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US4525367A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method for preparing an expanded food product

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1983-11-02
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Granted: 1985-06-25
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Expires: 2003-11-02
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Abstract

Abstract This invention relates to an apparatus for preparing vapor-burst, non-fat-fried fast food comprising a confining means comprised of two or more cooperating surfaces which are joined together to form said confining means and containing a suitable water-containing, expandable mixture substantially filling said confining means, whereby the confining means is capable upon heating of rupturing due to increased vapor pressure of liquid in the expandable mixture to permit the expandable mixture to suddenly expand through the ruptured area.

Inventors

  • 👤 George E. Allison

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-24 21:00
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D81/00; B65D81/34; B65D81/343; A; A23; A23P; A23P30/00; A23P30/30; A23P30/32; A23P30/38; B65D81/3446; B65D81/3453; B65D2581/00; B65D2581/34; B65D2581/3401; B65D2581/3402; B65D2581/3421

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim 116 words
A process for preparing an expanded food product which comprises providing a mercantile container and structuring said container to include on its surface a pre-designated area that is self-rupturable due to internal pressure sufficient to rupture said area, filling said container with a water-containing, edible, expandable mixture, and heating said mixture-containing container, said mixture containing sufficient water and said heating being at a sufficient temperature for a sufficient length of time to cause the vapor pressure of water in the expandable mixture to increase sufficiently to cause the confining means to spontaneously self-rupture in the pre-designated area and cause the expandable mixture to burstingly expand through the ruptured area to produce a substantially intact, expanded product.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 116 words
A process for preparing an expanded food product which comprises providing a mercantile container and structuring said container to include on its surface a pre-designated area that is self-rupturable due to internal pressure sufficient to rupture said area, filling said container with a water-containing, edible, expandable mixture, and heating said mixture-containing container, said mixture containing sufficient water and said heating being at a sufficient temperature for a sufficient length of time to cause the vapor pressure of water in the expandable mixture to increase sufficiently to cause the confining means to spontaneously self-rupture in the pre-designated area and cause the expandable mixture to burstingly expand through the ruptured area to produce a substantially intact, expanded product.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 32 words
The process of claim 1, wherein said container comprises two or more cooperating surfaces joined together by a frangible material, the area where said surfaces join together comprising said self-rupturable pre-designated area.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 12 words
The process of claim 2, wherein said container comprises two cooperating surfaces.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 21 words
The process of claim 1, wherein said container is contained within a means which will receive or contain the expanded material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 19 words
The process of claim 1, wherein said container is comprised of edible or non-edible polymeric material, metal, or ceramic.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 15 words
The process of claim 5, wherein said container is comprised of protein and food supplements.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 20 words
The process of claim 1, wherein the expandable mixture contains from about 5 to 50 percent by weight of water.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 16 words
The process of claim 1, wherein said self-rupturable pre-designated area comprises at least one score line.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 19 words
The process of claim 1, wherein the expandable mixture is contained within a collapsed bag comprised of heat-resistant material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 11 words
The process of claim 1, wherein the expandable mixture contains starch.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 13 words
The process of claim 10, wherein the expandable mixture contains a starch-containing flour.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 17 words
The process of claim 1, wherein said container is heated at from about 250° to 450° F.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 24 words
The process of claim 1, wherein the volume of the expanded product is from about 1.1 to 50 times that of the expandable mixture.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1988-06-24 1988-12-24 1989-06-25 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1992-06-24 1992-12-24 1993-06-25 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1996-06-24 1996-12-24 1997-06-25 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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