초록 ▼

A beverage maker for making a beverage includes a duct system having at least one duct for conveying a fluid beverage ingredient, and at least two elements for defining the duct system, which are configured to be fitted closely together. Recesses are arranged in a surface of at least one of these tw

A beverage maker for making a beverage includes a duct system having at least one duct for conveying a fluid beverage ingredient, and at least two elements for defining the duct system, which are configured to be fitted closely together. Recesses are arranged in a surface of at least one of these two elements, and serve for defining the ducts of the duct system. The duct system is further configured to convey steam besides the fluid beverage ingredient, where the steam serves for heating and pumping the fluid beverage ingredient. Furthermore, the duct system may also include at least one duct for supplying air to the fluid beverage ingredient, so that a frothed beverage may be obtained.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A beverage maker, comprising: an outer element having a cup shape and internal and external surfaces;an inner element having a shape that complements the cup shape for fitting in the outer element and forming a duct system for conveying a fluid beverage ingredient such that all of the fluid bever

1. A beverage maker, comprising: an outer element having a cup shape and internal and external surfaces;an inner element having a shape that complements the cup shape for fitting in the outer element and forming a duct system for conveying a fluid beverage ingredient such that all of the fluid beverage ingredient between the inner and outer elements flows through the duct system, the inner element further having an internal surface and an external surface, the external surface of the inner element having one or more recesses, wherein the external surface of the inner element is configured to removably contact the internal surface of the outer element;the duct system being formed between the one or more recesses and the internal surface of the outer element when the inner element is fitted in the outer element; anda steam generator, wherein the duct system includes at least one inlet member connected to the steam generator,wherein the inner element is configured to fit inside the outer element when the external surface of the inner element removably contacts the internal surface of the outer element to form the duct system. 2. The beverage maker according to claim 1, wherein the inner element is configured to receive a quantity of the fluid beverage ingredient to be conveyed by the duct system. 3. The beverage maker according to claim 1, wherein the duct system is configured to convey a fluid for pumping the fluid beverage ingredient. 4. A beverage maker, comprising: an outer element having a cup shape and internal and external surfaces;an inner element having a shape that complements the cup shape for fitting in the outer element and forming a duct system for conveying a fluid beverage ingredient such that all of the fluid beverage ingredient between the inner and outer elements flows through the duct system, the inner element further having an internal surface and an external surface, the external surface of the inner element having one or more recesses, wherein the external surface of the inner element is configured to removably contact the internal surface of the outer element; andthe duct system being formed between the one or more recesses and the internal surface of the outer element when the inner element is fitted in the outer element,wherein the duct system comprises a main duct extending from an open section to a closed section of the inner element and at least one subsidiary duct, wherein the main duct has a longitudinal axis and an entry portion into which the at least one subsidiary duct merges, and wherein the at least one subsidiary duct has a longitudinal axis and an end portion for merging into the main duct, andwherein the inner element is configured to fit inside the outer element when the external surface of the inner element removably contacts the internal surface of the outer element to form the duct system. 5. A beverage maker comprising: a duct system for conveying a fluid beverage ingredient, wherein the duct system has an outlet; and an assembly of an inner element fitted inside an outer element, the outer element having a cup shape and the inner element having a shape that complements the cup shape for fitting in the outer element and forming the duct system such that all the fluid beverage ingredient between the inner and outer elements flows through the duct system, each element having a contact surface, wherein the contact surface of the inner element is configured to removably contact the contact surface of the outer element; andwherein the contact surface of at least the inner element has one or more recesses,wherein fitting the inner element into the outer element forms the one or more recesses into the duct system,wherein the duct system is configured to convey a fluid for pumping the fluid beverage ingredient,wherein the duct system comprises a main duct extending from a top to a bottom of the inner element and at least one subsidiary duct, wherein the main duct has a longitudinal axis and an entry portion into which the at least one subsidiary duct merges, and wherein the at least one subsidiary duct has a longitudinal axis and an end portion for merging into the main duct, andwherein the longitudinal axis of the subsidiary duct extends at an angle smaller than 90° with respect to the longitudinal axis of the main duct at a position where the subsidiary duct merges into the main duct, and wherein at least a portion of the main duct extending between the position and the outlet of the duct system has a constant cross-sectional area over its length. 6. The beverage maker according to claim 4, wherein the end portion of the subsidiary duct is restricted and the entry portion of the main duct is widened. 