Patents by Inventor Jean-Luc Thuliez

Jean-Luc Thuliez 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: 11684206
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) for preparing a beverage, more particularly, for a vehicle comprising: —a brewing unit (2) for receiving a dose (3) of beverage ingredients, —a pressure pump (4) for supplying pressurized liquid to the brewing unit, —an electronic control unit (5) for selectively controlling the activation of the pressure pump, wherein the electronic control unit (5) is arranged to control the activation and deactivation of the pressure pump (4), by providing output to the pressure pump as response to input indicative of a determined inclination angle relative to horizontal and/or to a detected spatial displacement or acceleration; said input being received from inclination angle and/or displacement sensing means (6) which are part of and/or foreign to the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Societe des Produits Nestle S.A.
    Inventors: Etienne Crozier, Adrien Hoffet, Marco Magatti, Damien Romand, Jean-Luc Thuliez
  • Patent number: 11589704
    Abstract: Beverage preparation device (1) for preparing a beverage from a beverage dose (2) comprising: —a brewing unit (3) for receiving the dose (2) and preparing a beverage from the ingredients contained within the dose and pressurized liquid injected in the dose, —a pressure pump (4) for supplying pressurized liquid to the brewing unit (3), —beverage dispensing means (5) connected to the brewing unit and comprising a beverage injector (6) arranged for dispensing the beverage through a bottom (8) of a beverage receptacle (7); wherein the beverage dispensing means (5) comprises a residual beverage draining valve (9), between the beverage injector (6) and the brewing unit (3), which is arranged to be moved between a beverage dispensing position and a residual beverage draining position, wherein the residual beverage draining valve (9) and/or the beverage receptacle (7) comprise valve activation means (10) arranged to move the draining valve between a beverage dispensing position in response to the engagement of the bo
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Societe des Produits Nestle S.A.
    Inventors: Etienne Crozier, Guillaume Heisel, Adrien Hoffet, Marco Magatti, Damien Romand, Jean-Luc Thuliez, Robin Zimmermann
  • Patent number: 11523706
    Abstract: Beverage preparation apparatus for preparing a beverage comprising: —a water tank (2) for storing water, —a brewing unit (3) for receiving a dose of beverage ingredients, —a water line (5) for supplying water from the water tank to the brewing unit (3) including a pressure pump (4) for supplying pressurized liquid to the brewing unit and a fluid heater (29) for heating liquid, —a control unit (6) for selectively controlling the activation of the pressure pump, wherein it further comprises a fluidic interrupter (7) positionable in fluidic interruption position for interrupting the fluidic communication between the water tank (2) and the water line (5) and, reversely, positionable in fluidic communication position for restoring the fluid communication between the water tank and the water line and wherein the control unit (6) is arranged for automatically activating an anti-freeze mode by activating the fluidic interrupter (7) in fluidic interruption position and by running the pressure pump (4) to at least part
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Societe des Produits Nestle S.A.
    Inventors: Etienne Crozier, Guillaume Heisel, Marco Magatti, Damien Romand, Jean-Luc Thuliez
  • Patent number: 11178999
    Abstract: A beverage preparation machine (1) comprises a source of liquid (2,3) and a dispensing outlet (4) connected via a pump (10) that includes a chamber (11) and a displaceable wall (12) delimiting the chamber (11). The pump (10) further has: an electric actuator (13) driving the displaceable wall (12) for causing an inflow of liquid from the source into the chamber (11) and for causing an outflow of liquid from the chamber (11) to the dispensing outlet (4); and a powering unit (14) that comprises an electric power source (142) and that is configured for supplying power to the actuator (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Societe des Produits Nestle S.A.
    Inventors: Etienne Crozier, Bertrand Guyon, Marco Magatti, Nicolas Obliger, Jean-Luc Thuliez
  • Patent number: 11116355
    Abstract: A machine (1) for preparing and dispensing a beverage (2) comprises: —a main body (10) containing a unit (11, 12, 13, 14, 15) for preparing said beverage (2) to be dispensed via an outlet (21) to an external user-recipient (3) at a user-recipient placement location (30); —an auxiliary body (20) that is movable relative to the main body (10) inwards into the main body (10) into a retracted position and outwards from the main body (10) into a deployed position; —a control unit (16) for controlling the preparation unit (11, 12, 13, 14, 15) to supply said beverage (2) to the outlet (21); and—a user-interlace (17, 17?) connected to the control unit (16). The user-interface (17, 17?) is located on the auxiliary body (20) and is movable therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Societe des Produits Nestle S.A.
