Patents Examined by Luana Z Long
  • Patent number: 9296504
    Abstract: Implementations of the present invention extend to sanitary systems, methods, and devices configured to package food items with an even coating of an accurate amount of sanitizing agent, such as an antimicrobial agent. In one implementation, an exemplary system comprises a combination of air nozzles, anti-bacterial spray nozzles or spray headers, metering valves, and timers to achieve uniform distribution of an antimicrobial solution into a product package, and subsequently provide a uniform distribution of the antimicrobial solution to the food item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: National Beef Packing Company, LLC
    Inventors: Phillip W. Blattner, James C. Graves, Gary B. Hersh, David Michael Kalscheur, Steven Joseph Scott, Joaquin L. Urias
  • Patent number: 9283293
    Abstract: A method for pasteurizing a continuous product chain in a device having an inlet, heat-up, pasteurization, and cooling regions all divided into treatment zones, and a transporter for passing products through these regions includes heating up, pasteurizing, and cooling by heat transfer between the products and a spray medium with which the products are sprayed, for each of the treatment zones, adapting a temperature of the spray medium to cause a desired consequence to heat transfer in the treatment zone, and varying a pasteurization process by changing a volumetric flow rate of the spray medium in at least one treatment zone between a maximum value and a minimum value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: KHS GmbH
    Inventors: Andre Ratke, Thomas Stienen
  • Patent number: 9282848
    Abstract: Capsules for holding in an interior space a portion of a product for preparing a food product include a first part (501) and a second part (502), arranged along a direction of extension (A). The first and second parts define at least a portion of an interior space (S) for holding a portion of a food product. At least one of the first and second parts of the capsule may include a substantially rigid connector portion (533) with at least one inlet for connecting to the apparatus wherein the at least one inlet defines a first flow direction for a fluid to be introduced into the inlet which first flow direction extends more than about 45 degrees to the direction of extension of the capsule. An apparatus may include an actuator for cooperating with the capsule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: MDS Global Holding p.l.c.
    Inventors: Marcel Hendricus Simon Weijers, Edward Hendrik Debski, Jorn Veldhuis, René Anthonius Weimar
  • Patent number: 9227777
    Abstract: The invention proposes a capsule (9) for use in a beverage production device, the capsule containing ingredients for producing a nutritional liquid when a liquid is fed into the capsule (9) at an inlet face (8) thereof, the capsule (9) furthermore containing heat sensitive bioactive ingredients such as probiotic microorganisms (21) which are physically separated from the other nutritional ingredients in the capsule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventors: Matthew David Steven, Conchita Tran, Frederic Doleac, Heinz Wyss
  • Patent number: 9226513
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems, apparatuses, methods and products directed to non-contact printing of confectionery products. The confectionery products may include an edible substrate having a surface and an edible ink printed on the edible surface. The edible ink may cover at least about 5% of the surface. An apparatus of the present disclosure may include a removal device for removing at least a portion of a rolling compound from a confectionery material and a printing device for non-contact printing an edible ink-indicia on the confectionery material. An apparatus of the present disclosure may also include a detection device detecting the presence of confectionery material at a predetermined position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company
    Inventors: Ronald L. Ream, Enrique Valdez, William R. Gleffe
  • Patent number: 9199779
    Abstract: Describe are food packages having features such as multiple containers in a single package and multiple pieces for a package; the packages can contain multiple food products including (for example) cereal and milk, for consumption together in a convenient manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignees: General Mills, Inc., Dairy Management, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Zoss, Linda Baggio, Jeffrey Enz, Michael J. Engstrom, Dan Genord
  • Patent number: 9045262
    Abstract: Describe are food packages having features such as multiple containers in a single package; the packages can contain multiple food products including (for example) cereal and milk, for consumption together in a convenient manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert A. Zoss
  • Patent number: 9034404
    Abstract: A bottled drink includes a cap and a bottle where a granular supplement containing multiple constituents in a stable manner is stored in the cap and a solution suitable for dispersing the granules is filled in the bottle. Granules which contains mutually incompatible multiple chemical agents or nutritional constituents and whose surface is coated with polyglyceryl fatty acid ester are stored in the cap of the bottle and the bottle is filled with a solution whose viscosity at a shear deformation speed of 0.01 s?1 is 10 to 300 Pa·s.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: FANCL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kaori Aibe, Masatoshi Honjo, Tatsuo Nakamura, Sachiko Endou
  • Patent number: 8986761
    Abstract: The disposable capsule for the production of an aromatic beverage comprises a container having a closed base which can be perforated for the inlet of water, and an open base closed by at least a filter through which the beverage can exit, said filter having a peripheral edge applied to a peripheral profile of said open base of the container, the peripheral profile of the open base to which the peripheral edge of said filter conforms having a peripheral development at a variable height with respect to the axis of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Azionaria Construzioni Macchine Automatiche A.C.M.A. S.p.A.
