DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The area to which the invention relates

This invention relates to cold vessels for making foam from milk using hot steam from the espresso coffee machine. The vessel itself is double-walled and it has a function of cooling the milk down. Besides, the vessel enables easier handling while preparing beverages.

According to the International Patent Classification (IPC) the invention is classified as: A47J 31/44 _ Parts or details of beverage-making apparatus, A01J9/04 - Milk receptacles with cooling arrangements, A47J 27/16 - Cooking-vessels for use in hotels, restaurants, or canteens, heated by steam.

Technical problem

While preparing beverages that contain milk, for example cappuccino, milk foam needs do be prepared. It is made by heating the milk with hot steam from the steam nozzle of the espresso coffee machine. During this process milk is quickly heated and it very often boils, and then it is not possible to make foam from it any longer. Therefore boiled milk has to be cooled down before it can be reused or it has to be replaced with a new one.

State of the art

There are a variety of dishes that are used for holding milk while it is heated, and making foam using hot steam from the steam nozzle of the espresso coffee machines. However such dishes do not have the ability of cooling the milk down but they are usually simple one-piece metal vessels.

As for the vessels that have the ability of cooling, there are certain solutions in the form of multi-piece vessels for food cooling/heating in which the medium for cooling is ice or water. Among them there are vessels intended for milk cooling/heating in the form of cups or cans for milk transport. However, neither of those solutions is customized for milk cooling/heating with the hot steam from the espresso coffee machine with the purpose of milk cooling/heating and making foam for cappuccino and other hot beverages containing milk.

Presenting the essence of the invention

The aim of the invention is to facilitate and improve the efficiency of making foam for beverages that contain milk, for example cappuccino, by keeping the milk cold longer and providing easier handling while preparing beverages.

In order to keep milk cold longer while making foam out of it, and heating it with hot steam from the espresso coffee machine, I propose a solution in the form of a vessel with double walls. The milk goes into the upper part of the vessel and the ice from the ice maker and/or water goes into the lower part of the vessel. In that way milk stays cold longer and its use in the process of making foam is extended. To facilitate the insertion of the ice cubes and/or water in the lower part of the vessel, the upper part is connected with the lower part by means of a series of threads or ball cap or some other closing mechanism and thus it can easily be disconnected when ice and/or water need to be inserted. The upper part of the vessel also serves as a cover of the lower part of the vessel. There are labels in the inside part of the lower part of the vessel that show how much ice cubes and water can be put without spilling it over the edge of the lower part of the vessel. The hollow part of the upper part of the vessel in which milk goes is gently skewed to facilitate the entering of the hot steam nozzle of the espresso coffee machine. There is a dent on the edge of the vessel in order to make pouring the foam/milk from the vessel easier. The lower part has a handle that provides easier handling.

Short list of drawings

Figure 1 shows side view of the vessel with main components,

Figure 2 shows side view of the whole vessel,

Figure 3 shows side view of the two main parts of the vessel,

Figure 4 shows ground plan of the whole vessel,

Figure 5 shows proposed solution for connecting the two main parts of the vessel by means of a series of threads,

Figure 6 shows proposed solution for connecting the two main parts of the vessel by means of a ball cap.

Detailed description of at least one realization of the invention

Figures 1, 2 and 3 show that the vessel is comprised of the two main parts - the upper part in which milk is put and the lower part in which ice cubes and water are put - in this way milk cooling is enabled. Characteristics of the two main parts are further elaborated in Figure 1. Figure 2 shows the side view of the whole vessel and Figure 3 shows the side views of the two main parts separated. Figure 4 shows the ground plan of the whole vessel.

Figure 1 shows the side view of the whole vessel with the main functional parts. The body of the vessel in which the ice and water are put is labelled by number 1. The integral parts of the body of the vessel are also the handle - labelled by number 4 and the labels which show the maximum ice cubes level - labelled by number 7 and the maximum water level - labelled by number 6. The handle 4 provides easier handling of the vessel which needs to be brought to the hot steam nozzle of the espresso coffee machine. Label for the maximum ice level 7 and label for the maximum water level 6 can be used to achieve the optimal ratio of water and ice which allows easy insertion of the upper part of the vessel 3 in the lower part of the vessel 1 and to thereby avoid spilling the fluid over the edge of the lower part of the vessel 1.

The upper part of the vessel 3 has the hollow space 2 in which milk is put and the dent on the edge 5 for easier pouring milk/foam from the vessel. The upper part of the vessel 3 also serves as the cover of the lower part of the vessel 1 and it is connected with it by means of a series of threads 8 as shown in Figure 5 or by means of a ball cap 9 as shown in Figure 6. The hollow part 2 of the upper part of the vessel is slightly skewed to facilitate the entering of the hot steam nozzle of the espresso coffee machine. Since the upper part of the vessel 3 is inserted in the lower part of the vessel 1 which contains ice cubes and water, milk which is located in 2 is cooled and thus it can be used longer and repeatedly in the process of making foam for cappuccino or other beverages containing milk. Method of application of the invention

Thus described invention enables cost-effective realization of the vessel which has the ability of cooling the milk down. Its use facilitates making foam for cappuccino and other hot beverages that contain milk and contributes to milk saving as milk in the vessel stays cold longer and thus can be used longer and repeatedly.

In this proposal the description supported by the drawings of an example of a possible realization of the invention is given. Given example of realization of invention is susceptible to variations while retaining the essence of the invention.

List of used reference signs

1 - Body (lower part) of the vessel in which ice/water is put

2 - Space (skewed) in which milk is put

3 - Upper part of the vessel

4 - Handle for easier handling

5 - Dent on the edge of the upper part of the vessel which facilitates pouring foam/milk from the vessel

6 - Label for the maximum water level in the vessel

7 - Label for the maximum ice level in the vessel

8 - Series of threads

9 - Ball cap