Patents Examined by Rena L. Dye
  • Patent number: 9139346
    Abstract: A can filling process, the process comprising providing a metal can body (1) having first and second ends, the second end being closed by a peelable lid (2), and supporting the can body (1) from beneath the peelable lid including presenting to the peelable lid a support surface having a pattern embossed thereon. The can body is filled with a product through said first end using a compacting ram such that the peelable lid is pressed against the support surface (3) by the product and said pattern is impressed into the peelable lid (2), and a closure applied to said first end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Crown Packaging Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Gerry Patrick Doyle
  • Patent number: 9139360
    Abstract: A flavor pouch includes a porous covering that encloses a carrier having a flavorant. The carrier may be solid or particulate. Flavorants may be one or more of tea, coffee, rose hips, honey, royal jelly, fruit extracts, mint, sweeteners, ginger, pepper extract, exotic flavors, ethnic flavors and the like. Where the carrier comprises a plurality of beads, the beads may have randomly dissolvable encapsulation to extend the time duration of flavor release. To use the flavor pouch, it is placed in the mouth and masticated or exposed to saliva to thereby release the flavorant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce Neidle, Kenneth Newman, William R. Sweeney, Cynthia S. Hayes, Robert T. Mitten, Danielle R. Crawford
  • Patent number: 9120617
    Abstract: Disclosed is a single brew beverage cartridge for use in a brewing apparatus. The cartridge includes a lid and a cup shaped filter suspended below the lid and in which a beverage brewing ingredient is held. The lid includes an annular collar to prevent the lid from deforming when a needle of the brewing apparatus pierces it during the brewing process. Preferably the cartridge is formed of materials, e.g., paper/paperboard, so that it is compostable and biodegradable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Fres-co System USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey Scott Beer
  • Patent number: 9119499
    Abstract: The invention provides a container for cooking ramen style block noodles, the container comprising a main body having a generally rectangular base, two generally parallel and spaced side walls connected to the base and two generally parallel and spaced end walls connected to the base and to the side walls, the tops of the side walls and the end walls forming an upper rim. The container is dimensioned so that between about 7 and about 9 ounces of water will fill a container holding a typical 3 ounce mass of ramen style block noodle to a level equal to the top of the noodle mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Inventor: Christopher Johnson
  • Patent number: 9113744
    Abstract: A capsule for making a drink comprises a cup-shaped main body (6) forming a housing chamber (7) containing a powdered or liquid substance (2). The main body (6) comprises a bottom wall (8) and a lateral wall (9) which has a lower portion (10) connected to the bottom wall (8) and an upper portion (11) delimiting an opening which is closed by a cover element (17). The capsule also comprises lengthening means (18) which, following an increase in the capsule (1) internal pressure, allow a movement away from the cover element (17) by the lower portion (10) of the lateral wall (9) and the bottom wall (8) connected to it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Caffitaly System S.p.A.
    Inventor: Paolo Digiuni
  • Patent number: 9109239
    Abstract: Methods and compositions for the production of food compositions, oils, fuels, oleochemicals, and other compounds in recombinant microorganisms are provided, including oil-bearing microorganisms and methods of low cost cultivation of such microorganisms. Microalgal cells containing exogenous genes encoding, for example, a lipase, a sucrose transporter, a sucrose invertase, a fructokinase, a polysaccharide-degrading enzyme, a keto acyl-ACP synthase enzyme, a fatty acyl-ACP thioesterase, a fatty acyl-CoA/aldehyde reductase, a fatty acyl-CoA reductase, a fatty aldehyde reductase, a fatty aldehyde decarbonylase, and/or an acyl carrier protein are useful in manufacturing food compositions, and transportation fuels such as renewable diesel, biodiesel, and renewable jet fuel, as well as oleochemicals such as functional fluids, surfactants, soaps and lubricants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Solazyme, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Franklin, Aravind Somanchi, Janice Wee, George Rudenko, Jeffrey L. Moseley, Walt Rakitsky
  • Patent number: 9095155
    Abstract: A system for treating a food product with a mold inhibitor via spray application in suspended form includes a conveyor for moving the food product as well as at least one upper spray nozzle above the conveyor and at least one lower spray nozzle located below the conveyor. In an embodiment of the invention, one or more end spray nozzles are provided to spray one or more vertical end surfaces of the food product. A fluid supply system for supplies pressurized fluid to the spray nozzles. In an embodiment of the invention, the fluid supply system includes a recirculating reservoir for maintaining the mold inhibitor in suspension. The spray guns are controlled via pulse width modulation such that the instantaneous flow rate and the time averaged flow rate are equal to respective predetermined allowable flow rates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignees: Spraying Systems Co., Denisco USA Inc.
    Inventors: Joshuah Shane DeVoll, Fritz Norbury, Steven Mallory
  • Patent number: 9095152
    Abstract: This invention generally relates to a method for efficiently disinfecting, sterilizing, and packaging produce so that it is Ready-To-Eat by a consumer. The claimed method removes dirt, soil, pathogens, and renders produce with a longer shelf life. The claimed method is a multi-step sanitizing process that is designed to not cause bruising or other physical harm to produce. Ultimately, this method yields produce disinfected, packaged, and ready-for-sale on the market shelf.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Munger Bros., LLC
    Inventor: Kewel Munger
  • Patent number: 9095158
    Abstract: A packaged food product comprising a tray (2) containing an edible composition having a layered structure, comprising: —at least one composite layer (24) comprising puffed cereal grains (G) embedded in a matrix of edible material (22); and —at least one edible coating layer (26) deposited on said composite layer (24) and preferably including chocolate. The matrix of edible material (22) has, in a temperature range of between 20° C. and 40° C., and preferably also in the range of from 0° C. to 40° C., a pasty consistency such as to maintain its own shape in unconfined conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: SOREMARTEC S.A.
    Inventor: Mario Scavino
  • Patent number: 9085410
    Abstract: Disclosed is a single brew beverage cartridge for use in a brewing apparatus. The cartridge includes a lid and a cup shaped filter suspended below the lid and in which a beverage brewing ingredient is held. The lid includes an annular collar to prevent the lid from deforming when a needle of the brewing apparatus pierces it during the brewing process. Preferably the cartridge is formed of materials so that it is compostable and biodegradable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: Fres-co System USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey Scott Beer
  • Patent number: 9079705
    Abstract: A capsule (1) for making beverages comprises a powdered food substance, and comprises a body (2) having a lower wall (3) and a side wall (4), and a lid (6) fixed to an edge (5) of the side wall (4). Between the lid (6) and the inner surface of the body (2) there is a chamber in which a rigid or semi-rigid filter (10) is positioned, coupled at a coupling portion (14) located on the side wall (4) close to the edge (5). The filter (10) extends between a rim (12) positioned close to the lid (6) and coupled to the coupling portion (14), and a bottom portion (13) positioned close to the lower wall (3), and separates the chamber into a first compartment (15), containing the substance, delimited at least between the filter (10) and the lid (6), and into a second compartment (16) partly positioned between the side wall (4) and the filter (10), delimited between the filter (10), the lower wall (3) and the portion of side wall (4) located between the lower wall (3) and the coupling portion (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Caffitaly System S.p.A.
    Inventor: Paolo Digiuni
  • Patent number: 9061826
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a capsule (1) for obtaining infusions, such as espresso, or beverages from water-soluble products, comprising an internal out flow duct (3) and being adapted to be hermetically sealed by means of a sealing element (10), wherein, by injecting water under pressure into the capsule (1), the sealing element (10) is lifted becoming detached from the top (7) of the internal out flow duct, opening the internal through hole (4) of the internal out flow duct (3) so that the infusion or beverage flows outwards through the internal through hole (4). Moreover, the present invention relates to a machine (17) for using capsules (1) according to the present invention and comprising housing means for housing at least one capsule during the dispensing phase and injection means (11) for injecting water under pressure into the capsule through the sidewall (2) of the capsule so as to obtain an infusion or beverage flowing out from the capsule through the internal through hole of the capsule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Inventor: Gino Rapparini
  • Patent number: 9055753
    Abstract: Disclosed is a container-packed black coffee beverage which has an excellent hypertension ameliorating effect and can be ingested in an ordinary manner. A container-packed black coffee satisfying the following requirements (A) to (C): (A) a chlorogenic acid: 0.01 to 1% by mass; (B) hydroxyhydroquinone: 0.1% by mass or less relative to the mass of the chlorogenic acid; and (C) the chlorogenic acid/a coffee solid content ?0.025 (by mass).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: Kao Corporation
    Inventors: Yasushi Shioya, Yoshinobu Hayakawa, Shinji Yamamoto, Yoshikazu Ogura
  • Patent number: 9056704
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of packaging wine in a container essentially consisting of a plastics material glass closed by a lid, wherein a lid is sealed to the rim of the glass and, while sealing the lid, the container is deformed to reduce the volume of the head space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: 1/4 VIN
    Inventors: Pascal Carvin, Christian Mura
  • Patent number: 9049873
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing an aqueous liquid aromatised with aroma compounds from coffee, wherein a gas comprising aroma from roast and ground coffee and water is condensed to provide a liquid aqueous phase and a gas phase; and the gas phase is subjected to pressurisation in the presence of an aqueous liquid. The liquid is useful e.g. in the production of soluble coffee products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventors: Scott A. Westfall, Annette Michelle Birch, Robert Garwood, Iacopo Cerea, Miguel Angel Garchitorena Gamero, Christophe Duchanoy
  • Patent number: 9044021
    Abstract: A method and system for preparing naan bread is provided. A conveyor oven is used to bake flattened and pre-shaped naan bread loaves. The conveyor oven uses high temperature gas heat to bake the naan, imparting traditional characteristics such as the slightly smoky or scorched appearance. The oven interior is preferably lined with stone, granite, clay or porcelain to enhance baking and provide traditional flavor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: FGF BRANDS INC.
    Inventors: Sam Ajmera, John Gordon, Dragan Janus
  • Patent number: 9044023
    Abstract: A method and system for preparing naan bread is provided. A conveyor oven is used to bake flattened and pre-shaped naan bread loaves. The conveyor oven uses high temperature gas heat to bake the naan, imparting traditional characteristics such as the slightly smoky or scorched appearance. The oven interior is preferably lined with stone, granite, clay or porcelain to enhance baking and provide traditional flavor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: FGF BRANDS INC.
    Inventors: Sam Ajmera, John Gordon, Dragan Janus
  • Patent number: 9028897
    Abstract: Disclosed is a beverage extraction filter that can extract in a plurality of extraction machine types. The beverage extraction filter comprises a filter unit (40) where coffee powder is housed and a planar lid unit (41) mounted to the top section of the filter unit (40). The lid unit (41) is formed in a layer structure created by a non-permeable first sheet member (42) positioned on the filter unit side (40) and a permeable second sheet member (43) layered on top of the first sheet member (42), and a hole section (42a) through which hot water is made to pass is formed in the center of the first sheet member (42).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: UCC Ueshima Coffee Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Osamu Nakagiri, Akira Okada, Tomokazu Kimura
  • Patent number: 9028898
    Abstract: The present disclosure is related to illustrative embodiments of an apparatus and method for maintaining carbonation of sparkling beverages, such as sparkling wines, cocktails, and non-alcoholic beverages such as sodas and coffee. A transparent, shatter-resistant, height-adjustable carbonation enclosure is used to contain an opened bottle of a sparkling beverage. An air-tight carbonation cap with a built-in one-way valve is used to re-carbonate the beverage inside the bottle using a pressurized gas source. The base of the carbonation enclosure includes a platform that may be used to adjust the effective height of the enclosure to fit the height of the bottle and provide an air-tight interface between an opening of the bottle and the carbonation cap. The carbonation enclosure further includes a number of openings to open air to prevent pressurization of the carbonation enclosure. Another illustrative embodiment includes a safety enclosure for multiple bottles pressurized directly by conical nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Inventor: R. Evan Wallace
  • Patent number: 9023412
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a capsule (1) for use with a capsule holder (6) of a food preparation machine, wherein: —said machine comprises a needle (9) supported by a plate, for injection of a jet of fluid inside the capsule, said needle being adapted in shape and size to protrude inside the capsule when said capsule holder is inserted into the machine in order for operation, and said capsule comprises a body with side (2), bottom (4) and top walls (3), said capsule further comprising a top circumferential edge (8), the interface between the needle plate, the capsule holder, and the capsule edge being leaktight, said top wall being sealed onto said circumferential edges and comprises built-in showering means (10) comprising at least one opening, so as to accommodate the needle without piercing and transform the jet of fluid from said needle into at least one jet directed towards the inside of the capsule chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventors: Frederic Doleac, Marc Raederer