Patents by Inventor Hershell R. Ball

Hershell R. Ball 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: 9781948
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the formulation and process for preparation of a fried egg product that may be frozen for future heating in a microwave or other oven or griddle, for consumption by an individual. Various ingredients are added and mixed to each of the liquid egg white and liquid egg yolk portions. The liquid egg white portion is preheated and then deposited within a mold for slow cooking under controlled temperature and humidity conditions. The liquid egg yolk portion is preheated and then added to the mold for placement on the egg white portion. Following a short period of cooking, the mold containing the formulated fried eggs is transported to a freezer unit for freezing, then is removed from the mold for packaging and storage. At a future time, the frozen formulated fried egg product may be thawed and reheated for consumption by an individual.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Michael Foods of Delaware, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan A. Merkle, Hershell R. Ball, Jason W. Mathews
  • Patent number: 7833562
    Abstract: A liquid egg product including particulates and the methods of producing the same. The particulates are combined with starch and water or egg whites or egg substitute to form a particulate stream, which is thermally treated prior to combining with an appropriate amount of egg white or egg substitute. The resulting egg product is a ready to cook combination of egg white or egg substitute and particulates that has an extended refrigerated shelf life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Michael Foods, Inc.
    Inventors: Hershell R. Ball, Kelli Schlagel, Jonathan A. Merkle, Ted A. Kurpgeweit
  • Patent number: 6455094
    Abstract: The present invention provides the discovery that efficient heating of shell eggs can be achieved using convection currents of humidity controlled air. The humidity controlled air heating process described herein provides an efficient and attractive means of pre-heating and/or pasteurizing (i.e., pre-heating and holding) intact shell eggs. Also provided are pasteurized shell eggs produced by the inventive methods. As further aspects, the present invention also provides methods of cooling shell eggs as well as surface sanitizing shell eggs using humidity controlled air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignees: Michael Foods, Inc., Belovo S.A.
    Inventors: Hershell R. Ball, Fabien De Meester, James D. Schuman
  • Patent number: RE46654
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the formulation and process for preparation of a fried egg product which may be frozen for future heating within a microwave or other oven for consumption by an individual. Various ingredients are added and mixed to each of the liquid egg white and liquid yolk portions. The liquid egg white portion is preheated and then deposited within a mold for slow cooking under controlled temperature and humidity conditions. The liquid yolk portion is preheated and then is added to the mold for placement on the egg white portion. Following a short period of cooking the mold containing the formulated fried eggs is transported to a freezer unit for freezing, packaging, and storage. At a future time the frozen formulated fried egg product may be retrieved for thawing and cooking for consumption by an individual.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Michael Foods of Delaware, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan A. Merkle, Hershell R. Ball, Jason W. Mathews