Patents Examined by Bryan Kim
  • Patent number: 12501905
    Abstract: A dough- or batter-based food product is prepared by mixing dough or batter ingredients to establish a dough or batter composition, the dough ingredients including at least flour, water and salt. The salt particles have dissolution rate of at least 120 seconds. Batter or dough provided herein, and cooked foods made from the batter or dough, include pockets of salt at a higher concentration than the dough, batter, or cooked food overall. Batter- or dough-based food products provided have a saltiness perception level substantially the same as compared to batter- or dough-based food products that include table salt in an amount at least 40% greater than the provided batter- or dough-based food product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2025
    Assignee: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Kristi L Bahe, Steven J Cox, Jeremy B Thomspon
  • Patent number: 12501906
    Abstract: A dough- or batter-based food product is prepared by mixing dough or batter ingredients to establish a dough or batter composition, the dough ingredients including at least flour, water and salt. The salt particles have dissolution rate of at least 120 seconds. Batter or dough provided herein, and cooked foods made from the batter or dough, include pockets of salt at a higher concentration than the dough, batter, or cooked food overall. Batter- or dough-based food products provided have a saltiness perception level substantially the same as compared to batter- or dough-based food products that include table salt in an amount at least 40% greater than the provided batter- or dough-based food product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2025
    Assignee: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Kristi L Bahe, Steven J Cox, Jeremy B Thompson
  • Patent number: 12471603
    Abstract: The present invention relates to high pressure processing (HPP) methods of and containers for preparation of food products such as solid or semi-solid foods, beverages and food supplements containing high-pressure sensitive probiotics and other high-pressure sensitive substances, which maintain their viability, biological activity and other beneficial properties in the prepared food product. The present invention also relates to pasteurized food products containing biologically active high-pressure sensitive probiotics, other high-pressure sensitive substances, or their combinations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2025
    Assignee: Foremost Technologies and Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Leonid Akhumyan, Inga Hakhumyan, Yana Mkrtichyan
  • Patent number: 12465052
    Abstract: The conveyor belt (24) of an oven system and apparatus (20) is configured into ascending and descending spiral stacks (26) and (28) to define a central cylindrical channel (62). A pair of upper and lower fans (130) and (132) are positioned within the central channel (62) to circulate thermal processing fluid in upper and lower circuits vertically through the spiral stacks and also laterally toward the inlet of the fans (130) and (132) to set up upper and lower thermal processing zones in the spiral stacks and circulation routes for the cooking medium through the spiral stacks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2025
    Assignee: JBT Marel Corporation
    Inventors: Owen Eugene Morey, Ramesh M. Gunawardena
  • Patent number: 12376611
    Abstract: [Problem to be Solved] An object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing instant fried noodles having a lower fat or oil content than usual fried noodles. [Solution] Instant fried noodles having a remarkably lower fat or oil content than usual fried noodles and having good texture can be produced by forming dough, which has been prepared by kneading a raw material powder with kneading water added thereto by an ordinary method, into a noodle belt by extrusion using an extruding machine, performing strong rolling for reducing a thickness of the noodle belt after passing through a rolling roll to less than 10% of the thickness of the noodle belt before passing though the rolling roll, with the noodle belt rolled out to a desired thickness by performing rolling three times or less, cutting the resultant noodle belt with a cutting blade roll to obtain raw noodle strings, and thereafter steaming and drying by frying the noodle strings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2025
    Assignee: NISSIN FOODS HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sho Kitano, Mitsuru Tanaka
  • Patent number: 12369596
    Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods relate to lyophilizing a solid phase composition (SPC). In an illustrative example, the SPC is received in a frozen state in a first packaging. The SPC may be, for example, transferred into a second packaging having a thermally conductive layer, mechanically distributed to a predetermined maximum thickness to form a block having at least one homogenous dimension, and provided with a heat source configured to communicate substantially all thermal energy to the SPC via the thermally conductive second layer. In some embodiments, the SPC may be maintained in the frozen state. For example, the lyophilized SPC may be transferred to a third packaging. Various embodiments may limit physical contacts with the SPC to the first packaging, the second packaging, and the third packaging. Various embodiments may advantageously maintain sanitation, retain nutrients of the SPC, and/or promote consistent results from the lyophilization process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2025
    Assignee: MILKIFY, INC.
