TECHNICAL FIELD

[001] Embodiments of the invention relate to a coffee maker, in particular of a moka pot type. BACKGROUND

[002] Moka pot is a coffee maker that can brew coffee by urging pressurized boiling water through ground coffee. Nowadays however, coffee capsules capped with foil are often used for coffee brewing, and thus many coffee makers are adapted to use these capsules. [003] GB2491341 for example describes an adapter device which when connected with a moka coffee machine allows the use of coffee or tea capsules. The adapter comprises main body parts with an opening for accepting a capsule and a handle of the coffee maker is lifted to close the adapter, while during the closing movement a blade cuts the capsule on the bottom and a filter with its sharp edges creates small holes at the top of the capsule.

SUMMARY

[004] The following embodiments and aspects thereof are described and illustrated in conjunction with systems, tools and methods which are meant to be exemplary and illustrative, not limiting in scope.

[005] In an embodiment there is provided a coffee maker comprising a base, a main body and a puncturing member that is secured to the main body, the base being arranged to receive a capsule with ground coffee and the main body being arranged to attach onto the base axially above the capsule while puncturing an upper side of the capsule with the puncturing member, wherein the puncturing member being rotatable about the axis relative to the main body while remaining axially secured to the main body.

[006] In certain cases, the coffee maker may be suitable for being used in Induction cooking and thus may include a plate member from ferrous metal such as cast iron or some stainless steels.

[007] In an embodiment there is also provided a method for brewing coffee comprising the steps of: providing a coffee maker comprising a base, a main body and a puncturing member that is secured to the main body, placing a capsule with ground coffee within the base, and attaching the main body onto the base axially above the capsule while puncturing an upper side of the capsule with the puncturing member, wherein the puncturing member being rotatable about the axis relative to the main body while remaining axially secured to the main body.

[008] In addition to the exemplary aspects and embodiments described above, further aspects and embodiments will become apparent by reference to the figures and by study of the following detailed descriptions. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[009] Exemplary embodiments are illustrated in referenced figures. It is intended that the embodiments and figures disclosed herein are to be considered illustrative, rather than restrictive. The invention, however, both as to organization and method f operation, together with objects, features, and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following detailed description when read with the accompanying figures, in which:

[010] Figs. 1 and 2 schematically show perspective and exploded views, respectively, of a coffee maker in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; [Oil] Figs. 3 and 4 schematically show full and partial cross sectional views, respectively, of the coffee maker;

[012] Figs. 5A to 5C schematically show various views of a filter of the coffee maker; [013] Figs. 6A to 6C schematically show various views of a cradle of the coffee maker;

[014] Figs. 7A to 7D schematically show various stages of assembling the coffer maker towards its operative state suitable for brewing coffee;

[015] Fig. 8 schematically shows a possible base of a coffee maker in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and

[016] Figs. 9A and 9B schematically show partial cross sectional views of an embodiment of a coffee maker.

[017] It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements shown in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements may be exaggerated relative to other elements for clarity. Further, where considered appropriate, reference numerals may be repeated within the figures to indicate like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION [018] Attention is first drawn to drawn to Figs. 1 and 2 schematically illustrating an embodiment of a coffee maker 10 of the present invention. Coffee maker 10 can be seen including in this example a base 12, a cradle 14, a gasket 16, a filter 20 and a main body 22. The coffee maker may be arranged to receive capsules 18 possibly capped with foil for coffee brewing. [019] Attention is drawn to Fig. 3 schematically illustrating a cross sectional view of the coffee maker in an assembled operative state suitable for brewing coffee. Base 12 may be made from Aluminum (or the like) and as here seen may include an internal chamber 121 where water can be placed during use of the coffee maker. Chamber 121 has a lower generally coned portion that tapers upwardly away from a lower wall 122 of the base. Lower wall 122 is arranged to be exposed to heat for the brewing of the coffee. An upper portion of chamber 121 can be seen bound at its periphery in the shown example by a generally cylindrical stem 123 of the base that ends at its upper side at a peripheral upwardly facing lip 1231 (see lip also marked in Fig. 2).