    Inventors: Lukic Branko, Etienne Crozier, Bertrand Guyon, Nicolas Obliger, Steven Ryutaro Takayama, Jean-Luc Thuliez
  • Publication number: 20210127892
    Abstract: Beverage preparation apparatus for preparing a beverage comprising: —a water tank (2) for storing water, —a brewing unit (3) for receiving a dose of beverage ingredients, —a water in line (5) for supplying water from the water tank to the brewing unit (3) including a pressure pump (4) for supplying pressurized liquid to the brewing unit and a fluid heater (29) for heating liquid, —a control unit (6) for selectively controlling the activation of the pressure pump, wherein it further comprises a fluidic interrupter (7) positionable in fluidic interruption position for interrupting the fluidic communication between the water tank (2) and the water line (5) and, reversely, positionable in fluidic communication position for restoring the fluid communication between the water tank and the water line and wherein the control unit (6) is arranged for automatically activating an anti-freeze mode by activating the fluidic interrupter (7) in fluidic interruption position and by miming the pressure pump (4) to at least pa
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2018
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Inventors: Etienne Crozier, Guillaume Heisel, Marco Magatti, Damien Romand, Jean-Luc Thuliez
  • Publication number: 20210106167
    Abstract: Beverage preparation device (1) for preparing a beverage from a beverage dose (2) comprising: —a brewing unit (3) for receiving the dose (2) and preparing a beverage from the ingredients contained within the dose and pressurized liquid injected in the dose, —a pressure pump (4) for supplying pressurized liquid to the brewing unit (3), —beverage dispensing means (5) connected to the brewing unit and comprising a beverage injector (6) arranged for dispensing the beverage through a bottom (8) of a beverage receptacle (7); wherein the beverage dispensing means (5) comprises a residual beverage draining valve (9), between the beverage injector (6) and the brewing unit (3), which is arranged to be moved between a beverage dispensing position and a residual beverage draining position, wherein the residual beverage draining valve (9) and/or the beverage receptacle (7) comprise valve activation means (10) arranged to move the draining valve between a beverage dispensing position in response to the engagement of the bo
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2018
    Publication date: April 15, 2021
    Inventors: Etienne Crozier, Guillaume Heisel, Adrien Hoffet, Marco Magatti, Damien Romand, Jean-Luc Thuliez, Robin Zimmermann
  • Patent number: 10945552
    Abstract: A machine (1) for preparing a beverage has: a body (1?) with a fluid line (1?,1??) extending from a liquid inlet (1?) to a beverage outlet (1??); a liquid tank (15) that has an outlet (16) connected to the liquid inlet (1?); and a carrier (11,12) assembled to the body (1?) for carrying the liquid tank (15). The carrier (11,12) is movable with the liquid tank (15) as a unit (10) inwards into the body (1?) into an operative position for supplying liquid to the liquid inlet (1?) and outwards from the body (1?) into a service position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Societe des Produits Nestle S.A.
    Inventors: Lukic Branko, Etienne Crozier, Bertrand Guyon, Kevin Kilpatrick, Marco Magatti, Nicolas Obliger, Steven Ryutaro Takayama, Jean-Luc Thuliez
  • Patent number: 10849456
    Abstract: A machine (1) for preparing and dispensing a beverage (2) comprises: —a main body (10) containing a unit (11,12,13,14,15) for preparing said beverage (2) to be dispensed via an outlet (21) to an external user-recipient (3) at a user-recipient placement location (30); —a beverage dispensing head (20) that includes the outlet (21) and that is movable relative to the main body (10) inwards into the main body (10) into a retracted head position and outwards from the main body (10) into a deployed head position; and—a control unit (16) for controlling the preparation unit (11,12,13,14,15) to supply said beverage (2) to the outlet (21).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Societe des Produits Nestle S.A.
