Patents by Inventor David W. France

David W. France 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: 8735786
    Abstract: A microwave popcorn package includes a flexible bag construction reinforced with a sidewall construction. The package is such that the flexible bag construction and the sidewall construction are expandable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration. After the package is opened, the sidewall construction provides for a vertically rigid sidewall to provide a stand up bowl for access to the popped popcorn. The flexible bag construction may be fabricated from a generally transparent material so that the contents of the bag are visible when the package is in the expanded configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: ConAgra Foods RDM, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Thomas Gorman, David W. France, Clifton Lachmansingh, Paul John Warosh
  • Patent number: 8613249
    Abstract: A cooking apparatus facilitates cooking with a heated/boiling liquid of a food item by utilizing a cooking bag, a cooking tray, and/or a cooking film. A food product that utilizes the cooking apparatus and food items produces cooked food that may be plateable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: ConAgra Foods RDM, Inc.
    Inventors: David W. France, Adam Pawlick
  • Patent number: 8610039
    Abstract: A vent assembly includes a bag construction configured to contain a food product such as a popcorn charge. The bag construction is formed of at least one sheet of polyester film material and configured to expand from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration when the food product is heated in a microwave oven. The vent assembly includes a first portion of the bag construction and a second portion of the bag construction that is configured to be folded against the first portion. The second portion includes a venting structure formed in the sheet of polyester material. An adhesive is applied to at least one of the first portion or the second portion. The adhesive is configured to adhere the first portion to the second portion so that the vent is at least partially sealed while the bag construction is in the collapsed configuration and to release the first portion from the second portion as the bag construction expands to the expanded configuration to allow the vent to at least partially open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: ConAgra Foods RDM, Inc.
    Inventors: David W. France, Charles Thomas Gorman, Clifton Lachmansingh, Paul John Warosh, Steven P. Swanlund
  • Publication number: 20130011526
    Abstract: An ovenable cooking apparatus for facilitating the cooking of food components while maintaining the separateness thereof may include a first container for holding a first food component, and a second container for holding a second food component. The separation of the first food component from the second food component maintains the surface area for the first and second food components to facilitate heating of the first and second food components. The first food component may have a liquid based content for producing steam when heated, and one or both of the first container and the second container may define a passage for providing airflow and steam flow for contacting the second container and/or the second foodstuff and heating or steaming the second food component. Additionally, the second container may be steam impermeable for cooking bread and the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: CONAGRA FOODS RDM, INC.
    Inventors: ADAM PAWLICK, KEITH GOERL, MICHAEL R. OPAT, JR., JULIA A. ZIELKE, STEVEN R. BAKER, DAVID W. FRANCE
  • Patent number: 8302528
    Abstract: An ovenable cooking apparatus for facilitating the cooking of food components while maintaining the separateness thereof may include a first container for holding a first food component, and a second container for holding a second food component. The separation of the first food component from the second food component maintains the surface area for the first and second food components to facilitate heating of the first and second food components. The first food component may have a liquid based content for producing steam when heated, and one or both of the first container and the second container may define a passage for providing airflow and steam flow for contacting the second container and/or the second foodstuff and heating or steaming the second food component. Additionally, the second container may be steam impermeable for cooking bread and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: ConAgra Foods RDM, Inc.
    Inventors: Adam Pawlick, Keith Goerl, Michael R. Opat, Jr., Julia A. Zielke, Steven R. Baker, David W. France
  • Publication number: 20120061385
    Abstract: A vent assembly for a microwave cooking package is disclosed. The microwave cooking package includes a bag construction that is formed of at least one sheet of polyester film material and configured to expand from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration when the food product is heated. The vent assembly includes a first portion and a second portion of the bag construction that is configured to be folded against the first portion. The second portion includes a venting structure formed in the sheet of polyester material. An adhesive is configured to adhere the first portion to the second portion so the vent is at least partially sealed while the bag construction is in the collapsed configuration and to release the first portion from the second portion as the bag construction expands to the expanded configuration to allow the vent to at least partially open.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: CONAGRA FOODS RDM, INC.
    Inventors: David W. France, Charles Thomas Gorman, Clifton Lachmansingh, Paul John Warosh, Steven P. Swanlund
  • Publication number: 20110120992
    Abstract: Microwave cooking packages suitable for use as microwave popcorn packages include at least one panel (e.g., first and second panels) formed of a vertically rigid material. A flexible portion is attached to the panels. The flexible portion may be formed of a polyester film material such as a biaxially-oriented polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film, which may be at least partially transparent. The flexible portion (and panels) defines a bag construction configured to contain a popcorn charge and to be expandable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration when the popcorn charge is subjected to a popping operation. The microwave cooking package may include a vent assembly configured to at least partially open when the bag configuration is in an expanded configuration to vent the bag construction. The vent assembly includes a first portion a second portion of the bag construction that is configured to be folded against the first portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Applicant: CONAGRA FOODS RDM, INC.
    Inventors: Charles Thomas Gorman, David W. France, Clifton Lachmansingh, Paul John Warosh, Donald L. Greenwood, Joseph C. Walsh, Nicholas P. Lupfer, John Dougherty Culter
  • Publication number: 20100183773
    Abstract: A package assembly includes a container that is configured for expansion in a generally vertical direction between a collapsed state and an extended state. The container includes a sidewall having a first axial end portion and an oppositely disposed second axial end portion. The sidewall is vertically compressed in the collapsed state and configured for expansion in a generally vertical direction to the extended state. A base portion is engaged with the first axial end portion of the sidewall. The base portion and the sidewall cooperatively define an interior region having an opening. A cover is engaged with the second axial end portion of the sidewall. The cover is configured for covering the opening to the interior region during cooking or heating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2010
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Applicant: ConAgra Foods RDM, Inc.
    Inventors: Yolanda A. Malone, Donald L. Greenwood, David W. France, Alison Wong, Anthony Piazza, Anke Pierik, Jon Le Fors, Lynda Deakin, Lauren Shimek, Eric Toyofuku, Alexander Coriano, III, Grace Hwang, Emilie Lasseron, Suzanne Gibbs Howard
  • Publication number: 20100068353
    Abstract: A microwave popcorn package includes a flexible bag construction reinforced with a sidewall construction. The package is such that the flexible bag construction and the sidewall construction are expandable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration. After the package is opened, the sidewall construction provides for a vertically rigid sidewall to provide a stand up bowl for access to the popped popcorn. The flexible bag construction may be fabricated from a generally transparent material so that the contents of the bag are visible when the package is in the expanded configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2009
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Applicant: ConAgra Foods RDM, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Thomas Gorman, David W. France, Clifton Lachmansingh, Paul John Warosh
  • Publication number: 20090078125
    Abstract: An ovenable cooking apparatus for facilitating the cooking of food components while maintaining the separateness thereof may include a first container for holding a first food component, and a second container for holding a second food component. The separation of the first food component from the second food component maintains the surface area for the first and second food components to facilitate heating of the first and second food components. The first food component may have a liquid based content for producing steam when heated, and one or both of the first container and the second container may define a passage for providing airflow and steam flow for contacting the second container and/or the second foodstuff and heating or steaming the second food component. Additionally, the second container may be steam impermeable for cooking bread and the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2007
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Inventors: Adam Pawlick, Keith Goerl, Michael R. Opat, JR., Julia A. Zielke, Steven R. Baker, David W. France
  • Publication number: 20090035433
    Abstract: A cooking apparatus facilitates cooking with a heated/boiling liquid of a food item by utilizing a cooking bag, a cooking tray, and/or a cooking film. A food product that utilizes the cooking apparatus and food items produces cooked food that may be plateable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2007
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Inventors: David W. France, Adam Pawlick
  • Publication number: 20080069485
    Abstract: The storing device comprises a segment of a mesh material and an end for securing the mesh material. The secured mesh material is suitable for storing various items. The food product comprises a cooking apparatus and a foodstuff. The cooking apparatus comprises a steam permeable component for steam cooking a foodstuff. The cooking apparatus may further comprise a bag and/or a packet for steaming the foodstuff. The cooking apparatus allows concurrent steaming of the steam permeable component and the packet and/or the bag for steaming the foodstuff to substantial simultaneous steaming completion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2007
    Publication date: March 20, 2008
    Inventors: David W. France, Sharla Kurz, Natalie Roesler, Steven R. Baker, Anna Miskovsky
  • Patent number: D635816
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Inventors: David W. France, Steven Robert Baker
  • Patent number: D635817
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Inventors: David W. France, Steven Robert Baker
  • Patent number: D636218
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Inventors: David W. France, Steven Robert Baker
  • Patent number: D653495
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: ConAgra Foods RDM, Inc.
    Inventors: David W. France, Steven Robert Baker
  • Patent number: D671012
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: ConAgra Foods RDM, Inc.
    Inventors: David W. France, Clifton Lachmansingh
  • Patent number: D703547
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: ConAgra Foods RDM, Inc.
    Inventors: David W. France, Clifton Lachmansingh