For Sale as an NFT: A 1957 Invention of an Early "Microwave" Vending Machine / Food Heating and Dispensing Apparatus

A Brief History

Otto Chazen, the inventor, left Berdychiv, Ukraine with his sister Ruth - to escape the Cossacks and the pogroms of the early 1920s. He and his sister dreamed of a better life in America. After hiding out in Poland and Romania, they eventually made it to Buffalo, NY where he became an insurance man and raised a family. Though he worked in insurance, the story is told that he had training to be an engineer. He and his son Boris, who in the 1950s, became an engineer got to work on developing what would have been the first of its kind – a microwave vending machine. Though the microwave had already been invented in 1947, there was nothing of its kind in popular use - a machine that would dispense a hot meal. Even in the 1970s, you might see a vending machine next to a microwave oven, but you still wouldn’t see the two combined into one thing. After they completed the design, Otto would spend the next several years writing letters to companies for funding and partnerships. Nothing happened. Otto and his dream died in 1966. 

Documentation 

Listing on Google Patents

Make Otto Chazen’s Dream Come True 

You can now own a one of a kind, single item NFT of one of the earliest versions of the microwave oven in the form of a patent filed for a microwave vending machine – called a Food Heating and Dispensing Apparatus. It has been cited by 23 companies, i.e. referenced in their work. There will be no duplications of this collectible such that if you purchase this you will effectively own the intellectual property and design. Our family inherited this from our grandfather and have no interest in developing this product – so that if you make this purchase, it is yours to own, trade, build or defend as a patent or resubmit, as the case may be. As artwork, you can modify, commercialize and otherwise display to your desire. 

Explanation of description from the patent by ChatGPT

This patent is for a machine that automatically sells and heats pre-cooked meals. The machine uses a coin-controlled mechanism to quickly heat the meals using dielectric heaters. The customer can then take the meal out of the machine through an open door. The machine also has a signal that alerts the customer when a certain type of meal is sold out and also returns their coins. The machine can be adjusted to take longer to heat the meals during slower periods to save on costs.

The patent also explains that this invention is an improvement over previous vending machines that have been disclosed, which only sold and heated items such as hot dogs or hamburgers. This machine is specifically designed to sell and heat pre-cooked dinners. The use of dielectric heaters allows for the meals to be heated rapidly and efficiently. The coin-controlled mechanism and the ability to adjust the heating time during slower periods make this machine practical for use in busy vending locations. Overall, this invention is a convenient and efficient way for customers to purchase and consume pre-cooked meals.

This passage describes the design of a vending machine that sells pre-cooked meals. The machine has a cabinet with a door that opens to reveal a refrigerator compartment inside. This compartment can be set to either chill or freeze the meals, and is divided into sections for storing different types of meals. The meals are stored on non-metallic plates, such as paper, ceramic, or plastic, and are supported in upright positions so that they can be easily removed from the refrigerator compartment. The machine is divided into 9 sections in this example, but the number of sections can be adjusted as desired.

The machine is designed in a way that meals are stored in frozen condition and when the customers want to buy a meal, they can select the type of meal they want from the selection of different types of meals that are stored in different sections. The interior of the refrigerator compartment is maintained at a low temperature by a refrigerating unit, which is a common construction and well known, so it's not described in detail. The machine also has upright partitions and horizontal guide rails that separate the different sections, and the meals are stored on non-metallic plates, such as paper, ceramic, or plastic that support the meals in upright positions, so they can be easily removed from the sections. The machine is designed to be convenient and efficient for customers to purchase and consume pre-cooked meals.

This text is describing a food heating machine. The machine has a plate (18) that is placed on a heating surface (30). There is a movable micro switch (31) on the heating surface that is normally in an upward position. The heating surface is slightly below the level of the chute that the plate is placed on, so that the plate can rest against it. When the plate with food is placed on the heating surface, the switch is pressed and the power unit (33) is activated. This type of power unit is well known and can heat the food quickly, in about 15-20 seconds. This machine is useful in places where there is a high demand for food during certain times, so that the food can be heated quickly and served without long delays.

