Beverage machine with drip tray device for recipients of different heights

• US 8,091,469 B2
• Filed: 06/07/2006
• Issued: 01/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Societe des Produits Nestle SA (Nestle SA)
• Original Assignee: Nestec SA (Nestle SA)
• Inventors: Cahen, Antoine, Stieger, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Yuen, Henry
• Assistant Examiner(s): ATKISSON, JIANYING CUI
• Application Number:
  US11/422,802
• Publication Number:
  US 20070000944A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,043 Days
• Field of Search: 99279-323, 99275-277, 993/48, 99444-450, 99452-455, 222/108, 222/173, 222/250, 141/86, 141/87
• US Class Current: 99/279
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/41 of liquid ingredients
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/4485 Nozzles dispensing heated and foamed milk, i.e. milk is sucked from a milk container, heated and foamed inside the device, and subsequently dispensed from the nozzle

Abstract

A beverage machine comprising a drip tray device that can accommodate recipients of different heights. The drip tray device is formed of a collect tank and has a first drip support grid removably mounted on the tank for holding short recipients and has a second drip support for longer recipients such as a glass. The whole device is removable for ease of emptying and rinsing. In a possible mode, the first removable grid is provided with a gutter to evacuate liquid in a main collect reservoir.

Claims

1. A beverage machine comprising:

a drip tray device placed below at least a beverage outlet, the drip tray device comprising a collect tank comprising a secondary grid, and a first reservoir within the collect tank, the first reservoir defined, in part, by an extending wall being contoured at its sides and rear side, the extending wall defining a recess

a removable first drip support grid comprising an apertured plate and being adjacent to and parallel with the secondary grid, wherein the first drip support grid has a front wall arranged and constructed to cover a front of the recess of the collect tank when the first drip support grid is placed on top of the collect tank, and

a second drip support comprising a support surface and a second reservoir and being provided at a bottom of the recess of the collect tank, wherein the first drip support grid and the collect tank are arranged for holding a first beverage recipient and for collecting a liquid passing through the apertured plate of the first drip support grid, the first drip support grid being removable from the collect tank and, when removed, leaves open the second drip support arranged and constructed to receive a second beverage recipient of greater height than the first beverage recipient.

2. The beverage machine according to claim 1, wherein:

the drip tray device is removable from a remaining portion of the machine for emptying and rinsing.

3. The beverage machine according to claim 1, wherein the support surface of the second drip support is located several centimeters below the plate of the first drip support grid.

4. The beverage machine according to claim 1, wherein the first drip support grid comprises a gutter.

5. The beverage machine according to claim 4, wherein the gutter is configured to direct collected liquid that passes through the plate of the first drip support grid to the first reservoir of the collect tank.

6. The beverage machine according to claim 5, wherein the gutter is positioned over the second drip support.

7. The beverage machine according to claim 1, wherein the first drip support grid is configured to be received onto the collect tank and to cover the recess.

8. The beverage machine according to claim 1, wherein the support surface of the second drip support comprises a grid for supporting the second recipient.

9. The beverage machine according to claim 1, wherein the second reservoir is closed from the collect tank.

10. The beverage machine according to claim 1, wherein the second reservoir is open to the collect tank.

11. The beverage machine according to claim 1, comprising a waste capsule recovery container positioned above a portion of the collect tank and draining means for collecting liquid from the waste capsule recovery container to the collect tank.