US4978540A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Production of frozen foods and other products
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1988-01-20
•
Granted: 1990-12-18
•
Expires: 2008-01-20
Abstract
Abstract The freezing of foodstuffs and other biological materials such blood products as sperm, ova, embryos and other tissues may be facilitated by applying thereto a non-toxic microorganism having an INA+ phenotype or a biogenic ice nucleating agent or a functionally equivalent protein.
Inventors
- 👤 Tung-Ching Lee
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 12:35
CPC Classifications
A; A23; A23B; A23B2/00; A23B2/80; A23B2/85; A01; A01N; A01N1/00; A01N1/10; A01N1/12; A01N1/122; A01N1/125; A23B2/70; A23B2/725; A23B2/729; A23B2/783; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S435/00; Y10S435/8215; Y10S435/822; Y10S435/832; Y10S435/847; Y10S435/874; Y10S435/876; Y10S435/886; Y10S435/911; Y10S435/94
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
59 words
A process for freezing solid foodstuffs separated from a growing environment which comprises applying to the surface or cuts in said solid foodstuff a non-toxic microorganism having an INA + phenotype or a biogenic ice nucleating agent or a functionally equivalent protein capable of inducing ice nucleation and lowering the temperature of said solid foodstuff to effect freezing thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
59 words
A process for freezing solid foodstuffs separated from a growing environment which comprises applying to the surface or cuts in said solid foodstuff a non-toxic microorganism having an INA + phenotype or a biogenic ice nucleating agent or a functionally equivalent protein capable of inducing ice nucleation and lowering the temperature of said solid foodstuff to effect freezing thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein said foodstuff is cooled into the range -5° to -30° C.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein said non-toxic microorganism is selected from the group consisting of Erwinia ananas, Erwinia herbicola, Pseudomonas syringae and Pseudomonas fluorescens.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein said non-toxic microorganism is a mutant bacterium that has been transformed by a plasmid importing an INA + phenotype, said bacterium being selected from the group consisting of Lacto bacillus bulgaricus, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Streptococcus lactis and Streptococcus thermophilus.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein said non-toxic microorganism is a mutant yeast that has been transformed to import an INA + phenotype, said yeast being selected from the group consisting of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Saccharomyces rosei, Saccharomyces rouxii, Saccharomyces carlsbergensis and Saccharomyces uvarum.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein there is employed an ice nucleating protein selected from the group consisting of protein p153 protein p180 as and functionally equivalent sub units thereof capable of inducing ice nucleation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein a microorganism having a INA + phenotype is added to meat in an amount of at least 10 6 c.f.u./ml.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein a microorganism having an INA + phenotype is added to fish in an amount of at least 10 6 c.f.u./ml.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein a microorganism having an INA + phenotype is added to vegetables in an amount of at least 10 6 c.f.u./ml.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein a biogenic ice nucleating agent or functionally equivalent protein is added to meat in an amount at least 0.001 mg/g.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein a biogenic ice nucleating agent or functionally equivalent protein capable of inducing ice nucleation is added to fish in an amount of at least 0.001 mg/g.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein a biogenic ice nucleating agent or functionally equivalent protein capable of inducing ice nucleation is added to vegetables in an amount of at least 0.001 mg/g.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein a microorganism having an INA + phenotype is added to a preprepared food product.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein a microorganism having an INA + phenotype is added to a pasta product.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein a biogenic ice nucleating agent or functionally equivalent protein capable of inducing ice nucleation is added to a pasta product.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein a microorganism having an INA + phenotype is added to bakery products.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein a biogenic ice nucleating agent or functionally equivalent protein capable of inducing ice nucleation is added to bakery products.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein a microorganism having an INA + phenotype is added to shell fish.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein a biogenic ice nucleating agent or functionally equivalent protein capable of inducing ice nucleation is added to shell fish.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein a biogenic ice nucleating agent or functionally equivalent protein capable of inducing ice nucleation is added to a prepared food product.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein said freezing is carried out in a blast freezer.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
17 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein said freezing is carried out in a contact plate freezer.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
17 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein said freezing is carried out in a vacuum freezer drier.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4021581A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-12-17 | 1994-06-18 | 1994-12-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-12-17 | 1998-06-18 | 1998-12-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-12-17 | 2002-06-18 | 2002-12-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |