Coffee Holder
Patent No. US11903518 (titled "Coffee Holder") was filed by Adrian Rivera Maynez Enterprises Inc on Aug 28, 2023.
What is this patent about?
’518 is related to the field of coffee makers, specifically to coffee holders designed to improve the brewing process. Traditional coffee makers often allow water to pass too quickly through loosely packed coffee grounds, resulting in weak flavor extraction. This patent addresses the need for a coffee holder that can better prepare the coffee grounds for optimal brewing.
The underlying idea behind ’518 is to create a coffee holder that facilitates the tamping of loose coffee grounds, leading to a more compacted state and richer flavor extraction. This is achieved through various designs incorporating features like internal springs, tampers, and specialized lids that cooperate with the coffee maker to compress the grounds before brewing.
The claims of ’518 focus on a coffee holder comprising a holder body and a holder lid, where the body is designed to contain loose coffee grounds. The lid is configured to engage with the body, partially covering the open end, and includes an opening or a recessed portion with a through-hole to allow fluid (typically hot water) to flow into the holder. Crucially, the lid is designed to accommodate the nozzle of a coffee maker, and the entire holder is removable from the brewing chamber.
In practice, the invention allows a user to loosely fill the coffee holder with grounds, attach the lid, and then insert the holder into a compatible coffee maker. The coffee maker then uses various mechanisms, such as a spring-loaded pad or a solenoid actuator, to compress or tamp the coffee grounds within the holder. This compaction creates a more uniform density, ensuring that the hot water permeates the grounds evenly for better flavor extraction.
The invention differentiates itself from prior approaches by providing a range of coffee holder designs that integrate tamping functionality. Unlike traditional filters where coffee grounds remain loosely packed, ’518's designs actively compress the grounds, mimicking the manual tamping process used in espresso preparation. This results in a more controlled brewing process and a richer, more flavorful cup of coffee compared to conventional drip coffee makers.
How does this patent fit in bigger picture?
Technical landscape at the time
In the late 2000s when ’518 was filed, coffee makers at a time when coffee makers typically relied on a user manually tamping coffee grounds. When systems commonly relied on loosely packed coffee grounds rather than compacted grounds. When hardware or software constraints made automated tamping non-trivial.
Novelty and Inventive Step
The examiner approved the application because the closest prior art does not teach or make obvious the additional elements of the claimed invention, such as a coffee holder configured to be removably arranged in the brewing chamber of the coffee maker. The allowable limitations are similar to those in the parent case, and a terminal disclaimer was filed to avoid double patenting.
Claims
This patent contains 29 claims, with independent claims numbered 1, 10, and 20. The independent claims generally focus on a coffee holder configured for use in a coffee maker's brewing chamber, comprising a holder body and lid. The dependent claims generally elaborate on the features and configurations of the coffee holder described in the independent claims.
Key Claim Terms New
Definitions of key terms used in the patent claims.
Patent Family
File Wrapper
The dossier documents provide a comprehensive record of the patent's prosecution history - including filings, correspondence, and decisions made by patent offices - and are crucial for understanding the patent's legal journey and any challenges it may have faced during examination.
Date
Description
Get instant alerts for new documents
US11903518
- Application Number
- US18239093
- Filing Date
- Aug 28, 2023
- Status
- Granted
- Expiry Date
- Oct 30, 2029
- External Links
- Slate, USPTO, Google Patents