Patent Application
20200122055
The present general inventive concept relates to infused oils and more particularly, to a device for infusing a base oil with cannabis, seasonings, herbs, or other flavors, and dispensing the infused oil in metered quantities.
Infusion is well known and generally utilized with myriad botanicals, typically herbs, that dissolve readily in water, or, in the alternative, release their active ingredients easily in oil. Quantities of the herb/water or herb/oil mix will vary according to the type of herb utilized and/or how strong the infusion is required to be. A common mixing proportion used is approximately one ounce of herb to one pint of liquid. A common example is herbal tea. People often drink infusions of this type for pleasure; other times for health reasons. Herbal remedies and herb-infused oils can be likewise be prepared utilizing dried herbs, berries, or floral material, infused together with oil or water. The herb/botanical is then strained from the liquid and the liquid is subsequently used in preparations that require infused botanicals.
Infusion is often prepared by combining an infusion base liquid, for example, hemp seed oil, with an herb, and refrigerating the resulting infused oil. Infused oils may also be used for seasonings, like herbs and spices, which magnify a food's natural flavoring making it richer or more delicate, and other seasonings, like black pepper and basil, which transfer some of their flavor to the food.
More recently, a number of companies began offering in-home devices for the infusion of cannabis, and more particularly cannabinoids. These machines can be utilized to prepare cannabis oil infusions that are subsequently used to prepare consumable foodstuffs.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,213,507 describes an infusion beverage brewing system that includes a chamber and an infuser. The infuser is situated in a liquid, such as hot water, and has an infusing chamber for containing infusible materials, such as tea leaves or herbs. After a pre-determined brewing time has elapsed, the user moves a piston past a perforated wall portion of the infusing chamber, where small apertures prevent the passage of the tea leaves or other infusible material, isolating the infusible material from the liquid.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,726,946 allows a user to brew and store beverages such as tea. The device includes a base container for storing the loose tea leaves prior to brewing. An infuser element is removably attached to the base container. The infuser is manufactured so that that it may be inverted over a drinking container and receives a predetermined amount of fresh tea leaves to be soaked throughout the brewing process.
Oil infusion, particularly in the home, is typically accomplished with herbs and oils in a fenestrated container. However, this traditional method ends up dispensing not just the infused oil, but the unfiltered and undesirable particles that accumulate in the oils. Additionally, the infusion process is typically manual, which is far less precise and more difficult to repeat, and can easily create a mess.
The present general inventive concept provides an oil infuser and metered dispenser for creating botanical extracts, and in particular cannabis-infused oil for use in consumable products such as foodstuffs. The dispenser comprises an infusing compartment and a removable filter disposed therein for receiving one or more botanical pods, each pod containing a particular desired botanical such as cannabis floral material, herbs, spices and the like. A fluid pump mechanism, for example, a gear pump, draws a base oil from a heated infusing compartment through the filter and botanical pods, and out the filter back into the infusing compartment. The oil continues circulating in this fashion until the concentration of the infusion reaches a desired level at which time the oil is pumped into a dispensing compartment through a sensor (e.g., automatic infrared dispenser). The filter prevents particulate matter from accumulating in the infused oil.
In one embodiment of the present general inventive concept, an infusion device comprises: a heated infusing compartment for holding a base oil at a predetermined temperature; a dispensing compartment for dispensing infused oil; a removable filter disposed inside the infusing compartment, wherein the removable filter is configured to hold one or more botanical pods; and a pump for drawing the base oil into the removable filter, through the one or more botanical pods, and out of the removable filter to create infused oil, and further drawing the infused oil into the dispensing compartment. The device may further comprise a meter for dispensing a predetermined amount of infused oil out of the dispensing compartment, tubing, and a transparent lid in the infusing compartment. The pump may be powered by a standard wall outlet, wall-mounted AC adapter or other suitable electrical power supply. The botanical pods may comprise cannabis, rosemary, chipotle, sage, garlic, seasoning, or herbs. The device may further comprise an adjuster mechanism for adjusting the predetermined amount of infused oil. The dispensing compartment may be see-through and infused oil may be dispensed in a drizzle, spray or stream.
In another embodiment of the present general inventive concept, an oil infusion system comprises: a portable countertop oil infusing device, and one or more botanical pods for infusing one or more phytoconstituents into a base oil via the portable countertop oil infusing device. The botanical pods may be specially adapted for use in a portable countertop oil infusing device.
In still another embodiment of the present general inventive concept, a device comprises: a heated infusing compartment comprising an electric heating element and pump, the infusing compartment configured to store a removable filter with a botanical pod inside and an infusion base liquid; and a dispensing compartment attached to the infusing compartment, the dispensing compartment comprising an adjuster mechanism, a sensor, and a dispensing outlet, wherein the pump draws the infusion base liquid through the botanical pod and the filter and the dispensing compartment dispenses a metered amount of an infused oil using the measuring mechanism, the sensor, and the dispensing outlet. The device may further comprise a meter for dispensing a predetermined amount of infused oil out of the dispensing compartment, tubing, and a clear lid in the infusing compartment. The botanical pods may comprise cannabis, rosemary, chipotle, sage, garlic, seasoning, or herbs. The device may further comprise an adjuster mechanism for adjusting the predetermined amount of infused oil. The dispensing compartment may be see-through and infused oil may be dispensed in a drizzle, spray or stream.
An advantage of the present general inventive concept is that it creates infused oils without the mess created by other known infusion devices. Another advantage of the present general inventive concept is that the infused oils are created in measurable quantities preventing a user from dispensing too much oil, as the amount of oil can be metered. Yet another advantage of the present general inventive concept is that it permits a user to create infused oils in-home thus eliminating the need to purchase expensive commercial infused oil. Even if the user already makes infused oil at home, the user will typically have to keep and store many bottles of oil (e.g., a dozen bottles) to have all the desired varieties on-hand, occupying significantly more kitchen storage space than required for the same amount of botanical pods. Further, the user has the ability to experiment with the various base oils to match any preferred taste or flavoring. Also, dispensing the infused oil is simple permitting the user to have, for example, a skillet in one hand and a spatula in the other while dispensing the infused oil in the skillet. Lastly, the user can make the oil on demand so it is fresh, as opposed to using potentially stale oil that was made at an earlier date.
An infusing apparatus, comprising:
Accordingly, an embodiment is directed to an infusing compartment having an electrically powered resistive heating element (preferably including an automatic temperature controller to maintain a thermal set-point) operably connected thereto configured to hold a predetermined amount of a fluid, a fluid circulator operably disposed to the infusing compartment for circulating said fluid, a filter zone disposed within the infusing compartment through which the fluid passes and for receiving an ingredient in which at least apart thereof is infused in the fluids to provide infused fluid, and a conduit operably connected to the infusing compartment for removing infused fluid therefrom. The fluid circulator can be an electrically actuated fluid pump with a variable speed controller. The pump can be operably connected to a conduit for pumping an amount of the infused fluid out the conduit.
The fluid is preferably an oil. The oil can be one of coconut oil, medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) oil, olive oil, palm oil, soybean oil, canola oil, pumpkin seed oil, corn oil, sunflower oil, safflower oil, peanut oil, grape seed oil, sesame oil, argan oil and rice bran oil.
Other features and advantages of the present general inventive concept will be apparent from the following, more particular description of the preferred embodiments of the present general inventive concept, the accompanying drawings, and the claims.
For a more complete understanding of the present general inventive concept, and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the ensuing descriptions taken in connection with the accompanying drawings briefly described as follows:
Further features and advantages of the present general inventive concept, as well as the structure and operation of various embodiments of the present general inventive concept, are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying
In one embodiment, the present general inventive concept provides an oil infuser and metered dispenser for botanical extracts, and in particular cannabis-infused oil for use in consumable products such as foodstuffs. The dispenser comprises an infusing compartment and a removable filter disposed therein for receiving one or more botanical pods. A pump draws a base oil from a heated infusing compartment through the filter and botanical pods, and out the filter back into the infusing compartment. The oil continues circulating in this fashion until the concentration of the infusion reaches a desired level at which time the oil is pumped into a dispensing compartment. The filter prevents particulate matter from accumulating in the infused oil. A sensor is included for measuring predetermined amounts of infused oil. Various botanical pods are provided for infusing seasoning, herbs, and other flavors into the base oil.
The base oil can be any type of edible or cooking oil, which is preferably liquid at room temperature. Exemplary edible oils include, but are not limited to hemp seed oil, coconut oil, medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) oil, olive oil, palm oil, soybean oil, canola oil, pumpkin seed oil, corn oil, sunflower oil, safflower oil, peanut oil, grape seed oil, sesame oil, argan oil and rice bran oil. Many other kinds of vegetable oils are also used for cooking. In an embodiment of the present general inventive concept, the device 100 further comprises a heater (not shown) for decreasing the viscosity of the base oil, particularly in the case of saturated oils such as coconut oil.
Each botanical pod 170 may include one or more seasonings, flavors, or herbs. The pods can be herbs chosen by the user or herbs filled into manufactured tea bag like pouches, for example. Exemplary seasonings and herbs (or flavors) include, but are not limited to garlic, rosemary, chipotle, sage, salt, pepper, basil, chopped peppers, paprika, curry, cayenne, mixed spices, vinegar, orange, lemon, onion, chives, horseradish, mustard, capers, chilis, and any combination thereof.
In another embodiment of the present general inventive concept, the device 100 can be used for cosmetic purposes, e.g., to infuse oils and other liquids for massage, aroma therapy, skin and hair care with other aromatic substances such as hemp, herb and flowers.
It is to be recognized that depending on the embodiment, certain acts or events of any of the methods described herein can be performed in a different sequence, may be added, merged, or left out altogether (for example, not all described acts or events are necessary for the practice of the method). Moreover, in certain embodiments, acts or events may be performed concurrently, rather than sequentially.
The above described embodiments are set forth by way of example and are not for the purpose of limiting the scope of the present general inventive concept. It will be readily apparent that obvious modifications, derivations and variations can be made to the embodiments without departing from the scope of the present general inventive concept. Accordingly, the claims appended hereto should be read in their full scope including any such modifications, derivations and variations.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62747214 | Oct 2018 | US |
