Patents Assigned to NESTECS S.A.
  • Frozen confections comprising a gel composition
    Patent number: 6548097
    Abstract: A frozen dessert product that includes as gel providing ingredients an anionic gelling hydrocolloid and a gelation controller or inhibitor, the ingredients providing or forming a gel having a hardness of between about 25 and 150 g and an adhesiveness of less than 5 g.s. Also, composite frozen confections containing such a gel and methods for making the gel and products containing the gel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventors: Eric Thomas Best, Harald Peter, Ronald P. Renati, Surintrspanont Singhachai
  • Whitened coffee concentrate
    Patent number: 6548101
    Abstract: A stable, whitened coffee concentrate that is a mixture of milk solids, soluble coffee solids, and coffee aroma, that has a solids concentration above about 25% by weight and a process for making the concentrate. The coffee aroma stabilizes the concentrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventors: Agustin Cevallos, Oliver Chmiel, Daniela Doris Munz-Schaerer, Stefan Bodenstab, Cristin Knoblich, Martinas Kuslys
  • Apparatus for molding frozen confectionery compositions into articles
    Patent number: 6543248
    Abstract: The device for moulding frozen confectionery articles comprises a metering hopper connected to a volumetric metering device comprising a metering chamber and a metering element dispensing a predetermined volume of ice cream into passing containers by means of a metering nozzle. As the hopper is pressurized, the metering chamber is filled without the formation of air pockets in the aspiration phase, which makes it possible to manufacture moulded articles of hard ice cream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventors: Philip Igor Cathenaut, Bruno Delande
  • Acceleration of the rate of digestion of a protein
    Patent number: 6544515
    Abstract: The invention thus relates to a method for accelerating the rate of digestion of a protein matter, in which a protein matter is treated with transglutaminase, and it is mixed with anionic polysaccharides. The invention also relates to the use of the rapidly digested protein matter for preparing a food or pharmaceutical composition intended for oral administration to a mammal, to induce a postprandial peak of plasmatic increase in amino acids. This composition is intended for modulating the postprandial protein gain, limiting the problems linked to gastrointestinal motility disorders, limiting the postprandial sensations of nausea in pregnant women, and/or limiting the postprandial risks of regurgitation and/or gastro-esophageal reflux. Finally, a subject of the invention is also a food or pharmaceutical composition comprising anionic polysaccharides and a protein matter treated with transglutaminase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventors: Martial Dangin, Clara Lucia Garcia-Rodenas, Bernard Beaufrere, Olivier Ballevre
  • Malted beverage powder and process
    Patent number: 6541056
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a malted beverage powder and a process for preparing it. In the process of the present invention, liquid beverage ingredients and a first portion of dry malted beverage ingredients are wet mixed to provide a wet mixture having a moisture content of about 20% or less. The wet mixture is vacuum dried to provide a dry cake which is comminuted to a base powder. The base powder is then dry mixed with a further portion of dry malted beverage ingredients. The malted beverage powder so obtained has a substantially homogeneous color and characteristics such as flavor and texture similar to those of conventionally-prepared malted beverage powder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventors: Xiaomei Song-Bodenstab, Paul Eichler
  • Beverage topping
    Patent number: 6534108
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for preparing a hot beverage having foamed milk-based topping. A frozen concentrated and aerated milk is combined with a liquid to form the beverage. The invention also relates to a product comprising a flavored beverage base and frozen milk concentrates constituting distinct separate portions of the product. The frozen milk incorporates gas, so that the product provides a flavored beverage having a foamed milk topping upon addition of a liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventors: Antonio Jimenez-Laguna, Josephine Lometillo
  • Process for molding frozen ice confectionery compositions into articles
    Patent number: 6534106
    Abstract: Molded ice confectionery articles are prepared by delivering a hard ice confectionery composition to a metering device chamber under a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure, keeping the composition in the device chamber under a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure and metering the composition from the composition from the device chamber under a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure into a mold member positioned in an environment for freezing the composition metered into the mold member for obtaining a molded frozen article. So operating allows the composition delivered to the device chamber to have a percentage of frozen water to total water of at least 50%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventors: Philip Igor Cathenaut, Bruno Delande
  • Béchamel sauce
    Patent number: 6531175
