US4515822A — Hollow, puffed fruit products and methods of prep…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 143 words

A method for preparing a dried, simulated hollow fruit product comprising in sequence the steps of: (A) contacting a solution with a bath to form encapsulated pieces, said solution comprising (1) about 40 to 70% moisture (2) about 1 to 6% sweeteners, and (3) about 0.5 to 2.0% hydrophilic colloid (wet basis) said bath containing a gel setting agent capable of causing the hydrophilic colloid to set up an encasement around said pieces; immediately thereafter, (B) first drying the pieces with forced convection drying with hot air at about 220° to 280° F. to a moisture content of less than about 20%, to form hollow cored pieces; and (C) finish drying the hollow cored fruit pieces to a moisture content of about 5 to 10% to form a hollow centered dried simulated fruit piece having a density of about 0.15 to 0.40 g./cc.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 143 words

A method for preparing a dried, simulated hollow fruit product comprising in sequence the steps of: (A) contacting a solution with a bath to form encapsulated pieces, said solution comprising (1) about 40 to 70% moisture (2) about 1 to 6% sweeteners, and (3) about 0.5 to 2.0% hydrophilic colloid (wet basis) said bath containing a gel setting agent capable of causing the hydrophilic colloid to set up an encasement around said pieces; immediately thereafter, (B) first drying the pieces with forced convection drying with hot air at about 220° to 280° F. to a moisture content of less than about 20%, to form hollow cored pieces; and (C) finish drying the hollow cored fruit pieces to a moisture content of about 5 to 10% to form a hollow centered dried simulated fruit piece having a density of about 0.15 to 0.40 g./cc.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 40 words

The method of claim 1 wherein the hydrophilic colloid is selected from the group consisting of sodium alginate, low methoxyl pectin, iota carrageenan, kappa carrageenan, and mixtures thereof and wherein the gel setting agent is a water soluble calcium salt.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 43 words

The method of claim 2 wherein the solution additionally comprises about 1 to 50% of a member selected from the group consisting of coloring agents, mold inhibitors, thickeners, flavors, intensifiers, plasticizers, fruit puree, fruit pulp, fruit juice, peanut butter, vegetable puree and cheese.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 18 words

The method of claim 3 wherein the bath contains about 0.1 to 10% of an edible organic acid.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method of claim 4 wherein the contacting step comprises extruding the encapsulant solution from an orifice submerged in the bath.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 25 words

The method of claim 5 wherein the hot air has a downward vector relative to the fruit pieces and wherein the hot air is turbulent.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 28 words

The method of claim 5 wherein the solution comprises 5% to 7% of an edible fatty triglyceride oil and about 0.1% to 6% of a food grade emulsifier.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 91 words

A puffed, simulated fruit product comprising fruit flavored pieces (1) wherein the pieces range from about 1 to 25 mm. in diameter, (2) wherein the pieces comprise a shell having an inner hollow core comprising from about 35 to 65% of the volume of the pieces, (3) wherein the pieces have a water activity of about 0.2 to 0.6, (4) wherein the pieces have a density of about 0.15 to 0.40 g./cc., and (5) wherein the pieces are comprised of a gel based on hydrophilic colloid set with a gelling agent.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 91 words

A puffed, simulated fruit product comprising fruit flavored pieces (1) wherein the pieces range from about 1 to 25 mm. in diameter, (2) wherein the pieces comprise a shell having an inner hollow core comprising from about 35 to 65% of the volume of the pieces, (3) wherein the pieces have a water activity of about 0.2 to 0.6, (4) wherein the pieces have a density of about 0.15 to 0.40 g./cc., and (5) wherein the pieces are comprised of a gel based on hydrophilic colloid set with a gelling agent.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 14 words

The product of claim 8 wherein the water activity is about 0.2 to 0.3.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 25 words

The product of claim 9 wherein the shell is about 1 mm. in thickness and the core is about 6 to 10 mm. in size.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 15 words

The product of claim 10 wherein the density ranges from about 0.15 to 0.25 g./cc.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 148 words

A ready-to-eat puffed cereal containing simulated fruit pieces, comprising: (A) from about 99% to 50% by weight of the cereal of cereal pieces, said cereal pieces having (1) a density of about 0.15 to 0.40 g/.cc., and (2) a water activity of about 0.1 to 0.5; and (B) about 1% to 50% by weight of the cereal of puffed, dried simulated fruit pieces, (1) wherein the fruit pieces range from about 4 to 12 mm. in diameter, (2) wherein the fruit pieces having an inner hollow core comprising from about 35 to 65% of the volume of the fruit pieces, (3) wherein the fruit pieces have a water activity of about 0.2 to 0.5, (4) wherein the fruit pieces have a density of about 0.15 to 0.40 g./cc.; and (5) wherein the fruit pieces are comprised of a gel based on hydrophilic colloid set with a gelling agent.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 148 words

A ready-to-eat puffed cereal containing simulated fruit pieces, comprising: (A) from about 99% to 50% by weight of the cereal of cereal pieces, said cereal pieces having (1) a density of about 0.15 to 0.40 g/.cc., and (2) a water activity of about 0.1 to 0.5; and (B) about 1% to 50% by weight of the cereal of puffed, dried simulated fruit pieces, (1) wherein the fruit pieces range from about 4 to 12 mm. in diameter, (2) wherein the fruit pieces having an inner hollow core comprising from about 35 to 65% of the volume of the fruit pieces, (3) wherein the fruit pieces have a water activity of about 0.2 to 0.5, (4) wherein the fruit pieces have a density of about 0.15 to 0.40 g./cc.; and (5) wherein the fruit pieces are comprised of a gel based on hydrophilic colloid set with a gelling agent.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 31 words

The ready-to-eat cereal of claim 12 wherein the cereal pieces are puffed and have a density of about 0.15 to 0.25 g./cc. and a water activity of about 0.1 to 0.3.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 19 words

The ready-to-eat cereal of claim 13 wherein the fruit pieces range from about 8 to 12 mm. in diameter.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 19 words

The ready-to-eat cereal of claim 14 wherein the fruit pieces have a water activity of about 0.1 to 0.3.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 18 words

The ready-to-eat cereal of claim 15 wherein the fruit pieces have a density of about 0.15 to 0.25.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1988-05-06	1988-11-05	1989-05-07	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1992-05-06	1992-11-05	1993-05-07	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1996-05-06	1996-11-05	1997-05-07	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Hollow, puffed fruit products and methods of preparation

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