Device for preparing milk froth for cappuccino

• US 6,786,138 B2
• Filed: 09/19/2002
• Issued: 09/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Boyd Assets Co. (Farmer Brothers Co.)
• Original Assignee: Boyd Coffee Company (Farmer Brothers Co.)
• Inventors: Johnson, Michael W., Wheeler, David
• Primary Examiner(s): ALEXANDER, REGINALD
• Application Number:
  US10/251,517
• Publication Number:
  US 20030131735A1
• Time in Patent Office: 719 Days
• Field of Search: 993/231, 992/93, 141/70, 141/82, 261/DIG.16, 261/DIG.76, 261/76
• US Class Current: 99/323.1
• CPC Class Codes: A23P 30/40 Foaming or whipping
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/4489 Steam nozzles, e.g. for introducing into a milk container to heat and foam milk
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 261/76 Steam

Abstract

A device for heating and frothing a beverage, the device including an elongate frothing wand includes a generally tubular external sleeve, an inner core within the external sleeve, wherein the inner core defines a steam conduit configured to pass steam from a supply end of the frothing wand to an expulsion end of the frothing wand, a steam-discharge ring in fluid communication with the steam conduit and configured to eject steam into the beverage, an annular airway defined by the external sleeve and the inner core, wherein the airway is configured to draw air from the supply end to the expulsion end of the frothing wand, and an air-discharge ring in fluid communication with the airway and concentrically aligned with the steam-discharge ring, wherein the air-discharge ring is configured to direct air into the beverage upon ejection of steam from the steam-discharge ring.

Claims

1. A device for heating and frothing a beverage, the device including an elongate frothing wand comprising:

a generally tubular external sleeve;

an inner core within the external sleeve, wherein the inner core defines a steam conduit configured to pass steam from a supply end of the frothing wand to an expulsion end of the frothing wand;

a steam-discharge ring in fluid communication with the steam conduit and configured to eject steam into the beverage;

an annular airway defined by the external sleeve and the inner core, wherein the airway is configured to draw air from the supply end to the expulsion end of the frothing wand; and

an air-discharge ring in fluid communication with the airway and concentrically aligned with the steam-discharge ring, wherein the air-discharge ring is configured to direct air into the beverage upon ejection of steam from the steam-discharge ring, wherein the steam-discharge ring includes a plurality of steam-ejection orifices.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the inner core includes a temperature measuring instrument configured to measure a temperature of the beverage.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the steam-discharge ring is configured to direct steam away from a longitudinal axis of the frothing wand.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein a temperature measuring instrument is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the frothing wand.

5. A device for heating and frothing a beverage, the device including an elongate frothing wand comprising:

a generally tubular external sleeve;

an inner core within the external sleeve, wherein the inner core defines a steam conduit configured to pass steam from a supply end of the frothing wand to an expulsion end of the frothing wand;

a steam-discharge ring in fluid communication with the steam conduit and configured to eject steam into the beverage;

an annular airway defined by the external sleeve and the inner core, wherein the airway is configured to draw air from the supply end to the expulsion end of the frothing and

an air-discharge ring in fluid communication with the airway and concentrically aligned with the steam-discharge ring, wherein the air-discharge ring is configured to direct air into the beverage upon ejection of steam from the steam-discharge ring;

wherein the frothing wand includes an air inlet spaced apart from the expulsion end of the frothing wand, wherein the air inlet is configured to supply the airway with air, and wherein the frothing wand includes an air inlet guard configured to reduce air inlet obstruction.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the air inlet is formed in the external sleeve.

7. The device of claim 5, wherein the air inlet includes a plurality of orifices collectively configured to supply the airway with air.

8. The device of claim 5, wherein the air inlet guard includes a raised rim substantially surrounding the air inlet.

9. A device for heating and frothing a beverage, the device including an elongate frothing wand comprising:

a generally tubular external sleeve;

an inner core within the external sleeve, wherein the inner core defines a steam conduit configured to pass steam from a supply end of the frothing wand to an expulsion end of the frothing wand;

a steam-discharge ring in fluid communication with the steam conduit and configured to eject steam into the beverage;

an annular airway defined by the external sleeve and the inner core, wherein the airway is configured to draw air from the supply end to the expulsion end of the frothing wand;

an air-discharge ring in fluid communication with the airway and concentrically aligned with the steam-discharge ring, wherein the air-discharge ring is configured to direct air into the beverage upon ejection of steam from the steam-discharge ring; and

a handle assembly at the supply end of the frothing wand, the handle assembly configured to provide a thermally insulated gripping surface on the frothing wand.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the handle assembly includes plural contact surfaces collectively configured to removably secure the external sleeve in concentric alignment with the inner core.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the handle assembly includes an air inlet configured to supply the airway with air.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the air inlet includes a plurality of orifices collectively configured to supply the airway with air.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the orifices radially distributed about a perimeter of the handle assemble.

14. The device of claim 11, wherein the handle assembly includes a raised rim configured to surround the air inlet.

15. A device for heating and frothing a beverage, the device including an elongated frothing wand comprising:

a generally tubular external sleeve;

an inner core within the external sleeve and having a temperature-measuring instrument configured to measure a temperature of the beverage, wherein the inner core defines a steam conduit configured to pass steam from the supply end of the frothing wand to the expulsion end of the frothing wand;

a steam-discharge ring in fluid communication with the steam conduit and configured to eject steam into the beverage;

an annular airway defined by the external sleeve and the inner core, wherein the airway is configured to draw air from the supply end to the expulsion end of the frothing wand;

an air-discharge ring in fluid communication with the airway and concentrically aligned with the steam-discharge ring, the air-discharge ring being configured to direct air into the beverage; and

a handle assembly at the supply end of the frothing wand, the handle assembly being configured to provide a thermally-insulated gripping surface of the frothing wand, and including plural contact surfaces collectively configured to removably secure the external sleeve in concentric alignment with the inner core and an air inlet configured to supply the airway with air.