Beverage machine with an ergonomic water storage

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10945552-B2
Application number	US-201716067349-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 6, 2017
Priority date	Jan 8, 2016
Publication date	Mar 16, 2021
Grant date	Mar 16, 2021

Abstract

A machine ( 1 ) for preparing a beverage has: a body ( 1 ′) with a fluid line ( 1″,1′″ ) extending from a liquid inlet ( 1 ″) to a beverage outlet ( 1 ′″); a liquid tank ( 15 ) that has an outlet ( 16 ) connected to the liquid inlet ( 1 ″); and a carrier ( 11,12 ) assembled to the body ( 1 ′) for carrying the liquid tank ( 15 ). The carrier ( 11,12 ) is movable with the liquid tank ( 15 ) as a unit ( 10 ) inwards into the body ( 1 ′) into an operative position for supplying liquid to the liquid inlet ( 1 ″) and outwards from the body ( 1 ′) into a service position.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A machine for preparing a beverage, the machine comprising:
a body comprising a fluid line extending from a liquid inlet to a beverage outlet;
a liquid tank that has an outlet connected to the liquid inlet;
a carrier assembled to the body for carrying the liquid tank,
the carrier is movable with the liquid tank as a unit inwards into the body into an operative position for supplying liquid to the liquid inlet and outwards from the body into a service position for filling the tank with liquid and/or cleaning the tank, wherein the liquid inlet of the fluid line of the body is fixed to the carrier and is movable with the carrier; and
a waste collector for collecting waste material, wherein the waste collector is carried by the carrier so that the carrier is movable with the liquid tank and the waste collector as a unit inwards into the body into an operative position for collecting waste material and outwards from the body into a service position for emptying the waste collector.

2. The machine of claim 1 , wherein the waste collector is located adjacent to the liquid tank when carried by the carrier.

3. The machine of claim 1 , wherein the liquid tank is removable from the carrier in the service position, the outlet of the liquid tank being disconnectable from the liquid inlet.

4. The machine of claim 3 , wherein the tank comprises a connector for fastening the tank to the carrier.

5. The machine of claim 1 , wherein the tank comprises a handle for lifting the tank and/or for operating a lid of the tank between an open and a closed position.

6. The machine of claim 1 , wherein the carrier comprises a holding member holding the tank.

7. The machine of claim 1 , wherein the carrier has a holding member holding the tank, and wherein the liquid inlet of the fluid line is fixed to the holding member.

8. The machine of claim 1 , wherein the body has an ingredient inlet for supplying to the fluid line.

9. The machine of claim 8 , comprising an ingredient supply gate that has an open configuration for allowing a transfer of the flavoring ingredient along the ingredient inlet to the fluid line and a closed configuration for preventing the transfer of the flavoring ingredient along the ingredient inlet to the fluid line.

10. The machine of claim 1 , wherein the body defines a seat for receiving the unit.

11. The machine of claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a main outside housing.

12. The machine of claim 1 , comprising:
a bottom that has a periphery, the bottom forming a foot for placing such machine on an external support surface in an orientation for dispensing a beverage via the beverage outlet; and
an outside face that is user-visible when the machine is placed on the bottom, the outside face extending along substantially the entire periphery.

13. The machine of claim 1 , comprising:
a bottom that has a periphery; and
at least one resilient member at the periphery of the bottom to form a vibration-dampening foot for placing such machine on an external support surface in an orientation for dispensing a beverage via the beverage outlet,
the resilient member is water-repellent and extends generally along the periphery to prevent passage beyond the member of water-based liquid on the external support surface to underneath the bottom.

14. A machine for preparing a beverage, the machine comprising:
a body comprising a fluid line extending from a liquid inlet to a beverage outlet;
a liquid tank that has an outlet connected to the liquid inlet; and
a carrier assembled to the body for carrying the liquid tank,
the carrier is movable with the liquid tank as a unit inwards into the body into an operative position for supplying liquid to the liquid inlet and outwards from the body into a service position for filling the tank with liquid and/or cleaning the tank, wherein the liquid inlet of the fluid line of the body is fixed to the carrier and is movable with the carrier, and
wherein the beverage outlet is mounted in an outlet head of the body that is retractable into a rest position and is deployable into a beverage dispensing position.

15. A machine for preparing a beverage comprising:
a body comprising a fluid line extending from a liquid inlet to a beverage outlet;
a liquid tank that has an outlet connected to the liquid inlet;
a carrier assembled to the body for carrying the liquid tank;
a waste collector for collecting waste material; and
the carrier is movable with the liquid tank as a unit inwards into the body into an operative position for supplying liquid to the liquid inlet and outwards from the body into a service position,
wherein the waste collector is carried by the carrier so that the carrier is movable with the liquid tank and the waste collector as a unit inwards into the body into an operative position for collecting waste material and outwards from the body into a service position for emptying the waste collector.

16. The machine of claim 15 , wherein the waste collector is located adjacent to the liquid tank when carried by the carrier.

17. A machine for preparing a beverage comprising:
a body comprising a fluid line extending from a liquid inlet to a beverage outlet;
a liquid tank that has an outlet connected to the liquid inlet;
a carrier assembled to the body for carrying the liquid tank; and
the carrier is movable with the liquid tank as a unit inwards into the body into an operative position for supplying liquid to the liquid inlet and outwards from the body into a service position,
wherein the beverage outlet is mounted in an outlet head of the body that is retractable into a rest position and is deployable into a beverage dispensing position.

Assignees

• Nestec Sa
• Nestle Sa

Inventors

• Branko Lukic
• Crozier Etienne
• Guyon Bertrand
• Kilpatrick Kevin
• Magatti Marco
• Obliger Nicolas
• Ryutaro Takayama Steven
• Thuliez Jean-Luc

Classifications

• A47J31/3676 Primary

  Cartridges being employed · CPC title

• A47J31/4403

  Constructional details · CPC title

• A47J31/005

  Portable or compact beverage making apparatus, e.g. for travelling, for use in automotive vehicles · CPC title