    Inventors: Lukic Branko, Etienne Crozier, Bertrand Guyon, Nicolas Obliger, Steven Ryutaro Takayama, Jean-Luc Thuliez
  • Patent number: 10667985
    Abstract: A device for distributing, on a surface of a living body, a product containing an active component or forming a cosmetic product, the device comprising a housing and a cartridge, releasably coupled to the housing, wherein: the cartridge comprises an applicator element and a reservoir containing said product and having a movable or deformable wall part for reducing the volume of the reservoir, wherein at least one opening is provided between the reservoir and the applicator element for applying the product to the applicator element by reducing the volume of the reservoir; and the housing comprises at least one light source for radiating light through and/or alongside the cartridge and a drive for driving the movable and/or deformable wall part of the reservoir for reducing the volume of the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: ID Lab
    Inventors: Stéphane Decaux, Géraldine Decaux, Jean Luc Thuliez, Etienne Crozier, Guillaume Heisel
  • Publication number: 20200154939
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) for preparing a beverage, more particularly, for a vehicle comprising: a brewing unit (2) for receiving a dose (3) of beverage ingredients, a pressure pump (4) for supplying pressurized liquid to the brewing unit, an electronic control unit (5) for selectively controlling the activation of the pressure pump, wherein the electronic control unit (5) is arranged to control the activation and deactivation of the pressure pump (4), by providing output to the pressure pump as response to input indicative of a determined inclination angle relative to horizontal and/or to a detected spatial displacement or acceleration; said input being received from inclination angle and/or displacement sensing means (6) which are part of and/or foreign to the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2018
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Inventors: Etienne Crozier, Adrien Hoffet, Marco Magatti, Damien Romand, Jean-Luc Thuliez
  • Publication number: 20190313839
    Abstract: A machine (1) for preparing and dispensing a beverage (2) comprises: —a main body (10) containing a unit (11, 12, 13, 14, 15) for preparing said beverage (2) to be dispensed via an outlet (21) to an external user-recipient (3) at a user-recipient placement location (30);—an auxiliary body (20) that is movable relative to the main body (10) inwards into the main body (10) into a retracted position and outwards from the main body (10) into a deployed position;—a control unit (16) for controlling the preparation unit (11, 12, 13, 14, 15) to supply said beverage (2) to the outlet (21); and—a user-interlace (17, 17?) connected to the control unit (16). The user-interface (17, 17?) is located on the auxiliary body (20) and is movable therewith.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Publication date: October 17, 2019
    Inventors: Lukic Branko, Etienne Crozier, Betrand Guyon, Nicolas Obliger, Steven Ryutaro Takayama, Jean-Luc Thuliez
  • Publication number: 20190223656
    Abstract: A beverage preparation machine (1) comprises a source of liquid (2,3) and a dispensing outlet (4) connected via a pump (10) that includes a chamber (11) and a displaceable wall (12) delimiting the chamber (11). The pump (10) further has: an electric actuator (13) driving the displaceable wall (12) for causing an inflow of liquid from the source into the chamber (11) and for causing an outflow of liquid from the chamber (11) to the dispensing outlet (4); and a powering unit (14) that comprises an electric power source (142) and that is configured for supplying power to the actuator (13).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2017
    Publication date: July 25, 2019
    Inventors: Etienne Crozier, Bertrand Guyon, Marco Magatti, Nicolas Obliger, Jean-Luc Thuliez
  • Publication number: 20190059639
    Abstract: A machine (1) for preparing and dispensing a beverage (2) comprises: —a main body (10) containing a unit (11,12,13,14,15) for preparing said beverage (2) to be dispensed via an outlet (21) to an external user-recipient (3) at a user-recipient placement location (30); —a beverage dispensing head (20) that includes the outlet (21) and that is movable relative to the main body (10) inwards into the main body (10) into a retracted head position and outwards from the main body (10) into a deployed head position; and —a control unit (16) for controlling the preparation unit (11,12,13,14,15) to supply said beverage (2) to the outlet (21).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Inventors: Lukic Branko, Etienne Crozier, Bertrand Guyon, Nicolas Obliger, Steven Ryutaro Takayama, Jean-Luc Thuliez
  • Publication number: 20190008312
