Inside US12279629B1 And The Patents Redefining Slush Flow Control

Baffles inside a drink maker may seem basic, but their placement changes how slush moves, and that’s exactly what US12279629B1 explores.

Assigned to SharkNinja Operating LLC, this patent describes a mixing vessel designed with specific internal baffles that shape and control flow. The vessel chamber features front, side, and corner baffles, strategically positioned to influence the consistency of the slush during the blending process.

This patent is currently part of a case between Foshan Macjerry Technology Co. Ltd., and SharkNinja. However, we will focus solely on the technical aspects of the patent, rather than the litigation.

With the Global Patent Search (GPS) tool, we examine similar inventions involving baffle configurations in mixing vessels. GPS helps pinpoint related designs and shows how they align with the features in US12279629B1.

If you are researching beverage appliances or container mechanics, this GPS-based breakdown will help you understand the patent’s design choices and comparable technologies.

Understanding Patent US12279629B1

US12279629B1 describes a mixing vessel for a frozen drink maker equipped with strategically placed internal baffles. These baffles help direct slush flow during operation, improving mixing performance. It also reduces waste and minimizes product buildup on the chamber walls and lid. The innovation is especially valuable in compact, household-sized appliances, where space limitations reduce headroom for slush expansion.

Source: Google Patents

Its Four Key Features Are

#1. Corner baffle: Positioned at the top front corner (left or right), it redirects upward slush flow back toward the dasher.

#2. Side baffle: Extends laterally from front to rear along the sidewall to guide contents and prevent slush buildup at the top.

#3. Front baffle: Spans the top front face of the vessel, angled to direct contents downward and away from the lid.

#4. Integrated baffle design: The corner baffle physically connects the side and front baffles to allow continuous flow redirection.

This patent introduces a compact, efficient way to manage slush movement within a mixing vessel. By controlling upward flow, the baffles improve product consistency and reduce residue buildup. The design reflects a thoughtful approach to solving common challenges in frozen beverage preparation.

Similar Patents As US12279629B1

To explore the design space surrounding US 12279629 B1, we utilized the Global Patent Search tool to identify related inventions. These references share technical concepts, including baffle placement, vessel shape optimization, and slush flow control, in frozen drink makers. They are similar to the engineering seen in coffee machine innovations.

Below, we highlight five of these patents that reflect comparable strategies for improving mixing performance and reducing buildup within the vessel chamber.

#1. WO2025155312A1

This international application, WO2025155312A1, published in 2025, outlines a frozen drink maker that features multiple internal baffles within the mixing vessel. It focuses on using angled baffles to manage slush flow and improve mixing consistency in smaller chambers. This ensures more uniform mixing performance across a compact chamber.

Source: GPS

What This Patent Introduces To The Landscape

1. Triple-baffle architecture – A corner baffle, side baffle, and front baffle work together to direct slush and prevent accumulation.
   
2. Corner baffle placement – Located at the top front corner to intercept upward-moving slush and return it toward the center.
   
3. Curved side baffle design – A contoured side baffle controls lateral flow and keeps contents from reaching the upper walls.
   
4. Front baffle angling – Positioned at a downward angle (100°–150°) to redirect contents away from the vessel top.
   
5. Low-profile chamber support – Baffle integration allows reduced headspace, making the unit better suited for countertop use.
   
6. Dasher synchronization – Baffles are aligned with a clockwise-rotating dasher to optimize interaction and mixing effectiveness.
   

How It Connects To US12279629B1

• Both use three internal baffles to guide slush behavior inside the vessel.
  
• Each patent emphasizes corner baffle placement to manage upward slush movement.
  
• Both describe front baffle angling to prevent top-surface buildup.
  
• Each supports shorter vessel height for compact appliance integration.
  
• The baffle system is designed to work in synchronization with the rotating dasher.
  

Why This Matters

This patent reinforces the importance of structural flow control in compact frozen drink makers. It highlights how internal baffles can solve space and performance limitations without relying on larger commercial-style chambers.

#2. CN118902289A

This Chinese patent application, CN118902289A, published in 2024, describes a frozen beverage maker with a mixing container that uses baffles to direct slurry flow. It focuses on reducing buildup, enhancing mixing efficiency, and supporting compact designs ideal for countertop appliances.

Source: GPS

What This Patent Introduces To The Landscape

1. Three-part baffle system – Uses a corner baffle, front baffle, and side baffle to manage slurry motion inside the mixing chamber.
   
2. Corner baffle placement – Positioned at the top front corner to prevent upward slurry escape and redirect it toward the agitator.
   
3. Side baffle structure – Includes a curved inward-facing surface aligned with the agitator’s radial path for guided flow.
   
4. Front baffle angling – Angled between 100°–150° to block top-front accumulation and push contents downward.
   
5. Agitator alignment – Baffles work in sync with a clockwise-spinning agitator to maintain consistent slurry distribution.
   
6. Reduced chamber height – Design allows for a shorter mixing vessel without sacrificing performance, suitable for home use.
   

How It Connects To US12279629B1

• Both include corner, side, and front baffles placed to guide contents during upward agitator motion.
  
• Each patent emphasizes slurry control through angled geometry to avoid top-surface buildup.
  
• Both enable compact frozen drink machines that eliminate the need for large chamber headspace.
  
• Each system integrates curved surfaces that help redirect slurry efficiently along the chamber walls.
  
• Both prioritize designs that reduce waste and improve product consistency.
  

Why This Matters

This reference confirms that structural baffle designs play a central role in enhancing flow control in frozen beverage systems. It supports US 12279629 B1 by demonstrating how multi-baffle solutions enhance mixing while enabling compact, home-friendly form factors.

#3. JPH02113856A

This Japanese application, JPH02113856A, published in 1990, describes a frozen dessert maker featuring an internal stirrer designed to improve flow near the chamber walls. The patent introduces inclined guidance elements that redirect flow downward and outward to prevent stagnation along the vessel perimeter.

Source: GPS

What This Patent Introduces To The Landscape

1. Guidance members – Slanted flow-directing elements push ice cream and syrup toward chamber walls to prevent stagnation.
   
2. Peripheral wall mixing focus – Design targets low-velocity zones near the mixing vessel wall where traditional churners underperform.
   
3. Downward flow induction – Guides the mixture downward to reintroduce slow-flowing content into the active mixing zone.
   
4. Improved churn uniformity – Enhances flow circulation throughout the vessel, reducing unmixed zones.
   
5. Wall-side stabilization – Structure fixes components in both vertical and angled orientations to support consistent redirection of flow.
   
6. Stirrer optimization – Complements limited agitator reach by actively moving contents into effective mixing paths.
   

How It Connects To US12279629B1

• Both aim to solve stagnation near the chamber walls during frozen product mixing.
  
• Each uses internal structures (baffles or guides) to redirect contents away from problematic flow zones.
  
• Both improve mixing consistency by manipulating flow direction within confined vessel spaces.
  
• Each reflects a need to optimize circulation in zones untouched by the central agitator.
  
• Both designs prioritize uniformity of texture and product quality through internal vessel engineering.
  

Why This Matters

This early reference shows how internal flow structures can solve stagnation issues in frozen dessert mixing. It supports the core objective of US12279629B1: ensuring uniform movement of slurry or slush in all regions of the chamber.

#4. CN206199042U

This Chinese utility model, CN206199042U, published in 2017, presents a dual-baffle system for stirred tanks used in industrial mixing. The design aims to prevent material buildup at the tank bottom and baffle surfaces by improving circulation and scouring near stagnant zones.

Source: GPS

What This Patent Introduces To The Landscape

1. Dual-baffle configuration – Combines a perforated vertical baffle and a lower curved baffle for enhanced material dispersion.
   
2. Vertical baffle with square holes – Allows partial fluid passage to reduce surface accumulation and improve upward mixing.
   
3. Curved arc baffle – Extends to the tank bottom to redirect flow downward and outward along the tank wall.
   
4. Improved scouring action – Increases vertical flow near the base to prevent settled material from accumulating.
   
5. Wall-mounted system – Both baffles are fixed to the tank wall, maintaining a free fluid movement without contacting the bottom.
   
