Having Inedible Feature Patents (Class 426/90)
  • Patent number: 4820533
    Abstract: Disclosed are edible barriers useful in composite food articles to separate one food phase from another which differ in such properties as water activity, protein concentration, etc. The ebible barriers are especially useful in wrapped or packaged food items. The edible barriers comprise an edible laminate which includes an edible support substrate and top and bottom layers of an edible film coating of low moisture permeability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1989
    Assignee: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Seaborne, David C. Ebgerg
  • Patent number: 4797291
    Abstract: A method for producing a comestible product is provided with a first and second layer of food material. An insert article is disposed on the first layer of food material and is positioned inwardly of at least some of the edges of the first layer of food material to define peripheral regions in the first layer of food material which project beyond the insert article. The second layer of food material is in substantial registry with the first layer of food material. In one embodiment, the food material layers are brought into contact with each other and with the insert article by moving the food material along a path to engage a portion of the food material with a cam surface that has at least an upwardly inclined portion that also extends laterally over the path of movement of another portion of the food material whereby one portion of the food material is folded over the other portion of the food material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1989
    Assignee: William W. Pierce
    Inventors: William W. Pierce, George June, James M. Meadows, Albert G. Cheek
  • Patent number: 4761290
    Abstract: Dough products convertible by heating to light, flaky, crispy dough products are produced by applying shortening flakes to a dough, coating a light batter upon the dough product and heating the batter-coated dough to first set the batter and then subsequently melt the shortening flakes, thereby forming air cells within the batter and at the surface of the dough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1988
    Assignee: General American Foods Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Paul Meraj, Teri Nagle
  • Patent number: 4741907
    Abstract: There is disclosed a fresh dough contained in a container for storage and chemically leavened in the container which has a specific structure derived from a laminated structure constituted by a first plurality of layers each containing a leavening base but containing no leavening acid, a second plurality of layers each containing a leavening acid but containing no leavening base, and a third plurality of layers each containing neither leavening acid nor leavening base and disposed between the respective first layers and the respective second layers to prevent direct contact between said respective first layers and said respective second layers. There is also disclosed a fresh dough contained in a container and chemically leavened in the container, which comprises gas cells and a matrix containing a gel dispersed uniformly therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1988
    Assignee: Asahi Kasei Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshiaki Furuhashi
  • Patent number: 4670271
    Abstract: A food imprinting cassette means comprising a flexible image imprintable foodstuff sheet attached to a support means for said sheet of foodstuff, a transfer sheet having an edible coloring material coated on the side of the transfer sheet facing the food sheet with said transfer sheet attached to a peripheral frame which in turn is releasably attached to the support means. The coloring material being transferable to the food sheet when pressure from a stylus is applied to the transfer sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1987
    Assignee: Joytronix, Inc.
    Inventor: Eliezer Pasternak
  • Patent number: 4663170
    Abstract: A meat-based product in accordance with the present invention comprises an elongate compacted constant cross section core of raw uncomminuted meat, an even and coherent annular coating of fluid fat material surrounding the core and an outer wrapping of flexible non-toxic sheet material, usually plastic, which retains the coating and remains on the product during cooking and is only removed immediately before eating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1984
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1987
    Assignee: Bernard Matthews plc
    Inventors: Bernard T. Matthews, Alan J. Benstead, David J. Joll, Sidney Thorp, David N. Wilson
  • Patent number: 4555408
    Abstract: An artificial sausage casing of two-dimensional fiber material, in particular a knitted or woven fabric, is impregnated, at least on the inside, with fat in order to extend the maturing time of the sausage. To obtain good adhesion to the surface of encased sausage meat the inside of the casing surface is provided with a pile consisting of stiff fibers and/or filaments which are positively anchored in the surface of the sausage meat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1985
    Assignee: Huckfeldt & Thorlichen
    Inventors: Barbara Gregor, Gebhard Huckfeldt
  • Patent number: 4463021
    Abstract: A hand-held edible product in the form of an edible pizza cone having filling therein. The pizza cone filling may be any filling or topping used on conventional pizzas including but not limited to tomato, cheese, pepperoni, sausage, peppers, mushrooms, anchovies, olives and the like. The cone is edible and has dimensional characteristics enabling it to be conveniently handheld while the food product is being consumed with the cone having sufficient rigidity and structural characteristics enabling it to retain its structural integrity during the time period that the cone would normally be held while being consumed. An inverted cone-like structure is provided interiorly of the cone and internal ribs are formed on the inner surface of the cone to stabilize, grip and retain the pizza filling. Also, the upper end of the cone is provided with an outwardly extending flange or lip to further retain the pizza filling properly associated with the cone while being consumed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1983
    Date of Patent: July 31, 1984
    Inventor: Joseph C. Eufemia
  • Patent number: 4444795
    Abstract: A serving kit and package for confections includes an unfilled ice cream cone nested in the bottom of a conformally shaped conical jacket which is scored for separation along an annular line located below the rim of the ice cream cone. The upper end of the cone jacket is shaped to receive a snap-on lid, the latter being supplied together with a spoon or other eating utensil to complete the serving kit. Frozen dessert above the cone rim can be eaten with the spoon and then the package can be separated to consume the filled ice cream cone in a conventional manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 24, 1984
    Assignee: Maryland Cup Corporation
    Inventor: David Weinstein
  • Patent number: 4388334
    Abstract: The invention relates to a mould for packaging desserts, particularly for ice-cream cake with coating syrup containing fruit or pieces of fruit. The mould is in the form of a cup comprising an opening through which the dessert is introduced into and removed from the mould and is characterized in that it comprises a first compartment near the opening which defines a first space and which is intended to receive a product solid at the storage temperature and a second compartment which defines a space below the first space and which is intended to receive a syrup liquid at the storage temperature, the second compartment comprising a central part situated at the bottom of the cup and communicating with the first compartment through an opening and a peripheral part which consists of circumferentially spaced grooves or depressions arranged in a star around the central part and which forms a flow channel for the syrup and also acts as a stiffener for the mould.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1981
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1983
    Assignee: Societe d'Assistance Technique pour Produits Nestle S.A.
