Beverage maker having a water reservoir and a member for determining a size of an outlet opening of the water reservoir

Abstract

A beverage maker comprises a water reservoir ( 1 ) and a beverage extract holder ( 2 ) which is adapted to accommodate an amount of beverage extract, whether contained in a filter or not, which is suitable for containing an amount of fluid, which has at least one outlet opening ( 4 ) for letting out beverage, and which is arranged at a position for receiving water from an outlet opening ( 3 ) of the water reservoir ( 1 ). Furthermore, the beverage maker comprises a movably arranged water flow restriction member ( 6 ) which is mechanically connected to the beverage extract holder ( 2 ), such that an increasing weight of the beverage extract holder ( 2 ) causes an increasing restriction of the outlet opening ( 3 ) of the water reservoir ( 1 ). If so required, the outlet opening ( 3 ) of the water reservoir ( 1 ) may be completely blocked in order to prevent the beverage extract holder ( 2 ) from overflowing.

1 . A method for making a beverage in a beverage maker comprising a water reservoir having at least one outlet opening for letting out water; and a beverage extract holder which is filled with an amount of beverage extract and has at least one outlet opening for letting out the beverage extract, and which is arranged at a position for receiving water from the outlet opening of the water reservoir, the method comprising:
 heating the water in the water reservoir while keeping a water flow valve associated with the water reservoir in a closed position;   upon detecting that the water temperature has reached a suitable value, placing the water flow valve in an open position to allow a flow of water through the outlet opening and into the beverage extract holder; and   decreasing the size of the outlet opening of the water reservoir by a water flow restriction member upon detecting an increased weight of the beverage extract holder from said flow of water allowed to flow through the outlet opening of the water reservoir and into the beverage extract holder.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein wherein the water flow restriction member is adapted to realize a state of equilibrium with the beverage extract holder. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said state of equilibrium comprises a flow of water through the outlet opening of the water reservoir substantially equalling a flow of beverage through the outlet opening of the beverage extract holder. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of decreasing the size of the outlet opening of the water reservoir by a water flow restriction member, further comprises: a lever detecting a pulling force exerted by the beverage extract holder causing a first lever end of the lever supporting the water flow restriction member to move in an upward direction towards the outlet opening of the water reservior. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the water flow restriction member moving in said upward direction towards the outlet further comprises a tip of a cone-shaped portion of the water flow restriction member entering the outlet opening of the water reservoir, and a top portion of the cone-shaped portion moving through the outlet opening until a new state of equilibrium is realized.