Patents Examined by Carolyn A Paden
  • Patent number: 8980351
    Abstract: A method of treating used cooking oil provides for exposing agitated oil for up to five minutes to a mixture of sodium silicate and silica xerogel in powder form, and filtering resulting oil powder mixture to remove the powder. The ratio of sodium silicate to silica xerogel is 30-70% to 70-30%, preferably 50-50%. The sodium silicate comprises 26-28% of Na2O, 53-55% of SiO2, and 15-20% of H2O, with bulk density of about 29-37 lbs/ft3, whereas the silica xerogel comprises: 96-99% of SiO2, and 1-4% of Na2SO4, with bulk density of about 24-27 lbs/ft3, the particle size being between 35 and 50 microns. Alternative embodiments provide the exposure of the oil first to one component of the mixture and then to another or the exposure to a single treating agent comprising 8-19% of Na2O, 66-83% of SiO2, 8-14% of H2O, and 0.1-2% of Na2SO4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Inventors: Joby Ulahanan, Kevin Hunter
  • Patent number: 8980360
    Abstract: Provided is a fat or oil composition, comprising: (A) from 0.02 to 1.8 mass % of a free type triterpene alcohol; and (B) 1.4 mass % or less of a fatty acid ester type triterpene alcohol, in which a mass ratio of the component (A) to the component (B) ((A)/(B)) is larger than 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Kao Corporation
    Inventors: Rika Homma, Kazuichi Tomonobu
  • Patent number: 8980361
    Abstract: Cooking and frying oils comprising estolide compounds are described. Also described are methods of making food products comprising cooking or otherwise preparing at least one article of food with a composition comprising at least one estolide compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Biosynthetic Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Jeremy Forest
  • Patent number: 8980359
    Abstract: A fat or oil composition comprising from 0.02 to 0.65 mass % of a free type triterpene alcohol and 0.18 mass % or less of a ?-oryzanol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Kao Corporation
    Inventors: Rika Homma, Kazuichi Tomonobu
  • Patent number: 8974850
    Abstract: A confectionery composition is described. The confectionery composition includes a convoluted chocolate sheet having fold lines arranged generally along a first direction and having at least one region of weakness. Each region of weakness extends along the full width of the chocolate sheet substantially in a single plane transverse to the first direction. Also described are scraper blades for removing chocolate from a roller to form a chocolate sheet, and apparatus and methods for producing the confectionery composition described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Cadbury UK Limited
    Inventors: Vincent Dolan, Caroline Foster
  • Patent number: 8962051
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a process for producing a confectionery product comprising heat resistant chocolate or a heat resistant compound mass and to the confectionery product, which is produced by this process. The process utilizes spraying water and/or a polyol (such as a sugar alcohol or a sugar) solution onto chocolate or a compound mass thereby inducing the formation of heat resistant chocolate or a heat resistant compound mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Kraft Foods R & D, Inc.
    Inventors: Konstantinos Paggios, Martin Richard Thiele, Hartmut Heinrich Balzer
  • Patent number: 8962060
    Abstract: A process for preparing stabilized edible oil-in-water emulsion containing insoluble natural fiber and being free of food additives comprising the following steps: a) preparing a fiber phase; b) preparing an emulsion; and c) mixing the prepared fiber phase and emulsion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Inventors: Ulrich Struffert, Pawel Lewandowski, Pierre Verdellet
  • Patent number: 8951592
    Abstract: A process for the physical refining of edible oils and fats, said process comprising three consecutive stages, whereby in a first stage at least 60% by weight of the volatiles are evaporated in a flash vessel, in a second stage some residual volatiles are evaporated by countercurrent steam stripping using a packed column (3), and in a third stage further residual volatiles are evaporated in a cross-flow tray system (2), wherein the pressure in said flash vessel is maintained at a value below the pressure prevailing above said packed column (3); and an apparatus for the physical refining of edible oils and fats comprising a flash vessel, a packed column (3), sparging trays (2) and the means to maintain the pressure in said flash vessel at a value that is below the pressure prevailing above said packed column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: n.v. Desmet Ballestra Engineering s.a.
