Granted Patent B2

US 12,733,658 · App. 19/342,182 · Granted Sep 15, 2026

Inventors: Matthew Roberts (Needham, MA); Michael Lerman (Providence, RI); Macrae Benziger (Dedham, MA); Alexander Mularski (Auburn, MA); Joyce Tu (Melrose, MA); Cameron John Auger (Watertown, MA)

Assignee: SharkNinja Operating LLC

A23G9/22A23G9/045

Abstract

Claims (53)

1 . A frozen drink machine configured to make and dispense a frozen drink, comprising:

a housing comprising a lower portion and an upper portion;

a mixing vessel removably coupled to the upper portion of the housing, wherein the mixing vessel comprises a proximal end, a distal portion having a distal end, an interior volume, and a distal opening disposed in the distal end;

a dispenser coupled to the proximal end of the mixing vessel;

an evaporator that extends through the distal opening and within the interior volume of the mixing vessel when the mixing vessel is coupled to the upper portion of the housing;

a dasher mounted around the evaporator and configured to rotate about a center axis;

a motor configured to rotate the dasher;

a seal abutting the distal portion of the mixing vessel when the mixing vessel is coupled to the upper portion of the housing; and

a lock rotatable from a locked position to an unlocked position,

wherein the lock secures the distal end of the mixing vessel to the upper portion of the housing in the locked position, and

wherein the lock is rotatable about an axis transverse to the center axis.

2 . The frozen drink machine of claim 1 , wherein the lock comprises a lever.

3 . The frozen drink machine of claim 1 , wherein the lock comprises a handle, and wherein the handle is disposed in a first position relative to the housing when the lock is in the locked position, and wherein the handle is disposed in a second position relative to the housing when the lock is in the unlocked position.

4 . The frozen drink machine of claim 1 , wherein the lock is at least partially disposed on the upper portion of the housing.

5 . The frozen drink machine of claim 1 , wherein the seal comprises a face seal portion and a radial seal portion extending proximally from the face seal portion, wherein the face seal portion abuts the distal end of the mixing vessel when the mixing vessel is coupled to the upper portion of the housing.

6 . The frozen drink machine of claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a groove, wherein the mixing vessel comprises a tab disposed on an outer surface of the mixing vessel, and wherein the tab is slidably disposed in the groove when the mixing vessel is coupled to the upper portion of the housing.

7 . The frozen drink machine of claim 1 , wherein the mixing vessel comprises a protrusion disposed on an outer surface of the mixing vessel and forming a channel, wherein the housing comprises a stop, and wherein the channel engages the stop when the mixing vessel is coupled to the upper portion of the housing.

8 . The frozen drink machine of claim 1 , wherein the seal abuts the distal end of the mixing vessel when the mixing vessel is coupled to the upper portion of the housing.

9 . The frozen drink machine of claim 1 , wherein the lock comprises a cam.

10 . The frozen drink machine of claim 9 , wherein the cam comprises a channel and the mixing vessel comprises a protrusion disposed on an exterior surface of the mixing vessel, and wherein the protrusion is slidably disposed in the channel when the mixing vessel is coupled to the upper portion of the housing.

11 . A frozen drink machine configured to make and dispense a frozen drink, comprising:

a housing comprising a lower portion and an upper portion, wherein the lower portion of the housing comprises an upper surface forming a tray slot;

a mixing vessel removably coupled to the upper portion of the housing, wherein the mixing vessel comprises a proximal end, a distal end, an interior volume, and a distal opening disposed in the distal end;

a dispenser coupled to the proximal end of the mixing vessel;

an evaporator that extends through the distal opening and within the interior volume of the mixing vessel when the mixing vessel is coupled to the upper portion of the housing;

a dasher removably mounted around the evaporator;

a motor configured to rotate the dasher;

a seal abutting the distal end of the mixing vessel when the mixing vessel is coupled to the upper portion of the housing;

a cam moveable from a locked position to an unlocked position, wherein the cam secures the distal end of the mixing vessel to the upper portion of the housing in the locked position;

a collection tray slidably disposed in the tray slot below the mixing vessel; and

a pour-in opening disposed in an outer surface of the mixing vessel between the proximal end of the mixing vessel and the distal end of the mixing vessel.

12 . The frozen drink machine of claim 11 , wherein the mixing vessel is transparent.

13 . The frozen drink machine of claim 11 , wherein the upper surface of the lower portion of the housing comprises a recess, and wherein the mixing vessel is at least partially disposed within the recess when the mixing vessel is coupled to the upper portion of the housing.

14 . The frozen drink machine of claim 11 , further comprising a drip tray disposed below the dispenser.

15 . The frozen drink machine of claim 11 , further comprising a cover moveably coupled to the pour-in opening.

16 . The frozen drink machine of claim 11 , wherein the pour-in opening further comprises a splash guard comprising an aperture.

17 . The frozen drink machine of claim 16 , wherein the splash guard comprises a bottom surface declined toward the aperture.

18 . The frozen drink machine of claim 11 , further comprising a temperature sensor configured to output a signal corresponding to a temperature of a liquid in the mixing vessel.

19 . The frozen drink machine of claim 18 , wherein the temperature sensor is disposed inside the interior volume of the mixing vessel when the mixing vessel is coupled to the upper portion of the housing.

20 . The frozen drink machine of claim 19 , wherein the temperature sensor is disposed proximate the proximal end of the mixing vessel.

21 . The frozen drink machine of claim 19 , wherein the temperature sensor is coupled to the evaporator.

22 . A frozen drink machine configured to make and dispense a frozen drink, comprising:

a base unit comprising an upper housing portion and a lower housing portion;

a mixing vessel removably coupled to the base unit, wherein the mixing vessel comprises a proximal end, a distal portion having a distal end, an interior volume, and a distal opening disposed in the distal end;

a dispenser coupled to the proximal end of the mixing vessel;

an evaporator that extends through the distal opening and within the interior volume of the mixing vessel when the mixing vessel is coupled to the base unit;

a dasher mounted around the evaporator;

a motor configured to rotate the dasher; and

a seal abutting the distal portion of the mixing vessel when the mixing vessel is coupled to the base unit,

wherein the mixing vessel comprises a first locking portion integrally formed with the mixing vessel and extending radially from the mixing vessel,

wherein the first locking portion is configured to couple to a second locking portion disposed on the base unit,

wherein the second locking portion is rotatable between a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration, and

wherein the second locking portion comprises a channel configured to receive the first locking portion in the locked configuration.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (3)

References Cited (400)