Patents by Inventor Jean-Marc Flick

Jean-Marc Flick 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).

  • Publication number: 20200391165
    Abstract: The invention relates to a food processing system (100) for preparing an edible mass of a food product starting from a raw food material, the system comprising: —one or a plurality of food containers (20), each one comprising a raw food material in form of dehydrated material and/or paste and/or chunks; —one or a plurality of dispensing and reconstituting chambers (10), each chamber being associated to at least one food container (20), each of the chambers (10) comprising a variable and/or exchangeable reconstitution and deposition device configured for hydrating and/or structuring and/or reconstituting in batches the raw food material provided by the one or more food containers (20) in order to create a homogeneous edible mass of food product, the device being further configured to deposit in-line with a controlled flow the edible mass of food product once prepared.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2019
    Publication date: December 17, 2020
    Inventors: Youcef Ait Bouziad, Jean-Marc Flick, Sheldon Femandes, Fabien Ludovic Agon
  • Publication number: 20200323268
    Abstract: A smoking system includes a capillary wick for holding liquid, at least one air inlet, at least one air outlet and a chamber between the air inlet and air outlet. The air inlet, the air outlet and the chamber are arranged so as to define an air flow route from the air inlet to the air outlet via the capillary wick so as to convey aerosol formed from the liquid to the air outlet. The smoking system further includes at least one guide for channeling the air flow in the air flow route, so as to control particle size in the aerosol. The smoking system optionally includes at least one heater for heating the liquid in at least a portion of the capillary wick to form the aerosol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Applicant: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Michel THORENS, Jean-Marc FLICK, Olivier Yves COCHAND, Flavien DUBIEF
  • Publication number: 20200232766
    Abstract: An aerosol-generating system is provided, including a storage portion configured to store an aerosol-forming substrate; an aerosol-generating element configured to generate an aerosol from the aerosol-forming substrate; a control circuitry in communication with the storage portion or the aerosol-generating element; and disabling means for rendering the storage portion inoperable in the aerosol-generating system in response to a disable signal from the control circuitry. There is also provided a method in an aerosol-generating system, including sending a disable signal from the control circuitry to the disabling component following a determination that an amount of the aerosol-substrate in the storage portion is below a threshold level or following a determination of a malfunction in the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Applicant: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventor: Jean-Marc FLICK
  • Patent number: 10655938
    Abstract: An aerosol generating system is provided, including: a storage portion for storing an aerosol-forming substrate, an aerosol generating element for generating an aerosol from the aerosol-forming substrate, control circuitry in communication with the storage portion, and disabling component within the storage portion for rendering the storage portion inoperable in the aerosol generating system in response to a disable signal from the control circuitry. There is also provided a method in an aerosol generating system, including sending a disable signal from the control circuitry to the disabling component following a determination that an amount of the aerosol-substrate in the storage portion is below a threshold level or following a determination of a malfunction in the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventor: Jean-Marc Flick
  • Patent number: 10518965
    Abstract: A single-use coffee capsule is disclosed that has a cup-shaped body and an extraction foil member for the preparation of a liquid coffee extract in a coffee preparation apparatus. Also disclosed is a system that includes the capsule and the coffee preparation apparatus. Further disclosed are methods of making and using the capsule and system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Societe des Produits Nestle S.A.
    Inventors: Karine Garcin, Sébastien Pelletier, Arnaud Gerbaulet, Jean-Marc Flick, Daniel Abegglen, Viviane Rebelo
  • Publication number: 20190364952
    Abstract: The invention relates to a food processing system (100) able to deposit and/or deliver food under a certain pattern and to heat and/or cook at least part of it, the deposition being done onto a deposition surface (103) by at least a deposition head (102) in one or a plurality of shapes and/or layers; the food processing system (100) further comprising cooking means, these cooking means comprising: —at least a laser source (110) of the diode type generating at least a laser beam (112) with a certain power and wavelength; —an optical system (120) designed to collimate and/or focalize and/or homogenize the laser beam; —a steering system (130) directing the laser beam from the optical system towards the food pattern deposited onto the surface (103), the steering system being able to cover a certain scanning area (111); such that the laser beam (112) is directed to at least part of the food pattern as it is deposited onto the deposition surface (103) or after it has been deposited so as to selectively heat and/or
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2017
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Inventor: Jean-Marc Flick
  • Patent number: 10485266
    Abstract: A smoking system includes a capillary wick for holding liquid, at least one air inlet, at least one air outlet and a chamber between the air inlet and air outlet. The air inlet, the air outlet and the chamber are arranged so as to define an air flow route from the air inlet to the air outlet via the capillary wick so as to convey aerosol formed from the liquid to the air outlet. The smoking system further includes at least one guide for channeling the air flow in the air flow route, so as to control particle size in the aerosol. The smoking system optionally includes at least one heater for heating the liquid in at least a portion of the capillary wick to form the aerosol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Michel Thorens, Jean-Marc Flick, Olivier Yves Cochand, Flavien Dubief