    Inventor: Rene Deveaux
  • Patent number: 4377187
    Abstract: Fibrous reinforced cellulosic food casing with wood-derived liquid smoke having smoke color, odor and flavor constituents, impregnated in the casing wall to provide an absorptive index of at least about 0.15 and moisture content of between about 17% and about 60% by weight of total casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1981
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1983
    Assignee: Union Carbide Corporation
    Inventor: Herman S. Chiu
  • Patent number: 4338342
    Abstract: A process for the treatment of fruits and vegetables to improve their shelf life and/or to decrease their loss of moisture and the fruits and vegetables treated by such a process and to compositions to be used in the said process wherein fruits and vegetables which are not over-ripe, i.e., to unripe fruits, to fruits which are just ripe or to partially ripened fruits are treated with an aqueous solution or suspension of sucrose esters of fatty acids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1979
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1982
    Assignee: Gist-Brocades N.V.
    Inventors: Hong S. Tan, Dirk A. Smink
  • Patent number: 4260635
    Abstract: A simultaneously compacted, shaped, molded and unitized, self-contained, unit-integral, chew-resistant animal food system product containing animal food and structure-supporting fibers, preferably in a fibrous form, in an amount sufficient to make said product chew-resistant, self-contained and unit-integral and to enable it to be and remain in its compacted, shaped and molded form. The product contains sufficient structure-supporting fibers to yield a chew-resistant product. The structure-supporting fibers are animal safely digestible structure-supporting fibers, such as collagen, animal safely indigestible structure-supporting fibers, such as cellulosic materials, or a mixture of animal safely digestible structure-supporting fibers and animal safely indigestible structure-supporting fibers, such as a mixture of collagen and cellulosic materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1974
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1981
    Inventor: Stanton E. Fisher
  • Patent number: 4247564
    Abstract: This invention relates to a package for an elongated rice-ball or bread and butter comestible together with a laver in an isolated manner until the comestible is wrapped with the laver. The package includes a long moisture-proof sheet such as vinyl or paraffin-coated paper doubled by folding it at the center thereof. The leading edge of the folded back surface may be again folded back in the opposite direction to form a short tongue. The comestible is placed on the single-layered end portion of the sheet and a laver is interposed between the juxtaposed portions of the sheet. The comestible can be wrapped together with the laver without laver becoming moist and the laver can be removed from between the juxtaposed portions of the sheet and wrapped around the comestible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1979
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1981
    Inventor: Akitomi Tezuka
  • Patent number: 4169163
    Abstract: To reduce the number of oversize sausage links created during linking of stuffed regenerated cellulosic casings, the casing, before stuffing, has applied to the external walls thereof an aqueous dispersion containing a material which imparts a low coefficient of friction to the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1976
    Date of Patent: September 25, 1979
    Assignee: Teepak, Inc.
    Inventors: Henry E. Judd, Robert D. Talty
  • Patent number: 4100302
    Abstract: A container and composition of matter combination useful in connection with electrical resistance cooking of electrically high conducting foods which comprises:(a) An electrically and preferably thermally insulating container which defines a food cavity having a substantially uniform longitudinal cross sectional area, and an aperture in each of its two most diametrically opposite ends; and(b) Electrical contacts located at said diametrically opposite ends attached to a surface, preferably the inside surface of the container ends while draping the apertures and extending out of the container to a source of electrical energy, and(c) A composition in intimate contact with the inner surfaces of said electrical contacts and the subject foodstuff consisting essentially of:(i) a gel; and(ii) a substantially ionized speciesSaid composition being positioned to make intimate non-arcing contact between the electrically high conducting foodstuff and the electrical contacts during current flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1976
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1978
    Assignee: Lectrofood Corp.
