Food or edible material: processes – compositions – and products – Packaged or wrapped product – Having consumer oriented diverse utility
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-29
2001-10-02
Bhat, Nina (Department: 1761)
Food or edible material: processes, compositions, and products
Packaged or wrapped product
Having consumer oriented diverse utility
C426S119000, C426S120000, C426S394000, C426S398000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06296885
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to a process for food preparation and, more particularly, to a process for filling a container with multiple layers of dry food ingredients and using said container of ingredients in the preparation of a final food product.
Preparation of dessert type food products typically involves the mixing of specific quantities of multiple dry food ingredients with other wet ingredients. Typical dry food ingredients include flour, sugar, salt, baking soda, etc., and wet ingredients may include eggs, milk, vanilla, and butter. Entire packages of these ingredients must be purchased even if only a very small amount is needed according to a selected recipe. Further, the one preparing the food product must be cognizant of the correct order in which to mix the ingredients for optimal results.
Therefore, it is desirable to have a commercial process for filling containers with predetermined amounts of dry food ingredients, each of which containers can be used in preparing a food product according to a selected recipe. Further, it is desirable to have a process in which layers of dry food ingredients within the container are kept separated from one another. In addition, the layers of dry food ingredients should be organized in reverse order relative to the order in which they will be needed during preparation of the food product. Finally, it is desirable to have a process in which only a single food ingredient is removed when a container of layered ingredients is inverted until a divider is removed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the process according to the present invention includes providing a cylindrical container having an open top for providing access to the interior thereof. According to a recipe of ingredients needed for preparation of a food product, a plurality of dry ingredients are sequentially deposited into the container. The dry ingredients are deposited in reverse order relative to a predetermined order in which the ingredients need to be removed during preparation of the food product. For example, the first dry ingredient deposited into the container is the last dry ingredient called for in the recipe.
The deposition of each respective ingredient into the container is followed by the insertion of a divider into the interior of the container and positioned atop a respective ingredient. Insertion of a divider is made prior to depositing a next ingredient into the container such that a previous food ingredient remains separated and unmixed with the next ingredient. Each divider is flexible enough to be inserted through the open top of the container and then flattened atop the food ingredient therein. Pressure is placed on a divider either by a user's fingers, a special tool or utensil, or merely by the weight of the next ingredient being deposited into the container. As pressure is applied, a respective divider causes the food ingredient immediately therebelow to form a level top surface. Further, the peripheral edges of the divider are pressed against the inner surface of the container side wall and become frictionally adhered thereto.
When a user is ready to actually prepare the final food product, the dry ingredients are sequentially removed from the container in the reverse order in which they were deposited. When the container is inverted, the uppermost ingredient (last to be deposited) is poured out through the open top. The other ingredients are held in the container by respective frictionally adhered dividers. The container is then returned to an upright position. The uppermost divider may then be removed by piercing the divider with a sharp instrument, such as a fork, and then lifting it through the open top. The steps of inverting the container, returning it to an upright position, and removing a divider are repeated until all desired food ingredients have been removed. The dry ingredients may be mixed together or combined with wet ingredients as called for by the recipe, including mixing some of the dry ingredients with wet ingredients prior to removing all of the dry ingredients from the container. Some ingredients, e.g. salt or sugar, may be omitted in whole or in part, as desired.
Therefore, a general object of this invention is to provide a process for filling a container with dry ingredients for use in preparing a final food product.
Another object of this invention is to provide a process, as aforesaid, in which each of the dry ingredients are maintained in separated layers within the container.
Still another object of this invention is to provide a process, as aforesaid, in which the dry ingredients are sequentially deposited into a container in the reverse order relative to a predetermined order of removal.
Yet another object of this invention is to provide a process, as aforesaid, in which a divider is positioned between each dry ingredient layer to keep adjacent layers separate from one another and to hold layers, other than the uppermost layer, within the container when the container is inverted.
A further object of this invention is to provide a process, as aforesaid, in which the container used for holding the dry ingredients is constructed of a non-breakable and transparent material.
A still further object of this invention is to provide a process, as aforesaid, in which separation and sealing of the dry ingredients within the container increases the shelf life thereof.
Another object of this invention is to provide a process, as aforesaid, in which the dry ingredients within the container can be selectively combined with wet ingredients according to a recipe for preparation of a final food product.
Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein is set forth by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of this invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: Re. 18426 (1932-04-01), Willoughby
patent: 1186391 (1916-06-01), Gary
patent: 1861124 (1932-05-01), Lorber
patent: 1904741 (1933-04-01), Lorber
patent: 3236369 (1966-02-01), Moore
patent: 4820533 (1989-04-01), Seaborne et al.
patent: 4874618 (1989-10-01), Seaborne et al.
Bhat Nina
Ream Dale J.
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