Patents by Inventor Werner Balkau

Werner Balkau 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: 20220218153
    Abstract: A blender system for blending ingredients from a container with a fluid includes a bottle, a disinfection device, and a container. The bottle has a blending chamber with an opening to receive a fluid and a shoulder about the opening. The lid is configured to couple with the bottle and includes a container receiver. The container receiver is configured to receive the container and position a lip of the container against the shoulder when the lid is coupled to the bottle. The container receiver is further configured to press the container towards the opening while the shoulder holds the lip stationary to discharge the ingredients from the container into the fluid in the blending chamber. The disinfection mechanism kills bacteria, viruses and other pathogens in the container and bottle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2021
    Publication date: July 14, 2022
    Inventors: Christoph Bertsch, Werner Balkau
  • Patent number: 11052358
    Abstract: A container includes a receptacle to hold nutrients and other food contents for a smoothie. The container is used with a larger vessel such as a blender into which the capsule is inserted and into which water or other fluid is poured. When the blender is closed, the container opens to release its contents for blending with the fluid into a delicious, healthful smoothie. The container may have a cover with opening flaps and relatively movable elements that pivot the flaps open when opposite forces are applied to the container by the larger vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: VEJO IP AG
    Inventors: Christoph Bertsch, Werner Balkau
  • Publication number: 20200239223
    Abstract: The portion capsule includes an outer beaker with a cover and with a chamber, which is formed in the inside of the beaker and which has a soluble substance as well as a middle axis. Furthermore, an injection element, which delimits the chamber to a cover side or to a base side and which includes at least one injection opening, is also present. The injection opening is designed such that fluid, which is delivered through it in the direction of the chamber, is injected as a jet into the chamber, the jet running in a plane that runs through the middle axis and at an angle to the middle axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2018
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Inventors: Jens Bröckel, Werner Balkau
  • Publication number: 20200188867
    Abstract: A container includes a receptacle to hold nutrients and other food contents for a smoothie. The container is used with a larger vessel such as a blender into which the capsule is inserted and into which water or other fluid is poured. When the blender is closed, the container opens to release its contents for blending with the fluid into a delicious, healthful smoothie. The container may have a cover with opening flaps and relatively movable elements that pivot the flaps open when opposite forces are applied to the container by the larger vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2020
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventors: Christoph Bertsch, Werner Balkau
  • Patent number: 10638872
    Abstract: An appliance for preparing frothed milk includes a container for receiving milk, and an electrically operated drive for delivering and/or frothing the milk. The appliance includes a docking element for connection to a drinks preparation machine. The docking element includes a connection for steam delivered by the drinks preparation machine, —an interface for electrical current supplied by the drinks preparation machine, and a milk froth outlet for the frothed milk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Qbo Coffee GmbH
    Inventor: Werner Balkau
  • Patent number: 10588450
    Abstract: An appliance for preparing frothed milk is dockable onto a drinks preparation machine and, for this purpose, includes at least one connection for steam produced by the drinks preparation machine, as well as an interface for electrical current supplied by the drinks preparation machine. The appliance also includes a milk frothing unit with a gear pump. The gear pump at an inlet side is connected to a milk feed conduit and to an air feed. The milk frothing unit is configured such that an operating parameter is adjustable in a manner depending on a measured value and/or on a user input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: QBO COFFEE GMBH
    Inventor: Werner Balkau
  • Patent number: 10582799
    Abstract: An appliance for preparing frothed milk includes a container for receiving milk and a docking element for connection to a drinks preparation machine. The docking element includes a connection for steam delivered by the drinks preparation machine, and a milk froth outlet for the frothed milk. The docking element includes a main body with a plurality of fluid channels and a supplementary part, which is reversibly removable from the main body. The supplementary part has a material that is softer in comparison to the main body, is continuous and includes several elements through which milk, steam, water and/or air can flow and which engage into the fluid channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: QBO COFFEE GMBH
    Inventor: Werner Balkau
  • Patent number: 10568454
    Abstract: An appliance that is dockable onto a drinks preparation machine, for preparing frothed milk and, for this purpose, includes at least one connection for steam produced by the drinks preparation machine, as well as an interface for electrical current delivered from the drinks preparation machine. The appliance also includes a milk frothing unit with a gear pump. The gear pump at an inlet side is connected to a milk feed conduit and to an air feed. A mixing nozzle is provided on a path of milk delivered by the gear pump, to which mixing nozzle this milk, the steam as well as the air can be fed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: QBO COFFEE GMBH
    Inventor: Werner Balkau
  • Publication number: 20170303734
    Abstract: An appliance that is dockable onto a drinks preparation machine, for preparing frothed milk and, for this purpose, includes at least one connection for steam produced by the drinks preparation machine, as well as an interface for electrical current delivered from the drinks preparation machine. The appliance also includes a milk frothing unit with a gear pump. The gear pump at an inlet side is connected to a milk feed conduit and to an air feed. A mixing nozzle is provided on a path of milk delivered by the gear pump, to which mixing nozzle this milk, the steam as well as the air can be fed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2015
    Publication date: October 26, 2017
    Inventor: Werner Balkau
  • Publication number: 20170303735
    Abstract: An appliance for preparing frothed milk is dockable onto a drinks preparation machine and, for this purpose, includes at least one connection for steam produced by the drinks preparation machine, as well as an interface for electrical current supplied by the drinks preparation machine. The appliance also includes a milk frothing unit with a gear pump. The gear pump at an inlet side is connected to a milk feed conduit and to an air feed. The milk frothing unit is configured such that an operating parameter is adjustable in a manner depending on a measured value and/or on a user input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2015
