FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a vortex disrupter, and more particularly to a vortex disrupter to prevent liquid whisked to form a liquid vortex from spilling over the rim of a container.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

As an adjunct to many coffee making machines, a container is filled with any liquid, for example milk, to be warmed and/ or frothed, using a whisk. The container usually has a mark showing the maximum level to which it should be filled. A whisk is used to agitate and froth the milk. This rotates the milk in the container and creates a vortex in the milk. Depending on the rate of rotation i.e. the depth and resultant wall height of the vortex and/or the level (volume) of the milk in the container, the milk may spill over an upper rim of the container.

It would be convenient to fill the container with as much milk as possible, even more than the maximum indicated in the container, to warm more milk and/or make additional amounts of froth and/or to decrease the frequency of refilling the container. OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of this invention to provide a vortex disrupter which, at least partially, alleviates the above-mentioned difficulty.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with this invention there is provided a spoiler comprising a blade that extends from one side of a support and a handle that extends from another side of the support, the support has a hook formation. There is provided for the hook formation to be u-shaped.

The outer edge of the major surface of the blade is curved.

A fin extends from a top end of the blade.

The handle is a flat flap.

These and other features are described in more detail below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One embodiment of the invention is described below, by way of example only, with reference to the drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a left front perspective view of a vortex disrupter;

Figure 2 shows a right front perspective view of the vortex disrupter of figure 1 ;

Figure 3 shows a side view of the vortex disrupter of figures 1 and

2;

Figure 4 shows a partial sectional view of a milk froth container with the vortex disrupter of figures 1 to 3 attached over a rim thereof; and

Figure 5 shows a top diagrammatical view of a vortex in milk in the milk froth container with the vortex disrupter of figures 1 to 4 attached over a rim of the container as is also shown in figure 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

With reference to the drawings, in which like numerals refer to like features, a spoiler is generally indicated by reference numeral 1 .

The spoiler 1 has a support 4 with a blade 2 extending from one side thereof and a handle 3 from an opposite side thereof. The support 4 is an operatively downwardly facing u-shaped hook. A bottom end of a rear side of the hook 4 is slightly bent outwards.

The blade 2 extends orthogonally from a first side of the hook 4. The blade 2 is a flat strip. The blade 2 has a notch 5 at a rear side thereof at the bottom end of the hook 4. A rear edge of the blade 2 is straight. A front edge of the blade 2 is undulating curved. A top end of the curve terminates in a fin 6. The fin 6 is spaced apart from the hook 4. This permits a lid to fit on the rim of the container.

A handle 3 extends orthogonally from a second, opposite side of the hook 4. The handle is a flat flap. The flap extends centrally from an edge of the hook 4. The flap is balloon shaped in side view. In use, the spoiler is attached to the rim of a milk froth container having milk therein. A person holds the handle of the spoiler when placing the spoiler over the rim of the container. The blade locates on the inside of the container. The hook clips snugly over the rim of the container to secure the spoiler in place. When the whisk in the container is switched on, a vortex is created in the milk. As the sides of the vortex rise to the level of the blade of the spoiler, the blade disrupts the vortex. The undulated curves of the blade disrupt the vortex at different levels thereof. The disruption in the vortex lower the height of the walls outside of the vortex. The vortex disrupter described herein will be convenient to use in cases where a more than recommended amount of milk is desired to be frothed.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without departing from the scope thereof. For example, the spoiler can be permanently fixed to an inside wall of the milk froth container or it can be a removeable part thereof. The curved edge of the blade can also have a different form. The spoiler can also be used in smoothie makers or other fluid mixers where a vortex is created. If the scale of the disrupter is increased, it can have industrial applications.