Heretofore U.S. Pat. No. 4,446,158 has been obtained and discloses the use of a disposable individual coffee container and filter unit that includes a flat frame having an apertured center section with filter layers covering the top and bottom of the frame and used for retaining individual quantities of coffee or other material in compartments formed in the frame. This filter unit is positioned on the seat of a receptacle for such unit, which receptacle is adapted to be positioned on top of a cup or other container for receiving a quantity of liquid poured into the receptacle for flow through the filter unit for forming a desired beverage. In such a prior filter unit and apparatus for making a beverage, a by-pass opening can be provided therein whereby some of the liquid could flow through the apparatus without literally flowing through the beverage making material whereby the speed of making the product could be controlled depending upon the size of the by-pass slot. This partially controlled the strength of the beverage produced but a uniform or repeatable strength beverage would be produced in all instances by the apparatus. Inasmuch as it is well known that different people like different strengths of beverages, and particularly coffee, it would be very desirable if a type of coffee making apparatus could be provided wherein a varied strength product could be obtained. Possibly variable strength products could be obtained by the use of varied types of filter cartridges but this gets to be an expensive or cumbersome type of a manufacturing and marketing approach to the problem of making variable strength coffee and other beverages.
It is the general object of the present invention to provide a new and improved beverage making apparatus wherein a variable strength product can be obtained by use of the apparatus and by use of a standard type disposable, individual beverage making material container and filter unit.
Another object of the invention is to modify coffee making apparatus of a known type whereby a variable by-pass opening can be provided in the apparatus to aid in controlling the strength of the beverage produced and to aid in controlling the flow time of the beverage through the coffee making apparatus.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a relatively inexpensive, uncomplicated modification in a beverage making apparatus for making small quantities of beverage such as coffee and wherein an adjustable by-pass opening is provided in the positioner ring or other part of the individual coffee container and filter units used.
Another object of the invention is to provide a movable member usually having a variable size flange or rib thereon for varying the flow through a by-pass opening in the beverage making apparatus, or to provide some type of apparatus with a plurality of different sizes of adjustable opening bypasses formed in the apparatus to enable a user to control the beverage making time and/or the strength of the beverage produced.
Still another object of the invention is to provide an easily adjusted ring in a mounting plate used for positioning the individual disposable coffee carrier and filter units thereon and wherein a rotary adjustment device is provided on the plate in association with a by-pass slot or opening for controlling flow of liquid through the by-pass slot and which adjustment ring may include a variable height cut-off shoulder formed on the outer periphery of the ring for engaging the outlet of the by-pass slot and controlling liquid flow therethrough.
The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will be made more apparent as the specification proceeds.