Patents by Inventor William Derek Slone

William Derek Slone 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: 7802444
    Abstract: An ice crusher is attached to an ice dispenser or to a combined ice and beverage dispenser. The ice crusher occupies minimal space in order to fit the dispenser into an existing space on a serving counter or in a beverage dispensing area. The ice crusher may also elevate the ice. In embodiments using this technique, the outlet of the ice from the ice crusher is higher than the ice inlet. As the ice flows from a source of ice, such as an ice bin, the ice is elevated while it is being crushed. The ice then flows from the outlet of the ice crusher down an ice chute or other outlet of the ice crusher, into a cup or container as desired. Other embodiments convey the ice without lifting it, and still other embodiments dispense either crushed or cubed ice, as the consumer may select. In one embodiment the selected crushed ice or cubed ice are both dispensed though the same ice dispensing chute.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Manitowoc Foodservice Companies, LLC
    Inventors: Jerry L. Landers, Gregory K. Thompson, William Derek Slone, Greg A. Glass, John M. Grady
  • Publication number: 20100200610
    Abstract: An ice crusher is attached to an ice dispenser or to a combined ice and beverage dispenser. The ice crusher occupies minimal space in order to fit the dispenser into an existing space on a serving counter or in a beverage dispensing area. The ice crusher may also elevate the ice. In embodiments using this technique, the outlet of the ice from the ice crusher is higher than the ice inlet. As the ice flows from a source of ice, such as an ice bin, the ice is elevated while it is being crushed. The ice then flows from the outlet of the ice crusher down an ice chute or other outlet of the ice crusher, into a cup or container as desired. Other embodiments convey the ice without lifting it, and still other embodiments dispense either crushed or cubed ice, as the consumer may select. In one embodiment the selected crushed ice or cubed ice are both dispensed though the same ice dispensing chute.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2010
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Inventors: Jerry L. Landers, Gregory K. Thompson, William Derek Slone, Greg A. Glass, John M. Grady
  • Patent number: 7287671
    Abstract: A beverage dispenser modular manifold routes carbonated water and non-carbonated water to a plurality of outlet ports for dispensing water for mixing with syrup and dispensing a beverage. A selector allows a store owner or manager to set the manifold to dispense one of carbonated water and non-carbonated water for each mixing and dispensing nozzle in the beverage dispenser. The manifold may be combined with similar manifolds to provide as many dispensing stations as desired in a beverage dispenser. Syrup modular manifolds may also be included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Manitowoc Foodservice Companies, Inc.
    Inventors: James R. Morrow, Sr., Jerry L. Landers, William Derek Slone