Patents Assigned to Taco Bell Corp.
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Patent number: 11449925Abstract: An ordering system described herein can include a rapid reorder of items without needing to re-add the individual items into a shopping cart. The rapid reorder may be triggered via a 3D touch or a long press on a mobile device. The ordering system can also provide an architecture that can allow a user to modify an order, such as, e.g., the pickup time or store location, after the order has been submitted.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2019Date of Patent: September 20, 2022Assignee: Taco Bell Corp.Inventors: Derrick Chan, Jenna Keith-Birney, Veronica Luna, Manisha Dhawan, Berenguer O. Duncan, Lance Lockett, Brynn Dirksen, Colin Howarth, Chris DeGroff, Jonathan Maier
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Patent number: 10846490Abstract: An electronic card reader testing system includes a robot assembly that is used to manipulate one or more credit cards, debit cards, gift cards, or similar electronic cards, and selectively swipe one of the electronic cards through a first slot of the electronic card reader and/or selectively insert (or “dip”) one of the electronic cards into the second slot of the electronic card reader. Operation of the robot assembly is managed by a control system. The testing system may also include a computer program that operably connects the control system of the robot assembly to a point-of-sale (POS) system, thus further automating the testing protocol.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2019Date of Patent: November 24, 2020Assignee: Taco Bell Corp.Inventors: Prad Tantiwuttipong, Charles Davis, Dennis Fischer
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Patent number: 9044048Abstract: Systems and methods for applying seasoning or flavoring to food items or products, for example, taco shells, are provided. A seasoning system can include a seasoning hopper or other storage container, a scarf plate, a scalping screen, a conveyor system, and a collection bin. The scalping screen can help reduce clumps in seasoning that falls onto the food items to allow for more even and consistent seasoning distribution. The conveyor system can include a mechanism for tilting or pivoting the food items to allow for application of seasoning to multiple surfaces of the food item as the food items are conveyed under the seasoning delivery system. A method for applying seasoning to food items can include adjusting process parameters such as presentation angle of the food items, throughput, seasoning flow rate, etc. to adapt to varying conditions such as temperature, humidity, and seasoning coverage.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2012Date of Patent: June 2, 2015Assignee: Taco Bell, Corp.Inventors: Charles K. Steadwell, Steven R. Bordeaux, Rachelle Carandang
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Publication number: 20140337149Abstract: In an embodiment, the system can be configured to allow a user to quickly order a repeat item by simply rotating the mobile device or other computing system of the user to a horizontal orientation. By positioning the mobile device or other computing system in a horizontal orientation, the system can be configured to remove the existing contents on the display, display the necessary information for previously placed orders, and reorient the contents for correctly displaying the content in a horizontal orientation, thereby increasing the amount of display area for presenting data to a user, from the perspective of margin width.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 7, 2014Publication date: November 13, 2014Applicant: Taco Bell Corp.Inventors: Tony Ke Ke, Andrew Carlson, Reynald Benoit, Jessie Harte, Eissa Bonamo
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Publication number: 20140278800Abstract: A computer system for real-time generation of location establishment severity profile alert based on aggregated quality-data corresponding to a plurality of location establishments is provided herein. A computer system provides for the electronic intake, and aggregate analysis of quality-data for establishment locations. Quality-data is accessed from one or more sources, and corresponds to multiple establishment locations. The system stores quality-data events identifying received quality-data, with a stored representation of a quality-data event's severity level. The system aggregates the stored quality-data events for example by calculating aggregate severity values associated with groups of establishment locations. In some embodiments, quality-data and/or aggregate severity values are normalized according to one or more factors, such as historic geographic data.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2013Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: Taco Bell, Corp.Inventors: Mark Nguyen, Lynn Hemans
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Publication number: 20140057026Abstract: Systems and methods for applying seasoning or flavoring to food items or products, for example, taco shells, are provided. A seasoning system can include a seasoning hopper or other storage container, a scarf plate, a scalping screen, a conveyor system, and a collection bin. The scalping screen can help reduce clumps in seasoning that falls onto the food items to allow for more even and consistent seasoning distribution. The conveyor system can include a mechanism for tilting or pivoting the food items to allow for application of seasoning to multiple surfaces of the food item as the food items are conveyed under the seasoning delivery system. A method for applying seasoning to food items can include adjusting process parameters such as presentation angle of the food items, throughput, seasoning flow rate, etc. to adapt to varying conditions such as temperature, humidity, and seasoning coverage.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 3, 2012Publication date: February 27, 2014Applicant: TACO BELL, CORP.Inventors: Charles K. Steadwell, Steven R. Bordeaux, Rachelle Carandang
