IP Library Granted Patent US 10,342,376
Granted Patent B2
US 10,342,376 · App. 15/588,185 · Granted Jul 9, 2019

Beverage mixing device

Inventors: Yann Mieville (Pomy, CH); Cedric Beausire (Bavois, CH)
Assignee: Nestec S.A.
A47J31/404A47J31/401A47J31/4403
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,342,376
App. No.
15/588,185
Granted
Jul 9, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A beverage production apparatus includes a mixing chamber for producing a beverage from a soluble ingredient and a liquid, and a chamber receiving area for receiving the mixing chamber. The mixing chamber is removable from the chamber receiving area. The chamber receiving area includes an upper part, and the upper part is removable from the beverage production apparatus.

Claims (27)

1. A beverage production apparatus comprising:

a chamber receiving area comprising an upper part; and

a mixing chamber configured to be selectively inserted into and removed from the chamber receiving area, the mixing chamber is positioned in the beverage production apparatus by insertion of the mixing chamber into the chamber receiving area, and the insertion of the mixing chamber into the chamber receiving area directs the mixing chamber into a position in which the upper part of the chamber receiving area extends above and around a top opening of the mixing chamber, the upper part comprises a top surface that is at least partly downwardly tilted toward an opening of the mixing chamber and facing the opening of the mixing chamber upon the insertion of the mixing chamber into the interior of the chamber receiving area.

2. The beverage production apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the upper part is removable from the beverage production apparatus.

3. The beverage production apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the insertion of the mixing chamber into the chamber receiving area directs the mixing chamber into a position surrounded by the chamber receiving area.

4. The beverage production apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the upper part comprises an insertion member configured to insert into the beverage production apparatus.

5. The beverage production apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the insertion member comprises rims configured to slide within grooves inside the beverage production apparatus.

6. The beverage production apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the chamber receiving area comprises a slider comprising a receiver configured to receive the mixing chamber.

7. The beverage production apparatus of claim 6 , further comprising a lever configured to lock the mixing chamber in the slider.

8. The beverage production apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the upper part and the slider comprise rims and grooves configured to slide the slider with respect to the upper part.

9. The beverage production apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the receiver comprises grooves configured to slidably receive rims provided on the mixing chamber.

10. The beverage production apparatus according to claim 6 , further comprising:

a motor configured to move the slider;

a current sensor configured to measure a current of the motor and compare the measured current with a predetermined threshold value; and

a light that can be activated to be perceived by the user and is configured to issue a warning signal when the measured current exceeds the predetermined threshold value.

11. The beverage production apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the slider comprises a diluent inlet that cooperates with a diluent inlet of the mixing chamber.

12. The beverage production apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising a liquid reservoir and a pump configured to transport diluent from the liquid reservoir to a heater and then to the diluent inlet of the mixing chamber.

13. The beverage production apparatus of claim 6 , further comprising a dosing unit configured to deliver a dose of a soluble beverage ingredient from an ingredient container into the mixing chamber.

14. The beverage production apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the slider is configured to move the mixing chamber from a mixing position into a dosing position, a distance from the dosing unit to the mixing chamber in the mixing position is greater than a distance from the dosing unit to the mixing chamber in the dosing position.

15. The beverage production apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the dosing unit comprises a gear wheel configured to act on a connecting rod that connects the gear wheel and the slider to translate rotation of the gear wheel into a translational relative movement of the slider in respect to the upper part.

16. The beverage production apparatus according to claim 13 , further comprising:

a motor configured to operate the dosing unit;

a current sensor configured to measure a current of the motor and compare the measured current with a predetermined threshold value; and

a light that can be activated to be perceived by the user and is configured to issue a warning signal when the measured current exceeds the predetermined threshold value.

17. The beverage production apparatus of claim 13 , further comprising a soluble ingredient reservoir placed above the chamber receiving area and coupled with the dosing unit.

18. The beverage production apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the insertion of the mixing chamber into the chamber receiving area places the mixing chamber directly above a service tray configured to support a receptacle to receive a beverage from the mixing chamber.

19. The beverage production apparatus of claim 1 , wherein bottoms of lateral sides of the upper part of the chamber receiving area define a surface that is smaller than a top surface of the mixing chamber.

Assignments (5)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE PATENT NUMBER 16062921 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 049391 FRAME 0756. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE PATENT NUMBER SHOULD HAVE BEEN 16062912. Recorded Jul 3, 2020
From: NESTEC S.A.
To: SOCIÉTÉ DES PRODUITS NESTLÉ S.A.
Reel/Frame 054082/0001 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE PATENT NUMBER 16062921 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 049391 FRAME 0756. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE PATENT NUMBER SHOULD HAVE BEEN 16062912. Recorded Jul 3, 2020
From: NESTEC S.A.
To: SOCIÉTÉ DES PRODUITS NESTLÉ S.A.
Reel/Frame 054082/0165 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ENGLISH TRANSLATION TO SHOW THE FULL AND CORRECT NEW NAME IN SECTION 51. PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 049391 FRAME: 0756. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE MERGER. Recorded Jun 13, 2019
From: NESTEC S.A.
To: SOCIÉTÉ DES PRODUITS NESTLÉ S.A.
Reel/Frame 049853/0398 →
MERGER Recorded Jun 6, 2019
From: NESTEC S.A.
To: SOCIÉTÉ DES PRODUITS NESTLÉ S.A.
Reel/Frame 049391/0756 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 8, 2017
From: MIEVILLE, YANN; BEAUSIRE, CEDRIC
To: NESTEC S.A.
Reel/Frame 044070/0178 →
Priority Claims (1)
EP 13169610 · May 29, 2013 · regional
Continuity (2)
Continuation 14894592
Related Publication 20170238754A1 · Aug 24, 2017