Patents by Inventor Eric Skell

Eric Skell 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: 9409756
    Abstract: A multi-flavor valve capable of dispensing at least three flavors of beverages is provided. The valve includes a single-piece injection-molded valve body having at least three syrup flow paths and a water flow path. The valve also includes at least three syrup flow path solenoids for respectively opening and closing the at least three syrup flow paths, and one water flow path solenoid for opening and closing the water flow path. The three syrup flow path solenoids are positioned in the corresponding syrup flow paths, and the water flow path solenoid is positioned in the water flow path, within the valve body. The valve also has at least three beverage flavor switches for selecting any one of the three beverage flavors for dispensation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: PepsiCo, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Todd Piatnik, Fernando Ubidia, Amir Farooqui, Aaron M. Stein, Eric Skell, Thomas Tagliapietra, William Black
  • Publication number: 20140124529
    Abstract: A multi-flavor valve capable of dispensing at least three flavors of beverages is provided. The valve includes a single-piece injection-molded valve body having at least three syrup flow paths and a water flow path. The valve also includes at least three syrup flow path solenoids for respectively opening and closing the at least three syrup flow paths, and one water flow path solenoid for opening and closing the water flow path. The three syrup flow path solenoids are positioned in the corresponding syrup flow paths, and the water flow path solenoid is positioned in the water flow path, within the valve body. The valve also has at least three beverage flavor switches for selecting any one of the three beverage flavors for dispensation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2014
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: PepsiCo,Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Todd Piatnik, Fernando Ubidia, Amir Farooqui, Aaron Stein, Eric Skell, Thomas Tagliapietra, William Black
  • Patent number: 8631974
    Abstract: A multi-flavor valve for dispensing at least three flavors of beverages includes a single-piece injection-molded valve body having at least three syrup flow paths, a water flow path, and one water flow path solenoid for opening and closing the water flow path. Three syrup flow path solenoids are positioned in the corresponding syrup flow paths. The water flow path solenoid is positioned in the water flow path, within the valve body. The valve has beverage flavor switches for selecting the beverage flavors for dispensation. The valve includes an electronics module electrically connected to the solenoids and to the beverage flavor switches, the electronics module causing one of the syrup flow path solenoids to open the corresponding syrup flow path of the syrup corresponding to a selected flavor switch, and causing the water flow path solenoid to open the water flow path, causing the valve to dispense the selected beverage flavor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: PepsiCo, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Todd Piatnik, Fernando Ubidia, Amir Farooqui, Aaron Stein, Eric Skell, Thomas Tagliapietra, William Black
  • Publication number: 20090166377
    Abstract: A multi-flavor valve capable of dispensing at least three flavors of beverages is provided. The valve includes a single-piece injection-molded valve body having at least three syrup flow paths and a water flow path. The valve also includes at least three syrup flow path solenoids for respectively opening and closing the at least three syrup flow paths, and one water flow path solenoid for opening and closing the water flow path. The three syrup flow path solenoids are positioned in the corresponding syrup flow paths, and the water flow path solenoid is positioned in the water flow path, within the valve body. The valve also has at least three beverage flavor switches for selecting any one of the three beverage flavors for dispensation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2009
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Applicant: PEPSICO., INC.
    Inventors: Joseph Todd Piatnik, Fernando Ubidia, Amir Farooqui, Aaron Stein, Eric Skell, Thomas Tagliapietra, William Black
  • Publication number: 20050269360
    Abstract: A multi-flavor valve capable of dispensing at least three flavors of beverages is provided. The valve includes a single-piece injection-molded valve body having at least three syrup flow paths and a water flow path. The valve also includes at least three syrup flow path solenoids for respectively opening and closing the at least three syrup flow paths, and one water flow path solenoid for opening and closing the water flow path. The three syrup flow path solenoids are positioned in the corresponding syrup flow paths, and the water flow path solenoid is positioned in the water flow path, within the valve body. The valve also has at least three beverage flavor switches for selecting any one of the three beverage flavors for dispensation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2004
    Publication date: December 8, 2005
    Applicant: PEPSICO INC.
    Inventors: Joseph Piatnik, Fernando Ubidia, Amir Farooqui, Aaron Stein, Eric Skell, Thomas Tagliapietra, William Black