Patent ID: 7182017

Claim:
A conductivity detector assembly for use with a beverage preparation apparatus for detecting a volume of liquid in a beverage reservoir associated with the beverage preparation apparatus, the conductivity detector assembly comprising: a non-conductive spacer having an exterior surface for facilitating shedding of liquid therefrom, the spacer having a first end and a second end; an exposed conductive portion positioned on the first end of the spacer; an exposed conductive connector extending from the second end of the spacer generally distal the first end; a conductive path coupled to the exposed conductive portion and the exposed connector for transmitting a conductivity signal between the exposed conductive portion and the exposed connector; and an attaching assembly for attaching the detector assembly to the reservoir with the exposed conductive portion positioned inside the reservoir and the exposed conductive connector positioned externally of the reservoir, the attaching assembly including a threaded portion extending from the spacer and a nut body for engagement with the threaded portion, the threaded portion extending through a hole in the reservoir with the spacer in position inside the reservoir and the nut body being positioned on the outside of the reservoir engaging the threaded portion.