    Inventor: Massimo Scrivani
  • Patent number: 8986764
    Abstract: A single-use capsule for preparing a food liquid from a food substance contained in the capsule by introducing water in the capsule and passing water through the substance using the centrifugal forces for producing the food liquid which is centrifuged peripherally in the capsule relatively to a central axis of the capsule corresponding to an axis of rotation during the centrifugation. The capsule has upper and bottom walls, a widening side wall connecting to the upper and lower walls and an enclosure containing a predetermined amount of a food substance. The upper wall has a peripheral outlet region which is perforable and dedicated for providing outlets for the release of the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventors: Alfred Yoakim, Jean-Paul Denisart, Antoine Ryser, Alexandre Perentes
  • Patent number: 8962050
    Abstract: A container for holding novelty items, toys or candies that is an openable closed-shape with a lock/release plug. The closed-shape can be repeatedly opened and closed to remove and refill the novelty items. The container can be any closed-shape required for end use. A lock/release plug is used to both open and lock the closed-shape into a closed state. The lock/release plug is dimensioned to fit within the interior diameter of the closed-shape. The closed-shape has slots proximate each open end that interact with compression tabs on the lock/release plug. A center stop assists in aligning the compression tabs with the slots. The container can be configured to be a hula hoop or be adorned on one's body, such as a necklace or a bracelet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Inventor: Domenick Merlino
  • Patent number: 8920857
    Abstract: A system and method for a beverage container configured to test for a contaminated beverage in the beverage container comprises a base of the beverage container, an upper portion of the beverage container, and a sidewall with an inner surface and an outer surface that extends from the base to the upper portion, and a testing material. A portion of the beverage container is the testing material configured to visibly react when the portion of the beverage container is contacted with the contaminated beverage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Inventors: Michael T. Abramson, John C. MacDonald
  • Patent number: 8916217
    Abstract: Disclosed are nutritional compositions comprising a peroxide-treated aseptic package and a nutritional liquid contained therein, wherein the nutritional liquid comprises beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate (HMB) and at least one of fat, carbohydrate, and protein. The HMB provides a buffering effect in the nutritional liquid to thus minimize an acidic pH shift that is prevalent in aseptically sterilized packages, and thus helps maintain product stability over time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Abbott Laboratories
    Inventors: Paul W. Johns, Ann M. Kensler
  • Patent number: 8906435
    Abstract: A system for preparing a beverage includes an exchangeable capsule, an apparatus including a receptacle for holding the exchangeable capsule, and a fluid dispensing device for supplying a fluid to the exchangeable capsule. The exchangeable capsule includes a circumferential wall, a bottom, and a lid. The wall, bottom and lid enclose an inner space including the extractable product. The receptacle includes bottom piercing means for piercing an entrance area of an alternative capsule for creating an entrance opening for supplying the fluid to the extractable product. The entrance area of the capsule includes an entrance filter for supplying the fluid to the extractable product therethrough. The filter is a multi-layer filter including at least a first layer and a second layer bonded together. The first layer has a higher tear strength than the second layer and the second layer has a higher stiffness than the first layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Koninklijke Douwe Egberts B.V.
