Patents by Inventor Todd Rasmussen
Todd Rasmussen 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).
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Publication number: 20230345950Abstract: A plurality of dough pieces are produced using a rotary dough cutter comprises an annular cutter body configured to be rotatably driven, a plurality of arcuate sidewalls extending circumferentially about the cutter body, a plurality of radial divider walls extending across respective sidewalls, and a plurality of interior blades extending radially relative to the body between the sidewalls. The plurality of walls define a plurality of dough cutter molds. During conveying of a sheet of dough to the rotary dough cutter, the plurality of dough pieces are cut by the plurality of walls and scored with the plurality of interior blades. After being cut and scored, the dough pieces are removed from within the dough cutter molds with the assistance of a sequentially timed, regulated and adjustable fluid ejection system, and then frozen.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 2, 2022Publication date: November 2, 2023Applicant: General Mills, Inc.Inventors: Christopher Crosby, Ryan D. Gifford, Todd A. Rasmussen, Jeffrey David Reinke, Geoffrey P. Suski, Kara M. Hobart
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Publication number: 20230329247Abstract: Frozen un-proofed dough pieces are produced by cutting a dough sheet into strips and producing a score through an upper skin of each strip with at least one blunt deformation tool prior to freezing. The un-proofed dough pieces are formed by mass production, with an un-proofed dough sheet being cut to form dough strips which are then cut into the un-proofed dough pieces, with the score for each un-proofed dough piece being formed by pressing the upper skin of the dough down into the body of the dough, thereby deforming and pre-stressing the dough to create weak zones, either before, during or after the individual un-proofed dough pieces are actually created, but before freezing. Upon heating, openings are established in the upper skin along score lines.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 13, 2022Publication date: October 19, 2023Applicant: General Mills, Inc.Inventors: Steven J. Cox, Kara M. Hobart, Todd A. Rasmussen
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Patent number: 11730169Abstract: Frozen un-proofed dough pieces are produced by pinching an upper skin of an un-proofed dough body to a lower skin and producing a score through the upper skin prior to freezing. The un-proofed dough pieces are formed by mass production, with an un-proofed dough sheet being cut to form dough strips which are then cut into the un-proofed dough pieces, with the score for each un-proofed dough piece being formed either before, during or after the individual un-proofed dough pieces are actually created, but before freezing.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2020Date of Patent: August 22, 2023Assignee: General Mills, Inc.Inventors: Chad Arnall, Steven Cox, Paul Henderson, Kara M Hobart, Olivia Murch, Todd A Rasmussen, Michael Snyder, Rodney W Worthy
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Publication number: 20230217934Abstract: A dividable dough sheet piece gives consumers enhanced flexibility in creating food items from pre-made sheeted dough. The dividable dough sheet piece is cut from a dough sheet, with the dividable dough sheet piece having a perimeter and including a plurality of interconnected, sub-pieces defined within the perimeter. Each sub-piece is defined by one or more lines of structural weakness that provide predetermined breaking points. The dividable dough sheet piece can be used as a whole or can be divided into the sub-pieces for alternative use.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 11, 2022Publication date: July 13, 2023Applicant: General Mills, Inc.Inventors: Craig E. Gustafson, Roberta Marie Langenfeld, Todd A. Rasmussen, Bruce W. Robb, Dalton Sherrill, Michael Snyder, Andrew Friend Souder, Kiara C. Camareno Vargas
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Publication number: 20210235708Abstract: Frozen un-proofed dough pieces are produced by pinching an upper skin of an un-proofed dough body to a lower skin and producing a score through the upper skin prior to freezing. The un-proofed dough pieces are formed by mass production, with an un-proofed dough sheet being cut to form dough strips which are then cut into the un-proofed dough pieces, with the score for each un-proofed dough piece being formed either before, during or after the individual un-proofed dough pieces are actually created, but before freezing.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 3, 2020Publication date: August 5, 2021Applicant: General Mills, Inc.Inventors: Chad Arnall, Steven Cox, Paul Henderson, Kara M. Hobart, Olivia Murch, Todd A. Rasmussen, Michael Snyder, Rodney W. Worthy
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Patent number: 10863861Abstract: A waffle sandwich maker includes first and second waffle plates which contact a food product during preparation of the food product. The first waffle plate includes a plurality of protrusions defining a plurality of channels, a female connector having a hole, a male connector having a protrusion and a first spacer extending inward relative to the plurality of protrusions. The pluralities of protrusions and channels create depressions and ridges in the food product. The protrusion of the male connector and the hole of the female connector of the first waffle plate mate with a hole of a female connector and a protrusion of a male connector of the second waffle plate. The first spacer contacts the second waffle plate during preparation of the food product, which includes an outer dough encapsulating a filling, to maintain the first waffle plate spaced at least approximately 0.5 inches from the second waffle plate.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2016Date of Patent: December 15, 2020Assignee: General Mills, Inc.Inventors: Roberta M Langenfeld, Ralph A Stenvik, Lisa Swanson, Karla M Fuentes, Michele K. Wolf, Zachary Harder, Todd A Rasmussen, Bruce D Larson, Shannyn Stuart
