Steam wand

Abstract

A steam wand assembly that comprises a steam wand pivotable about a pivot axis and a dampening assembly configured to resist pivotable motion of the steam wand about the pivot axis. The steam wand assembly further includes a bias assembly configured to bias the steam wand in a first direction along the pivot axis such that the dampening assembly is configured to moderate a steam wand velocity in the first direction.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A steam wand assembly, comprising:
 a steam wand pivotable about a pivot axis; and   a dampening assembly configured to resist pivotable motion of the steam wand about the pivot axis.   
     
     
         2 . The steam wand assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the steam wand assembly further includes a bias assembly configured to bias the steam wand in a first direction along the pivot axis, and wherein the dampening assembly is configured to moderate a steam wand velocity in the first direction. 
     
     
         3 . The steam wand assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the dampening assembly further includes:
 a first gear assembly operatively associated with the steam wand to pivot in unison about the pivot axis;   and a second gear assembly configured for meshed engagement with the first gear assembly in use; and,   a dampener acting on rotation of the second gear assembly.   
     
     
         4 . The steam wand assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the first gear assembly comprises an arcuate gear section configured for co-rotation about the pivot axis with the steam wand. 
     
     
         5 . The steam wand assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the second gear assembly comprises a pinon gear, and wherein the dampener is a rotary dampener carrying the pinon gear. 
     
     
         6 . The steam wand assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the bias assembly comprises a torsion spring orientated about the pivot axis. 
     
     
         7 . The steam wand assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the dampening assembly comprises an actuator portion configured to actuate a switch when the steam wand is pivoted into a specified position. 
     
     
         8 . The steam wand assembly of  claim 3 , wherein first gear comprises an actuator portion configured to actuate a switch when the steam wand is pivoted into a specified position. 
     
     
         9 . A steam wand assembly for an appliance, comprising:
 a pivoting bracket having a pivot axis;   a steam wand operatively associated with the pivoting bracket for pivotable movement between a home position and an extended position; and   an engagement element configured in use to engage with a dampener to regulate steam wand velocity in a first direction, wherein   the steam wand, pivoting bracket and engagement element are configured to pivot in unison about the pivot axis and are biased in the first direction about the pivot axis toward the home position.   
     
     
         10 . The steam wand assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the pivot axis is defined by a pivot shaft. 
     
     
         11 . The steam wand assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the pivoting bracket comprises or affixes with the engagement element. 
     
     
         12 . The steam wand assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the engagement element is configured with an actuator portion adapted in use to actuate a switch when the steam wand is in its home position. 
     
     
         13 . The steam wand assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the engagement element is a gear. 
     
     
         14 . The steam wand assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the gear is an arcuate gear section. 
     
     
         15 . The steam wand assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the arcuate gear section is configured to limit travel of the steam wand to between the home position and the extended position. 
     
     
         16 . The steam wand assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the dampener is a rotary dampener adapted to engage with the gear via a pinon. 
     
     
         17 . The steam wand assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the pivoting bracket is pivotally retained to a retaining fixture. 
     
     
         18 . The steam wand assembly of  claim 17 , wherein bias of the steam wand is provided by a torsion spring having coils wrapped about the pivot shaft and acting between the pivoting bracket and the retention fixture. 
     
     
         19 . A beverage making appliance, comprising:
 a main body;   a steam wand pivotally moveable relative the main body between a home position and an extended position;   a bias element configured to apply a restoring force to the steam wand to bias the steam wand into the home position; and   a dampener configured to resist the restoring force.   
     
     
         20 . The beverage making appliance of  claim 19 , wherein the beverage making appliance further comprises a bracket assembly configured to pivotally mount the steam wand to the main body, wherein the bracket assembly comprises a pivoting bracket carried by a pivot shaft defining a pivot axis, wherein the pivoting bracket affixes to or comprises an engaging feature to operatively associate pivoting movement of the steam wand with the dampener.