Patents by Inventor Luc Fontbonne

Luc Fontbonne 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: 11246448
    Abstract: A machine (1) for dispensing a beverage (7) includes a module (10) having a cavity (10a) and a cavity outlet (10a?) for guiding said beverage out of the cavity (10a). The cavity (10a) is delimited by a first module part (11) and a second module part (12). At least one (11) of the parts (11, 12) is movable along a module direction (10?) into a position distant from the other part (12) for transferring an ingredient capsule (2) to and/or from the cavity (10a) and into a position close to the other part (12) for processing the capsule (2) in the cavity (10a) to form said beverage (7). The machine (1) includes a guide (100) that has a guide outlet (102) and that is movable between: a dispensing position for receiving the beverage (7) from the cavity outlet (10a?) and guiding the beverage (7) along a guide direction (100?) to the guide outlet (102) to a beverage dispensing area; and a non-dispensing position for preventing liquid from being guided to the dispensing area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Societe des Produits Nestle S.A.
    Inventors: Herve Bourgund, Luc Fontbonne, Blaise Rithener, Pierre-Emmanuel Vincent
  • Patent number: 11234553
    Abstract: A machine (1) for dispensing a beverage (7) includes: a module (10) having a cavity (10a) and a cavity outlet (10a?) for guiding the beverage out of the cavity (10a); and a guide (100) that has a guide outlet (102) and that is arranged for receiving the beverage (7) from the cavity outlet (10a?) and guiding the beverage (7) along a guide direction (100?) to the guide outlet (102) and out thereof so as to be dispensed to a beverage dispensing area. The guide (100) has a guide channel (101,101?,101?,101b) extending along the guide direction (100?) for receiving the beverage (7) from the cavity outlet (10a?) and guiding the beverage (7) to the guide outlet (102). The guide channel (101,101?,101?) has a cross-section orthogonal to the guide direction (100?) and a bottom (101,101b?) generally extending along the guide direction (100?). The cross-section has a width that increases with distance from the bottom (101,101b?), e.g. with height above the bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Societe des Produits Nestle S.A.
    Inventors: Herve Bourgund, Luc Fontbonne, Blaise Rithener, Pierre-Emmanuel Vincent
  • Publication number: 20200037810
    Abstract: A machine (1) for dispensing a beverage (7) includes a module (10) having a cavity (10a) and a cavity outlet (10a?) for guiding said beverage out of the cavity (10a). The cavity (10a) is delimited by a first module part (11) and a second module part (12). At least one (11) of the parts (11, 12) is movable along a module direction (10?) into a position distant from the other part (12) for transferring an ingredient capsule (2) to and/or from the cavity (10a) and into a position close to the other part (12) for processing the capsule (2) in the cavity (10a) to form said beverage (7). The machine (1) includes a guide (100) that has a guide outlet (102) and that is movable between: a dispensing position for receiving the beverage (7) from the cavity outlet (10a?) and guiding the beverage (7) along a guide direction (100?) to the guide outlet (102) to a beverage dispensing area; and a non-dispensing position for preventing liquid from being guided to the dispensing area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2017
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventors: Herve Bourgund, Luc Fontbonne, Blaise Rithener, Pierre-Emmanuel Vincent
  • Publication number: 20190231117
    Abstract: A machine (1) for dispensing a beverage (7) includes: a module (10) having a cavity (10a) and a cavity outlet (10a?) for guiding the beverage out of the cavity (10a); and a guide (100) that has a guide outlet (102) and that is arranged for receiving the beverage (7) from the cavity outlet (10a?) and guiding the beverage (7) along a guide direction (100?) to the guide outlet (102) and out thereof so as to be dispensed to a beverage dispensing area. The guide (100) has a guide channel (101,101?,101?,101b) extending along the guide direction (100?) for receiving the beverage (7) from the cavity outlet (10a?) and guiding the beverage (7) to the guide outlet (102). The guide channel (101,101?,101?) has a cross-section orthogonal to the guide direction (100?) and a bottom (101,101b?) generally extending along the guide direction (100?). The cross-section has a width that increases with distance from the bottom (101,101b?), e.g. with height above the bottom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2017
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Inventors: Herve Bourgund, Luc Fontbonne, Blaise Rithener, Pierre-Emmanuel Vincent
  • Patent number: 10307010
    Abstract: A machine for dispensing a beverage (5) includes a beverage processing module (2) that has an outlet (20). The module (2) further has a first part (25) and a second part (26) that can be relatively moved between: a transfer configuration for introducing a beverage ingredient (4) between the first and second parts (25, 26) and/or removing the ingredient from therebetween; and a processing configuration for forming said beverage (5) from said ingredient (4) between the first and second parts (25, 26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventor: Luc Fontbonne
  • Publication number: 20170215625
    Abstract: A machine for dispensing a beverage (5) includes a beverage processing module (2) that has an outlet (20). The module (2) further has a first part (25) and a second part (26) that can be relatively moved between: a transfer configuration for introducing a beverage ingredient (4) between the first and second parts (25, 26) and/or removing the ingredient from therebetween; and a processing configuration for forming said beverage (5) from said ingredient (4) between the first and second parts (25, 26).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Applicant: NESTEC S.A.
    Inventor: Luc Fontbonne