Patents by Inventor Dominic Zwicker

Dominic Zwicker 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).

  • Patent number: 11617469
    Abstract: A brewing module for preparing a brewed drink from a portion capsule, includes a first brewing module part and a second brewing module part, which is movable relative to a housing between a first brewing module part position and a second brewing module part position. An operating element is able to be brought manually from a first into a second operating element position, from which a movement is transmitted via a transmission mechanism into a movement of the second brewing module part. The transmission mechanism includes a cam disc that is rotatably mounted on the housing by the operating element wherein the second brewing module part is displaceable along a displacement stretch, which is fixed with respect to the housing, from a first brewing module part position into the second brewing module part position by way of the cam disc being rotated by the operating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: TCHIBO GMBH
    Inventors: Dominic Zwicker, Christian Schultheiss, Johannes Federer
  • Patent number: 11337540
    Abstract: A brewing module for preparing a brewed drink from a portion capsule, includes a first brewing module part and a second brewing module part, which is movable relative to the housing between a first brewing module part position and a second brewing module part position, wherein a brewing chamber is formed in the second brewing module part position. Furthermore, an operating element is able to be brought manually from a first into a second operating element position, from which a movement is transmitted via a transmission mechanism into a movement of the second brewing module part. The brewing module further includes a damping device for damping the movement of the second brewing module part. This damping device is designed such that it has non-constant damping characteristics as a function of the position and/or as a function of the movement direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: TCHIBO GMBH
    Inventors: Dominic Zwicker, Christian Schultheiss, Johannes Federer
  • Patent number: 10918236
    Abstract: A capsule for producing a liquid food item includes a capsule body and two chambers for holding two substances. One chamber contains a perforation element for perforation of the capsule body. An anvil for a punch of a device into which the capsule can be inserted is provided on the perforation element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: LigaLife GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Burkhard Schäling, Stefan Schönenberger, Dominic Zwicker, Cyrill Baur
  • Patent number: 10820745
    Abstract: A capsule-detecting module for a brewing module for preparing a brewed drink from a single-serve capsule, including: an optical sensor, especially a camera, for detecting optical properties of the capsule located in a capsule detection position; a capsule detection window made of a transparent material and arranged between the capsule detection position and the camera; and a module cover that closes an access opening and is designed to be opened and/or removed without using any tools, the side of the capsule detection window facing the capsule detection position being accessible through the access opening when the module cover is open or removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: QBO COFFEE GMBH
    Inventors: Dominic Zwicker, Claudio Foscan
  • Patent number: 10820744
    Abstract: A brewing module for a beverage-preparing machine includes a housing and first and second module parts. The housing has a capsule insertion opening through which the capsule can be inserted. The brewing module parts are movable relative to one another to form a brewing chamber in a first position. After movement from the first position to a second position a capsule located in the brewing chamber falls downward into a capsule container by the action of gravity while, in the second position, the brewing module parts cause a capsule inserted through the capsule insertion opening to be stopped vertically above a height of the brewing position at a capsule detection position. In a third position, a capsule at the capsule detection position can fall downward from the capsule detection position, substantially to the height of the brewing position. The second position is between the first position and the third position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: QBO COFFEE GMBH
    Inventors: Andres Rubin, Dominic Zwicker, Pascal Tanner, Claudio Foscan
  • Publication number: 20200077831
    Abstract: A brewing module for preparing a brewed drink from a portion capsule, includes a first brewing module part and a second brewing module part, which is movable relative to a housing between a first brewing module part position and a second brewing module part position. An operating element is able to be brought manually from a first into a second operating element position, from which a movement is transmitted via a transmission mechanism into a movement of the second brewing module part. The transmission mechanism includes a cam disc that is rotatably mounted on the housing by the operating element wherein the second brewing module part is displaceable along a displacement stretch, which is fixed with respect to the housing, from a first brewing module part position into the second brewing module part position by way of the cam disc being rotated by the operating element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Inventors: Dominic Zwicker, Christian Schultheiss, Johannes Federer
  • Patent number: 10575676
    Abstract: A capsule recognition module for a brewing module for preparing a brewed beverage from a single serve capsule includes: an optical sensor for sensing optical properties of the capsule that is located in a capsule recognition position, a capsule recognition window that is made of a transparent material and is located between the capsule recognition position and the camera, and a fan for generating an air flow from the capsule recognition window towards the capsule recognition position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: QBO COFFEE GMBH
    Inventors: Andres Rubin, Dominic Zwicker, Pascal Tanner, Claudio Foscan
  • Publication number: 20200060464
