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US4388331A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Collagen sausage casing

Assignee: DVRO Ltd
•
Filing: 1981-01-23
•
Granted: 1983-06-14
•
Expires: 2001-01-23
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Abstract

Abstract There is disclosed an improved collagen sausage casing and a method to produce such a casing. The normal processes for manufacturing collagen casing are employed. Immediately prior to the point in the process where the collagen extrusion mass is extruded, a proteolytic enzyme is injected into the collagen gel stream. The proteolytic enzyme is immobilized and becomes non-functioning as the free water required for its activity is restricted by the further steps of the process. Upon stuffing the casing with a meat emulsion and subjecting the stuffed casing to the smokehouse or cookhouse cycles in the normal sausage manufacturing process or by cooking in the home, the enzyme is again reactivated and continues to breakdown the collagen thereby tenderizing the casing. The proteolytic enzyme may be papain, bromelain, ficin, fungal protease, bacterial protease, trypsin, chymotrypsin, pepsin and protease.

Inventors

  • 👤 Albert T. Miller

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-24 19:52
CPC Classifications
A; A22; A22C; A22C13/00; A22C13/0013; A22C13/0016

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim 134 words
A method of preparing an edible collagen film comprising: (a) preparing an extrudable collagen gel containing from 2% to 12% by weight of collagen; (b) adding to the collagen gel, in an amount of from 0.001 to 0.5 percent, based on the dry weight of the collagen in the gel, a proteolytic enzyme selected from the group consisting of papain, bromelain, ficin, fungal protease, bacterial protease, trypsin, chymotrypsin, and pepsin; (c) extruding the enzyme-containing collagen gel before sufficient time has elapsed to allow significant hydrolysis of the collagen to form a cohered collagen casing film, thereby immobilizing the proteolytic enzyme; and (d) reducing the water content of the casing to between 10% and 20%, based on the weight of the casing to reduce the water activity of the casing and render the enzyme non-functioning.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 134 words
A method of preparing an edible collagen film comprising: (a) preparing an extrudable collagen gel containing from 2% to 12% by weight of collagen; (b) adding to the collagen gel, in an amount of from 0.001 to 0.5 percent, based on the dry weight of the collagen in the gel, a proteolytic enzyme selected from the group consisting of papain, bromelain, ficin, fungal protease, bacterial protease, trypsin, chymotrypsin, and pepsin; (c) extruding the enzyme-containing collagen gel before sufficient time has elapsed to allow significant hydrolysis of the collagen to form a cohered collagen casing film, thereby immobilizing the proteolytic enzyme; and (d) reducing the water content of the casing to between 10% and 20%, based on the weight of the casing to reduce the water activity of the casing and render the enzyme non-functioning.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 26 words
The method of claim 1 in which the enzyme is present in an amount of from 0.01 to 0.15 percent, based on the weight of collagen.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 40 words
The method of claim 2 including the further steps of stuffing the casing with a meat emulsion and heating the stuffed casing containing the meat emulsion to cook the sausage and reactivate the proteolytic enzyme to render the casing tender.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 11 words
The process of claim 1 in which the enzyme is ficin.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2365728A Cited
US3037870A Cited
US3681093A Cited
US3529530A Cited
US3664844A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1986-06-13 1986-12-13 1987-06-14 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1990-06-13 1990-12-13 1991-06-14 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1994-06-13 1994-12-13 1995-06-14 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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