Patents Assigned to Meltz, LLC
  • Patent number: 10314320
    Abstract: Systems for and methods of controlled liquid food or beverage product creation are provided. A method of producing a liquid product from a receptacle containing frozen liquid contents includes receiving the receptacle containing a frozen liquid contents in a dispenser, identifying a characteristic of the receptacle, the contents, and/or a desired product, melting at least a portion of the contents to generate the product by selectively heating the receptacle and/or the contents without adding liquid to the interior of the receptacle and/or supplying a liquid to the interior of the receptacle, wherein the selectively heating without adding liquid to the interior of the receptacle and/or suppling the liquid is based on the identified characteristic. The method also includes perforating the receptacle and dispensing the product from the receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Meltz, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew P. Roberts, Paul Kalenian, Douglas M. Hoon, Karl Winkler
  • Patent number: 10264912
    Abstract: Systems for controlled heating and/or agitation for liquid food or beverage product creation are disclosed. A dispenser for producing a food or beverage liquid product from a frozen contents in a receptacle includes a chamber configured to hold a receptacle containing the contents and a dilution liquid inlet configured to supply a dilution liquid to the interior of the receptacle. The dispenser also includes a perforator configured to perforate the receptacle and form a product outlet from the receptacle for the liquid product and an agitator configured to impart motion to the receptacle and/or the contents in the receptacle that increases a flow path from the liquid inlet to the product outlet taken by at least a portion of dilution liquid, when supplied, relative to a flow path from the liquid inlet to the product outlet taken by the portion of dilution liquid without the imparted motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Meltz, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew P. Roberts, Paul Kalenian, Douglas M. Hoon, Karl Winkler
  • Patent number: 10111554
    Abstract: Systems for and methods of controlling liquid food or beverage product creation are disclosed. A dispenser for producing a food or beverage liquid product from a frozen contents in a receptacle includes a chamber configured to hold the receptacle and a non-diluting heater configured to heat the receptacle and/or the frozen contents within the receptacle; the non-diluting heater does not add liquid to an interior of the receptacle. The dispenser also includes a reservoir configured to contain a liquid. The reservoir includes a reservoir outlet configured to withdraw liquid from the reservoir. The beverage dispenser further includes a product outlet configured to withdraw a food or beverage liquid product from the receptacle and a controller that causes the dispenser to selectively perform at least one of: heating at least one of the receptacle and the frozen contents using the non-diluting heater and withdrawing liquid from the reservoir through the reservoir outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Meltz, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew P. Roberts, Paul Kalenian, Douglas M. Hoon, Karl Winkler
  • Patent number: 9675203
    Abstract: Methods of controlled heating and/or agitation for liquid food or beverage product creation are disclosed. A method of producing a melted food or beverage liquid product includes receiving a receptacle containing frozen liquid contents in a chamber of a dispenser and identifying a characteristic of the receptacle and/or the contents. The method also includes melting at least a portion of the contents by selectively performing at least one of: heating the receptacle and/or the contents, supplying a dilution liquid to an interior of the receptacle, and/or applying motion to the receptacle and/or the contents in the receptacle. The selectively performing at least one of heating, supplying dilution liquid, and/or applying motion is based on the identified characteristic. The method further includes perforating the receptacle and dispensing the melted food or beverage liquid product from the receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Meltz, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew P. Roberts, Paul Kalenian, Douglas M. Hoon, Karl Winkler
  • Patent number: 9630770
    Abstract: Techniques are provided for creating a consumable liquid food or beverage product from frozen contents. A container is configured for insertion into an apparatus. The container includes a frozen content, a receptacle defining an opening and a cavity for receiving and storing the frozen content, and a closure formed over the opening of the receptacle for sealing the frozen content within the cavity of the receptacle. The receptacle is perforable, and the container is configured for insertion into an apparatus that is configured to create a consumable liquid beverage from the frozen content within the container, such that the frozen content is extracted through a perforation created in the receptacle by the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Meltz, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew P. Roberts, Paul Kalenian, Douglas M. Hoon
  • Patent number: 9615597
    Abstract: Systems for and methods of agitation in the production of beverage and food receptacles from frozen contents are provided. A method of producing a melted food or beverage liquid product from a receptacle containing frozen liquid contents includes receiving a receptacle in a chamber of a dispenser. The receptacle defines an enclosed inner volume containing a frozen liquid contents. The method also includes melting at least a portion of the frozen liquid contents to generate a melted food or beverage liquid product by applying motion to at least one of the receptacle and the frozen liquid contents, perforating the receptacle, and dispensing the melted food or beverage liquid product from the receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Meltz, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew P. Roberts, Paul Kalenian, Douglas M. Hoon, Karl Winkler
  • Patent number: 9549635
    Abstract: The techniques provide for a reconfigurable extraction column length based on the number of columns from a plurality of columns configured for use in an extraction apparatus. The apparatus includes a plurality of columns that each have an inlet, a central portion configured to hold extractable material during an extraction process, and an outlet. The reconfigurable extraction apparatus also includes a piping system connected to each of the plurality of columns that can selectively connect each of the plurality of columns, such that each column from the plurality of columns can be configured for an extraction process either singularly or in series or in parallel with one or more other columns from the plurality of columns, administering a solvent to one or more of the plurality of columns, and outputting the solvent after an extraction process occurs in the one or more of the plurality of columns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Meltz, LLC
    Inventor: Paul Kalenian
  • Patent number: 9538877