    Inventors: Ralf Kamerbeek, John Henri Flamand, Angenita Dorothea Post van Loon, Hendrik Cornelis Koeling
  • Patent number: 8889204
    Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus to ease the consumption of drink and food including a sleeve of flexible material, a perforation formed in one end of the sleeve configured to be removed and form an opening in communication with a chamber formed in the sleeve. The apparatus also includes a straw with a first end to be inserted into the chamber through the sleeve, and a second end with at least one prong to be inserted into the chamber and the food. The second end may be inserted through the opening. The invention also provides a method of consuming food and drink from an apparatus. The invention further provides a method of assembling a snack apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Inventor: Matthew Conroy
  • Patent number: 8877274
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for creating and maintaining modified and controlled atmospheres (MA/CA) in a rigid sealable container having at least one refrigeration unit with an integrated oxygen reduction structure. The refrigeration unit provides the necessary ambient atmosphere movement for the oxygen reduction structure, such as a hydrogen fuel cell. The systems and methods are useful in the, storage, transport, distribution, processing and packaging of fresh perishables with a focus on altering the natural gaseous environment around the perishables such that fresh shelf-life is extended. The systems may operate in a power generation/power production mode, such that the fuel cells maintain the MA/CA environment while providing both primary and back-up power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Fresh Food Solutions LLC
    Inventor: Laurence Don. Bell
  • Patent number: 8871287
    Abstract: A method for arranging eggs in a container. Eggs placed in receptacles of the container come to a resting orientation, by virtue of eh contouring of the receptacle, such that a long axis of the first egg is tilted toward a rear portion of the container at nearly uniform angles slightly offset from a vertical axis, and parallel side-to-side. Using features of the container, movement of eggs from their resting orientation, as well as twisting (spinning) about their long axes is resisted during marking, shipping or handling. The orienting of eggs in the receptacles or compartments thereof may be aided by use of an egg orienter. Tilting of the eggs may be facilitated by using receptacles or compartments which are asymmetrically contoured with respect to the vertical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: TEN Media, LLC
    Inventors: Mitchell Barry Chait, Richard Blackburn, Marco Armand Hegyi
  • Patent number: 8859024
    Abstract: A container has first and second sections with an opening into hollow interiors. They mate together to form a sealed enclosure, and to form a ridge having a cross-sectionally curved outer surface. An appendage is connected to the ridge including an aperture for receiving a hook. A coating of edible material is on the outer surface of at least a portion of at least one of the first and second sections. An external flange extends around the periphery of the opening of the first section, an internal flange extends around the periphery of the opening of the second section, wherein the internal flange is sized to contact and fit inside the external flange during mating. An aperture passes through the internal flange, wherein mating the first and second sections causes the external flange to cover and seal the internal flange aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Candy Treasure, LLC
    Inventor: Kevin M. Gass
  • Patent number: 8840943
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a multi-colored baked cake cone typically for holding ice cream or other confection novelties. This cone is made of a dough bi-layer that includes at least a first layer of a conventional cake dough that contains sugar and a second layer of a modified cake dough that imparts at least one color other than brown to the cone after baking. The cone is typically associated with a sleeve that is at least partially transparent to display the multicolor cone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventor: Thomas Amend
  • Patent number: 8834946
    Abstract: A system and method for a beverage container configured to test for a contaminated beverage in the beverage container comprises a base of the beverage container, an upper portion of the beverage container, and a sidewall with an inner surface and an outer surface that extends from the base to the upper portion, and a testing material. A portion of the beverage container is the testing material configured to visibly react when the portion of the beverage container is contacted with the contaminated beverage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Drinksavvy, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael T. Abramson, John C. MacDonald