US 10,420,439 B2 · Single liquid protein beverage dispensing system

Abstract

A single liquid protein beverage dispensing system is disclosed that automatically mixes a drink mix powder, such as protein powder, with a chilled or ambient temperature liquid, preferably water, to form a mixed protein liquid beverage or drink of uniform consistency. The system can provide for different amounts of water from a reservoir to be mixed with at least one or up to three different types of protein powders and then dispensed into a beverage container. The system has an electronic user interface by which the user can make various combinations of liquid amounts and powder selections to prepare a mixed drink. An advantageous feature of the system is that, because of the density and moisture content of every powder, the system provides vibration assistance for the powders to agitate during dispensing which prevents clumping of the powder in the liquid during mixing of the powder with the liquid to provide a beverage admixture of uniform consistency.

Drawings

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Drawings

Claims15

Dependent claims

A single liquid protein beverage mixing and dispensing system comprising:

a. a cabinet, wherein the cabinet houses a liquid reservoir, a powder unit, a mixing unit, a dispensing system, and a control unit;
b. the liquid reservoir being configured to dispense a liquid into the mixing unit after the powder unit dispenses a powder into the mixing unit, the liquid reservoir being removable from the cabinet;
c. the powder unit for storage of a protein powder including an agitator and an auger configured to dispense the powder into the mixing unit, the agitator being integral with the auger;
d. the mixing unit containing an mixing blade to mix the liquid with the protein powder and to dispense the mixed liquid and powder as an admixture beverage, wherein the mixing unit is in communication with the powder unit and the liquid reservoir, and further wherein the mixing unit is removable from the cabinet;
and
e. the dispensing system being a part of the mixing unit and including a dispensing valve, the dispensing system being configured to direct the movement of admixture beverage into a removable beverage container;
wherein the agitator, auger, and mixing blade are each located vertically above the removable beverage container;
and
wherein the mixing blade is disposed facing downward towards the removable beverage container, oriented inverted relative to the earth.

6 more elements

A single liquid protein beverage mixing and dispensing system comprising:

a. a cabinet, wherein the cabinet houses a liquid reservoir, a powder unit, a mixing unit, a dispensing system, and a control unit;
b. the liquid reservoir being configured for storage of a liquid and to dispense the liquid into a mixing unit after the powder unit dispenses a powder into a mixing unit, which reservoir is removable from the cabinet;
c. the powder unit for storage of a protein powder, which powder unit has at least two powder chambers removably seating within the powder unit, and further each of which powder chamber has an agitator integral with an auger within the powder chamber;
wherein the auger assists with dispensing the protein powder by means of vertically linear motion;
d. the mixing unit containing an mixing blade disposed inverted relative to the Earth for mixing of the liquid with the protein powder and to dispense the mixed liquid and powder as an admixture beverage, which mixing unit is in communication with the powder unit, and further which mixing unit is removable from the cabinet;
e. the dispensing system including a dispensing valve as part of the mixing unit, the dispensing system being configured to direct the flow of admixture beverage into a removable beverage container;
and
a control unit with a plurality of selectable programming buttons which allows a user to select variable amounts of powder and liquid;
wherein the control unit is in communication with the liquid reservoir and the powder unit such that the control unit is configured to regulate the amount of liquid and amount of powder dispensed into the mixing unit per the selected amounts;
and wherein the control unit is also in communication with the mixing unit to mix and dispense admixture beverage into the removable beverage container;
wherein the system is configured to agitate the power in the powder unit with the agitator, and simultaneously dispense the agitated powder using the auger downward out of the powder unit and into the mixing unit.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description4,490 words

Summary1,131 words

#Field of the Invention

#The present invention is in the field of beverage dispensing systems, and more particularly, protein beverage dispensing systems.

#Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed under 37 CFR § 1.97 and 37 CFR § 1.98

Brief description of the drawings14 figures

#FIG. 1 is a perspective, exploded view of a single liquid protein beverage dispensing system of the present invention.

#FIG. 2A is a top, front and right side perspective view of the system of the present invention.

#FIG. 2B is a front and right side perspective view of the system of the present invention.

Detailed description3,067 words

#2 dispensing system 4 powder chamber 6 agitator 7 auger 8 reservoir 10 cabinet 11 powder unit 12 powder unit top plate 13 powder unit bottom plate 14 powder chute opening 15 mixing unit 16 mixing unit top plate 17 mixing chute opening 18 mixing blade 20 cabinet top plate 22 cabinet bottom plate 24 cabinet back plate 26 power cord 28 cabinet feet 30 reservoir volume indicator 32 control panel 33 control display 34 control knob 36 container plate 38 electronic control unit 40 beverage container 42 mixing blade motor 43 mixing blade motor engagement gear 44 dispensing valve 46 reservoir pump 47 reservoir valve 48 powder unit vibration and agitation motor 50 powder unit powder chamber auger rotation and agitator operation motor 51 mixing unit lock servo motor 52 power supply 54 dispensing valve solenoid

#The advantages of the system of the present invention include, without limitation, convenience and time savings over traditional protein beverage or drink mixing and preparation methods. In a preferred broad embodiment, the system of the present invention is a single liquid protein beverage dispensing system.

#The present invention is a single liquid protein beverage dispensing system. The system automatically mixes powdered protein with chilled, or ambient or room temperature, liquid or preferably, water, to form a mixed protein and liquid drink. The machine or system of the present invention provides convenience and admixture consistency over the traditional protein drink preparation manual shaker bottles. The single liquid protein beverage dispensing system of the present invention can deliver different amounts of liquid, preferably water, from a liquid reservoir container using an actuator. The system of the present invention allows a user to select from at least one or up to three different types of protein powders to mix with a liquid and dispense into a container provided by a user. The water may be maintained at room temperature in the dispensing system of the present invention or may be chilled with an actuator. A front panel of the system of the present invention has an electronic user interface and controls for a user to make selections of protein powder amounts and types and liquid amounts to be mixed to prepare and dispense a single liquid protein beverage. The electronic user interface may be operable manually, by touch screen or by wireless means such as a Bluetooth® technology compatible application such as for a smart phone or device.

Facts

Application

15/154,914Filed 13 May 2016 · us provisional application

Priority

13 Mar 2015

Published

US 2016/0263539 A115 Sep 2016

Granted

24 Sep 2019

Term ends

13 May 2036

Estimated · how

20 years from earliest known nonprovisional domestic filing plus recorded patent term adjustment. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification7 codes

A47J 31/462
Dispensing spouts, pumps, drain valves or like liquid transporting devices: with an intermediate liquid storage tank
A47J 31/4403
Parts or details or accessories of beverage-making apparatus: constructional details
B01F 23/53
Mixing liquids with solids: using driven stirrers
B01F 27/807
Wherein the stirrers or the receptacles are moved in order to bring them into operative position; Means for fixing the receptacle: with the…

Timeline

13 Mar 2015Priority claimedParent application 62/113,407
13 May 2016Application filedUS 15/154,914
13 May 2016Assigned to Ez Protein LLCassignment of assignor's interest
15 Sep 2016PublishedUS 2016/0263539 A1
24 Sep 2019GrantedUS 10,420,439 B2
12 Oct 2026TodayWithin its term
13 May 2036Term endsEstimated

Single liquid protein beverage dispensing system

Life of this patent

Single liquid protein beverage dispensing system

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims15

Description4,490 words

Drawings

Classification7 codes

Life of this patent

Description4,490 words