    Inventors: Bart Schols, Marcelo Usseglio, Marc Kellens
  • Patent number: 8945646
    Abstract: There is provided a method for manufacturing inexpensive, highly safe, highly stable, versatile polymethoxyflavones that can be used in food products and easily incorporated into a variety of pharmaceutical formulations, whereby in one pass, a large quantity of polymethoxyflavones can be isolated from other components in citrus peel oil, as well as a method for its use. The method for manufacturing polymethoxyflavones from citrus plant peel oil comprises a step of removing the volatile components in citrus plant peel oil by distillation to obtain a distillation residue, a step of distilling the residue with a thin-film vacuum distillation apparatus to obtain a fraction, a step of extracting the fraction with an aqueous ethanol solution to obtain an extract, and a step of contacting active carbon with the extract after removal of the insoluble oils in the extract for refining, as a method for manufacturing polymethoxyflavones that are highly stable over time and have reduced residual pesticide levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Ogawa & Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Adachi, Tsuyoshi Arima, Shuichi Muranishi
  • Patent number: 8940354
    Abstract: An edible oleogel comprising an oil, ethylcellulose and a surfactant is prepared by combining ethylcellulose with an edible oil and a surfactant, and heating the mixture to a temperature above the glass transition temperature of the ethylcellulose. Once the ethylcellulose has fully dissolved and the solution is clear, it is allowed to cool and set as a gel. The resulting oleogel is homogeneous, elastic, substantially anhydrous, and has a gelation temperature below 100° C. It can be used as a fat substitute in foods. Also provided are methods of making the oleogel, and food compositions containing the oleogel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Mars, Incorporated
    Inventor: Alejandro Gregorio Marangoni
  • Patent number: 8940347
    Abstract: Herein disclosed is a method of processing oil, comprising providing a high shear device comprising at least one rotor and at least one complementarily-shaped stator configured to mix a gas with a liquid; contacting a gas with an oil in the high shear device, wherein the gas is an inert gas or a reactive gas; and forming a product, wherein the product is a solution, a dispersion, or combination thereof. Herein also disclosed is a high shear system for processing oil, comprising; at least one high shear device, having an inlet and at least one rotor and at least one complementarily-shaped stator configured to mix a gas with a liquid; a gas source fluidly connected to the inlet; an oil source fluidly connected to the inlet; and a pump positioned upstream of a high shear device, the pump in fluid connection with the inlet and the oil source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: H R D Corporation
    Inventors: Abbas Hassan, Aziz Hassan, Rayford G. Anthony
  • Patent number: 8940355
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of an edible dispersion comprising oil and structuring agent and one or more of an aqueous phase and/or a solid phase, in which the dispersion is formed by mixing oil, solid structuring agent particles and the aqueous phase and/or the solid phase, wherein the solid structuring agent particles have a microporous structure of submicron size particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Cornelia Sophia M van den Berg, Eckhard Floter, Gerrit Jan W Goudappel, Johannes Jozef M Janssen, Xavier Yves Lauteslager, Gautam Satyamurthy Nivarthy, Frank Emile Wubbolts
  • Patent number: 8936823
    Abstract: The present invention has as an objective to provide an emulsion for shallow flying which has reduced spattering. This objective has been met by an emulsion which contains ethylcellulose particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Arjen Bot, Jan Alders Wieringa
  • Patent number: 8927039
    Abstract: Provided is a method for manufacturing refined fats and oils. Here fats and oils are brought into contact with an adsorbent and subsequently treated with water vapor under at least one condition of the following conditions. In condition I, the time for which the fats and oils are brought into contact with the water vapor in a temperature range of 175° C. to 205° C. for from 5 to 110 minutes. In condition 2, the fats and oils are brought into contact with the water vapor in a temperature range of 205° C. to 215° C. for from 5 to 50 minutes. In condition 3, the fats and oils are brought into contact with the water vapor in a temperature range of 215° C. to 230° C. for from 5 to 30 minutes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: KAO Corporation
    Inventors: Minoru Kase, Tetsuya Abe, Shinpei Fukuhara, Toshiteru Komatsu, Keiji Shibata
  • Patent number: 8927045
