Foam pitcher

Abstract

An apparatus for preparing a foam or blended medium can include a pitcher comprising a blending mechanism and a blending motor. The blending motor can be configured to actuate the blending mechanism. The pitcher can be configured to receive materials therein, and the blending mechanism can be configured to blend the materials to produce a foam or blended medium. The apparatus can include a base comprising a rinsing mechanism configured to spray a liquid into an interior of the pitcher. The apparatus can include one or more pivot arms coupled to the pitcher and the base. The one or more pivot arms can be configured to actuate rotation of the pitcher.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation of U.S. Patent Application No. 17 / 813,863, filed July 20, 2022, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 302,475, filed January 24, 2022, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Any applications to which foreign or domestic priority claims are identified in the PCT application filed with this application are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] Field FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for dispensing foam or blending media, such as systems and methods for dispensing foam from a container or pitcher. [Background technology]

[0003] Certain beverages are prepared using foam that needs to be dispensed frequently and / or kept cooler than room temperature. Certain beverages are prepared using cold foam or blending media, which can be made with dairy or non-dairy products and expanded with air. In some instances, cold foam can be made with milk or other liquids. Cold foam or blending media can be used to finish or top a beverage. The addition of cold foam or blending media can provide flavor, texture, or visual interest that enhances the beverage. Cold foam or blending media can be customized by adding flavors and powders to change color, taste, or texture.

[0004] However, the typical process of cold foaming or blending / aerating dairy or non-dairy products can be time-consuming and complicated. A typical process may involve mixing a liquid dairy or non-dairy base with sweeteners, flavorings, syrups, or powders. A typical process may also involve blending or aerating in a device such as a blender or by hand. The production process may take more than 15 seconds to complete, which may slow the production of the beverage. The process may also involve removing a pitcher from the system and pouring the finished product to produce the desired beverage.

[0005] Additionally, the foam or blending medium may need to be dispensed immediately after production to maintain product integrity and prevent spoilage. This can create operational inefficiencies for baristas due to the need to dispense in small batches and dispense the foam or blending medium immediately after production of the finished product. Additionally, production of the finished product may require extensive cleaning, which can be time-consuming, especially if the cold foam or blending medium is produced as a single batch. Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The systems, methods, and devices of the present disclosure each have several innovative aspects, no one of which is solely responsible for the desirable attributes disclosed herein.

[0007] One aspect of certain embodiments is an apparatus for preparing a foam or blending medium, comprising a pitcher comprising a blending mechanism and a blending motor. The blending motor is configured to actuate the blending mechanism. The pitcher is configured to receive ingredients therein, and the blending mechanism is configured to blend the ingredients to produce a foam or blending medium. The apparatus can include a base comprising a rinsing mechanism configured to spray a liquid into the interior of the pitcher, and one or more pivot arms coupled to the pitcher and the base. The one or more pivot arms are configured to actuate rotation of the pitcher.

[0008] The apparatus may further include one or more of the following features, alone or in combination: The base may include a base motor configured to power the one or more pivot arms to actuate rotation of the pitcher. The pitcher may be configured to rotate to a blending position, in which the pitcher is oriented substantially vertically with an open end of the pitcher disposed above a closed end of the pitcher. The closed end of the pitcher may be engaged with the base in the blending position. The pitcher may be configured to rotate to a pouring position, in which the pitcher is rotated about 20° to about 120° from a vertical axis. The pitcher may be configured to rotate to a cleaning position, in which the pitcher is oriented substantially vertically with a closed end of the pitcher disposed above the open end of the pitcher. The rinsing mechanism may include a showerhead configured to spray liquid toward the interior of the pitcher when the pitcher is in the cleaning position. The rinsing mechanism may include a showerhead configured to project toward the pitcher. The rinsing mechanism may include a high-pressure immersion spray head. The pitcher can be rotated by each of the one or more pivot arms at a rotation point, the rotation point being a point where each of the one or more pivot arms connects to the pitcher. The one or more pivot arms can include two pivot arms, each attached to either side of the pitcher. The base can further include a water inlet. The base can further include a drain pipe. The base can further include a gradient marker on an upper surface of the base. The base can further include one or more activation buttons for activating a blending mode or a cleaning mode. The base can include one or more activation buttons for activating rotation of the pitcher. The liquid can include water or cleaning liquid. The blending mechanism can include one or more blades. The blending mechanism can include a whisk.The apparatus can include a ring that fits around the pitcher, with each of the one or more pivot arms fastened to the ring to connect each of the one or more pivot arms to the pitcher.

