Apparatus and method for extracting an infusion

Abstract

Embodiments of an infusion extractor are provided including a plunger to be inserted into an infusing container containing the infusion mixture that can have vertical inner walls oriented parallel to a vertical axis of the container. In some implementations, the plunger includes a first surface with a seal situated at an edge of the surface. The seal is adapted for sealing against the inner walls of the infusing container as the plunger moves within the container. The plunger also includes a second surface extending from the first surface and defining a second chamber. At least a portion of the extract flow openings are situated at a depth either above or below the first surface along the vertical axis.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for creating and separating an infused extract from a mixture of an infusible material and the extract, the apparatus comprising:
 a container having at least one vertical inner wall oriented parallel to a vertical axis of the container;   a plunger adapted to be inserted into the container, wherein the plunger is adapted to be moved within the container along the vertical axis thereof, wherein the plunger in turn includes:
 a handle adapted to move the plunger within the container along the vertical axis thereof; 
 a first wall attached to the handle, said first wall being transverse to the vertical axis and including at least one filter disposed therein; 
 a second wall coupled to and extending downwardly from the first wall, and at least partially defining and surrounding a chamber configured to permit liquid to flow therethrough, the second wall being spaced inwardly from the one or more vertical inner walls of the container; 
 a bottom defining at least one opening therethrough, and 
 at least one peripheral seal coupled to at least one of the first wall and the second wall, wherein the at least one peripheral seal is adapted for sealing engagement with the at least one inner wall of the container as the plunger is moved within the container; 
 wherein: 
 the first wall, the second wall and the peripheral seal are configured and arranged to divide a volume of the container into a lower reservoir for receiving a liquid and an upper reservoir for receiving infused extract; and 
 liquid flows from the lower reservoir, through the bottom of the chamber into the chamber where it mixes with floating infusible material to become infused extract, and through said at least one filter as the plunger is pushed downwardly. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said container is defined at least in part by an inwardly facing cylindrical wall. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one filter includes a mesh or screen formed at least in part of a metal material. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one filter includes a mesh or screen formed at least in part of a polymeric material. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one filter includes a mesh or screen formed at least in part of a ceramic material. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one filter includes a mesh or screen formed at least in part of a composite material. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one filter includes a mesh or screen formed at least in part of a cloth material. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one filter includes a mesh or screen formed at least in part of a paper material. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one filter includes a mesh or screen formed at least in part of a felt material. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one filter includes a porous material layer defining a plurality of apertures therein attached to said at least one filtration flow opening. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one filter includes a removable porous surface layer defining a plurality of apertures therein situated over at least one of said filtration flow openings. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first wall is removably connected to the handle. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the handle extends upwardly from the first wall. 
     
     
         15 . A method of creating and separating an infused extract from a mixture of an infusible material and a liquid comprising:
 providing a container having at least one vertical inner wall oriented parallel to a vertical axis of the container;   disposing a liquid into the container;   disposing a plunger into the container, the plunger including a first end attached to an elongate handle, and a second end attached to a chamber surrounded by a liquid seal that forms a liquid seal between the chamber and the at least one vertical inner wall of the container, the chamber being defined at least in part by a top wall including at least one filter element, and a peripheral downwardly depending wall, wherein in the downwardly depending wall surrounds the chamber, and further wherein the chamber includes at least one opening defined in a bottom thereof to permit the liquid to flow into the chamber;   disposing an infusible material in the chamber;   directing liquid to flow into the chamber;   transforming the liquid into an infused extract by causing the liquid and infusible material to mix inside the chamber such that the infusible material is dispersed and floating in the liquid; and   advancing the plunger in a downward direction to cause the infused extract to flow through the at least one filter element to cause the infused extract to be separated from the infusible material.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the infusible material includes coffee. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the infusible material includes tea. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the infusible material includes an herb 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the infusible material includes a tisane.