[020] Cradle 14 may be made from Aluminum (or the like) and as here seen may be placed within the internal chamber of base 12 with a lower stem like inlet 141 thereof projecting downwards towards a position adjacent the lower wall 122. The cradle may have an upwardly open cup-like section 142 in communication with inlet 141, and capsules 18 can be removably placed within the cup-like section.

[021] Filter 20 may be made from Nylon, Nirosta (or the like) and may be coupled, possibly by snap-fit engagement, to main body 22. Such snap fit engagement may be assisted by slits 201 (see marked in Fig. 2) formed in a periphery of the filter that impart flexibility to the filter’s outer periphery. Filter 20 may be arranged to filter liquid flowing upwards into an internal basin 221 of the main body via a fountain 222 of the main body. Fountain 222 can be formed along a central axis X of the main body (and the coffee maker in its assembled state) and coupling of the filter to the main body may be such that the filter can be kept form being axially detached from the main body, while being generally free to rotate about axis X.

[022] Main body 22 may be formed from Aluminum (or the like) and may include a handle 223 possibly made from material that acts to protect a user holding the coffee maker from heat subjected to the coffee maker. Such material in a non binding example may be Nylon, Bakelite (or the like). Main body may also include a lid 224 in this example hinged to a section of the main body adjacent the handle, and two spouts 225 through which coffee can be poured out of the main body’s internal basin 221.

[023] Attention is drawn to Fig. 4 and enlarged sections A and B of this figure - for a closer view of main body 22 and, inter alia, its engagement with filter 20 and base 12 (the base here not shown). Filter 20 is here seen coupled to the main body at a location just below a funnel like inlet 2221 of the main body’s fountain 222. Coupling of the filter to main body 22 may accordingly be by snap-fit engagement over a peripheral rim 226 (see marked in enlarged section A) of the main body. A downwardly facing peripheral shelf 2281 may be located at an upper side of a hollow 228 formed within main body 22 at a location just below rim 226 and/or filter 20.

[024] Filter 20 may include blade formations 202 at its lower side that are arranged to face a location where a capsule can be placed in an assembled operative state of the coffee maker. Main body 22 includes a cylindrical housing 227 that encloses the internal hollow 228 below where the filter is located, and a plurality of slot formations 229 may be formed on an internal face of the housing that surrounds hollow 228.

[025] The slot formations 229 may be seen as forming receptors for receiving corresponding projections 124 that may be formed on an outer periphery of the base’s cylindrical stem 123 (see projections 124 marked in Fig. 2). Each projection 124 may be extended in a direction about axis X. Engagement between slots 229 and projections 124 may be arranged to form a so-called bayonet fastening mechanism for connecting between base 12 and main body 22. [026] As seen in enlarged section B of Fig. 4, each slot formation 229 may include a first axially directed section 2291 extending generally parallel to axis X, which merges at a merge 77 with a second transverse section 2292 extending generally about axis X while slanting slightly upwards, thus possibly extending along a helical section. Section 2291 may be open at its lower side 22911 to permit a respective projection 124 of the base to enter therethrough into its associated slot 229 during coupling between the base and main body. Transverse (possibly helical) section 2292 as it extends away from merge 77 ends at a bay 2293 that is defined by a step 2294 that widens this bay area of section 2292 slightly downwards. The axial UP and DOWN directions are marked for convenience at the left hand side of section B.

[027] Attachment between base 12 and main body 22 may be obtained or accomplished by placing the base below the main body (and/or visa-versa: the main body above the base) and then aligning each projection 124 with a respective lower side 22911 of an associated slot 229. The base and main body may then be axially urged towards each other while each projection 124 is guided initially upwards through the first section 2291 of its slot and then by rotating base 12 relative to main body 22 (and/or visa-versa) each projection 124 can be guided onwards through the second section 2292 of its slot until ending up at the slot’s bay 2293.

