IP Library Granted Patent US 11,896,026
Granted Patent B2
US 11,896,026 · App. 17/215,192 · Granted Feb 13, 2024

Systems and methods for distributing and dispensing chocolate

Inventors: Matthew J. Rubin (Indianapolis, IN); Adam Ambrecht (Kennesaw, GA)
Assignee: TRADE SECRET CHOCOLATES
A23G1/202A23G1/0013A23G1/0036A23G1/0046A23G1/0056B67D3/0012B67D3/0022B67D7/0216B67D7/82B67D1/0001B67D1/045B67D1/0431
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,896,026
App. No.
17/215,192
Granted
Feb 13, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems for dispensing chocolate, in one aspect including an exterior housing with first volume; a vertical support member; a base support member; a dispenser guiding member within the first volume; an extruder connection member extending through the housing and having a first end within the housing and a second end outside of the housing, defining a pivot axis; an extruder member connected to the first end; a lever connected to the second end; at least one extruder guide member within the first volume and connected to the extruder member; and at least one extruder guide rail connected to the housing within the first volume and capable of receiving the at least one extruder guide member; and where manual actuation of the lever pivots the extruder member in cooperation with the at least one extruder guide member.

Claims (41)

1. A content dispensing system comprising:

an exterior housing defining a first volume;

a vertical support member operationally connected to the exterior housing;

a base support member operationally connected to the vertical support member;

a dispenser guiding member disposed within the first volume and operationally connected to the exterior housing;

an extruder connection member extending through the exterior housing and having a first end within the exterior housing and a second end outside of the exterior housing, and defining a pivot axis;

an extruder member disposed within the exterior housing and operationally connected to the first end;

a lever disposed outside of the exterior housing and operationally connected to the second end;

at least one extruder guide member disposed within the first volume and operationally connected to the extruder member; and

at least one extruder guide rail operationally connected to the exterior housing within the first volume and capable of receiving the at least one extruder guide member;

wherein actuation of the lever pivots the extruder member in cooperation with the at least one extruder guide member;

a bulkhead positioned in the housing and bifurcating the first volume into separate second and third volumes, wherein the extruder member is disposed within the second volume;

an aperture formed through the housing for fluidic communication with the second volume;

a first deformable pouch positioned in the second volume;

wherein the first deformable pouch is in fluidic communication with the aperture;

wherein pivoting of the lever yields an urging force applied to the first deformable pouch.

2. The content dispensing system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a heating element in thermal communication with the first volume.

3. The content dispensing system of claim 1 , wherein the first deformable pouch contains chocolate; and wherein the chocolate contains less than 3% water.

4. The content dispensing system of claim 1 , wherein the chocolate is solid at room temperature.

5. The content dispensing device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a second deformable pouch positioned in the third volume, wherein the second deformable pouch is substantially identical to the first deformable pouch.

6. The content dispensing system of claim 1 ,

further comprising:

a cover member operationally connected to the housing;

wherein engagement of the cover member with the housing substantially isolates the first volume from an outside environment, and

wherein disengagement of the cover member from the housing allows the deformable pouches to be moved into and out of the second and third volumes.

7. The content dispensing system of claim 6 , wherein the at least one extruder guide rail is operationally connected to the cover member; wherein engagement of the cover member preloads the at least one extruder guide member and the extruder member; and wherein disengagement of the cover member unloads the at least one extruder guide member and the extruder member.

8. The content dispensing system of claim 1 , further comprising:

at least one interlocking structure member operationally connected to the base support member and configured to interface with other interlocking structure members;

at least one power interlock member capable of electrical communication, operationally connected to the vertical support member, and selected from the group comprising: at least one female power interlock member; at least one power interlock male member; or combinations thereof.

9. The content dispensing system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a digital identifier system operationally connected to the housing;

at least one digital identifier in electric communication with the digital identifier system; and

at least one data interface in electric communication with the digital identifier system.

10. The content dispensing system of claim 9 , further comprising:

a display receiver operationally connected to the housing; and

a display in electric communication with the display receiver.

11. The content dispensing system of claim 1 , further comprising:

at least one interlocking structure members operationally connected to the base support member and configured to interface with other interlocking structure members;

at least one power interlock member capable of electrical communication, operationally connected to the vertical support member, and selected from the group comprising: at least one female power interlock member; at least one power interlock male member; or combinations thereof.

Assignments (2)
MERGER Recorded Oct 16, 2023
From: TRADE SECRET CHOCOLATES INC.
To: TRUE ESSENCE FOODS INC.
Reel/Frame 065239/0868 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 24, 2022
From: RUBIN, MATTHEW J; AMBRECHT, ADAM
To: TRADE SECRET CHOCOLATES
Reel/Frame 059089/0666 →
Continuity (8)
Continuation 15923971 · Mar 16, 2018
Continuation In Part PCTUS2015054968 · Oct 9, 2015
Continuation In Part 14879984 · Oct 9, 2015
Continuation In Part 14879997 · Oct 9, 2015
Provisional Application 62472193 · Mar 16, 2017
Provisional Application 62115339 · Feb 12, 2015
Provisional Application 62061856 · Oct 9, 2014
Related Publication 20210282426A1 · Sep 16, 2021