Patents Assigned to Tropicana Products, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20080078775
    Abstract: A closure for a container includes a base having an aperture therethrough, a membrane attached to the bottom of the base and adapted to be attached to the container to seal the opening, a pull tab positioned within the aperture and connected to the base around at least a portion of an inner periphery of the aperture by a frangible portion, and a cap connected to the base by a hinge. The base is adapted to be connected to the container such that the aperture is positioned over the opening. The pull tab is connected to the membrane, so that when a user pulls on the pull tab, the frangible portion breaks to allow removal of the pull tab to open the aperture, and removal of the pull tab causes the portion of the membrane to tear away to unseal the opening of the container. The cap is pivotable about the hinge between an open position and a closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2007
    Publication date: April 3, 2008
    Applicant: Tropicana Products, Inc.
    Inventors: John Steiger, Machelle Stockwell
  • Publication number: 20080081096
    Abstract: Calories in a juice can be reduced by selectively removing more sucrose than primary sugars, for example, glucose and fructose. An acceptable flavor profile can be achieved since the primary sugars have a higher perceived sweetness than sucrose. The food product processing system for reducing calories can include multiple stages for filtering the juice to produce a clarified low-calorie juice having an acceptable flavor profile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2006
    Publication date: April 3, 2008
    Applicant: Tropicana Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Girish Subramaniam, Tedoro Rivera, Nicholas Shields, Diana Pesha
  • Publication number: 20080078765
    Abstract: A container for containing a flowable substance includes a container body, a substantially elliptical opening in the container body, and a resealable closure affixed over the opening. The container body defines an internal cavity that is adapted to contain the flowable substance therein. The opening is adapted to allow the flowable substance to flow therethrough. The resealable closure is adjustable between an open position, where the flowable substance can flow through the opening, and a closed position, where the closure obstructs the opening to prevent the flowable substance from flowing through the opening. When the closure is in the open position and the container is substantially filled with the flowable substance, the flowable substance can flow through the opening without interrupting airflow through the opening when the container is tilted over a range of tilt angles of approximately 35 degrees.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2007
    Publication date: April 3, 2008
    Applicant: Tropicana Products, Inc.
    Inventors: John Steiger, Machelle Stockwell
  • Publication number: 20070298079
    Abstract: A food product is provided which is fortified with omega-3 fatty acids. The omega-3 fatty acids include docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). The omega-3 fatty acids are added to the food product in a desired amount and blended sufficiently by mixing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2006
    Publication date: December 27, 2007
    Applicant: Tropicana Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Teodoro Rivera, Peter S. Given, Nicholas C. Shields, Amenah I. Ibrahim, Bryan Hitchcock
  • Publication number: 20070248735
    Abstract: Orange juice products are provided which include as a component juice extracted from a mid-season round orange cultivar having a peak harvest season in December, January and February. The preferred mid-season round orange cultivar is the Vernia cultivar. The juice extracted from such mid-season cultivar has sensory attributes which are superior to those of traditional late season Valencia round orange cultivar juice. The mid-season juice has a Brix-to-acid ratio and a color intensity at least as high as juice provided by the traditional Valencia cultivars which are harvested at the same time as the mid-season cultivar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2007
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Applicant: TROPICANA PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventors: James Keithly, Thomas Taggart
  • Patent number: 7264837
    Abstract: The deacidification of citrus juice with ion exchange resin is described. Maintaining a high acid condition of the juice is achieved by passing the juice through regenerated resin that is preconditioned with an aqueous food-grade acid, preferably citric acid. Additionally or optionally, an early bed volume or multiple early bed volumes of juice flow are at a rapid flow rate. The products obtained also are described, and they may be any deacidified citrus juice or juice blend where the pH of the juice does not rise above that of an acid food pH for the juice during deacidification. In preferred embodiments, the juice product is orange juice. In another preferred embodiment, the conditioning process is used to provide a deacidified citrus juice product while avoiding raising the pH of any portion of the juice to 4.6 or above so as to control microbial growth of the juice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Tropicana Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Yongsoo Chung, Osvaldo A. Chu, Marcelo Perez Alvarez
  • Patent number: 7258146
