Beverage-making appliance and beverage-making appliance assembly

Abstract

A beverage-making appliance 2 comprises an electrical heater 14 arranged to heat the contents of a beverage heating chamber 4 and a whisking member 16 arranged within the beverage heating chamber 4. A

Description

The present invention relates to a beverage-making appliance assembly, in particular to a beverage-making appliance assembly comprising a beverage-making appliance for whisking a liguid. Beverage-making appliances, such as mixers and milk frothers, can be used in both domestic and professional settings to prepare beverages. Milk frothers in particular can be used in the preparation of a variety of beverages, including coffee (e.g. lattes and cappuccinos), hot chocolate and milkshakes. Such appliances can be used to froth milk alternatives (e.g., oat milk, almond milk, soy milk) as well as dairy milk. These appliances often provide the frothing effect by whisking the liguid. In many cases, the liguid is also heated at the same time. The provision of whisking and heating components can impose reguirements on the design of the appliance, e.g. to ensure reliable operation and user safety, which can impact the size of the appliance. Thus, conventional appliances are bulky and unwieldy, which cannot only reduce the ease with which the appliances can be used to prepare beverages, but can also increase the space reguired to store such appliances when not in use. This can be especially problematic in the case of domestic users for whom storage space may be scarce. The present invention aims to address, or at least mitigate, at least one of the problems outlined above. When viewed from a first aspect, the present invention provides a beverage-making appliance comprising: a beverage heating chamber for receiving a beverage to be heated; an electrical heater arranged to heat the contents of the beverage heating chamber; a whisking member, arranged within the beverage heating chamber, for whisking a beverage within the beverage heating chamber; and a control compartment arranged below the beverage heating chamber, the control compartment including: an electrical actuator for driving the whisking member; and a control unit comprising a 360° cordless electrical adapter part configured to mate with a 360° base electrical connector part of a power base so as to receive a supply of electrical power for the heater and the electrical actuator; wherein a horizontal plane extending through the control compartment comprises at least a portion of the 360° cordless electrical adapter part and at least a portion of the actuator. When viewed from a second aspect, the present invention provides a beveragemaking appliance assembly comprising: a power base comprising a 360° base electrical connector part; and a beverage-making appliance for positioning on the power base, the beverage-making appliance comprising: a beverage heating chamber for receiving a beverage to be heated; an electrical heater arranged to heat the contents of the beverage heating chamber; a whisking member, arranged within the beverage heating chamber, for whisking a beverage within the beverage heating chamber; and a control compartment arranged below the beverage heating chamber, the control compartment including: an electrical actuator for driving the whisking member; and a control unit comprising a 360° cordless electrical adapter part configured to mate with the 360° base electrical connector part of the power base so as to receive a supply of electrical power for the heater and the electrical actuator; wherein a horizontal plane extending through the control compartment comprises at least a portion of the 360° cordless electrical adapter part and at least a portion of the electrical actuator. Thus, the present invention provides a beverage-making appliance that comprises a 360° cordless electrical adapter part for mating with a corresponding 360° base electrical connector part to receive a supply of power from a power base. This may improve the ease with which the appliance can be used, as the appliance may be lifted away from the power base, e.g. to pour the contents of the beverage heating chamber into a mug. In contrast, conventional appliances that are corded or that include an integrated power connector may be significantly heavier and / or more cumbersome. At least a portion of the whisking member actuator is arranged in the same horizontal plane as at least a portion of the 360° cordless electrical adapter part. This contrasts with conventional appliances in which the adapter part, or even the entire control unit, is arranged below the electrical actuator. The Applicant has appreciated that, by arranging the 360° cordless electrical adapter part and the electrical actuator in substantially the same horizontal plane, the overall space occupied by the electrical components in the control compartment of the appliance can be reduced. This means that the beverage heating chamber can occupy a greater proportion of the total volume of the appliance as compared to the control compartment. In other words, a less bulky appliance can be provided without sacrificing liquid capacity. In some embodiments, the electrical heater is substantially planar. The horizontal plane that comprises at least a portion of the 360° cordless electrical adapter part and at least a portion of the electrical actuator may be parallel to the plane of the electrical heater. The horizontal plane may be parallel to the base of the beverage heating chamber. In some embodiments, the beverage-making appliance comprises a longitudinal axis. The longitudinal axis may extend in the direction in which gravity acts on liquid in the beverage heating chamber in use, e.g. when the beverage-making appliance is positioned on the power base. The longitudinal axis may be a central axis of symmetry of the 360° cordless electrical adapter part. In some embodiments, the horizontal plane is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the appliance. In some embodiments, the power rating of the electrical heater is between 100 W and 600 W, e.g. between 300 W and 400 W, e.g. approximately 350 W. The Applicant has identified that an electrical heater of this power may be particularly suitable for heating a volume of liquid (e.g. milk) relatively quickly but without boiling or scalding it, as this may impair the taste and / or texture of the liquid. Preferably the electrical heater has a power rating suitable for heating the contents of the