# US 9,516,970 B2 · Apparatus for creating a consumable liquid food or beverage product from frozen contents > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,516,970 B2 - Document ID: US9516970B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/151,731 - Filed: 2016-05-11 - Published: 2016-09-22 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2015-03-20 - Assignees: Meltz, LLC - Applicants: Meltz, LLC - Inventors: Matthew P. Roberts; Paul Kalenian; Douglas M. Hoon - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9516970B2 ## CPC - B65D 85/8043: {Packages adapted to allow liquid to pass through the contents (B65D85/808 takes precedence; filters or reusable cartridges for coffee or tea makers, not used as packages A47J31/06)} - A23L 2/385: Concentrates of non-alcoholic beverages - A47J 31/407: {with ingredient-containing cartridges; Cartridge-perforating means} - A47J 31/44: Parts or details {or accessories} of beverage-making apparatus (filters or strainers A47J31/06) - A47J 31/4492: {Means to read code provided on ingredient pod or cartridge} - B65D 85/72: for edible or potable liquids, semiliquids, or plastic or pasty materials - A23V 2002/00: Food compositions, function of food ingredients or processes for food or foodstuffs - B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES - A23L: FOODS, FOODSTUFFS OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; PREPARATION OR TREATMENT THEREOF (preservation thereof A23B) - A47J: KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES - A23V: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO FOODS, FOODSTUFFS OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES AND LACTIC OR PROPIONIC ACID BACTERIA USED IN FOODSTUFFS OR FOOD PREPARATION ## Abstract Techniques are provided for creating a consumable liquid food or beverage product from frozen contents. A container is configured for insertion into an apparatus. The container includes a frozen content, a receptacle defining an opening and a cavity for receiving and storing the frozen content, and a closure formed over the opening of the receptacle for sealing the frozen content within the cavity of the receptacle. The receptacle is perforable, and the container is configured for insertion into an apparatus that is configured to create a consumable liquid beverage from the frozen content within the container, such that the frozen content is extracted through a perforation created in the receptacle by the apparatus. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A dispenser for producing a food or beverage liquid product from a frozen contents in a receptacle, the dispenser comprising: a chamber configured to hold the receptacle, wherein the chamber includes chamber walls; a non-diluting heat source configured to heat at least one of the receptacle when held in the chamber and the frozen contents within the receptacle when held in the chamber, wherein the non-diluting heat source does not add liquid to an interior of the receptacle when held in the chamber and the non-diluting heat source includes at least one of a heater proximate to the chamber walls, an electric heater, a heated gas generator, a heated liquid bath, and an electromagnetic radiation generator; and an outlet configured to withdraw a food or beverage liquid product from the receptacle when held in the chamber. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The dispenser of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of radiation generated by the electromagnetic generator falls within the infrared spectrum. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The dispenser of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of radiation generated by the electromagnetic generator falls within the microwave spectrum. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The dispenser of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of radiation generated by the electromagnetic generator falls within the radio frequency spectrum. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The dispenser of claim 1, further comprising a perforator configured to form an inlet in the receptacle when held in the chamber. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The dispenser of claim 1, further comprising an inlet configured to supply a liquid to the interior of the receptacle when held in the chamber. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The dispenser of claim 6, wherein the inlet comprises a perforator configured to perforate the receptacle when held in the chamber. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The dispenser of claim 7, wherein the perforator is a needle. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The dispenser of claim 8, wherein the needle defines a central lumen. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The dispenser of claim 6, further comprising a liquid holding tank in fluid communication with the inlet. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The dispenser of claim 10, further comprising a heat exchanger disposed between the liquid holding tank and the inlet. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The dispenser of claim 1, further comprising a dilution port configured to add a dilution liquid to the food or beverage liquid product withdrawn from the receptacle. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The dispenser of claim 12, further comprising a liquid holding tank in fluid communication with the dilution port. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The dispenser of claim 1, further comprising a liquid holding tank in fluid communication with the outlet. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The dispenser of claim 1, further comprising a motor coupled to the chamber configured to impart at least one of rotational motion and oscillating motion to the chamber. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The dispenser of claim 15, wherein the oscillatory motion is asymmetric. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The dispenser of claim 1, further comprising a vibrational platform coupled to the chamber configured to impart vibratory motion to the chamber. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The dispenser of claim 1, further comprising a motion controller for automatically controlling motion imparted to the chamber. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The dispenser of claim 1, further comprising a cassette defining a plurality of openings, each of the openings having at least one of a different size and a different shape relative to the other openings of the plurality, the cassette cooperating with the chamber to hold the receptacle in the chamber. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The dispenser of claim 1, further comprising a sensor capable of detecting information included on the receptacle when held in the chamber. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The dispenser of claim 20, wherein the sensor is capable of reading at least one of a bar code, a QR code, a radio frequency identification tag, and a machine-readable label. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The dispenser of claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensor capable of measuring a temperature of at least one of an outside surface of the receptacle and the frozen contents within the receptacle when held by the chamber. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The dispenser of claim 1, further comprising user-adjustable controls capable of receiving at least one user preference for the food or beverage liquid product. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The dispenser of claim 23, the at least one user preference including a volume of the food or beverage liquid product. ### Claim 25 (depends on 1) The dispenser of claim 1, further comprising a crusher capable of crushing or macerating the frozen contents. ### Claim 26 (depends on 1) The dispenser of claim 1, further comprising a perforator capable of creating an opening in the receptacle when held in the chamber sufficient for the frozen content to exit the receptacle.