Beverage machine for short and tall cups

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9675205-B2
Application number	US-201314372041-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 9, 2013
Priority date	Jan 13, 2012
Publication date	Jun 13, 2017
Grant date	Jun 13, 2017

Abstract

A heightening device ( 10 ) is arranged for heightening a short cup ( 3 ′) under a beverage outlet ( 20 ) of a beverage preparation module ( 2 ) configured to dispense beverage into a tall cup ( 3 ). The device ( 10 ) comprises: a bottom ( 12 ) for resting on a support surface ( 5 ); a platform ( 14 ) that is supported by the bottom and that is configured for receiving said short cup ( 3 ′) and heightening thereof over the bottom ( 12 ); and a means ( 15,16 ) for assembling the bottom and the platform as a unit ( 12, 14 ) to a corresponding assembling means ( 25, 26 ) of said beverage preparation module under said outlet. The assembling means ( 15, 16; 25, 26 ) of such device ( 10 ) and of the module ( 2 ) are disassemblable for separating the unit ( 12, 14 ) from the module and removing the unit from under such beverage outlet ( 20 ) to allow placement of the tall cup ( 3 ) on said support surface ( 5 ) under the outlet ( 20 ).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A beverage preparation machine comprising:
a beverage preparation module comprising a beverage outlet, a first module assembling member under the beverage outlet, and a second module assembling member; and
a heightening device for increasing a height of a short cup under the beverage outlet of the beverage preparation module, the heightening device comprising
a bottom for resting on a support surface,
a platform supported by the bottom and configured for receiving the short cup and increasing the height of the short cup over the bottom,
a device assembling member for connecting the bottom and the platform as a unit to each of the first module assembling member and the second module assembling member and for disconnecting the unit from each of the first module assembling member and the second module assembling member, the second module assembling member located such that when the device assembling member is assembled thereto, the unit of the heightening device is located away from under the beverage outlet.

2. The beverage preparation machine of claim 1 , wherein the beverage preparation module has a cavity for receiving a service device bearing at least one of the first module assembling member and the second module assembling member.

3. The beverage preparation machine of claim 2 , wherein the service device comprises at least one of:
a drawer configuration for being slidable into and out of the beverage preparation module;
a handle for manually moving the service device in an out of the beverage preparation module; and
a first receptacle for containing a first substance and a second receptacle for containing a second substance.

4. The beverage preparation machine of claim 1 , wherein the beverage preparation module has a module bottom, and the bottom of the heightening device and the module bottom are adjacent to each other during use and are both arranged to rest on the same support surface and to be supported by the support surface during use.

5. The beverage preparation machine of claim 1 , wherein the beverage preparation module and the heightening device are magnetically constrainable together by the module assembling member and the device assembling member.

6. A beverage preparation machine comprising:
a beverage preparation module comprising a beverage outlet and a module assembling member under the beverage outlet; and
a heightening device for increasing a height of a short cup under the beverage outlet of the beverage preparation module, the heightening device comprising
a bottom for resting on a support surface,
a platform supported by the bottom and configured for receiving the short cup and increasing the height of the short cup over the bottom,
a device assembling member for connecting the bottom and the platform as a unit to the module assembling member under the beverage outlet, the device assembling member and the module assembling member are disconnectable from each other,

the device assembling member has a device element, and the module assembling member has a module element, the beverage preparation machine has a configuration selected from the group consisting of (i) the device element is a magnetic field-generating element, and the module element is a ferromagnetic element, and (ii) the device element is a ferromagnetic element, and the module element is a magnetic field-generating element,
the device element having an average magnetic field axis that is off-set above an average magnetic field axis of the module element, so that the heightening device is urged downwards by the beverage preparation module.

7. The beverage preparation machine of claim 5 , wherein the heightening device comprises a device support member, and the beverage preparation module comprises a module support member, the device support member supports a device element, and the module support member supports a module element, the device element and the module element forming the module assembling member and the device assembling member magnetically constrainable together when the device element and the module element are magnetically constrained together.

Assignees

• Nestec Sa

Inventors

• Cahen Antoine
• Besson Francois

Classifications

• A47J31/44

  Parts or details {or accessories} of beverage-making apparatus (filters or strainers A47J31/06) · CPC title

• F16M13/022

  repositionable · CPC title

• A47J31/4482

  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 title

• A47B96/00

  Details of cabinets, racks or shelf units not covered by a single one of groups A47B43/00 - A47B95/00; General details of furniture (doors E06B) · CPC title

• A47J31/4425 Primary

  Supports for beverage containers when filled or while being filled (supports allowing to adapt the beverage making apparatus to the size of the beverage container A47J31/4482) · CPC title