Drink dispensing device with holding and drip-collecting system for receptacles of different sizes

• US 8,002,146 B2
• Filed: 06/18/2007
• Issued: 08/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Societe des Produits Nestle SA (Nestle SA)
• Original Assignee: Nestec SA (Nestle SA)
• Inventors: Cahen, Philippe, Boussemart, Christophe S., Cahen, Antoine
• Primary Examiner(s): Yuen; Henry
• Assistant Examiner(s): ATKISSON, JIANYING CUI
• Application Number:
  US11/764,503
• Publication Number:
  US 20080148950A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,527 Days
• Field of Search: 993/17, 992/75, 202/108, 202/173, 141/86, 141/87, 141/88, 141/89, 222/108, 222/173, 222/250
• US Class Current: 222/108
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/4482 Details allowing to adapt the beverage-making apparatus to the size of the brewing vessel or the beverage container, e.g. with adjustable support for the beverage container or adjustable hot water outlet

Abstract

A drink preparing device that includes a box and a holding and drip-collecting system that comprises a holding part positionable beneath a drink outlet in order to accept a first, relatively small receptacle, and being configured and dimensioned to be moveable between a deployed holding position suitable for accepting the small receptacle and a second position in which the part is moved at least partly out of the way of the drink outlet to create an unoccupied space in which a second, larger receptacle can be positioned, in place of the first receptacle, beneath the drink outlet.

Claims

1. A drink preparing device for dispensing a drink into a relatively smaller receptacle or into a relatively larger receptacle, the device comprising

a box;

and

a holding and drip-collecting system that comprises a cup holding part positioned beneath a drink outlet and configured and dimensioned to be freely moveable by rotation between a more horizontal, deployed holding position and a second, more vertical, retracted position outside of the box, wherein the cup holding part projects cantilever fashion when the holder part is in the deployed holding position for holding the relatively smaller receptacle beneath the drink outlet, and wherein the cup holding part is hinged about an axis of rotation allowing the cup holding part to be freely moved upwardly and out of the way to the retracted position in which the cup holding part is moved at least partly out of the way of the drink outlet, so that the placement of the relatively larger receptacle beneath the drink outlet physically contacts and pushes the cup holding part so as to freely rotate it upwards and towards the retracted position while the removal of the relatively larger receptacle beneath the drink outlet permits the cup holding part to freely rotate back under gravity to the deployed holding position, wherein the cup holding part is further configured and dimensioned for receiving the relatively smaller receptacle beneath the drink outlet without the need to push the cup holding part upwards and out of the way of the drink outlet.

2. The device according to claim 1 wherein the cup holding part comprises a liquid collecting tray arranged to receive liquid collected by the cup holding part when the cup holding part is moved to the second position.

3. The device according to claim 2 wherein the cup holding part and the collecting tray are joined together to form a drawer which is removable from the box.

4. The device according to claim 1 which further comprises

a locking device for locking the cup holding part in the second position;

and

an on/off means having an on button which must be activated in order to prepare a beverage from the drink preparing device and which is configured to automatically release the cup holding part concurrently with pressure on the on button.

5. The device according to claim 4 wherein the locking device is configured to release the cup holding part automatically in the second position.

6. The device according to claim 5 wherein the cup holding part is locked in the second position in such a way as to fall back under gravity into the deployed position when released by the locking device.

7. The device according to claim 1 wherein the cup holding part further comprises a drawer which is movable along or into a housing in the base.

8. The device according to claim 7 which further comprises a housing into which the cup holding part and drawer are inserted by a sliding action.

9. The device according to claim 7

wherein the cup holding part when in the second position contacts the drawer, and

wherein the drawer is configured and dimensioned to receive liquid collected by the cup holding part when the cup holding part is moved to the second position and to receive used capsules from which the beverage has been prepared, such that the removal of the drawer from the box or housing enables the used capsules and liquid to be removed and discarded from the device.

10. The device according to claim 1 wherein the cup holding part comprises a bearing surface for supporting the cup holding part in the deployed holding position.

