AU2009101197B9

AU2009101197B9 - A vessel

Info

Publication number: AU2009101197B9
Application number: AU2009101197A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Joe John Ciampa
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-11-23
Filing date: 2009-11-23
Publication date: 2013-06-13
Anticipated expiration: 2017-11-23
Also published as: AU2009101197B4; AU2009101197A4

Abstract

Abstract There is schematically depicted in the accompanying drawings a vessel (1) in the form of a milk frothing jug or the like having a base (3), a wall (5) extending upwardly 5 from the base (3) to an opening (6). The base (3), wall (5) and opening (6) defining a chamber (8) therebetween to hold a liquid or the like. A handle (10) is attached to the wall (5) and wherein the wall (5) includes a temperature indicating device (12) to provide a user of the vessel (1) an indication of a temperature of the liquid (not shown) within the chamber (8).

Description

S&F Ref: 929424 AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1990 INNOVATION PATENT SPECIFICATION Name and Address Joe John Ciampa, of Applicant: of 390 Steveys Forest Road, Oakdale, New South Wales, 2570, Australia Actual Inventor(s): Joe John Ciampa Address for Service: Spruson & Ferguson St Martins Tower Level 35 31 Market Street Sydney NSW 2000 (CCN 3710000177) Invention Title: A vessel The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: 5843e(240372N_ I ) 1 A VESSEL Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vessel and in particular to a vessel to hold milk for use in making coffee, tea or other such substances. 5 Background of the Invention Throughout the world, people enjoy drinking coffee, tea and other beverages. With the popularity of tea and coffee a large product range has been created and many different methods are used for making the perfect cup of tea or coffee. If the coffee or tea is not prepared correctly it results in a poor or burnt cup of tea or coffee and a bad taste in 10 the consumer's mouth. To avoid this it is known in some countries, to make coffee or tea following a traditional ritual and following certain predetermined procedures involving time and temperature. To speed up the process many gadgets have been developed to assist in the preparation of tea and coffee. For example, the use of infusers, blends, coffee machines and the like. However, when using complicated machinery the quality of the is resultant coffee, for example, is more determined upon the quality and skill of the barista than the machine or the coffee beans being used. The process is complicated further by the use of additives. Popular coffee and tea drinks include the addition of milk and some times frothed milk along with other additives such as flavourings or the like. This creates an added problem in that during the 20 making process the milk must be heated to the correct temperature and viscosity and added to the cup at the correct time. It is common for a barista of little skill to burn or overheat the milk or beans/leaves creating a poor quality cup of coffee or tea. To avoid such pitfalls it has been known to use a basic oven thermometer which loosely hangs from a side of the milk jug and indicates the temperature of the milk being 25 heated. However, existing thermometers often become loose and fall out of the jug breaking on the floor. Also, because of the position of the thermometer in the jug it is difficult for the barista to look at the temperature without splashing hot milk on themselves, staff, customers or on the floor. Also thermometers have to be moved about the jug, between jugs and can get lost.

2 Accordingly, there is a need for a milk frothing jug that has a built-in thermometer on a side wall. Further, there is a need for a milk frothing jug having a thermometer that can be easily read from any angle. Object of the Invention s It is an object of the present invention to substantially overcome or at least ameliorate one or more of the disadvantages of the prior art, or to at least provide a useful alternative. Summary of the Invention There is firstly disclosed herein a frothing jug having: 10 a base; a wall extending upwardly from the base to an opening; said base, wall and opening defining a chamber to hold a liquid; a handle attached to an exterior surface of said wall; and wherein said exterior surface includes two or more spaced apart thermometers adapted to is provide a user of the jug an indication of the temperature of the liquid within the chamber whether using the jug with a left or right hand. Preferably, the two or more spaced apart thermometers are elongate and positioned substantially vertically on said exterior surface. Preferably, the two or more thermometers are integrally formed with said wall. 20 Preferably, including colour coded indicators adapted to distinguish different types of liquid being frothed in said chamber. Preferably, including an electronic display adapted to indicate the temperature of the liquid within said chamber. Brief Description of the Drawings 25 A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a side view of a jug of an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a side view of a further embodiment of a jug of the present invention; Figure 3 is a bottom view of Figure 1; 30 Figure 4 is a top view of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a front view of Figure 1; and Figure 6 is a rear view of Figure 1.

