Patents Examined by Rena L. Dye
  • Patent number: 8753703
    Abstract: An process for cooking bacon includes the steps of continuously feeding bacon strips in three or more rows to an inlet of a spiral cooking oven, moving the bacon strips along a spiral path inside the spiral oven, applying a cooking fluid into the spiral oven and through the spiral path, and cooking the bacon strips in the spiral oven to a yield percentage having a mean bandwidth variation not greater than 4.5%. A conveyor belt having variable weaving includes belt openings that are initially larger through an inner side of the belt than through an outer side of the belt, when the belt is straight. When the belt collapses into the spiral configuration, the openings adjust so that the areal size of the openings is similar on both lateral sides of the belt, resulting in more even distribution of cooking fluid and more uniform cooking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: John Bean Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Ramesh M. Gunawardena, Todd Gerold, David D. Rupp, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8747928
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a holder for frozen food items and confections. The holder includes a grippable shaft having a first receptacle at a first end of the shaft and a second receptacle at a second end of the shaft. The first receptacle is adapted to receive a cone, such as those served with ice cream, or other frozen confection. The second receptacle is adapted to receive a stick, such as those served with frozen ice confections and ice cream bars. The receptacles are further adapted to receive drippage from melting frozen food items and confections. Furthermore, the holder is invertible to conveniently use either the first or second receptacle for receiving frozen food items supported in a cone, or on a stick. The receptacle not in use may be used as a support member to place the holder on a table or similar flat surface, if desired. The holder also includes a mounting cap that attaches to the holder for preparation and consumption of a frozen food item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Inventors: Mecinna Price, Jared Price
  • Patent number: 8734880
    Abstract: Method and installation for controlling the evolution of bottled wine closed with stoppers. Applicable to an alcoholic beverage comprising wine and spirits comprising controlling a surrounding environment of a bottle or bottles containing said beverage, applying a pressure which follows any profile of values over time, with a value equal to, greater than or less than atmospheric pressure, inducing an interaction between the surrounding environment and the inside of the bottle. An installation is used that comprises a sealed enclosure capable of storing bottles of said alcoholic beverage closed with caps, and a system controlling the pressure and composition of the atmosphere in the environment of the bottles in said tight enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Inventor: Jose Luis Godoy Varo
  • Patent number: 8734874
    Abstract: A beverage cup lid and a system and method incorporating such a lid is provided. The lid holds an individual serving dose of a beverage to be brewed. Hot water is poured into a chamber of the lid to brew the beverage. The brewed beverage is fed into an underlying cup through an outlet in the lid. The beverage can be consumed through an opening in the lid without removing the spent grounds contained in the lid, from which the beverage was brewed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: UCAI Holdings LLC
    Inventor: Alfonso Ernesto Paolone
  • Patent number: 8728550
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions comprising an isolated cellulose degrading fungus. Also disclosed are culture compositions and bioreactor compositions comprising the cellulose degrading fungus. Further described herein are filtration and extraction devices comprising the cellulose degrading fungus. Still further disclosed are bioprocessing facilities for and methods for producing co-products resulting from one or more bioprocesses of the cellulose degrading fungus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Menon Renewable Resources, Inc.
    Inventors: Suresh M. Menon, Arul Victor Suresh, Samantha S. Orchard, Kashinatham Alisala, Jagadish C. Sircar, Sara Ingegard Hash
  • Patent number: 8722124
    Abstract: The invention concerns a process for the preparation of a beverage in a beverage machine with a capsule comprising an enclosure containing tea leaves comprising the steps of: a) introducing water in the capsule to submerge the tea leaves in the capsule enclosure, then b) introducing water at a soaking flow of at most 80 ml/min, then c) introducing water in the capsule until the required volume of beverage is delivered, wherein during at least one period of step b), water is introduced in the capsule at least once at a stirring flow superior the soaking flow to stir tea leaves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventor: Matthieu Ozanne
  • Patent number: 8722121
    Abstract: A candy holder for receiving and securing an elongated candy therein is provided. The candy holder includes a handle portion defining an elongated cavity with a central axis. The handle portion has a plurality of protrusions extending toward the central axis and circumferentially around an inner surface of the handle portion. A top portion of the candy holder has a lip defining an opening. The opening receives the elongated candy that is dimensioned to correspond to a size of the opening. The lip and protrusions apply friction to a surface of the elongated candy when the elongated candy is inserted therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Squire Boone Caverns, Inc.
    Inventor: W. Frederick Conway, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8715759
    Abstract: An antimicrobial intervention for the production of ground meats by treating the exterior of the meat trimmings with an antimicrobial agent before grinding. An apparatus for applying an antibacterial agent to meat trimmings includes a closed or essentially closed chamber for limiting the escape of the antimicrobial agent to the environment during antimicrobial treatment of the trimmings, an entrance system for introducing trimmings into the closed chamber while preventing or significantly limiting the antimicrobial agent from escaping into the environment, an application system for applying an effective amount of the antimicrobial agent to exposed surfaces of the trimmings in the closed chamber; and an exit system for removing the treated trimmings from the closed container while preventing or significantly limiting the escape of antimicrobial agent into the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Birko Corporation
    Inventor: LaWayne Larson
  • Patent number: 8709518
    Abstract: A system for managing the fluid intake of a person is disclosed. The system consists of multiple containers of various volumes, a common lid configured to incorporate a flow control valve, multiple flow control valves having varying flow rates, a date indicator ring incorporated circumferentially on said containers, a content indicator disposed on said lid, a chiller insert, and an optional slip on handle. The user selects a container based on the fluid needs of a person and a flow control valve based on the drinking ability of the person. The user fills the container with a drinkable fluid, and indicates the nature of the contents with the content indicator and the date of filling with the date indicator ring. The chiller insert allows the user to cool the contents without the possibility of dilution as with standard ice cubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Inventor: Diane Young Jones
  • Patent number: 8697160
    Abstract: The presently disclosed subject matter is directed to an article that enables on-demand blooming of an oxygen-sensitive product packaged within the interior of the article. Specifically, the product can be packaged between two films, wherein at least one of the films is oxygen-permeable. The edges of the films can be attached to one or more suspension frames, such that the product is suspended between the two frames. The oxygen-impermeable film is covered in with an oxygen-impermeable material that can be removed on demand to promote blooming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Cryovac, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Lee Becraft, Joseph E. Owensby, Blake Coates, Donald Keith Moore, Jr., Slawomir Opuszko, James A. Mize, Eugenio Longo
  • Patent number: 8445043
    Abstract: A multi-temperature and multi-texture frozen food microwave heating tray includes a first integral compartment defined by at least one sidewall and an upwardly convex bottom, and a second integral compartment defined by at least one sidewall and a bottom and comprising a microwave energy access modulating structure for one of the first and second compartments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: H.J. Heinz Company
    Inventors: Daniel C. Jackson, Christopher P. Rowoth, Elizabeth Ritchey, William J. Rodgers, Amber Fisher Koehler
  • Patent number: 8343599
    Abstract: A surface covering for melting ice and/or snow comprises at least one elongate element arranged to form a generally flexible mat structure, and a melting composition integrated with the elongate element. The elongate element may comprise a tube defining a cavity therein, and the melting composition may be disposed within the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Inventor: Jason Mitchell
  • Patent number: 8071190
    Abstract: A multi layered tire former bladder and a method for making the bladder is described. The multi layered bladder includes a elastomeric bladder having an outer surface and an inner surface; a release coating on the outer surface of the bladder; and at least two fabric reinforcing plies which include a first outer ply embedded in the bladder below the outer surface and an inner surface fabric ply at the inner surface of the bladder. In the method of making the bladder an air dried release coating is applied to the outer elastomeric surface of the bladder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Firestone Industrial Products Company, LLC
    Inventors: Hao Wang, Jason Smith, John D. Rensel, Michelle A. Correll, Mark McEwen, James C. Updegraff
  • Patent number: 8017206
    Abstract: Pipe systems having at least one layer comprising a semi-crystalline random polymer of propylene and 0.2 to 5 wt % 1-hexen and optionally a recurring unit selected from ethylene and a C4-C10 ?-olefin in an amount from more than 0 to 9% by moles. The polymer exhibits broad molecular weight distribution, in terms of the ratio of weight average molecular weight to numeric average molecular weight formula (I), ranging from 5 to 11, molecular weight distribution of monomodal type and hexen-1 content in the fraction with an intrinsic viscosity of equal to or higher than 3.3 dl/g lower than the hexen-1 content in the fraction with an intrinsic viscosity of less than 3.3 dl/g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Basell Poliolefine Italia s.r.l.
    Inventors: Roberto De Palo, Enrico Beccarini, Roberta Marzolla
  • Patent number: 8012520
    Abstract: A packaged product has a food product having an added liquid thereon, and a packaging article at least partially surrounding the food product. The packaging article having a seal layer comprising a member selected from the group consisting of a slip agent and a surfactant. The slip agent or surfactant causes contamination from the added liquid to bead up or wet out, respectively, thereby permitting heat sealing through the contamination with a lower leaker rate than would otherwise be the case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Cryovac, Inc.
    Inventors: George Dean Wofford, Kimberly Ann Mudar
  • Patent number: 8012522
    Abstract: The described apparatus and method enable the production of thin edible products having complex contoured shapes that cannot be made using conventional molding technology. In particular, chocolates having detailed surface topology can be made utilizing a pliable substrate and a vacuum mold. The process may be made substantially continuous.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Mars, Incorporated
    Inventor: Richard D. Ornelaz, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8007890
    Abstract: The sheet material produced in accordance with the invention has soft and enriched texture like natural leather and is suitable as any type of artificial leather for shoes, clothes, gloves and the like, particularly for sports gloves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Kuraray Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisao Yoneda, Syuichi Kanao
  • Patent number: 8007880
    Abstract: The invention relates to an insert that is to be added to a gas-pressurized liquid in a container. Said insert comprises a pressure-activated body with at least one cavity, said body being connected to a positioning device. According to the invention, (a) the pressure-activated body (4) comprises at least one opening (10) with a reduced diameter, which connects the cavity to the environment of the insert and is situated in a location that lies above the level of liquid when the insert is floating on said liquid and (b) the positioning device comprises a floating body (1, 2; 1, 2, 6) with a small opening (3), which is submerged in the liquid when the insert is placed on the latter, a ventilation opening (5), which communicates directly with the external environment (14) of the insert and a minimum volume (11), which when filled with liquid enables the insert to sink into the liquid. The inventive insert can be added to liquids that are sealed under pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Ball Packaging Europe GmbH
    Inventor: Bernd Ullmann
  • Patent number: 8007883
    Abstract: The invention relates to a container (1) comprising a transparent cylindrical container wall (2) and an envelope (8) covering the entire container wall. Such containers are used in the form of a vial, an ampulla or a syringe, for example, in clinical tests of medicaments or remedies. According to the invention, the envelope is embodied in an opaque manner such that it can be determined whether undissolved particles are still present in the liquid, but the actual color of the content cannot be determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Fisher Clinical Services AG
    Inventor: Alain Dürr
  • Patent number: 8003178
    Abstract: A container that has improved release properties for a viscous material configured to minimize residual material remaining in the container upon normal use thereof and also generally maintains the physical stability of a material in the container. The container includes a coating applied to a portion of the inner surfaces thereof that is effective to provide the improved release properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Kraft Foods Global Brands LLC
    Inventors: Dennis Ann Kim, Mia Rivard, Jeffrey Donald Edgerton