Patents by Inventor Alan A. Oppenheimer

Alan A. Oppenheimer has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9943084
    Abstract: Described are fat compositions (e.g., shortening composition and shortening particles) that are suitable for use in preparing batter or dough products such as biscuits, pizza crusts, pot pie crusts, cinnamon rolls, or dry mixes for same; the fat compositions can be low in trans fatty acids with moderate levels of saturated fatty acids. For example, fat compositions may comprise less than about 2% wt. total trans fatty acids and a total of less than about 70% wt. saturated fatty acids and trans fatty acids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Jon Duke Seibold, Braden J. Erickson, Alan A. Oppenheimer
  • Patent number: 9814250
    Abstract: The invention relates to shortening particle compositions that are suitable for use in preparing batter or dough products such as biscuits, pizza crusts, pot pie crusts, cinnamon rolls, or dry mixes for same. Typically, the shortening compositions are low in trans fatty acids and in saturated fatty acids. For example, the shortening particle composition may comprise less than about 3% wt. total trans fatty acids and a total of about less than about 61% wt. saturated fatty acids and trans fatty acids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Braden J. Erickson, Jon D. Seibold, Alan A. Oppenheimer
  • Patent number: 9801392
    Abstract: Fat particles useful in food compositions as doughs, methods of preparing the fat particles, method of preparing the food compositions (e.g., doughs) that contain the fat particles, and methods of preparing a baked food product from the food composition, wherein the fat particles contain flavorant salt. These fat particle can be used to prepare dough formulations that meet the desire of being more healthful than previous dough formulations due to a reduced sodium content, optional more healthful fat content (e.g., low trans fats or low saturated fats), or both. Additionally, the fat particles can be conveniently used in commercial or consumer scale dough processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Braden J. Erickson, Alan A. Oppenheimer, Jon Duke Seibold, Wenyi Wang
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20150216197
    Abstract: The invention relates to shortening particle compositions that are suitable for use in preparing batter or dough products such as biscuits, pizza crusts, pot pie crusts, cinnamon rolls, or dry mixes for same. Typically, the shortening compositions are low in trans fatty acids and in saturated fatty acids. For example, the shortening particle composition may comprise less than about 3% wt. total trans fatty acids and a total of about less than about 61% wt. saturated fatty acids and trans fatty acids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Applicant: GENERAL MILLS, INC.
    Inventors: Braden J. Erickson, John D. Seibold, Alan A. Oppenheimer
  • Patent number: 9040110
    Abstract: The invention relates to shortening particle compositions that are suitable for use in preparing batter or dough products such as biscuits, pizza crusts, pot pie crusts, cinnamon rolls, or dry mixes for same. Typically, the shortening compositions are low in trans fatty acids and in saturated fatty acids. For example, the shortening particle composition may comprise less than about 3% wt. total trans fatty acids and a total of about less than about 61% wt. saturated fatty acids and trans fatty acids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Braden J. Erickson, Jon D. Seibold, Alan A. Oppenheimer
  • Publication number: 20150050412
    Abstract: Fat particles useful in food compositions as doughs, methods of preparing the fat particles, method of preparing the food compositions (e.g., doughs) that contain the fat particles, and methods of preparing a baked food product from the food composition, wherein the fat particles contain flavorant salt. These fat particle can be used to prepare dough formulations that meet the desire of being more healthful than previous dough formulations due to a reduced sodium content, optional more healthful fat content (e.g., low trans fats or low saturated fats), or both. Additionally, the fat particles can be conveniently used in commercial or consumer scale dough processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2013
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Inventors: Braden J. Erickson, Alan A. Oppenheimer, Jon Duke Seibold, Wenyi Wang
  • Patent number: 8920865
    Abstract: The invention relates to shortening particle compositions that are suitable for use in preparing baked goods such as biscuits, pizza crusts, pot pie crusts, and cinnamon rolls. Typically, the shortening compositions are low in trans fatty acids and in saturated fatty acids. For example, the shortening particle composition may comprise less than about 3% wt. total trans fatty acids and a total of about less than about 61% wt. saturated fatty acids and trans fatty acids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Braden J. Erickson, Jon D. Seibold, Alan A. Oppenheimer
  • Publication number: 20140205720
    Abstract: Coated snack products are provided whose coating are reminiscent of high fat compound fat coating, resistant to rub-off of a powdery or fat based topping as well as methods for preparing such coated snack products. The present invention provides methods for preparing such coated food product including providing a hot (about 60-85° C.), oil-in-water emulsion coating slurry containing a hydrated film forming hydrophilic colloid. The slurry comprises about 5%-30% of the emulsion of flavor solids in powder form. The methods include applying the hot emulsion to a food base to provide a wet emulsion coated food base. The methods include drying the wet slurry emulsion coated food product to a moisture content of about 1-4% at a temperature of less than the sugar melting point to provide a finished dried food product having non-powdered coating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J Nack, Terry R Harrington, Victor T Huang, Anthony J Larson, Christine Nowakowski, Alan A Oppenheimer, Noel Pollen, Michael A Staeger
  • Patent number: 8697159
    Abstract: Coated snack products are provided whose coating are reminiscent of high fat compound fat coating, resistant to rub-off of a powdery or fat based topping as well as methods for preparing such coated snack products. The present invention provides methods for preparing such coated food product including providing a hot (about 60-85° C.), oil-in-water emulsion coating slurry containing a hydrated film forming hydrophilic colloid. The slurry comprises about 5%-30% of the emulsion of flavor solids in powder form. The methods include applying the hot emulsion to a food base to provide a wet emulsion coated food base. The methods include drying the wet slurry emulsion coated food product to a moisture content of about 1-4% at a temperature of less than the sugar melting point to provide a finished dried food product having non-powdered coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Nack, Terry R. Harrington, Victor T. Huang, Anthony J. Larson, Christine Nowakowski, Alan A. Oppenheimer, Noel Pollen, Michael A. Staeger
  • Publication number: 20140037793
    Abstract: The invention relates to shortening particle compositions that are suitable for use in preparing batter or dough products such as biscuits, pizza crusts, pot pie crusts, cinnamon rolls, or dry mixes for same. Typically, the shortening compositions are low in trans fatty acids and in saturated fatty acids. For example, the shortening particle composition may comprise less than about 3% wt. total trans fatty acids and a total of about less than about 61% wt. saturated fatty acids and trans fatty acids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Braden J. Erickson, Jon D. Seibold, Alan A. Oppenheimer
  • Patent number: 8518470
    Abstract: The invention relates to shortening particle compositions that are suitable for use in preparing batter or dough products such as biscuits, pizza crusts, pot pie crusts, cinnamon rolls, or dry mixes for same. Typically, the shortening compositions are low in trans fatty acids and in saturated fatty acids. For example, the shortening particle composition may comprise less than about 3% wt. total trans fatty acids and a total of about less than about 61% wt. saturated fatty acids and trans fatty acids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Braden J. Erickson, Jon D. Seibold, Alan A. Oppenheimer
  • Patent number: 8435592
    Abstract: The invention relates to shortening particle compositions that are suitable for use in preparing baked goods such as biscuits, pizza crusts, pot pie crusts, and cinnamon rolls. Typically, the shortening compositions are low in trans fatty acids and in saturated fatty acids. For example, the shortening particle composition may comprise less than about 3% wt. total trans fatty acids and a total of about less than about 61% wt. saturated fatty acids and trans fatty acids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Braden J. Erickson, Jon D. Seibold, Alan A. Oppenheimer
  • Patent number: 8425966
    Abstract: Described are dough products that contain a hydrogel coating, wherein the hydrogel coating contains a hydrophilic colloid, oil, plasticizer, and water, and functions as a moisture barrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Casper, Alan A. Oppenheimer, Braden Erickson
  • Publication number: 20120308683
    Abstract: Described are dough compositions and related methods that involve the use of a preferment or sponge dough, and wherein the preferment or sponge dough composition includes a concentrated protein ingredient, optionally to produce an unproofed dough composition that can be baked without proofing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Casper, Alan A. Oppenheimer, Braden J. Erickson, Madonna M. Ray, Jean L. Weber
  • Publication number: 20120308708
    Abstract: Described are fat compositions (e.g., shortening composition and shortening particles) that are suitable for use in preparing batter or dough products such as biscuits, pizza crusts, pot pie crusts, cinnamon rolls, or dry mixes for same; the fat compositions can be low in trans fatty acids with moderate levels of saturated fatty acids. For example, fat compositions may comprise less than about 2% wt. total trans fatty acids and a total of less than about 70% wt. saturated fatty acids and trans fatty acids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Inventors: Jon Duke Seibold, Braden J. Erickson, Alan A. Oppenheimer
  • Publication number: 20120064193
    Abstract: The invention relates to shortening particle compositions that are suitable for use in preparing batter or dough products such as biscuits, pizza crusts, pot pie crusts, cinnamon rolls, or dry mixes for same. Typically, the shortening compositions are low in trans fatty acids and in saturated fatty acids. For example, the shortening particle composition may comprise less than about 3% wt. total trans fatty acids and a total of about less than about 61% wt. saturated fatty acids and trans fatty acids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Inventors: Braden J. Erickson, Jon D. Seibold, Alan A. Oppenheimer
  • Publication number: 20120064195
    Abstract: The invention relates to shortening particle compositions that are suitable for use in preparing baked goods such as biscuits, pizza crusts, pot pie crusts, and cinnamon rolls. Typically, the shortening compositions are low in trans fatty acids and in saturated fatty acids. For example, the shortening particle composition may comprise less than about 3% wt. total trans fatty acids and a total of about less than about 61% wt. saturated fatty acids and trans fatty acids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Inventors: Braden J. Erickson, Jon D. Seibold, Alan A. Oppenheimer
  • Publication number: 20110183046
    Abstract: Coated snack products are provided whose coating are reminiscent of high fat compound fat coating, resistant to rub-off of a powdery or fat based topping as well as methods for preparing such coated snack products. The present invention provides methods for preparing such coated food product including providing a hot (about 60-85° C.), oil-in-water emulsion coating slurry containing a hydrated film forming hydrophilic colloid. The slurry comprises about 5%-30% of the emulsion of flavor solids in powder form. The methods include applying the hot emulsion to a food base to provide a wet emulsion coated food base. The methods include drying the wet slurry emulsion coated food product to a moisture content of about 1-4% at a temperature of less than the sugar melting point to provide a finished dried food product having non-powdered coating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2010
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Inventors: Thomas J. Nack, Terry R. Harrington, Victor T. Huang, Anthony J. Larson, Christine Nowakowski, Alan A. Oppenheimer, Noel Pollen, Michael A. Staeger
  • Patent number: 7892589
    Abstract: Described are dough products that contain a hydrogel coating, wherein the hydrogel coating contains a hydrophilic colloid, oil, plasticizer, and water, and functions as a moisture barrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: General Mills Marketing, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Casper, Alan A. Oppenheimer, Braden Erickson