    Abstract: The invention relates to a béchamel sauce and a method of making the sauce. The béchamel sauce may be a classical béchamel sauce and exhibits less than a 10% variation in viscosity, measured at 10 s−1, for two separate shear treatments conducted before and after one or more freeze-thaw cycles. The béchamel sauce contains 0.3-2%, with respect to the amount of flour contained in the sauce, of an emulsifier. Preferred emulsifiers include lecithin, a stearoyl lactylate, a monoglyceride, a diacetyl tartaric acid ester of a monoglyceride and mixtures thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventors: Laurence Brongniart, Fabiana Ferrari-Philippe
  • Chewy confectionery product
    Patent number: 6531174
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a chewy confectionery product, preferably a chewy sweet product, and to methods for making such products. The chewy confectionery product contains oxidized starch, optionally in combination with a gum such as gum arabic, as a replacement for at least a part and preferably all of the gelatin in the product. The chewy confectionery product has the property of providing a long-lasting cohesive chew.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventors: Louise Barrett, Jamie Edward Geddes, Santi Francesco Mangano, Frank Schmick, Andrew Steve Whitehouse
  • Composite food composition comprising a gel and process for its preparation
    Patent number: 6531169
    Abstract: A composite food composition, in particular a frozen water ice confection in which two or more component phases are present in an intermingled manner that is neither consisting of distinct component blocks of phases, nor present as a fine mixture(s) of phases, and in which at least one of the component phases comprise a polyanionic gel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventors: Thomas Eric Best, Paul Ronald Renati, Peter Harald
  • Ultrasonic cutting system
    Patent number: 6530768
    Abstract: An ultrasonic cutting system including: an ultrasonic vibrating device having an operative face; a block horn having a responsive face connected to the operative face of the ultrasonic vibrating device and an operative face and being provided with at least one normal tuning slot having a width of about 4 mm to about 6 mm traversing the block between its operative and responsive faces; a plurality of cutting blades mounted on the operative face of the block horn so as to be vibrated therewith, the blades lying in a plane containing the longitudinal axis of vibrations such that the block horn is also provided with at least one thin tuning and damping slot having a width of about 0.1 mm to about 2.5 mm traversing the block horn between its operative and responsive faces. Also included are methods of ultrasonic cutting using such cutting systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventor: Martin Harrop
  • Method for heat treating a continuous strand of food product and apparatus adapted therefor
    Patent number: 6528103
    Abstract: The invention relates to a product and process for blanching or cooking food strands wherein the food strand is conveyed through a blanching tank on a conveyor immersed within the tank, wherein the conveyor includes bearing members for allowing the food strand to hang on a plurality of suspenders of the conveyor while forming a plurality of free suspended loops between each adjacent bearing member when operatively arranged to hang the strand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventors: Giuliano Pegoraro, Lars Hesslow, Lars Askman
  • Coated candy products
    Patent number: 6524635
    Abstract: A process for preparing a candy product with a fat-based coating having embedded therein at least one edible object by coating a candy base with a fat-based coating, softening the fat-based coating, embedding the at least one edible object in the fat-based coating and hardening the fat-based coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventor: Marcel Aebi
  • Interactive food packaging
    Patent number: 6525660
    Abstract: The invention provides a food product for delivering an audible, visual and/or tactile message to a consumer of the food product. The food product contains a food packaging component; a tag having encoded information associated with the food packaging component; and a separate reader for translating the encoded information into an audible, visual and/or tactile message. This message may be obtained before, during or after consuming the food product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventor: Singhachai Surintrspanont
  • Coated ice confectionary products
    Patent number: 6524634
    Abstract: A coating having a marbled appearance, a confectionery product provided with a coating having a marbled appearance and methods of preparing the same. the coating may be chocolate or water-based.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventors: Kurt Busse, Edward Kuehl, Michaël Peter Gray, William French
  • Ready to bake dough with shaped, coextruded filling and method of making same
    Publication number: 20030035876
    Abstract: The invention relates to a ready to bake dough product with a shaped filling. The filling is sized and configured so as to minimize or avoid exposure or spilling during processing, handling, or baking. The shape of the filling is configured such that it has a shorter distance vertically than horizontally. The shape of the filling may be substantially in the form of a rectangle, triangle, pentagon, hexagon, half circle, diamond, trapezoid, oval, or similar shapes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2002
    Publication date: February 20, 2003
    Applicant: Nestec S.A.
