Patents by Inventor Shiji Shen

Shiji Shen 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).

  • Publication number: 20180249756
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a free-flowing composition having controllable properties of bulk density, particle morphology, flowability and shakeability suitable, for example, for use on or in a foodstuff or a beverage. The composition includes a blend of: (i) a plurality of substantially discrete composite particles, each composite particle comprising a core of a first edible material provided with a discontinuous surface coating formed from a first plurality of non-uniformly sized particles of a second edible material; and (ii) a second plurality of non-uniformly sized particles of said second edible material. A foodstuff comprising the composition is claimed and so are methods of employing it.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2016
    Publication date: September 6, 2018
    Inventors: Shiji Shen, Susan E. Butler, Andrew J. Hoffman, Justin Kanthak, John Bridges
  • Publication number: 20180092394
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a free-flowing composition having controllable properties of bulk density, particle morphology, flowability and shakeability suitable, for example, for use on or in a foodstuff or a beverage. The composition includes a blend of: (i) a plurality of substantially discrete composite particles, each composite particle comprising a core of a first edible material provided with a discontinuous surface coating formed from a first plurality of non-uniformly sized particles of a second edible material; and (ii) a second plurality of non-uniformly sized particles of said second edible material. A foodstuff comprising the composition is claimed and so are methods of employing it.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2016
    Publication date: April 5, 2018
    Inventors: Shiji Shen, Susan E. Butler, Andrew J. Hoffman, Justin Kanthak, John Bridges
  • Patent number: 9848626
    Abstract: A food grade water-soluble arabinoxylan product containing arabinoxylan oligosaccharides and retaining a high amount of bound ferulic acid and other phenolic substances is isolated from corn fiber using an aqueous extraction wherein the pH of the aqueous medium employed for the extraction is adjusted to a selected value after mixing with the corn fiber and prior to the initiation of extraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: TATE & LYLE INGREDIENTS AMERICAS LLC
    Inventors: Shiji Shen, Andrew Joseph Hoffman, Rohit A. Medhekar, Susan Matthew, Richard Armentrout
  • Publication number: 20160213036
    Abstract: A method of preparing a free-flowing, edible composition, comprising first and second edible materials, having first and second function-release profiles respectively, comprising: combining the first and second edible materials in dry particulate form; and heating said combination to a forming temperature, which is at least equal to the glass transition temperature of the first edible material, with concurrent mixing, so as to coat particles of the first edible material with a plurality of particles of the second edible material, thereby forming composite particles of said composition. Each of the first and second edible materials may be mixed with other edible materials prior to their combination. Also a free-flowing edible composition comprising a plurality of composite particles, each composite particle comprising a core of the first edible material provided with a discontinuous surface coating formed from a plurality of particles of the second edible material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Publication date: July 28, 2016
    Inventors: Shiji Shen, Andrew J. Hoffman, Susan E. Butler
  • Publication number: 20160183573
    Abstract: A method of producing a salt composition comprises comminuting a first particulate fraction comprised of sodium chloride crystals having a mean particle size by volume of at least 500 ?m, in the presence of a second particulate fraction which is a salt product comprised of particles which contain (a) sodium chloride and (b) an organic material that is a solid at ambient temperature. The particles of the second particulate fraction have a structure comprised of individual crystallites of sodium chloride attached together in the particles of the product wherein at least 95% by volume of the particles of the salt product have a size less than 100 ?m and wherein particles of the product comprise hollow particles formed of an outer shell of said crystallites.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Publication date: June 30, 2016
    Inventors: Shiji SHEN, Andrew J. HOFFMAN, Susan E. BUTLER
  • Publication number: 20160021920
    Abstract: A food grade water-soluble arabinoxylan product containing arabinoxylan oligosaccharides and retaining a high amount of bound ferulic acid and other phenolic substances is isolated from corn fiber using an aqueous extraction wherein the pH of the aqueous medium employed for the extraction is adjusted to a selected value after mixing with the corn fiber and prior to the initiation of extraction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Applicant: Tate & Lyle Ingredients Americas LLC