[0009] Another aspect of certain embodiments disclosed herein is a method for preparing a foam or blending medium, the method including placing one or more ingredients in a pitcher positioned at a blending position; blending the one or more ingredients placed in the pitcher to produce a foam or blending medium; rotating the pitcher to a pouring position to pour the foam or blending medium from the pitcher into a container; rotating the pitcher to a washing position; and commencing spraying of a liquid toward the interior of the pitcher.

[0010] The method may further include one or more of the following features, alone or in combination: In the blending position, the pitcher may be positioned substantially vertically with the open end of the pitcher positioned above the closed end of the pitcher; In the pouring position, the pitcher is rotated from about 20° to about 120° from a vertical axis; and In the cleaning position, the pitcher is positioned substantially vertically with the closed end of the pitcher positioned above the open end of the pitcher.

[0011] Various embodiments are illustrated in the accompanying drawings for illustrative purposes and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments in any way. Various features of different disclosed embodiments can be combined to form additional embodiments that are part of this disclosure. Portions of the blend pitcher system are shown transparent to show the internal blending mechanism. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] A side view of the blend pitcher system in the blending position is shown. [Figure 2] A side view of the blend pitcher system in the dispensing position is shown. [Figure 3] A side view of the blend pitcher system in the cleaning position is shown. [Figure 4] Front view of the blend pitcher system. [Figure 5] A front view of the base of the blend pitcher system is shown. [Figure 6] A top view of the base of the blend pitcher system is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] Various extraction systems and methods are described below to illustrate various examples that may achieve one or more desired improvements. These examples are illustrative only and are not intended to limit in any way the general disclosure presented and the various aspects and features of the present disclosure. The general principles described herein may be applied to embodiments and applications other than those discussed herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Indeed, the present disclosure is not limited to the specific embodiments shown; instead, the present disclosure is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed or suggested herein. For example, many of the embodiments are described in the context of preparing a foam or blending medium from a liquid base at or below room temperature. However, certain features and aspects of the present disclosure may also have utility in producing a foam or blending medium from a liquid base at or above room temperature.

[0014] Many of the embodiments described herein involve frothing or blending a liquid, such as milk or a non-dairy liquid. For example, in some embodiments, the liquid to be frothed or blended may be referred to herein as a "liquid base" or may be a dairy or non-dairy liquid, such as milk, cream, almond milk, soy milk, oat milk, coconut milk, cashew milk, other milk alternatives, other plant-based liquids, coffee, tea, or hemp extract. In some examples, the liquid base may be a pre-made mixture or a product made from fresh ingredients. The liquid base may be modified using food-grade modifiers, including, but not limited to, gums, emulsifiers, and thickeners. The composition of the liquid base may be fine-tuned with the modifiers to provide the desired texture and taste of the finished product. The finished product may also include syrups, powders, sweeteners, flavorings, or other inclusions.

[0015] For example, many of the embodiments are described in the context of producing and dispensing a foam or blending medium from a container at or below room temperature, which may be considered a cold foam or blending medium, however, certain features and aspects of the present disclosure may also have utility in producing and dispensing a foam or blending medium at temperatures above room temperature or from a liquid base above room temperature.

[0016] To produce an edible finished product safe for human consumption, the finished product should be produced under sanitary conditions and maintained at a safe temperature to prevent pathogen growth and prevent spoilage. As used herein, the term "cold foam" is broadly applied to refer to a foam or blending medium prepared using a base or liquid base not exceeding 100°F (approximately 37.8°C). For example, in certain configurations described herein, the liquid base may be maintained between 0°F and 100°F (approximately -17.8°C and 37.8°C). In certain embodiments, the temperature of the liquid base may be maintained between 30°F and 50°F (approximately -1.1°C and 10°C), in certain embodiments between 30°F and 40°F (approximately -1.1°C and 4.4°C), and in certain embodiments between 60°F and 70°F (approximately 15.6°C and 21.1°C). In certain embodiments, the produced cold foam may have a temperature not exceeding 45°F (7.2°C). Certain aspects of the foam dispensing embodiments disclosed below are particularly advantageous for producing such "cold foams" and are often described in the context of producing cold foams. However, it should be understood that certain aspects and feature embodiments disclosed herein are not limited to cold foam producing embodiments, but may also find utility in producing hot or warm foams, including cold foams blended with hot or warm foams.

