Patent ID: 7748570

Claim:
A refrigerator capable of dispensing a heated beverage through an outlet from a beverage container having a bottom, said refrigerator comprising a thermal insulating chamber, a holder situated within said chamber and adapted to receive a beverage container therein, a heating means wire surrounding at least a portion of said holder adapted when energized to heat a beverage in a container received within said holder, control means for electrically energizing said heating means wire, drain means comprising piercing means extending into said holder for piercing the bottom of a beverage container received in said holder and conducting the beverage from said container to the outlet, and beverage temperature sensing means situated within said piercing means and operably connected to cause said control means to deenergize said heating means wire when the temperature of the beverage is sensed to be above a desired temperature and further comprising means situated in said piercing means for sensing the presence of a beverage.