US 11,744,396 B1
System, method, and device for agitating coffee grounds
Matthew S. Brown, Gilbert, AZ (US); Samuel T. Fulton, Telluride, CO (US); Thomas G Pittman, Gilbert, AZ (US); and Carl TenBrink, Huntington Beach, CA (US)
Assigned to Caffeine Innovations, LLC, Chandler, AZ (US)
Filed by Caffeine Innovations, LLC, Chandler, AZ (US)
Filed on Apr. 16, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/851,091.
Application 16/851,091 is a continuation in part of application No. 15/348,805, filed on Nov. 10, 2016, granted, now 10,653,266.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/253,351, filed on Nov. 10, 2015.
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A47J 31/06 (2006.01); A23F 5/26 (2006.01); A47J 43/07 (2006.01); A47J 31/52 (2006.01)
CPC A47J 31/0631 (2013.01) [A23F 5/26 (2013.01); A47J 31/5253 (2018.08); A47J 43/0711 (2013.01)] 23 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A coffee grounds agitation device, comprising:
an agitating assembly extending into at least one brewing basket having a mesh, the agitating assembly comprising:
a driver;
at least one agitator operatively coupled to the driver such that the driver impels the at least one agitator to move within the at least one brewing basket; and
a control circuit in electrical communication with the driver and configured to impel the at least one agitator with the driver;
wherein the agitating assembly is movable into, and out of, a brewing configuration comprising the at least one agitator being substantially contained within the at least one brewing basket while also operatively engaged with the driver;
wherein the at least one brewing basket comprises a first brewing basket, and wherein the agitating assembly is releasably coupled to the first brewing basket proximate a basket rim of the first brewing basket; and
wherein the at least one brewing basket further comprises a coffee basket of a coffee maker, and wherein the coffee grounds agitation device is sized to fit inside the coffee basket while the coffee basket is engaged with the coffee maker.
 
13. A coffee grounds agitation device, comprising:
an agitating assembly extending into at least one brewing basket having a mesh, the agitating assembly comprising:
a driver;
at least one agitator operatively coupled to the driver such that the driver impels the at least one agitator to move within the at least one brewing basket;
a control circuit in electrical communication with the driver and configured to impel the at least one agitator with the driver; and
at least one sensor in electrical communication with the control circuit;
wherein the agitating assembly is movable into, and out of, a brewing configuration comprising the at least one agitator being substantially contained within the at least one brewing basket while also operatively engaged with the driver; and
wherein the at least one sensor comprises one of a conduction sensor, a temperature sensor, and a mechanical switch and is configured to detect a liquid being introduced to the at least one brewing basket by sensing a change in one of conduction, temperature, and force, and wherein the control circuit is configured to impel the at least one agitator with the driver in response to one of the at least one sensor detecting the introduction of liquid to the at least one brewing basket.