beverage heating chamber to a temperature below 100 °C, for example to a temperature of about 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75 or 80 °C. When making a cappuccino, for example, the milk in the beverage heating chamber may be whisked and heated to a temperature of 55-65 °C. The electrical heater may be arranged within the beverage heating chamber. In some embodiments, the electrical heater is arranged below the beverage heating chamber, e.g. directly below a base of the beverage heating chamber. In some embodiments, the electrical heater defines the base of the beverage heating chamber. The electrical heater may be substantially planar. The electrical heater may comprise a sheathed electrical heating element. In some embodiments, the electrical heater comprises a flat plate electrical heater. The electrical heater may comprise a substrate and an electrically resistive track, wherein the electrically resistive track is deposited on the substrate. The electrical heater may comprise a thick-film printed element or a sprayed element deposited (e.g. as an electrically resistive track) on the substrate. The electrically resistive track may be deposited on the substrate such that it follows a serpentine path across the substrate. Such heating elements may operate at high temperatures, e.g. more than 200 °C, which may allow the electrical heater to heat the beverage at a faster rate (e.g. compared to sheathed electrical heating elements). A flat plate electrical heater may also occupy less vertical space, e.g. in comparison to a sheathed electrical heater, thereby helping to increase the volume available for the beverage heating chamber for an appliance of a given size. In some embodiments, the overall power density of the electrical heater is between 5 W / cm2 and 13 W / cm2, e.g. between 6 W / cm2 and 11 W / cm2, e.g. between 8 W / cm2 and 10 W / cm2, e.g. approximately 9 W / cm2. Power density should be understood to mean power per unit area. The power density of the electrical heater may substantially correspond to the power density of the electrically resistive track. It will be appreciated that the overall power density of the electrical heater is the overall heating power of the electrically resistive track per unit area of the substrate (when viewed in plan view), including the area of the substrate on which heater track is deposited. In some embodiments, the power density of the electrical heater track is between 20 W / cm2 and 50 W / cm2, e.g. between 30 W / cm2 and 40 W / cm2, e.g. approximately 32 W / cm2. It will be appreciated that the power density of the electrically resistive track is the heating power of the electrically resistive track per unit area of the electrically resistive track (where the area of the electrically resistive track is the area of the electrically resistive track that is in contact with the substrate). In some embodiments, the whisking member and the electrical actuator interact magnetically, e.g. together they comprise a magnetic stirrer. For example, the whisking member may comprise a magnet and the electrical actuator may comprise a magnetic field generator configured to generate a rotating magnetic field for exerting a force on the whisking member to rotate the whisking member. The beverage-making appliance may comprise a spindle, e.g. extending upwardly from the base of the beverage heating chamber, upon which the whisking member is configured to rotate in order to whisk the beverage within the beverage heating chamber. The electrical actuator may extend inside the spindle. In some embodiments the whisking member is removable, e.g. it can be lifted off the spindle to assist with cleaning. The whisking member (e.g. and the spindle) may be arranged eccentrically within the beverage heating chamber. This may help to encourage circulation of the beverage within the beverage heating chamber, which may improve the quality of the froth and / or encourage more uniform heating of the beverage. In some embodiments, whether the whisking member is driven magnetically by the electrical actuator or otherwise, the whisking member is removable from the beverage heating chamber. This may improve the ease with which the beverage heating chamber can be cleaned. In some embodiments, the electrical actuator is arranged (e.g. directly) below the whisking member. The electrical actuator and the whisking member may be separated (e.g. only) by the electrical heater. In some embodiments, the 360° cordless electrical adapter part is arranged on the central axis of the beverage-making appliance (e.g. of the beverage heating chamber). The beverage heating chamber may be substantially cylindrical. The beverage-making appliance may be substantially cylindrical. The electrical actuator (e.g. and the whisking member) may be radially spaced from the 360° cordless electrical adapter part. This may allow a greater proportion of the height of the electrical actuator to overlap with the height of the 360° cordless electrical adapter part, which may help to decrease the height of the control compartment and increase the height of the beverage heating chamber for a given overall appliance height. In some embodiments, the electrical actuator and the 360° cordless electrical adapter part are arranged such that less than 80%, e.g. less than 60%, e.g. less than 50% of a vertical height of the electrical actuator extends higher than the highest point of the 360° cordless electrical adapter part. Vertical height may be measured in the direction in which gravity acts on liquid in the beverage heating chamber in use (e.g. when the appliance is positioned on the power base). In some embodiments, the 360° cordless electrical adapter part comprises an upper surface, the electrical actuator comprises a lower surface, and the upper surface of the 360° cordless electrical adapter part is arranged between the lower surface of the electrical actuator and the electrical heater (with respect to the longitudinal axis of the beverage-making appliance). In some embodiments, the 360° cordless electrical adapter part comprises a pin conductor configured to be received within a corresponding aperture of the power base, wherein the upper surface of the 360° cordless electrical adapter part is the surface of the 360° cordless electrical adapter part from which the pin extends (i.e. downwards towards the power base when the 360° cordless electrical adapter part mates with the 360° base electrical connector part). In some embodiments, the