# US 7,182,269 B2 · Fountain that flows with fluidic material > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,182,269 B2 - Document ID: US7182269B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/253,399 - Filed: 2005-10-19 - Published: 2006-02-23 - Granted: 2007-02-27 - Earliest claimed: 2003-10-31 - Assignees: Sephra L.P. - Inventors: Richard B. Muir; William F. Polley; Devan B. Muir; Wu C. Liang - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7182269B2 ## CPC - A23G 1/50: characterised by shape, structure or physical form, e.g. products with an inedible support (liquid products or solid products in the form of powders, flakes or granules for making liquid products A23G1/56) - A23G 1/042: {Manufacture or treatment of liquids, creams, pastes, granules, shreds or powders} - A23G 1/18: Apparatus for conditioning chocolate masses for moulding - A23G 3/0091: {Coating by casting of liquids} - A23G 3/0093: {Coating by dipping in a liquid, at the surface of which another liquid or powder may be floating} - A23G 3/22: Apparatus for coating by casting {of liquids} - A23G 3/24: Apparatus for coating by dipping {in a liquid, at the surface of which another liquid or powder may be floating} - B05B 17/085: {designed to produce sheets or curtains of liquid, e.g. water walls} - Y10T 29/49826: Assembling or joining - A23G: COCOA; COCOA PRODUCTS, e.g. CHOCOLATE; SUBSTITUTES FOR COCOA OR COCOA PRODUCTS; CONFECTIONERY; CHEWING GUM; ICE-CREAM; PREPARATION THEREOF - B05B: SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES (spray-mixers with nozzles B01F25/72; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces by spraying B05D) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A fountain for heating and distributing fluidic material is manufactured using various processes and materials so that the fountain is more easily cleaned and sanitized, has improved performance, and is easier to assemble. In one embodiment, the chocolate fountain includes a heating element encased in an aluminum enclosure. A basin containing chocolate is heated by contact with the aluminum enclosure. Because the aluminum enclosure has a relatively high thermal conductivity, the basin is heating substantially uniformly, thus reducing the occurrence of hot spots. Additionally, a plastic auger having a spiral flight rotates and lifts the melted chocolate upward to a top end of cylinder that houses the auger. The use of a plastic auger advantageously eliminates welding artifacts on the auger, such as burrs and pits, on which melted chocolate may accumulate. Accordingly, the plastic auger is easy to clean. A smaller chocolate fountain that may advantageously be more suitable for home use is also described herein. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus comprising: a basin having a bottom surface and an outer side surrounding the bottom surface, the basin being configured to contain a fluidic material within the basin; a heating element configured to heat the fluidic material within the basin; a cylinder having a top end and a bottom end, wherein the bottom end is in proximity to the bottom surface of the basin so that the cylinder extends substantially perpendicular from the bottom surface, the cylinder comprising a first external diameter at a first location and a second external diameter larger than the first external diameter at a second location that is below the first location so as to define a step sized to support a structure having an aperture with a diameter that is substantially equal to the first external diameter; an auger having a spiral flight comprising a plurality of revolutions extending along a length of the auger, wherein the auger is disposed within the cylinder; and a source of rotation coupled to the auger and configured to rotate the auger inside the cylinder, wherein the spiral flight supports the fluidic material as the auger rotates, moving the fluidic material upwardly within the cylinder. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fluidic material flows from the top end of the cylinder onto the upper surface of the structure and flows downwardly to the basin. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the structure is bowl shaped so that an outer perimeter of the structure is curved towards the basin. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fluidic material comprises melted chocolate. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the source of rotation comprises an electric motor. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the electric motor is mounted so that a drive shaft rotates parallel to the auger and wherein a belt is coupled to the drive shaft and the auger so that the drive shaft rotates the auger. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the electric motor is mounted so that a drive shaft directly engages the auger so that the drive shaft rotates the auger. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a crown mounted on the top end of the cylinder, wherein the fluidic material flows from the top end of the cylinder onto the crown and then onto the upper surface of the structures. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein a surface of the crown on which the fluidic material flows is substantially free of welding artifacts. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the crown is mounted on the top end of the cylinder so that a portion of the crown extends below the top end of the cylinder, and wherein the crown is configured so that the fluidic material does not contact the portion of the crown that extends below the top end of the cylinder. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a second structure mounted on the cylinder, wherein the fluidic material flows on an upper surface of the second structure. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a third structure mounted on the cylinder, wherein the fluidic material flows on an upper surface of the third structure.