    Abstract: A brewing module for preparing a brewed drink from a portion capsule, includes a first brewing module part and a second brewing module part, which is movable relative to the housing between a first brewing module part position and a second brewing module part position, wherein a brewing chamber is formed in the second brewing module part position. Furthermore, an operating element is able to be brought manually from a first into a second operating element position, from which a movement is transmitted via a transmission mechanism into a movement of the second brewing module part. The brewing module further includes a damping device for damping the movement of the second brewing module part. This damping device is designed such that it has non-constant damping characteristics as a function of the position and/or as a function of the movement direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Publication date: February 27, 2020
    Inventors: Dominic Zwicker, Christian Schultheiss, Johannes Federer
  • Patent number: 10307011
    Abstract: A brewing module for an extraction appliance has a first brewing-module part and a second brewing-module part, which can be moved relative to the first. The first and second brewing-module parts form a discharging device for discharging an extraction product out of a capsule, containing extraction substance for the preparation of brewed beverages, and an injector for introducing an extraction liquid into the capsule. The first brewing-module part has a head with a lateral guide, which defines first and second tracks for a capsule collar. The first brewing-module part also forms a rest delimiting movement of the capsule in the downward direction when the capsule collar is located on the first track. The lateral guide is connected rigidly to the head, and the second brewing-module part has a restoring device, which acts on the capsule collar and moves the collar into the second track when the brewing chamber is opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: QBO COFFEE GMBH
    Inventors: Andres Rubin, Dominic Zwicker, Louis Deuber
  • Publication number: 20180344075
    Abstract: A capsule-detecting module for a brewing module for preparing a brewed drink from a single-serve capsule, including: an optical sensor, especially a camera, for detecting optical properties of the capsule located in a capsule detection position; a capsule detection window made of a transparent material and arranged between the capsule detection position and the camera; and a module cover that closes an access opening and is designed to be opened and/or removed without using any tools, the side of the capsule detection window facing the capsule detection position being accessible through the access opening when the module cover is open or removed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2016
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Inventors: Dominic Zwicker, Claudio Foscan
  • Publication number: 20180242776
    Abstract: A capsule for producing a liquid food item includes a capsule body and two chambers for holding two substances. One chamber contains a perforation element for perforation of the capsule body. An anvil for a punch of a device into which the capsule can be inserted is provided on the perforation element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Applicant: Ligalife GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Burkhard SCHÄLING, Stefan SCHÖNENBERGER, Dominic ZWICKER, Cyrill BAUR
  • Publication number: 20170325620
    Abstract: A brewing module for a beverage-preparing machine includes a housing and first and second module parts. The housing has a capsule insertion opening through which the capsule can be inserted. The brewing module parts are movable relative to one another to form a brewing chamber in a first position. After movement from the first position to a second position a capsule located in the brewing chamber falls downward into a capsule container by the action of gravity while, in the second position, the brewing module parts cause a capsule inserted through the capsule insertion opening to be stopped vertically above a height of the brewing position at a capsule detection position. In a third position, a capsule at the capsule detection position can fall downward from the capsule detection position, substantially to the height of the brewing position. The second position is between the first position and the third position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Applicant: Qbo Coffee GmbH
    Inventors: Andres Rubin, Dominic Zwicker, Pascal Tanner, Claudio Foscan
  • Publication number: 20170325626
    Abstract: A capsule recognition module for a brewing module for preparing a brewed beverage from a single serve capsule includes: an optical sensor for sensing optical properties of the capsule that is located in a capsule recognition position, a capsule recognition window that is made of a transparent material and is located between the capsule recognition position and the camera, and a fan for generating an air flow from the capsule recognition window towards the capsule recognition position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Applicant: Qbo Coffee GmbH
    Inventors: Andres Rubin, Dominic Zwicker, Pascal Tanner, Claudio Foscan
  • Publication number: 20160242591
    Abstract: A brewing module for an extraction appliance has a first brewing-module part and a second brewing-module part, which can be moved relative to the first. The first and second brewing-module parts form a discharging device for discharging an extraction product out of a capsule, containing extraction substance for the preparation of brewed beverages, and an injector for introducing an extraction liquid into the capsule. The first brewing-module part has a head with a lateral guide, which defines first and second tracks for a capsule collar. The first brewing-module part also forms a rest delimiting movement of the capsule in the downward direction when the capsule collar is located on the first track. The lateral guide is connected rigidly to the head, and the second brewing-module part has a restoring device, which acts on the capsule collar and moves the collar into the second track when the brewing chamber is opened.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Publication date: August 25, 2016
    Inventors: Andres Rubin, Dominic Zwicker, Louis Deuber