[0017] FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a foam pitcher system. The system may include a base 20 and a pitcher or container 10. The pitcher 10 may include an open end or portion and a closed end or portion. The open end of the pitcher 10 may include a spout 16 configured to collect and dispense foam from the interior of the pitcher 10. The closed end of the pitcher 10 may include a blending mechanism 14, such as one or more blades or a whisk. The closed end of the pitcher 10 may also include a blending motor 12 for actuating (e.g., rotating) the blending mechanism 14. The pitcher 10 may accept one or more ingredients, such as a liquid base and syrup. In certain embodiments, the one or more ingredients may be added to the open end of the pitcher by hand or via an automated or semi-automated dispensing system. Motor 12 can then operate blending mechanism 14 to blend the materials contained in pitcher 10, for example, by rotating blending mechanism 14 at a speed of about 2,500 to about 30,000 revolutions per minute (or 2,500-30,000 revolutions per minute). Operate blending mechanism 14 on one or more materials to blend the materials and expand the materials with air to produce a foam or blending medium.

[0018] The system may further include one or more pivot arms 30 connecting or coupling the base 20 and the foam pitcher 10. In some examples, the one or more pivot arms 30 are permanently fixed to the foam pitcher 10 and / or the base 20. In some examples, the one or more pivot arms 30 may be removably attached to the foam pitcher 10 and / or the base 20. For each pivot arm 30, a first end of the pivot arm 30 is coupled to the base 20 and a second end of the pivot arm 30 is coupled to the foam pitcher 10. In some examples, the system includes two pivot arms 30, each positioned or attached to either side of the pitcher 10, as shown in FIG. 4. The two pivot arms 30 may be positioned on either side of the foam pitcher 10 and / or the base 20, such as on either side of the spout 16. As shown, the system may include a ring 36 that fits around the foam pitcher 10 to retain it. The one or more pivot arms 30 can be fastened or otherwise attached to a ring 36 to connect the pivot arms 30 to the pitcher 10. In other embodiments, the system can include a clamp instead of the ring 36 to attach the pivot arms 30 to the pitcher 10. In other embodiments, the pivot arms 30 can be attached directly to the pitcher 10. The one or more pivot arms 30 allow the foam pitcher 10 to rotate or tilt into various positions. In some examples, the one or more pivot arms 30 can be configured to rotate the pitcher 10 up to 360°. In some examples, the one or more pivot arms 30 can be configured to rotate the pitcher 10 up to 180°. The one or more pivot arms 30 can be powered by a motor, such as a base motor in the base 20, to actuate the rotation of the pitcher 10. The pitcher 10, including the motor 12 and blades 14, can be rotated or tilted into various positions. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the pitcher 10 can be in a blend position.In the blended position, pitcher 10 can be in an upright position such that the pitcher is oriented substantially vertically, with the length of pitcher 10 substantially aligned with the vertical axis (e.g., about 10° to about 15° from the vertical axis, or 10° to 15° from the vertical axis) and the open end of pitcher 10 positioned above the closed end. In this blended or upright position, the closed end of pitcher 10 can be engaged with base 20.