6. Directional flow control – Curved baffle aligns with the stirrer’s rotation to optimize circulation and reduce dead zones.
   

How It Connects To US12279629B1

• Both address material accumulation by guiding contents through controlled internal flow structures.
  
• Each design includes angled or curved baffles to redirect contents for better surface contact and circulation.
  
• Both aim to enhance flow efficiency in challenging tank regions, such as corners and lower walls.
  
• Each improves mixing uniformity by reducing static zones within a constrained chamber.
  
• Both emphasize structural flow guidance over mechanical complexity.
  

Why This Matters

This patent demonstrates how combining baffle shape and placement can reduce mixing inefficiencies in dense or slow-flowing materials. Its relevance to US12279629B1 lies in its structural approach to preventing buildup without enlarging the mixing vessel.

#5. CN117463193A

This Chinese patent application, CN117463193A, published in 2024, presents a stirring tank baffle system designed to counteract tangential flow and improve mixing. It introduces arc-shaped baffles and internal diverter channels that redirect fluid toward the center of the tank.

Source: GPS

What This Patent Introduces To The Landscape

1. Arc-shaped baffles – Evenly spaced baffles along the tank wall redirect material away from cylindrical rotation zones.
   
2. Internal flow diverters – Built-in shunt channels change the flow from tangential to radial direction.
   
3. Multi-baffle symmetry – Designs using 4, 6, or 8 equal baffles to ensure consistent fluid redirection.
   
4. Dual-surface structure – Each baffle includes a curved inlet wall and a flat outlet to manage the flow path.
   
5. Tangential flow reduction – Strategy specifically targets rotating zones that hinder full mixing.
   
6. High-flow integration – Guides work in tandem with stirring paddles to improve radial circulation.
   

How It Connects To US12279629B1

• Both focus on reshaping internal flow to improve material mixing inside a compact chamber.
  
• Each uses fixed internal structures (baffles or guides) to interfere with undesired flow patterns.
  
• Both patents attempt to weaken tangential flow and redirect it into more productive mixing paths.
  
• Each emphasizes controlled geometry to achieve uniformity and reduce stagnant zones.
  
• Both support structural approaches over external mechanical systems for better efficiency.
  

Why This Matters

This reference confirms the growing need for engineered baffle solutions in confined mixing environments. Like US12279629B1, it shows how strategic wall structures can improve internal flow for more consistent processing results.

How to Find Related Patents Using Global Patent Search

It is essential to understand the broader patent landscape when studying frozen drink makers, slush flow control, or compact mixing vessel designs. The Global Patent Search tool makes this easier by surfacing inventions that address similar engineering challenges in beverage preparation.

1. Enter the patent number into GPS: Start by entering a patent number like US12279629B1 into the GPS tool. The platform transforms it into a targeted query, which can be refined with terms like “mixing vessel,” “baffle design,” or “slush flow control.”

Source: GPS

2. Explore conceptual snippets: Instead of comparing features claim-by-claim, GPS now presents curated text snippets. These highlight how other inventions shape fluid flow, prevent buildup, or enable compact mixing performance.

3. Identify related inventions: The tool reveals patents describing corner, side, and front baffles, or similar flow-directing structures, giving insight into how mixing efficiency is improved across different designs.

4. Compare systems, not legal claims: Rather than focusing strictly on claim language, GPS emphasizes technical solutions. This helps users recognize overlaps in strategies for controlling slush flow or managing vessel geometry.

5. Accelerate cross-domain insights: Whether working in food engineering, consumer appliance design, or industrial mixing, GPS helps uncover structural approaches across domains that might otherwise remain disconnected.

With Global Patent Search, researchers can cut through complexity and see how different baffle concepts shape mixing outcomes. This practical view makes it easier to refine appliance design, enhance efficiency, and spot emerging engineering trends.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice. The related patent references mentioned are preliminary results from the Global Patent Search tool and do not guarantee legal significance. For a comprehensive related patent analysis, we recommend conducting a detailed search using GPS or consulting a patent attorney.