NL2004870C2 - A magnetically driven milk frother. - Google Patents
A magnetically driven milk frother. Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- NL2004870C2 NL2004870C2 NL2004870A NL2004870A NL2004870C2 NL 2004870 C2 NL2004870 C2 NL 2004870C2 NL 2004870 A NL2004870 A NL 2004870A NL 2004870 A NL2004870 A NL 2004870A NL 2004870 C2 NL2004870 C2 NL 2004870C2
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- Netherlands
- Prior art keywords
- milk
- main body
- drive mechanism
- agitation element
- agitation
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Classifications
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47J—KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES
- A47J43/00—Implements for preparing or holding food, not provided for in other groups of this subclass
- A47J43/04—Machines for domestic use not covered elsewhere, e.g. for grinding, mixing, stirring, kneading, emulsifying, whipping or beating foodstuffs, e.g. power-driven
- A47J43/046—Machines for domestic use not covered elsewhere, e.g. for grinding, mixing, stirring, kneading, emulsifying, whipping or beating foodstuffs, e.g. power-driven with tools driven from the bottom side
- A47J43/0465—Machines for domestic use not covered elsewhere, e.g. for grinding, mixing, stirring, kneading, emulsifying, whipping or beating foodstuffs, e.g. power-driven with tools driven from the bottom side with magnetic drive
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Food Science & Technology (AREA)
- Food-Manufacturing Devices (AREA)
Description
A magnetically driven milk frother FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a milk frothing device, i.e. a milk frother, for frothing milk or other milk-based liquids, being magnetically driven. More specifically, the present invention relates to a milk frothing device comprising 5 a main body forming a container for the milk or other milk-based liquids to be frothed, a cover fitting onto the main body, an agitation element and a drive mechanism for driving the agitation element, and a base unit, wherein the drive mechanism is a magnetic drive mechanism.
10 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Agitation of milk in the form of frothing the milk is used e.g. for preparing beverages like cappuccinos, milky coffees, café lattes, macchiato, etc. that typically comprises a liquid portion like coffee topped with a layer of frothed milk.
15
Various devices for frothing milk are known in various types and shapes including simpler domestic ones primarily using physical agitation to froth the milk and typically more professional or advanced ones e.g. using steam from a steam pipe to agitate and thereby froth the milk.
2 0
It is generally known that heating or pre-heating the milk typically will enhance the frothing process.
Domestic milk frothers typically have one or more agitation elements to be 25 immersed in the milk and driven by hand, electromechanically, or magnetically and thereby froth the milk. A general aim may be to ensure frothing as fast as possible and/or e.g. also as uniformly as possible. The durability of the froth, i.e. the general time until a certain amount of the bubbles have collapsed, may also be of importance.
30
Other types of milk frothers are also generally known.
Patent specification DE 10200404043579 discloses a rechargeable handheld milk frother with a rotating annular spiral spring. Patent specification GB
2 384569 discloses a mixer for liquids having a frame consisting of a base and a stand with a housing with an electric motor which drives a shaft on which a stirrer or mixer head is mounted.
5 EP 1440648 and EP 1483998 disclose milk frothers built into coffee makers. WO 2005089572 describes a milk frother with a heating element. Specifications US 5912039, US 2001/0036124, EP 1656866, US 4480926, and DE19645564 disclose other milk frothers or mixers.
10 Granted European Patent EP 2053947, by the same applicant, discloses a milk frother that comprises electrical contacts in a power supplying base plate and in the lower part of the main body so that electrical power may be transferred via these contacts from the base plate to the main body when the main body is placed on the base plate. Furthermore, the milk frother 15 comprises electrical contacts between the main body and the cover so that electrical power may be transferred via these contacts to the cover containing an agitation element to be driven by electrical power.
Granted European Patent EP 2000067 B1 discloses a milk frother being 20 magnetically driven where a magnetic stirrer or agitation element at the bottom of the container is being magnetically driven. A bottom stirrer like this one may not always be easy to handle as e.g. the bottom stirrer needs to be inserted manually at its proper location and could perhaps come loose during rotation and/or when serving or pouring. Furthermore, the bottom stirrer 25 needs to be removed manually for cleaning, etc.
