Abstract:
The present invention relates to a yogurt maker for home use. More particularly, the present invention is a yogurt maker comprising: a head unit; a control unit arranged in the head unit so as to set and control a time and temperature; a bottle cap-shaped fermenter coupling unit fixed at one side of the head unit; and a heating unit fixed at the side at which the fermenter coupling unit is fixed. The yogurt maker of the present invention is advantageous in that the yogurt maker can be coupled to a milk container rather than to a milk container cap, and the heating unit can be submerged in milk so as to generate heat for fermenting the milk, thus enabling the manufactured milk container to be used as a fermentation container without any modification, thereby eliminating the inconveniences of dividing and pouring the milk. Further, the yogurt in the milk container can be cold-stored without having to transfer the yogurt after fermentation, and the storage and use of the yogurt maker does not require a wide space. The yogurt maker of the present invention is further advantageous in that the heat in the yogurt maker is unlikely to leak, thereby enabling the efficient use of electrical energy, and the cleaning of the yogurt fermenter after use is rendered simple.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This is a US national phase of PCT patent Application No. PCT/KR2013/005427 having an International filing date of Jun. 20, 2013, which claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2012-0066443, filed on Jun. 21, 2012, the entireties of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a yogurt fermenter for home use, and in particular to a yogurt fermenter which is characterized in that a yogurt fermenter may be directly engaged to a milk container after removing a cap of the milk container which is generally available at a market in a state where a heating unit is submerged and heated in a milk for thereby fermenting the milk, so the milk container may be directly used as a fermentation container, by which it does not need to inconveniently divide and partially pour out the milk, and after the fermentation is completed, the milk container may be directly cold-stored in a refrigerator without transferring the yogurt, and a large space is not necessary for the storage or use of the yogurt fermenter, and since there is little chance for the heat to leak out for thereby efficiently using electric power, while providing an easier washing of the yogurt fermenter after the yogurt fermenter is used. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    In order to ferment milk into yogurt, it needs to mix a yogurt seed culture and to maintain a proper fermentation temperature. If the proper fermentation temperature is maintained in a state where the yogurt seed culture is mixed, the milk becomes a drinkable yogurt state after about 4˜5 hours and becomes an illiquidity yogurt after about 8˜9 hours. If the above time limit is over passed, the yogurt becomes over fermented, so flavor may be degraded. 
         [0004]    The conventional yogurt fermenter is configured in a structure wherein a lactic acid bacteria seed culture is mixed in milk and is divided and poured into about ten fermentation cups, and the ten fermentation cups are stored in a heating housing (for example, as disclosed in the Korean Utility Model Application Number 20-2002-0020810). In case of the above-mentioned yogurt fermenter, a huge space is necessary for the storage and use of the fermenter due to the dimension of the housing. Since the housing is heated, the loss of the heat energy may increase, and it needs to inconveniently divide and pour the milk into separate multiple fermentation cups. In addition, it also needs to inconveniently store, in the cold state, about ten fermentation cups each filled with the finished yogurt. Since the about ten fermentation cups occupy a lot of the space of the refrigerator, the use of the space of the refrigerator is inefficient. More inconveniently, it needs to wash and dry and store ten empty fermentation cups and the cap after all the yogurt are eaten. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is a front side horizontal cross sectional view illustrating a yogurt fermenter according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a top side plain view illustrating a control unit of a yogurt fermenter according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is a front side horizontal cross sectional view illustrating an example of use where yogurt is fermented using a yogurt fermenter according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a front side horizontal cross sectional view illustrating an example of use where yogurt fermented by a yogurt fermenter according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention is cold-stored. 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating a detachable engaging unit of a yogurt fermenter according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view illustrating a fixing ring which is configured to fix a detachable engaging unit of a yogurt fermenter according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 7  is a front side horizontal cross sectional view illustrating a state where a detachable engaging unit is fixed at a yogurt fermenter according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 8  is a front side horizontal cross sectional view illustrating a state where a detachable engaging unit is fixed at a rotation unit according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 9  is a front side horizontal cross sectional view for describing a fermentation-dedicated container according to a fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 10  is a front side horizontal cross sectional view illustrating an example of use wherein yogurt produced using a fermentation-dedicated container is cold-stored according to a fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 11  is a front side horizontal cross sectional view illustrating an example of use where yogurt is produced using a yogurt fermenter according to a fifth exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0000]    
         
           
                 
               
                 
                 
               
                 
                 
               
                 
                 
               
                 
                 
               
             
                 
                     
                 
                 
                   [Legend of Reference Numbers of Major Components in the drawings] 
                 
                 
                     
                 
               
