Patents Assigned to Meltz, LLC
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Patent number: 10314320Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 28, 2017Date of Patent: June 11, 2019Assignee: Meltz, LLCInventors: Matthew P. Roberts, Paul Kalenian, Douglas M. Hoon, Karl Winkler
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Patent number: 10264912Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 15, 2016Date of Patent: April 23, 2019Assignee: Meltz, LLCInventors: Matthew P. Roberts, Paul Kalenian, Douglas M. Hoon, Karl Winkler
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Patent number: 10111554Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 9, 2016Date of Patent: October 30, 2018Assignee: Meltz, LLCInventors: Matthew P. Roberts, Paul Kalenian, Douglas M. Hoon, Karl Winkler
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Patent number: 9675203Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 15, 2016Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: Meltz, LLCInventors: Matthew P. Roberts, Paul Kalenian, Douglas M. Hoon, Karl Winkler
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Patent number: 9630770Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 4, 2016Date of Patent: April 25, 2017Assignee: Meltz, LLCInventors: Matthew P. Roberts, Paul Kalenian, Douglas M. Hoon
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Patent number: 9615597Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 14, 2016Date of Patent: April 11, 2017Assignee: Meltz, LLCInventors: Matthew P. Roberts, Paul Kalenian, Douglas M. Hoon, Karl Winkler
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Patent number: 9549635Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 29, 2016Date of Patent: January 24, 2017Assignee: Meltz, LLCInventor: Paul Kalenian
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Patent number: 9538877Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 20, 2016Date of Patent: January 10, 2017Assignee: MELTZ, LLCInventors: Matthew P. Roberts, Paul Kalenian, Douglas M. Hoon
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Patent number: 9516970Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 11, 2016Date of Patent: December 13, 2016Assignee: MELTZ, LLCInventors: Matthew P. Roberts, Paul Kalenian, Douglas M. Hoon
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Patent number: 9487348Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 17, 2016Date of Patent: November 8, 2016Assignee: Meltz, LLCInventors: Matthew P. Roberts, Paul Kalenian, Douglas M. Hoon, Karl Winkler
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Patent number: 9480359Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 30, 2015Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: Meltz, LLCInventor: Paul Kalenian
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Patent number: 9468230Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 7, 2016Date of Patent: October 18, 2016Assignee: MELTZ, LLCInventors: Matthew P. Roberts, Paul Kalenian, Douglas M. Hoon
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Patent number: 9408492Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 4, 2016Date of Patent: August 9, 2016Assignee: Meltz, LLCInventors: Matthew P. Roberts, Paul Kalenian, Douglas M. Hoon
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Patent number: 9408493Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 6, 2016Date of Patent: August 9, 2016Assignee: Meltz, LLCInventors: Matthew P. Roberts, Paul Kalenian, Douglas M. Hoon
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Patent number: 9346611Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 16, 2015Date of Patent: May 24, 2016Assignee: Meltz, LLCInventors: Matthew Roberts, Paul Kalenian, Douglas M. Hoon