Other systems (including magnetic ones) for stirring food products are e.g. US 2,932,493, US 3,356,349, US 4,537,332, US 6,712,497, WO 2004/043212, DE 1131372, and DE 19624648.
30
At least some of these known milk frothers do not provide an easy way of being handled e.g. when cleaning and/or using the frother.
OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
35 It is an object of the invention to provide an improved magnetically driven milk frothing device for frothing milk or other milk-based liquids.
3
Another object is to provide an efficient milk frothing device.
Yet another object is to provide a milk frothing device with improved handling 5 and/or cleaning aspects.
One or more of these objects are achieved at least to some extent by a milk frothing device adapted to froth milk or other milk-based liquids, the device comprising a main body forming a container for the milk or other milk-based 10 liquids to be frothed, a cover fitting onto the main body, an agitation element and a drive mechanism for driving the agitation element, and a base unit, wherein the drive mechanism is a magnetic drive mechanism, the agitation element is adapted to be driven magnetically by the magnetic drive mechanism without physical contact between the magnetic drive mechanism 15 and the agitation element, and the agitation element is rotatably connected to the cover.
In this way, a milk frother is provided with an agitation element connected to the cover that does not need any electrically active elements, components or 20 the like to be present in the cover, which is normally otherwise the case for milk frothers with an agitation element connected to the top of the device. This enables the milk frother to be less complex, fully dish-washable, cleanable in running water, etc., and thereby easier to clean properly.
25 Furthermore, connecting the agitation element to the cover provides a milk frother that - at least when compared to milk frothers having a loose bottom driven agitation element - is overall simpler to handle and/or clean. Especially, in connection with a cover having no electrically active elements or the like, as the cover - including the agitation element - then simply can 30 be cleaned e.g. in a dishwasher, running water, etc.
For handling purposes - compared to milk frothers having a loose bottom driven agitation element - it also enables the frothed milk to be more readily servable out of the container as there is no need to worry about serving the 35 loose agitation element with the frothed milk or having to remove it 4 beforehand, which is difficult as it normally will be immersed in the frothed milk.
In one embodiment, the agitation element is connected to a shaft where the 5 shaft is fixed non-rotatably to the cover and wherein the agitation element is rotatably connected to the shaft.
In this way, only the weight of the agitation element (and not the agitation element and the shaft) needs to be rotated.
10
Additionally, it also makes sure that the stirrer is kept at its proper position during frothing in a simple way, which may be a potential issue or at least more complicated for magnetic bottom driven milk frothers.
15 Furthermore, it also enables an efficient vertical placement of the agitation element in the container simply by selecting a proper length of the shaft, which otherwise e.g. may be more difficult to achieve for a loose magnetic agitation element located in the bottom of the container.
2 0 Having the shaft fixed to the cover may also avoid the need for sealing a connection between the rotating shaft and the cover e.g. otherwise needing a rubber seal, gasket, etc. or other isolation to e.g. avoid a liquid from entering the cover.
25 In one embodiment, the agitation element and the shaft are connected by a connection element having a predetermined first size and shape and an accommodating shape for at least partly receiving and enclosing the connection element, where the connection element is located at an end of the shaft being most distal from the cover and the accommodating shape 30 being located on the agitation element or the other way around.
This readily provides a rotatable connection between the agitation element and the shaft. In this case, the shaft may be fixed to the cover in a non-rotatable way. Alternatively, the shaft may be fixed to the cover in a rotatable 35 way.
5
In one embodiment, the agitation element is detachably connected to the shaft. Alternatively or in addition, the shaft may also be detachable from the cover.
5 In one embodiment, the drive mechanism is received at least partly in the base unit. In this way, a fully dishwashable main body may be provided as it does not need to contain any electrically active elements, components or the like. Additionally, it also provides a compact milk frother.
