Patents by Inventor Barbara Vazquez del Mercado

Barbara Vazquez del Mercado has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11523628
    Abstract: A method for producing a fruit or vegetable product, wherein the method consists essentially of (a) infusing a whole or sliced fruit or vegetable with an infusible molecule to between 10 and 55° Brix; (b) pre-drying the whole or sliced fruit or vegetable at a temperature between 80° C. and 120° C. to produce a pre-dried fruit or vegetable; (c) exposing the pre-dried fruit or vegetable to freezing temperatures and to vacuum to a temperature between ?1° C. and ?40° C. and a pressure between 7.5 mmHg and 0.53 mmHg, thereby partially subliming the fruit or vegetable; (d) puffing the fruit or vegetable under vacuum between 0.1 mmHg and 600 mmHg at a temperature between 40° C. and 110° C.; (e) cooling the fruit or vegetable under vacuum to a temperature between 0° C. and 40° C., to thereby produce the fruit or vegetable product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc.
    Inventors: Soumya Roy, Kellie Denson, Barbara Vazquez del Mercado, Noman Khan
  • Publication number: 20220225649
    Abstract: The present specification provides fruit and vegetable products. Also described are methods for producing the fruit and vegetable products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2022
    Publication date: July 21, 2022
    Inventors: Barbara Vazquez Del Mercado, Soumya Roy, Kellie Denson, Min Blundell
  • Publication number: 20200315225
    Abstract: The present specification provides fruit and vegetable products. Also described are methods for producing the fruit and vegetable products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2018
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Inventors: Barbara Vazquez Del Mercado, Soumya Roy, Kellie Denson, Min Blundell
  • Publication number: 20200085086
    Abstract: A method for producing a fruit or vegetable product, wherein the method consists essentially of (a) infusing a whole or sliced fruit or vegetable with an infusible molecule to between 10 and 55° Brix; (b) pre-drying the whole or sliced fruit or vegetable at a temperature between 80° C. and 120° C. to produce a pre-dried fruit or vegetable; (c) exposing the pre-dried fruit or vegetable to freezing temperatures and to vacuum to a temperature between ?1° C. and ?40° C. and a pressure between 7.5 mmHg and 0.53 mmHg, thereby partially subliming the fruit or vegetable; (d) puffing the fruit or vegetable under vacuum between 0.1 mmHg and 600 mmHg at a temperature between 40° C. and 110° C.; (e) cooling the fruit or vegetable under vacuum to a temperature between 0° C. and 40° C., to thereby produce the fruit or vegetable product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Inventors: Soumya Roy, Kellie Denson, Barbara Vazquez del Mercado, Noman Khan
  • Patent number: 10485254
    Abstract: A method for producing a fruit or vegetable product, wherein the method consists essentially of (a) infusing a whole or sliced fruit or vegetable with an infusible molecule to between 10 and 55° Brix; (b) pre-drying the whole or sliced fruit or vegetable at a temperature between 80° C. and 120° C. to produce a pre-dried fruit or vegetable; (c) exposing the pre-dried fruit or vegetable to freezing temperatures and to vacuum to a temperature between ?1° C. and ?40° C. and a pressure between 7.5 mmHg and 0.53 mmHg, thereby partially subliming the fruit or vegetable; (d) puffing the fruit or vegetable under vacuum between 0.1 mmHg and 600 mmHg at a temperature between 40° C. and 110° C.; (e) cooling the fruit or vegetable under vacuum to a temperature between 0° C. and 40° C., to thereby produce the fruit or vegetable product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc.
    Inventors: Soumya Roy, Noman Khan, Barbara Vazquez del Mercado, Kellie Denson
  • Publication number: 20170265508
    Abstract: The present specification provides fruit and vegetable products. Also described are methods for producing the fruit and vegetable products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2017
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Inventors: Soumya Roy, Noman Khan, Barbara Vazquez del Mercado, Kellie Denson
  • Patent number: 8394437
    Abstract: A method for making a coated food product having a heat susceptible coating is disclosed. In one aspect, the invention is directed towards a nut having a proteinaceous or fruit-based coating with no visible scorching in the outer, visible coating layer. In one aspect, the food center is par-coated with or without a heat susceptible coating, pre-roasted, finished coated with or without a heat susceptible coating, and cooked. In another aspect, the food center is first coated with a heat susceptible coating, then coated with a non-heat susceptible coating and cooked. In yet another aspect, the food center is coated with a heat susceptible coating and then cooked in a two-stage process whereby the first stage is at a hotter temperature than the second stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Frito-Lay North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Dimitris Lykomitros, Kevin O'Sullivan, V. N. Mohan Rao, Barbara Vazquez Del Mercado
  • Patent number: 8216623
    Abstract: The present invention discloses formulations and methods for making an infused nut snack. Ingredient formula ranges and processing steps are disclosed that provide improved flavor, texture and appearance with the use of an aqueous flavoring solution applied to the nuts under vacuum conditions. The infused nuts are oil or dry roasted and then minimally topically flavored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Frito-Lay North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Ashish Anand, Barbara Vazquez del Mercado, Mehrnaz Vafaie
  • Publication number: 20100255163
    Abstract: The present invention discloses formulations and methods for making an infused nut snack. Ingredient formula ranges and processing steps are disclosed that provide improved flavor, texture and appearance with the use of an aqueous flavoring solution applied to the nuts under vacuum conditions. The infused nuts are oil or dry roasted and then minimally topically flavored.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2009
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Applicant: FRITO-LAY NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Ashish Anand, Barbara Vazquez del Mercado, Mehrnaz Vafaie
  • Publication number: 20090191313
    Abstract: A method for making a coated food product having a heat susceptible coating is disclosed. In one aspect, the invention is directed towards a nut having a proteinaceous or fruit-based coating with no visible scorching in the outer, visible coating layer. In one aspect, the food center is par-coated with or without a heat susceptible coating, pre-roasted, finished coated with or without a heat susceptible coating, and cooked. In another aspect, the food center is first coated with a heat susceptible coating, then coated with a non-heat susceptible coating and cooked. In yet another aspect, the food center is coated with a heat susceptible coating and then cooked in a two-stage process whereby the first stage is at a hotter temperature than the second stage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2008
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Inventors: Dimitrius Lykomitros, Kevin O'Sullivar, V.N. Mohan Rao, Barbara Vazquez Del Mercado