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).
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Patent number: 8735786Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 14, 2009Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: ConAgra Foods RDM, Inc.Inventors: Charles Thomas Gorman, David W. France, Clifton Lachmansingh, Paul John Warosh
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Patent number: 8613249Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 3, 2007Date of Patent: December 24, 2013Assignee: ConAgra Foods RDM, Inc.Inventors: David W. France, Adam Pawlick
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Patent number: 8610039Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 13, 2010Date of Patent: December 17, 2013Assignee: ConAgra Foods RDM, Inc.Inventors: David W. France, Charles Thomas Gorman, Clifton Lachmansingh, Paul John Warosh, Steven P. Swanlund
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Publication number: 20130011526Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2012Publication date: January 10, 2013Applicant: CONAGRA FOODS RDM, INC.Inventors: ADAM PAWLICK, KEITH GOERL, MICHAEL R. OPAT, JR., JULIA A. ZIELKE, STEVEN R. BAKER, DAVID W. FRANCE
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Patent number: 8302528Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 24, 2007Date of Patent: November 6, 2012Assignee: ConAgra Foods RDM, Inc.Inventors: Adam Pawlick, Keith Goerl, Michael R. Opat, Jr., Julia A. Zielke, Steven R. Baker, David W. France
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Publication number: 20120061385Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2010Publication date: March 15, 2012Applicant: CONAGRA FOODS RDM, INC.Inventors: David W. France, Charles Thomas Gorman, Clifton Lachmansingh, Paul John Warosh, Steven P. Swanlund
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Publication number: 20110120992Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 23, 2010Publication date: May 26, 2011Applicant: 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
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Publication number: 20100183773Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 19, 2010Publication date: July 22, 2010Applicant: 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
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Publication number: 20100068353Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2009Publication date: March 18, 2010Applicant: ConAgra Foods RDM, Inc.Inventors: Charles Thomas Gorman, David W. France, Clifton Lachmansingh, Paul John Warosh
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Publication number: 20090078125Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 24, 2007Publication date: March 26, 2009Inventors: Adam Pawlick, Keith Goerl, Michael R. Opat, JR., Julia A. Zielke, Steven R. Baker, David W. France
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Publication number: 20090035433Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 3, 2007Publication date: February 5, 2009Inventors: David W. France, Adam Pawlick
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Publication number: 20080069485Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 19, 2007Publication date: March 20, 2008Inventors: David W. France, Sharla Kurz, Natalie Roesler, Steven R. Baker, Anna Miskovsky
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Patent number: D635816Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2009Date of Patent: April 12, 2011Inventors: David W. France, Steven Robert Baker
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Patent number: D635817Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2010Date of Patent: April 12, 2011Inventors: David W. France, Steven Robert Baker
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Patent number: D636218Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2009Date of Patent: April 19, 2011Inventors: David W. France, Steven Robert Baker
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Patent number: D653495Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2010Date of Patent: February 7, 2012Assignee: ConAgra Foods RDM, Inc.Inventors: David W. France, Steven Robert Baker
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Patent number: D671012Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2011Date of Patent: November 20, 2012Assignee: ConAgra Foods RDM, Inc.Inventors: David W. France, Clifton Lachmansingh
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Patent number: D703547Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2011Date of Patent: April 29, 2014Assignee: ConAgra Foods RDM, Inc.Inventors: David W. France, Clifton Lachmansingh