[0019] The base 20 may include a water inlet 24, a drain pipe 26, and a power cable 22. The base 20 may also include a communication cable 34 between the base 20 and the foam pitcher 10. The communication cable 34 may enable communication between the base 20 and the blend motor 12. The base 20 may also include a base motor for actuating movement of the pitcher 10, such as rotation of the pitcher 10. The base motor in the base 20 may actuate the rotation of the pitcher 10. For each pivot arm 30, the pitcher 10 may rotate about a rotation point 32, which may be the point at which each of the pivot arms 30 connects to the pitcher 10.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 2 , pitcher 10 is shown in a pouring or dispensing position, such that pitcher 10 is rotated to dispense foam from the interior of pitcher 10 into cup 40. In some examples, to achieve the pouring position, pitcher 10 can be rotated from about 20° to about 120° (or from 20° to about 120°) from a vertical axis or from a blending position. In certain embodiments, the pouring position can be from about 40° to about 100°, and in certain embodiments, from about 100° to about 105°. In certain embodiments, the pouring position can be from 40° to 100°, and in certain embodiments, from 100° to 105°. In embodiments disclosed herein, pitcher 10 can be rotated by hand or by use of a motorized mechanism, which, in certain embodiments, is anticipated to be automated such that activation of a switch or button can automatically rotate the pitcher between positions.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 3 , the pitcher 10 is shown in the cleaning position, rotated so that the pitcher 10 locks onto the base 20. In the cleaning position, the pitcher can be upside down or inverted so that the pitcher is placed substantially vertically, with the length of the pitcher 10 substantially aligned with the vertical axis and the closed end of the pitcher positioned above the open end. In some examples, to achieve the pouring position, the pitcher 10 can be rotated approximately 180° (or 180°) from the blending position or upright position. In the cleaning position, the open end of the pitcher 10 can be positioned adjacent to the top surface of the base 20 and locked onto the top surface of the base 20. In the cleaning position, any remaining foam or liquid remaining inside the pitcher 10 can drain from the pitcher 10 toward the base 20 by gravity. The base 20 can include a drain tube for receiving any remaining foam or liquid. The base 20 can include a cavity 25 into which the pitcher 10 can drain so that the cavity 25 can receive any foam or liquid from the pitcher 10.

[0022] As shown in Figures 4-5, the base 20 can include a display 28 that can communicate information regarding the position of the pitcher or the status of the system. The base 20 can also include an activation button 50 that can activate a blending mode or a cleaning mode of the system. The activation button 50 can also control the rotation of the pitcher 10 through various positions, such as between the blending position, the pouring position, and the cleaning position. The activation button 50 can also control the rinse mechanism.

[0023] The base 20 may include a rinsing mechanism configured to spray liquid, such as water and / or cleaning solution. When the open end of the pitcher 10 is locked onto the top surface of the base 20 in the cleaning position, liquid sprayed from the rinsing mechanism is contained within the interior of the pitcher 10 and the base 20. The liquid may be sprayed onto the interior surface of the pitcher 10. In some configurations, the open end of the pitcher 10 is configured to seal with the base 20 when locked onto the base 20 in the cleaning position. The formed seal may prevent liquid from leaking between the pitcher 10 and the base 20 when liquid is sprayed from the rinsing mechanism into the interior of the pitcher 10.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 5 , the rinsing mechanism can include a shower or rinse head 52 for rinsing the pitcher 10. In some examples, the rinse head 52 can extend from the top surface of the base 20. In some examples, the shower or rinse head 52 can be popped out. In the cleaning position, the shower head 52 of the base 20 can pop out from the base 20 toward the interior of the pitcher 10. In some configurations, the shower head 52 can be configured to pop out when activated, for example, by using one or more activation buttons 50, or can be configured to pop out when the pitcher 10 is in the cleaning position. The shower head 52 can then spray cleaning liquid and / or water to clean and rinse the interior of the pitcher 10. As previously mentioned, the base 20 can include a water inlet 24 that can receive water and / or cleaning liquid. The base 20 may also include a drain pipe 26 that may allow water or cleaning solution used to rinse the interior of the pitcher 10 to flow back toward the base 20 and be drained away from the base 20 through the drain pipe 26.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 6 , the rinsing mechanism may include a high-pressure insert spray head 54. Similarly, the high-pressure spray head 54 on the base 20 may spray cleaning solution and / or water to clean and rinse the interior of the pitcher 10. The high-pressure spray head 54 may be configured to spray the cleaning solution and / or water at high pressure toward the interior of the pitcher. In certain embodiments, the spray pressure may be between 5 psi and 90 psi. The high-pressure spray head 54 may be insertable into the base 20. As previously mentioned, the base 20 may include a water inlet 24 that may receive water and / or cleaning solution for spraying into the interior of the pitcher 10. The base 20 may also include a drain pipe 58 that may allow water or cleaning solution used to rinse the interior of the pitcher 10 to flow back toward the base 20 and be drained out of the base 20 through the drain pipe 58. The base 20 may also have a slope marker 56 on its upper surface. The slope markers 56 may indicate the direction of flow of water and / or cleaning fluid toward the drain 58. The top surface of the base 20 may be sloped or angled to promote the flow of water and / or cleaning fluid toward the drain 58. In some examples, the top surface of the base 20 may be horizontal.

