초록 ▼

Disclosed is a beverage brewer for brewing a beverage using a beverage brewing substance pod. The pod may include substances such as coffee for producing a desired brewed beverage. A pod holder, having at least one wall, defining a cavity in the pod holder for retaining the pod for brewing. Water is

Disclosed is a beverage brewer for brewing a beverage using a beverage brewing substance pod. The pod may include substances such as coffee for producing a desired brewed beverage. A pod holder, having at least one wall, defining a cavity in the pod holder for retaining the pod for brewing. Water is dispensed into the pod and drained through a drain in the pod holder. The pod holder is removable from the brewer for placing a pod therein. The pod holder is slideably inserted into the brewer for brewing. One or more ramps are provided on the brewer for engagement with corresponding ramps on the pod holder for positioning the holder relative to the sprayhead for infusing the pod retained in the holder. Water is introduced to the pod without piercing the pod. Legs are provided on a portion of the pod holder for positioning the pod holder in an upright position when removed from the brewer.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A beverage brewer comprising: a body; a water delivery system operatively associated with the brewer for delivering water for brewing; a base positioned at a lower portion of the body; an upper portion of the body positioned generally above the base; a holder; a wall of

The invention claimed is: 1. A beverage brewer comprising: a body; a water delivery system operatively associated with the brewer for delivering water for brewing; a base positioned at a lower portion of the body; an upper portion of the body positioned generally above the base; a holder; a wall of the holder defining a cavity for receiving brewing substance, the cavity being selectively positionable in communication with the water delivery system for receiving brewing water; at least one drain in the holder for draining liquid from the cavity; at least one flange extending from the holder; at least one holder ramp extending from the holder; retaining structures on the upper portion of the body for receiving the flange and ramp of the holder and retaining the holder above the base; a pair of flanges positioned on generally opposite sides of the holder; a pair of holder ramps positioned on the holder generally between a front edge of the holder and the flange; a first pair of retaining ramps on the retaining structures, the first pair of retaining ramps being generally spaced apart on opposite sides of the upper portion for receiving the holder there between, the first pair of retaining ramps cooperatively engaging the corresponding holder ramps; and a second pair of retaining ramps on the retaining structures, the second pair of ramps being positioned generally inwardly of the first pair of ramps, the first and second pairs of ramps being generally spaced apart on opposite sides of the upper portion for receiving the holder there between, the first pair of ramps cooperatively engaging the corresponding holder ramps and the second pair of ramps raising the holder for engagement with a portion of the water delivery system. 2. The beverage brewer of claim 1 further comprising: the holder sliding generally linearly into and out of engagement with the upper portion with the at least one flange and at least one ramp engaging corresponding retaining structures on the upper portion, the ramp engaging the retaining structures as the holder is moved into the upper portion to move the holder generally upwardly to engage the holder with a portion of the water delivery system. 3. The beverage brewer of claim 1 further comprising: a sprayhead communicating with the water delivery system for distributing water to a brewing substance retained in the holder, the holder positioning the brewing substance in close proximity to the sprayhead. 4. The beverage brewer of claim 3 further comprising: a gasket carried on the upper portion generally radially of the sprayhead, the gasket engaging an upper surface of the holder for sealing the brewer and holder against leakage of water during brewing. 5. The beverage brewer of claim 4 further comprising: the gasket being an expandable gasket having an annular groove communicating with the cavity for receiving brewing water therein to facilitate sealing of the holder on the brewer. 6. The beverage brewer of claim 1 further comprising: a floor positioned in the lower portion of the holder cavity bounded by the wall, a support structure retained against the wall and spaced above the floor. 7. The beverage brewer of claim 6, the support structure further comprising a foraminous material. 8. The beverage brewer of claim 1 further comprising: a floor positioned in the lower portion of the holder cavity bounded by the wall, a support structure extending from the wall and spaced above the floor. 9. The beverage brewer of claim 8, the foraminous material support structure further comprising at least one of woven material, non-woven material, molded material and formed material. 10. The beverage brewer of claim 1 further comprising: a floor positioned in the lower portion of the holder cavity bounded by the wall, at least one rib projecting upwardly from the floor, a support structure retained in the cavity overlying the at least one rib. 11. The beverage brewer of claim 1 further comprising: a quantity of brewing substance in the form of a pod being used with the brewer, the pod having at least one layer of water permeable material covering a brewing substance. 12. The beverage brewer of claim 1 further comprising: a control assembly for controlling operation of the brewer. 13. The beverage brewer of claim 1 further comprising: a sensor carried on the brewer and coupled to the controller, the sensor positioned for detecting at least one of the presence and absence of the holder in relation to the upper portion. 14. The beverage brewer of claim 1 further comprising: the water delivery system being coupled to the controller for selectively controlling the water delivery system. 15. The beverage brewer of claim 1 further comprising: a sensor carried on the brewer and coupled to the controller, the sensor positioned for detecting at least one of the presence and absence of the holder in relation to the upper portion; and the water delivery system being coupled to the controller for selectively controlling the water delivery system in response to the presence or absence of the holder. 16. The beverage brewer of claim 1 further comprising: a grip defined on the holder generally along a front edge thereof for gripping the holder when removing it from the brewer. 17. The beverage brewer of claim 1 further comprising: a release assembly carried on the upper portion of the brewer for releasably engaging the holder on the upper portion. 18. The beverage brewer of claim 17 the release assembly further comprising a release button for operatively actuating the release assembly, the release button being located on the front of the upper portion above the holder. 19. The beverage brewer of claim 1 further comprising: a release assembly carried on the upper portion of the brewer for releasably engaging the holder on the upper portion; a release button of the release assembly for operatively actuating the release assembly; the holder defining a grip generally along a front edge thereof for gripping the holder when removing it from the brewer; and the release button being located on the front of the upper portion above the grip of the holder. 20. In a beverage brewer for use with a beverage brewing pod, the beverage brewer having a body with a base and an upper portion positioned generally above the base, a pod holder for receiving a pod, a pressurized water delivery system with a fixed position spray head for providing pressurized water to the pod holder for brewing, a retaining structure on the upper portion for receiving the pod holder in a generally linear orientation and retaining the pod holder in communication with the water delivery system, the pod holder comprising: a wall defining a cavity for receiving a pod, the cavity being positionable in communication with the water delivery system for receiving brewing water from the spray head; a drain in the holder for draining liquid from the cavity; at least one flange extending from the holder; at least one ramp extending from the holder; the ramp and flange being engagable with the retaining structure for retaining the pod holder on the brewer with the ramp extending from the holder engaging the retaining structure to provide a degree of vertical movement of the holder when engaged in a generally continuous, non-rotary linear orientation with the brewer for positioning the spray head in proximity with the cavity. 21. A beverage brewer comprising: a body; a water delivery system operatively associated with the brewer for delivering water for brewing; a base positioned at a lower portion of the body; an upper portion of the body positioned generally above the base; a holder for containing a quantity of brewing substance; a wall of the holder defining a cavity for receiving a quantity of brewing substance, the cavity being in communication with the water delivery system for receiving brewing water; at least one drain in the holder for draining liquid from the cavity; at least one flange extending from the holder; at least one holder ramp extending from the holder; retaining structures on the upper portion of the body for receiving the flange and ramp of the holder and retaining holder above the base; a pair of flanges positioned on generally opposite sides of the holder; a pair of holder ramps positioned on the holder generally between a front edge of the holder and the flange; a first pair of ramps on the retaining structure; a second pair of ramps on the retaining structure generally inwardly of the first pair of ramps, the first and second pairs of retaining ramps being generally spaced apart on opposite sides of the upper portion for receiving the holder there between, the first pair of ramps cooperatively engaging the corresponding holder ramps and the second pair of retainer ramps raising the holder for engagement with a portion of the water delivery system; and the holder sliding generally linearly into and out of engagement with the upper portion. 22. A beverage brewer comprising: a body; a pressurized water delivery system with a fixed position spray head operatively associated with the brewer for delivering pressurized water for brewing; a base positioned at a lower portion of the body; an upper portion of the body positioned generally above the base; a holder; a wall of the holder defining a cavity for receiving brewing substance, the cavity being selectively positionable in communication with the water delivery system for receiving pressurized brewing water; at least one drain in the holder for draining liquid from the cavity; at least one flange extending from the holder; at least one holder ramp extending from the holder; retaining structures on upper portion for receiving the flange and ramp of the holder in a generally linear orientation and retaining the holder above the base, the ramps being selectively engageable in a generally linear orientation without rotation for providing a degree of vertical movement of the holder to raise the holder into communication with the fixed position spray head; and at least one leg extending from the holder for retaining the holder in an upright position when removed from the brewer and placed on a surface. 23. A method of brewing a beverage comprising: providing a brewer; providing a pressurized water delivery system with a fixed spray head operatively associated with the brewer for delivering pressurized water for brewing; providing a retaining structures on the brewer having at least one ramp thereon; providing a holder for containing a brewing substance, the holder having at least one flange extending from the holder and at least one holder ramp extending from the holder; placing brewing substance in the holder; engaging the holder with the retaining structures; generally continuously linearly sliding the holder into the brewer without rotation for positioning the brewing substance in proximity relative to the fixed spray head of the pressurized water distribution assembly; and continuing to linearly slide the holder into engagement with the brewer to cause the ramp on the retaining structures to engage the ramp on the holder for providing a degree of vertical movement of the holder to raise the holder into communication with the fixed spray head of the pressurized water delivery system. 24. A method of brewing a beverage comprising: providing a brewer; providing a water delivery system operatively associated with the brewer for delivering water for brewing; providing a retaining structures on the brewer having at least one ramp thereon; providing a holder for containing a quantity of brewing substance, the holder having at least one flange extending from the holder and at least one holder ramp extending from the holder; placing a quantity of brewing substance in the holder; engaging the holder with the retaining structures; generally linearly sliding the holder into the brewer for positioning the brewing substance in proximity relative to the water distribution assembly; continuing to slide the holder into engagement with the brewer to cause the ramp on the retaining structures to engage the ramp on the holder for raising the holder into communication with the water delivery system; providing a pair of flanges positioned on generally opposite sides of the holder; providing a pair of holder ramps positioned on the holder generally between a front edge of the holder and the flange; providing a first pair of ramps on the retaining structure; providing a second pair of ramps on the retaining structure generally inwardly of the first pair of ramps, the first and second pairs of retaining ramps being generally spaced apart on opposite sides of the upper portion for receiving the holder there between; cooperatively engaging the first pair of ramps and the corresponding holder ramps and the second pair of retainer ramps; and continuing engagement of the ramps to cause the holder to rise and engage against a portion of the water delivery system. 25. The method of brewing a beverage of claim 24 further comprising: providing a pod of brewing substance; and placing the pod in the holder for brewing.