               
                 
                     
                 
               
            
             
                 
                   100: fermenter unit 
                   110: head unit 
                 
                 
                   111: control unit 
                   112: temperature setting button 
                 
                 
                   113: temperature display unit 
                   114: time setting button 
                 
                 
                   115: time display unit 
                   116: operation start button 
                 
                 
                   117: plug 
                     
                 
                 
                   120: fermenter engaging unit 
                   121: detachable engaging unit 
                 
                 
                   122: locking groove 
                   123: locking protrusion 
                 
                 
                   124: fixing ring 
                   125: engaging unit screw thread 
                 
                 
                   126: rotation unit 
                   127: locking protrusion 
                 
                 
                   128: engaging unit screw thread 
                   129: engaging shoulder 
                 
                 
                   130: heating unit 
                   131: heating element 
                 
                 
                   132: top insulation unit 
                   133: electric cable guide unit 
                 
                 
                   134: tube type sealing case 
                   135: bottom insulation unit 
                 
                 
                   136: temperature detection unit 
                     
                 
                 
                   140: protection case 
                   141: protection case engaging unit 
                 
                 
                   210: milk container 
                   211: milk 
                 
                 
                   212: milk container cap 
                   213: yogurt 
                 
                 
                   220: fermentation-dedicated container 
                   221: milk 
                 
               
            
             
                 
                   222: fermentation-dedicated container mouth 
                   223: fermentation-dedicated container cap 
                 
               
            
             
                 
                   224: fermentation-dedicated container cap engaging unit 
                   225: pass-through unit 
                 
                 
                   226: fermentation-dedicated container fermenter engaging unit 
                   227: yogurt 
                 
               
            
             
                 
                   230: atypical container 
                    231: milk 
                 
                 
                     
                 
               
            
           
         
       
