Sound reducing device for a coffee grinder and other kitchen appliances

Abstract

A device and a method for reducing or muffling sound from kitchen appliances such as coffee grinders. The sound reducing or muffling device can be left on the appliance even when not in use, providing a decoration to the kitchen in a style appropriate to it's surroundings. Using the muffling device, a person can enjoy fresh-ground coffee at anytime with the assurance that the sound from the coffee grinder is well insulated. The device is particularly easy to deploy and use, requires no moving parts, and is flexible enough to work with the majority of coffee grinder products currently on the market. Other embodiments can be used with other forms of kitchen appliances.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising: 
 a housing enclosure made of a sound reducing material and having a substantially cylindrical shape, said housing enclosure including a curved sidewall defining an open bottom of said housing enclosure, said open bottom configured to receive a kitchen appliance, said curved sidewall further defining a closed peripheral top end of said housing enclosure; and,    wherein pressure can be applied to said top end to activate said kitchen appliance.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said sound reducing material is an acoustic foam.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said housing enclosure is fabricated from a material that flexibly adapts to the contours of said kitchen appliance.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said closer peripheral end includes a stiffening element.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein said stiffening element is a laminar plastic insert.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said kitchen appliance is a coffee grinder.  
     
     
         7 . A method for operating a kitchen appliance comprising the steps of: 
 covering a kitchen appliance with a housing enclosure, said housing enclosure made of a sound reducing material and having a substantially cylindrical shape, said housing enclosure including a curved sidewall defining an open bottom of said housing enclosure, said open bottom configured to receive a kitchen appliance, said curved sidewall further defining a closed peripheral top end of said housing enclosure; and,    applying pressure to said top end to activate said kitchen appliance.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein said sound reducing material is an acoustic foam.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7  wherein said housing enclosure is fabricated from a material that flexibly adapts to the contours of said kitchen appliance.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7  wherein said peripheral end includes a stiffening element.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said stiffening element is a laminar plastic insert.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7  wherein said kitchen appliance is a coffee grinder.  
     
     
         13 . An apparatus for reducing the sound of a kitchen appliance, said apparatus comprising: 
 a housing enclosure having a substantially cylindrical shape, said housing enclosure including a curved sidewall defining an open bottom of said housing enclosure configured to receive a kitchen appliance, said curved sidewall further defining a closed peripheral top end of said housing enclosure, wherein said housing enclosure includes a sound reducing material;    a stiffening element located within said peripheral top end; and,    wherein pressure can be applied to said stiffening element to activate said kitchen appliance.    
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein said sound reducing material is an acoustic foam.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein said acoustic foam is bonded to said housing enclosure.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein said housing enclosure is fabricated from a material that flexibly adapts to the contours of said kitchen appliance.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein said stiffening element is a laminar plastic insert.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein said kitchen appliance is a coffee grinder.