10 In one embodiment, the drive mechanism is received in a lower part of the main body, the base unit comprises a base contact and said main body comprises a main body contact wherein the base and the main body contacts are brought into physical contact or within a range enabling contactless transfer of power between them when the main body is placed on the base 15 unit, and the main body contact is connected for supplying the drive mechanism with electrical power.
If the main body and base unit contacts do not require physical contact in order to transfer power then the contacts may e.g. be embedded within or 2 0 underneath a surface that e.g. may be water resistant or water proof enabling a given item or part with the contact to be fully dish-washable. The sealing off of the contacts also make milk, water, or the like a non-existent issue e.g. in relation to short-circuit risks.
2 5 Such contacts may e.g. be inductive contacts using a magnetic field to transfer power.
For contacts requiring physical connection, they may be water proof contacts, whereby the main body will still be fully dishwashable even though it requires 30 electrical power.
In one embodiment, the main body or the base unit comprises a heating element.
35 In one embodiment, the agitation element comprises at least one magnetic (e.g. ferromagnetic) element and/or is substantially comprised by one or 6 more magnetic (e.g. ferromagnetic) materials and/or has at least one magnetic (e.g. ferromagnetic) property enabling it to be driven magnetically by the magnetic drive.
5 In one embodiment, the agitation element comprises: a stirring element, a mixing element, or an annular spiral or coiled spring.
In one embodiment, the agitation element and the magnetic drive mechanism are located displaced from a center line of the container. Such an off-center 10 location may enhance the frothing efficiency due to a turbulent and/or non-symmetrical rotational flow caused by the off-center agitation element.
In one embodiment, the milk frothing device further comprises one or more guide elements adapted to automatically align the agitation element and 15 magnetic drive mechanism when the cover is being placed on the main body.
In this way a proper location of the cover (and thereby of the agitation element) in relation to the main body or the container (and the drive mechanism contained therein) is obtained, which may be especially useful for 2 0 an agitation element and a magnetic drive mechanism being located off- center.
According to another aspect, the present invention relates to a use of a milk frothing device for frothing milk or another milk-based liquid.
25
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the illustrative embodiments as shown in the drawings, in which: 30
Figure 1 schematically illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of a milk frothing device for frothing milk or other milk-based liquids;
Figures 2a - 2c schematically illustrate alternative embodiments of various 3 5 aspects of a milk frothing device; 7
Figure 3 schematically illustrates a perspective view of an agitation element; and
Figures 4a and 4b schematically illustrate a cross section at a center line of 5 different agitation elements.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Figure 1 schematically illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of a milk frothing device for frothing milk or other milk-based liquids.
10
Shown is a device adapted to froth milk or other milk-based liquids (100) (forth only referred to as milk frother) comprising a main body (101), a base unit (102), and a lid or cover (103) (forth only referred to as cover).
15 The main body (101) forms a container (116) for the milk or milk-based liquid to be frothed (the milk or the milk-based liquid is not shown and is forth only referred to as milk) where the main body (101) (optionally) may comprise a handle (104) or the like and/or a pouring spout (112).
2 0 The base unit (102) may e.g. be in the form of a circular base plate. Alternatively, the base unit (102) may be in any other suitable shape.
The base unit (102), in this particular shown exemplary embodiment, receives power e.g. via a power cord (105) or the like.
25
The cover (103) comprises an agitation element (106) that is rotatably connected to the cover (103), e.g. via a shaft (107) or the like.
The agitation element (106) is driven or rotated by a drive mechanism (not 30 specifically shown; see e.g. 115 in Figures 2a - 2c) in the form of a magnetic drive mechanism as will be explained in detail in the following. The drive mechanism may be located in the main body (101) (e.g. as explained in connection with Figure 2c) or in the base unit (102) (e.g. as explained in connection with Figures 2a and 2b).
35 8
In some embodiments, the shaft (107) is fixed non-rotatably to the cover (103) while the agitation element (106) is rotatably connected to the shaft (107).
