Milk frothing device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11684033-B2
Application number	US-201816762483-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 7, 2018
Priority date	Nov 8, 2017
Publication date	Jun 27, 2023
Grant date	Jun 27, 2023

Abstract

There is disclosed herein a frothing assembly ( 21 ) to froth milk in a container ( 11 ). The assembly ( 21 ) includes: a body ( 25 ); a motor ( 33 ) fixed to the body and having an output shaft ( 34 ) that is rotatably driven about a longitudinal axis ( 35 ) of the shaft ( 34 ); a frothing device ( 36 ) rotatably driven by the shaft ( 34 ) and to be submerged in the milk in the container ( 11 ); and a perforated member ( 43 ) at least partly surrounding the frothing device ( 36 ) and spaced from the frothing device ( 36 ) by a clearance ( 44 ), wherein rotation of the frothing device ( 36 ) causes movement of milk in the clearance ( 44 ) and movement of milk through the perforated member ( 43 ) to be circulated back through the container ( 11 ) and the clearance ( 44 ) to cause frothing of the milk.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A frothing assembly to froth milk in a container, the assembly including:
a body;
a motor fixed to the body and having an output shaft that is rotatably driven about a longitudinal axis of the shaft;
a frothing device rotatably driven by the shaft and to be submerged in the milk in the container; and
a perforated member at least partly surrounding the frothing device and spaced from the frothing device by a clearance,
wherein rotation of the frothing device is suitable to cause movement of milk in the clearance and movement of milk through the perforated member to be circulated back through the container and the clearance to cause frothing of the milk, wherein the frothing device includes a plurality of generally planar blades that are spaced angularly about said axis, and that have a direction of extension away from said axis that is inclined to a radial direction by an acute angle.

2. The frothing assembly of claim 1 , wherein the perforated member has an end portion providing a plurality of passages through which the milk may pass.

3. The frothing assembly of claim 2 , wherein said end portion is at least partly coextensive with the blades in the direction of said axis.

4. The frothing assembly of claim 2 , wherein said end portion is substantially coextensive with the blades in the direction of said axis.

5. The frothing assembly of claim 1 , wherein the frothing device and perforated member provides an assembly that is detachable with respect to the motor.

6. The frothing assembly of claim 1 , wherein said clearance is annular, and is 0.5 to 1.00 mm.

7. The frothing assembly of claim 6 , wherein the clearance is about 0.5 mm.

8. A frothing assembly to froth milk in a container, the assembly including:
a body;
a motor fixed to the body and having an output shaft that is rotatably driven about a longitudinal axis of the shaft;
a frothing device rotatably driven by the shaft and to be submerged in the milk in the container; and
a perforated member providing a plurality of passages the milk may pass, the perforated member at least partly surrounding the frothing device and spaced from the frothing device by a clearance, wherein the perforated member has an open end configured to provide fluid communication with the plurality of passages by way of the clearance;
wherein rotation of the frothing device causes movement of milk in the clearance and movement of milk through the plurality of passages of the perforated member to be circulated back through the container, the open end of the perforated member and the clearance to cause frothing of the milk.

9. The frothing assembly of claim 8 , wherein the longitudinal axis passes through the open end of the perforated member.

10. The frothing assembly of claim 8 , wherein the open end of the perforated member is a fully open end.

11. The frothing assembly of claim 8 , wherein the open end of the perforated member is orientated substantially perpendicular to the plurality of passages.

12. A frothing assembly to froth milk in a container, the assembly including:
a body;
a motor fixed to the body and having an output shaft that is rotatably driven about a longitudinal axis of the shaft;
a frothing device rotatably driven by the shaft and to be submerged in the milk in the container; and
a perforated member at least partly surrounding the frothing device and spaced from the frothing device by a clearance, wherein the frothing device and/or the output shaft are unsupported by the perforated member;
wherein rotation of the frothing device causes movement of milk in the clearance and movement of milk through the perforated member to be circulated back through the container and the clearance to cause frothing of the milk.

13. The frothing assembly claim 12 , wherein said clearance is annular, and is 0.5 to 1.00 mm.

14. The frothing assembly of claim 13 , wherein the clearance is 0.5 mm.

Assignees

• Breville R & D Pty Ltd

Inventors

• Hellmers Duncan Bruce
• Baez Giovanni
• Oliveria Norman
• White Gerard

Classifications

• A47J43/044

  with tools driven from the top side · CPC title

• A47J43/07

  Parts or details, e.g. mixing tools, whipping tools · CPC title

• A47J31/00

  Apparatus for making beverages (household machines or implements for straining foodstuffs A47J19/00; preparation of non-alcoholic beverages, e.g. by adding ingredients to fruit or vegetable juices, A23L2/00; coffee or tea pots A47G19/14; tea infusers A47G19/16; brewing of beer C12C; preparation of wine or other alcoholic beverages C12G) · CPC title

• A47J31/4403 Primary

  Constructional details · CPC title

• A47J2043/04472

  with a mixing unit vertically movable relative to the support · CPC title