Milk jug with froth-forming device for making “cappuccino”and the like

Abstract

A milk jug with froth-forming device for making cappuccino and the like, including a container body that can be closed with a lid that supports and guides a froth-forming element, which is constituted by a plunger element associated with a rod that protrudes from the lid. The plunger element has a disk-like element formed by a circumferential rim that is connected, by spoke-like arms, to a central hub in which the rod is inserted. The spoke-like arms retain a mesh affecting the entire surface of the disk-like element, and the spoke-like arms decrease in thickness from the hub towards the outer rim to provide flexibility on the outer portion of the disk-like element so as to increase the inclusion of air particles inside the liquid upon a reciprocating motion of the plunger element.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A milk jug with a froth-forming device, said device comprising: 
       a container body for containing a liquid;  
       a lid for closing said container body; and  
       a froth-forming element guidingly supported by said lid, said froth-forming element including a plunger element slidably positioned inside said container body, said plunger element being connected to a rod, said rod slidingly protruding from said lid;  
       wherein said plunger element has a disk-like body, said disk-like body comprising an outer ring, said ring being connected, through spoke-like arms, to a central hub connected to said rod;  
       and wherein said disk-like body has, on a main surface thereof, a mesh, said mesh being supported by said outer ring and said spoke-like arms;  
       and wherein said spoke-like arms have a cross-section that decreases from said hub towards said outer ring in a tapered manner such that the outer portion of the disk-like body flexes during a reciprocating motion of said plunger element inside said container body in order to increase the inclusion of air particles inside the liquid.  
     
     
       2. Jug according to claim  1 , further comprising a finger-bearing element positioned on said lid. 
     
     
       3. Jug according to claim  2 , wherein said finger-bearing element is made of a heat insulating material. 
     
     
       4. Jug according to claim  2 , wherein said finger-bearing element forms a through channel for guiding said rod. 
     
     
       5. Jug according to claim  1 , wherein said outer ring has an external peripheral region in essential sliding contact with the internal surface of said container body, said external peripheral region being provided with recesses for allowing an additional flow of liquid said recesses during a reciprocating movement of said plunger element. 
     
     
       6. A method for producing froth from hot milk for making cappuccino comprising the steps of: 
       
         placing a body of hot liquid milk in a container; and  
       
       
         moving an element through said body of milk in a reciprocating motion to emulsify the milk to produce the froth;  
       
       
         wherein said element comprising a flat screen having an outer peripheral frame that conforms to the shape of and engages the inner surface of the container and said moving step comprises reciprocating said flat screen back and forth through said body of milk to force the hot milk to pass through the flat screen to emulsify said body of hot milk with the air present in the container to produce the froth. 
       
     
     
       7. A method as in claim  6  wherein during said moving step said screen is generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of said container during reciprocation. 
     
     
       8. A method as in claim  6  wherein said frame has a number of recessed passages on its outer periphery and said emulsifying step further comprising flowing milk from said body of hot milk through said recessed passages as said element is reciprocated. 
     
     
       9. A method as in claim  6  wherein said screen is of the mesh type.