Patents by Inventor Zachary Harder

Zachary Harder 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: 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: 10357050
    Abstract: A product conveying and coating system includes at least first and second, sequentially arranged conveyor belts, with at least the second conveyor belt being a solid belt. Interposed in a gap between the first and second belts is a dispenser head of a coating manifold. The dispenser head spans the gap between upper surface portions of the first and second conveyor belts, with an elongated side wall outlet portion of the dispenser head being exposed, in a downstream direction of the overall conveyor unit, to the upper surface of the second conveyor belt. The system provides for dispensing of coating material directly onto the second, solid conveyor belt and enrobing at least bottom and partial side portions of food products upon the solid belt. Provisions are made for scraping from the solid belt, removing from the coated food products and recycling excess coating material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas E Heinzen, Zachary Harder
  • Publication number: 20180146823
    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: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2016
    Publication date: May 31, 2018
    Inventors: Roberta M Langenfeld, Ralph A Stenvik, Lisa Swanson, Karla M Fuentes, Michele K. Wolf, Zachary Harder
  • Publication number: 20180049452
    Abstract: A product conveying and coating system includes at least first and second, sequentially arranged conveyor belts, with at least the second conveyor belt being a solid belt. Interposed in a gap between the first and second belts is a dispenser head of a coating manifold. The dispenser head spans the gap between upper surface portions of the first and second conveyor belts, with an elongated side wall outlet portion of the dispenser head being exposed, in a downstream direction of the overall conveyor unit, to the upper surface of the second conveyor belt. The system provides for dispensing of coating material directly onto the second, solid conveyor belt and enrobing at least bottom and partial side portions of food products upon the solid belt. Provisions are made for scraping from the solid belt, removing from the coated food products and recycling excess coating material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2017
    Publication date: February 22, 2018
    Applicant: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas E Heinzen, Zachary Harder
  • Patent number: 9826762
    Abstract: A product conveying and coating system includes at least first and second, sequentially arranged conveyor belts, with at least the second conveyor belt being a solid belt. Interposed in a gap between the first and second belts is a dispenser head of a coating manifold. The dispenser head spans the gap between upper surface portions of the first and second conveyor belts, with an elongated side wall outlet portion of the dispenser head being exposed, in a downstream direction of the overall conveyor unit, to the upper surface of the second conveyor belt. The system provides for dispensing of coating material directly onto the second, solid conveyor belt and enrobing at least bottom and partial side portions of food products upon the solid belt. Provisions are made for scraping from the solid belt, removing from the coated food products and recycling excess coating material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas E. Heinzen, Zachary Harder
  • Publication number: 20160143325
    Abstract: A product conveying and coating system includes at least first and second, sequentially arranged conveyor belts, with at least the second conveyor belt being a solid belt. Interposed in a gap between the first and second belts is a dispenser head of a coating manifold. The dispenser head spans the gap between upper surface portions of the first and second conveyor belts, with an elongated side wall outlet portion of the dispenser head being exposed, in a downstream direction of the overall conveyor unit, to the upper surface of the second conveyor belt. The system provides for dispensing of coating material directly onto the second, solid conveyor belt and enrobing at least bottom and partial side portions of food products upon the solid belt. Provisions are made for scraping from the solid belt, removing from the coated food products and recycling excess coating material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Applicant: GENERAL MILLS, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas E. HEINZEN, Zachary HARDER
  • Patent number: D754416
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert G Clements, Shivakumar Elayedath, Amy R. Fleury, Zachary Harder
  • Patent number: D759342
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert G Clements, Shivakumar Elayedath, Amy R Fleury, Zachary Harder
  • Patent number: D774273
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert G Clements, Shivakumar Elayedath, Amy R. Fleury, Zachary Harder
  • Patent number: D779151
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert G Clements, Shivakumar Elayedath, Amy R. Fleury, Zachary Harder
  • Patent number: D779152
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert G Clements, Shivakumar Elayedath, Amy R Fleury, Zachary Harder
  • Patent number: D799151
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert G Clements, Shivakumar Elayedath, Amy R. Fleury, Zachary Harder
  • Patent number: D800990
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert G Clements, Shivakumar Elayedath, Amy R Fleury, Zachary Harder
  • 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