Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
185 words
A process of gasifying to obtain gasified candy product, said process comprising: providing a pressure vessel having an interior oriented to have a top region and a bottom region and having an agitator disposed within said interior, said pressure vessel being charged with a fused sugar mass and with a gas under pressure within a headspace above said fused sugar mass; and producing a circulation of said gas through said fused sugar mass traversing from said bottom region to said headspace located within said top region of said interior to saturate said fused sugar mass with gas bubbles of substantially uniform size by: withdrawing at least a portion of said gas from said headspace, compressing said withdrawn gas, introducing said compressed gas into said bottom region of said interior just below said agitator by a bubble forming means such that said gas is formed into a fine curtain of gas bubbles, and agitating said curtain of gas bubbles and said fused sugar mass by means of said agitator such that gas bubbles of substantially uniform diameter are obtained and dispersed throughout said fused sugar mass.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
185 words
A process of gasifying to obtain gasified candy product, said process comprising: providing a pressure vessel having an interior oriented to have a top region and a bottom region and having an agitator disposed within said interior, said pressure vessel being charged with a fused sugar mass and with a gas under pressure within a headspace above said fused sugar mass; and producing a circulation of said gas through said fused sugar mass traversing from said bottom region to said headspace located within said top region of said interior to saturate said fused sugar mass with gas bubbles of substantially uniform size by: withdrawing at least a portion of said gas from said headspace, compressing said withdrawn gas, introducing said compressed gas into said bottom region of said interior just below said agitator by a bubble forming means such that said gas is formed into a fine curtain of gas bubbles, and agitating said curtain of gas bubbles and said fused sugar mass by means of said agitator such that gas bubbles of substantially uniform diameter are obtained and dispersed throughout said fused sugar mass.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The process according to claim 1 wherein the time of circulation is sufficient to obtain homogenization of the gas bubbles having a substantially uniform diameter within the fused sugar mass .
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
65 words
A process according to claims 1 or 2 further comprising cooling the sugar mass saturated with gas bubbles to a temperature of about 5°-10° C. and depressurizing the sugar mass saturated with gas bubbles to obtain a candy product comprising pieces of gasified candy having a mesh size between 1.0 and 4.5 mm and occluded gas bubbles with a diameter between 0.3 and 0.01 mm.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
A process according to claim 3 wherein the quantity of candy pieces with a mesh size less than 1.0 mm and a bubble diameter between 0.05-0.01 mm is less than about 20%.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
58 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein said bubble forming means comprises a lid situated over a nozzle of a gas inlet slightly separated therefrom in such a manner as to retain the gas slightly, to reduce the speed of incorporation of the gas, and to dispense the gas as a fine curtain of bubbles below the agitator.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
66 words
A process according to claim 5, wherein said lid is biasably positioned against a base of said bubble forming means such that said lid will prevent the release of gas bubbles in the absence of sufficient pressure from gas emitted from said gas inlet to create an opening between said lid and said base thereby preventing obstruction of said gas inlet by said fused sugar mass.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
A process according to claim 4 further comprising removing said candy pieces having a mesh size less than 1.0 mm from said candy product.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
11 words
A candy product obtained by the process according to claim 3.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
11 words
A candy product obtained by the process according to claim 4.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
63 words
A candy product obtained by the process according to claims 1 or 2, wherein said candy product comprises candy pieces with a mesh size between about 1-4.5 mm, having occluded gas bubbles with a diameter between about 0.01 and 0.3 mm which provide at least 10 popping or crackling sounds having an intensity greater than 3 2 decibels per gram of candy product.