7. A beverage maker, comprising: an outer element having a cup shape and internal and external surfaces; andan inner element having a shape that complements the cup shape for fitting in the outer element and forming a duct system for conveying a fluid beverage ingredient such that all of the fluid beverage ingredient between the inner and outer elements flows through the duct system, the inner element further having an internal surface and an external surface, the external surface of the inner element having one or more recesses, wherein the external surface of the inner element is configured to removably contact the internal surface of the outer element;the duct system being formed between the one or more recesses and the internal surface of the outer element when the inner element is fitted in the outer element,wherein the outer element has an air inlet hole from the internal and external surfaces of the outer element near an open section of the outer element, and wherein the duct system is connected to the air inlet hole for letting in air, andwherein the inner element is configured to fit inside the outer element when the external surface of the inner element removably contacts the internal surface of the outer element to form the duct system. 8. An assembly for making a beverage with at least one fluid ingredient, the assembly comprising: inner and outer elements, the outer element having a cup shape and the inner element having a shape that complements the cup shape for fitting in the outer element and forming the duct system for conveying the at least one fluid ingredient such that all the at least one fluid beverage ingredient between the inner and outer elements flows through the duct system, each of the inner and outer elements having a contact surface, the contact surface of the inner element having one or more recesses, wherein the contact surface of the inner element is configured to removably contact the contact surface of the outer element;the duct system being formed when the contact surfaces of the inner and outer elements are fitted for conveying the at least one fluid ingredient and including a main duct and a subsidiary duct intersecting with the main duct; anda steam generator, wherein the duct system includes at least one inlet member connected to the steam generator,wherein the inner element is configured to fit inside the outer element when the contact surface of the inner element removably contacts the contact surface of the outer element to form the duct system. 9. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the inner element is further configured to receive a quantity of the at least one fluid ingredient to be conveyed by the duct system. 10. A beverage maker, comprising: a duct system for conveying a fluid; an inner element having a cup shape, a fluid inlet hole and a first contact surface having recesses; andan outer element having a shape that complements the shape for fitting in the outer element and forming the duct system such that all the fluid between the inner and outer elements flows through the duct system, the outer element having a second contact surface for accepting the inner element to fit in the outer element, wherein the first contact surface of the inner element is configured to removably contact the second contact surface of the outer element;the duct system being formed when the first contact surface removably contacts the second contact surface for receiving a fluid from the fluid inlet hole, the duct system including a main duct and a subsidiary duct intersecting the main duct at a position, at least a portion of the main duct extending between the position and the fluid inlet hole has a constant cross sectional area over its length,wherein the subsidiary duct has a longitudinal axis and an end portion for merging into the main duct, and the main duct has a longitudinal axis and an entry portion into which the subsidiary duct merges, andwherein the inner element is configured to fit inside the outer element when the first contact surface of the inner element removably contacts the second contact surface of the outer element to form the duct system. 11. A beverage maker, comprising: an inner element having a cup shape and a first contact surface having recesses;an outer element having and a second contact surface for accepting the inner element fit in the outer element, the outer element having a shape that complements the cup shape for forming a duct system for conveying a fluid when the first contact surface removably contacts the second contact surface such that all the fluid beverage ingredient between the inner and outer elements flows through the duct system; andthe duct system comprising a main duct and a subsidiary duct having a longitudinal axis and an end portion for merging into the main duct, the main duct having a longitudinal axis and an entry portion into which the subsidiary duct merges,wherein the longitudinal axis of the subsidiary duct extends at an angle smaller than 90° with respect to the longitudinal axis of the main duct at a position where the subsidiary duct merges into the main duct, and wherein at least a portion of the main duct extending between the position and an outlet of the duct system has a constant cross-sectional area over its length, andwherein the inner element is configured to fit inside the outer element when the second contact surface of the outer element accepts the inner element to be fitted in the outer element to form the duct system. 12. A beverage maker, comprising: an outer element having a cup shape and internal and external surfaces;an inner element having a shape the complements the cup shape for fitting in the outer element and forming a duct system for conveying a fluid beverage ingredient such that all the fluid beverage ingredient between the inner and outer elements flows through the duct system, the inner element further having an internal surface and an external surface, the external surface of the inner element having one or more recesses, wherein the external surface of the inner element is configured to removably contact the internal surface of the outer element; andthe duct system being formed between the one or more recesses and the internal surface of the outer element when the inner element is fitted in the outer element,wherein the inner element has an inlet hole, wherein the duct system includes a main duct extending from an open section to the inlet hole and at least one subsidiary duct extending from a closed section of the inner element to intersect with the main duct at an intersection, an angle between central axes of the main and the subsidiary ducts at the intersection being less than 90°, andwherein the inner element is configured to fit inside the outer element when the external surface of the inner element removably contacts the internal surface of the outer element to form the duct system. 13. The beverage maker according to claim 1, wherein the inner element is configured to receive a quantity of the fluid beverage ingredient in a hollow container space of the internal surface of the inner element, the fluid beverage ingredient received in the hollow container space being configured to enter the duct system.