Patents by Inventor Michel Loetscher

Michel Loetscher 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).

  • Device and method for foaming a liquid foodstuff, in particular, milk
    Patent number: 8661968
    Abstract: A device for foaming a liquid foodstuff, in particular, milk, including a foaming chamber (5), a foodstuff feed line (4), a steam feed line (7), and an air feed line (8) is provided. The foodstuff, steam, and air feed lines are connected in a fluid-conducting manner to the foaming chamber (5). The air feed line (9) includes an air valve (10) that can be controlled by a control unit (9), and the air valve (10) is an intermittent air valve in which, by use of the control unit (9), at least one state with a high air flow and a state with relatively lower air flow and/or with no air flow can be specified selectively. The control unit (9) and air valve (10) have an interacting construction such that the average air flow of the air valve (10) can be controlled by repeated switching between the at least two states of the air valve (10). The invention further includes a method for foaming the liquid foodstuff.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Niro-Plan AG
    Inventors: Mariano Turi, Heinz Vetterli, Michel Loetscher
  • DEVICE AND METHOD FOR FOAMING A LIQUID FOODSTUFF, IN PARTICULAR, MILK
    Publication number: 20110014329
    Abstract: A device for foaming a liquid foodstuff, in particular, milk, including a foaming chamber (5), a foodstuff feed line (4), a steam feed line (7), and an air feed line (8) is provided. The foodstuff, steam, and air feed lines are connected in a fluid-conducting manner to the foaming chamber (5). The air feed line (9) includes an air valve (10) that can be controlled by a control unit (9), and the air valve (10) is an intermittent air valve in which, by use of the control unit (9), at least one state with a high air flow and a state with relatively lower air flow and/or with no air flow can be specified selectively. The control unit (9) and air valve (10) have an interacting construction such that the average air flow of the air valve (10) can be controlled by repeated switching between the at least two states of the air valve (10). The invention further includes a method for foaming the liquid foodstuff.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2010
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Applicant: NIRO-PLAN AG
    Inventors: Mariano Turi, Heinz Vetterli, Michel Loetscher