control unit comprises a thermally sensitive (e.g. bimetallic) actuator configured to detect a temperature of the electrical heater and operable at a predetermined overheat temperature to interrupt the supply of electrical power to the electrical heater. The predetermined temperature may correspond to a temperature of the electrical heater during an overheat (e.g. “dryboil”) scenario. In some embodiments, such a thermally sensitive (e.g. bimetallic) actuator may be mounted to the electrical heater independently of the control unit. In some embodiments, the control unit comprises an electrical power supply circuit for providing (e.g. mains) electrical power from the 360° cordless electrical adapter part to the electrical heater. The control unit may comprise a leaf spring arranged to open and close the electrical power supply circuit, the leaf spring comprising a fixed end and a moveable portion that is moveable relative to the fixed end between a closed position and an open position. The control unit may further comprise a moveable electrical contact, mounted on the moveable portion of the leaf spring, mating with a corresponding fixed electrical contact in the electrical power supply circuit when the leaf spring is in the closed position, wherein the thermally sensitive actuator is arranged such that, when the thermally sensitive actuator operates at the predetermined overheat temperature, the thermally sensitive actuator moves the moveable portion of the leaf spring from the closed position to the open position in which the moveable electrical contact is separated from the fixed electrical contact to interrupt (i.e. open) the electrical power supply circuit. In some embodiments, the leaf spring comprises a kink between the fixed end and the moveable portion. As described in more detail in WO2024 / 149896, the provision of a kink in the leaf spring (i.e. a deviation from the otherwise planar shape of the leaf spring) results in an increased effective bending length. This allows the leaf spring to be shorter in its footprint length whilst helping to prevent the stress in the leaf spring from exceeding the yield stress of the material of the leaf spring. As a result, the entire control unit may be made smaller. This may reduce the cost of manufacturing the control unit, and may create more free space in the control compartment, e.g. adjacent the 360° cordless electrical adapter part, where the electrical actuator of the whisking member can be located in order to increase the height available for the beverage heating chamber. For a given liquid volume, this may reduce the overall height of the appliance, which may further improve the portability of the appliance and / or make it easier to store. This may also help to improve the safety of the beverage-making appliance as, despite the small diameter of the appliance and the small overall height, the control unit may still provide a reliable overheat-detection safety mechanism. The Applicant has appreciated that an integrated control unit comprising a ‘kinked’ leaf spring and a thermally sensitive (e.g. bimetallic) actuator configured to detect an overheat temperature, both as described above, can provide the desirable function of a safe control arrangement for the beverage-making appliance, while being small enough for the electrical actuator (that drives the whisking member) to located next to the 360° cordless electrical adapter part in a control compartment of reduced height. The 360° cordless electrical adapter part and the corresponding 360° base electrical connector part may comprise any suitable number of electrical poles, e.g. 3 poles or 5 poles. In some embodiments, the beverage-making appliance comprises a housing and the housing comprises a floor that is arranged to contact an upper surface of the power base when the beverage-making appliance is positioned on the power base. The floor may be parallel to the base of the beverage heating chamber. The floor may be parallel to the horizontal plane that comprises at least a portion of the 360° cordless electrical adapter part and at least a portion of the actuator. The control compartment may be defined between the base of the beverage heating chamber and the floor of the housing. The control compartment may be sealed from the beverage heating chamber. For example, the control compartment may be defined at an upper end by the electrical heater and at a lower end by the floor of the housing. In some embodiments, the height of the control compartment is between 20 mm and 40 mm, e.g. between 25 mm and 35 mm, e.g. approximately 30 mm. The height of the control compartment may be the vertical distance between the inner surface of the floor of the housing of the beverage-making appliance and the lower surface of the beverage heating chamber (or the lower surface of the electrical heater, e.g. if the electrical heater defines or is arranged below the base of the beverage heating chamber). The height of the beverage heating chamber may be the vertical distance, e.g. from the base of the beverage heating chamber to its upper end, that may be occupied by a beverage during use of the appliance (e.g. the distance from the base to an aperture or a lid of the beverage heating chamber). In some embodiments, the ratio of the height of the control compartment to the height of the beverage heating chamber is between 1:10 and 1:3, e.g. between 1:7 and 1:4, e.g. approximately 1:5. The beverage heating chamber may have a volume suitable for holding a single serving of a beverage such as cappuccino or hot chocolate. In some embodiments, the volume of the beverage heating chamber is between 100 ml and 600 ml, e.g. between 300 ml and 500 ml, e.g. approximately 240 ml, 350 ml, 380 ml or 400 ml. The beverage heating chamber may have a volume suitable for holding multiple servings of frothed milk. In some embodiments, the volume of the beverage heating chamber is between 200 ml and 1000 ml, e.g. between 400 ml and 800 ml, e.g. approximately 480 ml, 500 ml, 620 ml, 700 ml, or 760 ml. In some embodiments, the beverage-making appliance (e.g. the beverage heating chamber, in particular) at its widest point has a diameter of 100 mm or more. For example, the beverage-making appliance may be a jug-like receptacle having a diameter of about 100 mm, 110 mm, 120 mm, 130 mm or 140 mm. In some embodiments, the beverage-making appliance (e.g. the beverage heating chamber, in particular) at its widest point has a diameter less than 100 mm, e.g. between 70 and 90 