Patents by Inventor Terry T. Kirihara

Terry T. Kirihara 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: 10150935
    Abstract: Non-allergenic natural nut essential oil are derived from natural nut materials having 100 ppb or less protein such as nut butters by steam distillation or solvent extraction. The essential nut oils are preferably dissolved in a liquid edible carrier for use as nut flavor ingredients for food products. The food products flavored with such low protein essential nut oils are hypo allergenic. Methods of preparing the nut essential oils as well as methods of preparing nut flavored food products are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventor: Terry T. Kirihara
  • Patent number: 8221810
    Abstract: Icing coated shelf stable high fiber toaster pastry product or packaged consumer food articles are provided as well as their methods of preparation comprising high levels of a soluble fiber ingredient partitioned between the shell, filling and the icing. The present articles comprise an homogeneous baked chemically leavened soluble fiber fortified pastry dough planar shell forming an interior. The fiber fortified dough includes whole grain wheat flour; salt, chemical leavening, shortening, and ?1-15% added solid powdered polydextrose and in amounts sufficient to provide a total fiber content of the dough of at least 5%. At least a portion of the chemical leavening is provided by ammonium carbonate and in amounts sufficient to provide the dough with a specific baked volume of 1.5 cc/g or greater. The filling includes a liquid soluble fiber ingredient such as polydextrose. The articles are equivalent to conventional toaster pastries in eating qualities notwithstanding their high levels of total fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: General Mills IP Holdings II, LLC
    Inventors: Patrick E. Allen, Dean F. Funk, Terry T. Kirihara
  • Publication number: 20100104698
    Abstract: Non-allergenic natural nut essential oil are derived from natural nut materials having 100 ppb or less protein such as nut butters by steam distillation or solvent extraction. The essential nut oils are preferably dissolved in a liquid edible carrier for use as nut flavor ingredients for food products. The food products flavored with such low protein essential nut oils are hypo allergenic. Methods of preparing the nut essential oils as well as methods of preparing nut flavored food products are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Inventor: Terry T. Kirihara
  • Publication number: 20100104693
    Abstract: Icing coated shelf stable high fiber toaster pastry product or packaged consumer food articles are provided as well as their methods of preparation comprising high levels of a soluble fiber ingredient partitioned between the shell, filling and the icing. The present articles comprise an homogeneous baked chemically leavened soluble fiber fortified pastry dough planar shell forming an interior. The fiber fortified dough includes whole grain wheat flour; salt, chemical leavening, shortening, and ?1-15% added solid powdered polydextrose and in amounts sufficient to provide a total fiber content of the dough of at least 5%. At least a portion of the chemical leavening is provided by ammonium carbonate and in amounts sufficient to provide the dough with a specific baked volume of 1.5 cc/g or greater. The filling includes a liquid soluble fiber ingredient such as polydextrose. The articles are equivalent to conventional toaster pastries in eating qualities notwithstanding their high levels of total fiber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Inventors: Patrick E. Allen, Dean F. Funk, Terry T. Kirihara
  • Publication number: 20090285946
    Abstract: Improved high fiber shredded whole wheat cereal biscuits and their methods of preparation are provided. The methods include adding finely milled bran to tempered cooked whole wheat berries to form a blend. Masa (corn) bran is preferred. The methods include thereafter shredding the bran fiber fortified cooked whole wheat berries to form shredded mats and then forming the shredded mats into desired shaped and sized finished breakfast cereal pieces such as bite sized biscuits or nuggets. By adding the finely milled bran immediately prior to shredding, high levels of fiber fortification can be obtained while avoiding minimizing bran-speckled finished products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2009
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Inventors: Terry T. Kirihara, Jonathan E. Trautz
  • Patent number: 7235276
    Abstract: Disclosed are ready-to-eat puffed dried food products that are high both in protein and in fiber. The cereals contain sufficient amounts of at least one protein ingredient to provide a total protein content about 50% to 75% (dry weight) of the cooked food product; sufficient amounts of at least one dietary fiber ingredient to provide a total fiber content of about 1-45% (dry weight); and sufficient amounts of a starch containing ingredient to provide a starch content of about 5-45%. The food products have a crush strength raging from about 0.25 to 3.5 kg/cm3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: General Mills IP Holdings II, LLC
    Inventors: Patrick E. Allen, Gregory Flickinger, Terry T. Kirihara, Steven C. Robie
  • Patent number: 6746707
    Abstract: Disclosed are dried laminated multi-layered cereal pieces, especially R-T-E breakfast products, and methods of preparation. In particular, the cereal pieces are characterized by a highly laminated structure comprising a multiplicity of generally horizontal thin parallel layers numbering at least four to 20 each of—100-500 micrometers (“&mgr;m”) thickness fabricated from cooked cereal dough with interstitial voids between the layers. The pieces can vary in shape and range from bite-sized to biscuit-sized. The interstitial void spaces between layers average 0.8 millimeters. This laminated structure creates cereal pieces having a distinctive texture and appearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Dawn L. M. Krysiak, Patrick E. Allen, Terry T. Kirihara
  • Publication number: 20030134010
    Abstract: Disclosed are dried laminated multi-layered cereal pieces, especially R-T-E breakfast products, and methods of preparation. In particular, the cereal pieces are characterized by a highly laminated structure comprising a multiplicity of generally horizontal thin parallel layers numbering at least four to 20 each of—100-500 micrometers (“&mgr;m”) thickness fabricated from cooked cereal dough with interstitial voids between the layers. The pieces can vary in shape and range from bite-sized to biscuit-sized. The interstitial void spaces between layers average 0.8 millimeters. This laminated structure creates cereal pieces having a distinctive texture and appearance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2002
    Publication date: July 17, 2003
    Inventors: Dawn L.M. Krysiak, Patrick E. Allen, Terry T. Kirihara