US 12,453,440 B2
Self-cleaning frothing appliance
Kevin Leppert, Glen Allen, VA (US); Dane Starr, Glen Allen, VA (US); Patrick Mulvaney, Glen Allen, VA (US); and Veronika McKenney, Glen Allen, VA (US)
Assigned to Hamilton Beach Brands, Inc., Glen Allen, VA (US)
Filed by Hamilton Beach Brands, Inc., Glen Allen, VA (US)
Filed on Sep. 30, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/957,938.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/325,000, filed on Mar. 29, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/318,688, filed on Mar. 10, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/271,394, filed on Oct. 25, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/251,781, filed on Oct. 4, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0105827 A1, Apr. 6, 2023
Int. Cl. A47J 31/60 (2006.01); A47J 31/00 (2006.01); A47J 31/44 (2006.01); A47J 31/46 (2006.01)
CPC A47J 31/60 (2013.01) [A47J 31/002 (2013.01); A47J 31/4496 (2013.01); A47J 31/461 (2018.08); A47J 31/462 (2013.01)] 6 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An automated self-cleaning frothing appliance, comprising:
a housing having a base, a tower extending upwardly from the base, and a canopy extending generally horizontally from an upper portion of the tower and above the base;
a vessel removably mounted beneath the canopy, the vessel having an open upper end and an outlet at its lower end;
a frothing tool extending from the canopy into the vessel, the frothing tool being operatively connected with a drive unit mounted in the housing;
a first fluid pathway in the housing configured to receive water from a water source and routed to deliver water into the vessel;
a valve positioned to selectively open and close the outlet to the vessel;
a valve-opening mechanism attached to the housing configured to selectively open and close the valve;
a cupholder positioned beneath the outlet and configured to hold a cup during froth dispensing, the cupholder including a drainage section and configured to receive water from the vessel;
a second fluid pathway routed from the drainage section of the cupholder and configured to deliver water to an external waste water receptacle;
a cupholder lifting mechanism mounted to the housing and attached to the cupholder that is configured to raise and lower the cupholder relative to the base; and
a controller that is operatively connected with the drive unit, the first fluid pathway, the valve-opening mechanism; and the cupholder lifting mechanism.