US3831389A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cooling food products
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-12-01
•
Granted: 1974-08-27
•
Expires: 1991-12-01
Abstract
Abstract Food products, e.g., freshly killed poultry, meat products, freshly harvested vegetables, etc., are cooled by passing through or dipping in a refrigerant liquid such as a low boiling fluorocarbon. Preferably the apparatus has an inlet liquid seal and an outlet liquid seal to prevent escape of fluorocarbon vapor.
Inventors
- 👤 S Lipona
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 23:00
CPC Classifications
A; A23; A23B; A23B7/00; A23B7/04; A23B7/0408; A23B2/00; A23B2/70; A23B2/704; A23B2/725; A23B2/729; A23B2/80; A23B2/85; A23B2/88; A23B5/00; A23B5/04; A23B5/05; A23B5/055; A23L; A23L19/00; A23L19/10; A23L19/12; A23L19/18; F; F25; F25D; F25D9/00; F25D9/005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
123 words
The method of inhibiting the growth of pathogenic organisms on, and of cooling the flesh of freshly killed, warm-blooded animals which still retains a substantial portion of its natural body heat, said method comprising immersing said flesh in a body of a liquid refrigerant having a boiling point substantially below the freezing point of water, and maintaining the flesh in said liquid for a residence time sufficient to freeze only the outer layers of the flesh; then withdrawing the resulting, surface-frozen flesh from the liquid refrigerant and allowing the flesh to equilibrate with respect to temperature as the processes of rigor mortis in the flesh are completed; said equilibration inducing an overall temperature in the flesh of from about 33* to 38* F.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
123 words
The method of inhibiting the growth of pathogenic organisms on, and of cooling the flesh of freshly killed, warm-blooded animals which still retains a substantial portion of its natural body heat, said method comprising immersing said flesh in a body of a liquid refrigerant having a boiling point substantially below the freezing point of water, and maintaining the flesh in said liquid for a residence time sufficient to freeze only the outer layers of the flesh; then withdrawing the resulting, surface-frozen flesh from the liquid refrigerant and allowing the flesh to equilibrate with respect to temperature as the processes of rigor mortis in the flesh are completed; said equilibration inducing an overall temperature in the flesh of from about 33* to 38* F.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the surface-frozen flesh removed from the liquid refrigerant is passed through a liquid exit seal before being allowed to equilibrate to temperatures of from about 33* to 38* F.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the liquid refrigerant is a fluorocarbon.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the flesh is that of poultry.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the liquid refrigerant is liquid nitrogen.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the flesh is that of poultry.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2019551A
Cited
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US3413818A
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US3479833A
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US3635045A
Cited
US3733839A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-08-26 | 1978-02-25 | 1978-08-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-08-26 | 1982-02-25 | 1982-08-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-08-26 | 1986-02-25 | 1986-08-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |