Scoop with Level

Abstract

A scoop and level for scooping a portion of granulated material and leveling the contents of the scoop. The scoop may have a volume suitable for brewing a single serving of brewed beverage, and in particular, for brewing a single serving of espresso. The lever is attached to the scoop and slides over the scoop to displace excess material, thus providing a desired amount material for processing, for example, for preparing a beverage. A scoop handle may further include a tamper opposite to the scoop. The tamper may be used to tamp brewing material after scooping, leveling, and pouring the brewing material into a holder.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A scooping and leveling device, comprising:
 a handle;   an elongated scoop arm attached at a first end to the handle;   a scoop disposed at a second end of the scoop arm; and   a leveling element;   wherein the scoop has a concave interior and a substantially planar rim;   wherein the leveling element includes: 
 a leveling arm coupled to the scoop arm, and 
 a leveling bar disposed at a first end of the leveling arm; 
   wherein the leveling arm is coupled to the scoop arm such that the leveling element is movable between a first position and a second position;   wherein in the first position, the leveling element is disposed such that the leveling bar is arranged at a first side of the scoop;   wherein in the second position, the leveling element is disposed such that the leveling bar is arranged at a second side of the scoop; and   wherein the leveling arm is configured to be moved across the scoop arm, thereby causing the leveling bar to move across the rim of the scoop.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the leveling arm is configured to pivot on the scoop arm. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein leveling arm is coupled to the scoop arm such that the leveling arm is pivotable about a point on the scoop arm. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the leveling bar has substantially the same size and shape as at least a portion of the substantially planar rim of the scoop. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the substantially planar rim of the scoop is circular. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the leveling bar is a semi-circular arc. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the leveling bar is a portion of a circular arc. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the leveling arm includes a textured portion. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a tamper disposed at an end of the handle opposite the scoop arm. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the tamper faces a direction opposite that of the scoop arm. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the tamper is longitudinally aligned with the handle. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 9 , further comprising a guide pin disposed on an end of the tamper opposite the handle. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the tamper has a circular cross-section transverse to the longitudinal direction of the scoop arm and a transverse cross-sectional area smaller than a transverse cross-sectional area of the handle. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the tamper is cylindrical. 
     
     
         15 . A scooping and leveling device, comprising:
 grasping means for grasping the device;   scoop means for scooping granulated material;   elongated means for attaching the scoop means to the grasping means; and   leveling means for leveling the granulated material when the granulated material is in the scoop means;   wherein the scoop means has a concave interior and a substantially planar rim;   wherein the leveling means includes: 
 push means for leveling the granulated material when the granulated material is in the scoop means, and 
 extension means for coupling the push means to the elongated means; 
   wherein the extension means is coupled to the elongated means such that the extension means is movable between a first position and a second position;   wherein in the first position, the extension means is disposed such that the push means is arranged at a first side of the scoop means;   wherein in the second position, the extension means is disposed such that the push means is arranged at a second side of the scoop means; and   wherein the extension means is configured to be moved across the elongated means, thereby causing the push means to move across the rim of the scoop means.   
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the extension means is configured to pivot on the elongated means. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the extension means is coupled to the elongated means such that the extension means is pivotable about a point on the elongated means. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the push means has substantially the same size and shape as at least a portion of the substantially planar rim of the scoop means. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the substantially planar rim of the scoop means is circular. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein the push means is a semi-circular arc. 
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein the push means is a portion of a circular arc. 
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the extension means includes a textured portion. 
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 15 , further comprising tamping means for compacting the granulated material when the granulated material is disposed in a tamping container, disposed at an end of the grasping means opposite the elongated means. 
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 23 , wherein the tamping means faces a direction opposite that of the elongated means. 
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 23 , wherein the tamping means is longitudinally aligned with the grasping means. 
     
     
         26 . The device of  claim 23 , further comprising guide means for guiding the tamping means into the tamping container, disposed on an end of the tamping means opposite the grasping means. 
     
     
         27 . The device of  claim 23 , wherein the tamping means has a circular cross-section transverse to the longitudinal direction of the elongated means and a transverse cross-sectional area smaller than a transverse cross-sectional area of the grasping means. 
     
     
         28 . The device of  claim 23 , wherein the tamping means is cylindrical.