Patents by Inventor Athula Ekanayake

Athula Ekanayake 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).

  • Publication number: 20110212240
    Abstract: Processes for isolating bitter compounds for use in food and beverage products entailing contacting a bitter compound composition with an adsorbent to adsorb bitter compounds from the bitter compound composition, desorbing the bitter compounds from the adsorbent to obtain a bitter compound isolate, and adding the bitter compound isolate to a food or beverage product to enhance the flavor thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Applicant: THE FOLGERS COFFEE COMPANY
    Inventors: Gerhard Norbert Zehentbauer, Paul Ralph Bunke, Athula Ekanayake, Jerry Douglas Young, Oliver Frank, Thomas Frank Hofmann, Simone Blumberg
  • Publication number: 20110076370
    Abstract: Processes for controlling strength of an extracted beverage including providing a pseudo packed bed of an extractable beverage material and contacting at least one liquid extraction stream with the pseudo packed bed of beverage material at a selected depth to obtain at least one zone of minimum extraction and at least one zone of maximum extraction. As the depth at which the liquid extraction stream is introduced into the packed bed increases, the zone of minimum extraction increases and the zone of maximum extraction decreases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: THE FOLGERS COFFEE COMPANY
    Inventors: Paul Ralph Bunke, Alisa Anne Bolinger, Jianjun Justin Li, Athula Ekanayake
  • Patent number: 7815955
    Abstract: Processes for controlling strength of an extracted beverage including providing a pseudo packed bed of an extractable beverage material and contacting at least one liquid extraction stream with the pseudo packed bed of beverage material at a selected depth to obtain at least one zone of minimum extraction and at least one zone of maximum extraction. As the depth at which the liquid extraction stream is introduced into the pseudo packed bed increases, the zone of minimum extraction increases and the zone of maximum extraction decreases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: The Folgers Coffee Company
    Inventors: Paul Ralph Bunke, Alisa Anne Bolinger, Jianjun Justin Li, Athula Ekanayake
  • Publication number: 20100098822
    Abstract: A composition for preserving solid food products comprising a moisture-sensitive isothiocyanate compound and a hygroscopic carrier, wherein the composition is substantially free of sorbic acid, benzoic acid, and salts thereof. Also disclosed is a solid food product containing the aforementioned preservative composition and a method for preserving solid food products including the steps of adding a moisture-sensitive isothiocyanate to the solid food product and storing the resulting product at a reduced temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Inventors: Athula Ekanayake, Jeffrey John Kester, Jianjun Justin Li, Gerhard Norbert Zehenbauer, Paul Ralph Bunke
  • Patent number: 7658961
    Abstract: A composition for preserving solid food products comprising a moisture-sensitive isothiocyanate compound and a hygroscopic carrier, wherein the composition is substantially free of sorbic acid, benzoic acid, and salts thereof. Also disclosed is a solid food product containing the aforementioned preservative composition and a method for preserving solid food products including the steps of adding a moisture-sensitive isothiocyanate to the solid food product and storing the resulting product at a reduced temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Athula Ekanayake, Jeffrey John Kester, Jianjun Justin Li, Gerhard Norbert Zehenbauer, Paul Ralph Bunke
  • Publication number: 20090208607
    Abstract: Snacks are provided that contains fruit or vegetable materials. Snacks can be formulated to provide one half of a serving and up to and including at least one serving, and fractions therebetween, of fruit or vegetable in a single 28 gram serving of snack. The snacks can comprise 12% or less fat. A fruit snack can comprise from about 12% to about 66% of fruit source solids; from about 34% to about 88% of starch; from about 0.1% to about 5.0% of water; and from about 0% to about 54% of optional ingredients.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2008
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Inventors: Paul Ralph Bunke, Athula Ekanayake, Robert Lawrence Prosise, Peter Yen-Chih Lin, Gary James Dechert, Sharon Lee Schnur
  • Publication number: 20090202700
    Abstract: Snacks are provided that contains fruit or vegetable materials. Snacks can be formulated to provide one half of a serving and up to and including at least one serving, and fractions therebetween, of fruit or vegetable in a single 28 gram serving of snack. The snacks can comprise 12% or less fat. A fruit snack can comprise from about 12% to about 66% of fruit source solids; from about 34% to about 88% of starch; from about 0.1% to about 5.0% of water; and from about 0% to about 54% of optional ingredients.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2008