5 Alternatively, the agitation element (106) is fixed non-rotatably to the shaft (107) where the shaft (107) is rotatably connected to the cover (103), e.g. in a similar way as with a rotatable connection between the agitation element (106) and the shaft (107). Yet another alternative is to let the agitation element (106) be rotatably connected to the shaft (107) and the shaft (107) 10 be rotatably connected to the cover (103).
In embodiments where the agitation element (106) is rotatably connected to the shaft (107) being fixed to the cover (103) then only the agitation element (106) will be rotated by the magnetic drive mechanism as opposed to rotating 15 both the agitation element (106) and the shaft (107). This reduces the weight that the drive mechanism has to rotate.
Fixing the shaft (107) to the cover (103) may also avoid a need for a rubber seal, gasket, etc. or other isolation to e.g. avoid a liquid from entering into the 2 0 cover.
The rotatable connection or coupling between the agitation element (106) and the shaft (107) may e.g. be realised by a ball bearing connection, a ‘ball and socket’ type connection (in various shapes and forms not necessarily a 25 ball or even a sphere), etc.
See e.g. Figures 4a and 4b for examples of different embodiments of rotatable connections or couplings between an agitation element (106) and a shaft (107).
30
The shaft (107) may be any suitable length and the agitation element (106) may be detachable from the shaft (107). Alternatively or in addition, the shaft (107) may also be detachable from the cover (103).
35 Having the agitation element (106) a certain distance from the bottom of the container (116) typically promotes good frothing capabilities.
9 A further advantage of having the agitation element (106) being connected to the cover (103) by a shaft (107) is e.g. that an efficient vertical placement of the agitation element (106) in the container (116) readily may be provided in 5 a simple way, i.e. simply by selecting a proper length of the shaft (107). This may otherwise be an issue for magnetically driven agitation elements that are located (e.g. more or less loosely) at the bottom of the container (116).
It also ensures that the agitation element (106) is kept in place e.g. during 10 serving of the frothed milk which may otherwise be a potential issue for magnetically driven agitation elements located at the bottom of the container (116). Otherwise, it is sometimes necessary to remove the bottom agitation element (106) prior to serving, which is not optimal as the agitation element (106) will be submersed in the frothed milk.
15
In this way, a cover (103) with an agitation element (106) is provided that is very simple, that does not contain any electrical parts or components, and readily can be made water proof. This e.g. means that the entire cover (and agitation element) easily can be cleaned in a dish-washer, by submersion in 20 water, by running water, etc.
Removing the need for necessarily having to detach the agitation element (106) from the cover (103) - or from the bottom of the container (116)- for cleaning or other purposes provides a milk frother with basically one less 25 loose element e.g. keeping the overall milk frother simpler and easier to handle and clean.
The agitator element (106) may comprise one or more of a stirring element, a mixing element, an annular spiral or coiled spring, and/or the like. The 30 agitation element (106) as shown in Figure 1 is an annular spiral or coiled spring.
The agitation element (106) may e.g. be located in the main body (101) when the cover (103) is placed on the main body (101) along a central axis of the 35 container (116). Alternatively, the agitation element (106) may be located displaced from the central axis, i.e. off-center, which may enhance the 10 frothing efficiency due to a turbulent and/or non-symmetrical rotational flow caused by the off-center agitation element (106) in such a case.
As mentioned, the agitation element (106) is adapted to be driven 5 magnetically by the magnetic drive mechanism (not specifically shown; see e.g. 115 in Figures 2a - 2c) without physical contact between the magnetic drive mechanism and the agitation element (106).
The agitation element (106) may e.g. comprise at least one ferromagnetic or 10 other magnetic type element (not shown; see e.g. 120 in Figures 3, 4a, and 4b) and/or is substantially comprised by one or more magnetic (e.g. ferromagnetic) materials and/or has at least one magnetic (e.g. ferromagnetic) property enabling it to be driven magnetically by the magnetic drive.