mm, e.g. approximately 80 mm. The Applicant has identified that an appliance having a widest diameter in this range may be particularly suitable for allowing the beverage receptacle to be carried in a user’s hand comfortably. The beverage-making appliance may be a handheld beverage receptacle, such as a flask or cup. In some embodiments, the beverage-making appliance further comprises a handle (e.g. extending outwards from an outer surface of the beverage heating chamber). This may also improve the ease and / or comfort with which the beverage receptacle may be carried and / or poured by a user. In some embodiments, the beverage-making appliance comprises an inner wall and an outer wall, wherein the inner wall defines the beverage heating chamber and wherein the outer wall surrounds the inner wall. Providing a double-wall may help to improve the thermal insulation of the beverage heating chamber. In some embodiments, the beverage-making appliance comprises a vacuum between the inner wall and the outer wall. This may also improve the thermal insulation of the beverage heating chamber. The inner wall and the outer wall may be made from any suitable material. The inner wall and the outer wall may be made from the same material or different materials. In some embodiments, the inner wall and / or the outer wall is made from any one of steel (e.g. stainless steel), plastic, and glass. In some embodiments, the inner wall and the outer wall is made from stainless steel. In some embodiments, the inner wall is made from stainless steel and the outer wall is made from plastic. In some embodiments, the control unit comprises a body on which the 360° cordless electrical adapter part is mounted. The body of the control unit may be a plastic body. The body may define a circular aperture within which the 360° cordless electrical adapter part is mounted. In some embodiments, the body comprises a mount plate on which the thermally sensitive actuator is mounted. The mount plate may extend in a plane that is parallel to the horizontal plane that comprises at least a portion of the 360° cordless electrical adapter part and at least a portion of the actuator. The body of the control unit (e.g. the mount plate) may be mounted to the electrical heater. In some embodiments, the electrical actuator is mounted to the body. In some embodiments, the control unit comprises a printed circuit board including at least one electronic component for controlling operation of the electrical heater and / or electrical actuator. The at least one electronic component may be a processor, a relay, an electronic switch (e.g. TRIAC), a voltage transformer, e.g. for stepping down the voltage provided to one or more electronic components, a wireless communication transceiver (e.g. a WiFi transceiver), or an input means (e.g. a push button or a capacitive touch sensor). The printed circuit board may be mounted (e.g. directly) to the body of the control unit. This contrasts with conventional arrangements in which the printed circuit board is mounted on the housing of the appliance, rather than to the body of the control unit. Mounting the printed circuit board directly on the body of the control unit may allow the diameter of the beverage-making appliance to be reduced, as the printed circuit board may be mounted closer to the control unit (in particular, closer to the 360° cordless electrical adapter part that is arranged centrally of the beverage receptacle). In some embodiments, the at least one electronic component comprises an input means for receiving an operational command from a user. The input means may comprise a push button. The input means may comprise a capacitive touch sensor. The at least one electronic component may further comprise a processor configured to control the electrical heater at least in part in dependence on an input received from the input means. In some embodiments, the at least one electronic component comprises a wireless communication (e.g. WiFi) transceiver configured to communicate with an external device (e.g. a PC or smartphone). The wireless communication (e.g. WiFi) transceiver may be configured to receive commands from the external device for controlling the electrical heater. The wireless communication (e.g. WiFi) transceiver may be configured to send data (e.g. measurements obtained by the temperature sensor) to the external device. The at least one electronic component may further comprise a processor configured to control the electrical heater at least in part in dependence on a command received by the wireless communication (e.g. WiFi) transceiver. In some embodiments, the printed circuit board is substantially planar. In some embodiments, the printed circuit board is a planar annulus or portion of an annulus. The printed circuit board may be mounted in the control compartment (e.g. mounted on the body of the control unit) such that the plane in which the printed circuit board extends is parallel to the plane of the electrical heater. The plane in which the printed circuit board extends may be parallel to the horizontal plane that comprises at least a portion of the 360° cordless electrical adapter part and at least a portion of the electrical actuator. In some embodiments, the printed circuit board extends in the horizontal plane. This contrasts with conventional arrangements in which the printed circuit board is mounted perpendicularly to the plane of the electrical heater. By mounting the printed circuit board in a plane that is parallel, rather than perpendicular, to the electrical heater, the height of the control compartment may be reduced. In some embodiments, the printed circuit board and the electrical actuator are arranged on opposite sides of the appliance (when viewed in plan view). For example, the printed circuit board and the electrical actuator may be located on opposite sides of the control unit. In some embodiments, the printed circuit board and the electrical actuator are circumferentially offset with respect to one another, e.g. diametrically opposed (e.g. about the central axis) e.g. relative to the 360° cordless electrical adapter part. In some embodiments, the printed circuit board and the electrical actuator are each mounted to the body of the control unit, diametrically opposed relative to the 360° cordless electrical adapter part. This may help to reduce the total height occupied by the printed circuit board and the electrical actuator, which may help to increase the volume available for the beverage heating chamber