# US 8,770,239 B2 · Funnel for food processing and related method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,770,239 B2 - Document ID: US8770239B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/361,993 - Filed: 2012-01-31 - Published: 2013-08-01 - Granted: 2014-07-08 - Earliest claimed: 2012-01-31 - Applicants: Jerrod Charles Sessler - Inventors: Jerrod Charles Sessler - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8770239B2 ## CPC - B67C 11/02: without discharge valves - B67C: CLEANING, FILLING WITH LIQUIDS OR SEMILIQUIDS, OR EMPTYING, OF BOTTLES, JARS, CANS, CASKS, BARRELS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; FUNNELS ## Abstract A funnel for use in juice making processes and related method of using the funnel are disclosed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A funnel for use in juice making processes, said funnel comprising: a bowl portion having an entrance opening, an intermediate resting portion, and a stem portion having an inner surface, a top opening and an exit opening, wherein said entrance opening is bigger than said top opening and than said exit opening, and said top opening is bigger than said exit opening; wherein said stem portion is connected to said bowl portion by said intermediate resting portion; said intermediate resting portion is flared up from said top opening of said stem portion to said bowl portion at an angle ranging from about 5 degrees to about 20 degrees; said stem portion is tapered down from said top opening to said exit opening; said stem portion further comprises at least three unevenly spaced protrusions extending inwardly from the inner surface of said stem portion to prevent food products from sticking to the inner surface of said stem portion; and said entrance opening is in conformance with a shape of said bowl portion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A funnel according to claim 1, wherein said exit opening is generally circular and said stem portion is generally cylindrical, with a diameter of said exit opening being about from 3% to about 15% smaller than a diameter of said top opening. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A funnel according to claim 1, wherein said exit opening is partially circular having at least one flat portion, and wherein said stem portion is partially cylindrical having at least one corresponding flat sidewall surface extending longitudinally upward from said at least one flat portion to a distance equal to at least about 30% of the height of said stem portion. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A funnel according to claim 3, wherein the diameter of said top opening being from about 3% to about 15% bigger than the biggest diameter of said exit opening. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) A funnel according to claim 3, wherein a height of said stem portion is from about 40% to 70% of the biggest diameter of said exit opening. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A funnel according to claim 1, wherein a height and a width of said protrusions are in the range from about 5% to about 12% of the diameter of said exit opening. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A funnel according to claim 1, wherein said protrusions having either u-shaped or v-shaped profile. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A funnel according to claim 1, wherein said protrusions extend longitudinally downward from said top opening of said stem portion to a distance equal to at least about 10% of the height of said stem portion. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A funnel according to claim 1, wherein said protrusions extend longitudinally from said top opening of said stem portion all the way to said exit opening, thereby forming matching protrusions in said exit opening. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A funnel according to claim 1, wherein said bowl portion is generally spherical in shape. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A funnel according to claim 1, wherein said bowl portion is partially spherical in shape. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A funnel according to claim 1, wherein a shape of said bowl portion is formed by a plurality of flat surfaces and a plurality of generally spherical surfaces. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A funnel according to claim 1, wherein a height of said stem portion is from about 40% to about 70% of the diameter of said exit opening. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A funnel according to claim 1, wherein said bowl portion, said intermediate resting portion, and said stem portion are non-integrally connected with each other thereby forming a non-monolithical funnel comprised of three separate portions connected together. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) A funnel according to claim 1, wherein said bowl portion, said intermediate resting portion, and said stem portion are integrally connected with each other thereby forming a monolithical funnel comprised of one part. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) A funnel according to claim 1, wherein said bowl portion is integrally connected to said intermediate resting portion thereby forming a monolithical part that is in turn non-integrally connected to said stem portion thereby forming a semi-monolithical funnel comprised of two separate parts connected together. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) A funnel according to claim 1, wherein said intermediate resting portion is integrally connected to said stem portion thereby forming a monolithical part that is in turn non-integrally connected to said bowl portions thereby forming a semi-monolithical funnel comprised of two separate parts connected together. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) A method of using a funnel according to claim 1, said method comprising the steps of inserting a funnel into a chute of a juicer or a blender, turning on said juicer or said blender, loading a food product into said funnel, processing said food product into a juicy substance or juice, and optionally re-processing the food droppings or exhaust from the juicer or blender. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) A method according to claim 18, wherein said food product is selected from the group consisting of fruits, vegetables, or combination thereof.