    Publication date: October 26, 2017
    Inventor: Werner Balkau
  • Publication number: 20170303733
    Abstract: An appliance for preparing frothed milk includes a container for receiving milk and a docking element for connection to a drinks preparation machine. The docking element includes a connection for steam delivered by the drinks preparation machine, and a milk froth outlet for the frothed milk. The docking element includes a main body with a plurality of fluid channels and a supplementary part, which is reversibly removable from the main body. The supplementary part has a material that is softer in comparison to the main body, is continuous and includes several elements through which milk, steam, water and/or air can flow and which engage into the fluid channels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2015
    Publication date: October 26, 2017
    Inventor: Werner Balkau
  • Publication number: 20170303732
    Abstract: An appliance for preparing frothed milk includes a container for receiving milk, and an electrically operated drive for delivering and/or frothing the milk. The appliance includes a docking element for connection to a drinks preparation machine. The docking element includes a connection for steam delivered by the drinks preparation machine,—an interface for electrical current supplied by the drinks preparation machine, and a milk froth outlet for the frothed milk.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2015
    Publication date: October 26, 2017
    Inventor: Werner Balkau
  • Patent number: 9587389
    Abstract: The invention relates to an insert (3) that can be inserted into a drainage opening (2) of a urinal (1) and that can be designed, for example, as an odor seal. The insert (3) has at least one outlet opening (4) through which a liquid (5), in particular a cleaning and/or disinfecting liquid, is released, in particular injected or sprayed, onto a bowl surface (6) of a urinal (1), in the discharge opening of which the insert (3) is inserted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: URIMAT HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Arthur Schmed, Werner Balkau
  • Patent number: 9445695
    Abstract: The invention relates to a urinal having an odor seal or trap (2). The urinal is characterized by provision of another odor seal or trap (9), preferably connected in series with the first odor seal or trap (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: URIMAT HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Arthur Schmed, Werner Balkau
  • Publication number: 20140165277
    Abstract: The invention relates to an insert (3) that can be inserted into a drainage opening (2) of a urinal (1) and that can be designed, for example, as an odor seal. The insert (3) has at least one outlet opening (4) through which a liquid (5), in particular a cleaning and/or disinfecting liquid, is released, in particular injected or sprayed, onto a bowl surface (6) of a urinal (1), in the discharge opening of which the insert (3) is inserted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: URIMAT HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Arthur Schmed, Werner Balkau
  • Publication number: 20140150171
    Abstract: The invention relates to a urinal having an odor seal or trap (2). The urinal is characterized by provision of another odor seal or trap (9), preferably connected in series with the first odor seal or trap (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: Urimat Holding AG
    Inventors: Arthur Schmed, Werner Balkau
  • Publication number: 20080245236
    Abstract: In a system comprising a beverage machine and comprising portion capsules of at least two different types which each contain a beverage substance, portion capsules of different types are provided with colour codings which differ from one another. The beverage machine is designed to prepare beverages, in particular to brew hot coffee beverages, by means of the portion capsules and has a pressurized-water device, a capsule holder which is provided to accommodate a portion capsule, and a control means. The beverage machine also contains a colour-identification device which is designed to detect the colour coding of a portion capsule which is to be or is inserted into the capsule holder and to select a program, in the control means, for operating the beverage machine, which program is associated with this colour coding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Applicant: TCHIBO GMBH
    Inventors: Rudiger Ternite, Werner Balkau, Hartwig Meyer-Ruhstrat, Ingo Lantz
  • Patent number: 7059239
    Abstract: The brewing device comprises a brewing chamber constituted by an upper and a lower brewing chamber portion. The lower brewing chamber portion includes a chamber for receiving the coffee powder portion, and the upper brewing chamber portion includes a closure element for closing the chamber in the lower brewing chamber portion. The upper brewing chamber portion comprises an inner element provided with the closure element, and an outer element coaxially disposed and axially movable with regard to the inner element. The lower brewing chamber portion is adapted to be fixed to the outer element of the upper brewing chamber portion. The outer element of the upper portion comprises a pivotal operating lever connected to the inner element of the upper brewing chamber portion by an actuating member disposed eccentrically to the axis of rotation of the lever to cause an axial relative movement between the inner element and the outer element of the upper brewing chamber portion upon pivoting the operating lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Red Roses S.A.
    Inventor: Werner Balkau
  • Publication number: 20050160919
    Abstract: The brewing device comprises a brewing chamber constituted by an upper and a lower brewing chamber portion. The lower brewing chamber portion includes a chamber for receiving the coffee powder portion, and the upper brewing chamber portion includes a closure element for closing the chamber in the lower brewing chamber portion. The upper brewing chamber portion comprises an inner element provided with the closure element, and an outer element coaxially disposed and axially movable with regard to the inner element. The lower brewing chamber portion is adapted to be fixed to the outer element of the upper brewing chamber portion. The outer element of the upper portion comprises a pivotal operating lever connected to the inner element of the upper brewing chamber portion by an actuating member disposed eccentrically to the axis of rotation of the lever to cause an axial relative movement between the inner element and the outer element of the upper brewing chamber portion upon pivoting the operating lever.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2005
    Publication date: July 28, 2005
    Inventor: Werner Balkau
  • Patent number: D801492
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Inventors: Arthur Schmed, Werner Balkau