Patents by Inventor Clayton G. Gardner
Clayton G. Gardner has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20230056707Abstract: A blender includes a spindle support, a spindle motor secured to the spindle support, an inner spindle drive shaft permanently coupled to the spindle motor, and a spindle assembly removably coupled to the spindle support. The spindle assembly includes a quick release coupler, a tube, and a blending tool fixed to an end of the tube. The blending tool includes a plurality of blades. The inner spindle drive shaft extends into the tube and is drivably coupled to the tube to transmit rotational energy from the spindle motor to blending tool via the tube when the spindle assembly is coupled to the spindle support.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 23, 2022Publication date: February 23, 2023Inventors: Clayton G. Gardner, Jens P. Voges, Shek Fai Lau, Andrew Geppert
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Patent number: 11419458Abstract: An economical blender with a removable, motor driven spindle assembly to perform blending, a motor driven elevator used to lift a cup with food or beverage up to the spindle assembly and a liquid reservoir which allows liquid to be inserted into the food or beverage during blending. The removable spindle assembly has a quick release coupler and a compression spring which connects the quick release coupler to a cup cover. Blending is accomplished by connecting a motor driven inner spindle drive shaft to a concentric outer spindle drive tube through cogged couplers. The outer spindle drive tube powers a blending tool and, like the blending tool, is removable with the spindle assembly for cleaning.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2019Date of Patent: August 23, 2022Assignee: f'Real! Foods, LLCInventors: Clayton G. Gardner, Jens P. Voges, Shek Fai Lau, Andrew Geppert
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Publication number: 20190246842Abstract: An economical blender with a removable, motor driven spindle assembly to perform blending, a motor driven elevator used to lift a cup with food or beverage up to the spindle assembly and a liquid reservoir which allows liquid to be inserted into the food or beverage during blending. The removable spindle assembly has a quick release coupler and a compression spring which connects the quick release coupler to a cup cover. Blending is accomplished by connecting a motor driven inner spindle drive shaft to a concentric outer spindle drive tube through cogged couplers. The outer spindle drive tube powers a blending tool and, like the blending tool, is removable with the spindle assembly for cleaning.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 24, 2019Publication date: August 15, 2019Applicant: F'Real Foods, LLCInventors: Clayton G. Gardner, Jens P. Voges, Shek Fai Lau, Andrew Geppert
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Patent number: 10299628Abstract: An economical blender with a removable, motor driven spindle assembly to perform blending, a motor driven elevator used to lift a cup with food or beverage up to the spindle assembly and a liquid reservoir which allows liquid to be inserted into the food or beverage during blending. The removable spindle assembly has a quick release coupler and a compression spring which connects the quick release coupler to a cup cover. Blending is accomplished by connecting a motor driven inner spindle drive shaft to a concentric outer spindle drive tube through cogged couplers. The outer spindle drive tube powers a blending tool and, like the blending tool, is removable with the spindle assembly for cleaning.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2016Date of Patent: May 28, 2019Assignee: F'Real Foods, LLCInventors: Clayton G. Gardner, Jens P. Voges, Shek Fai Lau, Andrew Geppert
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Patent number: 9579615Abstract: A blender for home or commercial use that is rugged enough to blend frozen beverages, simple to use and safe. The blender includes an upper housing with a front housing door that covers the moving blending machinery. The blender also includes a cupholder receiving area which allows the user to safely insert a frozen food or beverage cup inside a cupholder for blending. After the start button is pressed, the cup and cupholder will be lifted together for blending in a balanced, linear motion by an elevator assembly. Dual lead screws or a dual belt drive are preferably used in the elevator assembly to achieve this balanced, linear motion. As the cupholder is lifted upward, a cover will be pressed over the top opening of the inserted cup to prevent spillage during blending. The elevator assembly continues to lift the cupholder upward until the rotating cutter blades of a spindle assembly cut through successive layers of the frozen food or beverage.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2013Date of Patent: February 28, 2017Assignee: f'real Foods LLCInventors: James J. Farrell, Jens P. Voges, Chris M. Bradley, Gage C. Cauchois, Steve T. Connell, Clayton G. Gardner, Shek Fai Lau, Joseph M. Lehman
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Patent number: 9420917Abstract: A method for blending food or beverages, preferably using a blender that is compact enough for home use, rugged enough to blend frozen beverages, simple to use and safe. The blender includes an upper housing, with a front housing door, that covers the moving blending machinery. The blender also includes a cupholder receiving area which allows the user to safely insert a frozen beverage cup inside a cupholder for blending. After the start button is pressed, a cupholder lip will be grasped by the clamping jaw of an elevator assembly to lift the cupholder up. As the cupholder is lifted upward, a cover will be pressed over the top opening of the inserted cup to prevent spillage during blending. The elevator assembly will then continue to lift the cupholder upward until the rotating cutter blades of a spindle assembly cut through successive layers of the frozen beverage.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2012Date of Patent: August 23, 2016Assignee: F'real Foods, LLCInventors: James J. Farrell, Jens P. Voges, Clayton G. Gardner, Steve T. Connell, Shek Fai Lau, Gage C. Cauchois, Joseph M. Lehman, Chris M. Bradley, Alan S. Crarer, Jeffrey A. Tilley
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Publication number: 20160220069Abstract: An economical blender with a removable, motor driven spindle assembly to perform blending, a motor driven elevator used to lift a cup with food or beverage up to the spindle assembly and a liquid reservoir which allows liquid to be inserted into the food or beverage during blending. The removable spindle assembly has a quick release coupler and a compression spring which connects the quick release coupler to a cup cover. Blending is accomplished by connecting a motor driven inner spindle drive shaft to a concentric outer spindle drive tube through cogged couplers. The outer spindle drive tube powers a blending tool and, like the blending tool, is removable with the spindle assembly for cleaning.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 3, 2016Publication date: August 4, 2016Applicant: F'Real Foods, LLCInventors: Clayton G. Gardner, Jens P. Voges, Shek Fai Lau, Andrew Geppert
