Patents Assigned to Bedford Systems LLC
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Patent number: 10531762Abstract: A beverage making machine having a cartridge holder with an upper portion movable in pivotal and/or linear ways relative to a lower portion. An actuator for the cartridge portion may include a handle-actuated spur gear and link to move the upper portion, which may be guided in movement via a cam and cam follower engagement. Information from a cartridge detector may be used based on movement of cartridge holder portions, e.g., as an upper portion moves from an open position to a closed position. A mixing chamber may be held by a drawer so as to be removable, and movement of the drawer may engage/disengage the mixing chamber from a fluid supply.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2016Date of Patent: January 14, 2020Assignee: BEDFORD SYSTEMS LLCInventors: William Philip McHugh, Jeremy B. Gordon, Scott Grubb, Steven Mackey, Thomas Fedorka, Peter Rae Peterson, Thomas J. Novak, Thomas Paul Dutremble, Gwynn Masada, Bradford Range, Enrico Raffaele Cafaro, Steven Raphaelson, Michael Sack, Brian B. Johnson
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Patent number: 10499762Abstract: A beverage making machine may include a cartridge holder to hold a cartridge used to form a beverage. The cartridge holder may include a lower portion arranged to receive and hold the cartridge and a movable upper portion arranged to clamp the cartridge in place. The cartridge holder may be arranged to hold upper and lower compartments of the cartridge in spaces having a different pressure, e.g., an upper compartment of the cartridge may be held under relatively high pressure, and a lower compartment may be held in a space at ambient pressure. The cartridge holder may pierce upper and/or lower compartments of the cartridge to introduce activating fluid and/or receive carbonating gas from the upper compartment, and/or to introduced pressurized air into the lower compartment to force beverage medium to exit.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2015Date of Patent: December 10, 2019Assignee: BEDFORD SYSTEMS LLCInventors: Jeremy B. Gordon, Thomas Fedorka, Thomas Paul Dutremble, Gwynn Masada, Bradford Range, William Philip McHugh
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Patent number: 10343885Abstract: Systems, methods and cartridges for carbonating a precursor liquid, such as water, to form a beverage. A carbon dioxide source can be provided in a cartridge which is used to generate carbon dioxide gas that is dissolved into the precursor liquid. A beverage medium, such as a powdered drink mix or liquid syrup, may be provided in the same, or a separate cartridge as the carbon dioxide source and mixed with the precursor liquid to form a beverage. The use of one or more cartridges for the carbon dioxide source and/or beverage medium may make for an easy to use and mess-free system for making carbonated beverages, e.g., in the consumer's home.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2014Date of Patent: July 9, 2019Assignee: Bedford Systems LLCInventors: Thomas J. Novak, Ross Packard, Peter Peterson, Shawn Gulla
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Publication number: 20190174949Abstract: A beverage making machine may employ a mixing chamber to mix a beverage medium with a precursor liquid, such as carbonated water. The mixing chamber may have a precursor liquid inlet coupled to a precursor liquid supply, a beverage medium chamber to receive a beverage medium into the beverage medium chamber, and a dispense outlet from which beverage medium and precursor liquid are dispensed, e.g., into a user's cup. The beverage medium chamber may include a chamber inlet coupled to the precursor liquid inlet, e.g., so precursor liquid can enter the chamber when a pressure is low in the beverage medium chamber, and a chamber outlet downstream of the chamber inlet that is coupled to the dispense outlet, e.g., so that beverage medium can exit the chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 15, 2019Publication date: June 13, 2019Applicant: Bedford Systems LLCInventors: Jeremy B. Gordon, Charles Evan O'Neill, Miles Hember, Trevor Beckett, Thomas Paul Dutremble, Gwynn Masada
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Patent number: 10273439Abstract: Methods and systems for forming a concentrate from an alcoholic beverage, such as a beverage made by fermentation processes. A membrane process may be used to reduce water and alcohol content, followed by freeze concentration to further reduce water content.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2016Date of Patent: April 30, 2019Assignee: BEDFORD SYSTEMS LLCInventors: Peter Rae Peterson, Thomas J. Novak
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Patent number: 10206535Abstract: A beverage making machine may employ a mixing chamber to mix a beverage medium with a precursor liquid, such as carbonated water. The mixing chamber may have a precursor liquid inlet coupled to a precursor liquid supply, a beverage medium chamber to receive a beverage medium into the beverage medium chamber, and a dispense outlet from which beverage medium and precursor liquid are dispensed, e.g., into a user's cup. The beverage medium chamber may include a chamber inlet coupled to the precursor liquid inlet, e.g., so precursor liquid can enter the chamber when a pressure is low in the beverage medium chamber, and a chamber outlet downstream of the chamber inlet that is coupled to the dispense outlet, e.g., so that beverage medium can exit the chamber.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2018Date of Patent: February 19, 2019Assignee: BEDFORD SYSTEMS LLCInventors: Jeremy B. Gordon, Charles Evan O'Neill, Miles Hember, Trevor Beckett, Thomas Paul Dutremble, Gwynn Masada
