US 10,046,904 · Granted 2018-08-14

The Smart Juicer Cartridge That Reads What You're Squeezing

Imagine a juice machine where the cartridge holding your fruit is actually smart—it can talk to the juicer and tell it how to squeeze. The cartridge keeps juice fresh longer by using special gas, and the machine tracks what you've made and keeps you safe from mistakes.

Curated and verified by the IsItPatented Editorial team

The plain-English version

What it protects

The claim covers a juicer system with a specialized cartridge that contains separate internal compartments for different foods, paired with a juicer unit that reads information from the cartridge. What's protected here is the combination of the cartridge design, the reader technology that communicates with it, the sealed outlet mechanism, and the 'smart' functionality that tracks usage and provides safety alerts based on what cartridge is being used.

Why it matters

This patent represents a shift toward 'smart' kitchen appliances that communicate with consumable cartridges—similar to how modern coffee makers read pods or printers read ink cartridges. By locking down the cartridge-reader relationship, the patent gives the manufacturer control over the entire ecosystem: the cartridges themselves, the data about usage, and the user experience. This creates both a competitive moat and recurring revenue from cartridge sales.

Real-world use

When you drop a pre-packed Fresh Press juice cartridge into the machine, sensors read it, the juicer knows exactly how to compress that specific blend, and the sealed outlet pops open only when the cycle starts.

Original USPTO abstract

Embodiments related to juicing methods and apparatuses for extracting juice from food matter using juicer cartridges are described. In one embodiment, a juicer cartridge may include one or more separate internal compartments. Food matter loaded into the juicer cartridge may be compressed by a corresponding juicer and expelled through an outlet that may be sealed until activation. Food matter may be pre-sized according to various physical characteristics, and the juicer cartridge may be injected with a gas to enhance shelf life and reduce nutrient loss. The juicer may also be provided with “smart” functionality to provide safety features, track usage, and enhance the operator experience. Several embodiments of packing systems for preparing juicer cartridges are also described.

Patent details

Publication number: US 10,046,904
Filing date: 2016-05-04
Grant date: 2018-08-14
Assignee: Fresh Press LLC
Inventor(s): EVANS, DOUGLAS, KATZ, PAUL
CPC class: A47J19/00

View original record on Google Patents →

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