# US 11,998,018 B2 · Hard taco shell and method for producing the hard taco shell > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,998,018 B2 - Document ID: US11998018B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/339,437 - Filed: 2021-06-04 - Published: 2022-12-08 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2021-06-04 - Assignees: General Mills, Inc. - Applicants: General Mills, Inc. - Inventors: Christine M. Dosch; John James Fenske; James David Nelson; Christine M. Nowakowski - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11998018B2 ## CPC - A21D 13/42: Tortillas - A23L 7/117: Flakes or other shapes of ready-to-eat type; Semi-finished or partly-finished products therefor (cereal granules or flakes to be cooked and eaten hot A23L7/143; cereal germ products A23L7/152) - A21D 2/181: {Sugars or sugar alcohols (honey A21D2/34)} - A21D 8/02: Methods for preparing dough; Treating dough prior to baking - A21D 13/24: coated after baking - A21D 13/28: characterised by the coating composition - A21D 13/33: Edible containers, e.g. cups or cones - A21D 13/40: Products characterised by the type, form or use - A23L 29/035: {containing oxygen as heteroatom (gums A23L29/25; sugar or sugar alcohols A23L29/30)} - A23L 29/37: {Sugar alcohols} - A23P 20/20: Making of laminated, multi-layered, stuffed or hollow foodstuffs, e.g. by wrapping in preformed edible dough sheets or in edible food containers - A21D: TREATMENT OF FLOUR OR DOUGH FOR BAKING, e.g. BY ADDITION OF MATERIALS; BAKING; BAKERY PRODUCTS (preservation of flour or dough before baking A23B40/00; preservation of bakery products A23B45/00) - A23L: FOODS, FOODSTUFFS OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; PREPARATION OR TREATMENT THEREOF (preservation thereof A23B) - A23P: SHAPING OR WORKING OF FOODSTUFFS, NOT FULLY COVERED BY A SINGLE OTHER SUBCLASS ## Abstract A taco shell is produced by applying a plasticizing agent to a base or spine portion of a hard taco shell, such as by targeted spraying, rolling, brushing or dipping of the taco shells, thereby softening the base or spine portion, preferably across a strip width between 4 mm-20 mm. As a result, when the taco shell is bitten, the softened base portion has some hinging flexibility or pliability which reduces the potential for any crack propagation. Therefore, the structural integrity of the hard taco shell can be better maintained while be eaten, resulting in retention of the fillings and less mess. If desired, an anti-migration agent can also be applied to assure containment of the plasticizing agent in the targeted region. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of producing a hard taco shell having two sidewall portions joined by a base portion comprising applying a plasticizing agent along at least one targeted section of the base portion to soften the at least one targeted section, thereby increasing hinging flexibility or pliability of the at least one targeted section to better maintain an overall structural integrity of the hard taco shell upon subsequent consumption. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the plasticizing agent is applied to a strip width between 4-20 mm. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the plasticizing agent is applied to a strip width between 8-16 mm. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the plasticizing agent is applied to a strip width of about 14 mm. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the plasticizing agent is applied as a coating through one of spraying, rolling, brushing or dipping of the taco shell. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the plasticizing agent is glycerin. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the plasticizing agent includes: propylene glycol; sugar alcohols; low molecular weight carbohydrates; and/or polysaccharides. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the plasticizing agent is limited to the base portion of the hard taco shell. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising applying a migration limiting agent to contain the plasticizing agent in the at least one targeted section of the base portion. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the migration limiting agent comprises a hydrocolloid. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising packaging a plurality of the hard taco shells by nesting the hard taco shells, wrapping the nested hard taco shells, and placing the wrapped hard taco shells in a carton. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A hard taco shell produced according to the method of claim 1. ### Claim 13 A hard taco shell comprising: a first hard shell sidewall; a second hard shell sidewall; and a base portion connecting the first and second hard shell sidewalls, wherein at least a targeted section of the base portion is softened by a plasticizing agent applied only in the targeted section, thereby being hingedly flexible or pliable to better maintain an overall structural integrity of the hard taco shell upon subsequent consumption. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The hard taco shell of claim 13, wherein the plasticizing agent is contained in a strip width between 4-20 mm. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The hard taco shell of claim 14, wherein the plasticizing agent is contained in a strip width between 8-16 mm. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The hard taco shell of claim 15, wherein the plasticizing agent is contained in a strip width of about 14 mm. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The hard taco shell of claim 13, wherein the plasticizing agent is glycerin. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The hard taco shell of claim 13, wherein the plasticizing agent includes: propylene glycol; sugar alcohols; low molecular weight carbohydrates; and/or polysaccharides. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The hard taco shell of claim 13, further comprising a migration limiting agent containing the plasticizing agent in the at least one targeted section of the base portion. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The hard taco shell of claim 19, wherein the migration limiting agent comprises a hydrocolloid. ### Claim 21 (depends on 13) The hard taco shell of claim 13, wherein the hard taco shell is nested and wrapped with additional ones of said hard taco shells and located in a carton. ### Claim 22 (depends on 13) The hard taco shell of claim 13, wherein the softened base portion has some hinging flexibility or pliability which reduces fracturing caused by biting by at least 66% when compared to a hard taco without a plasticizing agent.