FIELD OF INVENTION

A coffee percolator to be used in conjunction with microwave cooking device.

PRIOR ART

There are many coffee percolaters operating using microwave energy and is adapted to be capable of operating within the housing of a microwave oven. The brewing intended is by percolation process, which means extraction of coffee decoction by passing boiling water /steam through the coffee powder. With this method, disadvantages of drip-type method where extraction occurs using hot water but not boiling water can be overcome.

SOME OF THE KNOWN PRIOR ART ARE DETAILED BELOW

Each of them suffer one or other inherent issues due to complex arrangement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A coffee maker or coffee percolator that can be used in a microwave based cooking device. The present invention has a pair of containers removably super imposed one above the other. In this design a removable Top Container is mounted to a Bottom Container through threaded lock / Bayonet lug lock mechanism that holds the top and bottom containers centrally therein. A coffee funnel assembly is mounted within Bottom Container with a mesh inside it and the top Container is mounted with a mesh and washer and a Lid is fixed to the top Container. Additional safety device is provided in the bottom container for release of excess pressure. When water is filled in the bottom container, with the coffee powder placed in the funnel in the bottom container, and heated in the microwave oven, the top container will collect the decoction.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Fig.1 Parts of microwave coffee maker with the variations in thread type of
locking

Fig.2 Bayonet lug lock system between the top and bottom container

Fig.3A & 3B Structural view of microwave coffee maker

Fig. 4 Assembly of the safety device with bottom container

Fig. 5 Cleaning tool

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

There are many coffee makers operated with microwave energy, but none of them have the features of the present invention especially with a built-in safety device to avoid any accidental and unintentional high pressure within the oven.

The parts of the microwave coffee maker is shown below, with the variations in thread type of locking (fig 1) or the bayonet lug lock system(fig 2) between the top and bottom container.

The Microwaveable coffee Maker consists of total 7 parts with built-in safety device for release of excess pressure.

The figure 1.0 and 2.0 illustrates the level of locking for both top and bottom container.

The bottom container contains the water which has to be manually poured measuring upon the cups required by the customer. The Coffee powder is to be placed in the funnel and then inserted to the bottom container. The top container collects the coffee decoction.

Since the whole process of coffee making is completed within five minutes, for a given power output of the microwave oven, the coffee decoction remains fresh and aromatic without any over boiling or such detrimental effects.

WORKING PRINCIPLE OF THE INVENTION

Microwaveable coffee Maker makes coffee in various volumes depending on the sizes of the top and bottom containers. A typical version is shown in the diagrams but not limited to that.

The working principle of this Microwave coffee percolator is as described briefly and with support of diagrams fig. 1 and 2.

If you take off the bottom container of the coffee maker, you find two things: There's a bottom reservoir that holds the hot or cold water. And the funnel with pipe is fitted into the bottom container with the mesh insert press fitted. On the wall of the bottom container has a hole, and this hole is hosting a safety valve and is used for the excess pressure regulation. The exact pressure depends on the container size. The safety device is a kind of grommet made of silicone or similar material. There is a slit in the safety valve which operates (opens under pressure which is otherwise normally closed) when the pressure reaches a maximum pressure of 0.25 kg. /cm2 inside the bottom container. This can happen by any blockages in the coffee powder holder or other unforeseen reasons.

The bottom container contains the funnel with the provision for the coffee powder, and for water.under the funnel inside the bottom container. The water, in the bottom container when heated up by the microwave energy, develops higher pressure in the bottom container. As the hot water builds pressure, it will move up from the. bottom container through the funnel in the bottom container under pressure. The hot water in the bottom container passes through this funnel and through the coffee powder as there is no other passage available for this hot water under pressure. This movement of hot water is achieved by the fact that the bottom container is sealed to the top container using a gasket. Due to this air tight sealing between the top and bottom containers, the only passage available for the hot water under pressure in the bottom container is to the top container which is under normal pressure and hence lower pressure area as seen by the hot water under pressure in the bottom container. When this hot water moving up under pressure moves from the bottom container towards the top container which is under normal pressure, it comes in contact with the coffee powder in the funnel of the bottom container. This hot water under pressure with the coffee powder becomes decoction and this decoction releases itself into the top container which is under room pressure, through the top tube in the top container. If the bottom container build excess pressure for whatever reason under abnormal conditions such as blocked filter, etc, the safety valve will operate to ensure the excess pressure is released and the coffee maker is safe.