    Inventors: Shiji SHEN, Andrew Joseph HOFFMAN, Rohit A. MEDHEKAR, Susan MATTHEW, Richard ARMENTROUT
  • Patent number: 8137818
    Abstract: Herein disclosed is a composition containing from about 5 weight parts to about 50 weight parts of a branched polylactic acid; from about 50 weight parts to about 95 weight parts of water; and from about 0.1 weight parts to about 1 weight part of a first surfactant. The composition can be coated onto a substrate containing paper or paperboard and having a first surface and a second surface, to form a paper product having oil, grease, and moisture resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Tate & Lyle Ingredients Americas LLC
    Inventors: Michael D. Harrison, Geoffrey A. R. Nobes, Penelope A. Patton, Shiji Shen, Henk Westerhof
  • Publication number: 20100068350
    Abstract: An edible article comprises a food product and a film that encloses the food product. In one embodiment, the film comprises a major amount of pullulan on a dry solids basis, and a minor amount of at least two of glycerol, propylene glycol, sorbitol, and polyethylene glycol. In another embodiment, the film comprises a major amount of pullulan on a dry solids basis, gelatin, and at least two of glycerol, propylene glycol, sorbitol, and polyethylene glycol, and can also comprise salt. In another embodiment, the film comprises a first layer comprising a major amount of at least one food grade wax, a second layer comprising a major amount of pullulan and further comprising at least one plasticizer, and a third layer comprising at least one surfactant that is substantially immiscible with aqueous pullulan compositions but which adheres to pullulan surfaces, wherein the at least one surfactant is at least partially crystalline.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2007
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Inventors: Shiji SHEN, Andrew HOFFMAN, Michael D. HARRISON, Susan E. BUTLER, Erin S. CRISWELL, Penelope PATTON
  • Publication number: 20100021751
    Abstract: Herein disclosed is a composition containing from about 5 weight parts to about 50 weight parts of a branched polylactic acid; from about 50 weight parts to about 95 weight parts of water; and from about 0.1 weight parts to about 1 weight part of a first surfactant. The composition can be coated onto a substrate containing paper or paperboard and having a first surface and a second surface, to form a paper product having oil, grease, and moisture resistance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2009
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Inventors: Michael D. Harrison, Geoffrey A.R. Nobes, Penelope Patton, Shiji Shen, Henk Westerhof
  • Publication number: 20090238925
    Abstract: A composition suitable for coating a paper product can comprise starch and at least one additional component selected from the group consisting of (a) an amphiphilic surfactant and (b) a particulate emulsion; wherein the weight ratio of surfactant to starch is from about 0.005:1 to about 0.25:1 and the weight ratio of the particulate emulsion to starch is from about 0.005:1 to about 0.429:1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2008
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Inventors: Shiji Shen, Penelope A. Patton, Meggan Hostetler-Schrock, Michael D. Harrison
  • Publication number: 20090011115
    Abstract: An edible film comprises at least one flavoring, pullulan, and at least one plasticizer. The at least one plasticizer is present in an amount that is effective to prevent the film from becoming brittle. Pullulan makes up greater than 50% by weight of the non-flavoring solids in the film. The film can be contacted with a food to provide flavoring in or on the food.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2008
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Inventors: Carter D. Foss, Andrew Hoffman, Shiji Shen, Adrienne Michele Stucky, Judy Lynn Turner
  • Publication number: 20080274252
    Abstract: An edible film comprises a major amount of pullulan and at least one sweetener in an amount of at least about 10% by weight on a dry solids basis. The sweetener can be, for example, a high intensity sweetener such as sucralose, aspartame, acesulfame K, brazzein, and combinations of two or more thereof. The edible film can be used in a sweetener dispenser that comprises a container and a plurality of film strips. The container has an inner compartment and an aperture that is adapted to be opened. The plurality of film strips are located in the inner compartment. Individual film strips can be removed from the container through the aperture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2008
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Inventors: Andrew J. Hoffman, Shiji Shen, Michael D. Harrison
  • Publication number: 20080152761
