US 6,730,348 B2Granted

Slurried confection preparation and flavor-injected blending system and method

OwnerEric R. Miller, William Browninventors

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Abstract

Preparing a flavored confection includes using a disposable container of a neutral-flavored mix, which is transferred to a tempering freezer. The container is removed from the tempering freezer, and a selected syrup is pumped from a carton into the container for blending while the mix remains chilled. The syrup provides the selected flavor to the mix for serving within the disposable serving container. In another method, a flavored shake drink is prepared from the mix by dispensing flavored syrup through one of a plurality of dedicated nozzles, each in fluid communication with a corresponding solenoid control valve. A timer controls the valve open time to dispense a preselected amount of syrup. Switches are provided for doubling and halving the quantity of syrup for creating varying single-flavored and combination-flavored shakes. In addition to shielding around the blender spindle, a protective sleeve is placed within the cup for limiting splash during blending.

Claims1

Dependent claims

A method for preparing a flavored slurried confection, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a disposable serving container sufficiently sized for holding an individual serving of a slurried confection therein;
depositing a neutral flavored mix into the container, wherein the neutral flavored mix has a freezing point temperature lower than normally found for that of water;
storing the mix filled container within a storage freezer for maintaining the neutral flavored mix at a storage temperature;
maintaining the neutral flavored mix within the mix filled container at the storage temperature within the storage freezer;
transferring the mix filled container from the storage freezer to a tempering freezer for maintaining the neutral flavored mix at a blending temperature;
maintaining the neutral flavored mix within the mix filled container at the blending temperature within the tempering freezer;
removing the mix filled container from the tempering freezer for preparation of a flavored confection;
providing a plurality of flavored syrups;
manually positioning the mix filled container for pumping a selected syrup therein;
selecting a syrup from the plurality of flavored syrups;
pumping a quantity of the selected syrup into the mix filled container for blending the selected syrup with the neutral flavored mix;
blending the selected syrup with the neutral flavored mix while the mix remains chilled, whereby the quantity of syrup adds a selected flavor to the body and mass of the neutral flavored mix for forming the flavored slurried confection within the disposable serving container;
and
manually serving the flavored slurried confection for consumption within the disposable serving container.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/930,090Filed 15 Aug 2001 · continuation
Priority: 26 May 1995
Published: US 2002/0048626 A125 Apr 2002
Granted: 4 May 2004
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification16 codes

A23G 9/503
Products with edible or inedible supports, e.g. cornets: products with an inedible support, e.g. a stick
A23G 9/045
Production of frozen sweets, e.g. ice-cream: of slush-ice, e.g. semi-frozen beverage
A23G 9/12
Batch production: using means for stirring the contents in a non-moving container
A23G 9/28
Details, component parts or accessories of apparatus insofar as not peculiar to a single one of the preceding groups: for portioning or dispensing

Family

Application08/451,256Parent of this continuation · filed 26 May 1995
Application08/695,238Parent of this continuation · filed 8 Aug 1996
Application08/904,075Parent of this continuation · filed 31 Jul 1997
Application09/097,111Parent of this continuation · filed 12 Jun 1998
Application09/114,611Parent of this continuation · filed 13 Jul 1998
Application09/370,516Parent of this continuation · filed 6 Aug 1999
Application09/532,482Parent of this continuation · filed 22 Mar 2000
Application09/650,980Parent of this continuation · filed 29 Aug 2000
US 2002/0048626 A1Pre-grant publication · published 25 Apr 2002
US 6,068,875 AParent of this continuation
US 6,126,983 AParent of this continuation
US 5,948,461 AParent of this continuation
US 5,778,761 AParent of this continuation
US 5,653,157 AParent of this continuation
US 5,766,665 AParent of this continuation
US 6,730,348 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.