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]    Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a yogurt fermenter which is characterized in that since a milk container may be directly used as a fermentation container, the fermentation of the yogurt and its cold storage are easy, and the space for the use and storage of the fermenter may be saved, and electric power may be efficiently used, and it is easy to wash the yogurt fermenter after the use thereof. 
         [0017]    To achieve the above object, there is provided a yogurt fermenter including a head unit; a control unit arranged at the head unit for setting and controlling time and temperature; a fermenter engaging unit which is fixed at one surface of the head unit and is formed in a shape of a bottle cap having screw threads at its inner circumferential surface; a fermenter engaging unit which is integrally formed inside of the fermenter engaging unit and has a predetermined shape; and a tube type sealing case which is integrally fixed inside of the fermenter engaging unit and is longitudinally formed in a vertical direction, with its end portion being blocked, wherein a heat insulation unit and a heating element which is heated by electric power are sealed inside of the tube type sealing case. 
       ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS 
       [0018]    The yogurt fermenter according to the present invention is configured in such a way that a control unit is arranged at a head unit whose dimension is similar with a cap of a finished milk container, and a tube-type sealing case in which a heating unit and a temperature detection unit are sealed, and a bottle cap-shaped fermenter engaging unit are fixed on the same surface of the head unit. When the yogurt fermenter is not used and stored, a protection case made from a transparent plastic material configured to protect the tube-type sealing case is secured to the fermenter engaging unit, and when the yogurt fermenter is actually used, the head unit to which the fermenter engaging unit is secured is engaged to a milk container, instead of the cap of the milk container, and the portion of the tube-type sealing case in which the heating unit and the temperature detection unit are sealed, is submerged in the milk. 
         [0019]    Therefore, the dimension of the yogurt fermenter including the protection case is similar with the typical milk container, and the diameter of the yogurt fermenter is also similar with the diameter of the cap of the typical milk container, so that the yogurt fermenter of the present invention takes a smaller space as compared with other yogurt fermenters. When the yogurt fermenter is not use, it is easy to store, not taking large space. When the yogurt fermenter is actually used, the milk container available at the market may be directly used as the yogurt fermenter, so a space for arranging the yogurt fermenter is not necessary, which results in an efficient use of the space when producing the yogurt. Since the intermediate portion of the milk in the milk container is heated, all the heat may be efficiently transferred to the milk, so the use of the heat energy is very efficient. In addition, the produced yogurt may be directly stored in the refrigerator after the original cap of the milk container is closed. Since the yogurt fermenter may be stored after only the portion of the tube-type sealing case is cleaned, so the following procedures are very easy. In addition, the milk container after the yogurt is eaten up may be just discarded, so it does not need to wash the container so as to produce new yogurt. 
       MODE FOR INVENTION 
       [0020]    The exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Such description is not intended to limit the specific embodiments of the present invention, but it should be understood to include all modification, equivalents and alternatives in the scope of the concept and technology of the present invention. 
         [0021]      FIG. 1  is a front side horizontal cross sectional view illustrating a yogurt fermenter according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 2  is a top side plain view illustrating a control unit of a head unit according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 3  is a front side horizontal cross sectional view illustrating an example of use where yogurt is fermented using a yogurt fermenter according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 4  is a front side horizontal cross sectional view illustrating an example of use where yogurt fermented by a yogurt fermenter according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention is cold-stored. 
         [0022]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , the fermenter unit  100  according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a head unit  110 , a fermenter engaging unit  120  and a heating unit  130 . 
         [0023]    The head unit  110  has a dimension which is similar with the dimension of the cap of the milk container of milk which is available at the market and as illustrated in  FIG. 2  includes a temperature setting button  112  used to manipulate the heating temperature and a temperature display unit  113  which shows set temperature, a time setting button  114  used to set the duration of heating time and a time display unit  115  which shows the duration of the remaining time, and a control unit  111  which has an operation start button  116 . When an up arrow indication of each of the temperature setting button  112  and the time setting button  114  is pressed, the set number ascends, and if the down arrow indication is pressed, the set number descends. 
         [0024]    As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , when the operation start button  116  is pressed after the time and temperature are set in a state where the fermenter unit  100  is secured to the milk container  210  filled with the milk  211 , the heating element  131  is supplied with electric power and starts to heat. When the time set by the time setting button  114  has elapsed, the heating of the heating element  131  is completed, and meanwhile the control unit  111  controls the electric power of the heating element  131  so as to maintain the temperature of the milk  211 . In order to make drinkable yogurt, the temperature is set to a proper fermentation temperature, and the time is set to 4˜5 hours, and in order to make complete yogurt, the temperature is set to a proper fermentation temperature, and the time is set to 8˜9 hours. 
         [0025]    In the head unit  110 , the fermenter engaging unit  120  fixed to the opposite side of where the temperature setting button  112  and the time setting button  114  are arranged has the same dimension and shape as the cap of the milk container of 1.8 liters and the cap of the milk container of 1.0 liters which are generally purchased by home, so that as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the milk container cap  212  is opened from the milk container  210 , and the fermenter unit  100  with the fermenter engaging unit  120  is covered and secured instead of the milk container cap  212 . After the yogurt is made, the fermenter unit  100  is removed, and as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the original milk container cap  212  of the milk container  210  is secured again, and the milk container  210  may be cold-stored somewhere. 
         [0026]    The heating unit  130  is attached longitudinally in the downward direction inside of the fermenter engaging unit  120  of the head unit  110 . The heating element  131  and the temperature detection unit  136  are sealed in the tube type sealing case  134  so as to avoid a direct contact with the milk  211 . The tube type sealing case  134  is made from a predetermined material such as glass or stainless steel which is resistant to heat and is rust free and chemically stable. As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , when the heating element  131  is heated in a state where the fermenter unit  100  is secured to the milk container  210 , the top insulation unit  132  blocks the stream of the heat since the top insulation unit  132  seals over the top side of the heating element  131  in order for the heat of the heating element  131  not to move in the upward direction of the heating element  131 , and the bottom insulation unit  135  seals over the bottom of the heating element  131  for thereby preventing the stream of the heat, and the temperature detection unit  136  is positioned at the bottom thereof. The electric cables connecting the heating element  131  and the temperature detection unit  136  to the control unit  111  are connected to the control unit  111  with the aid of the electric cable guide unit  133  which is resistant to heat. A temperature sensor is installed at the temperature detection unit  136  in order for the control unit  111  to control the temperature, and a temperature operation switch such as a bimetal, etc. may be embedded in the temperature detection unit  136  to directly control the temperature. 
         [0027]    The top and bottom positions of the heating element  131  are determined in consideration of the convection and conduction of the heat. The center of the heating element  131  may be positioned at one third portion from the bottom to the top of the milk in preparation for the lack of milk, and when viewing the position on the plane surface, the center thereof is positioned at the center of the milk container  210 . 
         [0028]    According to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, since the heating is performed at the center of the milk  211 , the heat may be directly transferred to around the heating unit  130 , and the heating may start from the bottom of the milk container  210 , for which the heat may be transferred to the whole portions of the milk  211  with the aid of the convection of the milk  211 . The temperature detection unit  136  is positioned at the bottom of the tube type sealing case  134  and is sealed by the bottom insulation unit  135 , so the heat from the heating element  131  may be blocked, thus accurately measuring the temperature of the milk  211 . If the temperature of the milk  211  is higher than the set temperature, the control unit  111  shuts off the electric power of the heating element  131  so as to prevent the temperature of the milk  211  from rising higher, and if the temperature of the milk  211  is lower than the set temperature, the control unit  111  connects the electric power of the heating element  131  so as to heat the milk  211  for thereby maintaining the temperature of the milk  211  at the set temperature. 
         [0029]    When the set time has elapsed, the control unit  111  shuts off the electric power of the heating element  131  and controls in order for an alarm signal generate on the time display unit or in the form of an alarm sound. At this time, if the heating element  130  is directly pulled out, the user may get burn sine the heating element  130  is hot. To prevent this problem, it needs to generate the alarm signal after a predetermined cooling time elapsed after the electric power of the heating element  131  had been finally shut off. 
         [0030]    As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the fermentation-completed yogurt may be cold-stored somewhere after the original milk container cap  212  of the milk container  210  is secured. 
         [0031]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating a detachable engaging unit  121  according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 6  is a perspective view illustrating a fixing ring  124  according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 7  is a front side horizontal cross sectional view illustrating a state where a detachable engaging unit  121  is fixed at a head unit  110  according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0032]    When the fermenter engaging unit  120  is integrated into the head unit  110 , the shape of the milk container may change based on the brand or the country, so the milk container may not be used if the dimension and the shape of the mouth of the milk container also change. To resolve the above-mentioned problems, a hole and a locking groove  122  sized for the tube type sealing case  134  to pass through are formed at the center of the milk container cap  212  attached to a new milk container, and the fermenter engaging unit  120  is fixed to the head unit  110 , so that it becomes possible to engage the fermenter engaging unit  120  to the milk container with a new standard. Therefore, for the sake of any type of the milk container, it is possible to form a detachable engaging unit  121  by forming a properly sized hole at the cap of the milk container, so the corresponding milk container may be used as a yogurt fermentation container. 
         [0033]    The detachable engaging unit  121  may be formed by forming, at the center of the milk container cap attached to the milk container with a new standard, a hole sized for the tube type sealing case  134  to pass through, and a locking groove  122  mating with the locking protrusion  123  of the head unit  110  or a hole. A fixing ring  124  as illustrated in  FIG. 6  is used to fix the head unit  110  to the detachable engaging unit  121 . Threads are formed in the inner circumferential surfaces of the fixing ring  124  in the type of the disk or the ring which has a hole sized for the tube type sealing case  134  to pass through, so the fixing ring  124  may be fixedly engaged with the engaging unit screw thread  125  formed at the outer circumferential surface toward the head unit  110  of the tube type sealing case  134 . As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the fixing ring  124  is engaged with the engaging unit screw thread  125  for thereby fixing the detachable engaging unit  121  to the head unit  110 . At this time, as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , protrusions are formed on one surface of the fixing ring  124 . The fixing ring  124  may be engaged with the engaging screw thread  125  with the surface having the protrusion facing downward, so the hands don&#39;t slip for thereby obtaining an easier fixing. 
         [0034]    When the fixing ring  124  is fixed, since the locking protrusion  123  and the locking groove  122  are engaged with each other, so the detachable engaging unit  121  may be fixed at the head unit  110 . The detachable engaging unit  121  may be engaged to the milk container  210  by rotating the head unit  110  in the normal direction; however when the head unit  110  is rotated in the reverse direction, the fixing ring  124  may be disengaged unless the detachable engaging unit  121  is not separated from the milk container  210 . If the locking protrusion  123  is fixedly inserted in the locking groove  122 , the fixing ring  124  is not disengaged even when the head unit  110  is rotated in the reverse direction. 