    Abstract: An edible article comprises a food product and a film that encloses the food product. In one embodiment, the film comprises a major amount of pullulan on a dry solids basis, and a minor amount of at least two of glycerol, propylene glycol, sorbitol, and polyethylene glycol. In another embodiment, the film comprises a major amount of pullulan on a dry solids basis, gelatin, and at least two of glycerol, propylene glycol, sorbitol, and polyethylene glycol, and can also comprise salt. The edible article can be manufactured by preparing a film-forming composition as described above, forming the film-forming composition into a film, and enclosing a food product with the film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Inventors: Shiji Shen, Andrew J. Hoffman, Michael D. Harrison, Susan E. Butler, Erin S. Criswell, Penelope A. Patton
  • Publication number: 20070292481
    Abstract: An edible article comprises a food product and a film that encloses the food product. The film comprises a major amount of pullulan on a dry solids basis, and a minor amount of at least two of glycerol, propylene glycol, and sorbitol. The edible article can be manufactured by preparing a film-forming composition that comprises a major amount of pullulan on a dry solids basis, and a minor amount of at least two of glycerol, propylene glycol, and sorbitol; forming the film-forming composition into a film; and enclosing a food product with the film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2006
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Inventors: Andrew J. Hoffman, Michael D. Harrison, Shiji Shen, Penelope A. Patton
  • Patent number: 6399045
    Abstract: The present invention teaches liquid sunscreen compositions in which level of surfactant is higher than level at which the sunscreen component(s) are still soluble in the surfactant in which they are used; and which comprise minimal levels of cationic polymer. Combination of cationic polymer (especially preferred surfactants and at minimum levels) and minimal levels of sunscreen lead to compositions with minimal levels of deposition and minimal SPF. Further, the compositions also maintain good lather.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Unilever Home & Personal Care USA a division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Leslie Jo Morgan, Sudhakar Puvvada, Liang Sheng Tsaur, Michael Paul Aronson, Andrew Lam, Shiji Shen, Ernest Weatherley Macaulay
  • Patent number: 6224852
    Abstract: The present invention teaches liquid sunscreen compositions in which level of surfactant is higher than level at which the sunscreen component(s) are still soluble in the surfactant in which they are used; and which comprise minimal levels of cationic polymer. Combination of cationic polymer (especially preferred surfactants and at minimum levels) and minimal levels of sunscreen lead to compositions with minimal levels of deposition and minimal SPF. Further, the compositions also maintain good lather.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Unilever Home & Personal Care USA
    Inventors: Leslie Jo Morgan, Sudhakar Puvvada, Liang Sheng Tsaur, Michael Paul Aronson, Andrew Lam, Shiji Shen, Ernest Weatherly Macauley
  • Patent number: 6066613
    Abstract: The invention relates to hydrogel dispersions/particles capable of trapping water insoluble beneficial agent, yet capable of disintegrating smoothly to impart desirable in use characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2000
    Assignee: Lever Brothers Company
    Inventors: Liang Sheng Tsaur, Shiji Shen, Margaret Jobling, Michael Paul Aronson
  • Patent number: 5759969
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for making hydrogel dispersions/particles capable of trapping water insoluble beneficial agent, yet capable of disintegrating smoothly to impart desirable in use characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Assignee: Lever Brothers Company, Division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Liang Sheng Tsaur, Shiji Shen, Margaret Jobling, Michael Paul Aronson
  • Patent number: 5726138
    Abstract: The invention relates to hydrogel dispersions/particles capable of trapping water insoluble beneficial agent, yet capable of disintegrating smoothly to impart desirable in use characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Assignee: Lever Brothers Company, Division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Liang Sheng Tsaur, Shiji Shen, Margaret Jobling, Michael Paul Aronson
  • Patent number: 5661189
    Abstract: An aqueous liquid cleansing and moisturising composition comprising a surface active agent selected from anionic, nonionic, zwitterionic and cationic surface active agents and mixtures thereof; an benefit agent having a weight average particle size in the range 50 to 500 microns; and a thickening agent. The thickening agent is added to the benefit agent in amount from 1 to 50% wt, based on the benefit agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1997
    Assignee: Lever Brothers Company, Division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Ailsa Pauline Hilary Grieveson, Margaret Jobling, Shiji Shen, Liang Sheng Tsaur