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Patent number: 10201171Abstract: Systems, methods and cartridges for carbonating or otherwise dissolving gas in a precursor liquid, such as water, to form a beverage. Carbonating gas can be provided to a tank via the tank outlet, thereby purging at least a portion of a dispense line leading from the tank to a dispensing station. A single pump may be used to deliver liquid to the tank, e.g., for carbonation, and to pump pressurized air to dispense liquid from the tank. A water trap may help remove moisture from carbonating gas.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2015Date of Patent: February 12, 2019Assignee: BEDFORD SYSTEMS LLCInventors: Jeremy B. Gordon, Brian B. Johnson, Steven Raphaelson, Mario Liuzza, Scott Grubb, Trevor Beckett, Steven Mackey, Thomas Fedorka, Thomas J. Novak, Peter Rae Peterson, Miles Hember, Enrico Raffaele Cafaro
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Publication number: 20180325302Abstract: A beverage making machine may employ a mixing chamber to mix a beverage medium with a precursor liquid, such as carbonated water. The mixing chamber may have a precursor liquid inlet coupled to a precursor liquid supply, a beverage medium chamber to receive a beverage medium into the beverage medium chamber, and a dispense outlet from which beverage medium and precursor liquid are dispensed, e.g., into a user's cup. The beverage medium chamber may include a chamber inlet coupled to the precursor liquid inlet, e.g., so precursor liquid can enter the chamber when a pressure is low in the beverage medium chamber, and a chamber outlet downstream of the chamber inlet that is coupled to the dispense outlet, e.g., so that beverage medium can exit the chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 19, 2018Publication date: November 15, 2018Applicant: Bedford Systems LLCInventors: Jeremy B. Gordon, Charles Evan O'Neill, Miles Hember, Trevor Beckett, Thomas Paul Dutremble, Gwynn Masada
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Publication number: 20180289205Abstract: Systems, methods and cartridges for carbonating or otherwise dissolving gas in a precursor liquid, such as water, to form a beverage. A gas source can be provided in a cartridge which is used to generate gas that is dissolved into the precursor liquid. A beverage medium, such as a powdered drink mix or liquid syrup, may be provided in the same, or a separate cartridge as the gas source and mixed with the precursor liquid to form a beverage. The use of one or more cartridges for the gas source and/or beverage medium may make for an easy to use and mess-free system for making sparkling beverages, e.g., in the consumer's home.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 9, 2018Publication date: October 11, 2018Applicant: Bedford Systems LLCInventors: Thomas J. Novak, Ross Packard, Peter Peterson, Shawn Gulla, Jennifer Caitlin Huot Carlson, Camilla Schmitt, Mark Joseph Cohen, Ross Peter Jones, Nicolas Alejandro Martinez, Milles William Noel Hember, Fabien Yannick Schmitt, Gary Stacey, Niall Allan Mottram, Neil Lester Campbell, Cormac O'Prey, Wai Ting Chan, Nicholas David Rollings, Charles Frazer Kilby, Christopher Paul Richardson, Thomas Bates Jackson, Scott Grubb, Chris Covey, Barry Dobson, Paul Wilkins, Chris Roach, Peter Cauwood, Keith Thompson
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Patent number: 10093530Abstract: A beverage making machine may be arranged to cool a precursor liquid in a tank using a cooling liquid in a cooling container disposed around the tank. The cooling liquid may be freezable to form ice, e.g., to provide the system with improved cooling capacity and/or speed. A plurality of fins may extend between the tank and the cooling container, with each of the plurality of fins being physically attached to the cooling container or the tank and being arranged to conduct heat from the tank and/or from the cooling liquid. The plurality of fins may include first portions attached to the tank and extending outwardly, and second portions attached to the cooling container and extending inwardly. Side surfaces of corresponding first and second portions may be in contact with each other to aid in transferring heat via the fin portions.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2015Date of Patent: October 9, 2018Assignee: Bedford Systems LLCInventors: Steven Mackey, Pranav Chopra, Scott Grubb, Thomas Fedorka, Jeremy B. Gordon, Stephen Hingston
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Patent number: 10051988Abstract: A beverage making machine may employ a mixing chamber to mix a beverage medium with a precursor liquid, such as carbonated water. The mixing chamber may have a precursor liquid inlet coupled to a precursor liquid supply, a beverage medium chamber to receive a beverage medium into the beverage medium chamber, and a dispense outlet from which beverage medium and precursor liquid are dispensed, e.g., into a user's cup. The beverage medium chamber may include a chamber inlet coupled to the precursor liquid inlet, e.g., so precursor liquid can enter the chamber when a pressure is low in the beverage medium chamber, and a chamber outlet downstream of the chamber inlet that is coupled to the dispense outlet, e.g., so that beverage medium can exit the chamber.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2015Date of Patent: August 21, 2018Assignee: Bedford Systems LLCInventors: Jeremy B. Gordon, Charles Evan O'Neill, Miles Hember, Trevor Beckett, Thomas Paul Dutremble, Gwynn Masada
