U.S. patent application number 11/082523 was filed with the patent office on 2006-09-21 for coffee machine drip catcher.
Invention is credited to William D. Winder.
Application Number | 20060207992 11/082523 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37009235 |
Filed Date | 2006-09-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060207992 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Winder; William D. |
September 21, 2006 |
Coffee machine drip catcher
Abstract
An apparatus for collecting the drippings from a beverage
dispenser or coffee dispenser having a spout wherein the spout
protrudes over a container, the container being held in place by a
flat support resting on a countertop, the support being held in
place by the weight of the dispenser, which rests upon it.
Inventors: |
Winder; William D.;
(Shreveport, LA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Rodney B. Jordan
700 N. Nolan Trace
Florien
LA
71429
US
|
Family ID: |
37009235 |
Appl. No.: |
11/082523 |
Filed: |
March 16, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/571 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47J 31/44 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/571 |
International
Class: |
B65D 1/34 20060101
B65D001/34 |
Claims
1. An apparatus for catching drippings from counter top beverage
dispensers during and after said beverage is dispensed into a
drinking container comprising; A. Means for securing said apparatus
in position, B. Means for catching said drippings, and C. Means for
supporting said drinking container, said means further comprising a
flat, generally rectangular perforated surface.
2. An apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein said means for
securing said apparatus in position further comprises a generally
planer member, said member having a top side and a bottom side,
said bottom side being positioned on said counter top, said
beverage dispenser being positioned above an onto said top side
wherein the weight of said beverage dispenser holds said apparatus
for catching said drippings in place.
3. An apparatus as described in claim 2, wherein said means for
catching said drippings further comprises a generally rectangular
container, said container further comprising a top, and a bottom,
said top further comprising a forward edge, a back edge and two
side edges, said back edge being positioned toward said beverage
dispenser, said back edge being adjacent to and affixed to said
means for securing said apparatus in position.
4. An apparatus as described in claim 3, wherein said rectangular
container further comprises a top chamber and a bottom chamber,
each said chamber having four sides and a top parameter, said top
parameter of said bottom chamber being smaller than said parameter
of said top chamber, said bottom chamber further comprising a
forward edge, a back edge and two side edges, said means for
supporting said drinking container being supported by said edges.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] Coffee is and will continue to be the beverage most used at
public gatherings such as church socials, and business meetings. In
today's world of high labor cost, more and more places that provide
this drink will rely upon the user to serve himself or herself.
Most coffee producing machines provide a spout that simply extends
over the edge of the cabinet or shelf that supports the machine. A
problem arises where hurried and sometimes clumsy users fail to
operate the spout correctly causing coffee to be spilled on the
floor of the facility. The present invention provides an apparatus
to be used in eliminating this problem.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
[0002] Other designs have been illustrated for the purpose of
catching drippings from spigots, however these designs all lack the
simplicity of design and portability that is needed in most
instances where coffee machines and other such types of dispensers
are used. The present invention was described in a provisional
application for patent submitted by William D. Winder on Nov. 22,
2004.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The coffee drip catcher, as described herein, comprises
generally a container for catching the drippings, which has a lower
chamber smaller than the opening to the container so that a screen
or grid can be supported by the top edges of the lower, smaller
part of the container. The coffee or beverage cup is placed on the
grid. In the preferred embodiment the upper part of the container
is affixed to a flat plate, which rests on a counter top with the
container hanging over the side. The machine dispensing the
beverage is placed on the flat plate so that the entire apparatus
is held in place. The person filling their cup therefore does not
have to hold the cup and the drippings that may go astray fall into
the container through the grid.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] FIG. one is a top elevation view of the beverage machine
drip catcher without the grid.
[0005] FIG. two is a top elevation view of the beverage machine
drip catcher showing the grid.
[0006] FIG. three is a side elevation view of the beverage machine
drip catcher.
[0007] FIG. four is a front elevation view of the beverage machine
drip catcher.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0008] Referring to the drawings it can be seen that the beverage
machine drip catcher comprises a rectangular container 1 affixed to
a flat plate like sheet of material 2 so that container 1 will be
supported by sheet 2 in a position hanging over the edge of a
counter top. A beverage dispenser 3 sets upon plate 2 so that the
weight of dispenser 3 holds plate 2 in place therefore suspending
container 1 over the edge of the counter top. It can also be seen
that container 1 further comprises a top chamber 4 and a bottom
chamber 5. Bottom chamber 5 is slightly smaller that top chamber 4,
thereby providing edges 6. A grid-like drinking container support 7
is placed upon edges 6 so that it is supported at the bottom of top
chamber 4 and at the top of bottom chamber 5. The beverage
dispenser 3 is so positioned so that spout 8 extends over container
1. Drinking container 9 is placed upon drinking container support
7. Both fluid overflowing drinking container 9 and drippings from
spout 8 fall through drinking container support 7 and are contained
by bottom chamber 5 of container 1.
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