Patent US4272558A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4272558A
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Method and apparatus for producing a cellular product
Assignee: ET Oakes Ltd
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Filing: 1980-01-24
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Granted: 1981-06-09
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Expires: 2000-01-24
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for producing a cellular product, such as cellular chocolate, in which the first component of the product, e.g. the chocolate, in liquid form, has introduced into it a second gaseous component which is largely soluble in the liquid first component, the gas is dispersed in the first liquid component uniformly so that it is dissolved throughout the liquid, the pressure is released suddenly, so that the dissolved component forms gaseous bubbles in the liquid and the first component in the resulting product is then solidified by cooling.
Inventors
- 👤 David W. Bouette
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 14:34
CPC Classifications
A; A23; A23G; A23G1/00; A23G1/04; A23G1/20; A23G1/201; A23G1/208; A23G3/00; A23G3/02; A23G3/0236; A23G3/0294
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
125 words
A method of making a cellular food product comprising the steps of: (a) providing an edible component; (b) heating the edible component to render it in the molten condition; (c) introducing into the molten component under pressure either a gas or a liquified gas which is largely soluble in the molten component; (d) mixing the molten component and gas to disperse the gas uniformly in the molten component so that it is thoroughly dissolved throughout the molten component while maintaining the molten component and gas under pressure; (e) then suddenly releasing the pressure by expansion to atmospheric pressure whereby the dissolved gas forms gaseous bubbles in the molten component; and (f) solidifying the molten component into the finally deposited resulting cellular food product by cooling.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
125 words
A method of making a cellular food product comprising the steps of: (a) providing an edible component; (b) heating the edible component to render it in the molten condition; (c) introducing into the molten component under pressure either a gas or a liquified gas which is largely soluble in the molten component; (d) mixing the molten component and gas to disperse the gas uniformly in the molten component so that it is thoroughly dissolved throughout the molten component while maintaining the molten component and gas under pressure; (e) then suddenly releasing the pressure by expansion to atmospheric pressure whereby the dissolved gas forms gaseous bubbles in the molten component; and (f) solidifying the molten component into the finally deposited resulting cellular food product by cooling.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the molten component is fed continuously by a pump into a continuous mixing device.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the pressure is released suddenly by passing the molten component through a restriction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the restriction comprises an adjustable valve.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as claimed in claim 3 and further comprising the step of subjecting the product passed through the restriction to a vibrating action.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
139 words
A method of making a cellular chocolate product comprising the steps of: (a) providing chocolate; (b) heating the chocolate to render it in the molten condition; (c) introducing a gas which is largely soluble in chocolate into the molten chocolate under pressure; (d) mixing the molten chocolate and gas to disperse the gas uniformly throughout the molten chocolate so that the gas is thoroughly dissolved throughout the molten chocolate, while maintaining the molten chocolate and gas under pressure; (e) then suddenly releasing the pressure from the molten chocolate containing the dissolved gas by expansion to atmospheric pressure to cause the dissolved gas to nucleate and form a multitude of gaseous bubbles evenly distributed throughout the molten chocolate; and (f) solidifying the molten chocolate with the gaseous bubbles evenly distributed throughout it into the finally deposited resulting cellular chocolate product.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
139 words
A method of making a cellular chocolate product comprising the steps of: (a) providing chocolate; (b) heating the chocolate to render it in the molten condition; (c) introducing a gas which is largely soluble in chocolate into the molten chocolate under pressure; (d) mixing the molten chocolate and gas to disperse the gas uniformly throughout the molten chocolate so that the gas is thoroughly dissolved throughout the molten chocolate, while maintaining the molten chocolate and gas under pressure; (e) then suddenly releasing the pressure from the molten chocolate containing the dissolved gas by expansion to atmospheric pressure to cause the dissolved gas to nucleate and form a multitude of gaseous bubbles evenly distributed throughout the molten chocolate; and (f) solidifying the molten chocolate with the gaseous bubbles evenly distributed throughout it into the finally deposited resulting cellular chocolate product.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 6, wherein the gas which is largely soluble in the chocolate is carbon dioxide.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of mixing a second gas which is largely insoluble in the molten chocolate to disperse it uniformly throughout the molten chocolate.
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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) | 1984-06-08 | 1984-12-08 | 1985-06-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-06-08 | 1988-12-08 | 1989-06-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-06-08 | 1992-12-08 | 1993-06-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |