A fountain for heating and distributing fluidic material is manufactured using various processes and materials so that the fountain is more easily cleaned and sanitized, has improved performance, and is easier to assemble. In one embodiment, the chocolate fountain includes a heating element encased
A fountain for heating and distributing fluidic material is manufactured using various processes and materials so that the fountain is more easily cleaned and sanitized, has improved performance, and is easier to assemble. In one embodiment, the chocolate fountain includes a heating element encased in an aluminum enclosure. A basin containing chocolate is heated by contact with the aluminum enclosure. Because the aluminum enclosure has a relatively high thermal conductivity, the basin is heating substantially uniformly, thus reducing the occurrence of hot spots. Additionally, a plastic auger having a spiral flight rotates and lifts the melted chocolate upward to a top end of cylinder that houses the auger. The use of a plastic auger advantageously eliminates welding artifacts on the auger, such as burrs and pits, on which melted chocolate may accumulate. Accordingly, the plastic auger is easy to clean. A smaller chocolate fountain that may advantageously be more suitable for home use is also described herein.
대표청구항▼
What is claimed is: 1. An apparatus comprising: a basin having a bottom surface and an outer side surrounding said bottom surface, said basin being configured to contain a fluidic material within said basin; a heating element configured to substantially evenly heat said bottom surface of said basin
What is claimed is: 1. An apparatus comprising: a basin having a bottom surface and an outer side surrounding said bottom surface, said basin being configured to contain a fluidic material within said basin; a heating element configured to substantially evenly heat said bottom surface of said basin; a cylinder having a top end and a bottom end, wherein said bottom end is attached to said bottom surface of said basin so that said cylinder extends substantially perpendicular from said bottom surface; an auger having a spiral flight comprising a plurality of revolutions protruding along a length of said auger, wherein said auger is disposed within said cylinder; a tier comprising a collar portion, a body portion, and a notch between the junction of the collar portion and the body portion, wherein said cylinder comprises a step of sufficient size so that the step engages the notch and supports said tier on the cylinder; and a source of rotation coupled to said auger and configured to rotate said auger inside said cylinder, wherein said spiral flight supports said fluidic material as said auger rotates, moving said fluidic material upwardly to said top end of said cylinder. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said fluidic material flows from said top end of said cylinder onto said upper surface of said tier and flows downwardly to said basin. 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said tier is bowl shaped so that an outer perimeter of said tier is curved towards said basin. 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said high thermal conductivity enclosure comprises aluminum. 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said revolutions of said spiral flight have a pitch of greater than about 55 mm. 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said revolutions of said spiral flight have a pitch of less than about 24 mm. 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said cylinder comprises a score mark at a predetermined height of said cylinder and extending around an outer perimeter of said cylinder, and wherein said tier is attached to said cylinder at said predetermined height of said cylinder. 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said score mark is of a sufficient depth so that said tier engages said score mark, and wherein said engagement of said tier with said score mark allows the attachment of said tier on said cylinder so that said fluidic material flows uniformly on a top surface of said tier. 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said fluidic material comprises melted chocolate. 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said source of rotation comprises an electric motor. 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said electric motor is mounted so that a drive shaft rotates parallel to said auger and wherein a belt is coupled to said drive shaft and said auger so that said drive shaft rotates said auger. 12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said electric motor is mounted so that a drive shaft directly engages said auger so that said drive shaft rotates said auger. 13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said tier comprises a collar including a step on a top surface of said collar and a body having an aperture, wherein said step of said collar is inserted into said aperture and said step is deformed so that said collar is attached to said body. 14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein, on said lower surface of said tier, a spot weld is applied to a junction of said collar and said body. 15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said tier is removably attached to said cylinder using a hex bolt tightened through a threaded hole in said collar. 16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said tier comprises a single structure. 17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said auger comprises a FDA plastic material. 18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said auger comprises a non-metallic material. 19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said auger is fabricated by insert molding. 20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein an angle between said bottom surface of said basin and said outer perimeter is less than or equal to about 14 degrees. 21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein an angle between said bottom surface of said basin and said outer side is greater than or equal to about 16 degrees. 22. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a diameter of said outer perimeter is greater than or equal to about 475 mm. 23. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a diameter of said outer perimeter is less than or equal to about 350 mm. 24. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a crown mounted on said top end of said cylinder, wherein said fluidic material flows from said top end of said cylinder onto said crown and then onto said upper surface of said tier. 25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein a surface of said crown on which said fluidic material flows is substantially free of welding artifacts. 26. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein said crown is fabricated by metal casting. 27. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein said crown is fabricated by plastic molding. 28. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein said crown comprises a single structure. 29. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein said crown is mounted on said top end of said cylinder so that a portion of said crown extends below said top end of said cylinder, and wherein said crown is configured so that said fluidic material does not contact said portion of said crown that extends below said top end of said cylinder. 30. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a second tier mounted on said cylinder, wherein said fluidic material flows on an upper surface of said second tier. 31. The apparatus of claim 30, further comprising a third tier mounted on said cylinder, wherein said fluidic material flows on an upper surface of said third tier. 32. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a handle mounted on said basin. 33. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said auger, said crown, and said tier are free of welding artifacts. 34. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said tier is free of welding artifacts on said upper surface. 35. A fountain comprising: a basin configured to contain a fluidic material, wherein a diameter of an outer perimeter of said basin is greater than or equal to about 475 mm; a housing removably attached substantially perpendicular to said basin and configured to contain said fluidic material; and a moving means configured to move said fluidic material within said basin upwardly within said housing, wherein substantially all of said fluidic material returns to said basin, via a path outside of said housing, after said moving means moves said fluidic material to a top of said housing. 36. A fountain comprising: a basin configured to contain a fluidic material; a housing removably attached substantially perpendicular to said basin and configured to contain said fluidic material; and a plastic auger configured to move said fluidic material within said basin upwardly within said housing, wherein substantially all of said fluidic material returns to said basin, via a path outside of said housing, after said plastic auger moves said fluidic material to a top of said housing. 37. A fountain comprising: a basin configured to contain a fluidic material; a housing removably attached substantially perpendicular to said basin and configured to contain said fluidic material; and a single structure crown mounted on said top end of said housing, wherein said fluidic material travels upwardly to said top end of said housing, onto said crown, and then downwardly towards said basin, wherein said crown is fabricated by plastic molding.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (1)
Hall Bill R. (2206 Annandale Rd. Huntsville AL 35801), Economical fountainhead.
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