Locking device sustaining high pressure for coffee maker lid

Abstract

This invention provides a locking device sustaining high pressure in a coffee maker which comprises a brew head assembly which comprises: a slide assembly, a sealing assembly, and a pop-up and roll-back assembly, operatively linked to sustain pressure up to four (4) bars. Additionally, this invention provides a method for one-hand operation of the locking device of a coffee maker comprising steps of: a) Pushing the lever inward, causing the push rod to push the slider inward, engaging the cams and corresponding recesses, or alternatively, the slider will move inward, turning the rotatable locking hooks into their corresponding recesses so the brew head is locked; b) Pulling the lever outward, causing the push rod that is assembled on the slider to pull the slider outward so that the brew head is released; and c) after releasing the lock, the lift platform will pop up, assisted by the lift platform spring and the lid mount will roll-back, assisted by the hinge spring.

1 . A brew head assembly of a coffee maker comprising: a slide assembly, a sealing assembly, and a pop-up and roll-back assembly, operatively linked to sustain pressure up to four (4) bars.  
   
   
       2 . The brew head of  claim 1 , wherein the slide assembly comprises a lever, slider, slide spring, rotatable locking hook, and lid mount.  
   
   
       3 . The brew head of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing assembly comprises an “O” ring, a water spreader top, a seal ring, a water spreader bottom, a pod filter, and a coffee collector.  
   
   
       4 . The sealing assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the seal ring is round with a flap end capable of withstanding pressures up to four (4) bars.  
   
   
       5 . The sealing assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the seal ring is made of suitable elastomer capable of preventing leaks at pressures of up to four (4) bars.  
   
   
       6 . The sealing assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the elastomer is silicone rubber.  
   
   
       7 . The brew head of  claim 1 , wherein the pop-up and roll-back assembly comprises a lift platform, one or more lift platform springs, and one or more hinge springs.  
   
   
       8 . The pop-up and roll-back assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the lift platform comprises at least two legs.  
   
   
       9 . The brew head of  claim 7 , wherein the roll-back motion of a lid mount is facilitated by one or more hinge springs.  
   
   
       10 . The brew head of  claim 1 , wherein the slide assembly comprises: 
 a) a lever;    b) a slider operatively linked to the lever by a push rod;    c) rotatable locking hook; and    d) a slider spring, wherein the lever, the slider, the push rod, rotatable locking hook, and the slider spring are operatively fixed on a lid mount.    
   
   
       11 . The slide assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the slider and the locking hook are made of metal.  
   
   
       12 . The slide assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the metal is aluminum.  
   
   
       13 . The brew head of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing assembly comprises: 
 a) an “O” ring    b) a water spreader top;    c) a seal ring;    d) a water spreader bottom;    e) a pod filter;    f) a coffee collector; and    g) brew head bottom.    
   
   
       14 . The sealing assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the seal ring is made of suitable elastomer capable of preventing leaks at pressures of up to four (4) bars.  
   
   
       15 . The sealing assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the elastomer is silicone rubber.  
   
   
       16 . The brew head of  claim 1 , wherein the pop-up and roll-back assembly comprises: 
 a) a lift platform having at least two legs moveably attached to a brew head bottom, wherein a lift platform spring is placed on at least one leg of the lift platform; and    b) a hinge pin which operatively links a hinge spring and the slide assembly to the lift platform.    
   
   
       17 . A machine comprising the brew head assembly of  claim 1 .  
   
   
       18 . A method for one-hand operation of a locking device of a coffee maker, comprising the steps of: 
 a) using one hand to push a lever inward, so that a push rod assembled on a slider will push the slider inward and engage a locking device, which is effectuated by a plurality of cams on the slider or a plurality of locking hooks and corresponding recesses;    b) using one hand to pull the lever outward to release the lock, wherein the outward movement of the slider will disengage the cams on the slider or locking hooks from the corresponding recesses; and    c) opening the brew head, wherein a lift platform, assisted by a lift platform spring, will move upward upon release of the locking device, and a hinge spring assists the lid mount in its roll-back motion.    
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the slider comprises at least two rotatable locking hooks.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the recesses for accepting the corresponding cams or rotatable locking hooks are on the brew head bottom.  
   
   
       21 - 35 . (canceled)