    Abstract: A machine (1) for preparing a beverage has: a body (1?) with a fluid line (1?,1??) extending from a liquid inlet (1?) to a beverage outlet (1??); a liquid tank (15) that has an outlet (16) connected to the liquid inlet (1?); and a carrier (11,12) assembled to the body (1?) for carrying the liquid tank (15). The carrier (11,12) is movable with the liquid tank (15) as a unit (10) inwards into the body (1?) into an operative position for supplying liquid to the liquid inlet (1?) and outwards from the body (1?) into a service position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2017
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventors: Lukic Branko, Etienne Crozier, Bertrand Guyon, Kevin Kilpatrick, Marco Magatti, Nicolas Obliger, Steven Ryutaro Takayama, Jean-Luc Thuliez
  • Patent number: 10058429
    Abstract: A method and implant based on injection molding techniques. The method produces polymeric components suitable for implantation with a structure and mechanical properties close to those of natural bone tissue. In a variant, method for making an implant or component thereof includes forming a standard shape foamed blank, and over-molding a thin layer of non-foamed PEEK material onto the standard shaped foamed blank to obtain a final implant component geometry, whereby the blank is completely encapsulated by the over-molded layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Inventors: Jean-Luc Thuliez, John Nicholas Ayliffe
  • Publication number: 20170128319
    Abstract: A device (1) for distributing, on a surface of a living body, a product (3) containing an active component or forming a cosmetic product, the device comprising a housing (15) and a cartridge (17), releasably coupled to the housing, wherein: —the cartridge comprises an applicator element (7) and a reservoir (3) containing said product and having a movable or deformable wall part for reducing the volume of the reservoir, wherein at least one opening (108) is provided between the reservoir and the applicator element for applying the product to the applicator element by reducing the volume of the reservoir; and —the housing comprises at least one light source (9) for radiating light through and/or alongside the cartridge and a drive for driving the movable and/or deformable wall part of the reservoir for reducing the volume of the reservoir.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2015
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Inventors: Stéphane Decaux, Géraldine Decaux, Jean Luc Thuliez, Etienne Crozier, Guillaume Heisel
  • Patent number: 9603646
    Abstract: A bone fixation system includes at least one bone fixation member and a bone fixation instrument. The bone fixation member includes a strap and a locking mechanism. The strap can be pulled through the locking mechanism so as to form a loop about a target bone so as to secure first and second bone segments in an approximated, compressed configuration. The bone fixation instrument is configured to apply tension to the loop about the target bone. The fixation instrument includes a tension assembly that is configured to secure a free end of the bone fixation member to the fixation instrument. The tension assembly is further configured to pull the free end so as to increase tension in the loop while the tension in the loop is less than a select tension. The tension assembly is unable to further increase tension in the bone fixation member once the tension in the bone fixation member has reached the select tension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: DePuy Synthes Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Cyril Voisard, Azagen Mootien, Etienne Crozier, Jean-Luc Thuliez, Nicolas Obliger
  • Publication number: 20160317310
    Abstract: A method and implant based on injection molding techniques. The method produces polymeric components suitable for implantation with a structure and mechanical properties close to those of natural bone tissue. In a variant, method for making an implant or component thereof includes forming a standard shape foamed blank, and over-molding a thin layer of non-foamed PEEK material onto the standard shaped foamed blank to obtain a final implant component geometry, whereby the blank is completely encapsulated by the over-molded layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Inventors: Jean-Luc THULIEZ, John Nicholas AYLIFFE
  • Patent number: 9408495
    Abstract: Device for producing a frothed liquid comprising a chamber opened to atmosphere with a transverse bottom wall and a longitudinal upward wall, at least one diluent inlet, at least one liquid delivery outlet. The diluent inlet is provided through the upward wall and is dimensioned and oriented for directing a thin jet of diluent in the chamber. The at least one liquid delivery outlet is configured in the bottom wall for liquid to rise up along the side of the upward wall by the jet of diluent entering the chamber as a result of the direction and dimension of the diluent inlet in the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventors: Raphael Gugerli, Jean-Luc Thuliez, Iwan Kissling, Raphael Bernhardsgruetter, Cedric Beausire, Nihan Dogan, David J. Harrison, David Hamel