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US 6,283,625 B1Granted
Apparatus to heat and froth milk utilizing counter rotating mesh tabs paddles
AssigneeStephen W. Frankel
InventorsStephen W. Frankel, Robert M. Fey
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention includes an apparatus to automatically heat and froth milk for beverages. The apparatus includes a container, a lower paddle group and upper paddle group located above the container bottom. Each paddle group includes at least two paddles. The lower paddle group is adapted to rotate in a direction that is counter to the rotation of the upper paddle group. The apparatus further includes a heater disposed firmly against and below the container bottom.
Claims25
An apparatus to heat and froth milk, comprising:
- a container having a bottom;
- a lower paddle group disposed above the container bottom and having a first plurality of paddles;
- an upper paddle group disposed above the lower paddle group and having a second plurality of paddles;
- wherein each of said first and second plurality of paddles has a frame and a mesh disposed within the frame, said mesh having holes sized to enable frothed milk to be produced;
- means for counter rotating the lower paddle group with respect to the upper paddle group;
- wherein the means for counter rotating is disposed within a lower housing assembly removably coupled to the container and includes a motor coupled to a gear train, the gear train coupled to the lower paddle group and the upper paddle group and constructed so that the upper paddle group and lower paddle group rotate in opposite directions when power is supplied to the motor;
- a heater disposed within the lower housing assembly.
4 more elements
A frother for frothing liquids, comprising:
- a container having a longitudinal axis;
- means for rotating located adjacent to the container;
- a lower lead paddle coupled to the means for rotating, the lower lead paddle having material removed to define a plurality of holes;
- an upper lead paddle coupled to the means for rotating, wherein rotation of the lower lead paddle and upper lead paddle is within the housing about the longitudinal axis;
- a lower follow paddle coupled to the lower lead paddle to define a lower paddle group;
- an upper follow paddle coupled to the upper lead paddle to define an upper paddle group;
- the lower follow paddle having material removed to define a plurality of holes, the lower paddle group having a first rotated position and a second rotated position, wherein the upper paddle group is fixed in a position with respect to the first rotated position and the second rotated position;
- wherein each of the plurality of holes defines a mesh;
- wherein each mesh is a group of open spaces wherein each open space is surrounded by material, the material having at least a first length and each open space having at least a first length wherein the ratio of the first length of the material and the first length of an open space is one to one;
- each open space having a center, wherein each open space measures {fraction (1/32)} inch in a first direction and {fraction (1/32)} inch in a second direction, and wherein the center of each open space is located at a distance of {fraction (1/16)} inch from the centers of adjacent open spaces, and further wherein
- the means for rotating is disposed within a lower housing assembly coupled to the container having a longitudinal axis, the means for rotating having a power cord coupled to a relay, a motor coupled between the relay and a gear train, the gear train coupled to the lower paddle group and the upper paddle group, the means for rotating further having an on/off switch electrically coupled to the power cord, and a power indication light electrically coupled to the on/off switch.
8 more elements
An automatic beverage frother, comprising:
- a lower housing assembly having a power cord coupled to a relay, the lower housing assembly further having a motor coupled to a gear train, an on/off switch electrically coupled to the power cord, and a power indication light electrically coupled to the on/off switch;
- and
- a container assembly coupled to the lower housing assembly, the container assembly including a handle attached to an exterior location on the container, a lid removably coupled to an exterior location on the container, a port cap removeably disposed within the lid, a flavor hatch coupled to the port cap, an upper paddle group coupled to the gear train, a lower paddle group coupled to the gear train, a heater coupled to the power cord, and a thermostat coupled to the power cord.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.