Patents by Inventor Sam J. Ford

Sam J. Ford 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: 8109113
    Abstract: An apparatus for making and dispensing frozen aerated products includes a rotating horizontal freeze plate with an upper surface for receiving a chilled aerated mix. The chilled aerated mix includes, in one embodiment, ice cream base that has been sufficiently aerated, and flavor. The apparatus further includes a scraper for scraping frozen aerated mix off of the rotating freeze plate. The scraper includes a body that forms an elongated semi-cylindrical channel. The apparatus also includes a plow for pushing the scraped, frozen and aerated mix through the channel towards a cup held by a cup lifter disposed at an end of the channel. The action of the plow pushes the scraped frozen aerated mix through the channel and into the cup resulting in a generally round scoop of scraped frozen aerated mix in the cup that resembles a serving scoop experienced at a traditional ice cream shop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Fluid Management Operations, LLC
    Inventors: Gary L. Takata, Brian R. Hill, Christopher K. Khoo, Timothy P. Hogan, John J. Hsing, Sam J. Ford, Tim J. DeGroot, William A. Miller, James Martin, Christopher E. Peters
  • Publication number: 20100075013
    Abstract: An apparatus for making and dispensing frozen aerated products includes a rotating horizontal freeze plate with an upper surface for receiving a chilled aerated mix. The chilled aerated mix includes, in one embodiment, ice cream base that has been sufficiently aerated, and flavor. The horizontal freeze plate rotates about its central axis. The apparatus also includes a spreader body for distributing the chilled aerated mix on the rotating freeze plate. The spreader body extends radially across at least a portion of the upper surface of the freeze plate. The apparatus further includes a scraper for scraping frozen aerated mix off of the rotating freeze plate. The scraper includes a scraper blade with a leading edge that extends radially across the portion of the freeze plate and that engages the upper surface of the freeze plate. The scraper blade is directed opposite the direction of rotation of the freeze plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2009
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Applicant: Fluid Management, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary L. Takata, Brian R. Hill, Christopher K. Khoo, Timothy P. Hogan, John J. Hsing, Sam J. Ford, Tim J. DeGroot, William A. Miller, James Martin, Christopher E. Peters