Abstract:
The present invention relates to a cleaning device for cups or pitchers used in connection with frothing or foaming liquids (e.g., milk or cream) when making a beverage such as a latte or cappuccino. In a preferred embodiment, the device preferably comprises a riser, a handle coupled to a first end of the riser, a foot coupled to a second end of the riser, and a cleaning element attached to the foot. In accordance with the preferred embodiment, the cleaning element may be comprised of a plurality of bristles. The size and angle of the bristles allow the cleaning element to reach the inside corners, edges and surfaces of the frothing vessel to thoroughly and easily clean the residue created by the frothing process that gathers in such areas.

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM 
       [0001]    The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/974,783, filed Apr. 3, 2014, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety as if fully set forth herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to premium beverage systems generally and, more particularly, to a cleaning device for use in premium beverage systems. 
         [0003]    When making a premium hot or cold beverage, a user will often steam or froth an ingredient of the beverage before adding it to the beverage. Hereinafter, the terms steam, foam and froth are used interchangeably. The liquid being frothed is contained in a vessel, which is commonly in the form of a pitcher or cup. Hereinafter, the terms vessel, pitcher and cup are used interchangeably. 
         [0004]    For example, a barista making a coffee beverage typically uses steam from the steam wand of an espresso machine to heat and froth the milk contained in a pitcher. The foamed milk is then poured from the pitcher into the coffee, which is often in another container, such as a cup or a mug. Similarly, an individual consumer may use an electric or battery-operated stand-alone frother to warm and foam milk for personal consumption of the coffee drink. With the stand-alone devices, the milk is typically heated and frothed by means of rotating elements, such as whisks or gears that agitate the liquid. 
         [0005]    In both cases, after the liquid (e.g., milk) is added to the beverage, the frothing vessel needs to be cleaned. Existing brushes or other devices do a poor job of cleaning residue from the vessel. Accordingly, there is a need for a brush or other device that cleans a frothing vessel easily and more thoroughly. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention relates to a device that is useful for cleaning frothing vessels in a coffee system. In a preferred embodiment, the device preferably comprises a riser; a handle coupled to a first, or proximate, end of the riser; a foot coupled to a second, or distal end, of the riser; and a cleaning element coupled to the foot. The riser and handle deliver the foot and cleaning element to (or near) the bottom of vessel needing to be cleaned. The size and shape of the cleaning element are such that it can be easily maneuvered to thoroughly clean the residue created by the frothing process that gathers at the corners, edges and surfaces of the vessel. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    Preferred and alternative embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the following drawing figures: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  illustrates schematically, the environment for frothing a liquid using a steam wand; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  illustrates schematically, another environment for frothing a liquid, employing a stand-alone frothing vessel; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the present invention shown in  FIG. 3  and illustrates an alternative shape; 
           [0012]      FIG. 5A  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5B  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5C  is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5D  is a perspective view of still another embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  illustrates schematically, an embodiment of the present invention in use with a frothing vessel; 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  illustrates schematically, an embodiment of the present invention in use with a stand-alone frothing vessel; and 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is a top view of a vessel showing an embodiment of the present invention positioned inside the vessel. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0019]    This patent application is intended to describe one or more embodiments of the present invention. It is to be understood that the use of absolute terms, such as “must,” “will,” and the like, as well as specific quantities, is to be construed as being applicable to one or more of such embodiments, but not necessarily to all such embodiments. As such, embodiments of the invention may omit, or include a modification of, one or more features or functionalities described in the context of such absolute terms. 
         [0020]      FIG. 1  illustrates schematically, the environment for frothing a liquid, such as milk or cream, before adding it to a beverage, such as coffee or tea, using a steam wand. Vessel  10  is used to hold a liquid  12  (e.g., milk). Steam wand  14  from, for example, an espresso machine (not shown) is inserted into vessel  10  so that tip  16  is in liquid  12 . A user then uses steam (not shown) passing from the espresso machine through steam wand  14 , which exits tip  16  to heat and froth liquid  12 . Once liquid  12  is adequately prepared, steam wand  14  is removed from vessel  10  and the user pours liquid  12  into the beverage (not shown). The user, perhaps a barista or individual home brewer, would normally clean vessel  10  after use. 