    Inventors: Kathleen Kostival, Robert E. Ross, Jerry T. Yoakum
  • Growth medium for lactobacilli containing amino acids, nucleosides and iron
    Patent number: 6521443
    Abstract: A growth medium adapted for the growth of a variety of different lactobacilli is provided. The medium is based on milk which is supplemented by at least four free amino acids, at least two ribonucleosides or other ribonulcleotide precursors, and iron. A variety of different Lactobacilli, particularly Lactobacilli belonging to Johnson's group A and B groups, are able to reproduce at rates approximately the same as milk supplemented with yeast extract. This medium when used in the production of dairy products that contain Lactobacilli does not contain the off-flavor of a fermented medium that had been supplemented with yeast extract.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventors: Ralf Zink, Marina Elli, Roberto Reniero, Lorenzo Morelli
  • On-demand direct electrical resistance heating system and method thereof for heating liquid
    Patent number: 6522834
    Abstract: A liquid heater includes at least a pair of electrodes each of which having an electrically conducting surface and being spaced apart from each other. The liquid heater also includes a first heating passage defined, at least in part, by the electrically conducting surfaces of the electrodes. Electrical power to the liquid heater is provided by an electrical power supplier configured to draw an alternating electrical current having a frequency less than or substantially equal to 60 Hz and supply an alternating electrical voltage having a frequency substantially equal to or higher than 50 Hz across the electrodes. The electrodes are arranged to make electrical contacts with liquid received into the heating passage. The liquid in the heating passage generates heat when an electric current flows through the liquid and between electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventors: James P. Herrick, Sudhir Sastry, Gene F. Clyde, Elaine R. Wedral
  • Device for dispensing a flowable powder substance
    Patent number: 6516973
    Abstract: The invention relates to a container assembly of a container containing a flowable substance; a container holding assembly attached to the container which comprises an opening mechanism for selectively opening the container and being adapted to move from a closed position to an open position of the container and vice versa, and a locking mechanism for holding the opening means in a closed position of the container. The locking mechanism is intended to be released by the release member of a reservoir assembly arranged so that release is effected when the container holding assembly is held in a stable delivery position on a reservoir. The invention also relates to the combination of such a container assembly and a reservoir assembly specially adapted for receiving the container assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventors: Randall C. Chrisman, Jose Antonio Gutierrez, Don G. Melanson, William F. Overbaugh, Gerhard Ufheil
  • Merchandiser system and method for controlling the drying of previously baked goods
    Publication number: 20030024921
    Abstract: A merchandiser system and method for thawing, displaying, and warming previously baked dough products, such as cookies, under controlled drying conditions, including a warming compartment and a merchandiser. The merchandiser controls the drying of moisture in the thawed, baked products to maintain the organoleptic and/or texture properties of the products at essentially the same level as those of freshly baked products for a period of at least about 2 hours.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2002
    Publication date: February 6, 2003
    Applicant: NESTEC S.A.
    Inventors: Balakrishna Reddy, Eileen Roehr, Antonio Gutierrez, Hua Zhang, Mark O. Foster, Mark A. Gaj, Giinping I. Schmidt