Feeding formula appliance

• US 20060278093A1
• Filed: 08/07/2006
• Published: 12/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eytan Biderman
• Original Assignee: Eytan Biderman
• Inventors: Ziv, Noam, Biderman, Eytan
• Granted Patent: US 8,007,847 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 99/282
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/40 Beverage-making apparatus with dispensing means for adding a measured quantity of ingredients, e.g. coffee, water, sugar, cocoa, milk, tea
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/401 whereby the powder ingredients and the water are delivered to a mixing bowl
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/52 Alarm-clock-controlled mechanisms for coffee- or tea-making apparatus ; Timers for coffee- or tea-making apparatus; Electronic control devices for coffee- or tea-making apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/521 the electronic control being performed over a network, e.g. by means of a computer or a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/525 the electronic control being based on monitoring of specific process parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/5253 of temperature
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 426/801 Pediatric

Abstract

A device for preparing a fluid food at a desired consumption temperature on demand, comprising two reservoirs of water, a container containing a formula, a data processor and a controller for dispensing water of the correct temperature from each of the reservoirs and the formula from the container into a vessel. Also provided are methods for preparing specialized foods at desired consumption temperatures on demand, and methods for marketing both foods and food-preparation devices.

Claims

1. A method of marketing food comprising:

(a) providing a fluid-food preparation device in a location, said device being operable to prepare a sterile liquid food by combining at least one dry food component with sterile water and serving said combination accurately heated to a predetermined temperature;

(b) identifying said device as being associated with at least one mark, said mark associated with a manufacturer of at least one component of said combination;

(c) introducing in a dispenser of said device a food component associated with said food component manufacturer; and

(d) providing a customer with fluid food made by said device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said device comprises

(i) a first water reservoir which comprises a first controllable water outlet, a first heater operable to heat water in said first reservoir and a first thermal sensor operable to report temperature of water contained in said first reservoir;

(ii) a second water reservoir which comprises a second controllable water outlet, a second heater operable to heat water in said second reservoir and a second thermal sensor operable to report temperature of water contained in said second reservoir;

(iii) a first container for holding a dry food component, said first container having a first controllable dispenser for dispensing said dry food component;

(iv) a data-processor/controller operable to receive water temperature data from said first and second thermal sensors, further operable to calculate a quantity of water from each of said first and second reservoirs needed to mix with a quantity of said formula in order to prepare said fluid food at said desired consumption temperature, and further operable to control operation of said first and second controllable water outlets so as to dispense said calculated quantities of water for mixing with said quantity of dry food component, said data-processor/controller being further designed and configured to command alternating periodic heating of water in said first and second reservoirs to sterilization temperatures, said periodic heating being so controlled that at first times said first reservoir contains water at a temperature above said desired consumption temperature and said second reservoir contains water below said desired consumption temperature, and at second times said first reservoir contains water at a temperature below said desired consumption temperature and said second reservoir contains water above said desired consumption temperature, thereby enabling periodic sterilization by boiling of water in both said first and said second reservoirs, and also enabling said production of food at said desired consumption temperature by mixing of said formula with selected amounts of water from said first and second reservoirs.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said manufacturer is a manufacturer of a product selected from a group consisting of infant food formula, geriatric food formula, sports-food formula, and bottled water.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said device is identified as being associated with a plurality of marks, each mark associated with a manufacturer of at least one component of said combination, and wherein said device comprises an interface by means of which a user may select among mark-identified components, and wherein said device is operable to combine said user-selected components during said food preparation.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising enabling a user to select among baby formulas manufactured by a plurality of baby formula manufacturers.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising enabling a user to select among a plurality of types of water.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said location is accessible to the general public.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said providing a customer with fluid food is contingent on payment.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a data-collection module in said device, collecting data from a user, and providing a service selected from a group consisting of making a recommendation based on said data and of combining said components in amounts calculated according to said data.

10. The method of claim 2, wherein said first container is designed and constructed to be rechargeable with a food component package having a specialized form and sold by said manufacturer associated with said at least one mark.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said first container is designed and constructed as a food component package having a specialized form and sold by said manufacturer associated with said at least one mark, said package being disposable when depleted, and wherein said device is designed and constructed to operably accept therein said food component package as said first container.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a processor and a communication module in said device and using said processor and said communication module to communicate information related to operation of said device via a communication network.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said device further comprises a weight sensor operable to weigh a recipient for said fluid food before and after filling of said recipient.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising calculating and recording amounts of food consumed by a user by subtracting, from a recorded weight of a recipient containing freshly prepared food, a detected weight of said food-containing recipient subsequent to food consumption by said user.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a plurality of said devices in a plurality of locations, providing each of said devices with a processor and a communications module, providing a central server operated by a service bureau and operable to communicate with each of said plurality of devices, and periodically establishing communication between said server and said devices.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said devices are operable to communicate device usage information to said service bureau by means of said processors and communications modules, and said method further comprises use of said information by said service bureau for management of customer relations between said bureau and a plurality of users of said plurality of devices.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein said devices are operable to communicate device usage information to said service bureau by means of said processors and communications modules, and said method further comprises utilizing said communicated device usage information in management of re-supply of said components to said plurality of devices.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein each of said devices further comprises a user interface operable to receive input from a user and further operable to communicate a message from said bureau to said user, said method further comprises transmitting from said service bureau to at least one of said devices a message selected from a group consisting of a baby-care recommendation, a patient-care recommendation, a publicity statement, a public service announcement, and a sales offer.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said interface comprises an element useable by a user to indicate that said user wishes to order re-supply of a food component by said service bureau.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising selecting a sales message for transmission from said service bureau to a user through a communication module of one of said devices, wherein said selection of said sales message is at least partially dependent on device usage data transmitted from said one of said devices to said service bureau.