Patents by Inventor Ernest C. Gerber

Ernest C. Gerber 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).

  • Patent number: 8403179
    Abstract: A conventional frozen carbonated beverage freezer is modified to eliminate the draw handle to facilitate better performance at the hands of an untrained customer in a serve yourself setting. A conventional FCB freezer, with or without a draw handle, is modified to enable dispensing different flavors of frozen carbonated beverages by a customer for a self-serve setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Flavor Burst Co., L.L.P.
    Inventor: Ernest C. Gerber
  • Patent number: 7665398
    Abstract: A soft-serve confection freezer incorporates a set of modules in a circular array and separately replaceable in a magazine. Each module supports a container storing a dry food ingredient in solid particulate form, and has a motor driven product impeller for controlled discharge of particulates from the container to a blender assembly. The blender assembly has a housing and screw-type auger of cooperating configurations and which cooperate with a central passageway for frozen confection flowing from the freezer, to blend particulates from one or more containers into the confection and discharge into a customer's cup for immediate consumption. A further version incorporates a magazine for injection and blending of one or more flavored liquids into the frozen confection. Control panel selection of ingredients and flavors and dispensing by the operator according to the customer's order, or selection and dispensing by the customer himself/herself, is provided. Components are arranged to facilitate cleaning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Flavor Burst Co., L.L.P.
    Inventor: Ernest C. Gerber
  • Patent number: 7621669
    Abstract: An assembly is mounted to a soft serve confection freezer. It includes a set of modules in a circular array and separately replaceable in a magazine. Each module supports a container storing a dry food ingredient in particulate form, and has a motor driven product impeller for controlled discharge of particulates from the container to a blender assembly. The blender assembly has a housing and screw-type auger of cooperating configurations and which cooperate with a central passageway for frozen confection flowing from the freezer, to blend solids into the confection and discharge into a customer's container for immediate consumption. Control panel selection of ingredients by the operator according to the customer's order, is provided. Components are arranged to facilitate cleaning. A system for control panel selection by the operator of liquid additives to the flowing confection, is provided to accommodate the customer's order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Flavor Burst Co., L.L.P.
    Inventor: Ernest C. Gerber
  • Patent number: 7178976
    Abstract: An assembly is mounted to a soft serve confection freezer. It includes a set of modules in a circular array and separately replaceable in a magazine. Each module supports a container storing a dry food ingredient in particulate form, and has a motor driven product impeller for controlled discharge of particulates from the container to a blender assembly. The blender assembly has a housing and screw-type auger of cooperating configurations and which cooperate with a central passageway for frozen confection flowing from the freezer, to blend solids into the confection and discharge into a customer's container for immediate consumption. Control panel selection of ingredients by the operator according to the customer's order, is provided. Components are arranged to facilitate cleaning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Flavor Burst Co.
    Inventor: Ernest C. Gerber
  • Patent number: 7059761
    Abstract: A command module, draw switch, blending and dispensing assembly, and multiple ingredient storage and delivery modules are added to a conventional milk shake freezer and dispensing machine. A selector panel is provided to enable the operator to dispense a shake-like product according to a customer flavor or mix order, upon raising the standard draw handle on the original dispenser head of the conventional machine. The blending and dispensing assembly includes a high speed auger with backflow inducers for blending and moving the base and ingredient product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Flavor Burst Co.,
    Inventor: Ernest C. Gerber
  • Patent number: 6689410
    Abstract: A command module, draw switch, blending and dispensing assembly, and multiple ingredient storage and delivery modules are added to a conventional milk shake freezer and dispensing machine. A selector panel is provided to enable the operator to dispense a shake-like product according to a customer flavor or mix order, upon raising the standard draw handle on the original dispenser head of the conventional machine. The blending and dispensing assembly includes a high speed auger with backflow inducers for blending and moving the base and ingredient product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Flavor Burst Co.
    Inventor: Ernest C. Gerber
  • Publication number: 20030012864
    Abstract: A command module, draw switch, blending and dispensing assembly, and multiple ingredient storage and delivery modules are added to a conventional milk shake freezer and dispensing machine. A selector panel is provided to enable the operator to dispense a shake-like product according to a customer flavor or mix order, upon raising the standard draw handle on the original dispenser head of the conventional machine. The blending and dispensing assembly includes a high speed auger with backflow inducers for blending and moving the base and ingredient product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2001
    Publication date: January 16, 2003
    Inventor: Ernest C. Gerber
  • Patent number: 4923093
    Abstract: A flavor dispensing device usable on machines for dispensing frozen foods, such as ice cream. The flavor dispensing device is suitable to be retrofitted on existing food dispensing machines below the dispensing spigot. One embodiment includes a syrup stem protruding inwardly into the food/flavor mixing chamber. This stem may have both an opening in the central portion and the perimeter portion of the mixing chamber, resulting in syrup being deposited in the center and the perimeter of the ice cream flow. A rotor in the chamber provides mixing, and in one embodiment the rotor is tangentially driven and has a central aperture therein. A water flush system is provided to clean syrup and food from the various lines and ducts. The flavor dispensing device is readily removable for cleaning and servicing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 8, 1990
    Inventor: Ernest C. Gerber
  • Patent number: 4793520
    Abstract: A flavor dispensing device usable on machines for dispensing frozen foods, such as ice cream. The flavor dispensing device is suitable to be retrofitted on existing food dispensing machines below the dispensing spigot. One embodiment includes a syrup stem protruding inwardly into the food/flavor mixing chamber. This stem may have both an opening in the central portion and the perimeter portion of the mixing chamber, resulting in syrup being deposited in the center and the perimeter of the ice cream flow. A rotor in the chamber provides mixing, and in one embodiment the rotor is tangentially driven and has a central aperture therein. A water flush system is provided to clean syrup and food from the various lines and ducts. The flavor dispensing device is readily removable for cleaning and servicing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1988
    Inventor: Ernest C. Gerber