AU2001100375A4 - Electric milk bubbling machine - Google Patents

Description

P/00/009 28/5/9 1 Regulation 3.2

ORIGINAL

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 INNOVATION PATENT

SPECIFICATION

Invention Title: "Electric Milk Bubbling machine' The invention is described in the following statement: TITLE: ELECTRIC MILK BUBBLING MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an electric milk bubbling-machine, particularly to one effective in use, and easy in making delicate and good tasty milk bubbles.

It is well known that a kind of Italian coffee called Cappuccino sold in many coffee shops is quite popular nowadays. This bubbling Cappuccino of special favour is made by adding delicate bubbles made from milk with cinnamon or cream to the top surface of coffee in a cup. Coffee boilers of professional use are mostly equipped in coffee shops and restaurants for making bubbles from milk or cream to be added to coffee, but seldom equipped at home where only a little quantity of coffee is needed and a boiler's bulky body is not suitable for a home kitchen.

A conventional milk bubbling machine suitable for a family or an individual person and handled by hands has been commonly used. Such bubbling machine includes a cup body and an upper cover. A movable pull rod of predetermined length is fitted through the centre portion of the upper cover and located in a cup body, and a stirring net pivotally provided at the bottom of the pull rod.

In using, the cup body is first filled one third with milk, then a proper amount of cream or the like is added according to one's preference, and, after boiling properly, the upper cover is puted on and the pull rod moved together with the stirring net up and down quickly to let the milk and the air inside the cup body blend completely and by repeating beating and stirring to produce bubbles by means of those minute holes of the stirring net.

However, such a conventional milk bubbling machine makes milk bubbles only by the net beating and stirring the milk and the air in the cup body, possible to result in an incomplete bubbling condition due to insufficient mixing; and besides, it must take a comparatively long time to make milk bubbles required, wasting much energy and time and also inconvenient in handling.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The primary objective of this invention is to offer an electric milk bubbling machine possible to acquire a comparatively good effect in producing bubbles and economize energy and time in use.

Another objective of this invention is to offer an electric milk bubbling machine designed according to ergonomics to suit to the structure of a human body, allowing a user to handle it smoothly and conveniently.

Accordingly, the invention resides in an electric milk bubbling machine comprising a body defining a hollow interior having a first end and a second end, the interior accommodating a battery housing adapted to receive at least one battery, the interior further accommodating a motor, the battery housing being electrically connected to the motor through a switch provided at the first end which is adapted to provide selective electrical connection between the battery housing and the motor, said motor having a drive shaft extending from a second end which is in opposed relation to the first end, a stirring rod adapted to be mounted to the drive shaft extending from the second end of the housing, said stirring rod having a free end supporting a rotor having a configuration adapted to agitate body of warm milk to generate bubbles.

According to a preferred further embodiment of the invention said rotor comprises a disc having a body which is of undulating configuration wherein the axes of undulation are radial to the central axis of the stirring rod.

According to a further preferred function of the invention said switch it has a press button extending from the first end.

The invention will be more fully understood in the light of the following description of one specific embodiment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS This invention will be better understood by referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of an electric milk bubbling machine according to the embodiment; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the electric milk bubbling machine according to the embodiment; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the electric milk bubbling machine according to the embodiment with its press member pushed down; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the electric milk bubbling machine in using condition according to the embodiment.

Best Mode(s) for Carrying Out the Invention A preferred embodiment of an electric milk bubbling machine of this invention, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, includes a container body 10, a motor 20, a power member 30 and a stirring rod 40 as main components combined together.

The container body 10 is cylinder-shaped having a hollow interior, an open top, and a chamber 11 formed in the hollow interior for receiving the motor 20 and the power supply member 30 therein.

Then, a through hole 111 is provided at the bottom centre of the container body, and an annular contact member 12 is formed in an upper portion of the container body 10, having two opposite insert grooves 121 formed in its outer circumferential surface.

An upper lid 13 has two insert lugs 131 fixed oppositely on the inner circumferential wall and a through hole 132 on top centre. The upper lid 13 is stably fitted around the annular connect member 12 with its insert lugs 131 engaging with the insert grooves 121 of the annular connect member 12.

The motor 20 is fitted stably in the lower portion of the chamber 11 of the container body 10, with its rotating shaft 21 extending out of the through hole 111 in the bottom centre of the container body 10, and the motor 20 further has two conducting strips 22, 23 provided on top for connecting with power to start the motor 20 to rotate.

