Apparatus for preparing frozen drinks

• US 6,772,675 B2
• Filed: 12/30/2002
• Issued: 08/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: David Ervin
• Original Assignee: David Ervin
• Inventors: Ervin, David
• Primary Examiner(s): ALEXANDER, REGINALD
• Application Number:
  US10/330,795
• Publication Number:
  US 20030145734A1
• Time in Patent Office: 589 Days
• Field of Search: 992/75, 992/90, 993/00, 994/84, 241/101.2, 241/DIG.17, 366/197
• US Class Current: 99/275
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 9/045 of slush-ice, e.g. semi-frozen beverage
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 9/28 for portioning or dispensing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 241/17 Ice crushers

Abstract

Frozen beverage mixing unit has a hollow housing with an open bottom. A shaving disc with a cutting knife is rotationally mounted inside the housing, the shaving disc being connected to a motor. A piston moves above the shaving disc pushing a frozen product into a contact with the cutting blades of the shaving disc. A plurality of pumps deliver a pre-determined amount of a selected additive, such as alcohol, syrup, carbonated water or water, on top of the shaving disc to mix with the ice crystals created by the shaved frozen product. The additive is mixed with the shaved frozen product in a mixing container placed below the shaving disc.

Claims

1. An apparatus for preparing beverages with a frozen product, comprising:

a hollow housing with an open bottom;

a piston moveable inside the housing;

a shaving disc with a plurality of cutting blades rotationally mounted below said piston, said shaving disc being adapted for shaving the frozen product positioned above said shaving disc, while the piston pushes downwardly against the frozen product to move the frozen product into a contact with the shaving disc;

a means for delivering a predetermined type and quantity of a selected liquid additive to said shaving disc for combining with shavings of the frozen product.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said delivery means comprises a liquid pump connected to a source of the liquid additive mounted outside of said housing.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a nozzle for delivering water on top of the shaving disc to wash away remnants of the frozen product from the shaving disc.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a motor means provided with a rotating shaft extending through said housing, and wherein said rotating shaft is attached to the shaving disc such that activation of said motor means causes rotation of said shaving disc.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said rotating shaft extends below said shaving disc and carries a plurality of mixing blades on a lower portion thereof.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said housing comprises a dispensing shroud in a lower portion of the housing, and wherein said mixing blades are located outside of said dispensing shroud.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of pumps, each pump, upon activation, delivering a pre-determined quantity of a selected additive from a source outside of said housing.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein each of said pumps is fluidly connected to a dispensing nozzle having an outlet above said shaving disc to facilitate mixing of the selected additive with the frozen product being cut by said shaving disc.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a drive motor for rotating said shaft and a gear motor for moving said piston into a contact with said shaving disc.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising an electronic means for controlling operation of said drive motor, said gear motor and said plurality of pumps.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said housing is provided with a control panel having a plurality of control buttons, and wherein activation of selected control buttons causes activation of said electronic means.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said shaving disc comprises a plurality of shaving blades suitable for cutting the frozen product.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said shaving disc is provided with a slot adjacent to each of said shaving blades, and a channel communicating with each of said slots to allow the cut frozen product to travel by gravity outside of said housing.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said housing is provided with an access door to allow positioning of the frozen product inside said housing.

15. An apparatus for preparing beverages with a frozen product, comprising:

a hollow housing with an open bottom;

a gear motor secured to said housing;

a piston moveable inside the housing upon activation of said gear motor;

a drive motor mounted in the housing;

a shaving disc with a plurality of cutting blades rotationally mounted below said piston, said shaving disc being operationally connected to said drive motor and adapted for shaving the frozen product positioned above said shaving disc, while the piston pushes downwardly against the frozen product to move the frozen product into a contact with the shaving disc;

a means for delivering a pre-determined type and quantity of a selected liquid additive to said shaving disc for combining with shavings of the frozen product, said delivery means comprising at least one liquid pump connected to a source of the liquid additive mounted outside of said housing.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said rotating shaft extends below said shaving disc and carries a plurality of mixing blades on a lower portion thereof.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said housing comprises a dispensing shroud in a lower portion of the housing, and wherein said mixing blades are located outside of said dispensing shroud.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a plurality of pumps, each pump, upon activation, delivering a pre-determined quantity of a selected additive from a source outside of said housing.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein each of said pumps is fluidly connected to a dispensing nozzle having an outlet above said shaving disc to facilitate mixing of the selected additive with the frozen product being cut by said shaving disc.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising an electronic means for controlling operation of said drive motor, said gear motor and said plurality of pumps.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said housing is provided with a control panel having a plurality of selected control buttons causes activation of selected control buttons causes activation of said electronic means.

22. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said disc is provided with a slot adjacent to each of said shaving blades, and a channel communicating with each of said slots to allow the cut frozen product to travel by gravity outside of said housing.

23. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said housing is provided with an access door to allow positioning of the frozen product inside said housing.