         [0035]      FIG. 8  is a front side horizontal cross sectional view illustrating a shape where the detachable engaging unit  121  is fixed at the rotation unit  126  according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In this exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the detachable engaging unit  121  is rotatably fixed at the rotation unit  126 . The rotation unit  126  has a hole sized for the tube type sealing case  134  to pass through and is configured like a circular disk with a large diameter and a thick thickness and a tube having at its outer circumferential surface an engaging unit screw thread  128  are concentrically integrated. The rotation unit  126  is installed to rotate about the heating unit  130  which works like a rotation axis and is installed for itself not to slip in the downward direction by means of the engaging shoulder  129  integrated at the heating unit  130  of the bottom of the rotation unit  126 . 
         [0036]    The top of the rotation unit  126  is formed in a shape of a thick circular plate larger than the diameter of the head unit  110 , so it is possible to rotate the same by holding the top of the rotation unit  126  when the detachable engaging unit  121  is secured to the milk container  210 . The fixing ring  124  is fixedly engaged with the engaging unit screw thread  128  with the detachable engaging unit  121  being disposed between them, so the detachable engaging unit  121  is fixed with rotatin unit  126 . At this time, the locking protrusion  127  is formed at the bottom of the top circular plate of the rotation unit  126  and is engaged with the locking groove  122  of the detachable engaging unit  121  for thereby preventing the fixing ring  124  from being disengaged even when the rotation unit  126  rotates in the reverse direction. 
         [0037]    Since the detachable engaging unit  121  is rotatably provided, the detachable engaging unit  121  may be secured to the milk container  210  even when the rotation unit  126  or the detachable engaging unit  121  rotates in a state where the head unit  110  with electric cables is not rotated. 
         [0038]      FIG. 9  is a front side horizontal cross sectional view for describing the fermentation-dedicated container according to the fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 10  is a front side horizontal cross sectional view illustrating an example of use where the yogurt produced using the yogurt fermenter according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention is cold-stored. 
         [0039]    In the present exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the yogurt is fermented using the fermentation-dedicated container  220 , not using the milk container  210 . When the yogurt is made using the milk container  210 , the yogurt is not the complete liquidity. Since the mouth of the milk container  210  is narrow, it needs to pull out the yogurt using a long spoon or after the milk container  210  is turned upside down. In order to prevent such a problem, the fermentation-dedicated container  220  with a wider mouth is used to easily pull out the finished yogurt, for which there are provided a pass-through unit  225  formed at the center of the fermentation-dedicated container cap  223  in order for the fermentation-dedicated container cap  223  covering the wider mouth, and the heating unit  130  to be inserted and engaged, and a fermentation-dedicated container fermenter engaging unit  226  which is formed around the pass-through unit  225 . A screw thread is formed at an outer circumferential surface of the fermentation-dedicated container mouth  222  which corresponds to the upper of the fermentation-dedicated container  220 , and a screw thread is also formed at the inner circumferential portion of the bottom of the fermentation-dedicated container cap  223 , so the fermentation-dedicated container cap  223  may be engaged to the opening of the fermentation-dedicated container  220  with the aid of the two screw threads. The height of the fermentation-dedicated container  220  is similar with the height of the typical milk container, so when the heating unit  130  is inserted, and the fermenter engaging unit  120  is engaged to the fermentation-dedicated container fermenter engaging unit  226 , the center of the heating element  131  may be positioned at one third portion from the bottom to the top of the milk  221 . 
         [0040]    When the yogurt is made using the fermentation-dedicated container  220 , as illustrated in  FIG. 10 , the fermenter unit  100  is removed after the yogurt is made, and the original milk container cap  212  is secured to the pass-through unit  225  in which the heating unit  130  was inserted, and the yogurt may be cold-stored. In addition, when it needs to pull out the yogurt from the fermentation-dedicated container  220 , the yogurt may be conveniently pulled out after opening the fermentation-dedicated container cap  223 . 
         [0041]      FIG. 11  is a front side horizontal cross sectional view for describing the fifth exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In case where the milk container is an atypical container  230  like a paper pack, etc. with a volume of about 1 liter, not a 1.8 liters bottle or a 1 little bottle, the mouth of the atypical container  230  like a paper pack, etc., and the yogurt fermenter of the present invention is secured to the mouth of the atypical container  230  and is heated in a state where the fermentation-dedicated container cap  223  is engaged to the fermenter unit  100  as illustrated in the drawing, for thereby fermenting yogurt. 
         [0042]    In case where outside air temperature is low like in the winter, heat may lose through the surfaces of the milk container  210  or the fermentation-dedicated container  220 . At this time, the case having a heat insulation function and made from a heat insulation material may cover the milk container  210  or the fermentation-dedicated container  220  or the fermentation-dedicated container  220  may be constituted to have a heat insulation function or may be made from a heat insulation material, so the yogurt may be stably fermented while preventing any loss of heat. 
         [0043]    When the fermenter unit  100  is stored after the yogurt is fermented, the tube type sealing case  134  may be damaged when it collides with a hard thing, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the fermenter unit  100  may be inserted and stored in the protection case  140  made from a transparent plastic material. Since the protection case engaging unit  141  having a screw thread is formed at an outer circumferential surface of the opening of the protection case  140 , it may be engaged to the fermenter engaging unit  120  or the detachable engaging unit  121 . The portion of the tube type sealing case  134  of the fermenter may be fixed at the center of the protection case  140 , while being separated from the side surface of the protection case  140 . Here, the protection case  140  may be formed in a shape of an angular pillar so as to prevent the protection case  140  from rolling down.