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Inventors: Paul Ralph Bunke, Athula Ekanayake, Robert Lawrence Prosise, Peter Yen-Chih Lin, Gary James Dechert, Sharon Lee Schnur
  • Publication number: 20090004356
    Abstract: A snack chip comprising from about 40% to about 60% of nut based material; from about 40% to about 60% of starch material made from materials selected from the group consisting of tapioca, rice, and mixtures thereof; from about 0.1% to about 5.0% water; and from about 0% to about 20% of optional ingredients. At least about 40% of the starch material can be pre-gelatinized. The snack chip can be made by combining the nut based material and dry ingredients with water to form a dough, which is then sheeted, cut into individual pieces, and braked to form the snack chip. Alternatively, the cut pieces can be dried to form a half-product and then cooked to form the snack chip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2008
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Inventors: Paul Ralph Bunke, Athula Ekanayake, Peter Yen-Chih Lin, Sharon Lee Schnur
  • Publication number: 20080213432
    Abstract: A snack chip comprising from about 15% to about 60% of vegetable material; from about 40% to about 65% of starch material made from materials selected from the group consisting of tapioca, rice and mixtures thereof; from about 0.1% to about 3.0% water; and from about 1% to about 20% of optional ingredients. At least about 40% of the starch material is pre-gelatinized. The snack chip can be made by combining the vegetable material and dry ingredients with water to form a dough which is then sheeted, dried without the use of a heated extruder to form a half product, which is cooked to form the snack chip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2008
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Inventors: Paul Ralph Bunke, Athula Ekanayake, Priscilla G. Hammond, Robert Lawrence Prosise, Peter Yen-Chih Lin, Sharon Lee Schnur
  • Publication number: 20080187642
    Abstract: A snack chip comprising from about 10% to about 50% of dehydrated fruit material; optionally oatmeal; from about 30% to about 90% of starch material made from materials selected from the group consisting of tapioca, rice and mixtures thereof; from about 0.1% to about 5.0% water; and from about 1% to about 20% of optional ingredients. At least about 40% of the starch material can be pre-gelatinized. The snack chip is made by combining dry ingredients with water to form a dough which is then sheeted, dried without the use of a heated extruder to form a half product, which is cooked to form the snack chip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2008
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Inventors: Athula Ekanayake, Paul Ralph Bunke, Priscilla G. Hammond, Robert Lawrence Prosise, Peter Yen-Chih Lin, Sharon Lee Schnur
  • Patent number: 7303773
    Abstract: A process for enhancing theanine extraction from plant material through a series of extraction, adsorption and filtration steps. More specifically, disclosed is a process for isolating theanine from a plant material, which includes the steps of: a) contacting the plant material with a solvent to obtain an extract comprising theanine; b) contacting the theanine extract with an adsorbent to obtain a theanine-containing eluate; and c) subjecting the theanine eluate to a filtration step to obtain a theanine-rich extract.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Athula Ekanayake, Jianjun Justin Li
  • Publication number: 20070141215
    Abstract: Processes for controlling strength of an extracted beverage including providing a pseudo packed bed of an extractable beverage material and contacting at least one liquid extraction stream with the pseudo packed bed of beverage material at a selected depth to obtain at least one zone of minimum extraction and at least one zone of maximum extraction. As the depth at which the liquid extraction stream is introduced into the packed bed increases, the zone of minimum extraction increases and the zone of maximum extraction decreases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2006
    Publication date: June 21, 2007
    Inventors: Paul Bunke, Alisa Bolinger, Jianjun Li, Athula Ekanayake
  • Publication number: 20070003678
    Abstract: Processes for isolating bitter compounds for use in food and beverage products entailing contacting a bitter compound composition with an adsorbent to adsorb bitter compounds from the bitter compound composition, desorbing the bitter compounds from the adsorbent to obtain a bitter compound isolate, and adding the bitter compound isolate to a food or beverage product to enhance the flavor thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2006
    Publication date: January 4, 2007
    Applicant: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Gerhard Zehentbauer, Paul Bunke, Athula Ekanayake, Jerry Young, Oliver Frank, Thomas Hofmann, Simone Blumberg
  • Publication number: 20060286238
    Abstract: Processes for isolating bitter quinides for use in food and beverage products entailing contacting a bitter quinide solution with an adsorbent to adsorb bitter quinides from the bitter quinide solution, desorbing the bitter quinides from the adsorbent to obtain a bitter quinide isolate, and adding the bitter quinide isolate to a food or beverage product to enhance the flavor thereof. A bitter quinide isolate made up of at least one of 3-O-caffeoyl-?-quinide, 4-O-caffeoyl-?-quinide, 5-O-caffeoyl-epi-?-quinide, 5-O-caffeoyl-muco-?-quinide, 3-O-feruloyl-?-quinide, 4-O-feruloyl-?-quinide, 3,4-O-dicaffeoyl-?-quinide, 4-O-caffeoyl-muco-?-quinide, 3,5-O-dicaffeoyl-epi-?-quinide, 4,5-O-dicaffeoyl-muco-?-quinide, 5-O-feruloyl-muco-?-quinide, 4-O-feruloyl-muco-?-quinide, 5-O-feruloyl-epi-?-quinide, quinide esterified with one or more of caffeic acid, ferulic acid, p-courmaric acid, 2,4-dimethoxycinnamic acid and mixtures thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2005
    Publication date: December 21, 2006
    Inventors: Gerhard Zehentbauer, Paul Bunke, Athula Ekanayake, Jerry Young, Oliver Frank, Thomas Hofmann
  • Patent number: 7105190
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to products, including preservative systems and compositions (e.g., foods, beverages, health care products, personal care products, herbicidal products, and containment devices). The products comprise a constituent comprising an isothiocyanate compound. The products may further comprise a preservative selected from sorbate preservatives, benzoate preservatives, and mixtures thereof. The present disclosure further relates to methods of preserving products comprising incorporating the foregoing preservative systems into such products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Athula Ekanayake, John Robert Bunger, Paul Ralph Bunke
  • Publication number: 20060165853
    Abstract: Articles of manufacture and methods for absorbing gasses released by roaster coffee packed in hermetically sealed containers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2005
    Publication date: July 27, 2006
    Inventors: Athula Ekanayake, Paul Bunke
  • Publication number: 20060035000
    Abstract: A soluble coffee product having an improved flavor and aroma, the coffee product comprising a soluble particulate coffee and a non-aromatized coffee oil, the coffee oil having a droplet size of from about 0.1 ?m to about 25 ?m.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2005
    Publication date: February 16, 2006
    Inventors: Paul Bunke, Athula Ekanayake, Gerhard Zehentbauer
  • Publication number: 20060003053
    Abstract: Processes for extracting juice from plant material containing terpene glycosides comprising the steps of crushing a plant material comprising terpene glycosides, blanching the crushed plant material in acidified water to obtain a puree, the puree comprising a juice extract and a plant solids residue, separating the juice extract from the plant solids residue, mixing enzymes with the juice extract, and separating the juice extract to obtain a sweet juice.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Publication date: January 5, 2006
    Inventors: Athula Ekanayake, Jeffrey Kester, Jianjun Li
  • Publication number: 20050084544
    Abstract: A process for enhancing theanine extraction from plant material through a series of extraction, adsorption and filtration steps. More specifically, disclosed is a process for isolating theanine from a plant material, which includes the steps of: a) contacting the plant material with a solvent to obtain an extract comprising theanine; b) contacting the theanine extract with an adsorbent to obtain a theanine-containing eluate; and c) subjecting the theanine eluate to a filtration step to obtain a theanine-rich extract.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2003
    Publication date: April 21, 2005
    Inventors: Athula Ekanayake, Jianjun Li
  • Publication number: 20050079255
    Abstract: A composition for preserving solid food products comprising a moisture-sensitive isothiocyanate compound and a hygroscopic carrier, wherein the composition is substantially free of sorbic acid, benzoic acid, and salts thereof. Also disclosed is a solid food product containing the aforementioned preservative composition and a method for preserving solid food products including the steps of adding a moisture-sensitive isothiocyanate to the solid food product and storing the resulting product at a reduced temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2004
    Publication date: April 14, 2005
    Inventors: Athula Ekanayake, Jeffrey Kester, Jianjun Li, Gerhard Zehenbauer, Paul Bunke