    Abstract: Process for the preparation of a spreadable edible dispersion wherein a mixture of oil and solid structuring agent particles is subjected to stirring and an aqueous phase and/or solid phase is gradually added to the mixture until a dispersion of the desired oil content is obtained, wherein the solid structuring agent particles have a microporous structure of submicron size particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Inventors: Sandra Petronella Barendse, Eckhard Floter, Wim Theodorus Hogervorst, Dirk Simon Hendriks Van Horsen, Hindrik Huizinga, Gijsbert Michiel Peter van Kempen
  • Patent number: 8920865
    Abstract: The invention relates to shortening particle compositions that are suitable for use in preparing baked goods such as biscuits, pizza crusts, pot pie crusts, and cinnamon rolls. Typically, the shortening compositions are low in trans fatty acids and in saturated fatty acids. For example, the shortening particle composition may comprise less than about 3% wt. total trans fatty acids and a total of about less than about 61% wt. saturated fatty acids and trans fatty acids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Braden J. Erickson, Jon D. Seibold, Alan A. Oppenheimer
  • Patent number: 8911813
    Abstract: Lipid compositions are provided exhibiting the functionality of a typical shortening or filler fat, but are achieved with reduced and essentially zero trans-unsaturated fatty acids and that deliver reduced caloric content. By one approach, the functional lipid compositions include a blend of a matrix building ingredient, which is preferably a structured glycerol ester, and an edible liquid oil diluent in ratios such that the lipid composition exhibits the functionality of the traditional shortening or filler fat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Intercontinental Great Brands LLC
    Inventors: Lawrence Paul Klemann, Robert C. Dinwoodie
  • Patent number: 8906442
    Abstract: A process and a plant are proposed for producing dark chocolate which make it possible to produce dark chocolate, in particular also single-variety dark chocolate, having a high cocoa content without cocoa powder needing to be produced and/or added. By means of a partial defatting of the cocoa mass in a process step which is connected upstream of the mixing, grinding and/or conching, the fat content in the cocoa mass is reduced to the extent that dark chocolates can be produced having a high cocoa content without cocoa powder needing to be added. The partial defatting of the cocoa mass is preferably carried out using a decanter (50). The cocoa butter fraction (2) according to the invention occurs on decanting as a high-fat fraction which still contains a fraction of 17 to 21% by weight, a maximum of 30% by weight, of fat-free cocoa dry matter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Sprungli AG
    Inventors: Ursi Buri Stauffacher, Chantal Bussmann, Willi Ammann
  • Patent number: 8906441
    Abstract: Nut spreads having a stabilizer which is a blend of certain palm oil fraction stabilizers with certain cocoa butters and/or cocoa butter equivalents and/or replacers and/or substitutes and/or extenders (with similar fatty acid profile to cocoa butter). When these fats are used in combination, particularly at ratios preferred herein, they impart a smooth creamy texture to the final nut butter or nut butter based products and more importantly provide enhanced stability during storage, preventing oil separation in the final product during prolonged storage. The texture and spreadability of the final nut spread based product achieved by using this blend is also superior to the texture and spreadability obtained by using conventional palm oil alone. Preferably the cocoa butters, equivalents, replacers and substitutes are not hydrogenated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Hormel Foods Corporation
    Inventors: Anila Lily Ann Rajesh, Earl Carroll Eichelberger, Timothy Edgar Meier, Domingo Maurice Bugg, Jr., Ella Larson Kinzie
  • Patent number: 8883241
    Abstract: The present invention relates to edible oil-in-water emulsions that have been stabilized by incorporation of a small quantity of ground, pulse seed and a related process of production thereof. More particularly, the invention provides an edible oil-in-water emulsion comprising: 15-80 wt. % of a continuous aqueous phase, said aqueous phase having a pH in the range of 3.0-5.0; 20-85 wt. % of a dispersed oil phase comprising more than 80 vol. % of oil droplets having a diameter of less than 20 ?m; wherein the emulsion has an elastic modulus G? at 20° C. of 100-3500 Pa and contains 0.1-8% of finely ground pulse seed, calculated as dry matter by weight of aqueous phase, said finely ground pulse seed being obtained from pulse seed having the following composition, calculated on dry matter: 30-60 wt. % of starch; 1-40 wt. % of dietary fiber; 0.5-12 wt. % of sugars; 15-35 wt. % of protein; 0.8-12 wt. % of oil; wherein starch, dietary fiber, sugars, protein and oil together make up 95-100 wt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Jadwiga Malgorzata Bialek, Jacob Nijsse, Sabrina Silva Paes, Robert Vreeker