The power member 30 is fitted on the motor 20 in the chamber 11 of the container body 10, capable to move up and down, and further has a battery cave 31 for positioning dry batteries therein and two conductors 32, 33 positioned oppositely under the bottom for contacting with the conducting strips 22, 23 of the motor so as to supply the motor with power. In addition, a press member 34 shaped like a cylinder is provided on top centre of the power member 30, with a proper length of its upper portion protruding out of the through hole 132 of the upper lid 13. A spring 35 is pivotally fitted at the bottom centre of the power member 30 and sandwiched between the power member 30 and the motor 20. Thus, if the press member 34 is not pushed down, as shown in Fig. 2, the power supply member 30 will move upward by resilience of the spring 35, letting the conductors 32, 33 and the conducting strips 22,23 separated from each other and the motor unable to rotate. On the contrary, when the press member 34 is pushed down to let the electrodes 32, 33 contact with the conducting strips 22, 23, the motor will start rotating again.

The stirring rod 40 shaped like a long rod has a knob 41 made of plastic and fixed on top, and a position hole 411 is bored on the top of the shaft knob 41 for the rotating shaft 21 of the motor 20 to be fitted in place therein, and further a disk-shaped blade 42 is pivotally connected to the bottom end of the stirring rod 40, and formed into plural wavy radial curves in order to obtain great effect in stirring.

In using, as shown in Fig. 4, firstly, fill a vessel with milk to 3 to 4 centimeter high and then insert the blade 42 of the stirring rod 40 into the milk in the vessel and lastly push down the press member 34 of the power member 30 so as to make the conductors 32, 33 and the conducting strips 22,23 contact with each other to let the motor together with the stirring rod 40 start rotating with quickness, with the wavy curved blade 42 of the stirring rod 40 beating and stirring the milk in the vessel quickly at the same time, permitting the milk and air mixed together completely to form bubbles. And after finishing making bubbles, just release the press member 34 to let the conductors 32,33 separated from the conducting strips 22,23 by resilience of the spring and thus the motor will stop rotating.

To sum up, this invention has the following advantages.

1. The motive power of the motor 20 is utilized instead of conventional manual force, obtaining effect of labour saving and facilitating handling.

2. It is possible to let the milk in the vessel bubbling smoothly and effectively, and the bubbles produced by such a machine are comparatively delicate and good in taste.

3. The compact structure of the milk bubbling machine enables a user to handle it smoothly with one hand, needless to apply much force.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been described above, it will be better recognized and understood that various modifications may be made therein and the appended claims are -7intended to cover all such modifications that may fall within the spirit and the scope of the invention.

Throughout the specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

Claims (4)

1. An electric milk bubbling machine comprising: a container body shaped as a cylinder having a hollow interior, an opening on top, a chamber formed in said hollow interior for positioning a motor and a power member therein, said chamber having a through hole at a bottom centre, said container body having an annular contact member formed in an upper portion mounted with an upper lid, said annular connect member having two insert grooves on two opposite sides, said upper lid provided with a through hole on a top centre and two insert lugs on two opposite sides; a motor fitted stably in said chamber, with its downward shaft protruding out of said through hole of said chamber, said motor having two conducting strips provided oppositely on top; a power member fitted on said motor in said chamber, capable to move up and down, and having a battery cave inside and further having two electrodes provided oppositely at its bottom, said two conductors able to contact with said two conducting strips of said motor, a press member of a cylindrical shape provided on a top centre of said power member and protruding out of said through hole of said upper lid, a spring positioned at the bottom centre of said power member, said spring sandwiched between said power member and said motor; a stirring rod fitted fixedly with said shaft of said motor, having a blade pivotally connected to a bottom end of said stirring rod for beating and stirring the milk in a vessel, said blade formed in plural wavy radial curves; said press member together with said power member pressed down to let said conductors of said power member and said conducting strips of said motor contact with each other to permit said motor to -9- rotate to carry out work of producing milk bubbles, said press member released to move up together with said power member, said conductors separated from said conducting strips by resilience of said spring to stop producing milk bubbling.

2. An electric milk bubbling machine comprising a body defining a hollow interior having a first end and a second end, the interior accommodating a battery housing adapted to receive at least one battery, the interior further accommodating a motor, the battery housing being electrically connected to the motor through a switch provided at the first end which is adapted to provide selective electrical connection between the battery housing and the motor, said motor having a drive shaft extending from a second end which is in opposed relation to the first end, a stirring rod adapted to be mounted to the drive shaft extending from the second end of the housing, said stirring rod having a free end supporting a rotor having a configuration adapted to agitate body of worm milk to generate bubbles.

3. A milk bubbling machine as claimed at claim 2 wherein said rotor comprises a disc having a body which is of undulating configuration wherein the axes of undulation are radial to the central axis of the stirring rod.

4. A milk bubbling machine as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein said switch is, has a press button extending from the first end. A milk bubbling machine substantially is herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this 14th day of September

2001. Chuan-Jang YEH Applicant Wray Associates Perth, Western Australia Patent Attorneys for the Applicant(s)