11. The device according to claim 1 wherein the cup holding part engages a seat in the box.

12. The device according to claim 1 wherein the second relatively larger receptacle can be placed on a table or other surface that supports the device but is not part of the device, or on a base that is a part of the device.

17. The device according to claim 3 wherein the box further comprises a trough to assist in directing liquid from the liquid collecting tray into the drawer.

13. A drink preparing device for dispensing a drink into a relatively smaller receptacle or into a relatively larger receptacle, the device comprising

a box;

a holding and drip-collecting system that comprises a cup holding part positioned beneath a drink outlet and hinged, configured and dimensioned to be moveable

between a lower, deployed holding position suitable for holding the relatively smaller receptacle beneath the drink outlet in order to collect liquid; and

a second, raised position outside of the box in which the cup holding part is moved at least partly out of the way of the drink outlet so that the relatively larger receptacle can be positioned beneath the drink outlet in order to collect liquid; and

a liquid collecting tray which is joined to the cup holding part to form a drawer removable from the box and which is arranged to receive liquid collected by the cup holding part when the cup holding part is moved to the second position;

wherein the cup holding part moves upwardly and at least partly toward the second position by contact with the larger relatively receptacle during the positioning of the relatively larger receptacle beneath the drink outlet and falls back by gravity to the deployed position beneath the drink outlet when the larger receptacle is moved away from the drink outlet.

15. The device of claim 13 wherein the drawer is configured and dimensioned to receive liquid collected by the cup holding part when the cup holding part is moved to the second position and to receive used capsules from which the beverage has been prepared, such that the removal of the drawer from the box or housing enables the used capsules and liquid to be removed and discarded from the device.

14. A drink preparing device for dispensing a drink into a relatively smaller receptacle or into a relatively larger receptacle, the device comprising:

a box; and

a holding and drip-collecting system that comprises a cup holding part positioned beneath a drink outlet and hinged, configured and dimensioned to be moveable between a lower, deployed holding position suitable for holding the relatively smaller receptacle beneath the drink outlet in order to collect liquid, and a second, raised position outside of the box in which the cup holding part is moved at least partly out of the way of the drink outlet so that the relatively larger receptacle can be positioned beneath the drink outlet in order to collect liquid;

wherein the cup holding part is pivotable upwardly to the second, raised position wherein the cup holding part is disposed in a substantially vertical position upon contact with the larger receptacle, but the part can freely fall back under gravity underneath the drink outlet when the larger receptacle is removed, and

the cup holding part is associated with a drawer configured and dimensioned to receive liquid from the part when in the substantially vertical position and to receive used capsules from which the beverage has been prepared, such that the removal of the drawer from the box or housing enables the used capsules and liquid to be removed and discarded from the device, and further wherein the cup holding part in the substantially vertical position contacts the drawer.

18. The device according to claim 14 wherein the box further comprises a trough to assist in directing liquid from the liquid collecting tray into the drawer.

16. A drink preparing device for dispensing a drink into a relatively smaller receptacle or into a relatively larger receptacle, the device comprising

a box;

and

a holding and drip-collecting system that comprises a cup holding part positioned beneath a drink outlet and configured and dimensioned to be freely moveable so that the absence of a relatively larger receptacle beneath the drink outlet permits the cup holding part to fall freely back to a more horizontal, deployed holding position suitable for holding the relatively smaller receptacle beneath the drink outlet, and the presence of the relatively larger receptacle beneath the drink outlet physically pushes the cup holding part into a second, more vertical, retracted position outside of the box in which the cup holding part is moved upwardly and at least partly out of the way of the drink outlet;

wherein the cup holding part is pivotable upwardly from the more horizontal, deployed holding position to the second, retracted position wherein the cup holding part is disposed in a substantially vertical position upon contact with the larger receptacle, but the cup holding part can freely fall back under gravity underneath the drink outlet when the larger receptacle is removed, and

wherein the cup holding part is associated with a drawer configured and dimensioned to receive liquid from the cup holding part when in the substantially vertical position and to receive used capsules from which the beverage has been prepared, such that the removal of the drawer from the box or housing enables the used capsules and liquid to be removed and discarded from the device, and further wherein the cup holding part in the substantially vertical position contacts the drawer.