15
The magnetic drive mechanism may e.g. comprise at least one rotatable magnet being rotated e.g. via a shaft by an electric motor or the like. The rotatable magnet(s) of the drive mechanism will - when rotated - then rotate the agitation element (106) causing it to froth milk in the container (116). The 2 0 magnetic drive mechanism may be located so that its rotational center is substantially aligned with the rotational center of the agitation element (106).
If the agitation element (106) and the magnetic drive mechanism are located off-center then the milk frother (100) may comprise one or more guide 25 elements that ensure or facilitate that the agitation element (106) and magnetic drive mechanism automatically are properly aligned when the cover (103) is being placed on the main body (101) by a user.
The guide element(s) may e.g. be a hinge between the cover (103) and the 30 main body (101), one or more recesses or similar in the main body (101) and corresponding protrusions or rails or similar on the cover (103) or the other way around, one or more stopping elements - e.g. for a threaded connection between the cover (103) and the main body (101) stopping the cover (103) at a suitable location, corresponding shapes of the cover (103) and the upper 35 part of the main body (101) facilitating proper alignment or any other suitable arrangement ensuring proper alignment.
11
The use of a magnetic drive in this way also enables the main body (101) to be without exposed electrical parts or components whereby the main body (101) also may be cleaned .e.g. in a dish-washer, by submersion in water, by 5 running water, etc.
The magnetic drive may e.g. be located in the base unit (102) (see e.g. Figures 2a and 2b) or in the main body (101) near the bottom of the container (116).
10
If the magnetic drive is located in the base unit (102), power is readily available. If the magnetic drive is located in the main body it may receive power from the base unit (102) through contacts in the main body (101) and the base unit (102) e.g. as described in connection with Figure 2c.
15
The milk frother (100) may (optionally) comprise a heating element (111). The heating element (111) may be a part of the base unit (102) as indicated in the figure or alternatively it may be a part of the main body (101), e.g. at a lower part - or more particularly near the bottom and/or lower sides - of the 20 main body near the liquid when contained (as e.g. shown in Figure 2c). In other embodiments, there may be no heating element.
The heating element (111) may e.g. be an induction heating element e.g. embedded in the base unit (102) (with a suitable main body), an electrical 25 heating element or plate e.g. located on or near the surface of the base unit (102) or in principle any other suitable heating element.
As a specific further example, the heating element (111) (regardless of whether it is in the main body (101), the base unit (102), or elsewhere) may 30 be so-called Peltier device or element (also sometimes referred to as Peltier diode, cooling diode, thermoelectric cooler, Peltier heat pump, solid state refrigerator, and other names) that can both cool and heat. Such a Peltier device or element is capable of switching between heating or cooling a certain surface. In this way, both heating and cooling of milk to be frothed 35 could readily be provided without requiring separate elements, which reduces 12 the minimum size of the milk frother if both active cooling and heating is included in the milk frother.
The heating element (111) may bring milk being frothed (or any other milk-5 based liquid) to a temperature of about 40° in typically about 60 seconds or less, which is usually an acceptable time frame for frothing milk or milk-based liquids and also a period of time for when frothing of a good quality may be obtained. Other temperatures and/or other time periods may be aimed for as well and e.g. depend on the volume of milk or milk-based liquid in the milk 10 frother.
A heating element (111) in the base unit (102) may readily be supplied with power as already being provided to the base unit (102). A heating element (111) in the main body (101) may readily be supplied with power also driving 15 the drive mechanism.
It is to be understood that the shapes and sizes of the various elements (cover, main body, handle, base unit, etc.) readily may be varied.
2 0 It should be noted, that in other embodiments the main body (101) need not necessarily be placed on the base unit (102). The main body (101) and the base unit (102) may e.g. just be attached or placed next to one another.
The main body (101) may e.g. be made primarily out of stainless steel. 25 Alternatively, the main body (101) may be made primarily out of glass, e.g. like a simple jug or the like being heated (if a heating element is included) from the base.
The main body (101) may e.g. be a so-called cool-touch container or body, 30 i.e. one that can be touched or held on the outside by a user even though the container contains a heated liquid, e.g. up to 100 °C.
