Gear-driven locking assembly for brew head assembly

Abstract

The present invention pertains to a brew head assembly comprising a gear-driven locking assembly and a sealing assembly, whereby the brew head assembly is capable of sustaining pressures up to four (4) bars. The locking assembly comprises a lever, drive rod having a gear or gear-tooth surface, drive rod clamp, lock plate having a gear-tooth surface or gear on its upper surface, lock plate or gear stopper, lid mount, and brew head bottom, all operatively linked to form the locking assembly. In a preferred embodiment, the lock plate is in the form of a sliding member or rotating disc. The gear or gear-tooth surface on the lock plate will mate or mesh with the corresponding gear or gear-tooth surface on the drive rod, such that movement of the lever translates into rotation of the drive rod and movement of the lock plate into a locked or unlocked position.

1 . A gear-driven locking assembly for a brew head assembly, comprising: 
 a) Lever,    b) Drive rod,    c) Drive rod clamp,    d) Rotating lock plate,    e) Lid mount, and    f) Brew head bottom, all operatively linked to form the gear-driven locking assembly.    
   
   
       2 . The locking assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the drive rod has a cylindrical shaft further comprising a gear or gear-tooth surface.  
   
   
       3 . The locking assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the gear or gear-tooth surface is a bevel gear or bevel gear-tooth surface.  
   
   
       4 . The locking assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the drive rod is U-shaped.  
   
   
       5 . The locking assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the rotating lock plate comprises gear teeth on its top surface and at least two locking cams extending from the periphery thereof.  
   
   
       6 . The locking assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the gear teeth on the top surface of the rotating lock plate is bevel gear teeth.  
   
   
       7 . The locking assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the locking cams are wedge-shaped.  
   
   
       8 . The locking assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the brew head bottom further comprises at least two recesses for engaging locking cams.  
   
   
       9 . The locking assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a lock plate stopper.  
   
   
       10 . A gear-driven locking assembly for a brew head assembly, comprising: 
 a) Lever,    b) Drive rod,    c) Drive rod clamp,    d) Sliding lock plate,    e) Lid mount, and    f) Brew head bottom, all operatively linked to form the gear-driven locking assembly.    
   
   
       11 . The locking assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the drive rod has a cylindrical shaft further comprising a gear or gear-tooth surface.  
   
   
       12 . The locking assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the sliding lock plate comprises gear teeth on its top surface and at least two locking cams extending from the periphery thereof.  
   
   
       13 . The locking assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the gear teeth on the top surface of the sliding lock plate are arranged in linear tracks.  
   
   
       14 . The locking assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the locking cams are wedge-shaped.  
   
   
       15 . The locking assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the brew head bottom further comprises at least two recesses for engaging locking cams.  
   
   
       16 . The locking assembly of  claim 10 , further comprising a gear stopper.  
   
   
       17 . A brew head assembly, comprising: 
 a) A gear-driven locking assembly; and    b) A sealing assembly, where the locking assembly and sealing assembly are operatively linked to sustain pressure up to four (4) bars.    
   
   
       18 . The brew head assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the gear-driven locking assembly comprises a lever, drive rod, drive rod clamp, rotating lock plate or sliding lock plate, lock plate stopper or gear stopper, lid mount, and brew head bottom, all operatively linked to form the gear-driven locking assembly.  
   
   
       19 . The brew head assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the sealing assembly comprises a seal ring, water spreader, pod ejector, metal filter, pod holder, and coffee collector, all operatively linked to form the sealing assembly.  
   
   
       20 . The brew head assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the seal ring is round with a flap on its bottom portion for improved sealing.