Cappuccino attachment for an espresso machine

• US 5,330,266 A
• Filed: 10/18/1993
• Issued: 07/19/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gallo D'Oro Enterprises, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Gallo D'Oro Enterprises, Inc.
• Inventors: Stubaus, Leslie H.
• Primary Examiner(s): JENKINS, ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US08/136,891
• Time in Patent Office: 274 Days
• Field of Search: 366/101, 366/106, 366/107, 366/340, 366/336, 99/293, 99/323.1, 99/323.3, 261/DIG. 16, 261/DIG. 76
• US Class Current: 366/101
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/4485 Nozzles dispensing heated and foamed milk, i.e. milk is sucked from a milk container, heated and foamed inside the device, and subsequently dispensed from the nozzle
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 261/76 Steam

Abstract

A cappuccino attachment for an espresso machine, the attachment comprising an upper frother body having a threaded upper opening, a threaded lower opening, and an aperture formed adjacent the upper opening; an extension having a first end coupled with the upper frother body, and a second end opposite the first end, a first aperture formed within the second end, a second aperture formed through the extension; an internal passage providing a fluid interconnection between the upper opening, the lower opening, the first aperture, and the second aperture, the passage being threaded adjacent the lower opening; an air intake adjustment mechanism having a cylindrical member with a hollow interior, the cylindrical member having a first end connected with the second end of the extension, the air intake adjustment mechanism operatively engaged with the hollow interior of the cylindrical member and functioning to control the amount of air passing into the internal passage; a hollow frothing tunnel having a threaded upper opening adapted to be connected with the threads of the passage adjacent the lower opening of the upper frother body, the frothing tunnel functioning a aerate passing fluids; a lower frother body having a threaded upper opening and a lower aperture, the threaded upper opening of the lower frother body adapted to be connected to the threaded lower opening of the upper frother body; and a steam valve attachment assembly adapted to couple the upper frother body with a steam valve assembly.

Claims

1. A cappuccino attachment for an espresso machine, the attachment comprising, in combination:

an upper frother body having an internally threaded upper opening, an externally threaded lower opening, and an aperture formed adjacent the upper opening;

a cylindrical extension having a first end integral with the frother body intermediate its upper and lower openings, and a second end opposite the first end, a first aperture formed within the second end, a second aperture formed through the cylindrical extension intermediate the first and second ends of the cylindrical extension;

an internal passage providing a fluid interconnection between the upper opening of the frother body, the lower opening of the upper frother body, the first aperture of the cylindrical extension, and the second aperture of the cylindrical extension, the passage being internally threaded adjacent the lower opening of the upper frother body;

an air intake adjustment mechanism having a cylindrical member with a hollow interior, the cylindrical member having a diameter less than the diameter of the cylindrical extension, the cylindrical member having a first end connected with the second end of the cylindrical extension, the air intake adjustment mechanism including a conical air adjustment screw operatively engaged with the hollow interior of the cylindrical member, the screw functioning to control the amount of air passing into the internal passage;

a hollow frothing tunnel having an externally threaded upper opening adapted to be connected with the internal threads of the passage adjacent the lower opening of the upper frother body, the hollow frothing tunnel having a plurality of apertures formed within its surface, the frothing tunnel functioning to aerate passing fluids;

a lower frother body having an internally threaded upper opening, and a lower aperture, the internally threaded upper opening of the lower frother body adapted to be connected to the externally threaded lower opening of the upper frother body;

a steam valve attachment assembly, the assembly including a locking screw positioned through the aperture of the upper frother body, and an O-ring seal positioned about the internal passage below the locking screw, the attachment assembly adapted to engage a steam valve assembly.

2. A cappuccino attachment for an espresso machine, the attachment comprising:

an upper frother body having a threaded upper opening, a threaded lower opening, and an aperture formed adjacent the upper opening;

an extension having a first end coupled with the upper frother body, and a second end opposite the first end, a first aperture formed within the second end, a second aperture formed through the extension;

an internal passage providing a fluid interconnection between the upper opening, the lower opening, the first aperture, and the second aperture, the passage being threaded adjacent the lower opening;

an air intake adjustment mechanism having a cylindrical member with a hollow interior, the cylindrical member having a first end connected with the second end of the extension, the air intake adjustment mechanism operatively engaged with the hollow interior of the cylindrical member and functioning to control the amount of air passing into the internal passage;

a hollow frothing tunnel having a threaded upper opening adapted to be connected with the threads of the passage adjacent the lower opening of the upper frother body, the frothing tunnel functioning a aerate passing fluids;

a lower frother body having a threaded upper opening and a lower aperture, the threaded upper opening of the lower frother body adapted to be connected to the threaded lower opening of the upper frother body; and

a steam valve attachment assembly adapted to couple the upper frother body with a steam valve assembly.

3. The attachment of claim 2 and further comprising:

an opening formed within the lower frother body intermediate the upper opening and the lower aperture;

an L-shaped tube adapted to route fluids from a bottle into the lower frother body, the L-shaped tube having a horizontal extent and a vertical extent, the horizontal extent having an opening adapted to be connected with the opening of the lower frother body, the vertical extent having a threaded opening adapted to be connected to a bottle; and

a shut-off valve positioned within the horizontal extent of the L-shaped tube, the valve serving to control the amount of fluid being delivered into the lower frother body.