[0026] As described, the system advantageously automatically blends and dispenses foam into the beverage. Thus, the system may only require the user to add ingredients and begin blending. The system can automatically blend the ingredients to create foam and automatically rotate to dispense the foam into the beverage. Additionally, the system advantageously allows for automatic cleaning without requiring removal of the pitcher and without requiring manual movement of the pitcher to an auxiliary position. Thus, the system can automatically rotate to a cleaning position and automatically rinse the interior of the pitcher 10. The system can also automatically rotate the pitcher 10 to an upright position and a blending position so that the pitcher 10 is ready to accept ingredients for the next use. This advantageously allows the system to blend, dispense, and clean in a single location.

[0027] In some configurations, the system can blend ingredients to produce foam for a predetermined time, then automatically rotate the pitcher 10 from the blending position to a dispensing position to dispense the foam into a container. In some configurations, the system can be positioned in a rotated dispensing position for a predetermined time to dispense foam into a container, then automatically rotate the pitcher 10 from the dispensing position to a cleaning position to clean the pitcher 10. In some configurations, the system can be positioned in an inverted or cleaning position for a predetermined time while a rinse mechanism sprays liquid into the interior of the pitcher to clean it, and the liquid flows back into the base 20 and drains through a drain in the base 20. In other embodiments, the system can require a user to activate each step, for example, by using one or more activation buttons 50.

[0028] In some examples, the system can automatically rotate to the wash position for cleaning immediately after the pour position. Thus, in this manner, the system can automatically blend, pour, and rinse without further user input and without the need to manually move any of the system's components. In some examples, the wash mode can be initiated by pressing the activation button 50.

[0029] The system is an integrated blending system that allows blending, pouring, and cleaning to all occur within the system. As described, the integrated system advantageously includes blending features such as a pitcher 10 having a blending motor 12 for actuating a blending mechanism 14 and a base 20 for stabilizing the pitcher 10. The integrated system also advantageously includes features that allow the system to automatically pour foam, such as a pivot arm 30 for attaching the base 20 to the pitcher 10 and a base motor in the base 20 for actuating rotation of the pitcher 10. The integrated system also advantageously includes features that allow the system to automatically rinse and clean the pitcher 10, such as a pivot arm 30 for attaching the base 20 to the pitcher 10 and a base motor in the base 20 for actuating rotation, a rinse component (such as a pop-up shower head 52 or a high-pressure immersion spray head 54), a drain in the base 20, and a water inlet 24 in the base 20.

[0030] Specific Terms As used herein, the term "beverage" has its ordinary and accustomed meaning and includes, among other things, any edible liquid or substantially liquid substance or product that is flowable (e.g., juice, coffee drink, tea, milk, beer, wine, cocktails, liqueurs, spirits, cider, soft drinks, flavored waters, energy drinks, soups, broths, combinations thereof, etc.).

[0031] Conditional language such as "can," "could," "might," or "may," unless otherwise specified or understood otherwise within the context in which it is used, is generally intended to convey that certain embodiments include certain features, elements, and / or steps, while other embodiments do not. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements, and / or steps are required in any respect for one or more embodiments, nor that one or more embodiments necessarily include logic for determining whether those features, elements, and / or steps should be included or performed in any particular embodiment, with or without user input or prompting.

[0032] Connective language, such as the phrase "at least one of X, Y, and Z," unless otherwise specified, is understood in the context in which it is generally used to convey that an item, term, etc. can be either X, Y, or Z. Thus, such connective language is generally not intended to imply that a particular embodiment requires the presence of at least one of X, at least one of Y, and at least one of Z.

[0033] Unless otherwise specified, articles such as "a" or "an" should generally be construed to include one or more listed items. Thus, phrases such as "an apparatus configured to" are intended to include one or more listed devices. Such one or more listed devices may also be collectively configured to perform the described enumeration. For example, "a processor configured to perform enumerations A, B, and C" may include a first processor configured to perform enumeration A working in conjunction with a second processor configured to perform enumerations B and C.

