Patent US4016535A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4154864A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Extracts of vegetable materials
Assignee: AVC Holdings Inc
•
Filing: 1978-03-30
•
Granted: 1979-05-15
•
Expires: 1998-03-30
Abstract
Abstract A vegetable extract in the form of grains which dissolve instantaneously in water and which have a porous, continuous structure, a smooth surface and an apparent density of from 50 to 300 g/l. A process for the production of a vegetable extract as described above, which comprises extruding a vegetable extract in powder or paste form into a chamber where a subatmospheric pressure prevails, and cutting the extruded product into fragments.
Inventors
- 👤 Pierre Risler
- 👤 Jean Gireau
- 👤 Pierre Rose
- 👤 Jean-Pierre Bisson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 18:30
CPC Classifications
A; A23; A23F; A23F3/00; A23F3/16; A23F3/30; A23F3/32; A23F3/34; A23F5/00; A23F5/24; A23F5/36; A23F5/38; A23P; A23P10/00; A23P10/20; A23P10/25
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
68 words
A water-soluble grain consisting of dehydrated extract of vegetable material selected from the group consisting of coffee, chicory, tea and herbal decoction, said grain having (a) a porous, cellular, internal structure encompassed by an essentially smooth surface skin, (b) an apparent density of from 50 to 300 g/l, (c) a moisture content of up to 6%; and (d) a resistance to crushing of between 2.5 and 7.5 Newtons.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
68 words
A water-soluble grain consisting of dehydrated extract of vegetable material selected from the group consisting of coffee, chicory, tea and herbal decoction, said grain having (a) a porous, cellular, internal structure encompassed by an essentially smooth surface skin, (b) an apparent density of from 50 to 300 g/l, (c) a moisture content of up to 6%; and (d) a resistance to crushing of between 2.5 and 7.5 Newtons.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The grain of claim 1, in which the dehydrated extract is of coffee or chicory and said grain has an apparent density of from 100 to 200 g/l.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The grain of claim 1, in which the dehydrated extract is of tea and said grain has an apparent density of from 80 to 150 g/l.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The grain of claim 1, in which said grain has a diameter of at least one mm.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The grain of claim 4, in which the grain has a diameter of from 2.5 to 15 mm.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The grain of claim 1, in which the internal porous structure is composed of cells having diameters of between 0.01 and 1 mm.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
95 words
A process for producing a water-soluble grain having a resistance to crushing of between 2.5 and 7.5 Newtons consisting of pressure extruding a thermoplastic vegetable material extract selected from the group consisting of coffee, chicory, tea and herbal decoction having a moisture content of up to 10% by dry weight at a temperature in the range from about 60° to 125° C. and under a pressure of from about 1 to 10 atmospheres into a chamber where a subatmospheric pressure of from 0.01 to 0.3 atmosphere prevails, and then cutting the extruded product into fragments.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
95 words
A process for producing a water-soluble grain having a resistance to crushing of between 2.5 and 7.5 Newtons consisting of pressure extruding a thermoplastic vegetable material extract selected from the group consisting of coffee, chicory, tea and herbal decoction having a moisture content of up to 10% by dry weight at a temperature in the range from about 60° to 125° C. and under a pressure of from about 1 to 10 atmospheres into a chamber where a subatmospheric pressure of from 0.01 to 0.3 atmosphere prevails, and then cutting the extruded product into fragments.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 7, wherein the vegetable material extract is in the form of an aqueous paste.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 7, wherein the vegetable material extract is a powder containing from 2 to 6% by weight of water.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 7, wherein the chamber is maintained at a pressure of from about 0.05 to about 0.15 atmosphere.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of claim 7, wherein the thermoplastic vegetable material is extruded into the chamber through a nozzle having a diameter of at least 0.25 mm.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process of claim 7, wherein the thermoplastic vegetable material is extruded into the chamber through a nozzle having a diameter of from 0.5 to 5 mm.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 7, wherein the extruded product is cut after expansion.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 7, wherein the extruded product is cut prior to complete expansion.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 7, wherein the cut product is aromatized.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
103 words
A process for the production of a vegetable extract grain having a resistance to crushing of between 2.5 and 7.5 Newtons selected from the group consisting of coffee, chicory, tea and herbal decoction which consists of extruding at a temperature in the range from about 60° to 125° C. and under a pressure of from about 1 to 10 atmospheres a thermoplastic vegetable material selected from the group consisting essentially of edible powder and paste and containing up to 10% water into a chamber where a subatmospheric pressure of from about 0.01 to 0.3 atmosphere prevails, and cutting the extruded product into fragments.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
103 words
A process for the production of a vegetable extract grain having a resistance to crushing of between 2.5 and 7.5 Newtons selected from the group consisting of coffee, chicory, tea and herbal decoction which consists of extruding at a temperature in the range from about 60° to 125° C. and under a pressure of from about 1 to 10 atmospheres a thermoplastic vegetable material selected from the group consisting essentially of edible powder and paste and containing up to 10% water into a chamber where a subatmospheric pressure of from about 0.01 to 0.3 atmosphere prevails, and cutting the extruded product into fragments.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 16, in which the product is aromatized.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1982-05-14 | 1982-11-13 | 1983-05-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-05-14 | 1986-11-13 | 1987-05-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-05-14 | 1990-11-13 | 1991-05-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |