Patents Examined by Rena L. Dye
  • Patent number: 9260221
    Abstract: A carry out food container assembly comprising a container body and a removable cover. The container body includes a conversion demarcation, which defines a conversion section. The conversion section includes a portion of a sidewall of the container body and a bottom portion of the container body. The user would depress the conversion section inward creating a new container body support surface, wherein the new support surface tilts an opening of the container body. A condiment container receptacle can be integrated into the cover to retain a condiment container assembly. This associates the condiment with the contents of the bowl. The container body and lid can include a stacking interface enabling one to attach a second bowl onto a cover of a first bowl. The conversion section can employ a single section or a series of sections, wherein the series of sections enable an accordion styled formation when collapsed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Inventor: Allen D Hertz
  • Patent number: 9248956
    Abstract: Capsule (1) for the preparation of a beverage by centrifugation in a beverage preparation device; the capsule comprising: a generally concave outer wall (2) and a generally concave inner wall (3); each wall having a peripheral portion (4, 5) extending substantially revolutionary around a central axis (I) and a bottom portion (6, 7); a lid (18) extending transversally to said central axis (I) and covering said outer and inner walls (2, 3); and forming with said inner wall an inner cavity (8) containing beverage ingredients (9), an outer cavity (10) positioned between the inner and outer walls (2, 3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Nestec S. A.
    Inventors: Alexandre Perentes, Alfred Yoakim
  • Patent number: 9241495
    Abstract: Dough compositions that can be baked to provide baked articles (e.g., cinnamon rolls) having an extended shelf life of about 7 days or greater (e.g., about 14 days, about 21 days, or about 28 days or greater). The dough composition may be a developed dough compositions or an under-developed dough compositions. The dough compositions may include one or more shelf life enhancing agents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Soumya Roy, Madonna M. Ray, Jean L. Weber
  • Patent number: 9242765
    Abstract: A package for a food product comprises a container that has two sealed containment sections separated by a central portion located between the two containment sections. The container is adapted to be folded at the central portion, and a band that is separate from the container encircles the central portion. The circumference of the band provides a space between the band and the outer surface of the central portion that is large enough for a person's hand to be placed between the band and the central portion, and grasp the band. An assembled food product package comprises the package and two food product portions individually contained within each containment section. A method of making an assembled food product package comprises sealing two food product portions in the two containment sections and applying a band around the central portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: PERDUE FOODS LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Oziomek, Matthew Hubbard
  • Patent number: 9241503
    Abstract: A food additive composition for ruminants of the dispersion type and a method of continuously producing the same. This food additive composition for ruminants, which contains 40% by weight or more but less than 65% by weight of a basic amino acid and has rumen bypass properties, is formulated into granules in an arbitrary shape which are scarcely classified when added to a silage or another feed. Thus, attempts have been made to develop a method of producing granules by which the milk yield of a lactation cow can be increased. Namely, it is intended to provide a food additive composition for ruminants which contains at least one protecting agent selected from among a hardened vegetable oil and a hardened animal oil having a melting point higher than 50° C. but lower than 90° C., 0.05 to 6% by weight of lecithin, water and 40% by weight or more but less than 65% by weight of a basic amino acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Ajinomoto Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Hidetsugu Nakazawa, Hiroyuki Sato, Yuki Miyazawa, Susumu Shibahara, Sachiko Oka, Yumi Goto
  • Patent number: 9241504
    Abstract: Processes and systems for commercial scale milling of wheat are disclosed. Processes include multiple tempering steps of controlled duration and cubing of the wheat kernel between two tempering steps. The cubing between the tempering breaks the kernels, or stresses the kernels, in a manner that enables a high degree of separation of the bran and endosperm early in the flour production process. An embodiment includes tempering for a first period between ½ hour and 2 hours, cubing in a roll crusher with longitudinal corrugations on one roll and circumferential corrugations on a second roll, removing fines from the cubed kernels, and further tempering of the cubed kernels for a period between ½ hour and 2 hours.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: ARDENT MILLS, LLC
    Inventor: Emil Kolb
  • Patent number: 9237763
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a synbiotic product composition comprising a blend or mixture of a prebiotic carbohydrate and a probiotic spore-forming Bacillus bacteria. Examples of prebiotic carbohydrates useful in synbiotic product include arabinoxylan, arabinoxylan oligosaccharides, xylose, soluble fiber dextrin, soluble corn fiber, and polydextrose. The present invention also relates to human foodstuffs and animal feed comprising such synbiotic products and methods of increasing the titer of spore-forming bacteria in the intestinal tracts of mammals by administration of symbiotic products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: Tate & Lyle Ingredients Americas LLC
    Inventor: Richard W. Armentrout
  • Patent number: 9232807
    Abstract: A dairy-based food component is provided that includes high levels of lactose in moisture, but still retains a smooth and creamy consistency. The compositions and methods provide for higher levels of lactose in moisture phase than previously found possible and still retain low crystal sizes in a finished product to maintain a smooth and creamy texture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Kraft Foods Group Brands LLC
    Inventors: Gary Francis Smith, Andrew Thomas Mackey, Amanda Jane Criezis
  • Patent number: 9232813
    Abstract: A pet food composition comprising a supplement is provided. The supplement can comprise a Probiotic component, a cocoa butter component, and a sweetener component. A process for making the supplement can comprise providing a sweetener component, a cocoa butter component, and a Probiotic component, mixing the cocoa butter component and Probiotic component to form a mixture in a temperature and humidity controlled chamber; mixing the mixture with the sweetener component in the temperature and humidity controlled chamber to form a final mixture; optionally mixing in a colorant with the final mixture; and cooling the final mixture. A package for the supplement can comprise a secondary container housing a primary container, which houses a supplement. An array of packages is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: The Iams Company
    Inventors: Robert H. ter Haar, Edward Russell Cox, James Carmony, Marko Stojanovic
  • Patent number: 9226514
    Abstract: An apparatus used to arrange and display decorative items or candy. A narrow stem comprises a plurality of holes running throughout the stem. A plurality of metal rods are inserted into respective holes in the stem. Each metal rod has is attached to a plastic petal, which also comprises a clip. A piece of candy can be attached to each clip and can be supported by each respective petal. The plurality of metal rods arranged in this manner create a visually appealing arrangement of decorative items or dispenser of candy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Inventor: Barbara Butts
  • Patent number: 9226519
    Abstract: Shelf stable microwave dessert packaged food products for individual servings comprise a cup; a shelf-stable ready-to-heat uncooked microwave bakeable foam product disposed within the cup, and a peelably removable, low gas permeability sealing membrane. The articles provide high quality finished expanded baked dessert goods by microwave cooking and expansion of the foam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Domingues, Debra L. Patterson, Stefan Bucher
  • Patent number: 9227747
    Abstract: A method for packaging non-liquid food products, particularly those sensitive to oxygen, such as vegetables, in a container with a low oxygen content, the container including an opening. The method includes the following steps: the container is filled with the products, in a non-controlled atmosphere; the air is removed from the container by filling same to capacity with a liquid; the full container is placed in a non-oxidizing atmosphere formed by at least one non-oxidizing gas; the liquid is fully or partially emptied from the container in a non-oxidizing atmosphere while the food products are kept in the container, such that the at least one non-oxidizing gas replaces the liquid in the container; and the above-mentioned container opening is closed in a gas-tight manner in a non-oxidizing atmosphere. A unit for carrying out the method is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: BONDUELLE
    Inventors: Laurent Dupont, Stéphane Gauthier
  • Patent number: 9227778
    Abstract: A beverage cartridge is provided for use in forming a beverage in a beverage machine that provides a pressurized liquid. The cartridge includes a container having an interior space; a rim; a lid attached to the rim and closing the opening of the container, wherein the lid accommodates an inflow of the pressurized liquid; a membrane disposed within the interior space and defining a first chamber and a second chamber within the interior space, wherein the membrane is configured to selectively isolate the first and second chamber; a fluid stored within the second chamber wherein the fluid is arranged to interact with the pressurized liquid introduced into the container to form the beverage; and a filter disposed within the first chamber, wherein the filter is arranged to contain a first beverage medium arranged to interact with the pressurized liquid introduced into the container to form the beverage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Inventors: Victor M. Aviles, Carlos Alvarez
  • Patent number: 9220364
    Abstract: A system and method for dispensing hot beverages in single-portion beverage containers. The beverage containers are retained within a dispensing enclosure and are heated by conduction of heat from a heating surface, thereby maintaining the beverages at a specified hot temperature that is hotter than comfortable to the touch. Each individual beverage container has an internal enclosure at the temperature of the heated beverage, and an insulating surround that allows a consumer to remove the can from the dispensing enclosure without touching any hot surface. The dispensing enclosure may be portable. The single-portion beverage containers have an insulating surround which leaves the container bottom clear for thermal contact with the heating surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Hot Shot USA LLC
    Inventor: Daniel Grossfeld
  • Patent number: 9220281
    Abstract: Disclosed are hydrated fat piece compositions along with various methods of making hydrated fat piece compositions. Also disclosed are dough compositions and baked articles made using the hydrated fat piece compositions of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: David W. Plank, Braden J. Erickson, Alan A. Oppenheimer, Jon D. (Duke) Seibold, Michael A. Staeger
  • Patent number: 9211992
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for packaging perishable foods. A packaging method in accordance with several embodiments of the disclosure can include, for example, mating a tray with a product. The tray can include a compartment having a generally similar shape as the shape of the product. The method can further include gas flushing an internal atmosphere around a product, and sealing the product and the internal atmosphere between a lid and the tray. Additionally, the method can include pasteurizing the product with an application of substantially uniform high pressure to a surface area of the package (e.g., high pressure pasteurization).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Columbus Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary DesLauriers, Paul Wolfert
  • Patent number: 9204660
    Abstract: A feed additive composition includes a protective agent, lecithin in an amount of 0.05 to 6% by weight relative to a total weight of the composition, a basic amino acid in an amount of at least 40% by weight and less than 65% by weight relative to the total weight of the composition, and water. A method of producing a feed additive composition includes preparing a molten mixture of at least one protective agent, lecithin and at least one basic amino acid, and solidifying the molten mixture by immersing the molten mixture in water or an aqueous liquid. The protective agent includes hydrogenated vegetable oils and/or hydrogenated animal oils having melting points of greater than 50° C. and less than 90° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: AJINOMOTO CO., INC.
    Inventors: Hidetsugu Nakazawa, Hiroyuki Sato, Yuki Miyazawa, Susumu Shibahara, Sachiko Oka, Yumi Goto
  • Patent number: 9204664
    Abstract: This document provides devices and methods for processing elongate generally cylindrical food products. For example, this document provides devices and methods for longitudinally cutting sausages, and the sausage designs as cut thereby.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Inventor: Edward W. Hortelius
  • Patent number: 9205975
    Abstract: A capsule for making beverages comprising at least one powdered food substance which can be extracted using water to make a beverage, comprises a cup-shaped outer body (2) with a lower wall (3) and a first side wall (4), a lid (6), a filtering body (9) comprising a first basket-shaped rigid or semi-rigid skeleton (10) with a second side wall (11) and a bottom portion (12); the first rigid or semi-rigid skeleton (10) comprises openings (13) made at least through a part of the second side wall (11) which is distanced from the first side wall; the filtering body (9) also comprising at least one layer (26) of flexible filtering material applied to the rigid or semi-rigid skeleton (10) for in use intercepting the beverage which comes out of at least some openings (13) of the filtering body (9) and flows towards the bottom wall (3) and for filtering said beverage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: CAFFITALY SYSTEM S.P.A.
    Inventor: Accursi Giovanni
  • Patent number: 9204658
    Abstract: A process for the production of frozen foods, particularly vegetables or fruits, including the stages of subjecting the food to a slight and slow dehydration, preferably by air convection, to partially eliminate its water content by between approximately 2 and 10% by weight, especially its outermost layer; allowing the food to rest to favor the redistribution of the free water contained therein and subjecting the food, after its packaging, to a rapid convection freezing treatment, either by immersion in an aqueous solution of salts or by the use of liquid nitrogen. In the case of chopped fruits, before the dehydration stage the portions are sprayed with an antioxidant product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: UNIVERSITAT POLITECNICA DE CATALUNYA
    Inventor: Jose Maria Nacenta Anmella