    Inventors: Ernst Theodore Theimer, George E. Heinze
  • Patent number: 4038423
    Abstract: A food bar is disclosed comprising a base and a coating thereon. The base of the food bar contains marshmallow fortified with a high protein ingredient of reduced water binding capability. The coating of the food bar contains a mixture of vegetable fat or oil, sugar, non-fat dry milk solids, and fat coated vitamins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1976
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1977
    Assignee: The Quaker Oats Company
    Inventors: James R. Hayward, William L. Keyser, Walter J. Zielinski
  • Patent number: 4016297
    Abstract: Described is an edible electrically high conducting food substance capable of being heated by means of the application thereto of electrical energy having:A. Substantially diametrically opposite ends;B. At least one substantially solid surface;C. At least two electrical contacts located at said substantially diametrically opposite ends of said food substance and in contact with said substantially solid surface; andD. At least a substantial portion of said substantially solid surface having in intimate contact/therewith, and as an integral portion thereof a composition consisting essentially of:I. A gel; andIi. A substantially ionized speciesSaid composition also being positioned to make intimate contact between the electrically high conducting food substance and the electrical contacts whereby the contact is rendered non-arcing when an electromotive force is applied to said electrical contact. The genus of compositions comprising the gel and the substantially ionized species is described in detail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1976
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1977
    Assignee: Lectrofood, Inc.
    Inventors: Ernst Theodore Theimer, George E. Heinze
  • Patent number: 3997674
    Abstract: A composition comprising a dispersion prepared by dispersing in an aqueous solution of a water-soluble high polymer, such as polysaccharides, a hydrophobic substance selected from the group consisting of hydrophobic solids and hydrophobic and non-volatile liquids, such as natural waxes, is applied as a coating to cover the outer surface of an agricultural product to form a coating membrane upon drying, which membrane has fine continuous microvoids by which the respiration of the agricultural product can be controllably suppressed thereby to effectively preserve the product over a long period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1975
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1976
    Assignee: Tsukihoshi Kasei Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuo Ukai, Shingo Ishibashi, Toshio Tsutsumi, Kyoichi Marakami
  • Patent number: 3969514
    Abstract: A spreadable combination food product includes a discrete spreadable nut component phase containing about 60-98% ground nuts, having a fat content of about 50-65% by weight, and a water content of about 2-6% by weight, in combination with a discrete phase of a second food spread either of normal commercial composition or in which the water activity thereof has been lowered. The combination food product contains about 25-75% by weight of the spreadable nut component phase. The process includes either or both of raising the water activity and the oil content of the spreadable nut component, while the second food spread remains unmodified, or only slightly modified through lowering of the water activity. The two phases of the food product remain discrete for extended periods of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1974
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1976
    Assignee: Swift & Company
    Inventor: Peter J. Tiemstra
  • Patent number: 3966972
    Abstract: Described is a packaged food product, including a container, shell or enclosure which exists in an "open" position prior to loading and "closed" position thereafter and which encloses relatively high electrically conducting and low electrically conducting food substances such that the relatively low electrically conducting food component has in contact therewith on at least one of its surfaces or envelopes the major part of the relatively high electrically conducting food component. The high conducting food substance can protrude or extend longitudinally away from the substantially diametrically opposite ends of the low conducting food substance or it can be totally enclosed in the low conducting food substance. When the container, shell or enclosure is in a closed position, both the low conducting and high conducting food substances are held in a fixed position as a result of the design of the internal surfaces of the ends of one or both portion(s) of the container, enclosure or shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1974
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1976
    Assignee: Lectrofood, Inc.
    Inventors: Ernst Theodore Theimer, George E. Heinze
  • Patent number: 3965259
    Abstract: A complete maintenance, nutritionally balanced animal food composition of a moisture content of about 75% is presented which incorporates expanded soybean fiber chunks throughout to simulate natural meat chunks and to resemble a canned all meat product, said chunks having been impregnated with flavorful components to impart a meat-like taste and consistency thereto, and a process for producing said food composition comprising: grinding raw animal meat containing proteinaceous material to particles of a substantially uniform size; mixing expanded soybean fiber chunks, moisture and oils therewith; cooking the slurry of said chunks to impregnate them with flavorful components of said particles of meat, flavors and oils for consistency and taste, the cooking being carried out at a sufficient moisture content to allow the food compositin to resemble a canned, all meat food product; then forming a nutritionally balanced food composition with the cooked slurry; packing the food composition into a container; and cook
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1974
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1976
    Assignee: Ralston Purina Company
    Inventors: Thomas B. Coppage, Ronald J. Flier, Bernard M. Payne