[028] As seen in Fig. 3, gasket 16 is located in-between the main body’s shelf 2281 and the upper lip 1231 of the base and the upper side 143 of the cradle (see upper lip 1231 and upper side 143 marked e.g. in Fig. 2) - and thus urging the base and main body towards each other may cause the gasket 16 to elastically compress in an axial direction between upper lip 1231 and upper side 143 from below and shelf 2281 from above. Such compression of the gasket may be assisted by the upward slanting of the transverse/helical sections 2292 of the slots that in turn urge the base and main body closer together.

[029] As each projection 124 reaches an end of its slot’s section 2292 - it is adapted after passing step 2294 to snap into the respective bay 2293 of its slot - thus providing a tactile identifiable indication to the user that full attachment between the base and main body has been obtained/accomplished. Such snapping into a bay 2293 may be assisted by the compressed gasket that acts to slightly urge the base and main body away from each other as each projection 124 passes over its step 2294.

[030] The biasing force of the gasket may be arranged to maintain each projection 124 within its associated bay 2293 - thus securing an assembled operative state of the coffee maker that is suitable for building required pressures for the coffee brewing process. To disassemble the base from the main body, a user may be required to slightly press the base and body towards each other to overcome the biasing force of the gasket and thereby lift each projection above its step so that it can slide back out through the sections 2292, 2291 of its associated slot.

[031] Attention is drawn to Figs. 5A to 5C for a closer view of an embodiment of cradle 14. Cradle 14 at a lower side of an interior 1421 of its cup-like section 142 may be arranged to include punching knives 1422. The punching knives 1422 may be arranged to project above where the cradle’s inlet 141 communicates with interior 1421. Capsule 18 in the operative state of the coffee maker is arranged to fit into the interior 1421 of the cup-like section 142. [032] Attention is drawn to Figs. 6A and 6B for a closer view of an embodiment of filter 20. Filter 20 may be defined as having a lower upstream side 203 and an upper downstream side 204 (where upstream/downstream being defined according to fluid flow during coffee brewing). A plurality of passages 205 extend through the filter from the lower side to the upper side opening out of the filter at both these sides to thereby provide fluid communication through the filter during coffee brewing. Each passage 205 in this example has a cone shape that expands upwards from a relative small lower aperture 2051 (at lower side 203) to a relative large upper aperture 2052 (at upper side 204). Such expansion in each passage 205 may enhance/encourage at least in certain cases downstream flow. [033] As seen in the enlarged section of Fig. 6B, each blade formation 202 in this example may have a generally pyramid shape that tapers downwards/upstream. Each blade formation 202 may have a foundation 2021 that rises above a network of canals 2022 that surrounds each blade 202 - and the lower aperture 2051 of each passage 205 opens into a respective one of the canals 2022. A recess 2023 may be formed at a location where each pyramid face meets a foundation 2021 of its respective pyramid - and an outer raised ledge 206 surrounds an area on the filter’s lower side 203 where, inter alia, the blade formations 202 and canals 2022 are located. [034] In an operative state of the coffee maker suitable for brewing coffee, coffee substances flowing downstream out of a capsule generally flow along routes indicated by the dashed arrows in the enlarged section of Fig. 6B. The coffee substances generally flow downstream along pyramid faces and recesses 2023 into canals 2022 to arrive at the lower apertures 2051 of the passages 205 of the filter. Through the passages 205 the coffee substances then flow downstream to eventually arrive at the internal basin 221 of coffee maker’s main body 22 (see basin 221 marked e.g. in Fig. 3). An upper side (e.g. foil) of a capsule may be arranged at its periphery to seat against the raised ledge 206 during coffee brewing. [035] Attention is drawn to Figs. 7A to 7D illustrating assembly stages of the coffee maker in order to assume an operative state suitable for brewing coffee. In a first possible step (as seen in Fig. 7A) the cradle is placed within the internal chamber 121 of the base with the gasket 16 seated above the upper lip 1231 of the base and the upper side 143 of the cradle. The internal chamber 121 of the base in this stage is already filled with water and as seen a disposable capsule 18 may be placed within the cradle’s interior 1421 (as indicated by dotted arrow 1). Fig. 7B illustrates the disposable capsule 18 located within the cradle’s interior 1421.