    Abstract: Techniques are provided for creating a consumable liquid food or beverage product from frozen contents. A container is configured for insertion into an apparatus. The container includes a frozen content, a receptacle defining an opening and a cavity for receiving and storing the frozen content, and a closure formed over the opening of the receptacle for sealing the frozen content within the cavity of the receptacle. The receptacle is perforable, and the container is configured for insertion into an apparatus that is configured to create a consumable liquid beverage from the frozen content within the container, such that the frozen content is extracted through a perforation created in the receptacle by the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: MELTZ, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew P. Roberts, Paul Kalenian, Douglas M. Hoon
  • Patent number: 9516970
    Abstract: Techniques are provided for creating a consumable liquid food or beverage product from frozen contents. A container is configured for insertion into an apparatus. The container includes a frozen content, a receptacle defining an opening and a cavity for receiving and storing the frozen content, and a closure formed over the opening of the receptacle for sealing the frozen content within the cavity of the receptacle. The receptacle is perforable, and the container is configured for insertion into an apparatus that is configured to create a consumable liquid beverage from the frozen content within the container, such that the frozen content is extracted through a perforation created in the receptacle by the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: MELTZ, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew P. Roberts, Paul Kalenian, Douglas M. Hoon
  • Patent number: 9487348
    Abstract: Apparatuses and processes for providing support for displaceable frozen contents in beverage and food receptacles are provided. A receptacle includes a sidewall extending from a first end of the receptacle to a second end of the receptacle, an end layer disposed at the first end of the receptacle, and a closure disposed at the second end of the receptacle. The sidewall, the end layer, and the closure define a sealed cavity of the receptacle. The receptacle includes a frozen content disposed in the sealed cavity of the receptacle and a movable platform disposed in the sealed cavity of the receptacle and in contact with at least a portion of the frozen content proximate to the end layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Meltz, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew P. Roberts, Paul Kalenian, Douglas M. Hoon, Karl Winkler
  • Patent number: 9480359
    Abstract: The techniques provide for a reconfigurable extraction column length based on the number of columns from a plurality of columns configured for use in an extraction apparatus. The apparatus includes a plurality of columns that each have an inlet, a central portion configured to hold extractable material during an extraction process, and an outlet. The reconfigurable extraction apparatus also includes a piping system connected to each of the plurality of columns that can selectively connect each of the plurality of columns, such that each column from the plurality of columns can be configured for an extraction process either singularly or in series or in parallel with one or more other columns from the plurality of columns, administering a solvent to one or more of the plurality of columns, and outputting the solvent after an extraction process occurs in the one or more of the plurality of columns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Meltz, LLC
    Inventor: Paul Kalenian
  • Patent number: 9468230
    Abstract: Techniques are provided for creating a consumable liquid food or beverage product from frozen contents. A container is configured for insertion into an apparatus. The container includes a frozen content, a receptacle defining an opening and a cavity for receiving and storing the frozen content, and a closure formed over the opening of the receptacle for sealing the frozen content within the cavity of the receptacle. The receptacle is perforable, and the container is configured for insertion into an apparatus that is configured to create a consumable liquid beverage from the frozen content within the container, such that the frozen content is extracted through a perforation created in the receptacle by the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: MELTZ, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew P. Roberts, Paul Kalenian, Douglas M. Hoon
  • Patent number: 9408492
    Abstract: Techniques are provided for creating a consumable liquid food or beverage product from frozen contents. A container is configured for insertion into an apparatus. The container includes a frozen content, a receptacle defining an opening and a cavity for receiving and storing the frozen content, and a closure formed over the opening of the receptacle for sealing the frozen content within the cavity of the receptacle. The receptacle is perforable, and the container is configured for insertion into an apparatus that is configured to create a consumable liquid beverage from the frozen content within the container, such that the frozen content is extracted through a perforation created in the receptacle by the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Meltz, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew P. Roberts, Paul Kalenian, Douglas M. Hoon
  • Patent number: 9408493
    Abstract: Techniques are provided for creating a consumable liquid food or beverage product from frozen contents. A container is configured for insertion into an apparatus. The container includes a frozen content, a receptacle defining an opening and a cavity for receiving and storing the frozen content, and a closure formed over the opening of the receptacle for sealing the frozen content within the cavity of the receptacle. The receptacle is perforable, and the container is configured for insertion into an apparatus that is configured to create a consumable liquid beverage from the frozen content within the container, such that the frozen content is extracted through a perforation created in the receptacle by the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Meltz, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew P. Roberts, Paul Kalenian, Douglas M. Hoon
  • Patent number: 9346611
    Abstract: Techniques are provided for creating a consumable liquid food or beverage product from frozen contents. A container is configured for insertion into an apparatus. The container includes a frozen content, a receptacle defining an opening and a cavity for receiving and storing the frozen content, and a closure formed over the opening of the receptacle for sealing the frozen content within the cavity of the receptacle. The receptacle is perforable, and the container is configured for insertion into an apparatus that is configured to create a consumable liquid beverage from the frozen content within the container, such that the frozen content is extracted through a perforation created in the receptacle by the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Meltz, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew Roberts, Paul Kalenian, Douglas M. Hoon