         [0021]      FIG. 2  illustrates schematically, another environment for frothing a liquid, using a stand-alone frothing vessel. In such an application, there is no steam wand. Rather, stand-alone frother  20  heats and foams the liquid (not shown) in frother  20  typically using a stirring device  24  mounted on the base  26  of frother  20  that agitates the liquid. As is shown in  FIG. 2 , stirring device  24  may be propeller-like in shape and base  26  may house a motor  25  to rotate stirring device  24 . 
         [0022]    Alternatively, motor  25  may be housed in a removable lid of the stand-alone frother  20  and connected to a rotatable rod (not shown). The rod is inserted into the vessel where it comes into contact with the stirring device  24 . Stirring device  24  is then rotated by the rotatable rod to agitate the liquid. 
         [0023]    Regardless of the type and variations of stand-alone frother  20 , the shape of the base  26  will generally have a raised center portion that causes difficulty in cleaning and removing the residue created from the frothing process along edges  27  of stirring device  24  and inside surfaces  29  of frother  20 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 3  illustrates a side view of cleaning device  30  according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention and comprises a handle  32 , a riser  34 , a foot  36 , and a cleaning element  38 . Handle  32  is coupled to a first, or proximate, end of riser  34  and foot  36  is coupled to a second, or distal end, of riser  34 . Handle  32 , riser  34 , and foot  36  may be one integral structure or may comprise individual components joined permanently or removably. Removable components may allow for easy exchange of such components and may also lead to disposable parts. As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , foot  36  preferably has attached to it a cleaning element  38  that contacts the bottom of a frothing vessel (not shown). In some embodiments, the foot may be formed with an angular bend  37  permitting it to easily clean different areas of a frothing vessel. Cleaning element  38  may also be integrally formed with foot  36 , or may be removably attached for ease of replacement or cleaning. 
         [0025]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the present invention illustrated in  FIG. 3 . Riser/handle  32 / 34  may be circular in cross-section, or may have other cross-sectional shapes such as oval, triangle, hexagon, or octagon, or irregular shape. The shape of handle  32  and riser  34  shown in these figures are for illustrative purposes only, and they may have shapes and sizes different from those illustrated. 
         [0026]    As further illustrated in  FIG. 4 , handle  32  is preferably shaped for easy and comfortable gripping, and may, for example, be curved or have an ergonomic shape that renders the cleaning device easier to grasp. Handle  32  will typically be long and wide enough so that a user may easily grasp it, but not so long as to become unwieldy. Various lengths of handle  32  are possible and perhaps preferable for particular applications (e.g, use with larger or smaller vessels). Handle  32  may also include a gripping portion, formed from a combination of materials including, for example, plastic, foam, gel, or other various moldable mediums to make the handle more comfortable or more easily held. Similarly, the size and shape of riser  34  may vary significantly. 
         [0027]    In accordance with a preferred embodiment, handle  32 , riser  34 , foot  36 , and cleaning element  38  are preferably made from substantially rigid material, such as wood, stainless steel, nylon or plastic. However, it may also be desirable to have a certain amount of flexibility in one or more of these components of cleaning device  30 . For example, riser  34  may be made of a flexible material, such as a flexible plastic, rubber, nylon, or any other appropriate material. The flexibility or stiffness of handle/riser  32 / 34  may permit foot  36  and cleaning element  38  to be positioned at the corners and edges to permit proper cleaning. 
         [0028]    Additionally, as illustrated and discussed more fully below, cleaning element  38  may comprise individual filaments made from synthetic or natural fibers, or it may be made from a solid material such as a sponge or other material suitable for cleaning the residue from inside a frothing vessel without damaging the inside surface  29  or edges  27  of frother  20  (see  FIG. 2 ). 