This process is describing a mechanism for selecting and dispensing food from a cabinet. The microswitch v'32 is used to detect when a plate of food is partly withdrawn from the cabinet, and it connects with contacts 93, 120, and 71 through a conductor 79. When switch 65 is pressed, it activates a step relay that moves a contact 70 into engagement with contact 93. There are multiple dinner selecting switches (38) that are used to select which food to dispense. These switches receive power from conductors 121 and 79, and from contact 93 of the step relay. When one of the switches is pressed, it closes a circuit through conductor 74 and switch 75, which activates solenoids 27 that withdraw the latches that hold a plate of the selected food. There is also a self-conchute microswitch 229 that prevents the door from being opened until the food is ready to be served. The cabinet has multiple doors, each with an indicator (such as an illuminated sign 36) to show that the food is ready to be removed.

Your purchase will support the creative work of Lee Chazen

This is not only the purchase of a great collectible and a fascinating piece of engineering history, it will also make possible some worthwhile projects in education, creativity and content development. Specifically, funding derived from this project will contribute to projects in the works as seen in the links below. Working on these projects over the years has created significant debt. Please help make the dream real with the purchase of this NFT. 

Links to works by Lee Chazen 

• Lee's Projects

• Right Brain World Blog

• A Complex Adaptive Theory of Education by Lee Chazen

• The Global Challenge Project / Metamorphosis

• It's Time to Reimagine Education

Legal

This Agreement (the “Agreement”) is entered into by and between the seller and buyer , collectively referred to as the “Parties.” WHEREAS, Seller is the registered owner of Patent Number US2990973A, an expired patent (the “Patent”); WHEREAS, Buyer is interested in purchasing the rights to the Patent; NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and promises made by the Parties hereto, the Parties agree as follows: 1. Sale of Rights. Seller agrees to sell and transfer to Buyer all rights, title and interest in and to the Patent, including all related intellectual property rights, 2. Representations and Warranties. Seller represents and warrants to Buyer that: a. Seller has full right and authority to enter into this Agreement and to transfer the rights in and to the Patent; b. To the best of Seller’s knowledge, the Patent expired on July 4, 1978. However, upon the sale of this NFT, the intellectual property associated with this patent and all rights therein transfer to the buyer. 

Citations

The patent by Otto Chazen was cited 23 times. 

US3169623A * 1959-07-27 1965-02-16 Mackenzie Money registers

US3224361A * 1961-02-25 1965-12-21 Husqvarna Vapenfabriks Ab Automat for heat treatment and delivery of food-stuffs

US3224643A * 1964-12-09 1965-12-21 Synergistic Associates Article dispenser with nutating oven

US3254792A * 1963-11-22 1966-06-07 Selectivend Corp Ejector vending mechanism

US3291035A * 1965-09-07 1966-12-13 Ignelzi Eugene Vending apparatus adapted to store and process food items

US3340789A * 1965-06-09 1967-09-12 Gen Res Inc Dispensing machine

US3381605A * 1965-07-13 1968-05-07 Microtherm Ltd Vending and dispensing mechanisms

US3384270A * 1965-04-06 1968-05-21 American Mach & Foundry Article dispenser having a cellular magazine with gravity discharge from the cells

US3443509A * 1967-01-25 1969-05-13 Microtherm Ltd Vending machine

US3482509A * 1967-11-28 1969-12-09 John D L Gardner Sandwich cooking and dispensing machine

DE2949985A1 * 1979-06-12 1981-01-08 Coca Cola Co VISIBLE DISPLAY PANEL FOR USE WITH TWO COMBINED GOODS MACHINES

DE3049816A1 * 1979-08-29 1982-02-25 Fuji Electric Co Ltd WIRED COMMODITY VENDING SYSTEM

DE3049817A1 * 1979-08-29 1982-02-25 Fuji Electric Co Ltd VENDING MACHINE WITH DOORS

US4331068A * 1975-06-10 1982-05-25 Sankyo Electric Company Limited Control circuit for automatic cooking apparatus

US4398651A * 1978-08-17 1983-08-16 Kumpfer Beverly D Microwave food dispensing machine

DE3502716A1 * 1985-01-28 1986-07-31 TEPRO-Präzisionstechnik GmbH, 7742 St Georgen Self-service meal dispenser

DE3540859A1 * 1985-11-18 1987-05-21 Heinrich Griesshammer Security cover on an extraction device for vending machines

FR2597239A1 * 1986-04-14 1987-10-16 Castel Alain Automatic dispensing assembly for hot cooked meals

FR2663769A1 * 1990-06-22 1991-12-27 Rossignol Philippe METHOD, DEVICE AND PRODUCT FOR THE DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD.

EP0474911A1 * 1990-09-12 1992-03-18 Eduardo D. Odena Villazan Bread dispenser

US5168795A * 1990-11-29 1992-12-08 Higashi Hiroshima Golf Shinko Kabushiki Kaisha Automatic food frying and vending system

US5236103A * 1991-10-01 1993-08-17 Unidynamics Corporation Food module

US11462072B2 2020-08-18 2022-10-04 Dov Z. Glucksman Autonomous food station

Twenty Feet of Tubes: A French Horn Mashup with Various Non Sequiturs by Lee Chazen

I'm not a professional horn player. Not even close. But I have played since I was 7. This is my tribute to the complexity of the French Horn and why it requires a certain degree of humor to play it.

Thanks to my nephew who gave me the idea.

You can support my various creative projects by clicking the link below or by subscribing and liking my YouTube channel. 

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/Lee.L.Chazen

#frenchhorn #frenchhornplayer #frenchhorns #music #nonsequitur #dryhumor #mashup

An Interdisciplinary Dream: A Community Built on a Series of Questions, Rather Than a Statement - A Community Where the Whole is Greater Than the Sum of its Parts. Could it Work?

I might just be searching for something that doesn't exist, but it's worth a try. Lately, I've been describing myself as a multipotentialite or hyper-generalist, but I think that just confuses people. I'm looking to find a community of likeminded, differently skilled, non-traditionally intelligent people who appreciate both physical and mental pursuits in the true Renaissance spirit, i.e. improve one's body through hiking, trail running, yoga and body weight workouts -- while at the same time improving one's mind through reading, discussion, writing, understanding new concepts and frameworks or engaging in academic, spirited, yet friendly debates.

For example, I recently met someone at a retreat in the Eastern Sierra of California who was a former dancer in the New York Ballet and who studied under Mikhail Baryshnikov. He is now a care taker of the retreat center where I stayed. I had great respect for this man's dedication to a dream. As for me, I hold on to my pursuits and dreams the way some people love their children. You wouldn't abandon your children, would you? In that same way, I used to perform in symphony orchestras, traveled with our college's debate team and pursued a degree in political science. I run, hike, compete in trail races, play disc golf and get into philosophical discussions on metamodernism, complexity theory and the state of our political and economic systems. It's a balancing act because people in these different groups never meet each other -- but when they do, it's sometimes like oil and water. It's been like that for me since high school where I try to find the thread that connects all these different people and their ideas together. I've never tried to find a group where this all exists in one place, but it would be an ADHD / Renaissance dream come true.

I honestly believe that there is a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts and if people from all these different interests came together in one place, it could be a place for paradigm shifting ideas, new inventions and who knows what types of new combinations of things. Now, I know what you're thinking -- they already have universities and community centers in certain cities. True, but notice how fields of study are separated into different buildings with different philosophies on different sides of the campus -- and students are forced to choose an identity. Even traditional schooling tells us that we must divide things into math, science, English, social studies, etc. and that it makes no real sense to try to combine such things (yes, of course there are exceptions. I taught at a high school that created thematic units of instruction that encouraged students to find connections).

It would be a dream to also find a way that this community could thrive economically. Imagine the creative and productive potential of such a community, where every imaginable skill would be available, for example, in creating content for the internet. Everyone would bring connections from different fields or areas of interest such that contracts and opportunities would flow. More left brain people do one thing. Right brain type people would do another. Visionaries and conceptual minded people would sit alongside GSD (get sh*t done) oriented people such that thought would be formed into action.

I have to add that I did my research in the area of self-organization and chaos theory as a model for education -- so I believe that a decentralized community where good ideas organically rise to the top has a much greater chance of success than traditional companies and organizations (where one might argue that brilliant ideas often don't see the light of day).

Let's put this another way. Companies generally do not recruit people in this way. Even with AI assisted job search tools, they've only figured out a faster way to scan through skills in traditional resumes. They still don't know what you truly know, what your innate abilities are, how you feel about certain things philosophically or the things that make you feel human or alive. They don't ask, typically, and they often don't care. Whereas, a truly revolutionary intentional community of the sort described above would ask these questions first.

I have to say -- if this resonated with anyone out there, you would change my heart and my view of humanity. As I sat down to write this, I wasn't even sure where it might go, but this is where it went. I was thinking this exact thing yesterday - that we might just have it backwards. In most academic pursuits, you start with a thesis and then find evidence to support your claim. Yet, there are many who say this leads to confirmation bias - that you are only finding things which support what you believe to be true - as opposed to sampling things and seeing what might arise. There's a name for the latter. Grounded Theory. I believe that if the right group of people came together around a central theme of, I don't know, finding a better way to live or a better way to make a living and enjoy being a human being - it might just work. It could even be started around a small set of questions, rather than a statement. Instead of restricting ideas with a tightly scripted purpose, you purposely keep it open because ---- open systems thrive!

Links to related work, ideas and examples are below:

• What if you’re a jack of all trades and a master of the space in between all of them?

• Can you be non-linear and succeed?

• French Horn Cadenza in a Napa Valley Wine Cellar

• What is HikeStorming?

• GliderCell

• Right Brain World

• Thriving on the Edge of Chaos: An Argument for a Complex Adaptive Theory of Education

Is there a multipotentialite community somewhere?

The term "multipotentialite" has only been around for a short while. It just refers to having more than one potential or a lot of different interests. In this case, I'm referring to a community composed of people with different skills and interests where we might collaborate or help each other on creative or meaningful ventures.

I wrote the post below one week ago and it's getting close to 7,000 views so I feel the time is right for this type of thing. As a trail runner, hiker, disc golfer, musician, writer and educator, I'm seeking a new type of community that is well rounded, curious and supportive. I live in Sacramento currently and I'm just not getting that vibe here lately, so I am open to new places.

An Interdisciplinary Dream: A Community Built on a Series of Questions, Rather Than a Statement - A Community Where the Whole is Greater Than the Sum of its Parts. Could it Work?

Here's a quick scenario. You're not part of a community like this, but you're dissatisfied with your current work or life. You're smart, creative and not being fulfilled on your job. You make fitness part of your life in some way and you'd like to find others to join you in your routines or goals -- or maybe you don't have these things in your life but want to.

Whatever the case, I know and maybe you know there is something better, more positive, more meaningful to shoot for. If you feel this way and want to set up a home somewhere or maybe have a place you'd like to offer that fits this model, let's talk.

Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse. Seriously?

If you are an English teacher, you might use this little video to start a discussion on the correct use of apostrophes. I mean…. Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse? What’s going on there? Is a “Chris” steakhouse a special kind of steakhouse? If it’s Ruth’s steakhouse, why is the name Chris even in there? Is Chris an indentured servant to Ruth? Please help me solve this puzzle.

We do content. Please visit us at www.glidercell.com or write to us at ino@glidercell.com

#English #teachersofinstagram #education #edu #teaching #teachingideas #teachingenglish

Seeking Business Manager / Co-Founder and / or Partners for Opportunity with GliderCell

Business is picking up for GliderCell and that’s why I’m running this ad. It’s simply at the point where I need to start bringing others on board. GliderCell is mostly in the education, edtech and business space.

We mainly offer: 

• New types of engaging and interactive courses for schools (e.g. game-based)

• Gamification systems for businesses

• General content writing for business and education 

• Content strategy and narrative

• Strategy and brainstorming sessions (see HikeStorming) 

• Research 

I am seeking three things currently (see below for details)

One:  a business partner with management and marketing experience. 