There's a funnel with tube that leads up the hot water from the reservoir base to carry the hot water up to the top Container.

The movement of water from the bottom container to the top container is under pressure and the water comes in contact with the coffee powder when moving under pressure leading to the formation of decoction which is collected in the top container

The hot water from the bottom container flows through the funnel, through the coffee powder, thereafter the coffee decoction flows through the mesh and spacer into the top container, through the top pipe with slits.

There is a lid covers the top container with a snap joint. All of these operations take place inside the microwave oven.

There is a side handle which enables holding the coffee maker and will facilitate pouring the coffee decoction in the cup. There is spout on the top container for no dripping of the coffee.

The material used for all the parts is Poly propylene with 20 % talc filled.

In the figures 3A-& 3B there is a complete structural view showing an embodiment of the present invention. A coffee maker comprises 8 portions, namely, a bottom container for heating the water for making coffee. As shown in the fig 1.0 & 2.0 the safety device will operate to release the steam under excess pressure. The coffee powder is. filled with the funnel inside and the top container assembly is threaded locked /Rotational locked.

Once heated in the microwave, the, water in the bottom container gets heated up in the bottom container and the hot water moves up the pipe of the funnel and through , the coffee powder. Due to this the coffee decoction is collected in the top container assembly. The fine mesh which is the top container, ensures no powder gets in to . top container along with the decoction. The gap between the bottom end of the funnel stem and the bottom of the bottom container is designed to maximise the decoction that is collected at the top leaving very little water unused in the bottom container.

With this apparatus, coffee can be prepared very quickly with the simple operations, in a microwave cooking apparatus.

The advantages of the present invention is that in one aspect it is a coffee maker to be used in conjunction with a field of microwave radiation, comprising:

- A coffee filtering containers and all assembly the parts are removable and position able for preparing the coffee and cleaning,

- A microwave absorbing material disposed on said underside of said support plate and exposed to microwaves from said microwave generating means for being heated thereby and conducting heat to said upper side for keeping the coffee warm.

- A unique safety feature that operates under a pre-defined pressure which is considered unsafe. This pressure limit is decided based on the volume of the bottom container

■- This can also be used to make tea or such beverages where another kind of ingredient is used such as tea powder, herbal powder or leaves, in place of the coffee powder

- This can also be used to boil water safely, which otherwise would need skill to do in a regular open bowl or open vessel

, - The spatter proof stem at the top container which opens to the sides ensures the decoction won't hit the top of the top lid as it gets collected

- The dome shaped top lid with a rib allows any decoction splashed to the top of the lid will return to the top container In another aspect, the invention discloses further a coffee maker Lid means for closing and opening the coffee maker and the top opposite side opening to avoid the spilling of water

In another aspect the invention discloses further a coffee maker with safety device for excess release of steam. In another aspect the invention discloses a coffee maker which has no metal parts and no fixed parts, all parts are removable and assembled. The coffee maker set to have a scoop on top container to prevent the coffee spillage in another aspect. Quick coffee making is another advantage of the said invention.

In accordance with this invention, the pressure valve is secured in the bottom container. The pressure valve has an actuation portion which when heated beyond prescribed pressure opens up and permits outward passage for pressurised boiling water from within.

In another aspect the invention includes a cleaning tool which is adapted for cleaning filters which is essential need for maintaining the holes in the filters clog free.

It is to be noted that the components are all removably secured, which makes the arrangement very simple.

The coffee filters which generally get clogged with grounds can be easily detached and cleaned.

A specially designed cleaning tool which is matched to the dimensions of the two filters (hole sizes) is included to ensure quick and efficient cleaning by design. Fig 5 shows the tool designed for the same. The tool is in the form of tubular extensions which can be used for cleansing purposes of the holes.

