Patents by Inventor David J. Throckmorton
David J. Throckmorton 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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Publication number: 20220279976Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein for a blender control system to monitor the usage of a blender system. The blender control system may decrement a remaining blend runtime and/or remaining blend cycle count each time that the blender is used. The blender control system may disable or partially disable at least some functions of the blender system once the remaining blend runtime and/or remaining blend cycle count is depleted. Additional blend cycles and/or blend runtime may be purchased directly via an interface on the blender system, through a mobile application, by phone, or via a web portal. The blender control system replenishes the remaining blend runtime and/or remaining cycle count in response to the purchase.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 23, 2022Publication date: September 8, 2022Applicant: BLENDTEC, INC.Inventors: Thomas D. Dickson, David J. Throckmorton, Cody Hardcastle
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Patent number: 11389030Abstract: A vacuum blending system may be used to blend solids, powders, and/or liquids (foodstuff) in an evacuated blender jar and/or evacuated enclosure to reduce or eliminate the air included in the resulting mixture. The vacuum blending system may be embodied as a vacuum lid adaptable for use with any of a wide variety of blending systems. In other embodiments, the vacuum blending system may be embodied as a blender with an integrated vacuum system. In still other embodiments, the vacuum blending system may be embodied as a vacuum pump, and optional vacuum tank, for use with a plurality off blender enclosures. Any of these vacuum blending systems may be used to produce blended foodstuff that has superior texture, offer increased nutritional benefit, and/or remain homogeneous for longer than the same foodstuff remains well-mixed when blended in a non-vacuum.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2019Date of Patent: July 19, 2022Assignee: IDEYA LABS, LLCInventors: Thomas D. Dickson, Jr., Gregory D. Jackson, David J. Throckmorton
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Publication number: 20200121131Abstract: A vacuum blending system may be used to blend solids, powders, and/or liquids (foodstuff) in an evacuated blender jar and/or evacuated enclosure to reduce or eliminate the air included in the resulting mixture. The vacuum blending system may be embodied as a vacuum lid adaptable for use with any of a wide variety of blending systems. In other embodiments, the vacuum blending system may be embodied as a blender with an integrated vacuum system. In still other embodiments, the vacuum blending system may be embodied as a vacuum pump, and optional vacuum tank, for use with a plurality off blender enclosures. Any of these vacuum blending systems may be used to produce blended foodstuff that has superior texture, offer increased nutritional benefit, and/or remain homogeneous for longer than the same foodstuff remains well-mixed when blended in a non-vacuum.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 18, 2019Publication date: April 23, 2020Applicant: IDEYA LABS, LLCInventors: Thomas D. Dickson, JR., Gregory D. Jackson, David J. Throckmorton
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Patent number: 10357131Abstract: A blending apparatus includes a blending jar and a lid. The blending jar has an internal surface defining an internal volume, and a mixing blade positioned within the internal volume. The lid is releasably mounted to the blending jar and includes at least one scraper extending into the internal volume. The at least one scraper is adjacent to the internal surface of the blending jar and is arranged and configured to disrupt rotational flow of food particles within the internal volume and/or scrape food particles from an inner surface of the blending jar.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2017Date of Patent: July 23, 2019Assignee: BLENDTEC, INC.Inventors: Thomas D. Dickson, Jr., David J. Throckmorton, Sterling O. Kingdon, Mark W. McLane, Kory B. Robins, Richard C. Galbraith
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Publication number: 20180168184Abstract: A method of processing a chilled food product includes providing a product in a storage container, wherein the product has a frozen portion and a non-frozen portion in the storage container, and the frozen portion has a granular size. The method also includes mixing the frozen portion of the product with the non-frozen portion of the product within the storage container, flowing the frozen portion and non-frozen portion into contact with a shearing apparatus, and shearing at least the frozen portion with the shearing apparatus, thereby reducing the granular size of the frozen portion. This method and similar systems and machines may refine and process chilled food products such as smoothies and slushes to have a smoother and more even consistency.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 19, 2018Publication date: June 21, 2018Applicant: BlendTec, Inc.Inventors: Joseph O. Jacobsen, David J. Throckmorton, Thomas D. Dickson, JR., David Q. Bytheway, Bradley S. Maxfield, Evan J. Bauer
