Agitating – Operator supported – Mixing chamber type
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-12
2001-12-25
Cooley, Charles E. (Department: 1723)
Agitating
Operator supported
Mixing chamber type
C220S568000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06332704
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a shaker for liquids, with the shaker comprising a bowl-shaped bottom part and a lid which can be mounted to be sealed and removed again, with a permeable separation sifter being arranged in the closed bowl and the shaker being configured to foam liquid foodstuffs, in particular dairy products such as half-and-half cream and milk, in that the separation sifter is arranged substantially in a direction transverse to the vertical axis of the shaker and the total volume of the closed bowl is subdivided by the separation sifter in a ratio of about 2:1.
Such shakers are known to be used for mixing beverages, such as cocktails. Different liquids as well as solids, such as ice, are filled into the shaker and the shaker is then moved back and forth by vigorous, shock like movements in the axial direction. The different beverages are thereby intermixed in a uniform manner.
A bowl-like sifter which is disposed in said known shakers serves to finely distribute solid ingredients of the cocktails, such as cocoa or molasses, which otherwise tend to get lumpy during wetting. To this end all of the solid ingredients, i.e. also ice, are filled into the shaker and are then mixed with the beverages by way of shaking.
Furthermore, such a shaker is e.g. known from German patent specification 819 365. A shaker is there shown with a lid to be used as a fruit press and with a bowl. A disc-like separation sifter is arranged approximately at a third of the bowl height. Such a shaker serves to thoroughly mix liquids with dust-like foodstuffs in a direction transverse to the vertical axis of the shaker, so that sauces, doughs and beverages can be prepared.
When the shaker shown in German patent specification 819 365 is used in practice, it becomes apparent that liquids, in particular milk, cannot be foamed with said shaker.
A further generic shaker is shown in DE 29 08 526 BI. In the case of said shaker a sifter which is also disc-shaped is put on a bowl-like bottom part of the shaker. A lid is screwed onto the bowl-like bottom part, the volume of the lid being approximately half the volume of the bowl. In the mounted state of the lid the sifter is held between lid and bottom part.
In the case of the shaker of DE 29 08 526 61 it has also been found that dairy products cannot be foamed with the sifter shown therein. DE 29 08 526 BI, too, only reveals that said shaker serves to intermix liquids or to mix solids with liquids.
The known shakers have the drawback that even in the case of very strong shaking movements they are not able to foam beverages, such as milk.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a shaker of a simple construction which makes it possible to foam liquid foodstuffs, such as milk, by way of shaking movements performed in the longitudinal direction of the shaker.
According to the invention this object is achieved for a shaker of the above-mentioned type in that the separation sifter is configured to be substantially conical and that in the closed state of the shaker the outer rim of the separation sifter is arranged closer towards the bowl bottom than the central area of the separation sifter.
Such a solution is simple and has the advantage that, thanks to the arrangement the separation sifter and the subdivision of the volume, foamed milk can be prepared by way of shaking movements performed along the axis of the shaker. After and during shaking the foamed milk flows off more easily by gravity because of the conical shape of the separation sifter.
Although there are milk foamers in which a fine sifter held in the lid is moved back and forth in the bowl along the vertical axis on a rod and the milk is thereby foamed, such devices are not easy to handle. The long rod tends to get jammed during the reciprocating movement and is subjected to strong mechanical loads. The constructional efforts for a movable rod are high. It is of importance to a fast foam preparation that the sifter is moved as often and rapidly as possible through the parting plane milk/air. Such a feature, however, can only be achieved in a cumbersome way with such types of foamers.
To simplify the filling and removing processes for the milk foam, the total volume of the shaker can be subdivided by the separation sifter in the closed state of the shaker in such a manner that the volume part at the bowl side is about twice the volume part at the lid side because after the shaker has been put down the milk foam or the milk will collect automatically by gravity in the larger volume part at the bowl side.
It is also advantageous when the separation sifter is designed for automatically dripping the liquid into the bowl in that in the closed state of the shaker an outer rim of the separation sifter is arranged closer to the bowl bottom than a central portion of the separation sifter. As a result, liquids will automatically flow by gravity from the central portion of the separation sifter towards the outer rim, thereby dripping off into the bowl volume which serves as the collection volume. Foam remaining in the volume at the lid or in the separation sifter need thus not be scratched out after the foaming process.
To firmly hold the separation sifter in the bowl and to protect it from slipping in the direction of the vertical axis of the shaker, the outer rim of the separation sifter may be supported in the closed state of the lid at least sectionwise on the inner wall of the bowl in a further advantageous development.
The shaker can be made usable for a great variety of liquids by detachably holding the separation sifter on the lid. As a result, further separation sifters which are suited for liquids other than milk can be mounted on the lid. Furthermore, the lid can more easily be cleaned by removing the separation sifter.
In a further development a section of the separation sifter at the lid side may here be designed as a fastening section which cooperates with a corresponding receiving section of the lid in such a manner that the separation sifter is exchangeably held in the lid. It is here advantageous when the fastening section and the receiving section are arranged along the vertical axis of the shaker and when the fastening section is designed as an outer cone and the receiving section as an inner cone. Such a configuration of the fastening section and the receiving section can be easily manufactured and is thus inexpensive. The design as an outer cone and as an inner cone specifically provides for surfaces which can easily be cleaned after disassembly.
To make the foaming of hot beverages possible, the fastening section may be provided with a vent groove arranged in the direction of the vertical axis, and/or the lid groove may be provided with a vent hole, preferably arranged in the area of the vertical axis, through which the bowl volume is connected to the surroundings in the closed of the bowl. The volume can thereby be compensated during cooling of the beverages.
In a further advantageous development the separation sifter may be frictionally connected to the lid. A frictional connection can be easily disengaged and produced with little efforts.
A particularly reliable and firm connection of the separation sifter to the lid ran be achieved through a positive connection between separation sifter and lid.
To obtain a particularly simple and durable sealing connection of the lid to the bowl, the shape of the outer wall of the lid may substantially correspond in a further advantageous development to the shape of an inner wall of the bowl in an area in which the lid is supported on the bowl in the closed state of the bowl. As a result, the outer wall of the lid and the inner wall of the bowl are exactly seated on one another in planar fashion.
In a further advantageous development the lid may have a double outer wall with a recess that is open in the direction of the bowl bottom. Such a configuration has the advantage that material can be saved during manufacture of the lid without any loss in strength or tightness
Cocchiarella Nico
Gasser Ruedi
Cooley Charles E.
Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner L.L.P.
Maxs AG
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