The arrangement is not expensive and is not at all messy after use as suffered in prior art.

This apparatus may be adapted to have a handle for better consumer convenience in handling the apparatus.

The present invention may be used for preparing coffee, tea or the like in a microwave oven.

In one arrangement, the invention teaches an apparatus for preparing coffee percolation in a microwave oven comprising of a bottom portion comprised of a material permeable to microwaves, and a top portion removably mounted onto the bottom portion. The said bottom portion has a bottom container for receiving water with a bottom floor and a side wall terminating in an open mouth at its top end. It also has a filter cup which a bottom filter cup is for receiving ground coffee powder having a perforated bottom floor with an open end tubular member downwardly therethrough and a side wall terminating in an open mouth at its top end, which bottom cup can removably be mounted onto the bottom container for engaging and covering the said top end open mouth of the container and forming a fluid seal with side wall of the said filter cup extending inwardly and downwardly of the said top end open mouth of bottom container and wherein the said tubular member forming a fluid flow communication from the bottom container upwardly towards and into the bottom filter cup.

It also has a bottom flat filter plate having plurality of perforations mounted removably onto the bottom end of the top container forming a fluid seal, and for straining percolated coffee. A sealing ring is disposed between the top cup and bottom end open mouth of the top container, for forming a tight fluid seal along the periphery. A top lid is removably mounted on the top open mouth of the top container, for covering the said mouth.

The apparatus also has the bottom container of the bottom portion including a pressure sensitive vent means disposed on a side wall of the bottom container, to release the inner excess pressure which may occur due to boiling water inside the container.

Although the present invention has been described in connection with preferred embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, that variations and modifications may by made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

WE CLAIM

1. An apparatus for preparing coffee percolation in a microwave oven comprising of:

a. a bottom portion comprised of a material permeable to microwaves, and

b. a top portion also comprised of a material permeable to microwaves and removably mounted onto the bottom portion,

c. the said bottom portion having

i. a bottom container for receiving water with a bottom floor and a side wall terminating in an open mouth at its top end, and

ii. a bottom filter cup for receiving ground coffee powder having a perforated bottom floor with an open end tubular member downwardly there through and a side wall terminating in an open mouth at its top end, which bottom cup can removably be mounted onto the bottom container for engaging and covering the said top end open mouth of the container and forming a fluid seal with side wall of the said filter cup extending inwardly and downwardly of the said top end open mouth of bottom container and wherein the said tubular member forming a fluid flow communication of hot water from the bottom container upwardly towards and into the bottom filter cup containing the ground coffee powder.

d. the said top portion having

i. a top container with a side wall terminating in an open mouth at its top end,

ii. a bottom flat filter plate having plurality of perforations mounted removably onto the bottom end open mouth of the top container forming a fluid seal, and for straining percolated coffee,

iii. a top conical cup including an open end upwardly there through tubular extension member, which top conical cup can be inversely and removably mounted onto the top container for engaging and covering the filter plate and forming a fluid seal with side wall of the said conical cup extending inwardly and upwardly of the said bottom end open mouth of top container and wherein the tubular . member forming a fluid flow communication from the top conical cup upwardly towards and into the top container,

iv. a sealing ring disposed between the top cup and bottom end open mouth of the top container, for forming a tight fluid seal along the periphery,

v. a top lid removably mounted on the top open mouth of the top container, for covering the said mouth.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bottom container includes a pressure sensitive vent means disposed on a side wall of the bottom container.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, whierein the bottom portion together with top portion combinedly form a bayonet mechanism.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bottom portion together with top portion combinedly form a thread mechanism.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the pressure sensitive vent may include a slit operable beyond a prescribed pressure within the bottom container.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the material of the vent may be silicon,

7.. The apparatuses claimed in claim 1, wherein it includes a cleaning tool adapted
for cleaning the filters.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the cleaning tool has tubular extensions which is adapted for cleaning the holes of the filters.