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Patent number: 9989293Abstract: An ice dispensing assembly includes a hopper, a metering disk, a shelf member, and a separating wall. The hopper includes an outlet opening defined in a bottom end of the hopper, and an ice inlet defined in a top end of the hopper. The metering disk is positioned in the hopper and includes a plurality of cavities. The shelf member is arranged to at least partially shield the cavities from a supply of ice held in the hopper. The metering disk is rotatable relative to the hopper between a first position wherein at least one cavity is exposed to the supply of ice to be filled with ice, and a second position wherein the cavity is separated from the supply of ice by the separating wall and ice in the cavity is dispensed through the outlet opening.Type: GrantFiled: November 11, 2014Date of Patent: June 5, 2018Assignee: BLENDTEC, INC.Inventors: Thomas D. Dickson, Jr., Sterling O. Kingdon, Mark W. McLane, David J. Throckmorton, Kory B. Robins, W. Reid Stout
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Patent number: 9894912Abstract: A machine for processing a chilled food product includes a product in a storage container, wherein the product has a frozen portion and a non-frozen portion in the storage container, and the frozen portion has a granular size. The machine mixes the frozen portion of the product with the non-frozen portion of the product within the storage container, flows the frozen portion and non-frozen portion into contact with a shearing apparatus, and shears at least the frozen portion with the shearing apparatus, thereby reducing the granular size of the frozen portion. The machine may refine and process chilled food products such as smoothies and slushes to have a smoother and more even consistency.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2015Date of Patent: February 20, 2018Assignee: BLENDTEC, INC.Inventors: Joseph O. Jacobsen, David J. Throckmorton, Thomas D. Dickson, Jr., David Q. Bytheway, Bradley S. Maxfield, Evan J. Bauer
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Publication number: 20180014693Abstract: A blending apparatus includes a blending jar and a lid. The blending jar has an internal surface defining an internal volume, and a mixing blade positioned within the internal volume. The lid is releasably mounted to the blending jar and includes at least one scraper extending into the internal volume. The at least one scraper is adjacent to the internal surface of the blending jar and is arranged and configured to disrupt rotational flow of food particles within the internal volume and/or scrape food particles from an inner surface of the blending jar.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2017Publication date: January 18, 2018Applicant: BlendTec, Inc.Inventors: Thomas D. Dickson, JR., David J. Throckmorton, Sterling O. Kingdon, Mark W. McLane, Kory B. Robins, Richard C. Galbraith
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Patent number: 9770133Abstract: A blending apparatus includes a blending jar and a lid. The blending jar has an internal surface defining an internal volume, and a mixing blade positioned within the internal volume. The lid is releasably mounted to the blending jar and includes at least one scraper extending into the internal volume. The at least one scraper is adjacent to the internal surface of the blending jar and is arranged and configured to disrupt rotational flow of food particles within the internal volume and/or scrape food particles from an inner surface of the blending jar.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2011Date of Patent: September 26, 2017Assignee: BLENDTEC, INC.Inventors: Thomas D. Dickson, Jr., David J. Throckmorton, Sterling O. Kingdon, Mark W. McLane, Kory B. Robins, Richard C. Galbraith
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Publication number: 20170035249Abstract: A food preparation system includes an application operable by a computing device, and a scale configured to support a food preparation container and wirelessly communicate weight information associated with the food preparation container wirelessly to the computing device. The application coordinates the weight information with ingredients of a recipe.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 2, 2016Publication date: February 9, 2017Applicant: BlendTec, Inc.Inventors: Thomas D. Dickson, JR., Kenneth Dinkel, David J. Throckmorton
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Publication number: 20160353766Abstract: A method of processing a chilled food product includes providing a product in a storage container, wherein the product has a frozen portion and a non-frozen portion in the storage container, and the frozen portion has a granular size. The method also includes mixing the frozen portion of the product with the non-frozen portion of the product within the storage container, flowing the frozen portion and non-frozen portion into contact with a shearing apparatus, and shearing at least the frozen portion with the shearing apparatus, thereby reducing the granular size of the frozen portion. This method and similar systems and machines may refine and process chilled food products such as smoothies and slushes to have a smoother and more even consistency.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 4, 2015Publication date: December 8, 2016Applicant: BlendTec, Inc.Inventors: Joseph O. Jacobsen, David J. Throckmorton, Thomas D. Dickson, JR., David Q. Bytheway, Bradley S. Maxfield, Evan J. Bauer
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Patent number: 9420915Abstract: A blender jar with ridges has a bottom wall positioned below a movable blending member, a sidewall surface extending upward from the bottom wall, and a plurality of ridges extending inward from the sidewall surface. The ridges are positioned reflectively asymmetric relative to the mixing area in the jar. The ridges may improve blending consistency and uniformity, and may reduce blending time.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2014Date of Patent: August 23, 2016Assignee: BLENDTEC, INC.Inventors: Thomas D. Dickson, Jr., David J. Throckmorton