within an appliance of a given size. In some embodiments, the printed circuit board comprises an electronic switch controlling the supply of electrical power to the electrical heater. In some embodiments, the printed circuit board comprises an electronic switch controlling the supply of electrical power to the electrical actuator. This may be the same electronic switch, but a first electronic switch for the electrical heater and a second electronic switch for the electrical actuator means that the heating and whisking functions can be controlled independently. The electronic switch may comprise a relay. The electronic switch may comprise a TRIAC. In some embodiments, the beverage-making appliance further comprises a (e.g. electrical) temperature sensor arranged to detect a temperature (e.g. beverage temperature) within the beverage heating chamber. The control unit may include the temperature sensor or the temperature sensor may be mounted independently in the control compartment and connected to the control unit. The temperature sensor may be a thermistor. The temperature sensor may comprise a negative temperature coefficient (NTC) sensor. The temperature sensor may be mounted within the beverage heating chamber. The temperature sensor may be mounted within the control compartment. In some embodiments, the temperature sensor is arranged in contact with the (e.g. substrate of the) electrical heater. The temperature sensor may be arranged to detect when a beverage within the beverage heating chamber reaches a target temperature. The control unit (e.g. the electronic switch mentioned above) may be configured to switch off the electrical heater in response to the temperature sensor detecting when the beverage reaches the target temperature. As mentioned above, when heating and whisking milkbased beverages the target temperature is below 100 °C, for example a target temperature of about 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75 or 80 °C. One or more of the electronic components included on the printed circuit board (the processor, relay and / or electronic switch, for example) may be configured to control the electrical heater in response to a signal received from the temperature sensor. For example, the temperature sensor may be arranged to detect when a beverage within the beverage heating chamber has cooled below a certain temperature and the control unit may be configured to switch on the electrical heater (e.g. for a short period) in order to keep the beverage warm. In some embodiments, the control unit is configured to control the operation of the electrical actuator for driving the whisking member. The printed circuit board may comprise input means for receiving an operational command from a user. The input means may comprise a push button. The input means may comprise a capacitive touch sensor. The control unit may be configured to control the whisking member (e.g. using the (second) electronic switch that controls the power supply to the electrical actuator) at least in part in dependence on an input received from the input means. In some embodiments, the at least one electronic component comprises a wireless communication (e.g. WiFi) transceiver configured to communicate with an external device (e.g. a PC or smartphone). The wireless communication (e.g. WiFi) transceiver may be configured to receive commands from the external device for controlling the (e.g. electrical actuator and / or electrical heater of the) beveragemaking appliance. The wireless communication (e.g. WiFi) transceiver may be configured to send data (e.g. measurements obtained by the temperature sensor) to the external device. The at least one electronic component may further comprise a processor configured to control the electrical actuator and / or the electrical heater at least in part in dependence on a command received by the wireless communication (e.g. WiFi) transceiver. Features of any of the embodiments of the first or second aspects of the invention may include any one or more of the optional features outlined herein in respect of any of the first or second aspects. Certain embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a beverage-making appliance in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, and a power base for the beverage-making appliance; Fig. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the beverage-making appliance and the power base of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the lower portion of the beveragemaking appliance and the 360° base electrical connector part of the power base of Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of the printed circuit board of the beveragemaking appliance of Fig. 1. Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a beverage-making appliance 2 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The beverage-making appliance 2 comprises a housing 3 that defines a beverage heating chamber 4 (shown in Figure 2) for receiving a liquid (e.g. milk) to be heated as part of a beverage-making operation. The volume of the beverage heating chamber 4 is approximately 400 ml. A spout 6 is arranged at the top of the housing 3, in fluid communication with the beverage heating chamber 4, to assist with pouring the beverage out of the beverage heating chamber 4. The top of the housing 3 is closed by a lid 8. The beverage-making appliance 2 further comprises a handle 10, extending outwards from the side of the housing 3. The handle 10 and the spout 6 are diametrically opposed about the housing 3. The diameter of the housing 3 (i.e. not including the handle 10) is approximately 100 mm. The housing 3 is doublewalled, comprising inner and outer walls made of stainless steel. The beverage-making appliance 2, which is a cordless appliance, is arranged to be removably positioned on a power base 12, which is shown in more detail in Figure 2. The power base 12 is connected to a source of electrical power (e.g. mains electricity). Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the beverage-making appliance 2 and the power base 12 of Figure 1. The beverage-making appliance 2 comprises an electrical heater 14 that is arranged within the housing 3 below the beverage heating chamber 4. Thus, when the electrical heater 14 is energised, the electrical heater 14 heats the contents of the beverage heating chamber 4. The electrical heater 14 is a flat plate electrical heater, e.g. comprising a thick-film printed heating element or a sprayed heating element deposited on a substrate. The power of the electrical heater 14 is between 300 W and 400 W. The height of the beverage heating chamber 4 is approximately 130 mm, from the top of the beverage heating chamber 4 to the base 20 of the beverage heating chamber 4. The housing 3 and the electrical heater 14 together define a control compartment 52 of the beverage-making appliance 2. The control compartment 52 extends between the electrical heater 14 and the floor 26 of the housing 3 at the underside of the beverage-making appliance 2. The height of the control compartment 52, from the underside of the electrical heater 14 to the floor 26 of the housing 3, is approximately 30 mm. The overall height of the beverage-making appliance 2 (excluding the lid 8), from the floor 26 of the beverage-making appliance 2 to the top of the beverage heating chamber 4, is approximately 160 mm. The beverage-making appliance 2 further comprises a magnetic whisking member 16 that is arranged within the beverage heating chamber 4. The whisking member 16 is rotatably mounted on a spindle 18 that extends upwardly from the base 20 of the beverage heating chamber 4. The whisking member 16 is eccentrically offset from the longitudinal axis 21 of the beverage heating chamber 4. The beverage-making appliance 2 further comprises an electrical actuator (e.g. motor) 22 for driving the magnetic whisking member 16. In particular, the electrical actuator 22 comprises a magnetic field generator which, when energised, generates a magnetic field that causes the magnetic whisking member 16 to rotate about the spindle 18. Rotation of the whisking member 16 within the beverage heating chamber 4 causes liquid contained within the beverage heating chamber 4 to be whisked. When the beverage is milk or a milk alternative (e.g. oat milk, soy milk, almond milk etc.), the whisking can generate frothed milk to be used in the preparation of certain beverages (e.g. lattes, cappuccinos, hot chocolates, etc). It will be appreciated that heating the beverage using the electrical heater 14 may also assist in the preparation of many of such beverages. The beverage-making appliance 2 further comprises a control unit 24 for controlling a supply of electrical power from the power base 12 to the electrical heater 14 while the beverage-making appliance 2 is positioned on the power base 12. The control unit 24 is arranged below the electrical heater 14, within the control compartment 52 of the beverage-making apparatus 2. The control unit 24 comprises a 360° cordless electrical adapter part 30 that is configured to mate with a corresponding 360° base electrical connector part 32 of the power base 12. The electrical actuator 22 is mounted to the control unit 24 of the beverage-making appliance 2. When the beverage-making appliance 2 is positioned on the power base 12, as shown in Figure 2, the underside floor 26 of the beverage-making appliance 2 abuts the upper surface 28 of the power base 12 and the 360° cordless electrical adapter part 30 mates with the 360° base electrical connector part 32. The 360° cordless electrical adapter part 30 and the electrical actuator 22 are arranged at substantially the same height within the beverage-making appliance 2 (i.e. at substantially the same position along the longitudinal axis 21) such that a horizontal plane 25 extending through the beverage-making appliance 2 perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis 21 comprises a respective portion (i.e. a cross-section) of the 360° cordless electrical adapter part 30 and the electrical actuator 22. In other words, the horizontal plane 25 passes through both the 360° cordless electrical adapter part 30 and the electrical actuator 22. The horizontal plane 25 is parallel to the plane of the flat plate electrical heater 14. The beverage-making appliance 2 further comprises a printed circuit board (PCB) 50 that is mounted directly to the control unit 24. In particular, the PCB 50 is mounted to a moulded plastics body 31 of the control unit 24 that houses the 360° cordless electrical adapter part 30. The PCB 50 is substantially planar, in the shape of a semi-annulus, and the plane in which the PCB 50 extends is parallel to the horizontal plane 25 that passes through the 360° cordless electrical adapter part 30 and the electrical actuator 22. The PCB 50 and the electrical actuator 22 are diametrically opposed within the control compartment 52. The control unit 24, the electrical heater 14, and the base electrical connector part 32 of the power base 12 are shown in more detail in Figure 3, in isolation from other components of the beverage-making appliance 2 and the power base 12. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the control unit 24, the electrical heater 14, and the base electrical connector part 32 in the direction A shown in Figure 2. The base electrical connector part 32 is shown schematically. The electrical actuator 22 is not visible in the cross-section of Figure 3. In the embodiment depicted, the 360° cordless electrical adapter part 30 is a 3-pole adapter comprising an earth pin conductor 30a, a live ring conductor 30b, and a neutral ring conductor 30c. The live ring conductor 30b and the neutral ring conductor 30c are concentrically arranged around the central earth pin 30a. The base electrical connector part 32 comprises a central aperture 32a to receive the earth pin conductor 30a and a coaxial annular aperture 32b to receive both the live ring conductor 30b and the neutral ring conductor 30c. Live and neutral electrical contacts 33b, 33c are housed in the coaxial aperture 32b and are arranged to contact the live ring conductor 30b and the neutral ring conductor 30c respectively to form an electrical power supply circuit when the 360° cordless electrical adapter part 30 and the 360° base electrical connector part 32 are brought together. An earth electrical contact 33a housed in the central aperture 32a contacts the earth pin conductor 30a. Whilst the embodiment shown herein comprises a 3-pole cordless electrical adapter part 30 and base electrical connector part 32, it will be appreciated that the adapter and connector parts 30, 32 may comprise any suitable number of poles, e.g. 5 poles. The control unit 24 comprises a first thermally sensitive actuator 34a and a second thermally sensitive actuator 34b, both supported by a metal mount plate 36 of the control unit 24. The thermally sensitive actuators 34a, 34b are snap-action bimetallic actuators, each configured to operate independently