Two: a possible partnership with a company or organization. 

Three: people to join the GliderCell organization. 

First, you’re going to need some background. Anyone familiar with the early 1970s computer experiment, “The Game of Life” should know where the name came from. If not, take a look here. https://glidercell.com/about and scroll about ½ way down the page. 

The theme of GliderCell is based on the emergent principle described above. GliderCell is about emerging ideas and creative combinations of things. 

Brief History

It started out as a concept for an organization or think tank that would launch new, more creative ideas and systems -- things that the world needs right now. Through creative combinations of things, we would spark productivity and paradigm shifts in all kinds of areas, across many disciplines. 

Here’s a quick example: About four years ago, a Tesla recruiter contacted me about creating a training program for the rollout of the Model 3. I had a clear idea in mind about how I would use principles I learned from “emergence” and “self organization” to create a program that would start from the bottom up, e.g. using service station engineers and mechanics to participate in the process of building the new vehicle since they had more front line experience with the design and effectiveness of the car. But, I needed more of a team and Tesla was not keen on hiring outside consultants. 

As you can see, many of the ideas stemmed from design principles and theories of human behavior I learned while teaching -- where I discovered that a more lateral approach to learning worked better. basically, by giving students the power to create their own learning environments through games, they would be way more productive and engaged!

This turned in a major research project on how “self-organizing systems” work. 

Some of our Products 

• A content strategy and content management system that improves in each iteration

• A 20 page document filled with team building, problem solving and critical thinking activities that engage each type of learner and personality type

• Interactive, engaging, integrated courses for 21st Century learners. 

• A gamification program to motivate and train employees in a corporate call center

Accomplishments 

• A program called The Global Challenge Project where students built their own learning environment. 

• a blog with over 100,000 views

Cool Stuff that no one else is doing (ok maybe some). 

• Creating courses for schools like “gamification 101,” disc golf math and the laptop and smartphone orchestra. 

• HikeStorming (the combination of hiking and brainstorming) not only as a way of staying physically fit and generating ideas, but as a way of networking and bringing in new clients

• A self-perpetuating content system (need a software engineer to help in closing the loop)

• Applying knowledge of self-organizing principles to create new frameworks for business and education

• Interviewing people for a podcast while hiking and making that part of our marketing program (note: this is still in the experimental phase).

A Proposal For a Metamodern Business Model

Seen in the picture above is metamodernist & model Kaela Atleework. She offers unique experiences to her residents and guests at Montaia Basecamp.

   

Expert Content Strategist Reveals All: A Comprehensive FAQ on My Work

What is your background in content creation? 

After a career in teaching, I gained experience in creating content for websites, blogs, and social media. I have a background in different styles of learning and intelligence types, which I use to tailor my writing for diverse audiences. In 2008, I added social media to my skillset and began offering social media marketing and content consulting services under the name Zero Bubble Media. In 2014, I was employed as a Chief Content Strategist for a successful educational technology company, where I was responsible for creating a clear and easy-to-understand "common language" for their product. Today, as GliderCell, I offer content and copywriting services, including narrative creation, website content editing, manuscript writing, and content restructuring.

What kind of services do you offer as a UX Content Strategist? 

I offer a variety of content and copywriting services, including narrative creation, website content editing, manuscript writing, and content restructuring. I also have experience in technical writing, UI, UX, IA, and creating "story brands." My goal is to help clients improve their online presence through high-quality and SEO-friendly content.

Can you describe your role in a recent project? 

I recently completed a video editing project for Treasury Curve, a financial technology firm based in Silicon Valley. In this project, I was responsible for producing content and narrative around the CEO's experience as a panelist at a major financial conference.  You can see a sample of that here. 

What is the primary goal of UX content strategy and writing according to you? 

 

The primary goal of UX content strategy and writing, in my opinion, is to serve as a helpful guide to the user, making them feel welcomed and comfortable with the content, process, and navigation system. My aim is to empower and engage the user and help them take the necessary steps easily, always keeping the customer at the center of everything.This all requires clear, actionable writing, persuasion and attention to details. 