Figures 2a - 2c schematically illustrate alternative embodiments of various aspects of a milk frothing device.
35 13
Shown in Figure 2a is a cross section of a base unit (102). This base unit (102) comprises a heating element (111) and a magnetic drive mechanism (115) as explained in connection with Figure 1.
5 The magnetic drive mechanism (115) is - in this particular embodiment -located substantially centrally and under or at the upper surface of the base unit (102) and so that its rotational center is substantially aligned with the rotational center of the agitation element (106).
10 The heating element (111) is - in this particular embodiment - substantially circular with a central cut-out or hole to accommodate the magnetic drive mechanism (115) and located under or at the upper surface of the base unit (102).
15 When the main body (101) is placed on the base unit (102) the magnetic drive mechanism (115) can rotate an agitation element secured to a cover when the cover (101) is located on the main body (101), as described earlier.
Shown in Figure 2b is a cross section of a base unit (102) and a lower part of 20 a main body (101).
This base unit (102) comprises a heating element (111) and a magnetic drive mechanism (115) as explained in connection with Figure 1.
25 The magnetic drive mechanism (115) is - in this particular embodiment -located substantially centrally and in or at a raised portion, segment, part or the like (forth only denoted raised portion) of the surface of the base unit (102) and so that its rotational center is substantially aligned with the rotational center of the agitation element (106).
30
Accordingly, the bottom of the main body (101) comprises a substantially central recess (108) into the main body (101) for accommodating the raised portion of the base unit when the main body (101) is located on the base unit (102). In this way, the magnetic drive mechanism is brought closer to the 35 agitation element once the cover is placed on the main body.
14
It is to be understood that the shape of the raised portion and the fitting recess (108) can be different than the schematic square shape and/or that the height of the raised portion and depth of the recess (108) can be larger thereby increasing how far the magnetic drive mechanism (115) goes into the 5 main body when placed on the base unit (102).
The heating element (111) is - in this particular embodiment - substantially circular with a central cut-out or hole and located under or at the upper surface of the base unit (102). The size of the cut-out or hole is e.g. of similar 10 size of the magnetic drive mechanism (115) as this in any event will block heating of the contents of the main body.
Shown in Figure 2c is a cross section of a base unit (102) and a lower part of a main body (101).
15 A heating element (111) and a magnetic drive mechanism (115) are received in a lower part of the main body (101). The heating element (111) may also be located at the side walls of the container instead or in addition.
20 The magnetic drive mechanism (115) is - in this particular embodiment -located substantially centrally and under or at a bottom wall of the container for the milk (not shown) and so that its rotational center is substantially aligned with the rotational center of the agitation element (106).
25 The heating element (111) is - in this particular embodiment - substantially circular with a central cut-out or hole to accommodate the magnetic drive mechanism (115) and located under or at the bottom wall of the container.
In this way, the distance between the magnetic drive mechanism (115) and 30 the agitation element (106) when the cover is laced on the main body may be reduced further.
An alternative can be a combination of Figure 2b and 2c, i.e. an embodiment with the magnetic drive mechanism being located in the main body (101) with 35 a recess into the bottom wall of the container.
15
To power the magnetic drive mechanism (115) and the heating element (111) the main body comprises a main body contact (118) and the base unit (102) comprises a base contact (117) wherein the base and the main body contacts (117; 118) are brought into physical contact or within a range 5 enabling contactless transfer of power between them when the main body (101) is placed on the base unit (102).
The main body contact (118) is connected for directly or indirectly (i.e. via intermediate electrical elements like a transformer, an operation switch, LEDs 10 or other lights, etc.) supplying the magnetic drive mechanism (115) with electrical power and - if present - the heating element (111).
The base contact (117) is electrically connected, directly or in-directly, to the power being supplied to the base unit (102).
15
The base and main body contacts (117; 118) could e.g. be a male/ female contact pair as e.g. available from the company Otter Group. They also supply water proof versions of their contacts.
