IP Library Granted Patent US 11,160,412
Granted Patent B2
US 11,160,412 · App. 16/301,575 · Granted Nov 2, 2021

Beverage preparation device

Inventors: Flavien Dubief (Champagne, CH); Larry Baudet (Font, CH)
Assignee: Societe des Produits Nestle S.A.
A47J31/401A47J31/60
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,160,412
App. No.
16/301,575
Granted
Nov 2, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

The invention concerns a beverage preparation device ( 10 ), said device comprising:—a chamber ( 1 ) for receiving and agitating a liquid, said chamber comprising an opened top ( 11 ), an opened bottom ( 12 ) and a lateral side wall ( 13 ), said chamber presenting the shape of a solid of revolution, the axis of revolution (XX′) being oriented between the top and the bottom of the chamber, —a rotating unit ( 2 ) for spinning the chamber ( 1 ) around its axis of revolution (XX′), and wherein the chamber presents a shape such that when the chamber is spinning, liquid present in the chamber forms a ring of liquid along the lateral side wall ( 13 ) of the chamber above the opened bottom ( 12 ).

Claims (28)

1. A method for preparing a beverage with a beverage preparation device comprising a chamber for receiving and containing a liquid; the beverage preparation device further comprising a rotating unit for spinning the chamber around an axis of revolution; the method comprising:

a) spinning the chamber, wherein the chamber comprises a top including a top opening, a bottom including a bottom opening, and a lateral side wall, wherein the top opening and the bottom opening are directly opposite each other, and wherein the chamber is shaped symmetrical to the axis of revolution extending between the top and the bottom;

b) introducing at least one beverage component of the beverage, the at least one beverage component including the liquid, in the chamber during the spinning of the chamber such that the liquid present in the chamber forms a ring of the liquid along the lateral side wall of the chamber above the bottom opening;

c) keeping the spinning of the chamber until the beverage is prepared; and

d) stopping the spinning and enabling dispensing of the beverage through the bottom opening of the chamber.

2. The method according to claim 1 comprising a rinsing step wherein water is introduced in the chamber while the chamber is spinning.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein:

the beverage comprises a first part and a second part;

the first part of the beverage is produced by implementing steps a) to d), and wherein the second part of the beverage is produced by implementing steps a) to d) again;

wherein a first rotational speed of the chamber during steps b) and c) for producing the first part of the beverage differs from a second rotational speed of the chamber during steps b) and c) for producing the second part of the beverage, and

wherein the first and second rotational speeds have a configuration selected from the group consisting of (i) the first rotational speed is set for enabling production of froth, and the second rotational speed is set for avoiding production of froth; and (ii) the second rotational speed is set for enabling production of froth, and the first rotational speed is set for avoiding production of froth.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the chamber has a diameter, and in a vertical cross section of the chamber:

the diameter is largest at a point between the top and the bottom of the chamber;

the diameter decreases as the chamber extends from the point to the top of the chamber; and

the diameter decreases as the chamber extends from the point to the bottom of the chamber; and

wherein step b) comprises introducing the at least one beverage component of the beverage in the chamber during the spinning of the chamber such that the liquid present in the chamber forms the ring of the liquid in the chamber at the point where the diameter is largest.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the chamber is positioned inside the beverage preparation device so that a lower part of the lateral side wall has a slope of at least 5° relative to horizontal, and the dispensing of the beverage comprises directing the beverage along the lower part of the lateral side wall and through the bottom opening of the chamber.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the chamber is positioned inside the beverage preparation device so that the axis of revolution extending between the top and the bottom of the chamber is oriented vertically, and step a) comprises spinning the chamber around the axis of rotation oriented vertically.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the chamber is positioned inside the beverage preparation device so that the axis of revolution extending between the top and the bottom of the chamber is inclined off the vertical, and step a) comprises spinning the chamber around the axis of rotation being inclined off the vertical.

8. The method according to claim 1 , comprising diverting the liquid introduced in the chamber through the top opening away from the bottom opening using a deflector.

9. The method according to claim 8 , wherein the diverting of the liquid by the deflector comprises directing the liquid toward an upper part of the lateral side wall of the chamber.

10. The method according to claim 1 , comprising supplying the liquid from a supply in the beverage preparation device through the top opening of the chamber into the chamber; and orienting the liquid in a position offset from the bottom opening of the chamber.

11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the beverage preparation device comprises a static mixer, the static mixer being positioned in an internal volume of the chamber such that the static mixer is crossed by the liquid when the liquid spins with the chamber, and step a) comprises spinning the chamber while the static mixer remains immobile.

12. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the spinning of the chamber is performed by a rotating motor cooperating with the chamber by at least one of a mechanical connection or an electromagnetic induction.

13. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the spinning of the chamber comprises rotating a support holding the chamber.

14. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the chamber comprises a lip extending downwardly from an edge of the top opening.

15. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the spinning of the chamber begins before the introducing of the at least one beverage component.

16. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the stopping of the spinning is performed before the dispensing of the beverage through the bottom opening of the 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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 31, 2019
From: DUBIEF, FLAVIEN; BAUDET, LARRY
To: NESTEC S.A.
Reel/Frame 049911/0847 →
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 →
Priority Claims (1)
EP 16169857 · May 17, 2016 · regional
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20190290052A1 · Sep 26, 2019