Patents by Inventor Ian Scott Rice

Ian Scott Rice 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: 11975892
    Abstract: Systems, methods and containers for forming a beverage. A container includes a closure arranged with a movable element that is movable to pierce a membrane and permit beverage material in the container to exit. The movable element can include a piercing element that pierces the membrane. Gas can be introduced into the container to force beverage material to exit the container. A gas inlet port can be provided with the closure and arranged to mate with a gas source of a beverage machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: BEDFORD SYSTEMS LLC
    Inventors: Enrico Raffaele Cafaro, Michael Sack, Ian Scott Rice
  • Patent number: 11643269
    Abstract: Systems, methods and containers for forming a beverage. A beverage container includes an enclosure arranged with a movable element that is movable to pierce a membrane and permit beverage material in the container to exit. The movable element can also be moveable to permit pressurized gas entry into the container and through the membrane. Gas can be introduced into the container to force beverage material to exit the container. A gas inlet port can be provided with the enclosure and arranged to mate with a gas source of a beverage machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Bedford Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Enrico Raffaele Cafaro, Michael Sack, Ian Scott Rice
  • Patent number: 11603304
    Abstract: A beverage pod for a beverage machine is provided. The beverage pod can include a container having an internal space and a container flange defining an opening to the internal space, a plug sealing the opening of the container, and a cap secured to the container flange. A beverage medium can be located within the internal space of the container. The cap can be operable to selectively engage a portion of the plug to release the beverage medium through the plug and the cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Bedford Systems LLC
    Inventors: Ian Scott Rice, Catherine Fox, Daniel J. Place, Enrico Raffaele Cafaro
  • Publication number: 20210229874
    Abstract: Systems, methods and containers for forming a beverage. A container includes a closure arranged with a movable element that is movable to pierce a membrane and permit beverage material in the container to exit. The movable element can include a piercing element that pierces the membrane. Gas can be introduced into the container to force beverage material to exit the container. A gas inlet port can be provided with the closure and arranged to mate with a gas source of a beverage machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2021
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Inventors: Enrico Raffaele Cafaro, Michael Sack, Ian Scott Rice
  • Patent number: 10988287
    Abstract: Systems, methods and containers for forming a beverage. A container includes a closure arranged with a movable element that is movable to pierce a membrane and permit beverage material in the container to exit. The movable element can include a piercing element that pierces the membrane. Gas can be introduced into the container to force beverage material to exit the container. A gas inlet port can be provided with the closure and arranged to mate with a gas source of a beverage machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: BEDFORD SYSTEMS LLC
    Inventors: Enrico Raffaele Cafaro, Michael Sack, Ian Scott Rice
  • Publication number: 20200146500
    Abstract: Described herein is a beverage system that is configured to produce beverages having different characteristics, such as different levels of carbonation including producing substantially non-carbonated beverages and carbonated beverages with a single machine. The beverage system includes a beverage appliance and a beverage container. The beverage container includes a beverage material, which can include a flavoring ingredient for a target beverage. The beverage appliance is used to access the beverage material from the beverage container and produce the target beverage. The beverage appliance and beverage container are adaptable to produce the target beverage having any of a range of carbonation levels or other characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2019
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Inventors: Enrico Cafaro, Nathaniel Davis, Linda Marie Donoghue, Thomas Fedorka, Catherine Fox, Patrick Lazatin, William Roger Mainwaring-Burton, Michael M. Martin, Bob McCall, Thomas J. Novak, Ian Scott Rice, Thomas Adam Sullivan, Bryan Ellis Wagenknecht, Barry Wood
  • Publication number: 20190292036
    Abstract: A beverage pod for a beverage machine is provided. The beverage pod can include a container having an internal space and a container flange defining an opening to the internal space, a plug sealing the opening of the container, and a cap secured to the container flange. A beverage medium can be located within the internal space of the container. The cap can be operable to selectively engage a portion of the plug to release the beverage medium through the plug and the cap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2019
    Publication date: September 26, 2019
    Inventors: Ian Scott Rice, Catherine Fox, Daniel J. Place, Enrico Raffaele Cafaro
  • Publication number: 20190077586
    Abstract: Systems, methods and containers for forming a beverage. A beverage container includes an enclosure arranged with a movable element that is movable to pierce a membrane and permit beverage material in the container to exit. The movable element can also be moveable to permit pressurized gas entry into the container and through the membrane. Gas can be introduced into the container to force beverage material to exit the container. A gas inlet port can be provided with the enclosure and arranged to mate with a gas source of a beverage machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2018
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Inventors: Enrico Raffaele Cafaro, Michael Sack, Ian Scott Rice
  • Publication number: 20180155091
    Abstract: Systems, methods and containers for forming a beverage. A container includes a closure arranged with a movable element that is movable to pierce a membrane and permit beverage material in the container to exit. The movable element can include a piercing element that pierces the membrane. Gas can be introduced into the container to force beverage material to exit the container. A gas inlet port can be provided with the closure and arranged to mate with a gas source of a beverage machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Publication date: June 7, 2018
    Applicant: Bedford Systems LLC
    Inventors: Enrico Raffaele Cafaro, Michael Sack, Ian Scott Rice