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Patent number: 10499561Abstract: A system includes a boom. The boom includes a first section and a second section. The system includes a first actuator element configured to drive rotation of the first section, a second actuator element configured to drive rotation of the second section, and a locking element configured to block rotation of the first section and to block rotation of the second section while the locking element is in an activated position. Moreover, the system includes a sensor element disposed on the boom. The sensor element is configured to output a signal indicative of a first height between the first section and a field and a second height between the second section and the field. The first and second sections are configured to independently rotate based on the received signal to maintain a desired height between the field and each of the first section and the second section.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2015Date of Patent: December 10, 2019Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLCInventors: Nathan Carl Grotelueschen, Todd Rasmussen, Jon Ellingson
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Publication number: 20170027103Abstract: A system includes a boom. The boom includes a first section and a second section. The system includes a first actuator element configured to drive rotation of the first section, a second actuator element configured to drive rotation of the second section, and a locking element configured to block rotation of the first section and to block rotation of the second section while the locking element is in an activated position. Moreover, the system includes a sensor element disposed on the boom. The sensor element is configured to output a signal indicative of a first height between the first section and a field and a second height between the second section and the field. The first and second sections are configured to independently rotate based on the received signal to maintain a desired height between the field and each of the first section and the second section.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2015Publication date: February 2, 2017Inventors: Nathan Carl Grotelueschen, Todd Rasmussen, Jon Ellingson
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Publication number: 20090288534Abstract: An inline tape cutter system that manufactures taped packages that can be later-opened without the needed for cutting tools to manual cut packing tape. The inline tape cutter system provides a package engagement assembly having a drive assembly, a cutting arm and an engagement arm, wherein physical contact between the engagement arm and a closed package on a conveyor assembly imparts rotational motion to the drive assembly and directs the cutting arm into contact with the closed package. The cutting arm can include a cutting wire form from a resistive heating element that is capable of burning/cutting packaging tape on the closed package. The inline tape cutter system can include a horizontal positioning assembly and a vertical positioning assembly such that the package engagement assembly can engage a wide variety of package sizes and configuration.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 7, 2009Publication date: November 26, 2009Inventors: Jody J. McCoy, Glen Cole, Todd Rasmussen
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Publication number: 20050023796Abstract: A waste receptacle transport device consists of a vehicle attachment device being connected to a waste receptacle attachment device. The vehicle attachment device can be angularly adjustable to accommodate adhesion to a variety of body surfaces of tow vehicles. In addition, the waste receptacle attachment device is attachable to waste receptacles having a variety of shapes and sizes. When the waste receptacle transport device is attached between the respective tow vehicle and waste receptacle, the waste receptacle transport device is able to tow the waste receptacle using wheels on the waste receptacle from a first location to a second location. The waste receptacle may be towed without regard to inclement weather and adverse terrain.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 22, 2004Publication date: February 3, 2005Inventor: Todd Rasmussen
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Patent number: D744777Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2014Date of Patent: December 8, 2015Assignee: General Mills, Inc.Inventors: Wenyi Wang, Jean A. Linforth, Kristi L. Bahe, James T. Buccellato, Jeremy B. Thompson, Todd A. Rasmussen
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Patent number: D790153Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2014Date of Patent: June 27, 2017Assignee: General Mills, Inc.Inventors: Bruce D. Larson, Todd A. Rasmussen
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Patent number: D790154Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2016Date of Patent: June 27, 2017Assignee: General Mills, Inc.Inventors: Bruce D. Larson, Jeremy B. Thompson, Todd A. Rasmussen, James D. Bosin, Benjamin R. Heyda
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Patent number: D806472Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2016Date of Patent: January 2, 2018Assignee: General Mills, Inc.Inventors: Roberta M Langenfeld, Ralph A Stenvik, Lisa Swanson, Karla M Fuentes, Michele K. Wolf, Zachary Harder, Todd A Rasmussen, Bruce D Larson, Shannyn Stuart