Patents by Inventor Thomas Fedorka
Thomas Fedorka 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).
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Patent number: 11634271Abstract: A beverage cartridge and method for forming a beverage includes dispensing beverage material from a container into an attached mixing funnel. The container and mixing funnel may be moved toward each other to open the container and release beverage material. A cover of the container may have a movable portion that moves with contact with a part of the mixing funnel to open the container. The cartridge may be vibrated to dispense beverage material from the container, and liquid provided to the mixing funnel to mix with dispensed beverage material to form a beverage.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2017Date of Patent: April 25, 2023Assignee: Keurig Green Mountain, Inc.Inventors: William Philip McHugh, Aaron Size, Heather Fisher, Thomas Fedorka
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Patent number: 11622645Abstract: A beverage making machine may include a cartridge holder to hold a cartridge used to form a beverage. The cartridge holder may include a lower portion arranged to receive and hold the cartridge and a movable upper portion arranged to clamp the cartridge in place. The cartridge holder may be arranged to hold upper and lower compartments of the cartridge in spaces having a different pressure, e.g., an upper compartment of the cartridge may be held under relatively high pressure, and a lower compartment may be held in a space at ambient pressure. The cartridge holder may pierce upper and/or lower compartments of the cartridge to introduce activating fluid and/or receive carbonating gas from the upper compartment, and/or to introduced pressurized air into the lower compartment to force beverage medium to exit.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2019Date of Patent: April 11, 2023Assignee: Bedford Systems LLCInventors: Jeremy B. Gordon, Thomas Fedorka, Thomas Paul Dutremble, Gwynn Masada, Bradford Range, William Philip McHugh
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Patent number: 11503945Abstract: A beverage making machine having a cartridge holder with an upper portion movable in pivotal and/or linear ways relative to a lower portion. An actuator for the cartridge portion may include a handle-actuated spur gear and link to move the upper portion, which may be guided in movement via a cam and cam follower engagement. Information from a cartridge detector may be used based on movement of cartridge holder portions, e.g., as an upper portion moves from an open position to a closed position. A mixing chamber may be held by a drawer so as to be removable, and movement of the drawer may engage/disengage the mixing chamber from a fluid supply.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2020Date of Patent: November 22, 2022Assignee: Bedford Systems LLCInventors: William Philip McHugh, Jeremy B. Gordon, Scott Grubb, Steven Mackey, Thomas Fedorka, Peter Rae Peterson, Thomas J. Novak, Thomas Paul Dutremble, Gwynn Masada, Bradford Range, Enrico Raffaele Cafaro, Steven Raphaelson, Michael Sack, Brian B. Johnson
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Publication number: 20210292152Abstract: Described herein is a nozzle for controlling foam of a carbonated beverage product produced by a beverage making machine, and associated system and method of use thereof. The nozzle can include an engagement portion configured for releasable attachment with the beverage making machine. The nozzle can further include a funnel portion extending elongated from the engagement portion and that is configured to converge a flow of the carbonated beverage product. The nozzle can further include a dispense portion to establish a stream of the carbonated beverage product into a receptacle. An alignment feature on an exterior of the nozzle can define an offset between a wall of the receptacle and the stream of the carbonated beverage product.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2021Publication date: September 23, 2021Inventors: Thomas Fedorka, Andrew Briggs, Taylor Kazanova
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Patent number: 10843866Abstract: Systems, methods and cartridges for carbonating or otherwise dissolving gas in a precursor liquid, such as water, to form a beverage are disclosed. A gas source, which is used to generate gas that is dissolved into the precursor liquid, and/or a beverage medium, such as a powdered drink mix or liquid syrup, may be provided in a cartridge. The use of one or more cartridges for the gas source and/or beverage medium may make for an easy to use and mess-free system for making sparkling beverages, e.g., in the consumer's home.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2016Date of Patent: November 24, 2020Assignee: BEDFORD SYSTEMS LLCInventors: Enrico Raffaele Cafaro, Ralph K. Maider, Jr., Michael Sack, Steven Raphaelson, J. Corey Michal, Kevin Sweeney, Brian B. Johnson, James Passemato, Peter Rae Peterson, Richard M. Estabrook, Thomas Fedorka, Scott Grubb, Wai Ting Chan, Christopher Covey, Gary Stacey, Raymond Carroll
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Publication number: 20200146500Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 8, 2019Publication date: May 14, 2020Inventors: 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