[0034] Terms such as "comprising," "including," and "having" are synonymous and are used in an inclusive, open-ended manner and do not exclude additional elements, features, acts, operations, etc. Similarly, terms such as "some," "certain," and the like are synonymous and are used in an open-ended manner. Also, the term "or" is used in an inclusive (rather than exclusive) sense, so, for example, when used to connect a list of elements, the term "or" may mean one, some, or all of the elements in the list.

[0035] As used herein, the terms "approximately," "about," and "substantially" refer to an amount close to the stated amount that still performs a desired function or achieves a desired result. For example, in some embodiments, as the context may dictate, the terms "approximately," "about," and "substantially" may refer to an amount within 10% or less of the stated amount. Numbers preceded by terms such as "about" or "approximately" are inclusive of the recited numbers and should be interpreted as precisely as reasonably possible under the circumstances (e.g., "about 1 gram" includes "1 gram"). In embodiments described in this application, terms such as "about" or "approximately" in this specification or claims preceding a value or range can be omitted such that the application specifically includes embodiments of such values ​​or ranges in which the term "about" or "approximately" is omitted from the recited values ​​and ranges, such that the disclosed ranges can also be claimed without the term "about" or "approximately" preceding them. The term "generally," as used herein, describes a value, amount, or characteristic that primarily includes or tends toward a particular value, amount, or characteristic. As an example, in certain embodiments, as the context may dictate, the term "generally parallel" can refer to deviations from exact parallelism by no more than 20 degrees, and / or the term "generally perpendicular" can refer to deviations from exact perpendicular by no more than 20 degrees.

[0036] Overall, the claim language should be interpreted broadly based on the language used in the claims, and not limited to the non-exclusive embodiments and examples illustrated and described in this disclosure or discussed during prosecution of this application.

[0037] The following exemplary embodiments identify some possible permutations of feature combinations disclosed herein, although other permutations of feature combinations are also possible.

[0038] summary Although certain aspects, advantages, and features are described herein, it is not necessary for any particular embodiment to include or achieve any or all of those aspects, advantages, and features. For example, some embodiments may not achieve the advantages described herein, but may instead achieve other advantages. Any structure, feature, or step in any embodiment may be used in place of, or in addition to, any structure, feature, or step in any other embodiment, or may be omitted. The present disclosure contemplates all combinations of features from the various disclosed embodiments. No feature, structure, or step is required or essential. Furthermore, while the present disclosure describes specific embodiments and examples of beverage systems and methods, many aspects of the above-described systems and methods may be combined differently and / or modified to form yet other embodiments or acceptable examples. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0039] Also, although there may be some embodiments within the scope of this disclosure that are not explicitly recited above or elsewhere herein, this disclosure contemplates and includes all embodiments within the scope of this disclosure as shown and described. Furthermore, this disclosure contemplates and includes embodiments that include any combination of any structure, material, step or other feature disclosed anywhere herein with any other structure, material, step or other feature disclosed anywhere herein.

[0040] Furthermore, certain features that are described in this disclosure in the context of separate embodiments can also be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single embodiment can also be implemented in multiple embodiments separately or in any suitable subcombination. Furthermore, while features may be described above as acting in a particular combination, one or more features from a claimed combination can, in some cases, be deleted from the combination, and the combination can be claimed as a subcombination or a variation of the subcombination.

[0041] For purposes of this disclosure, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features have been described herein. Not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any particular embodiment. Thus, for example, one skilled in the art will recognize that the present disclosure may be embodied or implemented to achieve one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein.

[0042] Some embodiments are described in connection with the accompanying drawings. While the drawings are drawn to scale, such scale should not be construed as limiting. Distances, angles, and the like are merely illustrative and do not necessarily bear an exact relationship to the actual dimensions and layout of the illustrated devices. Components may be added, removed, and / or rearranged. Furthermore, any particular features, aspects, methods, properties, characteristics, qualities, attributes, elements, etc. disclosed herein with respect to various embodiments can be used in all other embodiments described herein. Additionally, any method described herein may be implemented using any device suitable for performing the recited steps.

[0043] Furthermore, while components and operations may be illustrated in the drawings or described herein in a particular arrangement or order, such components and operations need not be arranged and performed in the particular arrangement and order shown, or in sequential order, to achieve desirable results, nor need all components and operations be included. Other components and operations not shown or described may be incorporated into the embodiments and examples. For example, one or more additional operations may occur before, after, simultaneously with, or between any of the described operations. Moreover, operations may be rearranged or reordered in other embodiments. Also, it should be understood that the separation of various system components in the above embodiments should not be understood to require such separation in all embodiments, and that the described components and systems may generally be integrated into a single product or packaged into multiple products.

