Patents by Inventor Todd A. Rasmussen

Todd A. Rasmussen 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: 20240298652
    Abstract: Frozen un-proofed dough pieces are produced by cutting a dough sheet into strips and producing a score through an upper skin of each strip with at least one blunt deformation tool prior to freezing. The un-proofed dough pieces are formed by mass production, with an un-proofed dough sheet being cut to form dough strips which are then cut into the un-proofed dough pieces, with the score for each un-proofed dough piece being formed by pressing the upper skin of the dough down into the body of the dough, thereby deforming and pre-stressing the dough to create weak zones, either before, during or after the individual un-proofed dough pieces are actually created, but before freezing. Upon heating, openings are established in the upper skin along score lines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2024
    Publication date: September 12, 2024
    Applicant: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven J. Cox, Kara M. Hobart, Todd A. Rasmussen
  • Publication number: 20230345950
    Abstract: A plurality of dough pieces are produced using a rotary dough cutter comprises an annular cutter body configured to be rotatably driven, a plurality of arcuate sidewalls extending circumferentially about the cutter body, a plurality of radial divider walls extending across respective sidewalls, and a plurality of interior blades extending radially relative to the body between the sidewalls. The plurality of walls define a plurality of dough cutter molds. During conveying of a sheet of dough to the rotary dough cutter, the plurality of dough pieces are cut by the plurality of walls and scored with the plurality of interior blades. After being cut and scored, the dough pieces are removed from within the dough cutter molds with the assistance of a sequentially timed, regulated and adjustable fluid ejection system, and then frozen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2022
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Applicant: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Crosby, Ryan D. Gifford, Todd A. Rasmussen, Jeffrey David Reinke, Geoffrey P. Suski, Kara M. Hobart
  • Publication number: 20230329247
    Abstract: Frozen un-proofed dough pieces are produced by cutting a dough sheet into strips and producing a score through an upper skin of each strip with at least one blunt deformation tool prior to freezing. The un-proofed dough pieces are formed by mass production, with an un-proofed dough sheet being cut to form dough strips which are then cut into the un-proofed dough pieces, with the score for each un-proofed dough piece being formed by pressing the upper skin of the dough down into the body of the dough, thereby deforming and pre-stressing the dough to create weak zones, either before, during or after the individual un-proofed dough pieces are actually created, but before freezing. Upon heating, openings are established in the upper skin along score lines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2022
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Applicant: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven J. Cox, Kara M. Hobart, Todd A. Rasmussen
  • Patent number: 11730169
    Abstract: Frozen un-proofed dough pieces are produced by pinching an upper skin of an un-proofed dough body to a lower skin and producing a score through the upper skin prior to freezing. The un-proofed dough pieces are formed by mass production, with an un-proofed dough sheet being cut to form dough strips which are then cut into the un-proofed dough pieces, with the score for each un-proofed dough piece being formed either before, during or after the individual un-proofed dough pieces are actually created, but before freezing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Chad Arnall, Steven Cox, Paul Henderson, Kara M Hobart, Olivia Murch, Todd A Rasmussen, Michael Snyder, Rodney W Worthy
  • Publication number: 20230217934
    Abstract: A dividable dough sheet piece gives consumers enhanced flexibility in creating food items from pre-made sheeted dough. The dividable dough sheet piece is cut from a dough sheet, with the dividable dough sheet piece having a perimeter and including a plurality of interconnected, sub-pieces defined within the perimeter. Each sub-piece is defined by one or more lines of structural weakness that provide predetermined breaking points. The dividable dough sheet piece can be used as a whole or can be divided into the sub-pieces for alternative use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2022
    Publication date: July 13, 2023
    Applicant: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig E. Gustafson, Roberta Marie Langenfeld, Todd A. Rasmussen, Bruce W. Robb, Dalton Sherrill, Michael Snyder, Andrew Friend Souder, Kiara C. Camareno Vargas
  • Publication number: 20210235708
    Abstract: Frozen un-proofed dough pieces are produced by pinching an upper skin of an un-proofed dough body to a lower skin and producing a score through the upper skin prior to freezing. The un-proofed dough pieces are formed by mass production, with an un-proofed dough sheet being cut to form dough strips which are then cut into the un-proofed dough pieces, with the score for each un-proofed dough piece being formed either before, during or after the individual un-proofed dough pieces are actually created, but before freezing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2020
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Applicant: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Chad Arnall, Steven Cox, Paul Henderson, Kara M. Hobart, Olivia Murch, Todd A. Rasmussen, Michael Snyder, Rodney W. Worthy
  • Patent number: 10863861
    Abstract: A waffle sandwich maker includes first and second waffle plates which contact a food product during preparation of the food product. The first waffle plate includes a plurality of protrusions defining a plurality of channels, a female connector having a hole, a male connector having a protrusion and a first spacer extending inward relative to the plurality of protrusions. The pluralities of protrusions and channels create depressions and ridges in the food product. The protrusion of the male connector and the hole of the female connector of the first waffle plate mate with a hole of a female connector and a protrusion of a male connector of the second waffle plate. The first spacer contacts the second waffle plate during preparation of the food product, which includes an outer dough encapsulating a filling, to maintain the first waffle plate spaced at least approximately 0.5 inches from the second waffle plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Roberta M Langenfeld, Ralph A Stenvik, Lisa Swanson, Karla M Fuentes, Michele K. Wolf, Zachary Harder, Todd A Rasmussen, Bruce D Larson, Shannyn Stuart
  • Patent number: D744777
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Wenyi Wang, Jean A. Linforth, Kristi L. Bahe, James T. Buccellato, Jeremy B. Thompson, Todd A. Rasmussen
  • Patent number: D790153
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce D. Larson, Todd A. Rasmussen
  • Patent number: D790154
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce D. Larson, Jeremy B. Thompson, Todd A. Rasmussen, James D. Bosin, Benjamin R. Heyda
  • Patent number: D806472
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Roberta M Langenfeld, Ralph A Stenvik, Lisa Swanson, Karla M Fuentes, Michele K. Wolf, Zachary Harder, Todd A Rasmussen, Bruce D Larson, Shannyn Stuart
  • Patent number: D1072587
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2025
    Assignee: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Jose Daniel Estrada Andino, John James Fenske, Lindsey Golinski, Todd A. Rasmussen