  • Publication number: 20190325378
    Abstract: The invention refers to a food processing management system governing a food processing system (100) for reconstitution and/or structuration and/or texturization of dehydrated food materials such as powders; the management system comprising a control unit (200) retrieving the information from a master recipe (401) from a database (400); the control unit (200) being further connected to a dosing system (50) for effecting the exchange of containers (20) comprising the dehydrated food materials, the control unit (200) further comprising reading means to retrieve the information on identification means in each container (20) in the dosing system (50); the control unit (200) sending operating instructions (101) to manage the food processing system (100) as a function of the master recipe (401).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Publication date: October 24, 2019
    Inventors: Youcef Ait Bouziad, Fabien Ludovic Agon, Jean-Marc Flick, Julien Brinkers
  • Patent number: 10433670
    Abstract: A container for a foodstuff or beverage preparation machine, the container for containing beverage or foodstuff preparation material and comprising a code encoding preparation information, the code comprising: a data sequence having a plurality of marker locations, whereby said marker locations either comprise or do not comprise a marker as a variable to at least partially encode the preparation information therein, with adjacent marker locations separated by a distance of ?x; at least one locator marker to enable location of the data sequence of the code, the locator marker having a read distance X2, which is distinct from a read distance X1 of the data markers to enable a locator marker to be identified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Societe des Produits Nestle S.A.
    Inventor: Jean-Marc Flick
  • Patent number: 10247443
    Abstract: A method of controlling aerosol production in an aerosol-generating device is provided, the device including a powered aerosol generating element, a flow channel to allow a flow of gas past the element, and a flow sensor to detect air flow in the flow channel, the method including: determining a value of a first parameter related to a change in flow rate; and reducing a supply of power to the element depending on a comparison result between the first parameter value and a threshold value, the first parameter being derived from a combination of a second parameter that is a measure of a flow rate detected by the flow sensor and a third parameter related to the flow rate. Also provided is a method of reducing or suspending aerosol production, based not simply on a detected flow rate, but on another measure indicative of the evolution of the flow characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: PHILIP MORRIS PRODUCTS S.A.
    Inventor: Jean-Marc Flick
  • Patent number: 10233002
    Abstract: A fitment for a package for preparing a beverage connectable to a machine for supplying sanitized liquid to the package is disclosed. The fitment includes a sealing portion and a housing and a fluid connector for fluidly connecting to the machine and to supply liquid inside the container. Also disclosed are packages containing same and methods of producing and using same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Nestec S. A.
    Inventors: Philippe Baenninger, Youcef Ait Bouziad, Heinz Wyss, Jean-Marc Flick
  • Publication number: 20190059447
    Abstract: There is provided an aerosol generating device for heating an aerosol-forming substrate, including a storage portion for storing the aerosol-forming substrate and a vaporizer for heating the aerosol-forming substrate to form an aerosol. The storage portion has an outer housing and an internal passageway, the storage portion forming a reservoir for the aerosol-forming substrate between the outer housing and the internal passageway, and the vaporizer extends at least partially inside the internal passageway in the storage portion. The device further includes a porous interface at least partially lining the internal passageway for conveying the aerosol-forming substrate from the storage portion towards the vaporizer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2018
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Applicant: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Flavien DUBIEF, Olivier COCHAND, Michel THORENS, Jean-Marc FLICK, Yvan DEGOUMOIS
  • Patent number: 10194767
    Abstract: A device (1) handles a capsule (2a, 2b) having a flange (2a?, 2b?). The device comprises: a first part (10) and a second part (20) that are relatively movable across a space (3a, 3b) from a transfer position for inserting and/or removing such capsule (2a, 2b) to an extraction position for extracting such capsule; a third part (30) for guiding such capsule (2a, 2b) to in between the first and second parts (10,20) when in the transfer position; and stop means (32a,32b). The stop means are configured for successively: stopping the capsule (2a, 2b) in between the first and second parts (10, 20) in the transfer position; maintaining the capsule while the first and second parts (10, 20) are relatively moved from the transfer position towards the extraction position to receive the capsule; and allowing a liberation of the capsule from the stop means after reception of the capsule by at least one of the first and second parts (10,20) while relatively moving towards the extraction position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventors: Andrew Gunstone, Enzo Bonacci, Jean-Marc Flick
  • Patent number: 10188237
