IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,381,635
Granted Patent B2
US 8,381,635 · App. 12/649,269 · Granted Feb 26, 2013

Portable espresso coffee apparatus

Inventors: Stephen J. O'Brien (San Jose, CA); Jacques Gagne (Los Gatos, CA); Stephen Hooper (Los Gatos, CA); Benjamin Pei-Ming Chia (Cupertino, CA); Yi-Chun Liao (Taichung, TW); Ray Gradwohl (Saratoga, CA); Kenneth Robertson (San Jose, CA)
Assignee: Espressi, Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,381,635
App. No.
12/649,269
Granted
Feb 26, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A brewing device comprising a brewing system; a handle assembly coupled to the brewing system and containing a source of compressed fluid; and a valve system, coupled to the handle, to selectively place the source of compressed fluid in fluid communication with the brewing system.

Claims (38)

1. A brewing device, comprising:

a brewing system;

a handle assembly coupled to the brewing system, comprising:

a handle assembly body;

a source of compressed fluid within the handle assembly body, wherein the source provides the fluid at an initial pressure of P 0 ; and

a valve system within the handle assembly body and coupled between the brewing system and source of compressed fluid, to selectively place the source of compressed fluid in fluid communication with the brewing system, which regulates the fluid pressure to provide the fluid to the brewing system at a pressure P 1 which is less than P 0 , where P 1 is independent of P 0 .

2. A portable brewing device, comprising:

a compressed gas container;

a pressure regulator configured to control the release of gas from the compressed gas container;

a regulated gas vessel configured to hold a gas at a predetermined pressure when released from the pressure regulator;

a flow valve communicating with the pressure regulator that controls the flow of compressed gas into the water vessel;

a water vessel communicating with the flow valve;

a water release valve configured to release water when the water vessel is above a predetermined level;

a grounds vessel communicating with the water vessel and configured to receive water from the water vessel to brew espresso;

an outlet configured to release espresso produced from water flowing through grounds contained in the grounds vessel when brewing;

a safety valve configured to release pressure from the water vessel; and

a gas release mechanism in fluid connection with the pressure regulator, wherein the gas release mechanism is configured to release compressed gas under the control of the pressure regulator.

3. A portable brewing device, comprising:

a compressed gas container;

a pressure regulator configured to control the release of gas from the compressed gas container;

a regulated gas vessel configured to hold a gas at a predetermined pressure when released from the pressure regulator;

a flow valve communicating with the pressure regulator that controls the flow of compressed gas into the water vessel;

a water vessel communicating with the flow valve;

a water release valve configured to release water when the water vessel is above a predetermined level;

a grounds vessel communicating with the water vessel and configured to receive water from the water vessel to brew espresso;

an outlet configured to release espresso produced from water flowing through grounds contained in the grounds vessel when brewing;

a safety valve configured to release pressure from the water vessel; and

a gas release mechanism in fluid connection with the pressure regulator, wherein the gas release mechanism is configured to access the compressed gas container, allowing the flow valve to release compressed gas governed by the pressure regulator.

4. A portable brewing device, comprising:

a compressed gas container;

a pressure regulator configured to control the release of gas from the compressed gas container;

a regulated gas vessel configured to hold a gas at a predetermined pressure when released from the pressure regulator;

a flow valve communicating with the pressure regulator that controls the flow of compressed gas into the water vessel;

a water vessel communicating with the flow valve;

a water release valve configured to release water when the water vessel is above a predetermined level;

a grounds vessel communicating with the water vessel and configured to receive water from the water vessel to brew espresso; an outlet configured to release espresso produced from water flowing through grounds contained in the grounds vessel when brewing;

a safety valve configured to release pressure from the water vessel; and

a gas release mechanism in fluid connection with the pressure regulator, wherein the compressed gas container is a pre-compressed and sealed container, and wherein the gas release mechanism is a piercing member configured puncture the container to release compressed gas.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 18, 2010
From: O'BRIEN, STEPHEN J., MR.; GAGNE, JACQUES, MR.; HOOPER, STEPHEN, MR.; CHIA, BENAMIN PEI-MING, MR.; LIAO, YI-CHUN, MS.; GRADWOHL, RAY, MR.; ROBERTSON, KENNETH, MR.
To: ESPRESSI, INC.
Reel/Frame 024405/0108 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation In Part 12425365 · Apr 16, 2009
Provisional Application 61141226 · Dec 29, 2008
Related Publication 20100218686A1 · Sep 2, 2010