3 Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments There is schematically depicted in the accompanying drawings a vessel I in the form of a milk frothing jug or the like having a base 3, a wall 5 extending upwardly from the base 3 to an opening 6. The base 3, wall 5 and opening 6 defining a chamber 8 5 therebetween to hold a liquid or the like. A handle 10 is attached to the wall 5 and wherein the wall 5 includes a temperature indicating device 12 to provide a user of the vessel I an indication of a temperature of the liquid (not shown) within the chamber 8. In a preferred form the vessel I is a milk frothing jug having a built-in or integral temperature indicating device 12 in the form of a thermometer or the like for reading of 10 temperatures while heating or cooling the vessel 1. It should however be understood that the vessel 1 can be any type of container to hold a liquid and can be manufactured of any suitable material. In a preferred from, the vessel I would be stainless steel. The vessel I could include a spout 14 and could be in the style of a typical stainless steel caf6 style milk frothing jug. is The temperature indicating device 12 in the form of a thermometer is integrally formed with the side wall 5. The thermometer 12 could have any variation of graduated scales and include electronic displays, mercury tubes, mechanical sealing or any other typical temperature measuring scale. In another embodiment the wall 5 includes a plurality of thermometers 12 and 20 the opening 6 would include a rim or lip 16 leading into the opening 6 and then into the chamber 8. The vessel 1 at least in a preferred form advantageously ensures that the thermometer 12 does not become loose, falls and breaks on a floor or gets lost from the jug 1. Further, the jug I allows the user to safely look at the thermometer 12 without 25 having to look into the opening 6 while heating or cooling. When looking into the opening 6 from above it is common for the hot milk to splash the eyes, hands, the floor or customers or other staff. Also, by having several temperature indicators 12 positioned about the wall 5 the user can use the jug I either left-handed or right-handed. The present invention should permit a user of less skill to correctly heat milk and/or froth milk to 30 make a better cup of coffee, tea or the like. A thermometer 12 could also include indicators advising the user of when a correct temperature has been reached for a correct 4 type of coffee, tea or product. For example, lights, vibration, audible signals or other such alarms. The jug 1 could also include colour coded indicators on the handle 10 to advise whether the jug 1 is heating full cream milk, skim milk, soy milk or the like. The handle 5 10 could also include an ergonomic or comfort grip to avoid repetitive strain injuries for a user. A rubber base molding 20 could also be used on the base 3 as a friction absorber or the like. It should be noted that though the above has been described in reference to a milk frothing jug I for a cup of coffee or tea, it could be utilized in other applications where substances are heated or cooled and the temperature within a vessel 1 is required to io be monitored. Although the invention has been described with reference to specific examples, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in many other forms.

Claims

1. A frothing jug having: a base; a wall extending upwardly from the base to an opening; said base, wall and opening defining a chamber to hold a liquid; a handle attached to an exterior surface of said wall; and wherein said exterior surface includes two or more spaced apart thermometers adapted to provide a user of the jug an indication of the temperature of the liquid within the chamber whether using the jug with a left or right hand.

2. The jug according to claim 1, wherein the two or more spaced apart thermometers are elongate and positioned substantially vertically on said exterior surface.

3. The jug according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the two or more thermometers are integrally formed with said wall.

4. The jug according to any one of claims I to 3, including colour coded indicators adapted to distinguish different types of liquid being frothed in said chamber.

5. The jug according to any one of claims 1 to 4, including an electronic display adapted to indicate the temperature of the liquid within said chamber. Dated: 1 March 2012 Joe John Ciampa ,Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person SPRUSON & FERGUSON