at a respective predetermined temperature (which may be the same temperature). The actuators 34a, 34b are positioned on the upper surface of the control unit 24 (i.e. the upper surface of the metal mount plate 36) such that the actuators 34a, 34b are arranged to detect a temperature of the electrical heater 14. As will be discussed in more detail below, the thermally sensitive actuators 34a, 34b are arranged such that their operation at the predetermined temperature(s) causes a switch 38 within the control unit 24 to be opened, thereby interrupting the supply of electrical energy to the electrical heater 14. As is known in the art, this allows the electrical heater 14 to be switched off in the event of a “dry-boil” scenario, in which no liquid is present within the beverage heating chamber 4. The control unit 24 comprises a first push rod 40 that is arranged directly below the first thermally sensitive actuator 34a so as to be moved vertically downwards upon operation of the first thermally sensitive actuator 34a. The control unit 24 comprises a leaf spring 42 that has a fixed end 42a mounted to, and electrically connected to, the live ring conductor 30b of the 360° cordless electrical adapter part 30. The leaf spring 42 also comprises a moveable portion 42b, which extends from the point of deflection of the leaf spring 42. The first push rod 40 is arranged to a distal end of the moveable portion 42b of the leaf spring 42. The leaf spring 42 is arranged below the first push rod 40 such that, when the push rod 40 is moved downwards by the operation of the thermally sensitive actuator 34a, the moveable portion 42b of the leaf spring 42 is deflected downwards by the push rod 40. The leaf spring 42 comprises a moveable electrical contact 44 that is mounted on the moveable portion 42b of the leaf spring 42 between the fixed end 42a and the portion of the leaf spring 42 arranged to be contacted by the push rod 40. In a closed position of the leaf spring 42, the moveable electrical contact 44 is in contact with a fixed live electrical contact 46 of the control unit 24. This connects the electrical power supply from the power base 12 to the electrical heater 14. The leaf spring 42 is biased into the closed position, meaning that the moveable electrical contact 44 is biased onto contact with the fixed electrical contact 46 by the leaf spring 42. As discussed above, when the first thermally sensitive actuator 34a operates at the predetermined temperature, the first push rod 40 is moved vertically downwards so as to bend the leaf spring 42 by deflecting the moveable portion 42b downwards relative to the fixed end 42a. As a result, the moveable electrical contact 44 is separated from the fixed electrical contact 46. Thus, the leaf spring 42 is moved into an open position, in which the supply of power to the electrical heater 14 is interrupted. It will be appreciated that the leaf spring 42 and the moveable and fixed electrical contacts 44, 46 thus together form the switch 38 that can be opened and closed to control the supply of power to the electrical heater 14. The leaf spring 42 comprises a kink 48 arranged between the fixed end 42a and the moveable portion 42b of the leaf spring 42. The kink 48 is substantially sinusoidal in cross-section, extending in an arc out of the plane of the leaf spring 42 and returning to substantially the same plane (i.e. corresponding to approximately half a sine wave). Incorporating a kink 48 into the shape of the leaf spring 42 can increase the effective bending length of the leaf spring 42, thereby helping to decrease the maximum induced stress, without increasing the footprint length of the leaf spring 42. This means a leaf spring 42 with a shorter footprint length can be used compared to conventional leaf springs (not comprising a kink), which means that the footprint width (e.g. diameter) of the control unit 24, and thus of the beveragemaking appliance 2 as a whole, can be reduced. This can help to make the beverage-making appliance 2 more portable. Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the PCB 50. Other components of the beverage-making appliance 2, including the housing 2, the electrical actuator 22, and certain components of the control unit 24, have been hidden for clarity. The PCB 50 provides at least one electronic component involved in controlling operation of the electrical heater 14 and electrical actuator 22. The PCB 50 comprises an AC DC converter 54 for converting the supply of AC power received from the base electrical connector part 32 to DC power, which is used by other components of the PCB 50 and to drive the electrical actuator 22. The PCB 50 also comprises connections 55 for connecting to a negative temperature coefficient (NTC) thermistor 56. The NTC thermistor 56 itself is mounted separately from the PCB 50 and is connected to the connections 55 of the PCB 50 by wires 57. As shown in Figure 1, the NTC 56 is mounted in contact with the substrate of the electrical heater 14 so as to obtain measurements representative of the temperature of the beverage heating chamber 4. The PCB 50 further comprises a relay 58 configured to control the provision of electrical power to the electrical heater 14 in dependence, at least in part, on the measurements received from the NTC 56. The PCB 50 comprises a capacitive touch sensor 60 that is mounted to the PCB 50 such that it contacts the housing 3 of the beverage-making appliance 2. When the capacitive touch sensor 60 is pressed by a user, the relay 58 is configured to provide electrical power to the electrical heater 14 until the NTC 56 detects a target temperature (e.g. 65 °C), at which point the relay 58 interrupts the supply of power to the electrical heater 14. The PCB 50 may include a CPU 64 that is connected to the NTC 56 and relay 58 and programmed to control operation of the electrical heater 14. The CPU may be programmed to execute a “keep warm” function by turning the electrical heater 14 on and off depending on the temperature detected by the NTC 56. The CPU may be programmed to control operation of the electrical actuator 22, e.g. according to a set program or in response to a user input. The PCB 50 further comprises a WiFi module 62 that enables data, e.g. temperature measurements obtained by the NTC 56 to be sent to an external device (e.g. a smartphone). The WiFi module 62 is also configured to receive commands from an external device (e.g. smartphone) for controlling the operation of the beverage-making appliance 2.

