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| United States Patent | 5580169 |
| Link to this page | http://www.wikipatents.com/5580169.html |
| Inventor(s) | Ghidini; Tiziano (Lumezzane, IT) |
| Abstract | A milk jug with froth-forming device for making cappuccino and the like,
including a container body that can be closed with a lid that supports and
guides a froth-forming element, which is constituted by a plunger element
associated with a rod that protrudes from the lid. The plunger element has
a disk-like element formed by a circumferential rim that is connected, by
spoke-like arms, to a central hub in which the rod is inserted. The
spoke-like arms retain a mesh affecting the entire surface of the
disk-like element, and the spoke-like arms decrease in thickness from the
hub towards the outer rim to provide flexibility on the outer portion of
the disk-like element so as to increase the inclusion of air particles
inside the liquid upon a reciprocating motion of the plunger element. |
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Title Information  |
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| Publication Date |
December 3, 1996 |
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| Filing Date |
November 7, 1995 |
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| Priority Data |
Nov 22, 1994[IT]MI94U0771 |
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Title Information  |
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References  |
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| Market Size |
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| Reasonable Royalty |
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Public's "Guesstimation" of Royalty Value
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Market Review  |
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Technical Review  |
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Claims  |
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What is claimed is:
1. A milk jug with a froth-forming device, said device comprising:
a container body for containing a liquid;
a lid for closing said container body; and
a froth-forming element guidingly supported by said lid, said froth-forming
element including a plunger element slidably positioned inside said
container body, said plunger element being connected to a rod, said rod
slidingly protruding from said lid;
wherein said plunger element has a disk-like body, said disk-like body
comprising an outer ring, said ring being connected, through spoke-like
arms, to a central hub connected to said rod;
and wherein said disk-like body has, on a main surface thereof, a mesh,
said mesh being supported by said outer ring and said spoke-like arms;
and wherein said spoke-like arms have a cross-section that decreases from
said hub towards said outer ring in a tapered manner such that the outer
portion of the disk-like body flexes during a reciprocating motion of said
plunger element inside said container body in order to increase the
inclusion of air particles inside the liquid.
2. Jug according to claim 1, further comprising a finger-bearing element
positioned on said lid.
3. Jug according to claim 2, wherein said finger-bearing element is made of
a heat insulating material.
4. Jug according to claim 2, wherein said finger-bearing element forms a
through channel for guiding said rod.
5. Jug according to claim 1, wherein said outer ring has an external
peripheral region in essential sliding contact with the internal surface
of said container body, said external peripheral region being provided
with recesses for allowing an additional flow of liquid through said
recesses during a reciprocating movement of said plunger element. |
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Claims  |
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Description  |
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a milk jug with a forth-forming device for
making "cappuccino" and the like.
It is known that a steam jet having the purpose of emulsifying the milk is
currently used to make beverages such as cappuccino and the like.
Of course, this type of application is usable only if a machine capable of
generating the desired jet of steam is available.
Therefore, it is practically impossible to make a cappuccino in a household
environment, since devices allowing to emulsify the milk in a quick and
simplified manner are not currently available.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A principal aim of the present invention is to solve the above described
problem by providing a milk jug with a froth-forming device for making
cappuccino and the like that allows to emulsify the milk without having to
resort to the use of a jet of steam.
Within the scope of the above aim, a particular object of the invention is
to provide a milk jug having a simplified structure and allowing to obtain
the froth with very simple actions that can be performed easily by anyone.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a milk jug with a
froth-forming device for making cappuccino and the like which is capable
of giving the greatest assurances of reliability and safety in use by
virtue of its particular constructive characteristics.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a milk jug with a
froth-forming device that can be easily produced starting from commonly
commercially available elements and materials and is furthermore
competitive from a merely economical point of view.
This aim, these objects, and others which will become apparent hereinafter
are achieved by a milk jug with froth-forming device for making cappuccino
and the like, according to the invention, characterized in that it
comprises a container body that can be closed with a lid which supports
and guides a froth-forming element, constituted by a plunger element
associated with a rod that protrudes from said lid.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become
apparent from the following detailed description of a milk jug with
froth-forming device for making cappuccino and the like, illustrated only
by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a partially cutout view of the jug according to the invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the froth-forming element;
FIG. 3 is a plan view of the plunger element.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
With reference to the above figures, the milk jug with froth-forming device
for making cappuccino and the like, according to the invention, is
generally designated by the reference numeral 1 and comprises a container
body 2 preferably but not necessarily made of stainless steel and having a
cylindrical shape. Possibly a beak 3 shaped like an inclined plane that is
formed monolithically with the container body 2 may be provided, and
furthermore the body 2 can be equipped with a gripping handle or handgrip
5 made of heat insulating material.
A lid 4 can be coupled to the container body and is also preferably made of
stainless steel; its size is such that it is associable with the inside of
the body 2 by simply pressing.
The lid 4 acts as a supporting and guiding element for a froth-forming
element, generally designated by the reference numeral 10, that is
advantageously constituted by a plunger element 11 connected to a rod 12
that passes through the lid 4 and ends with a grip knob 13, preferably
made of a heat insulating material.
In order to facilitate the actuation, a finger-bearing element 6, made of
heat insulating material, is provided on the lid 4 in the passing zone of
the rod 12; further to providing a finger rest, the element 6 also forms a
through guiding channel 6a for the rod.
The plunger element 11 has a disk-like body formed by a circumferential rim
20 that is connected, by means of spoke-like arms 21, to a central hub 22,
in which the rod 12 is inserted.
The spoke-like elements 21 retain a mesh 23 affecting the entire surface of
the disk-like element and decrease in thickness from the hub towards the
outer rim 20.
The outer rim or ring 20 has a diameter that substantially matches the
inside diameter of the container body 2 and is provided, on the outer
part, with a plurality of recesses 25 that allow the flow of liquid in
addition to the liquid that passes through the mesh 23.
In practical use, by subjecting the plunger element 11 to a reciprocating
motion, the liquid is forced to pass through the disk-like body,
consequently emulsifying the air inside said liquid and producing the
froth or cream.
To pour out the cream obtained, the lid 4 is removed by using the
finger-bearing element 6, while the plunger 11 may be used in order to
facilitate the outflow of the cream.
With the above described jug it is therefore possible, with extremely
simple means and with an action that consists simply of a reciprocating
motion of the plunger element, to emulsify the liquid by including air
inside it, thus producing the typical froth used to make cappuccino and
the like.
From the above description it is thus evident that the invention achieves
the intended aim and objects, and in particular the fact is stressed that
the particular structure of the disk-like element, which has tapering
spokes, allows to provide flexibility on the outer portion of the
disk-like body, further increasing the inclusion of air particles inside
the liquid.
In practice, the materials employed, so long as they are compatible with
the specific use, as well as the contingent shapes and dimensions, may be
any according to the requirements.
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Description  |
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