         [0029]      FIG. 5A  illustrates an alternative embodiment of cleaning element  38  comprising a plurality of filaments or bristles, each an individual bristle  40 . Individual bristle  40  may be made of nylon, plastic, steel, or any other suitable filament material. Each bristle  40  may be of the same lengths, as shown in  FIG. 5A , or may be of varying lengths, or combinations thereof. Bristle filament  40  may extend from the end surface of foot  36  as well as outwardly along part of the length of foot  36 . Bristle filament  40  may also extend at various angles. The bristles  40  of cleaning element  38  allow a user to effectively clean the various surfaces of the vessel with differing contours. 
         [0030]    Bristle  40  of cleaning element  38  may be formed integrally with the molding or forming of foot  36 . Alternatively, bristle filament  40  may be attached by a variety of approaches, for example, by inserting and adhering bristle filament  40  into holes in foot  36 , by affixing bristle filament  40  to the exterior surface of foot  36 , or by stitching bristle filament  40  directly onto foot  36 . In other embodiments, cleaning element  38  may be formed separately from foot  36  and then subsequently affixed to foot  36 . Glue, sonic welding, thermo-bonding, clips are just some examples of how the bristles  40  may be affixed to the foot  36 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 5B  illustrates another embodiment of cleaning element  38  with bristles  40  arranged in a plurality of clusters  42  with multiple bristles  40  in each cluster  42 . As is shown in  FIG. 5B , some bristles may be substantially parallel, as illustrated with cluster  44  and cluster  46 , while another cluster  42  may be at a first angle with other bristles or clusters  44  and/or  46 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 5C  illustrates yet another embodiment of cleaning element  38  wherein bristles extend at various angles from foot  36 . For example, a third cluster of bristles  48  may be at a second angle to the first cluster of bristles  42  and at a third angle to the second cluster of bristles  44 . The first, second, and third angles may be the same or different from one another. In other embodiments, there may be fourth or fifth clusters of bristles (not shown) at fourth and fifth angles, and so on. These angles may vary, such that the design and orientation allow a user to reach and clean the corners, edges, and surfaces of a frothing vessel. 
         [0033]      FIG. 5D  is a perspective view of still another embodiment of cleaning element  38 , wherein cleaning element  38  comprises a sponge  47 . Cleaning element  38  may also be made from other materials, suitable for wiping and cleaning the inside surface of a frothing vessel and removing residue left by the frothing process. 
         [0034]      FIG. 6  illustrates schematically, an embodiment of the present invention  30  placed inside the vessel  10  (in sectional view) as previously discussed and illustrated in  FIG. 1 . Riser  34  preferably has a length to sufficiently deliver foot  36  and cleaning element  38  to the bottom of vessel  10 . In general, if vessel  10  has a height “H”, then cleaning device  30  will preferably have a length “L” defined by the relation: “L is greater than H.” 
         [0035]    As is shown in  FIG. 6 , the size and shape of the cleaning element  38  are such that it can be maneuvered to clean edges  17  and surfaces  19  of the bottom of vessel  10 . The user may sweep the bristles  40  along the inside edges  17  and surfaces  19  to clean the vessel  10 . 
         [0036]      FIG. 7  illustrates schematically, a sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention  30  in use with a stand-alone frothing vessel  20  as previously discussed and illustrated in  FIG. 2 . As is shown in  FIG. 7 , bristles  40  of cleaning element  38  has an angle and length that permits it to reach the corners, edges and surfaces  29  of the frothing vessel  20 . Another bristle  43  has an angle and length that permits it to clean the edges  27  of the raised middle portion created by stirring device  24  on the bottom of the frother  20 . 
         [0037]      FIG. 8  is a top view looking into vessel  50  with cleaning device  30  positioned inside vessel  50 . As an example,  FIG. 8  shows vessel  50  as having a circular shape. It is understood that frothers and vessels may come in any shape. In general, if vessel  50  has a diameter “D”, then foot  36  will have a width “W” defined by the relation: “W is greater than ½ D”. In addition, cleaning element  38  preferably extends from foot  36  beyond the radius of standard vessel  50  so that the bottom corners, edges and surfaces of vessel  50  can be easily and quickly cleaned by moving the cleaning device  30  around the inside circumference of vessel  50 . 
         [0038]    While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, as noted above, many changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is not limited by the disclosure of the preferred embodiment. Instead, the invention should be determined entirely by reference to the claims that follow. The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: