Patents by Inventor Thomas M. Collins

Thomas M. Collins 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).

  • Publication number: 20240084345
    Abstract: Methods for converting mixtures of anthocyanins occurring in fruit or vegetable juice or extract into particular anthocyanin molecules having desirable colorant properties are provided herein. The method of the present disclosure can be employed to increase the amount of particular anthocyanin molecules, while lowering the total number of anthocyanin molecules present in the natural juice and/or extract. The disclosure is also directed to anthocyanin molecules prepared by the methods of present disclosure and to enzymes capable of catalyzing reactions that provide such effects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Applicants: MARS, INCORPORATED, THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Thomas M. Collins, Rebecca J. Robbins, Randall Powers, Justin Siegel, Pamela Ruth Denish, Kathryn Gwendolyn Guggenheim
  • Patent number: 11753664
    Abstract: Methods for converting mixtures of anthocyanins occurring in fruit or vegetable juice or extract into particular anthocyanin molecules having desirable colorant properties are provided herein. The method of the present disclosure can be employed to increase the amount of particular anthocyanin molecules, while lowering the total number of anthocyanin molecules present in the natural juice and/or extract. The disclosure is also directed to anthocyanin molecules prepared by the methods of present disclosure and to enzymes capable of catalyzing reactions that provide such effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignees: MARS, INCORPORATED, THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Thomas M. Collins, Rebecca J. Robbins, Randall Powers, Justin Siegel, Pamela Ruth Denish, Kathryn Gwendolyn Guggenheim
  • Publication number: 20230217950
    Abstract: Alcohol-based, edible ink formulations comprising scalenohedral calcium carbonate particles are provided. The calcium carbonate particles can act as a white pigment to impart white color properties to the edible ink formulations. The edible ink formulations can be printed onto a variety of surfaces, including the surfaces of food products such as confectionery products and snack food products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2023
    Publication date: July 13, 2023
    Inventors: Thomas M. COLLINS, David W. STEFANY
  • Publication number: 20230157330
    Abstract: Edible colorant compositions containing a monoacylated anthocyanin of Compound I and methods of use are provided. The colorant compositions include at least the monoacylated anthocyanin colorant of Compound I extracted from red cabbage and a metal ion, and have a pH from about 6.0 to about 8.0. The colorant compositions can be derived from a non-artificial product and provide a stable, blue colorant that can be used in food products. Specifically, the monoacylated anthocyanin colorant provides color characteristics similar to those provided by the artificial blue colorant, FD&C Blue No. 1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2023
    Publication date: May 25, 2023
    Inventors: Thomas M. COLLINS, Rebecca J. ROBBINS, Randall POWERS
  • Publication number: 20220340941
    Abstract: Methods for converting mixtures of anthocyanins occurring in fruit or vegetable juice or extract into particular anthocyanin molecules having desirable colorant properties are provided herein. The method of the present disclosure can be employed to increase the amount of particular anthocyanin molecules, while lowering the total number of anthocyanin molecules present in the natural juice and/or extract. The disclosure is also directed to anthocyanin molecules prepared by the methods of present disclosure and to enzymes capable of catalyzing reactions that provide such effects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2022
    Publication date: October 27, 2022
    Applicants: MARS, INCORPORATED, THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Thomas M. COLLINS, Rebecca J. ROBBINS, Randall POWERS, Justin SIEGEL, Pamela Ruth DENISH, Kathryn Gwendolyn GUGGENHEIM
  • Publication number: 20220279809
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a novel method of preparing fat-based confectionery products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2020
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Inventors: Armando J. CASTRO, Barry David GLAZIER, Eyal M. BEN-YOSEPH, Chia-Hua HSU, Sara KELLEY, Emine UNLU, Neil A. WILLCOCKS, Thomas M. COLLINS
  • Publication number: 20220279807
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a novel food ingredient, namely spray dried cacao pulp and spray dried cacao pulp on a carrier and methods of preparing and using the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2020
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Inventors: Armando J. CASTRO, Barry David GLAZIER, Eyal M. BEN-YOSEPH, Chia-Hua HSU, Sara KELLEY, Emine UNLU, Neil A. WILLCOCKS, Thomas M. COLLINS
  • Patent number: 11326994
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides for parallel sample stress rupture test in a controlled environment by loading predefined amounts of weight on stack lines; positioning the stack lines on a tensioning platform in alignment with respective upper clamps when the tensioning platform is a first distance away from the upper clamps; clamping samples to a corresponding lower clamp and upper clamp pair; and moving the tensioning platform to a second distance away from the upper clamps that is greater than the first distance such that the stack lines are suspended above the tensioning platform to apply individual tensions to the individual samples based on the predefined amount of weight loaded onto the individual stack lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Dennis L. Coad, Alan Buitekant, Douglas E. Bailey, James E. Russell, Patrick D. McAllister, Thomas M. Collins, Victor L. Alonso
  • Publication number: 20210315240
    Abstract: Edible colorant compositions containing a monoacylated anthocyanin of Compound I and methods of use are provided. The colorant compositions include at least the monoacylated anthocyanin colorant of Compound I extracted from red cabbage and a metal ion, and have a pH from about 6.0 to about 8.0. The colorant compositions can be derived from a non-artificial product and provide a stable, blue colorant that can be used in food products. Specifically, the monoacylated anthocyanin colorant provides color characteristics similar to those provided by the artificial blue colorant, FD&C Blue No. 1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2019
    Publication date: October 14, 2021
    Inventors: Thomas M. COLLINS, Rebecca J. ROBBINS, Randall POWERS
  • Publication number: 20210259275
    Abstract: Alcohol water-based, edible ink formulations comprising scalenohedral calcium carbonate particles are provided. The calcium carbonate particles can act as a white pigment to impart white color properties to the edible ink formulations which provide improved print quality and durability. The edible ink formulations can be printed onto a variety of surfaces, including the surfaces of food products such as confectionery products and snack food products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Inventors: Thomas M. COLLINS, David W. STEFANY, Kevin STANTON
  • Publication number: 20210215588
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides for parallel sample stress rupture test in a controlled environment by loading predefined amounts of weight on stack lines; positioning the stack lines on a tensioning platform in alignment with respective upper clamps when the tensioning platform is a first distance away from the upper clamps; clamping samples to a corresponding lower clamp and upper clamp pair; and moving the tensioning platform to a second distance away from the upper clamps that is greater than the first distance such that the stack lines are suspended above the tensioning platform to apply individual tensions to the individual samples based on the predefined amount of weight loaded onto the individual stack lines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2020
    Publication date: July 15, 2021
    Inventors: Dennis L. COAD, Alan BUITEKANT, Douglas E. BAILEY, James E. RUSSELL, Patrict D. MCALLISTER, Thomas M. COLLINS, Victor L. ALONSO
  • Patent number: 10750761
    Abstract: Natural blue colorant compositions and methods of use thereof are provided. The colorant compositions include at least one acylated anthocyanin, such as a diacylated anthocyanin. The colorant composition can further include a buffer solution having a pH from about 6.0 to about 8.0 and a metal ion or salt form thereof. The colorant compositions can be derived from a natural product and provide a stable, blue colorant that can be used in food products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: MARS, INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Rebecca J. Robbins, Thomas M. Collins, Maria Monica Giusti, Gregory Sigurdson
  • Patent number: 10736334
    Abstract: There is provided a hard panned coating, and a hard panned confection comprising an edible core coated with the same. The hard panned coating comprises multiple sugar syrup layers, only some of which further comprise one or more sucrose esters. In some embodiments, titanium dioxide may be excluded from the sugar syrup/sucrose ester layers. In these, and other, embodiments, the hard panned coatings exhibit one or more L*, a* and b* values within 5% of the corresponding value of a colorant overcoat applied over a precoat comprising titanium dioxide. Raw material cost savings are thus provided, while yet providing a confection having enhanced properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: MARS, INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Rebecca J. Robbins, Barbara Stawski, Thomas M. Collins
  • Publication number: 20200000117
    Abstract: There is provided a center coated with a hard sugar shell surrounding the center. The hard shell includes one or more first sugar layers, and an additional coating layer over the one or more first sugar layers. Additionally provided is a method for producing the coated center with an atomized sugar spray.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Inventors: Eyal M. BEN-YOSEPH, Cameron L. REID, Colin E. ORR, Peter Thomas KASHULINES JR., Thomas M. COLLINS, Devin W. O'CONNOR
  • Publication number: 20190357561
    Abstract: Alcohol-based, edible ink formulations comprising scalenohedral calcium carbonate particles are provided. The calcium carbonate particles can act as a white pigment to impart white color properties to the edible ink formulations. The edible ink formulations can be printed onto a variety of surfaces, including the surfaces of food products such as confectionery products and snack food products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2017
    Publication date: November 28, 2019
    Inventors: Thomas M. COLLINS, David W. STEFANY
  • Patent number: 10119029
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of isolating fractions of anthocyanin molecules from anthocyanin-containing vegetable and fruit juices and extracts, or combinations thereof, at a select pH based on differences in polarity of the anthocyanin molecules in the anthocyanin-containing vegetable and fruit juices and extracts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignees: Mars, Incorporated, The Ohio State University
    Inventors: Rebecca J. Robbins, J. Christopher Johnson, Thomas M. Collins, Neda Ahmadiani, M. Monica Giusti
  • Publication number: 20170204269
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of isolating fractions of anthocyanin molecules from anthocyanin-containing vegetable and fruit juices and extracts, or combinations thereof, at a select pH based on differences in polarity of the anthocyanin molecules in the anthocyanin-containing vegetable and fruit juices and extracts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2017
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Applicants: MARS, INCORPORATED, THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Rebecca J. Robbins, J. Christopher Johnson, Thomas M. Collins, Neda Ahmadiani, M. Monica Giusti
  • Patent number: 9598581
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of isolating fractions of anthocyanin molecules from anthocyanin-containing vegetable and fruit juices and extracts, or combinations thereof, at a select pH based on differences in polarity of the anthocyanin molecules in the anthocyanin-containing vegetable and fruit juices and extracts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignees: MARS, INCORPORATED, THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Rebecca J. Robbins, J. Christopher Johnson, Thomas M. Collins, Neda Ahmadiani, M. Monica Giusti
  • Publication number: 20170000169
    Abstract: Natural blue colorant compositions and methods of use thereof are provided. The colorant compositions include at least one acylated anthocyanin, such as a diacylated anthocyanin. The colorant composition can further include a buffer solution having a pH from about 6.0 to about 8.0 and a metal ion or salt form thereof. The colorant compositions can be derived from a natural product and provide a stable, blue colorant that can be used in food products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Inventors: Rebecca J. Robbins, Thomas M. Collins, Maria Monica Giusti, Gregory Sigurdson
  • Patent number: D764579
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Myriad Genetics, Inc.
    Inventors: Cindy H. Solomon, Karla R. Bowles, Brian A. Allen, Eric T. Rosenthal, Christopher Ho, Kirsten H. Trahan, Thomas M. Collins, Devin Howells