    Inventors: Berkley Kristina Johnson Luck, Pedro Rossi Silva
  • Patent number: 12371250
    Abstract: Kit for the preparation of a beverage in a centrifugal brewing device comprising a capsule by feeding liquid in the capsule and rotating the capsule along a central axis to produce centrifugal forces on the liquid traversing the capsule thereby forcing the beverage out of the capsule by such centrifugal forces, wherein the capsule comprises containment walls forming a main cavity of central axis containing beverage ingredients; wherein said kit further comprising an insert which is separate from the capsule and comprising a ring-shaped portion intended to form a valve engaging portion engaging against a valve means of the centrifugal brewing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2025
    Assignee: Societe des Produits Nestle S.A.
    Inventors: Daniel Abegglen, Arnaud Gerbaulet, Jean-Francois Tinembart, Alexandre Perentes
  • Patent number: 12357008
    Abstract: Refined poultry fat comprising less than about 300 ppm of minerals and metals, wherein the refined poultry fat is resistant to bacterial growth when challenged with a bacterial species. The refined poultry fat is prepared from rendered poultry fat by a process comprising introducing moisture into the rendered poultry fat product to form a hydrated poultry fat product; (b) agitating and heating the hydrated poultry fat product such that droplets of water are dispersed throughout and coalesce with water-soluble impurities and/or particulate impurities in the hydrated poultry fat product to form a plurality of water-laden particles; and (c) removing the plurality of water-laden particles. The refined poultry fat can be used as an ingredient in the animal food industry, or can be used in the renewable energy industry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2025
    Assignee: Pet Food Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: David G. Ciarlette, Floyd W. Carmichael
  • Patent number: 12317915
    Abstract: [Problem to be Solved] An object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing instant fried noodles having a lower fat or oil content than usual fried noodles. [Solution] In a method for producing fried noodles of the present invention, in rolling out a noodle belt with a plurality of pressing rollers, a large diameter roller having a larger diameter of 400 mm or more than usual is used as at least one of the pressing rollers, and thus, a fat or oil content of the resultant fried noodles is reduced. Besides, when the noodle belt is made by extrusion performed under reduced pressure, and a compression of the noodle belt obtained by using the large diameter roller set to be high, the fat or oil content is further reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2025
    Assignee: NISSIN FOODS HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sho Kitano, Eriko Kanai, Mitsuru Tanaka
  • Patent number: 12256750
    Abstract: Provided are methods of preserving and/or storing Synsepalum dulcificum berry, which may involve separating a pulp of the berry into two or more parts; and freeze drying the berry with the separated pulp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: Nature's Wild Berry
    Inventors: Hansell Henry Watt, Juliano Bonanni
  • Patent number: 12239149
    Abstract: The instant application describes cooked egg products with distinct egg yolk and white components that have a leavened, soft texture, and methods of producing them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Inventor: David Walsh
  • Patent number: 12048310
    Abstract: An upward flow extraction method, apparatus, and extract are disclosed. The upward flow extraction method can comprise loading extraction material into an extraction cell having a bottom portion and a top portion; introducing a first aliquot of extraction medium through the bottom portion of the extraction cell; expelling gas from the extraction cell through the top portion of the extraction cell; closing the top portion of the extraction cell and increasing the pressure in the extraction cell as extraction medium flows into the bottom portion of the extraction cell; stopping the flow of extraction medium into the extraction cell; steeping the extraction material in the extraction medium under pressure to produce an extract; and introducing a second aliquot of extraction medium through the bottom portion of the extraction cell to push extract through top portion of the extraction cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2024
    Assignee: Starbucks Corporation
    Inventors: Kieran A. Murphy, Chelsea L. Rosenkrance
  • Patent number: 12035728
    Abstract: An upward flow extraction method, apparatus, and extract are disclosed. The upward flow extraction method can comprise loading extraction material into an extraction cell having a bottom portion and a top portion; introducing a first aliquot of extraction medium through the bottom portion of the extraction cell; expelling gas from the extraction cell through the top portion of the extraction cell; closing the top portion of the extraction cell and increasing the pressure in the extraction cell as extraction medium flows into the bottom portion of the extraction cell; stopping the flow of extraction medium into the extraction cell; steeping the extraction material in the extraction medium under pressure to produce an extract; and introducing a second aliquot of extraction medium through the bottom portion of the extraction cell to push extract through top portion of the extraction cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: Starbucks Corporation
    Inventors: Kieran A. Murphy, Chelsea L. Rosenkrance
  • Patent number: 11980200
