Foods and beverages: apparatus – Beverage – Infusors
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-01
2001-11-27
Alexander, Reginald L. (Department: 1761)
Foods and beverages: apparatus
Beverage
Infusors
C099S281000, C099S285000, C099S290000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06321638
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention refers to a coffee machine assembly, adapted to be integrated in a kitchen furnishing, comprising a coffee machine unit, having a front area with operating and coffee dispensing means.
PRIOR ART
Coffee machines to be used in the household, nowadays, are mostly built as table models. A disadvantage in connection with these machines can be seen in the fact that they permanently occupy a considerable amount of space.
There have been some attempts in the prior art to solve this problem. Particularly, coffee machines are known that are designed as built-in units but that are designed to fit the standard opening of a kitchen cabinet. Thereby, the front area of these coffee machines extends over the entire front of the kitchen furnishing with the result that the entire opening of a kitchen cabinet is occupied by the coffee machine. A further disadvantage of such coffee machines may be seen in the fact that they have to be designed in a special way to enable them to be built in into a kitchen cabinet. Thus the manufacturing costs of such machines are much higher.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a coffee machine assembly that can be adapted to the conditions to be received in a kitchen furnishing with low additional expenditure. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a coffee machine assembly such that the available space in a kitchen furnishing can be exploited in the best way.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To meet these and other objects, the present invention provides a coffee machine assembly, adapted to be integrated in a kitchen furnishing, comprising a coffee machine unit, having a front area with operating and coffee dispensing means, and at least one receiving area located adjacent to the front area.
The front area is designed as an integral part of the front surface of the kitchen furnishing, and it extends only over a portion of the front surface of the kitchen furnishing.
In a preferred embodiment of the coffee machine assembly, the receiving area is adapted to receive at least one further beverage preparing unit. As an example, a soda water preparing unit could be considered, particularly if the coffee machine unit is directly connected to a fresh water supply. In that case, the fresh water supply can be used both for the coffee machine unit and the soda water unit.
In another embodiment of the invention, the receiving area can be designed, at least partially, for receiving beverage containers such as coffee cups or the like, and means could be provided to heat and/or cool that receiving area.
A heating of the receiving are is particularly advantageous if the receiving area is designed to receive espresso cups since such espresso cups have a high proportion of ceramics material, as compared to the amount of the beverage to be received; thereby, the espresso beverage is cooled down in a disadvantageous manner.
A cooling of the receiving area is particularly advantageous if the receiving area is designed to receive beverages that usually have to be cooled down before serving.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4872402 (1989-10-01), Johnson et al.
patent: 5370040 (1994-12-01), Andrew et al.
patent: 3295515 (1991-12-01), None
The Miele CVA 610; 1998; webmaster®mieleusa.com, 1998.
Alexander Reginald L.
Fianara International B.V.
Tarolli, Sundheim, Covell Tummino & Szabo L.L.P.
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