Patent ID: 11903515
Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
Field: Furniture, games (Other fields)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 14:
15. A method of using a drinks machine, wherein the drinks machine comprises: a housing; a milk frothing unit external to the housing, having a steam inlet; a steam outlet integrated in a socket-like interface in the housing for connection to the milk frothing unit; a water heater; and a user interface for enabling user selection of a hot water option or an option which requires generation of steam; wherein the socket-like interface comprises an output nozzle for delivering hot water or steam depending on the user selection at the user interface; wherein the method comprises operating the drinks machine, at different times, in:
a first mode in which the hot water option is selected at the user interface, and the hot water is delivered by the output nozzle directly to a drinks vessel; and
a second mode in which the user selection at the user interface is the option which requires generation of steam, and the steam is delivered by the output nozzle to the milk frothing unit, wherein the steam, in the second mode, is delivered by the same output nozzle that delivers the hot water in the first mode, and wherein the output nozzle remains uncontacted with milk in the second mode.