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Publication number: 20150282671Abstract: A blender jar with ridges has a bottom wall positioned below a movable blending member, a sidewall surface extending upward from the bottom wall, and a plurality of ridges extending inward from the sidewall surface. The ridges are positioned reflectively asymmetric relative to the mixing area in the jar. The ridges may improve blending consistency and uniformity, and may reduce blending time.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 7, 2014Publication date: October 8, 2015Inventors: Thomas D. Dickson, JR., David J. Throckmorton
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Patent number: 8881952Abstract: An ice dispensing assembly includes a hopper, a metering disk, a shelf member, and a separating wall. The hopper includes an outlet opening defined in a bottom end of the hopper, and an ice inlet defined in a top end of the hopper. The metering disk is positioned in the hopper and includes a plurality of cavities. The shelf member is arranged to at least partially shield the cavities from a supply of ice held in the hopper. The metering disk is rotatable relative to the hopper between a first position wherein at least one cavity is exposed to the supply of ice to be filled with ice, and a second position wherein the cavity is separated from the supply of ice by the separating wall and ice in the cavity is dispensed through the outlet opening.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2010Date of Patent: November 11, 2014Assignee: K-TEC, Inc.Inventors: Thomas D. Dickson, Jr., Sterling O. Kingdon, Mark W. McLane, David J. Throckmorton, Kory B. Robins, W. Reid Stout
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Publication number: 20120294108Abstract: A blending apparatus includes a blending jar and a lid. The blending jar has an internal surface defining an internal volume, and a mixing blade positioned within the internal volume. The lid is releasably mounted to the blending jar and includes at least one scraper extending into the internal volume. The at least one scraper is adjacent to the internal surface of the blending jar and is arranged and configured to disrupt rotational flow of food particles within the internal volume and/or scrape food particles from an inner surface of the blending jar.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 18, 2011Publication date: November 22, 2012Applicant: K-TEC, Inc.Inventors: Thomas D. Dickson, JR., David J. Throckmorton, Sterling O. Kingdon, Mark W. McLane, Kory B. Robins, Richard C. Galbraith
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Patent number: 7207506Abstract: A blending station apparatus and method includes a foodstuffs storage location where a plurality of individual foodstuffs storage containers are held, a control panel for inputting information into the blending station so that the beverage size and one or more of the various types of foodstuffs, as well as other ingredients such as ice, water, supplements, etc., can be selected to make a drink, a blending container to hold the various ingredients, a mixing location for blending the ingredients to achieve a uniform drink consistency, and a cleaning location to clean the blending container after the blended contents have been dispensed into a container for consumption.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2005Date of Patent: April 24, 2007Assignee: K-TEC, Inc.Inventors: Thomas D. Dickson, Jr., B. Shawn Elgaaen, Ralph W. Schwarze, David J. Throckmorton
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Patent number: 7048217Abstract: A blending station apparatus and method includes a foodstuffs storage location where a plurality of individual foodstuffs storage containers are held, a control panel for inputting information into the blending station so that the beverage size and one or more of the various types of foodstuffs, as well as other ingredients such as ice, water, supplements, etc., can be selected to make a drink, a blending container to hold the various ingredients, a mixing location for blending the ingredients to achieve a uniform drink consistency, and a cleaning location to clean the blending container after the blended contents have been dispensed into a container for consumption.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2004Date of Patent: May 23, 2006Assignee: K-Tec, Inc.Inventors: Thomas D. Dickson, Jr., B. Shawn Elgaaen, Ralph W. Schwarze, David J. Throckmorton
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Publication number: 20040233781Abstract: A blending station apparatus and method includes a foodstuffs storage location where a plurality of individual foodstuffs storage containers are held, a control panel for inputting information into the blending station so that the beverage size and one or more of the various types of foodstuffs, as well as other ingredients such as ice, water, supplements, etc., can be selected to make a drink, a blending container to hold the various ingredients, a mixing location for blending the ingredients to achieve a uniform drink consistency, and a cleaning location to clean the blending container after the blended contents have been dispensed into a container for consumption.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 25, 2004Publication date: November 25, 2004Applicant: K-TEC, Inc.Inventors: Thomas D. Dickson, B. Shawn Elgaaen, Ralph W. Schwarze, David J. Throckmorton
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Patent number: D664808Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2011Date of Patent: August 7, 2012Assignee: K-Tec, Inc.Inventors: Thomas D. Dickson, Jr., David J. Throckmorton, Sterling O. Kingdon, Mark W. McLane, Kory B. Robins
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Patent number: D742172Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2014Date of Patent: November 3, 2015Assignee: BLENDTEC, INC.Inventors: Thomas D. Dickson, Jr., David J. Throckmorton