Patents by Inventor Mario Mikula

Mario Mikula 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: 8348107
    Abstract: A food dispensing apparatus comprises a first shell, at least one second shell disposed within the first shell, a nozzle coupled to the first shell and the at least one second shell, and a check valve disposed in the nozzle and coupled to the at least one second shell. The at least one second shell is suitable for containing a food component. The food dispensing apparatus is suitable for preventing air from entering the at least one second shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Inventors: Jorge Succar, David C. Sorrick, Mario Mikula, Lorenzo Brescia
  • Publication number: 20100075001
    Abstract: A food dispensing apparatus comprises a first shell, at least one second shell disposed within the first shell, a nozzle coupled to the first shell and the at least one second shell, and a check valve disposed in the nozzle and coupled to the at least one second shell. The at least one second shell is suitable for containing a food component. The food dispensing apparatus is suitable for preventing air from entering the at least one second shell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2008
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Applicant: ConAgra Foods RDM, Inc.
    Inventors: Jorge Succar, David C. Sorrick, Mario Mikula, Lorenzo Brescia
  • Publication number: 20070218173
    Abstract: A process for the production of coextruded collagen encased food products, such as meat products, and the resulting meat products. The process includes the extrusion of a meat emulsion with an amount of a collagen gel that includes a cross-linking agent coating the exterior of the meat emulsion. Further, the coated meat emulsion is exposed to a coagulation solution that includes an amount of a alkalinity agent, with a pH range of 10 to 14. The coagulation solution hardens the collagen casing meat product producing a final meat product with a casing strength of greater than 500 g.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2006
    Publication date: September 20, 2007
    Inventors: Michael Shulman, Mario Mikula, Joseph Bohac, Matt Foral, Behic Mert
  • Patent number: 6808728
    Abstract: Disclosed is a multi-layered, dessert product, such as a pudding product, made from a gel having a continuous aqueous phase and a dispersed colloidal oil phase. The dessert product has at least one layer that contains a natural, oil soluble colorant, preferably dispersed in the oil phase. The products are formed of a layer containing a first colorant and an adjacent layer containing a second, different colorant. The multi-layered gel-based dessert products are made by introducing a gel-based dessert product containing the first colorant into the bottom of a transparent container to form a first layer and then introducing additional gel-based product containing the second colorant into the container to form a second layer on top to the first. The resulting multi-layer product exhibits reduced color migration between the two layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: ConAgra Grocery Products Company
    Inventors: Ann E. A. Hashisaka, Virender Sethi, Amy Lammert, Mario Mikula
  • Patent number: 6743455
    Abstract: Disclosed is a multi-layer gel-based food product, such as pudding, in which color migration from one layer to an adjacent layer is minimized. The multi-layer food product comprises a first milk-based, gel-based layer containing a dispersed oil phase and an oil soluble color within the oil phase. The first gel-based layer has a first color. A second gel-based layer, preferably also a milk-based layer, is adjacent the first gel-based layer. The second gel-based layer has a second color different from the first color. To further minimize color migration, the second gel-based layer can also contain a dispersed oil phase and an oil soluble color within the oil phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: ConAgra Grocery Products Company
    Inventors: Ann E. A. Hashisaka, Virender Sethi, Amy Lammert, Mario Mikula
  • Patent number: 6645540
    Abstract: Disclosed is a multi-layered, gel-based dessert product, such as a pudding product, formed of a gel-based layer containing a first colorant and an adjacent gel-based layer containing a second, different colorant, at least one of the colorants being a negatively charged caramel colorant. The dessert product is made by introducing gel-based dessert product containing the first colorant into the bottom of a transparent container to form a first layer and then introducing additional gel-based product containing the container to form a second layer on top to the first. The resulting multi-layer product exhibits reduced color migration between the two layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: ConAgra Grocery Products Company
    Inventors: Ann E. A. Hashisaka, Virender Sethi, Amy Lammert, Mario Mikula
  • Publication number: 20030044494
    Abstract: Disclosed is a multi-layer gel-based food product, such as pudding, in which color migration from one layer to an adjacent layer is minimized. The multi-layer food product comprises a first milk-based, gel-based layer containing a dispersed oil phase and an oil soluble color within the oil phase. The first gel-based layer has a first color. A second gel-based layer, preferably also a milk-based layer, is adjacent the first gel-based layer. The second gel-based layer has a second color different from the first color. To further minimize color migration, the second gel-based layer can also contain a dispersed oil phase and an oil soluble color within the oil phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2002
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Applicant: ConAgra Grocery Products Company
    Inventors: Ann E. A. Hashisaka, Virender Sethi, Amy Lammert, Mario Mikula
  • Patent number: 6488975
    Abstract: Disclosed is a modified cocoa powder prepared by extracting a cocoa powder containing water-soluble solids with water to remove a substantial portion of the water-soluble solids. Generally, the extraction level is from about 5 to about 60. The resulting, water-extracted cocoa powder is useful in preparing multi-layered, gel-based dessert products, such as puddings, having a first gel-based layer and an adjacent second gel-based layer, at least one of the layers containing the water-extracted cocoa powder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: Conagra Grocery Product Company
    Inventors: Virender Sethi, Amy Lammert, Mario Mikula, Constantine Sandu
  • Publication number: 20020034564
    Abstract: Disclosed is a multi-layered, gel-based dessert product, such as a pudding product, formed of a gel-based layer containing a first colorant and an adjacent gel-based layer containing a second, different colorant, at least one of the colorants being a negatively charged caramel colorant. The dessert product is made by introducing gel-based dessert product containing the first colorant into the bottom of a transparent container to form a first layer and then introducing additional gel-based product containing the container to form a second layer on top to the first. The resulting multi-layer product exhibits reduced color migration between the two layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2001
    Publication date: March 21, 2002
    Inventors: Ann E. A. Hashisaka, Virender Sethi, Amy Lammert, Mario Mikula
  • Publication number: 20010051199
    Abstract: Disclosed is a multi-layered, dessert product, such as a pudding product, made from a gel having a continuous aqueous phase and a dispersed colloidal oil phase. The dessert product has at least one layer that contains a natural, oil soluble colorant, preferably dispersed in the oil phase. The products are formed of a layer containing a first colorant and an adjacent layer containing a second, different colorant. The multi-layered gel-based dessert products are made by introducing a gel-based dessert product containing the first colorant into the bottom of a transparent container to form a first layer and then introducing additional gel-based product containing the second colorant into the container to form a second layer on top to the first. The resulting multi-layer product exhibits reduced color migration between the two layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 1999
    Publication date: December 13, 2001
    Inventors: ANN E.A. HASHISAKA, VIRENDER SETHI, AMY LAMMERT, MARIO MIKULA
  • Patent number: 6294213
    Abstract: Disclosed is a multi-layered, gel-based dessert product, such as a pudding product, formed of a gel-based layer containing a first colorant and an adjacent gel-based layer containing a second, different colorant, at least one of the colorants being a negatively charged caramel colorant. The dessert product is made by introducing gel-based dessert product containing the first colorant into the bottom of a transparent container to form a first layer and then introducing additional gel-based product containing the container to form a second layer on top to the first. The resulting multi-layer product exhibits reduced color migration between the two layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: ConAgra Grocery Products Company
    Inventors: Ann E. A. Hashisaka, Virender Sethi, Amy Lammert, Mario Mikula