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Publication number: 20200146501Abstract: A beverage making machine having a cartridge holder with an upper portion movable in pivotal and/or linear ways relative to a lower portion. An actuator for the cartridge portion may include a handle-actuated spur gear and link to move the upper portion, which may be guided in movement via a cam and cam follower engagement. Information from a cartridge detector may be used based on movement of cartridge holder portions, e.g., as an upper portion moves from an open position to a closed position. A mixing chamber may be held by a drawer so as to be removable, and movement of the drawer may engage/disengage the mixing chamber from a fluid supply.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 10, 2020Publication date: May 14, 2020Inventors: William Philip McHugh, Jeremy B. Gordon, Scott Grubb, Steven Mackey, Thomas Fedorka, Peter Rae Peterson, Thomas J. Novak, Thomas Paul Dutremble, Gwynn Masada, Bradford Range, Enrico Raffaele Cafaro, Steven Raphaelson, Michael Sack, Brian B. Johnson
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Publication number: 20200107671Abstract: A beverage making machine may include a cartridge holder to hold a cartridge used to form a beverage. The cartridge holder may include a lower portion arranged to receive and hold the cartridge and a movable upper portion arranged to clamp the cartridge in place. The cartridge holder may be arranged to hold upper and lower compartments of the cartridge in spaces having a different pressure, e.g., an upper compartment of the cartridge may be held under relatively high pressure, and a lower compartment may be held in a space at ambient pressure. The cartridge holder may pierce upper and/or lower compartments of the cartridge to introduce activating fluid and/or receive carbonating gas from the upper compartment, and/or to introduced pressurized air into the lower compartment to force beverage medium to exit.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 4, 2019Publication date: April 9, 2020Inventors: Jeremy B. Gordon, Thomas Fedorka, Thomas Paul Dutremble, Gwynn Masada, Bradford Range, William Philip McHugh
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Patent number: 10531762Abstract: A beverage making machine having a cartridge holder with an upper portion movable in pivotal and/or linear ways relative to a lower portion. An actuator for the cartridge portion may include a handle-actuated spur gear and link to move the upper portion, which may be guided in movement via a cam and cam follower engagement. Information from a cartridge detector may be used based on movement of cartridge holder portions, e.g., as an upper portion moves from an open position to a closed position. A mixing chamber may be held by a drawer so as to be removable, and movement of the drawer may engage/disengage the mixing chamber from a fluid supply.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2016Date of Patent: January 14, 2020Assignee: BEDFORD SYSTEMS LLCInventors: William Philip McHugh, Jeremy B. Gordon, Scott Grubb, Steven Mackey, Thomas Fedorka, Peter Rae Peterson, Thomas J. Novak, Thomas Paul Dutremble, Gwynn Masada, Bradford Range, Enrico Raffaele Cafaro, Steven Raphaelson, Michael Sack, Brian B. Johnson
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Patent number: 10499762Abstract: A beverage making machine may include a cartridge holder to hold a cartridge used to form a beverage. The cartridge holder may include a lower portion arranged to receive and hold the cartridge and a movable upper portion arranged to clamp the cartridge in place. The cartridge holder may be arranged to hold upper and lower compartments of the cartridge in spaces having a different pressure, e.g., an upper compartment of the cartridge may be held under relatively high pressure, and a lower compartment may be held in a space at ambient pressure. The cartridge holder may pierce upper and/or lower compartments of the cartridge to introduce activating fluid and/or receive carbonating gas from the upper compartment, and/or to introduced pressurized air into the lower compartment to force beverage medium to exit.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2015Date of Patent: December 10, 2019Assignee: BEDFORD SYSTEMS LLCInventors: Jeremy B. Gordon, Thomas Fedorka, Thomas Paul Dutremble, Gwynn Masada, Bradford Range, William Philip McHugh
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Publication number: 20190225414Abstract: A beverage cartridge and method for forming a beverage includes dispensing beverage material from a container into an attached mixing funnel. The container and mixing funnel may be moved toward each other to open the container and release beverage material. A cover of the container may have a movable portion that moves with contact with a part of the mixing funnel to open the container. The cartridge may be vibrated to dispense beverage material from the container, and liquid provided to the mixing funnel to mix with dispensed beverage material to form a beverage.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2017Publication date: July 25, 2019Applicant: Keurig Green Mountain, Inc.Inventors: William Philip McHugh, Aaron Size, Heather Fisher, Thomas Fedorka
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Publication number: 20190166886Abstract: Systems, methods and cartridges for carbonating or otherwise dissolving gas in a precursor liquid, such as water, to form a beverage. Carbonating gas can be provided to a tank via the tank outlet, thereby purging at least a portion of a dispense line leading from the tank to a dispensing station. A single pump may be used to deliver liquid to the tank, e.g., for carbonation, and to pump pressurized air to dispense liquid from the tank. A water trap may help remove moisture from carbonating gas.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 5, 2019Publication date: June 6, 2019Inventors: Jeremy B. Gordon, Brian B. Johnson, Steven Raphaelson, Mario Liuzza, Scott Grubb, Trevor Beckett, Steven Mackey, Thomas Fedorka, Thomas J. Novak, Peter Rae Peterson, Miles Hember, Enrico Raffaele Cafaro
