein said first locking mechanism when disengaged, allows movement of said basket with respect to said cover. 15. The device defined in claim 14, wherein said first locking mechanism being engageable upon sliding said basket into contact with said cover while said second locking mechanism is engaged. 16. The device defined in claim 15, wherein said second locking mechanism comprises: (a) on said shaft, (i) a knob and a (ii) groove located a least part of the way between said knob and said handle; and (b) on said basket, (i) a passageway narrower than said knob and (ii) at least one finger biased towards said shaft, said at least one finger occupying said groove when said second locking mechanism is engaged. 17. The device defined in claim 16, wherein said first locking mechanism comprises: (a) on said cover, (i) a projection extending from the undersurface of said cover and defining a passageway for receiving said shaft and (ii) a channel extending circumferentially around said projection; and (b) on said basket, at least one protrusion biased towards said shaft, said at least one protrusion being received in said channel when said first locking mechanism is engaged. 18. The device defined in claim 17, wherein movement of said basket towards said undersurface of said cover causes said at lease one protrusion to enter into said channel. 19. The device defined in claim 18, wherein said at least one protrusion entering into said channel causes said at least one finger to exit said groove and clear said shaft. 20. The device defined in claim 19, wherein said shaft defines a central axis and wherein said projection is tapered, such that said at least one protrusion enters into said channel following a gradual distancing of said protrusion from the central axis of said shaft. 21. The device defined in claim 20, further comprising a biasing element for biasing said at least one protrusion towards said shaft and for biasing said at least one finger towards said shaft. 22. A device for making coffee, comprising: (a) a cover adapted to be positioned on a vessel with an interior wall, said cover comprising a transverse passageway therethrough, an upper surface facing away from the interior wall of the vessel and an opposite undersurface facing toward the interior wall of the vessel, said upper surface defining a basin for temporarily storing a limited quantity of liquid prior its entering the vessel; (b) a shaft extending through said passageway of said cover; (c) a basket for holding ground coffee beans, said basket being mounted to said shaft such as to allow said basket to be raised to an upper position in which said basket is proximate said undersurface of said cover and to be lowered to a lower position in which said basket is remote from said undersurface of said cover; (d) a first locking mechanism that, when engaged, is capable of retaining said basket in said upper position; and (e) a second locking mechanism that, when disengaged, allows sliding movement of said shaft with respect to said basket; wherein, once infusion is completed, said basket is movable to said upper position such that infused ground coffee beans remain out of contact with the coffee. 23. The device defined in claim 22, wherein said upper surface of said cover comprises a plurality of apertures for allowing liquid poured onto said upper surface to emerge from said undersurface as a fine shower. 24. The device defined in claim 22, wherein said shaft comprises an end intended to remain outside the vessel and wherein said device comprises a handle attached to said end of said shaft. 25. The device defined in claim 22, wherein said basket has a periphery with a continuous lip for engaging the interior wall of the vessel. 26. The device defined in claim 22, wherein said lip is capable of wiping the interior wall of the vessel when said basket is raised towards said cover. 27. The device defined in claim 22, wherein said second locking mechanism, when engaged, prevents sliding movement of said shaft with respect to said basket. 28. The device defined in claim 22, wherein said first locking mechanism, when disengaged, allows movement of said basket with respect to said cover. 29. A device for making coffee, comprising: (a) a cover adapted to be positioned on a vessel with an interior wall, said cover comprising a transverse passageway therethrough, an upper surface facing away from the interior wall of the vessel and an opposite undersurface facing toward the interior wall of the vessel, said upper surface of said cover comprising a plurality of apertures for allowing liquid poured onto said upper surface to emerge from said undersurface and soak ground coffee beans without significantly agitating them; (b) a shaft extending through said passageway of said cover; (c) a basket for holding the ground coffee beans, said basket being mounted to said shaft such as to allow said basket to be raised and lowered within the vessel through action of said shaft; (d) a first locking mechanism that, when engaged, is capable of retaining said basket proximate to said undersurface of said cover; and (e) a second locking mechanism that, when disengaged, allows sliding movement of said shaft with respect to said basket; wherein, once infusion is completed, said basket is movable proximate to said undersurface of said cover such that infused ground coffee beans remain out of contact with the coffee. 30. The device defined in claim 29, wherein sizes and locations of said apertures allow the liquid to emerge from said undersurface as a fine shower. 31. The device defined in claim 29, wherein said upper surface of said cover defines a basin for temporarily storing a limited quantity of liquid prior to its entering the vessel. 32. The device defined in claim 29, wherein said shaft comprises an end intended to remain outside the vessel and wherein said device comprises a handle attached to said end of said shaft. 33. The device defined in claim 29, wherein said basket has a periphery with a continuous lip for engaging the interior wall of the vessel. 34. The device defined in claim 33, wherein said lip is capable of wiping the interior wall of the vessel when said basket is raised towards said cover. 35. The device defined in claim 29, wherein said second locking mechanism, when engaged, prevents sliding movement of said shaft with respect to said basket. 36. The device defined in claim 29, wherein said first locking mechanism, when disengaged, allows movement of said basket with respect to said cover. 37. A device for making coffee, comprising: (a) a cover adapted to be positioned on a vessel with an interior wall, said cover comprising a transverse passageway therethrough, an upper surface facing away from the interior wall of the vessel and an opposite undersurface facing toward the interior wall of the vessel, said upper surface comprising a plurality of apertures for allowing liquid poured onto said upper surface to emerge from said undersurface and soak ground coffee beans without significantly agitating them; (b) a shaft extending through said passageway of said cover; and (c) a basket for holding the ground coffee beans, said basket being mounted to said shaft such as to allow said basket to be raised and lowered within the vessel through action of said shaft; wherein said upper surface of said cover defines a basin for temporarily storing a limited quantity of liquid prior to its entering the vessel; wherein sizes and locations of said apertures allow the liquid to emerge from said undersurface of said cover as a fine shower; and wherein, once infusion is completed, said basket is movable proximate said undersurface of said cover such that infused ground coffee beans remain out of contact with the coffee and said device further comprises a lock capable of acquiring a locked state in which said basket is then retained proximate to said undersurface of said cover.