Patents by Inventor Brian E. Sonnichsen
Brian E. Sonnichsen 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).
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Patent number: 11345585Abstract: A system for dispensing a beverage from a pressurized beverage container, the system including an interface having a housing, a tap assembly, a dip tube, a carry handle, and a receiving section. The housing is configured to fasten to a neck portion of a beverage container. The tap assembly rigidly extends from the housing and has a tap handle and a passageway configured to allow a beverage to pass through the tap assembly and out a dispensing end of the tap assembly when the tap handle is activated. The dip tube extends from a first side of the housing and is coupled to the passageway of the tap assembly. The carry handle extends from the housing. The receiving section is configured to receive a pressure regulator and includes an opening extending from a second side of the housing through the first side of the housing.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2020Date of Patent: May 31, 2022Assignee: GrowlerWerks, Inc.Inventors: Brian E. Sonnichsen, Evan C. Rege, Shawn L. Huff
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Publication number: 20220033240Abstract: A pressurized beverage dispensing device that includes a vessel, a gas reservoir, a pressure regulation device, a primary filter, and a tap assembly. The gas reservoir is configured to supply pressurized gas within the vessel. The pressure regulation device is configured to maintain a pressure within the vessel that is above ambient pressure. The primary filter is configured to fit inside the vessel and to be removable from the vessel. The tap assembly includes a tap valve, a restrictor, and a flow straightener. The tap valve is configured to control dispensing through an outlet path. The restrictor is within the outlet path of the tap assembly and is configured to accelerate a flow of beverage to a turbulent flow. The flow straightener is within the outlet path of the tap assembly, downstream of the restrictor, and is configured to recombine, slow, and straighten the flow of beverage.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 14, 2021Publication date: February 3, 2022Inventors: Evan C. Rege, Brian E. Sonnichsen, Shawn L. Huff
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Patent number: 11166584Abstract: An integrated device including a vessel, a gas reservoir, a pressure regulation device, a primary filter, and a tap assembly. The vessel is configured to contain a beverage. The gas reservoir is configured to supply pressurized gas within the vessel. The pressure regulation device is configured to maintain an infusing pressure within the vessel and also a dispensing pressure within the vessel. The primary filter is configured to hold solid brewing media, to fit inside the vessel, and to be removable from the vessel. The tap assembly is configured to dispense the beverage from the vessel. Methods are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2020Date of Patent: November 9, 2021Assignee: GROWLERWERKS, INC.Inventors: Evan C. Rege, Brian E. Sonnichsen, Shawn L. Huff
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Publication number: 20210147211Abstract: A system for dispensing a beverage from a pressurized beverage container, the system including an interface having a housing, a tap assembly, a dip tube, a carry handle, and a receiving section. The housing is configured to fasten to a neck portion of a beverage container. The tap assembly rigidly extends from the housing and has a tap handle and a passageway configured to allow a beverage to pass through the tap assembly and out a dispensing end of the tap assembly when the tap handle is activated. The dip tube extends from a first side of the housing and is coupled to the passageway of the tap assembly. The carry handle extends from the housing. The receiving section is configured to receive a pressure regulator and includes an opening extending from a second side of the housing through the first side of the housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2020Publication date: May 20, 2021Inventors: Brian E. Sonnichsen, Evan C. Rege, Shawn L. Huff
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Patent number: 10870568Abstract: A system for regulating pressure within a beverage container. A high-side cartridge assembly includes a cartridge shell enclosing a high-pressure cavity, a piercing tip to puncture a pressurized-gas container, a high-pressure passage extending through the piercing tip and to the high-pressure cavity, and a piston to intermittently open the high-pressure cavity to a low-pressure cavity external to the high-side cartridge assembly. The low-side cap assembly includes a cap body having a socket configured to receive the high-side cartridge assembly, and no part of the cap body forms a boundary of the high-pressure cavity. Also disclosed is an interface having a housing, a tap assembly, a dip tube, a carry handle, and a receiving section. The housing is configured to couple to a beverage container, and the receiving section is configured to receive a pressure regulator.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 2019Date of Patent: December 22, 2020Assignee: GrowlerWerks, Inc.Inventors: Brian E. Sonnichsen, Evan C. Rege, Shawn L. Huff
