Drip catcher apparatus and method

• US 9,469,518 B2
• Filed: 08/19/2014
• Issued: 10/18/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Keith L. Davis
• Original Assignee: Keith L. Davis
• Inventors: Davis, Keith L.
• Primary Examiner(s): LONG, DONNELL ALAN
• Application Number:
  US14/463,520
• Publication Number:
  US 20150053277A1
• Time in Patent Office: 791 Days
• Field of Search: 222/1, 222/108, 222/185.1, 465/8, 465/6, 137/15.01
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0042 Details of specific parts of the dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0891 for the beverage container
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/16 Devices for collecting spilled beverages
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0402 Cleaning, repairing, or assembling

Abstract

An apparatus and method for collecting drips from a spout on a beverage dispenser has a table top base that is held in place by the weight of a beverage dispenser. The table top base supports a drip catch reservoir, and drips hit a back plate with guides before washing into the drip catch reservoir. The drip catch reservoir has an outlet allowing drainage into a disposal tank without moving the apparatus.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

selecting a support for a beverage dispenser, the support having an upper surface;

providing a catcher, structurally distinct from, independent from, and selectively positionable on and removable from the support, the catcher comprising

a base protecting a supporting surface under the beverage dispenser,

a back connected to depend from the base and defining a planar surface positioned to conduct liquid away from the base,

a baffle juxtaposed opposite the back and extending upwardly a distance effective to reflect, adhere, or otherwise capture splashing from the back,

a bottom connected to the back and the baffle to form a liquid-containment reservoir therewith,

the catcher defining a lateral direction, corresponding to a width of the beverage dispenser, a vertical direction, and a transverse direction orthogonal to the lateral and vertical directions,

the catcher having a lateral width, corresponding to the width of the beverage dispenser and extending transversely and vertically to the bottom,

the base, back, and bottom constituting a flow path continuous, contiguous, and sealed to conduct a portion of the liquid impinging substantially anywhere within the lateral width thereon toward the reservoir, and

a port operably connected to drain the reservoir;

selecting the beverage dispenser having a spout comprising at least one of a pipe, tube, and projection configured to accomplish at least one of discharging, pouring, and conveying a liquid;

positioning the base on the upper surface;

positioning the beverage dispenser on the base so as to position the spout over at least one of the back and the baffle;

dispensing at least a portion of the liquid from the dispenser through the spout;

collecting, by the catcher, into the reservoir, waste comprising at least one of a spill and a drip of the liquid by intercepting the liquid on at least one of the back and the baffle; and

draining the reservoir through the port;

wherein at least one of the back and the baffle is provided with guides constructed to restrict motion laterally by the waste, the guides comprising a plurality of ridges protruding upwardly from the planar surface of the back, the planar surface extending outwardly on either side of the plurality of ridges.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a storage container located remotely from the reservoir to receive by gravity feed a content of the reservoir, the storage container being selectively connectable and separable from the reservoir as a receptacle and as a disposal container, respectively; and

connecting the storage container to the port.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

providing a fitting shaped to connect to the port;

providing a line for carrying liquid between the fitting and the storage container; and

passing at least a portion of collected liquid from the reservoir to the storage container through the line.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the back connects to the baffle by at least one of a side, a plurality of sides, and curvature of at least one of the baffle and the back, and the baffle extends past the back to a position therebehind effectively obscuring from view and from direct splashing contact the reservoir.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the back, baffle, and bottom are formed of a single, continuous, homogenously molded material.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

positioning the catcher in an automatic dishwasher; and

cleaning the catcher by operating the automatic dishwasher.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the catcher further comprises:

a fitting creating an attachment for a line to the port;

the line, shaped and directed to drain fluid from the port;

a storage container connected to receive the fluid from the line, and

a seal selectively sealing at least one of the reservoir and the storage container from one another to support continued operation of the reservoir during disposal of the contents of the storage container.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a registration portion extending directly vertically from the base to a remainder of the back and serving as a registration device registering the catcher with respect to a supporting surface therebelow; and

selecting an angle of extension between the remainder of the back and the base, based on at least one of surface tension between the waste and the catcher, kinetic energy of the waste, and the position of the spout with respect to at least one of the back and the baffle.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the baffle is angled to direct downward splashing of waste proceeding transversely from both the back and the baffle and the bottom is not directly impinged by a vertical line from the spout.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

provide a storage container;

positioning an absorbent in the storage container;

connecting the storage container to the port;

draining the waste from the reservoir to the storage container;

absorbing the waste in the absorbent; and

disposing of the waste by at least one of

replacing the absorbent in the storage container, and

disposing of the storage container with the absorbent therein.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the base is connected to the back by at least one of a hinge, selectively separable connector, or permanent connector;

the hinge is selected from

a distinct structure secured to the back and the base, and

a molded continuous, contiguous, homogeneous structure of the catcher; and

the beverage dispenser is placed on the base such that waste from the spout strikes the back.

12. A device for collecting at least a portion of an amount of a liquid originating from a source containing the liquid, the device comprising:

a base protecting a support surface under the source and supporting thereon the source;

a back defining a first surface to receive from the source at least a portion of the liquid thereon;

a baffle;

a bottom, forming, with the back and the baffle, a reservoir;

the base, back, and bottom defining a vertical direction, lateral direction, and transverse direction, mutually orthogonal to one another, with the base extending in the lateral direction and the transverse direction;

the source of liquid defining a total width thereof extending in the lateral direction;

the base, back, bottom, and baffle extending laterally and continuously a catch width corresponding to the total width; and

a port for draining waste from the reservoir without removal of the device from service.

13. The device of claim 12, further comprising:

a fitting adapted to connect to the port;

a line connected to the port;

a disposal tank connected to receive the waste through the line.

14. The device of claim 12, further comprising a connection between the back and the base, the connection being selected from a continuous and homogeneously molded hinge, an attached hinge, and joint selectively separable to disconnect the base from the back.

15. The device of claim 12, wherein the back comprises:

a vertical back defining a vertical surface to receive waste deposited vertically thereon; and

an angled back defining the first surface, an upper edge of the angled back secured to a lower edge of the vertical back, the angled back being angled outwardly from the vertical surface.