Claims

1. A beverage-making appliance comprising:a beverage heating chamber for receiving a beverage to be heated;an electrical heater arranged to heat the contents of the beverage heating chamber;a whisking member, arranged within the beverage heating chamber, for whisking a beverage within the beverage heating chamber; anda control compartment arranged below the beverage heating chamber, the control compartment including:an electrical actuator for driving the whisking member; anda control unit comprising a 360° cordless electrical adapter part configured to mate with a 360° base electrical connector part of a power base so as to receive a supply of electrical power for the heater and the electrical actuator;wherein a horizontal plane extending through the control compartment comprises at least a portion of the 360° cordless electrical adapter part and at least a portion of the electrical actuator.

2. The beverage-making appliance of claim 1, wherein the power rating of the heater is between 100 W and 600 W, e.g. between 300 W and 400 W, e.g. approximately 350 W.

3. The beverage-making appliance of claim 1 or 2, wherein the electrical heater comprises a flat plate electrical heater.

4. The beverage-making appliance of claim 3, wherein the electrical heater comprises a thick-film printed heating element or a sprayed heating element.

5. The beverage-making appliance of any preceding claim, wherein the whisking member comprises a magnet and the electrical actuator comprises a magnetic field generator configured to generate a rotating magnetic field for exerting a force on the whisking member to rotate the whisking member.

6. The beverage-making appliance of any preceding claim, wherein the 360° cordless electrical adapter part is arranged on the central axis of the beveragemaking appliance and the electrical actuator is radially spaced from the 360° cordless electrical adapter part.

7. The beverage-making appliance of any preceding claim, wherein the volume of the beverage heating chamber is between 100 ml and 600 ml, e.g. between 300 ml and 500 ml, e.g. approximately 400 ml.

8. The beverage-making appliance of any preceding claim, wherein the control unit comprises a thermally sensitive actuator configured to detect a temperature of the electrical heater and operable at a predetermined overheat temperature to interrupt the supply of electrical power to the electrical heater.

9. The beverage-making appliance of claim 8, wherein the control unit further comprises:an electrical power supply circuit for providing electrical power from the 360° cordless electrical adapter part to the electrical heater;a leaf spring comprising a fixed end and a moveable portion that is moveable relative to the fixed end between a closed position and an open position, wherein the leaf spring comprises a kink between the fixed end and the moveable portion; anda moveable electrical contact, mounted on the moveable portion of the leaf spring, mating with a corresponding fixed electrical contact in the electrical power supply circuit when the leaf spring is in the closed position;wherein the thermally sensitive actuator is arranged such that, when the thermally sensitive actuator operates at the predetermined overheat temperature, the thermally sensitive actuator moves the moveable portion of the leaf spring from the closed position to the open position in which the moveable electrical contact is separated from the fixed electrical contact to interrupt the electrical power supply circuit.

10. The beverage-making appliance of any preceding claim, wherein the control unit comprises a body on which the 360° cordless electrical adapter part is mounted and wherein the electrical actuator is mounted to the body.

11. The beverage-making appliance of any preceding claim, wherein the control unit comprises:a body on which the 360° cordless electrical adapter part is mounted; anda printed circuit board including at least one electronic component for controlling operation of the electrical heater and / or electrical actuator;and wherein the printed circuit board is mounted to the body.

12. The beverage-making appliance of any preceding claim, wherein:the control unit comprises a / the printed circuit board including at least one electronic component for controlling operation of the electrical heater and / or electrical actuator;the printed circuit board and the electrical heater are substantially planar; andthe printed circuit board is arranged such that the plane in which the printed circuit board extends is parallel to the plane of the electrical heater.

13. The beverage-making appliance of claim 12, wherein the plane in which the printed circuit board extends is parallel to the horizontal plane.

14. The beverage-making appliance of any preceding claim, wherein:the control unit comprises a / the printed circuit board including at least one electronic component for controlling operation of the electrical heater and / or electrical actuator;the 360° cordless electrical adapter part is arranged on the central axis of the beverage heating chamber; andthe printed circuit board and the electrical actuator are diametrically opposed about the central axis.

15. The beverage-making appliance of any of claims 11-14, wherein the printed circuit board and the electrical actuator are each mounted to the body of the control unit, diametrically opposed relative to the 360° cordless electrical adapter part.

16. The beverage-making appliance of any preceding claim, wherein:the beverage-making appliance comprises a floor that is arranged to contact an upper surface of the power base when the beverage-making appliance is positioned on the power base;the control compartment is defined between the base of the beverage5 heating chamber and the floor of the beverage-making appliance; and the ratio of the height of the control compartment to the height of the beverage heating chamber is between 1:10 and 1:3, e.g. between 1:7 and 1:4, e.g. approximately 1:5.10 17. The beverage-making appliance of any preceding claim, wherein:the beverage-making appliance comprises a floor that is arranged to contact an upper surface of the power base when the beverage-making appliance is positioned on the power base;the control compartment is defined between the base of the beverage15 heating chamber and the floor of the beverage-making appliance; andthe height of the control compartment is between 20 mm and 40 mm, e.g. between 25 mm and 35 mm, e.g. approximately 30 mm.s

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