What is your process for creating UX content?

I follow these steps:

1. Discovery: Gather information from key players and clients to understand the background, message, desired user experience, and desired action to be taken. This is done through questionnaires, audio recordings, or conversations.
2. Verbalizing the design: Visualize the website and verbalize the design and content using Otter App.
3. Sketching/wireframing: Write or sketch the design and use graphical tools to create a mockup of the final version.
4. Collaboration with web designers: Provide the mock up to web designers to understand the intended design and functionality of the site.

How do you balance user and organizational goals in UX writing?

I approach UX writing with the user at the forefront, putting their aspirations, needs and emotions first. Inspired by the principles outlined in "Building a Story Brand" by Donald Miller, I aim to create a personalized and user-centric experience. This means considering what the user is thinking and feeling as they navigate the website, and making their journey as smooth and helpful as possible. By putting the user first, I can then effectively integrate the organization's goals into the content, creating a cohesive and effective UX writing strategy. I strive to create a website that feels like a conversation with a responsive and friendly customer service representative.

Yes, I have extensive experience conducting content reviews and audits. I have a proven track record of streamlining web and social media content to increase efficiency and effectiveness. I have a structured approach to content review, creating a "content matrix" to categorize information according to theme, purpose, usage, and intended audience. I have worked with teams including engineers, UX designers, graphics designers, sales, and management to revise and improve content for both SmartEdTech and Treasury Curve. I have even worked directly with CEOs, ensuring their vision is reflected in the final content. My skills in content review and audit make me well-equipped to provide valuable insights and recommendations for your organization. 

How do you work with UX designers? 

Great question! Communication is key when it comes to working with UX designers. I actually learned a lot about UX designers when I gave a presentation to the UX team at Cisco Systems in San Jose. I was there to talk about brainstorming techniques, and one of the topics we discussed was their communication challenges with the engineering team in China.

I understand that every person has their own unique personality, intelligence type, and way of processing information, so just like I would adjust my lesson plans to cater to different types of learners, I also adjust the way I communicate with UX designers. That's why I came up with the HikeStorming program, where people go for a hike and finish their thoughts or ideas on something while they're on the trail. It's a great way to communicate and collaborate with others in a unique and creative environment.

So, when I'm working with UX designers, I like to keep an open mind and be flexible with my communication style to make sure we're on the same page and that our goals are aligned. I also make sure to consider the language, culture, and personality types involved in the process, and I find ways to bridge any gaps in communication. And who knows, maybe we'll even incorporate some musical sound bites to convey the flow of the design!

Do you have experience crafting content for regulated industries?

Yes, I have experience in crafting content for regulated industries. I have written web content, social media content, and press releases for the launch of Umergence, a crowdfunding and crowdsourcing platform registered as a broker/dealer with FINRA. I also have experience as a content strategist for Treasury Curve, a FinTech company, since 2016. In both cases, I follow best practices for compliance and ensure that content is approved by the relevant stakeholders before release.

Any final thoughts on your style as a content strategist?

 I like to make communication as clear and efficient as possible. To achieve this, I use a variety of methods such as sending audio recordings with transcripts, sharing visual aids like Google docs, slides or Canva designs, holding Zoom meetings with sketches or designs, providing examples from other websites, having in-person meetings, or making phone calls. While basic text like email or messaging can be useful for certain things, I've found that it can often lead to miscommunication and miss the nuances that make humor and irony effective. That's why I prefer to use a variety of communication methods to make sure everything is clear and understood.

Let's Build Education 2.0

 

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Building a Bridge from Game A to Game B with Lee Chazen and Vladan Lausevic

Are we inserting old philosophy into new technologies? How do we improve globally when there is lack of imagination in our algorithms? Is there a serious disconnect between the type of person writing the code (and their type of intelligence and thinking) and the end user? I discuss this with a liquid democracy advocate Vladan Lausevic

#machinelearning #algorithms #intelligence https://youtu.be/5_l98-EClMc