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Patent number: 7726296Abstract: A drywell table includes a top frame defining at least one opening configured to receive a serving pan therethrough and a heating plate disposed below the top frame. The drywell table also includes at least two heating fins extending between the heating plate and the top frame, and defining at least one row configured to receive the pan therein, wherein heat is transferred from the heating plate and heating fins to the serving pan via a sufficiently small air gap defined between the heating plate, heating fins and the serving pan, wherein the gap minimizes convection and radiation.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2005Date of Patent: June 1, 2010Assignee: Taco Bell, Corp.Inventors: Darrell Pickens, Rick Winfree, Todd D. Evans
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Patent number: 6868776Abstract: The apparatus is a chip fry lid having an array of long and short posts for contacting and agitating the chips during the deep frying process. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, each of the posts is formed by proximate sets of wire bent to form a series of long and short generally U-shaped prongs. A hinge at the front of the lid and a handle at the opposite end facilitate manual oscillation of the lid during the deep frying process to achieve a high percentage of chips of uniform high quality, both in terms of uniform cooking and chips having sufficient curls to form a chip functionally useful for holding dipped food and also aesthetically pleasing.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2001Date of Patent: March 22, 2005Assignee: Taco Bell Corp.Inventors: Dale Stevenson, Lesley Swartout, Joanne Tarhan, Micah Tsern
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Patent number: 6386094Abstract: The apparatus is a chip fry lid having an array of long and short posts for contacting and agitating the chips during the deep frying process. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, each of the posts is formed by proximate sets of wire bent to form a series of long and short generally U-shaped prongs. A hinge at the front of the lid and a handle at the opposite end facilitate manual oscillation of the lid during the deep frying process to achieve a high percentage of chips of uniform high quality, both in terms of uniform cooking and chips having sufficient curls to form a chip functionally useful for holding dipped food and also aesthetically pleasing.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2000Date of Patent: May 14, 2002Assignee: Taco Bell Corp.Inventors: Dale Stevenson, Lesley Swartout, Joanne Tarhan, Micah Tsern
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Publication number: 20020043158Abstract: The apparatus is a chip fry lid having an array of long and short posts for contacting and agitating the chips during the deep frying process. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, each of the posts is formed by proximate sets of wire bent to form a series of long and short generally U-shaped prongs. A hinge at the front of the lid and a handle at the opposite end facilitate manual oscillation of the lid during the deep frying process to achieve a high percentage of chips of uniform high quality, both in terms of uniform cooking and chips having sufficient curls to form a chip functionally useful for holding dipped food and also aesthetically pleasing.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2001Publication date: April 18, 2002Applicant: Taco Bell Corp.Inventors: Dale Stevenson, Lesley Swartout, Joanne Tarhan, Micah Tsern
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Patent number: 6311860Abstract: A closure provides a well in which a game piece is placed. The well has a side wall which supports a well floor. The well floor can contain an opening which can accommodate a drinking straw. A shield is located between the game piece and the well floor. The recessed well is covered by a sealing member which is adhered to an upper surface of the closure. The sealing member can have a pull tab and perforations which can be aligned with the edges of the pull tab. The perforations define a flap. The flap can be coupled to the closure through the use of a mounting flange.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 1999Date of Patent: November 6, 2001Assignee: Taco Bell Corp.Inventors: Deborah Reidinger, Tari Garza, Donna Kahre, Lauren Heller, David J. Marchi, Cathy M. Bedini
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Patent number: 5531156Abstract: An automatic taco machine can automatically make both soft and hard tacos. Storage compartments for soft tortillas and hard taco shells are mounted above a V-shaped conveyor. A soft tortilla is removable from a stack of tortills by a vacuum pick-up head and is heated and is inserted between a pair of heated plates where it is compressed and heated. A pusher bar moves downwardly through slots in the heater plates to fold the tortilla and push it onto the conveyor. A hot food dispenser and a cold food dispenser dispense hot and cold food onto the tortilla as it is moved by the conveyor. A hard taco shell is removable from a stack of taco shells by a reciprocably mounted peeler which separates the bottom taco shell from the stack and supports the stack while the bottom taco shell drops to the conveyor. The conveyor moves the taco shell past the hot and cold food dispensers.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 1994Date of Patent: July 2, 1996Assignee: Taco Bell Corp.Inventor: Barry J. Brummett
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Patent number: RE33979Abstract: A multi-purpose carton and, more particularly, a folding paperboard carton incorporating content-identifying structure enabling identification of the carton contents without necessitating the opening of the carton. Moreover, also disclosed is a paperboard blank for forming the carton.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 1989Date of Patent: June 30, 1992Assignee: Taco Bell, Corp.Inventor: Jeffery J. Cortopassi