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Publication number: 20200305631Abstract: An integrated device including a vessel, a gas reservoir, a pressure regulation device, a primary filter, and a tap assembly. The vessel is configured to contain a beverage. The gas reservoir is configured to supply pressurized gas within the vessel. The pressure regulation device is configured to maintain an infusing pressure within the vessel and also a dispensing pressure within the vessel. The primary filter is configured to hold solid brewing media, to fit inside the vessel, and to be removable from the vessel. The tap assembly is configured to dispense the beverage from the vessel. Methods are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2020Publication date: October 1, 2020Inventors: Evan C. Rege, Brian E. Sonnichsen, Shawn L. Huff
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Publication number: 20190389714Abstract: A system for regulating pressure within a beverage container. A high-side cartridge assembly includes a cartridge shell enclosing a high-pressure cavity, a piercing tip to puncture a pressurized-gas container, a high-pressure passage extending through the piercing tip and to the high-pressure cavity, and a piston to intermittently open the high-pressure cavity to a low-pressure cavity external to the high-side cartridge assembly. The low-side cap assembly includes a cap body having a socket configured to receive the high-side cartridge assembly, and no part of the cap body forms a boundary of the high-pressure cavity. Also disclosed is an interface having a housing, a tap assembly, a dip tube, a carry handle, and a receiving section. The housing is configured to couple to a beverage container, and the receiving section is configured to receive a pressure regulator.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 21, 2019Publication date: December 26, 2019Inventors: Brian E. Sonnichsen, Evan C. Rege, Shawn L. Huff
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Patent number: 7380920Abstract: A container including a first tank for receiving a liquid, a second tank that is selectively pressurizable, a check valve for permitting fluid flow from the first tank to the second tank, and a manifold structure having a first port fluidically coupled to the first tank and a second port fluidically coupled to the second tank.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2004Date of Patent: June 3, 2008Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Brian E. Sonnichsen, James D. Padgett, Sharon S. Berger, Ronald F. Burr, David W. Hanks
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Patent number: 7300143Abstract: A fluid reservoir apparatus including a housing having input ports in a rear portion of the housing and output ports in a front portion of the housing, fluidic chambers and fluidic channels extending from the input ports to the output ports, a heater structure disposed in the housing, a plurality of datum standoffs having rounded datum ends disposed at the rear portion of the housing.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2005Date of Patent: November 27, 2007Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Steven R. Slotto, Brian E. Sonnichsen, Eric Segerstrom, David R. Koehler
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Patent number: 7222937Abstract: A drop emitting device including a first linear array of columnar arrays of first nozzle pairs and a second linear array of columnar arrays of second nozzle pairs, wherein the first linear array and the second linear array extend along an X-axis, and wherein the second linear array is adjacent the first linear array such that each first nozzle pair has an associated second nozzle pair displaced therefrom along a Y-axis that is orthogonal to the X-axis. The columnar arrays of first nozzle pairs and the columnar arrays of second nozzle pairs extend obliquely to the X-axis.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2004Date of Patent: May 29, 2007Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: John M. Brookfield, Rodney B. Hill, James D. Padgett, John S. Moore, Eric Segerstrom, Brian E. Sonnichsen, Christine M. Greiser
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Patent number: 7137692Abstract: A fluid reservoir apparatus including first and second opposing thermally conductive walls, an elastomeric heater compressed between the first and second opposing thermally conductive walls, wherein the elastomeric heater has an uncompressed thickness that is greater than a distance between the first and second opposing thermally conductive walls, and a reservoir adjacent the first opposing thermally conductive wall and thermally coupled to first thermally conductive wall.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2004Date of Patent: November 21, 2006Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Brian E. Sonnichsen, Daniel L. Stoneman
