IP Library Granted Patent US 10,966,566
Granted Patent B2
US 10,966,566 · App. 15/775,529 · Granted Apr 6, 2021

Foaming device

Inventor: Gregory Savioz (Saxonne, CH)
Assignee: Societe des Produits Nestle S.A.
A47J31/4496A47J31/4485B01F3/04453A01J11/04A23C7/00B01F2215/0006
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,966,566
App. No.
15/775,529
Granted
Apr 6, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

Pumping and foaming device ( 100 ) comprising a pumping and foaming unit ( 102 ) rotatable around a shaft ( 130 ) by driving means ( 104 ), the pumping and foaming unit ( 102 ) comprising a pumping element ( 110 ) whose rotation pumps both air and fluid and mixes them; the pumping and foaming unit ( 102 ) further comprising a foaming element ( 120 ) whose relative rotation in a foaming chamber ( 121 ) drives the mixture of air and fluid coming from the pumping element ( 110 ) under a certain level of shear stress which allows this mixture to be foamed.

Claims (15)

1. A system for providing a fluid foam on demand, the system comprising a pumping and foaming device comprising a pumping and foaming unit rotatable around a shaft by a driver, the pumping and foaming unit comprising a pumping element configured for rotation that pumps both air and fluid and mixes the air with the fluid to form a mixture; the pumping and foaming unit further comprising a foaming element configured for relative rotation in a foaming chamber to drive the mixture of the air and the fluid from the pumping element under a certain level of shear stress which foams the mixture, the system further comprises a driving member configured for driving in rotation the pumping and foaming unit, and the system further comprises an external air inlet through which the air enters the pumping and foaming device, and the system further comprises an adjustable valve configured for regulating an amount of the air entering the pumping and foaming device.

2. The system according to claim 1 comprising a heat source configured to heat the foam coming from the pumping and foaming unit before the foam is delivered.

3. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the foaming element comprises a rotatable element, and the rotatable element and a stationary part in the foaming chamber define a gap where the mixture of the air and the fluid is driven under the shear stress to foam the mixture.

4. A system for providing a fluid foam on demand, the system comprising a pumping and foaming device comprising a pumping and foaming unit rotatable around a shaft by a driver, the pumping and foaming unit comprising a pumping element configured for rotation that pumps both air and fluid and mixes the air with the fluid to form a mixture; the pumping and foaming unit further comprising a foaming element configured for relative rotation in a foaming chamber to drive the mixture of the air and the fluid from the pumping element under a certain level of shear stress which foams the mixture, the system further comprises a driving member configured for driving in rotation the pumping and foaming unit, and the system further comprises an external air inlet through which the air enters the pumping and foaming device,

wherein the foaming element comprises a rotatable element, and the rotatable element and a stationary part in the foaming chamber define a gap where the mixture of the air and the fluid is driven under the shear stress to foam the mixture, wherein the gap in the foaming chamber is between 0.2 mm and 1 mm.

5. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the pumping element comprises gears.

6. A system for providing a fluid foam on demand, the system comprising a pumping and foaming device comprising a pumping and foaming unit rotatable around a shaft by a driver, the pumping and foaming unit comprising a pumping element configured for rotation that pumps both air and fluid and mixes the air with the fluid to form a mixture; the pumping and foaming unit further comprising a foaming element configured for relative rotation in a foaming chamber to drive the mixture of the air and the fluid from the pumping element under a certain level of shear stress which foams the mixture, the system further comprises a driving member configured for driving in rotation the pumping and foaming unit, and the system further comprises an external air inlet through which the air enters the pumping and foaming device,

the system comprising a motor configured to drive the pumping and foaming unit such that the pumping element and the foaming element rotate around the shaft at a speed between 2,000 rpm and 10,000 rpm.

7. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the foaming element has a shape selected from the group consisting of a cylinder, a cone and a disc.

8. A system for providing a fluid foam on demand, the system comprising a pumping and foaming device comprising a pumping and foaming unit rotatable around a shaft by a driver, the pumping and foaming unit comprising a pumping element configured for rotation that pumps both air and fluid and mixes the air with the fluid to form a mixture; the pumping and foaming unit further comprising a foaming element configured for relative rotation in a foaming chamber to drive the mixture of the air and the fluid from the pumping element under a certain level of shear stress which foams the mixture, the system further comprises a driving member configured for driving in rotation the pumping and foaming unit, and the system further comprises an external air inlet through which the air enters the pumping and foaming device,

wherein the foaming element comprises at least one extension extending from at least one surface of the foaming element, the at least one extension configured to direct the fluid towards the foaming chamber.

9. A system for providing a fluid foam on demand, the system comprising a pumping and foaming device comprising a pumping and foaming unit rotatable around a shaft by a driver, the pumping and foaming unit comprising a pumping element configured for rotation that pumps both air and fluid and mixes the air with the fluid to form a mixture; the pumping and foaming unit further comprising a foaming element configured for relative rotation in a foaming chamber to drive the mixture of the air and the fluid from the pumping element under a certain level of shear stress which foams the mixture, the system further comprises a driving member configured for driving in rotation the pumping and foaming unit, and the system further comprises an external air inlet through which the air enters the pumping and foaming device,

the system comprising a component selected from the group consisting of a container, a cartridge, and a combination thereof, wherein the component is configured for the fluid to be pumped through the component, and the component comprises an air entry through which the air is pumped to mix with the fluid.

10. A system for providing a fluid foam on demand, the system comprising a pumping and foaming device comprising a pumping and foaming unit rotatable around a shaft by a driver, the pumping and foaming unit comprising a pumping element configured for rotation that pumps both air and fluid and mixes the air with the fluid to form a mixture; the pumping and foaming unit further comprising a foaming element configured for relative rotation in a foaming chamber to drive the mixture of the air and the fluid from the pumping element under a certain level of shear stress which foams the mixture, the system further comprises a driving member configured for driving in rotation the pumping and foaming unit, and the system further comprises an external air inlet through which the air enters the pumping and foaming device,

the system comprising a back-pumping valve connected to the air inlet and configured for preventing back-pumping of the fluid.

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 May 10, 2019
From: SAVIOZ, GRÉGORY
To: NESTEC S.A.
Reel/Frame 049142/0912 →