Drawer and latching mechanism for positioning and securing a pod below the brew head of a beverage brewer
View Patent ↗A drawer and latching mechanism for a beverage brewer, and preferably, a brewer that utilizes a pod of coffee grounds or another beverage component, has a housing of the brewer including a pivotable cover and a drawer for retaining a pod of a beverage component below the brew head. In an open position, the pivotable cover and brew head are pivoted away from the drawer to allow access to the pod, while in a closed position, the pivotable cover and brew head are pivoted toward and locked relative to the drawer to secure the pod below the brew head for brewing.
1. A brewer, comprising:
a brew head;
a plumbing system for delivering hot water to the brew head;
a housing, including a pivotable cover and a drawer for retaining a pod enclosing a beverage component below the brew head; and
at least two spring-biased latches positioned along the forward circumferential edge of the brew head and secured to an upper surface of the brew head, each of said latches including a downwardly extending appendage adapted to engage a corresponding slot defined by the drawer of the housing to secure the pivotable cover and brew head to the housing;
wherein, in an open position, the pivotable cover and brew head are pivoted away from the drawer to allow access to the pod, and in a closed position, the pivotable cover and brew head are pivoted toward and locked relative to the drawer to secure the pod below the brew head for brewing; and
wherein the movement of the pivotable cover and brew head from the closed position to the open position requires movement of a release slide, movement of said release slide causing the disengagement of said latches.
2. A brewer, comprising:
a brew head;
a plumbing system for delivering hot water to the brew head;
a housing, including a pivotable cover and a drawer for retaining a pod enclosing a beverage component below the brew head; and
at least two latches positioned along the forward circumferential edge of the brew head and secured to an upper surface of the brew head, each of said latches including a downwardly extending appendage adapted to engage a corresponding slot defined by the drawer of the housing to secure the pivotable cover and brew head to the housing;
wherein, in an open position, the pivotable cover and brew head are pivoted away from the drawer to allow access to the pod, and in a closed position, the pivotable cover and brew head are pivoted toward and locked relative to the drawer to secure the pod below the brew head for brewing;
wherein the movement of the pivotable cover and brew head from the closed position to the open position requires movement of a release slide, movement of said release slide causing the disengagement of said latches; and
wherein said release slide includes two substantially triangular projections that extend downwardly and away from the underside of said pivotable cover, each of said substantially triangular projections adapted to engage one of said latches such that movement of said release slide causes the disengagement of said latches.
3. The brewer as recited in claim 2 , wherein each latch includes a first, central portion that lies generally in the plane of said brew head along the upper surface thereof; an upwardly extending appendage along one edge of the first portion; and the downwardly extending appendage adapted to engage the corresponding slot defined by the drawer of the housing.
4. The brewer as recited in claim 3 , wherein the upwardly extending appendages of the respective latches serve as the engagement surfaces for contact with the two substantially triangular projections that extend downwardly and away from the underside of the pivotable cover.
5. A brewer, comprising:
a brew head;
a plumbing system for delivering hot water to the brew head;
a housing, including a pivotable cover and a drawer for retaining a pod enclosing a beverage component below the brew head;
one or more latches secured to an upper surface of the brew head, each of said latches including a downwardly extending appendage adapted to engage a corresponding slot defined by the drawer of the housing to secure the pivotable cover and brew head to the housing; and
a bracket attached to the upper surface of the brew head, which defines a slot for receiving and retaining each latch;
wherein, in an open position, the pivotable cover and brew head are pivoted away from the drawer to allow access to the pod, and in a closed position, the pivotable cover and brew head are pivoted toward and locked relative to the drawer to secure the pod below the brew head for brewing; and
wherein the movement of the pivotable cover and brew head from the closed position to the open position requires movement of a release slide, movement of said release slide causing the disengagement of said one or more latches.
6. The brewer as recited in claim 5 , wherein each said latch includes: a first, central portion that lies along the upper surface of the brew head within the slot; one or more appendages extending upwardly from and along one edge of the first portion; and the downwardly extending appendage adapted to engage the corresponding slot defined by the drawer of the housing.
7. The brewer as recited in claim 6 , wherein said release slide defines openings that correspond with and are designed to receive the one or more upwardly extending pair of appendages each latch such that movement of said release slide causes corresponding movement of each latch.
8. The brewer as recited in claim 5 , wherein each said latch is spring-biased by a spring rod, which extends through said latch, with its distal ends secured to the brew head.