[0044] In summary, various exemplary embodiments and examples of beverage dispensing systems and methods have been disclosed. While the systems and methods are disclosed in the context of those embodiments and examples, the disclosure extends beyond the specifically disclosed embodiments to other alternative embodiments and / or other uses of the embodiments, as well as certain modifications and equivalents thereof. The disclosure expressly contemplates that various features and aspects of the disclosed embodiments can be combined with or substituted for one another. Accordingly, the scope of the disclosure should not be limited by the particular disclosed embodiments described above, but should be determined only by a fair reading of the appended claims and their full range of equivalents.

Claims

1. 1. An apparatus for preparing a foam or blending medium, comprising a pitcher, a base, and one or more pivot arms, the apparatus comprising: the pitcher comprises a blending mechanism and a blending motor, the blending motor configured to actuate the blending mechanism, the pitcher configured to receive materials therein, and the blending mechanism configured to blend the materials to produce the foam or the blending medium; the base includes a rinsing mechanism configured to spray a liquid onto an interior of the pitcher; the one or more pivot arms are coupled to the pitcher and to the base, the one or more pivot arms being configured to actuate rotation of the pitcher. Device.

2. the base includes a base motor configured to power the one or more pivot arms to actuate rotation of the pitcher; 2. The apparatus of claim 1.

3. the pitcher is configured to rotate into a blending position, in which the pitcher is oriented substantially vertically with an open end of the pitcher disposed above a closed end of the pitcher; 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.

4. the closed end of the pitcher is engaged with the base at the blending position.

4. The apparatus of claim 3.

5. The pitcher is configured to rotate into a pouring position, in which the pitcher is rotated from about 20° to about 120° from a vertical axis.

5. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. the pitcher is configured to rotate into a cleaning position, in which the pitcher is oriented substantially vertically with a closed end of the pitcher disposed above an open end of the pitcher; 6. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. the rinsing mechanism comprises a showerhead configured to spray the liquid toward an interior of the pitcher when the pitcher is in the cleaning position; 7. The apparatus of claim 6.

8. The rinsing mechanism includes a showerhead configured to project toward the pitcher.

8. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. The rinsing mechanism includes a high pressure immersion spray head.

9. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. the pitcher is rotated by each of the one or more pivot arms at a rotation point, the rotation point being a point where each of the one or more pivot arms connects to the pitcher; 10. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

11. the one or more pivot arms include two pivot arms, each of the two pivot arms being attached to either side of the pitcher; 11. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

12. The base further includes a water inlet.

12. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

13. The base further comprises a drain.

13. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

14. the base further comprises a gradient marker on a top surface of the base; 14. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 13.

15. The base further comprises one or more activation buttons for activating a blend mode or a wash mode.

15. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 14.

16. the base further comprises one or more activation buttons for activating rotation of the pitcher; 16. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 15.

17. The liquid comprises water or a cleaning liquid.

17. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 16.

18. The blending mechanism comprises one or more blades.

18. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 17.

19. The blending mechanism comprises a whisk.

19. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 18.

20. the apparatus further comprising a ring that fits around the pitcher, each of the one or more pivot arms being fastened to the ring to connect each of the one or more pivot arms to the pitcher.

20. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 19.

21. 1. A method for preparing a foam or blending medium, the method comprising: placing one or more ingredients in a pitcher disposed at a blending position; blending the one or more materials disposed in the pitcher to produce the foam or the blending medium; rotating the pitcher to a pouring position for pouring the foam or blending medium from the pitcher into a container; rotating the pitcher into a cleaning position; commencing a spray of liquid towards an interior of the pitcher; The method includes:

22. In the blending position, the pitcher is oriented substantially vertically with an open end of the pitcher disposed above a closed end of the pitcher.

22. The method of claim 21.

23. In the pouring position, the pitcher is rotated from about 20° to about 120° from a vertical axis.

22. The method of claim 21 or 22.

24. In the cleaning position, the pitcher is oriented substantially vertically with a closed end of the pitcher disposed above an open end of the pitcher.

24. The method of any one of claims 21 to 23.

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