[036] In a subsequent step (seen in Fig. 7C) the main body 22 (already fitted with filter 20) may be attached to base 12. This may be accomplished by initially urging e.g. the main body downwards (see dashed arrow 2) to axially advance each projection 124 along a respective section 2291 of one of the slots 229. Once all projections 124 reach the merges 77 of their respective slots, a terminal operative state suitable for brewing coffee (see Fig. 7D) may be reached by rotating the main body 22 (see dashed arrow 3) in order to advance each projection 124 through its associated section 2292 until snapping into a bay 2293 where each projection is kept maintained by the biasing force applied by the gasket.

[037] During attachment of the main body 22 to the base 12, the upper and lower sides of the capsule are punched to expose and form a flow path for water/steam through the coffee within the capsule. The lower side of the capsule may be punched by the knives 1421 and the upper side (typically foil) of the capsule may be punched by the blade formations 202 at the lower side of the filter. [038] To avoid severe rupture to the capsule’s upper side (e.g. foil) while main body 22 rotates relative to base 12 (rotation depicted by dashed arrow 3) - the filter can avoid being rotated together with the main body (and consequently further rupturing the upper side of the capsule) since it is not constrained to rotate together with the main body where it is kept maintained. The filter, which grips onto the upper side of the capsule via its blade formations 202 can be maintained substantially anchored in place due to this “grip” while the main body rotates to secure itself to the base.

[039] Attention is drawn to Fig. 8. In at least certain coffee maker embodiments, the lower wall 122 of base 12 may be arranged to include a distinct plate member 1221. In certain cases, plate member 1221 may be formed from a material that is different to surrounding material in other portions of the base. For example, plate member 1221 may be made from a material suitable for electromagnetic induction, such as a ferrous metal e.g. cast iron, stainless steel (or the like), while the remainder of the base may be formed from other materials, such as aluminum (or the like). In this example, plate member 1221 can be seen being surrounded by a ring 1222 that forms part of the remainder of the base. [040] Attention is drawn to Figs. 9A and 9B. In an embodiment, the filter 22 may be fitted to main body 22 (see Fig. 9A) by first placing the filter below the funnel like inlet 2221 of the main body’s fountain (fountain 222 not marked in these views) - and then plastically deforming a peripheral wing(s) 207 of the filter (see Fig. 9B), e.g. by impact of a punch (or the like), so that the peripheral wing(s) 207 expands sideways to be located engaged above the peripheral rim 226 of the main body.

[041] Also seen in Figs. 9A and 9B is that in an embodiment, the gasket 16 may include a peripheral lip 161 that snaps onto an upper side of the cradle from below - so that the gasket can remain engaged with the cradle also when dismantling the coffee maker e.g. when removing the cradle from the base in order to fill the internal chamber 121 of the base with water and/or when loading a new capsule therein.

[042] In the description and claims of the present application, each of the verbs, “comprise” “include” and “have”, and conjugates thereof, are used to indicate that the object or objects of the verb are not necessarily a complete listing of members, components, elements or parts of the subject or subjects of the verb. [043] Further more, while the present application or technology has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and non- restrictive; the technology is thus not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art and practicing the claimed technology, from a study of the drawings, the technology, and the appended claims. [044] In the claims, the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. A single processor or other unit may fulfill the functions of several items recited in the claims. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures can not be used to advantage.

[045] The present technology is also understood to encompass the exact terms, features, numerical values or ranges etc., if in here such terms, features, numerical values or ranges etc. are referred to in connection with terms such as “about, ca., substantially, generally, at least” etc. In other words, “about 3” shall also comprise “3” or “substantially perpendicular” shall also comprise “perpendicular”. Any reference signs in the claims should not be considered as limiting the scope.

[046] Although the present embodiments have been described to a certain degree of particularity, it should be understood that various alterations and modifications could be made without departing from the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.