2 0 In this way, power can simply be supplied to the lower part of the main body (101) to supply an integral heating element (111) and the magnetic drive mechanism (115) via one set of contacts.
Instead of contacts relying on physical contact, the contacts may be able to 25 transfer power between them in a contactless fashion. This then only requires that the contacts come within a range of each other enabling contactless transfer of power between them instead of necessarily touching when the main body (101) is placed on or connected to the base unit (102).
30 Such contactless contacts for transferring power may e.g. be inductive contacts transferring power via a magnetic field.
Inductive contacts may e.g. comprise a simple inductive coupling comprising one or more primary windings and one or more secondary windings where 35 the primary winding(s) is\are connected to an AC (alternating current) source whereby the alternating current in the primary winding(s) will induce a 16 magnetic field in the primary winding(s) resulting in a magnetic flux. The magnetic flux is transferred from the primary winding(s) to the secondary winding(s) resulting in an AC in the secondary winding(s). This alternating current can be used to supply power to further elements or devices, like a 5 motor, a heating element, actuator, etc. either directly or rectified.
It is generally noted, that the location of the magnetic drive mechanism and agitation element in Figures 2a - 2c alternatively can be off-center as mentioned earlier, and if the agitation element and the magnetic drive 10 mechanism are located off-center then the milk frother may comprise one or more guide elements that ensure or facilitate that the agitation element and magnetic drive mechanism automatically are properly aligned when the cover is being placed on the main body by a user.
15 Figure 3 schematically illustrates a perspective view of an agitation element. Shown is an agitation element (106) connected to a shaft (107) that is connected to a cover (not shown; see e.g. 103 in Figure 1).
As mentioned, the shaft (107) may be fixed non-rotatably to the cover while 20 the agitation element (106) is rotatably connected to the shaft (107). Alternatively, the agitation element (106) may be fixed to the shaft (107) while the shaft (107) is rotatably connected to the cover.
See e.g. Figures 4a and 4b for examples of different embodiments of 25 rotatable connections or couplings between an agitation element (106) and a shaft (107).
In the shown exemplary embodiment, the agitation element (106) is in the form of an annular spiral or coiled spring but other forms and types may also 30 be used.
The agitation element (106) generally comprises at least one ferromagnetic or other type of magnetic element (120) and/or is substantially comprised by one or more magnetic (e.g. ferromagnetic) materials and/or has at least one 35 magnetic (e.g. ferromagnetic) property enabling it to be driven magnetically by the magnetic drive (115).
17
In the shown exemplary embodiment, the agitation element (106) comprises two magnetic elements (120) of a substantial cubed shape with one magnetic element (120) embedded at each opposing side of a fixation element (121) 5 for holding the spring in place. The fixation element (121) is mounted substantially centrally on the shaft (107) and has the general shape of a bar or the like with each end supporting or fixing the spring. Alternative shapes could e.g. be a circular shape or a shape comprising several bars or spokes.
10 Alternatively, the agitation element (106) may comprise a single magnetic element and/or magnetic element(s) of another shape (e.g. cube, sphere, disc, etc.) and size.
The magnetic elements (120) is driven by a magnetic drive (not shown; see 15 e.g. 115 in Figures 1,2a - 2c) as explained earlier.
It is not necessarily the shape and/or size of the magnetic element(s) that matters but rather that they enable sufficient rotation of the agitation element (106).
20
This enables a very simple way of driving the agitation element (106) using a magnetic drive.
Figures 4a and 4b schematically illustrate a cross section at a center line of 25 different agitation elements.
Schematically shown in Figure 4a is part of a shaft (107) connected with an agitation element (106) comprising one or more magnetic elements (120) e.g. two separate elements each in the shape of a cube or one element in the 30 shape of a circular ring.
In the shown exemplary embodiment, the agitation element (106) is rotatably connected to the shaft (107) via a so called ‘ball and socket’ type connection, i.e. where the shaft (107) comprises a substantially ball or spherical shaped 35 connection element (122) at the end of the shaft (107) being most distal from the cover and where the agitation element (106) comprises an 18 accommodating ‘socket’ or (semi-)open shape (123) to at least partly receive and enclose the connection element (122) so that a secure - but still rotatable - connection is made.
