US4049837A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Chill prevention for banana underpeel
Assignee: Catalytic Generators Inc
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Filing: 1975-12-31
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Granted: 1977-09-20
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Expires: 1995-12-31
Abstract
Abstract A method of swelling the cell membranes of the cell surrounding the latex containing vessels in the underpeel of bananas to enable the latex vessels to be more resistant to temperatures within the range of 45° to 55° F. The method includes treating the exterior peel of the banana finger with an application of an oleaginous material having a viscosity of 10 to 10,000 centistokes, maintaining the underpeel at a temperature of above 55° F during the application and holding the underpeel for a dwell period of at least 24 hours. The amount of the oleaginous material applied is sufficient to permit the oleaginous material to penetrate completely below the exterior peel and into the sites of the latex vessels' cell membranes to swell these membranes in order to prevent both a phase change in the cell membranes and an increase in the permeability of the liquid and solutes of the cells surrounding the latex vessels into the latex contained in these vessels. The amount of the oleaginous material may be in the range of 0.01 to 1 ml per banana finger. Useful oleaginous materials include a vegetable oil, dimethyl-polysiloxane, mineral oil, mono-, di-, and tri-glycerides and phospholipids. The banana having its underpeel so treated is also described.
Inventors
- 👤 Hugh T. Freebairn
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 21:33
CPC Classifications
A; A23; A23B; A23B7/00; A23B7/14; A23B7/153; A23B7/154; A23B7/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
161 words
A method of swelling the cell membranes of the cells surrounding the latex containing vessels in the underpeel of bananas to enable these latex vessels to be more resistant to temperatures within the range of 45° to 55° F., the method comprising, treating the exterior peel of a banana finger with an application of an oleaginous material having a viscosity of 10 to 10,000 centistokes, maintaining the temperature of the underpeel above 55° F. during said application and holding the underpeel for a dwell period of at least 24 hours, applying a sufficient amount of said oleaginous material to permit said oleaginous material to penetrate below the exterior peel and into the sites of the latex vessel cell membranes to thereby swell said membranes in order to prevent both a phase change in the cell membranes and an increase in the permeability for the liquid and solutes of the cells surrounding the latex vessels into the latex contained in these vessels.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
161 words
A method of swelling the cell membranes of the cells surrounding the latex containing vessels in the underpeel of bananas to enable these latex vessels to be more resistant to temperatures within the range of 45° to 55° F., the method comprising, treating the exterior peel of a banana finger with an application of an oleaginous material having a viscosity of 10 to 10,000 centistokes, maintaining the temperature of the underpeel above 55° F. during said application and holding the underpeel for a dwell period of at least 24 hours, applying a sufficient amount of said oleaginous material to permit said oleaginous material to penetrate below the exterior peel and into the sites of the latex vessel cell membranes to thereby swell said membranes in order to prevent both a phase change in the cell membranes and an increase in the permeability for the liquid and solutes of the cells surrounding the latex vessels into the latex contained in these vessels.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the amount of said oleaginous material is in the range of 0.01 to 1 ml per banana finger.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 2 wherein the amount of said oleaginous material is in the range of 0.1 to 0.5 ml per banana finger.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said dwell time is at least 3 days.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the electron-spin resonance in the cell membranes is changed and the cell membrane permeability to phosphate ions is decreased.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said oleaginous material is a vegetable oil.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said oleaginous material is dimethyl polysiloxane.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said oleaginous material is a mineral oil.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said oleaginous material is selected from the group consisting of mono-, di- and tri-glycerides and phospholipids.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the amount of said oleaginous material is in the range of 0.01 to 1 ml per banana finger and said dwell time is at least 3 days.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 10 including changing the electron-spin resonance in the cell membranes and decreasing the cell membrane permeability to phosphate ions.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 10 wherein said oleaginous material is a vegetable oil.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 11 wherein said oleaginous material is a vegetable oil.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 11 wherein said oleaginous material is dimethyl polysiloxane.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 11 wherein said oleaginous material is a mineral oil.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 11 wherein said oleaginous material is selected from the group consisting of mono-, di- and tri-glycerides and phospholipids.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
98 words
A banana having an underpeel having latex vessels containing latex and cell membranes lining the latex vessels, wherein the underpeel withstands temperatures within the temperature range of 45° to 55° F. without darkening, said cell membranes being swelled and containing an oleaginous material, said oleaginous material present in said cell membranes in an amount sufficient to produce swelling, change the electron-spin resonance of said cell membranes and lessen the permeability of said cell membranes to ions within the cells, thereby preventing a phase change in said cell membranes when at a cell membrane temperature in said temperature range.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
98 words
A banana having an underpeel having latex vessels containing latex and cell membranes lining the latex vessels, wherein the underpeel withstands temperatures within the temperature range of 45° to 55° F. without darkening, said cell membranes being swelled and containing an oleaginous material, said oleaginous material present in said cell membranes in an amount sufficient to produce swelling, change the electron-spin resonance of said cell membranes and lessen the permeability of said cell membranes to ions within the cells, thereby preventing a phase change in said cell membranes when at a cell membrane temperature in said temperature range.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
The product of claim 17 wherein the amount of said oleaginous material is in the range of 0.1 to 0.5 ml per banana finger.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
The product of claim 17 wherein said oleaginous material is substantially completely in the underpeel of the banana and at least about 1/16 inch below the exterior peel skin.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
13 words
The product of claim 17 wherein said oleaginous material is a vegetable oil.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
12 words
The product of claim 17 wherein said oleaginous material is dimethyl polysiloxane.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
13 words
The product of claim 17 wherein said oleaginous material is a mineral oil.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
22 words
The product of claim 17 wherein said oleaginous material is selected from the group consisting of mono-, di- and tri-glycerides and phospholipids.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
48 words
The product of claim 17 wherein the amount of said oleaginous material is in the range of 0.1 and 0.5 ml per banana finger and said oleaginous material is substantially completely in the underpeel of the banana and at least about 1/16 inch below the exterior peel skin.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
13 words
The product of claim 24 wherein said oleaginous material is a vegetable oil.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
12 words
The product of claim 24 wherein said oleaginous material is dimethyl polysiloxane.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
13 words
The product of claim 24 wherein said oleaginous material is a mineral oil.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
22 words
The product of claim 24 wherein said oleaginous material is selected from the group consisting of mono-, di- and tri-glycerides and phospholipids.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
12 words
The product of claim 17 wherein the oleaginous material is a phospholipid.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
12 words
The product of claim 24 wherein the oleaginous material is a phospholipid.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-09-19 | 1981-03-21 | 1981-09-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-09-19 | 1985-03-21 | 1985-09-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-09-19 | 1989-03-21 | 1989-09-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |