US 11,717,113 B2
Coffee grinder systems and methods
Todd Weimer, Abbotsford (CA)
Assigned to SURVIVAL LIGHT PRODUCTS, INC., Abbotsford (CA)
Filed by Survival Light Products, Inc., Abbotsford (CA)
Filed on Jun. 23, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/304,623.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/042,713, filed on Jun. 23, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0007893 A1, Jan. 13, 2022
Int. Cl. A47J 42/46 (2006.01); A47J 42/40 (2006.01); A47J 42/50 (2006.01); A47J 42/04 (2006.01)
CPC A47J 42/46 (2013.01) [A47J 42/40 (2013.01); A47J 42/50 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A grinding system for grinding raw material to obtain ground material, the grinding system comprising:
a housing defining a grinding chamber;
a grinding assembly comprising a plurality of burrs; and
a first cap; and
a rotation assembly comprising
at least one handle member rotatably supported by the first cap,
a grip member rotatably supported by at least one of the at least one handle member, and
a lock projection supported by the first cap, where the grip member engages the lock projection to detachably attach the at least one handle member relative to the first cap; wherein
the grinding assembly is supported relative to the housing such that each of the plurality of burrs is arranged within the grinding chamber;
the first cap is detachably attachable to the grinding assembly such that
with the first cap attached to the grinding assembly, rotation of the first cap relative to the housing causes rotation of at least one of the plurality of burrs relative to at least one other of the plurality of burrs, and
with the first cap detached from the grinding assembly, the raw material may be arranged within the grinding chamber; and
when the grip member is detached from the lock projection, the at least one handle member is rotated outwardly relative to the first cap to facilitate rotation of the first cap relative to the housing; and
when the at least one handle member is rotated inwardly relative to the first cap and the grip member is attached to the lock projection, the at least one handle member defines a closed loop to facilitate carrying of the grinding system.
 
14. A method of grinding raw material to obtain ground material, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a housing defining a grinding chamber;
providing a grinding assembly comprising
a plurality of burrs; and
a shaft member comprising a lock portion and supported for axial rotation about a longitudinal axis relative to the housing; and
providing a first cap comprising a release button assembly comprising
a release button,
a button retainer supported by the first cap, where, when the first cap and the grinding assembly are supported by the housing, the button retainer supports the release button for movement relative to the first cap along the shaft axis between first and second positions, and
at least one lock member supported by the button retainer and the release button, where
when in the first position, the release button holds the at least one lock member against the lock portion of the shaft member to inhibit movement of the first cap along the longitudinal axis relative to the housing while allowing axial rotation of the first cap about the longitudinal axis relative to the housing; and
when in the second position, the release button allows the at least one lock member to disengages from the lock portion of the shaft member to allow movement of the first cap along the longitudinal axis relative to the housing to allow the first cap to be detached from the housing;
supporting the grinding assembly relative to the housing such that each of the plurality of burrs is arranged within the grinding chamber;
displacing the release button from the first position to the second position to detach the first cap from the grinding assembly;
with the first cap detached from the grinding assembly, arranging the raw material within the grinding chamber;
detachably attaching the first cap attached to the grinding assembly; and
with the first cap attached to the grinding assembly, rotating the first cap relative to the housing to cause rotation of at least one of the plurality of burrs relative to at least one other of the plurality of burrs.
 
17. A grinding system for grinding raw material to obtain ground material, the grinding system comprising:
a housing defining a grinding chamber;
a grinding assembly comprising
a shaft member supported for axial rotation about a longitudinal axis relative to the housing, the shaft member comprising a lock portion and defining a longitudinal axis, and
a plurality of burrs; and
a first cap comprising a release button assembly comprising
a release button,
a button retainer supported by the first cap, where, when the first cap and the grinding assembly are supported by the housing, the button retainer supports the release button for movement relative to the first cap along the longitudinal axis between first and second positions, and
at least one lock member supported by the button retainer and the release button; wherein:
the grinding assembly is supported relative to the housing such that each of the plurality of burrs is arranged within the grinding chamber;
when in the first position, the release button holds the at least one lock member against the lock portion of the shaft member to inhibit movement of the first cap along the longitudinal axis relative to the housing while allowing axial rotation of the first cap about the longitudinal axis relative to the housing; and
when in the second position, the release button allows the at least one lock member to disengages from the lock portion of the shaft member to allow movement of the first cap along the longitudinal axis relative to the housing to allow the first cap to be detached from the housing;
with the first cap attached to the grinding assembly, rotation of the first cap relative to the housing causes rotation of at least one of the plurality of burrs relative to at least one other of the plurality of burrs, and
with the first cap detached from the grinding assembly, the raw material may be arranged within the grinding chamber.
 
18. A grinding system for grinding raw material to obtain ground material, the grinding system comprising:
a housing defining a grinding chamber;
a grinding assembly comprising
a plurality of burrs, and
a shaft member supported for axial rotation about a longitudinal axis relative to the housing;
a first cap comprising a release button supported for movement between first and second positions relative to the first cap, where
in the first position, the release button inhibits movement of the first cap along the longitudinal axis relative to the housing while allowing axial rotation of the first cap about the longitudinal axis relative to the housing; and
in the second position, the release button allows movement of the first cap along the longitudinal axis relative to the housing to allow the first cap to be detached from the housing; and
at least one lock member supported for movement between radial inward positions and radial outward positions relative to the release button, where
the at least one lock member interferes with relative movement between the release button and the shaft member when in the radial inward position; and
the at least one lock member does not interfere with relative movement between the release button and the shaft member when in the radial outward position; wherein
the grinding assembly is supported relative to the housing such that each of the plurality of burrs is arranged within the grinding chamber;
the first cap is detachably attachable to the grinding assembly such that
with the first cap attached to the grinding assembly, rotation of the first cap relative to the housing causes rotation of at least one of the plurality of burrs relative to at least one other of the plurality of burrs, and
with the first cap detached from the grinding assembly, the raw material may be arranged within the grinding chamber.