Patents by Inventor Bruce W. Robb

Bruce W. Robb 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: 20230217934
    Abstract: A dividable dough sheet piece gives consumers enhanced flexibility in creating food items from pre-made sheeted dough. The dividable dough sheet piece is cut from a dough sheet, with the dividable dough sheet piece having a perimeter and including a plurality of interconnected, sub-pieces defined within the perimeter. Each sub-piece is defined by one or more lines of structural weakness that provide predetermined breaking points. The dividable dough sheet piece can be used as a whole or can be divided into the sub-pieces for alternative use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2022
    Publication date: July 13, 2023
    Applicant: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig E. Gustafson, Roberta Marie Langenfeld, Todd A. Rasmussen, Bruce W. Robb, Dalton Sherrill, Michael Snyder, Andrew Friend Souder, Kiara C. Camareno Vargas
  • Publication number: 20200260740
    Abstract: A method and system for regulating the reaction rate of leavening agents in a dough product is described. The method and system include adding a regulating agent to a leavening system to manipulate the rate of reaction of the leavening agents in the dough.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2020
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Applicant: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Abdel Abdelrahman, Bruce W Robb, David J Domingues
  • Patent number: 10694756
    Abstract: A method and system for regulating the reaction rate of leavening agents in a dough product is described. The method and system include adding a regulating agent to a leavening system to manipulate the rate of reaction of the leavening agents in the dough. A method for preparing a chemically-leavened packaged or canned dough product by combining a chemical leavening agent and a regulating agent with the dough ingredients; placing the dough in a package; and allowing the leavening agent and regulating agent to react in the dough to generate a gas to expand the dough to substantially fill the package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Abdel Abdelrahman, Bruce W. Robb, David J. Domingues
  • Publication number: 20150132437
    Abstract: A method and system for regulating the reaction rate of leavening agents in a dough product is described. The method and system include adding a regulating agent to a leavening system to manipulate the rate of reaction of the leavening agents in the dough. A method for preparing a chemically-leavened packaged or canned dough product by combining a chemical leavening agent and a regulating agent with the dough ingredients; placing the dough in a package; and allowing the leavening agent and regulating agent to react in the dough to generate a gas to expand the dough to substantially fill the package.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Abdel Abdelrahman, Bruce W. Robb, David J. Domingues
  • Publication number: 20110212228
    Abstract: A refrigerated dough system including a dough product contained in a package is described. The dough product includes an unencapsulated base, an unencapsulated expansion leavening acid, and an unencapsulated pressurization leavening acid. The pressurization leavening acid may be a calcium-based leavening acid. This refrigerated dough system makes it possible to achieve or exceed the critical rate of gas evolution for a particular product while improving the nutritional properties of the product. Also described is a method of making a refrigerated dough product. This method involves making a dough from ingredients including an unencapsulated base, an unencapsulated expansion leavening acid, and an unencapsulated pressurization leavening acid. The dough is placed within a package, which is sealed from within by action of the expansion leavening acid and the base. Pressure is then generated inside the package by action of the pressurization leavening acid and the base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2009
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Inventors: Bruce W. Robb, Liza B. Levin, Abdel Abdelrahman
  • Patent number: 6745672
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an improved apparatus for processing dough intermediates that are less developed, softer or which have enhanced water or moisture levels. More specifically, the present invention relates to the use of an improved dough transport module, that has one or more protuberances extending generally perpendicularly from a supporting surface which supports the dough intermediate for a sufficient interval of time during processing so as to eliminate the waste and loss of dough intermediates prior to processing or packaging steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: The Pillsbury Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Samayoa, Jeffrey L. Casper, J. Kofi A. Mensah, Dennis B. Usgaard, Bruce W. Robb, James W. Finkowski