Electronic Infusion Device

Abstract

An apparatus for the efficient infusion on non-carbonated liquid substance with flavor from one or more non-liquid, food-grade infusive material. The apparatus may be used to infuse a variety of liquid materials such as alcohol or oil. The apparatus improves the efficiency of the infusion process with the specific and repeated application of ultrasonic frequencies over time.

Claims

1. An electronic infusion apparatus for infusing a non-carbonated liquid substance with flavor of one more non-liquid food-grade infusive material and is comprised of: a power source; and a glass container for holding a minimum of 8 fluid ounces of liquid that has one open end; and a removable seal that attaches to the open end of said glass container; and an infusion container for one more non-liquid infusive material(s), which fits inside said glass container, and that also includes a removable closure for the top of the infusion container and at least one porous surface; and a base that includes a control circuit operatively connected to said power source, at least one switch, a basin capable of holding at lease once ounce of liquid, and an ultrasonic transducer that is operatively connected to the control circuit and physically connected to the basin; wherein the control circuit delivers an electrical signal to the ultrasonic transducer, which causes the transducer to oscillate at a frequency between 1900 MHz to 10000 MHz, on an intermittent basis with at least one active period of oscillation and at least one period of rest without oscillation, for which the active oscillation period(s) and rest period(s) individually range from 0.5-600 seconds in duration.

2. The electronic infusion apparatus in claim 1 wherein the oscillation frequency is varied over time in a predetermined cycle during the active period of oscillation.

3. The electronic infusion apparatus in claim 1 wherein the power source is a removable and/or replaceable battery.

4. The electronic infusion apparatus in claim 1 wherein the non-carbonated liquid substance is an alcohol spirit.

5. The electronic infusion apparatus in claim 1 wherein the non-carbonated liquid substance is a cooking oil.

6. The electronic infusion apparatus in claim 1 wherein the duration of the intermittent operation of the ultrasonic transducer is user selectable.

7. The electronic infusion apparatus in claim 1 wherein the porous surface(s) of the infusion container may be comprised of one or more mesh or woven materials.

8. The electronic infusion apparatus in claim 1 wherein the porous surface(s) of the infusion container may be a perforated.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

Figures:

[0019] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the electronic infusion apparatus;

[0020] FIG. 2 is an exploded side view of the electronic infusion apparatus, showing the removable seal, infusion container, glass container, and a base, which houses the ultrasonic transducer and control circuit;

[0021] FIG. 3 is an exploded front view of the removable closure and infusion container for the infusive material having a plurality of fine perforations in the side wall;

[0022] FIG. 4 is a side view of the infusion container showing a permeable side wall having narrow slots;

[0023] FIG. 5 is a side view of the infusion container showing permeable side wall comprised of a fine mesh and or woven material;

[0024] FIG. 6 is a top view of the base of the electronic infusion apparatus;

[0025] FIG. 7 is a section view of the base showing the water basin, control circuit, switch, and ultrasonic transducer;

[0026] FIG. 8 is a partial section view showing the infusion container, infusive material, glass container, standing wave at a particular frequency, and the disrupted particulates of infusive materials suspended in place inside the infusion container by the ultrasonic pressure node;

[0027] FIG. 9 is a partial section view showing the infusion container, infusive material, glass container, standing wave at an alternate frequency, and the disrupted particulates of infusive materials now free to move through the permeable wall of infusion container unobstructed by the ultrasonic pressure node.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

[0028] While it is understood that that the invention may be embodied in different forms, the following provides detailed description on the preferred embodiment.

[0029] Non-carbonated liquid substance is placed into the glass container 5 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, which contains a solid bottom 13, solid sidewalls 14, and an open top end 15. The glass container is accordingly sized to contain a minimum of eight ounces of liquid.

[0030] Infusive materials are placed into the infusion container 4 best seen FIGS. 2-5, which includes a bottom 18, sidewall 16, and an open top 20. After the infusive material is inserted into the infusion container, the removable closure 3 is placed onto the container to completely enclose the infusive material.

[0031] The removable seal 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 attaches to the open end 15 of the glass container 5, which helps to prevent outside contaminants from entering the glass container during the infusion process and helps to prevent the liquid material from spilling out of the container. The top of the removable closure 3 can be attached to the seal 1 by a chain 2 and hook 12 such that the infusion container 4 can be suspended in the non-carbonated liquid off the bottom of the glass container 13 when in operation. At least one surface of the infusion container 4 is porous allowing the non-carbonated liquid material to come into direct contact with the infusive material once full submersed into the glass container 5. Some examples of at least one porous side wall in the infusion container 4 are shown in FIG. 3-5, such as circular perforations 19, narrow slots 20, or mesh material 21.

[0032] The base 8 of the apparatus shown in FIG. 2-3, includes a basin 6 capable of holding at least one ounce of water, at least one switch 7, a power source or a connection 9 to an external power source, a control circuit 11, and an ultrasonic transducer 10 that is physically connected to bottom of the basin 16, which is best seen in FIG. 7.

[0033] The importance of applying ultrasonic waves intermittently and/or in varying frequencies to facilitate the even and random distribution of the disrupted particulates of infusive material throughout the liquid can be seen in FIG. 8-9. The standing wave 25 that is created in the glass container 5 when applying ultrasonic waves at a particular frequency is shown in in FIG. 8, whereby the pressure node 29 of the standing wave 28 has trapped the disrupted particulates 24 of the infusive material 23 behind the porous wall 19 of the infusion container, preventing even distribution and dispersion throughout the liquid in the glass container 5. By contrast, the standing wave 28 created by an alternate frequency is shown in FIG. 9, whereby the pressure node 30 of the standing wave 28 is not obstructing the disrupted particulates 25 of the infusive material 23, such that those disrupted particulates 25 can now pass freely through the porous wall 19 of the infusion container. By intermittently applying the ultrasonic waves or varying the frequency, breaks or changes in the pressure nodes are created that allow the disrupted particulates of infusive material to diffuse and distribute throughout the non-carbonated liquid.

[0034] To maximize efficacy of the apparatus, a small amount of water is placed into the basin 6 on the base 8, which serves as a conduit for the transmission of sound waves between the ultrasonic transducer 10 connected to the bottom of the basin 16, and the glass container 5 housing the non-carbonated liquid and infusive material(s). The user controls the infusion process with the switch 7 that is electrically connected to the control circuit 11 housed inside the base 8. When the infusion process is complete, the user can cleanly and easily remove the infusive material from the non-carbonated liquid by simply removing the infusion container 4 from the glass container 5. The resulting infused non-carbonated liquid may be stored and served from the glass container 5.