Apparatus and Method for Refilling a Brewing Cup

Abstract

In an embodiment of the disclosed technology, an apparatus and/or a method are used to dispense loose particulate solid matter into a brewing cup. Such an apparatus allows one to add any coffee, while using all the features of an automated single-cup or multi-cup brewing machine. The apparatus may use a housing having a brew cup enclosure, a storage hopper, and rotatable valve coupled to a lever. Operation of the lever causes the rotatable valve to rotate, such that particulate solid matter is collected from the hopper and dispensed into a brew cup residing in the brew cup enclosure. In further embodiments of the disclosed technology, a safety mechanism prevents the rotatable valve from dispensing particulate solid matter if no brew cup is present in the brew cup enclosure. In still further embodiments, a lid sliding arm removes and/or reapplies the lid during operation of the apparatus

I claim: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for dispensing particulate solid matter into a brew cup enclosure, comprising:
 a body having a base portion hingedly affixed to a top portion, said top portion having a rotatable valve and a hopper storing particulate solid matter wherein said rotatable valve opens towards said hopper;   a brew cup enclosure disposed in said base portion; and   a lever in geared communication with said rotatable valve, such that movement of said lever causes said rotatable valve to rotate until said particulate solid matter is displaced from said rotatable valve into said brew cup enclosure.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said brew cup enclosure is adapted to receive a brew cup, said brew cup comprising a removable lid. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said lid of said brew cup is removed from and reapplied to said brew cup when said brew cup is received into said brew cup enclosure. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising a safety push pin in communication between said brew cup enclosure and said rotatable valve, such that said rotatable valve only rotates when said brew cup is present in said brew cup enclosure. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein said brew cup displaces said safety push pin when said brew cup is placed into said brew cup enclosure enabling the valve to rotate. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said rotatable valve comprises a cavity for gravitationally receiving grinds from said hopper, and movement of said lever causes said compartment to rotate at least 90 degrees to deposit said grinds into said brew cup enclosure. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said lever comprises three soft-locking positions corresponding to three rotatable valve states, said three rotatable valve states comprising a receiving state, a neutral state, and a dispensing state. 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus for dispensing particulate solid matter into a brew cup, comprising:
 a rotatable valve operable to receive particulate solid matter from a storage hopper, wherein said rotatable valve is disposed within a stationary valve housing;   a brew cup enclosure for receiving said brew cup, wherein said brew cup enclosure is positioned adjacent to said rotatable valve; and   a lever rotationally coupled to said rotatable valve to cause said rotatable valve to rotate and dispense said particulate solid matter into said recess for receiving said brew cup.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a lever shaft coupled between said lever and said rotatable valve using one or more gears.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a soft lock spring for releasably locking said lever shaft at a plurality of locking positions.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein said lever shaft comprises a plurality of recesses corresponding to said plurality of locking positions for catching said lock spring to releasably lock said lever shaft. 
     
     
         12 . A method of dispensing particulate solid matter into a brew using the apparatus of  claim 8 , comprising:
 inserting said brew cup into said recess;   moving said lever to a first position, such that said rotatable valve opens to said storage hopper to receive particulate solid matter; and   moving said lever to a second position, such that said rotatable valve is caused to rotate to dispense said particulate solid matter into said brew cup.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said step of inserting said brew cup into said recess further comprises opening said housing to expose said recess. 
     
     
         14 . A method for dispensing a metered amount of particulate solid matter into a brew cup, comprising:
 receiving particulate solid matter from a hopper into a cavity of a rotational valve of an apparatus;   inserting said brew cup into a recess of said apparatus; and   toggling a lever to cause said rotational valve to rotate, such that said particulate solid matter is released into said brew cup.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein a lid of said brew cup is removed prior to said releasing of said particulate solid matter, and, further, wherein said lid is reapplied to said brew cup after said particulate solid matter is released into said brew cup. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein a safety mechanism prevents rotation of said rotational valve unless said brew cup is inserted into said recess. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising a step of opening said apparatus to expose said recess before inserting said brew cup. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising a step of closing said apparatus after said brew cup is inserted and before said step of receiving particulate solid matter. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said closing of said apparatus causes a lid of said brew cup to be temporarily removed. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising a step of reopening said apparatus to remove said brew cup after said particulate solid matter is released, wherein said step of reopening said apparatus causes said lid to be reapplied to said brew cup.