# US 11,224,233 B2 · Systems and methods for distributing and dispensing chocolate

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- Number: US 11,224,233 B2
- Document ID: US11224233B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/923,974
- Filed: 2018-03-16
- Published: 2018-10-25
- Granted: 2022-01-18
- Earliest claimed: 2015-10-09
- Applicants: Trade Secret Chocolates
- Inventors: Matthew J. Rubin; Adam D. Ambrecht
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11224233B2

## CPC

- A23G 1/202: {Apparatus in which the material is shaped at least partially by a die; Extrusion of cross-sections or plates, optionally with an associated cutting device}
- A23G 1/0013: {Weighing or portioning processes}
- A23G 1/0036: {Conching}
- A23G 1/0046: {Processes for conditioning chocolate masses for moulding}
- A23G 1/0056: {Processes in which the material is shaped at least partially by a die; Extrusion of cross-sections or plates, optionally with associated cutting}
- B67D 1/0001: {by squeezing collapsible or flexible storage containers (B67D1/0462 takes precedence)}
- B67D 1/0047: {with movable parts, e.g. for stirring}
- B67D 1/0431: {power-operated}
- B67D 1/045: {using elastic bags and pistons actuated by air or other gas}
- B67D 1/0462: {Squeezing collapsible or flexible beverage containers, e.g. bag-in-box containers}
- B67D 1/0804: {Shape or materials}
- B67D 1/0895: {Heating arrangements}
- B67D 3/0012: {provided with mixing devices}
- B67D 3/0022: {provided with heating arrangements}
- B67D 3/0067: {relating to shape or materials, e.g. bag-in-box packages [BIB], pouches}
- B67D 3/045: {with a closing element having a linear movement, in a direction parallel to the seat}
- B67D 7/0216: {by squeezing collapsible or flexible storage containers (B67D7/0255 takes precedence; for dispensing beverages on draught B67D1/0001)}
- B67D 7/82: Heating only
- B67D 2210/00102: Heating only
- B67D 2210/00144: Magnets, e.g. used in valves or for stirring
- A23G: COCOA; COCOA PRODUCTS, e.g. CHOCOLATE; SUBSTITUTES FOR COCOA OR COCOA PRODUCTS; CONFECTIONERY; CHEWING GUM; ICE-CREAM; PREPARATION THEREOF
- B67D: DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (cleaning pipes or tubes or systems of pipes or tubes B08B9/02; emptying or filling of bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels, or similar containers, not otherwise provided for B67C; water supply E03; pipe systems F17D; domestic hot-water supply systems F24D; measuring volume, volume flow, mass flow or liquid level, metering by volume G01F; coin-freed or like apparatus G07F)

## Abstract

Content containers and vessels, one aspect including a deformable fluid-tight container shell defining an internal volume and separating the internal volume from an external environment; a room-temperature semi-solid content contained within the internal volume; and a valve operationally connected to and disposed at least partially without the deformable container shell; where the semi-solid content is a hydrophobic matrix with at least partially emulsified hydrophilic components; where the container shell is substantially fluid-tight; where the valve has open state(s) and a closed state; where the valve may be actuated between the open state(s) and the closed state; where the valve is self-cleaning; where during the open state(s), the internal volume is in fluidic communication with the external environment; where during the closed state, the internal volume content cannot fluidically communicate with the external environment; and where the content remains moisture-stable while the valve is in the closed state.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A content dispensing container, comprising:
a deformable fluid-tight container shell defining an internal volume and separating the internal volume from an external environment;
a room-temperature semi-solid chocolate content contained within the internal volume and maintained at a temperature of about 46 degrees Celsius such that a viscous liquid is contained within the internal volume;
a valve operationally connected to and disposed at least partially without the deformable container shell; and
a mousehole cutout formed through the deformable fluid-tight container for alignment of the deformable fluid-tight container in a dispenser;
wherein the deformable fluid-tight container shell is generally oval with two curved sides meeting at a pair of oppositely disposed corners to yield an ‘eye-like’ profile;
wherein the deformable fluid-tight container shell has a constantly changing cross-sectional distance from one respective corner to the other as measured perpendicular to a line extending from one respective corner to the other;
wherein the mousehole cutout and constantly changing cross-sectional distance from one respective corner to the other enable an extruder member to efficiently extrude contents of the deformable fluid-tight container without the deformable fluid-tight container folding over on itself and/or excessively deforming;
wherein the semi-solid chocolate content is a hydrophobic matrix with at least partially emulsified hydrophilic components suspended therein;
wherein the semi-solid chocolate content has been vacuum treated to outgas at least some volatile flavorant molecules to yield a semi-solid chocolate with a preferred molecular ratio;
wherein the container shell is substantially fluid-tight to preserve the preferred molecular ratio;
wherein the valve has at least one open state and a closed state;
wherein the valve may be actuated between the at least one open state and the closed state;
wherein the valve is self-cleaning;
wherein during the at least one open state, the internal volume is in fluidic communication with the external environment;
wherein during the closed state, the internal volume content cannot fluidically communicate with the external environment; and
wherein the content remains moisture-stable while the valve is in the closed state.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The content dispensing container of claim 1, wherein the content contains less than 3% water.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The content dispensing container of claim 1, wherein the valve is selected from the group comprising: a twist-type valve, a press-type valve, an anti-drain valve, a bulk dispenser, an exterior dispenser, and a ball valve.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The content dispensing of claim 1, wherein the matrix is cacao butter and wherein the at least partially emulsified hydrophilic components are cacao bean solids and ground sugar crystals.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The content dispensing container of claim 1, further comprising:
a container guiding structure formed into the container shell.