# US 9,750,269 B2 · Hot air popcorn popper

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- Number: US 9,750,269 B2
- Document ID: US9750269B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/280,989
- Filed: 2014-05-19
- Published: 2015-09-17
- Granted: 2017-09-05
- Earliest claimed: 2014-03-13
- Assignees: Greenfield World Trade, Inc.
- Applicants: Greenfield World Trade, Inc.
- Inventors: Michael R. Mastroianni; Rong Liu; Bikram Sohi; William A. Bucklew
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9750269B2

## CPC

- A23L 7/183: by heating without using a pressure release device
- A23L: FOODS, FOODSTUFFS OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; PREPARATION OR TREATMENT THEREOF (preservation thereof A23B)

## Abstract

A popcorn popping unit has a heating element and a blower fan, and a cooking surface adapted to receive kernels of corn. The popping unit is configurable for two flow paths of pressurized air through the popping unit. In the first path, pressurized air is configured to flow over the heating element, flow over the cooking surface, cook the kernels of corn, and move the cooked kernels of corn to a serving dispenser. In a second path, pressurized air is configured to flow over the cooking surface, and move un-popped seeds into a seed collection bin.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A popcorn popping unit having:
a housing including: (i) a heating element and a blower fan, (ii) a cooking surface adapted to received kernels of corn, (iii) a popping chamber into which popcorn enters after being popped, the popping chamber having an inlet and an outlet, the popping chamber inlet being adjacent to the cooking surface, the popping chamber outlet being spaced from the popping chamber inlet, the popping chamber having a bypass selectively movable between a first and a second positions within the popping chamber to establish two flow paths of pressurized air through the popping unit, and (iv) a seed collection bin disposed in the housing separate from the popping chamber; and
wherein in the first position of the bypass for one of the flow paths, the bypass is positioned within the popping chamber to allow pressurized air to flow over the heating element, flow over the cooking surface, and flow from the popping chamber inlet through the popping chamber outlet, and to move popped kernels of popcorn from the popping chamber outlet to a serving dispenser;
wherein in the second position of the bypass for the other of the flow paths, the bypass is positioned within the popping chamber to block the popping chamber outlet such that pressurized air flows over the cooking surface, flows from the popping chamber inlet into the popping chamber and to the seed collection bin, and moves un-popped seeds into the seed collection bin.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The popcorn popping unit of claim 1, wherein the seed collection bin is vented.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The popcorn popping unit of claim 1, further comprising a seed storage compartment.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The popcorn popping unit of claim 3, wherein the seed storage compartment has a chute that directs seeds from the storage compartment to the cooking surface.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The popcorn popping unit of claim 4, wherein the chute has an inlet that receives seed from the seed storage compartment and an outlet that directs seeds from the storage compartment to the cooking surface.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The popcorn popping unit of claim 5, further comprising a scoop in the chute.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The popcorn popping unit of claim 6, wherein the scoop is moveable in the chute between a first position in which the scoop receives seed from the chute inlet and a second position in which the scoop empties its contents to the cooking surface.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The popcorn popping unit of claim 6, wherein the scoop is rotatably disposed in the chute.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The popcorn popping unit of claim 6, wherein the scoop has a bottom surface and sides extending around the bottom surface that define an open top opposite the bottom.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The popcorn popping unit of claim 9, wherein the open top cooperates with the chute in the first position to receive seed from the chute inlet.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The popcorn popping unit of claim 10, wherein the open top cooperates with the chute in the second position to block seed from chute inlet.

### Claim 12

A popcorn popping unit with a blower unit and a popping chamber, the blower unit having a heating element and a blower fan, the blower unit being adapted to direct pressurized air into the popping chamber, the popping chamber having a hollow interior with a proximal end receiving the pressurized air from the blower unit and a distal end opposite the proximal end, the popping unit having a bypass, the bypass being selectively movable between a first and a second positions within the popping chamber to establish first and second flow paths of pressurized air through the popping unit;
wherein in the first position of the bypass for the first flow path, the bypass cooperates with the popping chamber to allow the pressurized air to flow to the through the popping chamber to the popping chamber distal end; and
wherein in the second position of the bypass for the second flow path, the bypass obstructs the pressurized air flowing through the popping chamber to the popping chamber distal end, and redirects the pressurized air to a seed collection bin disposed in the blower unit separate from the popping chamber.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The popcorn popping unit of claim 12, wherein movement of the bypass to the second position forms an opening to the seed collection bin.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The popcorn popping unit of claim 12, wherein movement of the bypass to the second position energizes the blower.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The popcorn popping unit of claim 12, wherein the seed collection bin is vented.

### Claim 16 (depends on 12)

The popcorn popping unit of claim 12, wherein the bypass pivots relative to the popping chamber interior.

### Claim 17 (depends on 12)

The popcorn popping unit of claim 12, further comprising a seed storage compartment.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The popcorn popping unit of claim 17, wherein the seed storage compartment has a chute that communicates with the popping chamber.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The popcorn popping unit of claim 18, further comprising a scoop in the chute.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The popcorn popping unit of claim 19, wherein the scoop is moveable in the chute between a first position in which the scoop receives seed from the chute inlet and a second position in which the scoop empties its contents to the cooking surface.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The popcorn popping unit of claim 20, wherein the scoop is rotatably disposed in the chute.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The popcorn popping unit of claim 21, wherein the scoop has a bottom surface and sides extending around the bottom surface that define an open top opposite the bottom.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

The popcorn popping unit of claim 22, wherein the open top cooperates with the popping chamber to allow seed to flow from the scoop to the cooking surface in the second position.

### Claim 24 (depends on 22)

The popcorn popping unit of claim 22, wherein the open top cooperates with the chute outlet to direct the flow of seeds from scoop and chute outlet to the popping chamber interior in the first position.

### Claim 25 (depends on 22)

The popcorn popping unit of claim 22, wherein the scoop bottom surface defines a portion of the interior the popping chamber with the scoop in the first position.