    Abstract: A machine (1) comprises a frame (1?) and a capsule handling device (1?) mounted in and/or on the frame (1?). The device (1?) has a first part (10) and a second part (20) that is movable relatively to the frame (1?) from a transfer position for inserting and/or removing said capsule (2a,2b) to an extraction position for extracting such capsule and vice versa. The second part (20) comprising: a capsule receptacle (21) delimiting a cavity (21?) for receiving such capsule (2a,2b) and for forming in the extraction position an extraction chamber (21?) with the first part (10); and a first portion (21a) and a second portion (21b) that are relatively movable between a first relative position and a second relative position to change at least one dimension (21da,21db,21ha,21hb) of the cavity (21?) and of the extraction chamber (21?). The device (1?) further comprises an actuator (30,300) connected to the second part (20) for driving the movable second part (20) between the transfer position and the extraction position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventors: Enzo Bonacci, Jean-Marc Flick
  • Publication number: 20190014826
    Abstract: There is provided an aerosol generating system for heating a liquid aerosol-forming substrate. The system includes an aerosol-forming chamber, and a leakage preventer for preventing or reducing leakage of liquid aerosol condensate from the aerosol generating system. The leakage preventer may include one or more of: at least one cavity in a wall of the aerosol-forming chamber, for collecting droplets of condensed liquid aerosol-forming substrate; at least one hooked member for collecting droplets of condensed liquid aerosol-forming substrate; an impactor for disrupting airflow in the aerosol-forming chamber so as to collect liquid droplets; and a closure member for substantially sealing the aerosol-forming chamber when the aerosol generating system is not in use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2018
    Publication date: January 17, 2019
    Applicant: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Michel Thorens, Jean-Marc Flick, Olivier Yves Cochand, Flavien Dubief
  • Patent number: 10160594
    Abstract: A capsule for preparing a beverage and connectable to a machine for supplying sanitized liquid to the capsule is disclosed. The capsule includes a product compartment and a spout that includes a housing and a fluid connector adapted to be fluidly connected to the machine and to supply liquid inside the product compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Nestec S. A.
    Inventors: Philippe Baenninger, Youcef Ait Bouziad, Heinz Wyss, Jean-Marc Flick
  • Patent number: 10143233
    Abstract: There is provided an aerosol generating device for heating an aerosol-forming substrate, including a storage portion for storing the aerosol-forming substrate and a vaporizer for heating the aerosol-forming substrate to form an aerosol. The storage portion has an outer housing and an internal passageway, the storage portion forming a reservoir for the aerosol-forming substrate between the outer housing and the internal passageway, and the vaporizer extends at least partially inside the internal passageway in the storage portion. The device further includes a porous interface at least partially lining the internal passageway for conveying the aerosol-forming substrate from the storage portion towards the vaporizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Flavien Dubief, Olivier Cochand, Michel Thorens, Jean-Marc Flick, Yvan Degoumois
  • Publication number: 20180335280
    Abstract: An aerosol generating system is provided, including: a storage portion for storing an aerosol-forming substrate, an aerosol generating element for generating an aerosol from the aerosol-forming substrate, control circuitry in communication with the storage portion, and disabling component within the storage portion for rendering the storage portion inoperable in the aerosol generating system in response to a disable signal from the control circuitry. There is also provided a method in an aerosol generating system, including sending a disable signal from the control circuitry to the disabling component following a determination that an amount of the aerosol-substrate in the storage portion is below a threshold level or following a determination of a malfunction in the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2018
    Publication date: November 22, 2018
    Applicant: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventor: Jean-Marc FLICK
  • Patent number: 10105000
    Abstract: A device (1) handles selectively a first capsule (2a) having a first flange (2a?) and a second capsule (2b) having a second flange (2b?) greater than the first flange (2a?). The device comprises: a first part (10) and a second part (20) that are relatively movable from a transfer position for inserting and/or removing such capsule (2a, 2b) to an extraction position for extracting such capsule (2a, 2b); and a third part (30) for guiding such capsule (2a, 2b) to inbetween the first and second parts (10, 20) when in the transfer position. The third part (30) has: a first portion (31a) for engaging with and guiding the first flange (2a?) of the first capsule (2a); and a second portion (31b) for engaging with and guiding the second flange (2b?) of the second capsule (2b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventors: Andrew Gunstone, Enzo Bonacci, Jean-Marc Flick
  • Patent number: 10104911
    Abstract: There is provided an aerosol generating system for heating a liquid aerosol-forming substrate. The system includes an aerosol-forming chamber, and a leakage preventer for preventing or reducing leakage of liquid aerosol condensate from the aerosol generating system. The leakage preventer may include one or more of: at least one cavity in a wall of the aerosol-forming chamber, for collecting droplets of condensed liquid aerosol-forming substrate; at least one hooked member for collecting droplets of condensed liquid aerosol-forming substrate; an impactor for disrupting airflow in the aerosol-forming chamber so as to collect liquid droplets; and a closure member for substantially sealing the aerosol-forming chamber when the aerosol generating system is not in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Michel Thorens, Jean-Marc Flick, Olivier Yves Cochand, Flavien Dubief