Coffee Machine Drip Tray with Integrated Accessory Storage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Espresso machines and similar coffee makers lack integrated storage for accessories, leading to clutter and inconvenience when not in use, and existing drip trays do not efficiently separate storage from the reservoir area.

Innovation Solution

A drip tray design with a separate storage area integrated into the tray body, allowing it to be partially received within the appliance's base, with the storage area positioned within the cavity and the reservoir area positioned beneath the beverage outlet, enabling storage of accessories like portafilter baskets and cleaning utensils while maintaining functionality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a separate storage container is added to the appliance, then accessory storage capability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccessory storage capabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The storage area is merged with the drip tray body to form a single integrated component. The drip tray body includes both a reservoir area for collecting liquid and a storage area for holding accessories, eliminating the need for separate storage containers and reducing overall device complexity while maintaining storage functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Volume of moving object

If the drip tray is designed with integrated storage, then space utilization is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespace utilizationVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The drip tray body is segmented into distinct functional areas: a reservoir area for liquid collection and a storage area for accessories. The interior wall creates clear separation between these zones, allowing for efficient space utilization while maintaining a relatively simple manufacturing process through standard molding techniques.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If the storage area is positioned within the cavity, then accessibility is improved, but hygiene maintenance becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveaccessibilityVSAvoidhygiene maintenance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The storage area is extracted from the main reservoir area through the interior wall separation, allowing accessories to be stored within the cavity while keeping the reservoir area accessible for cleaning. The drip tray body can be removed as a unit for hygiene maintenance while preserving easy access to stored accessories during normal operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP4464207A1Coffee machine drip tray with integrated storage

Publication Date: 2024.11.20 WHIRLPOOL CORP

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AI summary

A beverage preparation appliance (10) includes a housing (12) having a base (14) defining a cavity (16) having an open side (18) and a dispensing portion (20) supported on the base (14) and defining a beverage outlet location (22) suspended above the base (14). The appliance (10) further includes a drip tray body (24) defining a perimeter side wall (26) and an interior wall (28) separating an interior (30) of the tray body (24) within the perimeter side wall (26) into a reservoir area (32) and a storage area (34). The drip tray body (24) is partially received within the cavity (16) of the base (14) through the open side (18) thereof with the storage area (34) positioned within the cavity (16) and at least a portion of the reservoir area (32) being positioned outside the cavity (16) underlying the beverage outlet location (22).