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Patent number: 9386882Abstract: A blender that is compact enough for home use, rugged enough to blend frozen beverages, simple to use and safe. The blender includes an upper housing, with a front housing door; that covers the moving blending machinery. The blender also includes a cupholder receiving area which allows the user to safely insert a frozen beverage cup inside a cupholder for blending. After the start button is pressed, a cupholder lip will be grasped by the clamping jaw of an elevator assembly to lift the cupholder. As the cupholder is lifted upward, a cover will be pressed over the top opening of the inserted cup to prevent spillage during blending. The elevator assembly will then continue to lift the cupholder upward until the rotating cutter blades of a spindle assembly cut through successive layers of the frozen beverage.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2012Date of Patent: July 12, 2016Assignee: F'real Foods, LLCInventors: James J. Farrell, Jens P. Voges, Clayton G. Gardner, Steve T. Connell, Shek Fai Lau, Gage C. Cauchois, Joseph M. Lehman, Chris M. Bradley, Alan S. Crarer, Jeffrey A. Tilley
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Publication number: 20130344221Abstract: A blender for home or commercial use that is rugged enough to blend frozen beverages, simple to use and safe. The blender includes an upper housing with a front housing door that covers the moving blending machinery. The blender also includes a cupholder receiving area which allows the user to safely insert a frozen food or beverage cup inside a cupholder for blending. After the start button is pressed, the cup and cupholder will be lifted together for blending in a balanced, linear motion by an elevator assembly. Dual lead screws or a dual belt drive are preferably used in the elevator assembly to achieve this balanced, linear motion. As the cupholder is lifted upward, a cover will be pressed over the top opening of the inserted cup to prevent spillage during blending. The elevator assembly continues to lift the cupholder upward until the rotating cutter blades of a spindle assembly cut through successive layers of the frozen food or beverage.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2013Publication date: December 26, 2013Inventors: James J. Farrell, Jens P. Voges, Chris M. Bradley, Gage C. Cauchois, Steve T. Connell, Clayton G. Gardner, Shek Fai Lau, Joseph M. Lehman
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Publication number: 20130341446Abstract: A blender that is compact enough for home use, rugged enough to blend frozen beverages, simple to use and safe. The blender includes an upper housing, with a front housing door; that covers the moving blending machinery. The blender also includes a cupholder receiving area which allows the user to safely insert a frozen beverage cup inside a cupholder for blending. After the start button is pressed, a cupholder lip will be grasped by the clamping jaw of an elevator assembly to lift the cupholder. As the cupholder is lifted upward, a cover will be pressed over the top opening of the inserted cup to prevent spillage during blending. The elevator assembly will then continue to lift the cupholder upward until the rotating cutter blades of a spindle assembly cut through successive layers of the frozen beverage.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2012Publication date: December 26, 2013Applicant: F'real Foods, LLCInventors: James J. Farrell, Jens P. Voges, Clayton G. Gardner, Steve T. Connell, Shek Fai Lau, Gage C. Cauchois, Joseph M. Lehman, Chris M. Bradley, Alan S. Crarer, Jeffrey A. Tilley
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Publication number: 20130341439Abstract: A method for blending food or beverages, preferably using a blender that is compact enough for home use, rugged enough to blend frozen beverages, simple to use and safe. The blender includes an upper housing, with a front housing door, that covers the moving blending machinery. The blender also includes a cupholder receiving area which allows the user to safely insert a frozen beverage cup inside a cupholder for blending. After the start button is pressed, a cupholder lip will be grasped by the clamping jaw of an elevator assembly to lift the cupholder up. As the cupholder is lifted upward, a cover will be pressed over the top opening of the inserted cup to prevent spillage during blending. The elevator assembly will then continue to lift the cupholder upward until the rotating cutter blades of a spindle assembly cut through successive layers of the frozen beverage.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2012Publication date: December 26, 2013Applicant: F'real Foods, LLCInventors: James J. Farrell, Jens P. Voges, Clayton G. Gardner, Steve T. Connell, Shek Fai Lau, Gage C. Cauchois, Joseph M. Lehman, Chris M. Bradley, Alan S. Crarer, Jeffrey A. Tilley
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Publication number: 20110283902Abstract: Disclosed are apparatus and methods for implementing a radial sled printer device that substantially simplifies the complexity and reduces system costs and size for radial printing devices, both for devices that print and those that also record and print a label on circular media.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2010Publication date: November 24, 2011Inventors: Thomas J. Lugaresi, Clayton G. Gardner, George L. Bradshaw, Randy Q. Jones, Jan E. Unter
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Patent number: 7850276Abstract: Disclosed are apparatus and methods for implementing a radial sled printer device that substantially simplifies the complexity and reduces system costs and size for radial printing devices, both for devices that print and those that also record and print a label on circular media. In an embodiment, a print head is radially mounted in a substantially fixed position over a platter such that said platter moves as a sled under the print head for dispensing ink object along a radius or a line parallel to a radius as the media spins, effecting labeling of the media. In an alternate embodiment, a print head is radially mounted in a fixed position over an optical recording drive such that said drive moves as a sled under the print head for dispensing ink object along a radius as the media spins, affecting recording and labeling the media in a single insertion of the media.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2005Date of Patent: December 14, 2010Assignee: Elesys, Inc.Inventors: Thomas J. Lugaresi, Clayton G. Gardner, George L. Bradshaw, Randy Q. Jones, Jan E. Unter