5 The connection can e.g. also be a ball bearing connection or - as shown in Figure 4b - a disc-based connection.
The shaft (107) may be rotatably or non-rotatably connected to the cover (103).
10
Schematically shown in Figure 4b is part of a shaft (107) connected with an agitation element (106) comprising a magnetic element (120) in the shape of a circular disc, cross, extended rod, or the like.
15 In the shown exemplary embodiment, the agitation element (106) is rotatably connected to the shaft (107) via a connection where the shaft (107) comprises a disc-shaped connection element (122) at the end of the shaft (107) being most distal from the cover and where the agitation element (106) comprises an accommodating (semi-)open shape (123) to at least partly 2 0 receive and enclose the disc-shaped connection element (122) so that a secure - but still rotatable - connection is made.
The shaft (107) may be rotatably or non-rotatably connected to the cover (103).
25
It is to be understood that other suitable connections than the ones shown in Figures 4a and 4b allowing rotation could be used.
It is also to be understood that the location of the various elements facilitating 30 the connection between the shaft (107) and the agitation element (106) can be exchanged, e.g. having the ball or disc-shaped connection element (122) be part of the agitation element (106) and the accommodating shape (123) on the shaft (107).
35 In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be constructed as limiting the claim. The word "comprising" does not exclude the 19 presence of elements or steps other than those listed in a claim. The word "a" or "an" preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements.
5 The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.
It will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that the various embodiments 10 of the invention as disclosed can be combined without departing from the scope of the invention.
Claims (12)
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| NL2004870A NL2004870C2 (en) | 2010-06-10 | 2010-06-10 | A magnetically driven milk frother. |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| NL2004870 | 2010-06-10 | ||
| NL2004870A NL2004870C2 (en) | 2010-06-10 | 2010-06-10 | A magnetically driven milk frother. |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| NL2004870C2 true NL2004870C2 (en) | 2011-12-13 |
Family
ID=43402159
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| NL2004870A NL2004870C2 (en) | 2010-06-10 | 2010-06-10 | A magnetically driven milk frother. |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| NL (1) | NL2004870C2 (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2014024126A1 (en) | 2012-08-07 | 2014-02-13 | Face Moore International Limited | Milk frothing device |
Citations (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2837320A (en) * | 1956-04-27 | 1958-06-03 | Howard C Baron | Magnetic mixers |
| US20070221068A1 (en) * | 2004-11-12 | 2007-09-27 | Boussemart Christophe S | Appliance and method for preparing a froth from a food liquid |
| WO2009097705A1 (en) * | 2008-02-08 | 2009-08-13 | Domo Vision Ag | Device for stirring, frothing and optionally heating liquid foods |
| WO2009135758A1 (en) * | 2008-05-07 | 2009-11-12 | Compagnie Mediterraneenne Des Cafes | Frothing machine for creating froth from a drink containing milk |
-
2010
- 2010-06-10 NL NL2004870A patent/NL2004870C2/en not_active IP Right Cessation
Patent Citations (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2837320A (en) * | 1956-04-27 | 1958-06-03 | Howard C Baron | Magnetic mixers |
| US20070221068A1 (en) * | 2004-11-12 | 2007-09-27 | Boussemart Christophe S | Appliance and method for preparing a froth from a food liquid |
| WO2009097705A1 (en) * | 2008-02-08 | 2009-08-13 | Domo Vision Ag | Device for stirring, frothing and optionally heating liquid foods |
| WO2009135758A1 (en) * | 2008-05-07 | 2009-11-12 | Compagnie Mediterraneenne Des Cafes | Frothing machine for creating froth from a drink containing milk |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2014024126A1 (en) | 2012-08-07 | 2014-02-13 | Face Moore International Limited | Milk frothing device |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| V1 | Lapsed because of non-payment of the annual fee |
Effective date: 20140101 |