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Publication number: 20180153331Abstract: Systems, methods and cartridges for carbonating or otherwise dissolving gas in a precursor liquid, such as water, to form a beverage. A gas source can be provided in a cartridge which is used to generate gas that is dissolved into the precursor liquid. A beverage medium, such as a powdered drink mix or liquid syrup, may be provided in the same, or a separate cartridge as the gas source and mixed with the precursor liquid to form a beverage. The use of one or more cartridges for the gas source and/or beverage medium may make for an easy to use and mess-free system for making sparkling beverages, e.g., in the consumer's home.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 16, 2018Publication date: June 7, 2018Applicant: Bedford Systems LLCInventors: Thomas J. Novak, Ross Packard, Peter Peterson, Shawn Gulla, Jennifer Caitlin Huot Carlson, Camilla Schmitt, Mark Joseph Cohen, Ross Peter Jones, Nicolas Alejandro Martinez, Miles William Noel Hember, Fabien Yannick Schmitt, Gary Stacey, Niall Allan Mottram, Neil Lester Campbell, Cormac O'Prey, Wai Ting Chan, Nicholas David Rollings, Charles Frazer Kilby, Christopher Paul Richardson, Thomas Bates Jackson, Scott Grubb, Chris Covey, Barry Dobson, Paul Wilkins, Chris Roach, Peter David Cauwood, Keith Paul Thompson, James Hewitt, Marc Angotti, Ray Carroll, Richard Estabrook, Kevin Hartley, Frank Consoli
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Publication number: 20180155091Abstract: Systems, methods and containers for forming a beverage. A container includes a closure arranged with a movable element that is movable to pierce a membrane and permit beverage material in the container to exit. The movable element can include a piercing element that pierces the membrane. Gas can be introduced into the container to force beverage material to exit the container. A gas inlet port can be provided with the closure and arranged to mate with a gas source of a beverage machine.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 1, 2017Publication date: June 7, 2018Applicant: Bedford Systems LLCInventors: Enrico Raffaele Cafaro, Michael Sack, Ian Scott Rice
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Patent number: 9936834Abstract: Systems, methods and cartridges for carbonating or otherwise dissolving gas in a precursor liquid, such as water, to form a beverage. A gas source can be provided in a cartridge which is used to generate gas that is dissolved into the precursor liquid. A beverage medium, such as a powdered drink mix or liquid syrup, may be provided in the same, or a separate cartridge as the gas source and mixed with the precursor liquid to form a beverage. The use of one or more cartridges for the gas source and/or beverage medium may make for an easy to use and mess-free system for making sparkling beverages, e.g., in the consumer's home.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2012Date of Patent: April 10, 2018Assignee: BEDFORD SYSTEMS LLCInventors: Thomas J. Novak, Ross Packard, Peter Peterson, Shawn Gulla, Jennifer Caitlin Huot Carlson, Camilla Schmitt, Mark Joseph Cohen, Ross Peter Jones, Nicolas Alejandro Martinez, Miles William Noel Hember, Fabien Yannick Schmitt, Gary Stacey, Niall Allan Mottram, Neil Lester Campbell, Cormac O'Prey, Wai Ting Chan, Nicholas David Rollings, Charles Frazer Kilby, Christopher Paul Richardson, Thomas Bates Jackson, Scott Grubb, Chris Covey, Barry Dobson, Paul Wilkins, Chris Roach, Peter Cauwood, Keith Thompson
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Publication number: 20180066887Abstract: A beverage making machine having a tank may be arranged to carbonate and/or chill liquid in the tank. A thermoelectric device may be thermally coupled to the tank to cool precursor liquid in the tank, and a heat pipe may transfer heat from the thermoelectric device to a heat sink. The heat sink may be located remotely from the thermoelectric device, e.g., in an air duct that helps prevent contact of moisture, dirt, etc. in the duct with the thermoelectric device.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 13, 2017Publication date: March 8, 2018Applicant: Bedford Systems LLCInventors: Steven MacKey, Pranav Chopra, Scott Grubb, Thomas Fedorka, Qian Gao, Jeremy B. Gordon
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Patent number: D843204Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2015Date of Patent: March 19, 2019Assignee: Bedford Systems LLCInventors: Steven Raphaelson, Michael Sack, Enrico Raffaele Cafaro, Ralph K. Maider
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Patent number: D853771Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2018Date of Patent: July 16, 2019Assignee: Bedford Systems LLCInventors: Barry Wood, Michael Sack, Enrico Cafaro
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Patent number: D871837Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2018Date of Patent: January 7, 2020Assignee: BEDFORD SYSTEMS LLCInventors: Barry Wood, Michael Sack, Enrico Cafaro
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Patent number: D874218Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2018Date of Patent: February 4, 2020Assignee: BEDFORD SYSTEMS LLCInventors: Barry Wood, Michael Sack, Enrico Cafaro
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Patent number: D897152Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2019Date of Patent: September 29, 2020Assignee: BEDFORD SYSTEMS, LLCInventors: Barry Wood, Michael Sack, Enrico Cafaro