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Patent number: 10201171Abstract: Systems, methods and cartridges for carbonating or otherwise dissolving gas in a precursor liquid, such as water, to form a beverage. Carbonating gas can be provided to a tank via the tank outlet, thereby purging at least a portion of a dispense line leading from the tank to a dispensing station. A single pump may be used to deliver liquid to the tank, e.g., for carbonation, and to pump pressurized air to dispense liquid from the tank. A water trap may help remove moisture from carbonating gas.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2015Date of Patent: February 12, 2019Assignee: BEDFORD SYSTEMS LLCInventors: Jeremy B. Gordon, Brian B. Johnson, Steven Raphaelson, Mario Liuzza, Scott Grubb, Trevor Beckett, Steven Mackey, Thomas Fedorka, Thomas J. Novak, Peter Rae Peterson, Miles Hember, Enrico Raffaele Cafaro
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Patent number: 10093530Abstract: A beverage making machine may be arranged to cool a precursor liquid in a tank using a cooling liquid in a cooling container disposed around the tank. The cooling liquid may be freezable to form ice, e.g., to provide the system with improved cooling capacity and/or speed. A plurality of fins may extend between the tank and the cooling container, with each of the plurality of fins being physically attached to the cooling container or the tank and being arranged to conduct heat from the tank and/or from the cooling liquid. The plurality of fins may include first portions attached to the tank and extending outwardly, and second portions attached to the cooling container and extending inwardly. Side surfaces of corresponding first and second portions may be in contact with each other to aid in transferring heat via the fin portions.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2015Date of Patent: October 9, 2018Assignee: Bedford Systems LLCInventors: Steven Mackey, Pranav Chopra, Scott Grubb, Thomas Fedorka, Jeremy B. Gordon, Stephen Hingston
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Publication number: 20180066887Abstract: A beverage making machine having a tank may be arranged to carbonate and/or chill liquid in the tank. A thermoelectric device may be thermally coupled to the tank to cool precursor liquid in the tank, and a heat pipe may transfer heat from the thermoelectric device to a heat sink. The heat sink may be located remotely from the thermoelectric device, e.g., in an air duct that helps prevent contact of moisture, dirt, etc. in the duct with the thermoelectric device.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 13, 2017Publication date: March 8, 2018Applicant: Bedford Systems LLCInventors: Steven MacKey, Pranav Chopra, Scott Grubb, Thomas Fedorka, Qian Gao, Jeremy B. Gordon
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Patent number: 9816751Abstract: A beverage making machine having a tank may be arranged to carbonate and/or chill liquid in the tank. A thermoelectric device may be thermally coupled to the tank to cool precursor liquid in the tank, and a heat pipe may transfer heat from the thermoelectric device to a heat sink. The heat sink may be located remotely from the thermoelectric device, e.g., in an air duct that helps prevent contact of moisture, dirt, etc. in the duct with the thermoelectric device.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2015Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: Bedford Systems LLCInventors: Steven Mackey, Pranav Chopra, Scott Grubb, Thomas Fedorka, Qian Gao, Jeremy B. Gordon
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Publication number: 20160235242Abstract: A beverage making machine having a cartridge holder with an upper portion movable in pivotal and/or linear ways relative to a lower portion. An actuator for the cartridge portion may include a handle-actuated spur gear and link to move the upper portion, which may be guided in movement via a cam and cam follower engagement. Information from a cartridge detector may be used based on movement of cartridge holder portions, e.g., as an upper portion moves from an open position to a closed position. A mixing chamber may be held by a drawer so as to be removable, and movement of the drawer may engage/disengage the mixing chamber from a fluid supply.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 12, 2016Publication date: August 18, 2016Applicant: Keurig Green Mountain, Inc.Inventors: William Philip McHugh, Jeremy B. Gordon, Scott Grubb, Steven Mackey, Thomas Fedorka, Peter Rae Peterson, Thomas J. Novak, Thomas Paul Dutremble, Gwynn Masada, Bradford Range, Enrico Raffaele Cafaro, Steven Raphaelson, Michael Sack, Brian B. Johnson
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Publication number: 20160152409Abstract: Systems, methods and cartridges for carbonating or otherwise dissolving gas in a precursor liquid, such as water, to form a beverage are disclosed. A gas source, which is used to generate gas that is dissolved into the precursor liquid, and/or a beverage medium, such as a powdered drink mix or liquid syrup, may be provided in a cartridge. The use of one or more cartridges for the gas source and/or beverage medium may make for an easy to use and mess-free system for making sparkling beverages, e.g., in the consumer's home.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 5, 2016Publication date: June 2, 2016Applicant: Keurig Green Mountain, Inc.Inventors: Enrico Raffaele Cafaro, Ralph K. Maider, JR., Michael Sack, Steven Raphaelson, J. Corey Michal, Kevin Sweeney, Brian B. Johnson, James Passemato, Peter Rae Peterson, Richard M. Estabrook, Thomas Fedorka, Scott Grubb, Wai Ting Chan, Christopher Covey, Gary Stacey, Raymond Carroll
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Patent number: D756696Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2014Date of Patent: May 24, 2016Assignee: Keurig Green Mountain, Inc.Inventors: Tara J. Murphy, Thomas Fedorka, Paul K. Metaxatos, Steffen F. Koury
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Patent number: D982382Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2020Date of Patent: April 4, 2023Assignee: BEDFORD SYSTEMS LLCInventors: Thomas Fedorka, Andrew Briggs, Taylor Kazanova