Drip filter coffee machine

Abstract

A filter basket for use with a coffee machine includes a valve selectively operable by a lever of the coffee machine to allow liquid coffee to exit the filter basket. The valve is spring biased to a closed position preventing liquid coffee from exiting the filter basket.

1 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A filter basket for use with a coffee machine, the filter basket comprising:
 a valve selectively operable by a lever of the coffee machine to allow liquid coffee to exit the filter basket,   wherein the valve is spring biased to a closed position preventing liquid coffee from exiting the filter basket.   
     
     
         19 . The filter basket of  claim 18 , wherein the valve has a central pin, the pin having a fin-like structure, to encourage wicking of the liquid coffee, as the liquid coffee passes through the valve and through a central passageway of the lever. 
     
     
         20 . The filter basket of  claim 19 , wherein the lever is operable to open the valve to allow liquid coffee to exit from the filter basket through the central passageway of the lever. 
     
     
         21 . The filter basket of  claim 19 , wherein a head of the lever is actuatable to contact the valve to overcome the spring bias and open the valve, thereby allowing liquid coffee to pass through the central passageway of the lever. 
     
     
         22 . The filter basket of  claim 19 , wherein the fin-like structure of the pin comprises an array of fins that intersect along a common axis that is central to the fins. 
     
     
         23 . A coffee machine having a base, a body extending upwardly from the base, a platform having an upwardly facing surface, the platform being supported by and extending outwardly from the body, and a filter basket, wherein the filter basket includes:
 a valve selectively operable to allow liquid coffee to exit the filter basket; and   the platform including a lever, said lever having a central passageway; and   wherein the lever is operable to open the valve to allow liquid coffee to exit from the filter basket through the central passageway of the lever.   
     
     
         24 . The coffee machine of  claim 23 , wherein the valve has a central pin, the pin having a fin-like structure, to encourage wicking of the liquid coffee, as the liquid coffee passes through the valve and though the central passageway of the lever. 
     
     
         25 . The coffee machine of  claim 24 , wherein the lever has a proximal end and a distal end relative to the coffee machine, the proximal end having a point of rotation and the distal end having a toroidal shaped head surrounding the central passageway to allow liquid coffee to pass though the central passageway of the lever. 
     
     
         26 . The coffee machine of  claim 25 , wherein the valve is spring biased to a closed position preventing liquid coffee from exiting the filter basket. 
     
     
         27 . The coffee machine of  claim 26 , wherein the head of the lever is actuatable to contact the valve to overcome the spring bias and open the valve, thereby allowing liquid coffee to pass through the central passageway of the lever. 
     
     
         28 . The coffee machine of  claim 27 , wherein the valve has an axis that is aligned with a central axis of the central passageway, when the filter basket is in an engaged position on the platform. 
     
     
         29 . The coffee machine of  claim 24 , wherein the fin-like structure of the pin comprises an array of fins that intersect along a common axis that is central to the fins. 
     
     
         30 . A coffee machine comprising:
 a base;   a body extending upwardly from the base;   a platform having an upwardly facing surface, the platform being supported by and extending outwardly from the body, the platform including an actuator;   wherein the actuator comprises a toroidal working head having a central passageway.   
     
     
         31 . The coffee machine of  claim 30 , wherein the central passageway is cylindrical or tapered toward a wider opening at a discharge end of the central passageway. 
     
     
         32 . The coffee machine of  claim 30 , wherein upper and lower ends of the central passageway are sharply radiused relative to an exterior of the working head. 
     
     
         33 . The coffee machine of  claim 30 , wherein a diameter of an upper portion of the central passageway is slightly offset and/or wider than a discharge end of the central passageway. 
     
     
         34 . The coffee machine of  claim 32 , wherein the coffee machine further comprises a filter basket, and
 wherein a radius of the upper end of the central passageway is substantially smooth to allow for sliding engagement with a valve of the filter basket.   
     
     
         35 . The coffee machine of  claim 32 , wherein the coffee machine further comprises a carafe having a lid with a contact surface, and
 wherein a radius of the lower end of the central passageway is substantially smooth to allow for sliding engagement with the contact surface of the lid.