    Abstract: A bridge and adapter system for a bag-in-box packaging filler is shown to include an adapter providing a quick connection between the supply line and the dispensing member of the bag-in-box packaging. A bridge is adapted to sit longitudinally across the box of the bag-in-box packaging and is adapted to engage with both the adapter and the dispensing member of the bag-in-box packaging in order to provide support of the adapter and dispensing member, therein. The adapter includes air vents which facilitate the escape of air in the bag-in-box while it is being displaced with other contents from the supply line. The upper end portion of the adapter includes a cam lock connector for connecting the supply line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Tropicana Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Williams, William A. Cataldo
  • Publication number: 20070110878
    Abstract: An all-natural fruit product and method of making the product is provided. The fruit product comprises fruit puree, an added natural sweetener and no non-natural sweeteners, about 0.05% to about 0.5% by total weight of the fruit product of a galactomannan, added pectin in an amount of from about 0.4% to about 2.0% by total weight of the fruit product. The fruit product has a pH of about 3.0 to about 4.2, is shelf stable and has a Brix of from about 20° to about 40°.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2005
    Publication date: May 17, 2007
    Applicant: Tropicana Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick Patterson, Denise Fong
  • Publication number: 20070110875
    Abstract: Orange juice is provided which includes as a component juice extracted from a very early season round orange cultivar which is not a Hamlin cultivar. The juice extracted from such very early season cultivar has sensory attributes which are superior to those of Hamlin fresh juice. The very early season juice has a Brix-to-acid ratio and a color intensity in excess of those provided by Hamlin cultivars which are harvested at the same time as the very early season cultivar. Preferred very early season cultivars are within the Seleta family or are Westin cultivars or are Ruby Nucellar cultivars.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Publication date: May 17, 2007
    Applicant: Tropicana Products, Inc.
    Inventors: James Keithly, Harold Pollack, Thomas Taggart
  • Publication number: 20070087098
    Abstract: A method for direct steam pasteurization and de-oiling of citrus juice, and more particularly, orange juice, is provided. In a further embodiment, a method for direct steam pasteurization and flash cooling of citrus juice is provided. The method removes certain undesired flavor components and retains certain desired flavor components and products having enhanced sensory characteristics result.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2006
    Publication date: April 19, 2007
    Applicant: Tropicana Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Girish Subramaniam, Craig Philipp, D. Lineback, Yongsoo Chung
  • Patent number: 7175866
    Abstract: Citrus juice beverages having an oil soluble flavor antioxidant added thereto are provided. A tocopherol antioxidant, other than alpha-tocopherol, is added to a citrus juice beverage, such as orange juice, to preserve the flavor sensory attributes of stored juice without deteriorating the initial flavor sensory attributes of the juice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Tropicana Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Kristin Parshall, Richard N. McArdle, Cindy L. Hart, Renee Mellican
  • Patent number: 7169420
    Abstract: A method and system incorporates a warming tunnel closely downstream of a hot filling apparatus which is set up to fill relatively small volume capacity polymeric containers of not greater than 12 fluid ounces. The hot filled containers are conveyed through a warming tunnel which provides a heated environment which is higher in temperature than the environment, thereby maintaining the temperature of the beverage within the containers at an adequate temperature for an adequate time so as to complete needed heat treatment of the beverage in each such small container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Tropicana Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeff Korengel, Kapil B. Gami, Todd Brueck, Tammy Svoboda
  • Patent number: 7115298
    Abstract: Disclosed is an improved poultry feed diet composition and uses incorporating the feed composition. The feed composition includes byproduct or waste material from citrus juice extraction. The citrus byproduct or waste is at a concentration characteristic of a feed supplement. These feed supplements improve poultry characteristics and enhance feed conversion when compared with traditional poultry feed diets or supplements which rely on components that are not in their respective native states as present in citrus byproduct from juice extraction equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Tropicana Products, Inc.
    Inventors: James H. Keithly, Thomas Taggart
  • Patent number: D529809
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Tropicana Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Sheldon E. Yourist, Jim F. Warner, Machelle D. Stockwell
  • Patent number: D561033
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Tropicana Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Raymond A. Pritchett, Jr., Jim F. Warner, Machelle D. Stockwell
  • Patent number: D561036
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Tropicana Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Yen Heng Boon, Stephen Procter
  • Patent number: D561038
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Tropicana Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Sheldon Yourist, April Peacock
  • Patent number: D562146
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Tropicana Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald Zboch, Angie C. Noll, Richard K. Ogg
  • Patent number: D563792
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: Tropicana Products, Inc.
    Inventors: John Steiger, Machelle Stockwell, Sheldon Yourist
  • Patent number: D567106
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Tropicana Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Rodney J. Simpson, Javier Verdura, Jonathan Lee, Matthew L. Prancuk