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Patent number: 7063410Abstract: A drop emitting apparatus including an ink jet printhead; a plurality of on-board ink reservoirs for supplying ink to the ink jet printhead; a plurality of remote ink containers; a plurality of ink supply conduits fluidically connected between the remote ink containers and the on-board ink reservoirs; a common air vent, connected to each one of the plurality of remote ink containers, for venting said each one of the plurality of remote ink containers as ink is supplied to the on-board ink reservoirs from the remote ink containers.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2004Date of Patent: June 20, 2006Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Steven R. Slotto, Brian E. Sonnichsen
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Patent number: 6969146Abstract: A drop emitting device including a first linear array of columnar arrays of first nozzle pairs and a second linear array of columnar arrays of second nozzle pairs, wherein the first linear array and the second linear array extend along an X-axis, and wherein the second linear array is adjacent the first linear array such that each first nozzle pair has an associated second nozzle pair displaced therefrom along a Y-axis that is orthogonal to the X-axis. The columnar arrays of first nozzle pairs and the columnar arrays of second nozzle pairs extend obliquely to the X-axis.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2004Date of Patent: November 29, 2005Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: John M. Brookfield, Rodney B. Hill, James D. Padgett, John S. Moore, Eric Segerstrom, Brian E. Sonnichsen, Christine M. Greiser
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Patent number: 6824241Abstract: A drop emitting apparatus that includes an ink jet printhead, a plurality of on-board ink reservoirs for supplying ink to the ink jet printhead, a plurality of remote ink containers, a plurality of ink supply conduits fluidically connected between the remote ink containers and the on-board ink reservoirs, and an air conduit for selectively providing compressed air to the on-board ink reservoirs.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2002Date of Patent: November 30, 2004Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: Brian E. Sonnichsen, Steven R. Slotto, Britton Pinson
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Patent number: 6799830Abstract: A drop emitting device including a first linear array of columnar arrays of first nozzle pairs and a second linear array of columnar arrays of second nozzle pairs wherein the first linear array and the second linear array extend along an X-axis, and wherein the second linear array is adjacent the first linear array such that each first nozzle pair has an associated second nozzle pair displaced therefrom along a Y-axis that is orthogonal to the X-axis. The columnar arrays of first nozzle pairs and the columnar arrays of second nozzle pairs extend obliquely to the X-axis.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2004Date of Patent: October 5, 2004Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventors: John M. Brookfield, Rodney B. Hill, James D. Padgett, John S. Moore, Eric Segerstrom, Brian E. Sonnichsen, Christine M. Greiser
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Publication number: 20040113991Abstract: A drop emitting apparatus including a drop generator having a piezoelectric transducer, and a temperature sensor formed of the same material as the piezoelectric transducer.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2002Publication date: June 17, 2004Applicant: Xerox CorporationInventors: Steven R. Slotto, Brian E. Sonnichsen, David L. Knierim
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Publication number: 20040113968Abstract: A drop emitting apparatus that includes an ink jet printhead, a plurality of on-board ink reservoirs for supplying ink to the ink jet printhead, a plurality of remote ink containers, a plurality of ink supply conduits fluidically connected between the remote ink containers and the on-board ink reservoirs, and an air conduit for selectively providing compressed air to the on-board ink reservoirs.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2002Publication date: June 17, 2004Applicant: Xerox CorporationInventors: Brian E. Sonnichsen, Steven R. Slotto, Britton Pinson
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Patent number: D857323Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2017Date of Patent: August 20, 2019Assignee: GrowlerWerks, Inc.Inventors: Brian E. Sonnichsen, Shawn L. Huff, Evan C. Rege, Kobi Daum
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Patent number: D951711Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2021Date of Patent: May 17, 2022Assignee: GROWLERWERKS, INC.Inventors: Brian E. Sonnichsen, Evan C. Rege, Shawn L. Huff
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Patent number: D1000198Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2021Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Assignee: GROWLERWERKS, INC.Inventors: Evan C. Rege, Brian E. Sonnichsen, Shawn L. Huff