US 12,064,051 B2
Single serving pod usable in a beverage forming system and method of mixing pod contents with liquid to dispense as a beverage
Brian J. Kordich, Hermosa Beach, CA (US); Arnold T. Suwarnasarn, San Marino, CA (US); Aaron J. Courdy, Pasadena, CA (US); and Geoffrey A. Evans, Redondo Beach, CA (US)
Assigned to Healthy Concepts, Manhattan Beach, CA (US)
Filed by Healthy Concepts Inc., Redondo Beach, CA (US)
Filed on Dec. 17, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/125,907.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/948,638, filed on Dec. 16, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0177189 A1, Jun. 17, 2021
Int. Cl. A47J 31/40 (2006.01); A47J 31/46 (2006.01); A47J 31/52 (2006.01)
CPC A47J 31/407 (2013.01) [A47J 31/468 (2018.08); A47J 31/52 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A pod for use with a protein powder-based beverage forming system, the pod containing protein powder typically subject to clumping within the pod upon mixing the protein powder with a liquid therein, the beverage forming system including a liquid reservoir, a liquid pump having an intake line connected to the liquid reservoir and an exit line providing pressurized liquid and connectable to the pod at a top end of a mixing chamber of the system where the pod is loaded therein for use in forming a mixed protein beverage, the pod comprising:
a rigid body defined by a top end, a bottom end, and having a hollow interior containing the protein powder to be mixed with liquid pressurized by the liquid pump, and
an elongate, hollow water vein element disposed inside the hollow interior of the body, an upper end of the water vein element connected to an opening at the top end of the body that, when connected at the top end of the mixing chamber and upon initiation of a mixing process, provides access for the pressurized liquid to flow into the body hollow interior via the water vein element, wherein the water vein element further includes:
a plurality of holes arranged in spaced relation to one another along a longitudinal plane of the water vein element from top to bottom thereof, as well as around a circumference of the water vein element from top to bottom thereof, such that the pressurized liquid flowing down through the top of the pod into the water vein element exits through the plurality of holes in a pattern of water jets, thereby creating turbulent flow to saturate the protein powder and form the mixed protein beverage while minimizing or reducing clumping thereof within the hollow interior of the pod body, and
an exit hole provided in the bottom of the pod, the exit hole serving as a vent path through which the mixed protein beverage vents into a cup arranged beneath the mixing chamber of the beverage forming system,
wherein the pod is not subject to any source of enhanced vibrations or agitation that is external to the pod body to induce mixing of the protein powder with the liquid therein so as to create the mixed protein beverage.