    Abstract: A warm forming process for forming a meat patty includes heating a ground meat product to a temperature T1, wherein T1>32° F. The ground meat product is formed into an uncooked patty at temperature T1. The uncooked patty is precooked to form a precooked patty having a skin of depth D comprising denatured protein. The skin is formed on at least an area on the outside of the precooked patty. At least a first portion of the meat product disposed beneath said skin is at approximately T1. The precooked patty is cooked to form a cooked patty, wherein said at least a first portion of the meat product is at a temperature T2. The cooked patty is then frozen and then packaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: The Hillshire Brands Company
    Inventors: Kent Bearson, Dejing Fu, Frederick Dorsey, Nicholas Miller, Liza John
  • Patent number: 11690349
    Abstract: A system for processing a flowable food mass is disclosed which includes a first cooling belt (11) having a face with a transport direction (T); a second cooling belt (12) having a face with a transport direct (T) adjacent to, and parallel with, the face of the first cooling belt (11), wherein the transport direction (T) of the face of the second cooling belt (11) is the same as the transport direction (T) of the face of the first cooling belt; and a film roller arrangement (15) for disposing a plurality of strip-shaped carrier film webs onto the first cooling belt (11), wherein each strip-shaped carrier film web has a pair of parallel edges and the strip-shaped carrier film webs are disposed adjacent to each other without gaps and partially overlap each other at their respective parallel edges to form a carrier film arrangement and a kit of parts for assembling the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Hochland SE
    Inventors: Andreas Biggel, Maria Jacob, Wolfgang Tipolt, Franz Stadelmann, Markus Fuhge
  • Patent number: 11659957
    Abstract: The invention relates to a portable hand-held device for accommodating and transporting food or a beverage, having a thermally insulated container (2), which is intended to accommodate food or a beverage in an accommodating space (7) and which has an inner and an outer wall (8), and an insulating space (9) arranged therebetween, enclosing the accommodating space, the insulating space being of closed and sealed design and having been evacuated; and having a container closure (3), which is intended to close a container opening (4) of the thermally insulated container (2), wherein the insulating space (9) contains a working medium (11) which, by means of thermal energy being supplied from the outside via the outer wall (8), can be transferred in a reversible manner between a thermally insulating, initial state, in which the working medium (11) is in the solid state and is in contact with the outer wall (6), and is not in contact with the inner wall (5), and a thermally conductive state, in which at least some of
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Inventor: Frank Pelzer
  • Patent number: 11647759
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a closed processing system for treating elongated food products, comprising: a housing bounding a process space, a transport path for displacing the elongated food products through the process space, at least one airflow generator for generating an airflow in the process space, and at least one detector for detecting process conditions in the process space, wherein the detector includes at least one pressure sensor for detecting the relative airflow pressure in the process space compared to the ambient air pressure and wherein the system is arranged to control the process conditions by adjusting the at least one airflow generator based on the detected process conditions. The present invention further relates to a method for treating elongated food products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: MAREL FURTHER PROCESSING B.V.
    Inventors: Bernardus Wilheimus Franciscus Leferink, Eric Henricus Johannes Aben, Hendrikus Cornelis Koos Van Doorn, Johannes Martinus Meulendijks
  • Patent number: 11602157
    Abstract: Process for the production legume meal having a moisture content between 2% and 15%. The process includes feeding a continuous flow of legume meal into a wet heat treatment reactor together with a continuous flow of water or aqueous solution, which is dispersed into minute droplets; discharge the wet legume meal and feeding it into a thermal dehydration and treatment reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: VOMM IMPIANTI E PROCESSI S.P.A.
    Inventor: Massimo Vezzani
  • Patent number: 11547131
    Abstract: A process for making a shelf-stable food, not requiring preservatives or refrigeration and in a form that is convenient for use as a snack food. A block of tofu or wheat gluten is first frozen so as to cause the formation of ice crystals that form cavities within the block. The frozen block is then thawed, cut into smaller pieces and drained of excess water. The thawed pieces are dried in a microwave-vacuum dehydrator to produce a crunchy food product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: ENWAVE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Timothy D. Durance, Guopeng Zhang
  • Patent number: 11517038
    Abstract: A method for producing a reheatable food product includes mixing butter, maltodextrin and breadcrumbs so as to form a butter mixture, obtaining a first slice of bread and a second slice of bread, spreading the butter mixture onto a first surface of the first slice of bread and a first surface of the second slice of bread, applying 5 g to 70 g of a filling to the second surface of the first slice of bread, positioning the second slice of bread on the filling such that the second surface of the second slice of bread is adjacent thereto to form the food product, grilling the food product until the first surfaces are golden brown, and compressing the food product to a thickness of 0.56 inches to 0.75 inches while grilling, freezing the food product to a frozen state, reheating the food product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Lily's Toaster Grills, LLC
    Inventors: Elana Berusch, John Darcy