# US 10,863,861 B2 · Waffle sandwich maker and method of preparing a food product with the waffle sandwich maker > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,863,861 B2 - Document ID: US10863861B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/363,695 - Filed: 2016-11-29 - Published: 2018-05-31 - Granted: 2020-12-15 - Earliest claimed: 2016-11-29 - Assignees: General Mills, Inc. - Applicants: General Mills, Inc. - Inventors: Roberta M Langenfeld; Ralph A Stenvik; Lisa Swanson; Karla M Fuentes; Michele K. Wolf; Zachary Harder; Todd A Rasmussen; Bruce D Larson; Shannyn Stuart - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10863861B2 ## CPC - A47J 37/0611: {the food being cooked between two heating plates, e.g. waffle-irons} - A47J: KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES ## Abstract A waffle sandwich maker includes first and second waffle plates which contact a food product during preparation of the food product. The first waffle plate includes a plurality of protrusions defining a plurality of channels, a female connector having a hole, a male connector having a protrusion and a first spacer extending inward relative to the plurality of protrusions. The pluralities of protrusions and channels create depressions and ridges in the food product. The protrusion of the male connector and the hole of the female connector of the first waffle plate mate with a hole of a female connector and a protrusion of a male connector of the second waffle plate. The first spacer contacts the second waffle plate during preparation of the food product, which includes an outer dough encapsulating a filling, to maintain the first waffle plate spaced at least approximately 0.5 inches from the second waffle plate. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A waffle sandwich maker comprising: a first waffle plate, the first waffle plate being configured to contact a food product during preparation of the food product with the waffle sandwich maker, the first waffle plate including: a plurality of protrusions, the plurality of protrusions defining a plurality of channels, wherein the pluralities of protrusions and channels are configured to create depressions and ridges in the food product; a female connector having a hole; a male connector having a protrusion; and at least one spacer extending inward relative to the plurality of protrusions; and a second waffle plate, the second waffle plate being configured to contact the food product during preparation of the food product with the waffle sandwich maker, the second waffle plate including: a plurality of protrusions, the plurality of protrusions defining a plurality of channels, wherein the pluralities of protrusions and channels are configured to create depressions and ridges in the food product; a female connector having a hole; a male connector having a protrusion; and at least one spacer extending inward relative to the plurality of protrusions of the second waffle plate, wherein the at least one spacer of the first waffle plate is configured to contact the at least one spacer of the second waffle plate during preparation of the food product to space the plurality of protrusions of the first waffle plate from the plurality of protrusions of the second waffle plate, and wherein the protrusion of the male connector of the first waffle plate is configured to mate with the hole of the female connector of the second waffle plate, and the hole of the female connector of the first waffle plate is configured to mate with the protrusion of the male connector of the second waffle plate. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The waffle sandwich maker of claim 1, wherein the at least one spacer of the first waffle plate mandates a space between the plurality of protrusions of the first waffle plate and the plurality of protrusions the second waffle plate of approximately 0.75 inches. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The waffle sandwich maker of claim 1, wherein the at least one spacer is part of the female connector or the male connector of the first waffle plate. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The waffle sandwich maker of claim 1, wherein the at least one spacer includes a first spacer and the first spacer is part of the female connector of the first waffle plate and surrounds the hole of the female connector of the first waffle plate; or the first spacer is part of the male connector of the first waffle plate, and the protrusion of the male connector of the first waffle plate extends inward from the first spacer. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The waffle sandwich maker of claim 4, wherein the at least one spacer further includes a second spacer extending inward relative to the plurality of protrusions of the first waffle plate, the second spacer being configured to contact the second waffle plate during preparation of the food product such that the plurality of protrusions of the first waffle plate is spaced from the plurality of protrusions of the second waffle plate; the first spacer is part of the female connector of the first waffle plate; the second spacer is part of the male connector of the first waffle plate; and the protrusion of the male connector of the first waffle plate extends inward from the second spacer. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The waffle sandwich maker of claim 1, wherein the at least one spacer of the first waffle plate is configured to contact the at least one spacer of the second waffle plate during preparation of the food product to space the plurality of protrusions of the first waffle plate from the plurality of protrusions of the second waffle plate by at least approximately 0.5 inches. ### Claim 7 A waffle sandwich maker comprising: a first waffle plate, the first waffle plate being configured to contact a food product during preparation of the food product with the waffle sandwich maker, the first waffle plate including: a plurality of protrusions, the plurality of protrusions defining a plurality of channels, wherein the pluralities of protrusions and channels are configured to create depressions and ridges in the food product; a male connector having a protrusion; and at least one spacer extending inward relative to the plurality of protrusions; and a second waffle plate, the second waffle plate being configured to contact the food product during preparation of the food product with the waffle sandwich maker, the second waffle plate including: a plurality of protrusions, the plurality of protrusions defining a plurality of channels, wherein the pluralities of protrusions and channels are configured to create depressions and ridges in the food product; a male connector having a protrusion; and at least one spacer extending inward relative to the plurality of protrusions of the second waffle plate, wherein the at least one spacer of the first waffle plate is configured to contact the at least one spacer of the second waffle plate during preparation of the food product to space the plurality of protrusions of the first waffle plate from the plurality of protrusions of the second waffle plate, wherein the male connector of the first waffle plate is configured to receive the protrusion of the male connector of the second waffle plate when the first waffle plate is stacked on top of the second waffle plate. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The waffle sandwich maker of claim 7, wherein an interior of the male connector of the first waffle plate has a first portion with a first diameter and a second portion with a second diameter; the first diameter is greater than the second diameter; when the first waffle plate is stacked on top of the second waffle plate, the protrusion of the male connector of the second waffle plate fits inside and contacts the second portion; and when the first waffle plate is stacked on top of the second waffle plate, the protrusion of the male connector of the second waffle plate fits inside but does not contact the first portion. ### Claim 9 A waffle plate configured to contact a food product during preparation of the food product with a waffle sandwich maker including the waffle plate and another waffle plate, the waffle plate comprising: a plurality of protrusions, the plurality of protrusions defining a plurality of channels, wherein the pluralities of protrusions and channels are configured to create depressions and ridges in the food product; and at least one spacer extending inward relative to the plurality of protrusions, wherein the at least one spacer is configured to maintain contact with the another waffle plate throughout preparation of the food product to space the plurality of protrusions of the waffle plate from the another waffle plate, wherein the waffle plate includes a female connector having a hole and a male connector having a protrusion, the protrusion of the male connector of the waffle plate is configured to mate with a hole of a female connector of the another waffle plate, the hole of the female connector of the waffle plate is configured to mate with a protrusion of a male connector of the another waffle plate, and the at least one spacer is configured to contact the another waffle plate during preparation of the food product such that the plurality of protrusions of the waffle plate are spaced from a plurality of protrusions of the another waffle plate. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The waffle plate of claim 9, wherein the at least one spacer mandates a space between the plurality of protrusions of the waffle plate and the another waffle plate of approximately 0.75 inches. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The waffle plate of claim 10, wherein the at least one spacer is part of the female connector or the male connector of the waffle plate. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The waffle plate of claim 10, wherein the at least one spacer includes a first spacer and the first spacer is part of the female connector of the waffle plate, and the first spacer surrounds the hole of the female connector of the waffle plate; or the first spacer is part of the male connector of the waffle plate, and the protrusion of the male connector of the waffle plate extends inward from the first spacer. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The waffle plate of claim 12, wherein the at least one spacer includes a second spacer extending inward relative to the plurality of protrusions of the waffle plate, the second spacer being configured to contact the another waffle plate during preparation of the food product such that the plurality of protrusions of the waffle plate is spaced from the plurality of protrusions of the another waffle plate, wherein the first spacer is part of the female connector of the waffle plate; the second spacer is part of the male connector of the waffle plate; and the protrusion of the male connector of the waffle plate extends inward from the second spacer. ### Claim 14 A method of preparing a food product with a waffle sandwich maker including first and second waffle plates, with the first waffle plate being configured to contact a food product during preparation of the food product with the waffle sandwich maker and including a plurality of protrusions defining a plurality of channels, wherein the pluralities of protrusions and channels are configured to create depressions and ridges in the food product, and at least one spacer extending inward relative to the plurality of protrusions, wherein the at least one spacer is configured to maintain contact with the second waffle plate throughout preparation of the food product to space the plurality of protrusions of the first waffle plate from the second waffle plate at a constant spacing, wherein the waffle plate includes a female connector having a hole and a male connector having a protrusion, the protrusion of the male connector of the waffle plate is configured to mate with a hole of a female connector of the another waffle plate, the hole of the female connector of the waffle plate is configured to mate with a protrusion of a male connector of the another waffle plate, and the at least one spacer is configured to contact the another waffle plate during preparation of the food product such that the plurality of protrusions of the waffle plate are spaced from a plurality of protrusions of the another waffle plate, the method comprising: supporting the food product, including an outer dough enveloping an inner filling, on the first waffle plate; coupling the first waffle plate to the second waffle plate whereupon the at least one spacer contacts the second waffle plate such that the plurality of protrusions of the first waffle plate are spaced from the second waffle plate; and expanding the dough between the first and second waffle plates, thereby creating depressions and ridges in the dough of the food product with the pluralities of protrusions and channels of the first waffle plate while fully encapsulating the inner filling with dough. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, further comprising: maintaining a space between the plurality of protrusions of the first waffle plate and the second waffle plate of at least approximately 0.5 inches with the at least one spacer. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, and coupling the first waffle plate to the second waffle plate includes: mating the protrusion of the male connector of the first waffle plate with the hole of the female connector of the second waffle plate; and mating the hole of the female connector of the first waffle plate with the protrusion of the male connector of the second waffle plate. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein: the at least one spacer is part of the female connector of the first waffle plate, and the at least one spacer surrounds the hole of the female connector of the first waffle plate; or the at least one spacer is part of the male connector of the first waffle plate, and the protrusion of the male connector of the first waffle plate extends inward from the at least one spacer. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the inner filling includes at least one of egg, cheese and sausage.