# US 2013/0280397 A1 · System and method for preparing food > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0280397 A1 - Document ID: US20130280397A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/861,204 - Filed: 2013-04-11 - Published: 2013-10-24 - Earliest claimed: 2012-04-11 - Inventors: Tom Ryan; David J. Biederman; Andrew J. Selvaggio - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130280397A1 ## CPC - A22C 7/0076: {Devices for making meat patties} - A23L 5/10: General methods of cooking foods, e.g. by roasting or frying - A23L 5/15: {using wave energy, irradiation, electrical means or magnetic fields, e.g. oven cooking or roasting using radiant dry heat} - A23L 13/67: {Reformed meat products other than sausages} - A23P 10/00: Shaping or working of foodstuffs characterised by the products - A23P 30/10: Moulding - A22C: PROCESSING MEAT, POULTRY, OR FISH (preserving A23B; obtaining protein compositions for foodstuffs A23J1/00; fish, meat or poultry preparations A23L; disintegrating, e.g. chopping meat, B02C18/00; preparation of proteins C07K1/00) - 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 system and method of food preparation is provided. A tool for manipulating and shaping food products, such as ground meats, is provided with specific structural features for applying a force to a raw food product. Methods of using the same are provided. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for handling food product, the apparatus comprising: a body portion comprising a substantially planar member having a predetermined outer shape; at least one sidewall portion extending from a lower surface of the substantially planar member and provided substantially perpendicular to the substantially planar member; a handle portion comprising at least one support member extending from an upper surface of the substantially planar member and provided substantially perpendicular to the substantially planar member; the handle portion comprising a user-interface portion interconnected to the at least one support member, the user-interface portion having a length, a width, a thickness and a cross-sectional shape; the length comprising a length of at least about 4.00 inches; the width comprising a width of at least about 1.00 inches; the thickness comprising a thickness of at least about 0.10 inches; wherein an enclosed volume is formed by the substantially planar member and the at least one sidewall portion when a lower portion of the sidewall portion is brought into contact with a substantially flat surface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the predetermined outer shape is circular. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the predetermined shape comprises a curvilinear shape with multiple points of inflection and which is asymmetric about at least one axis. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one sidewall portion extends along the entirety of a perimeter of the substantially planar member. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least two support members extend from the upper surface of the substantially planar member and the user-interface portion comprises a beam member disposed substantially perpendicular to the at least two support members. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the enclosed volume comprises a volume between approximately 6.5 cubic inches and approximately 14 cubic inches. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cross-sectional shape of the user-interface portion is a semi-circular shape. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, where the thickness comprises a thickness of approximately 0.35 inches. ### Claim 9 An apparatus for handling a food product during a cooking operation, the apparatus comprising: a body portion comprising a substantially flat portion and at least one sidewall extending substantially perpendicularly therefrom; wherein the at least one sidewall comprises a first end and a second end, the first end interconnected to the substantially flat portion and the second comprising a free end for contacting a surface, wherein the distance between the first end and the second is substantially constant over the entire perimeter of the at least one sidewall; wherein the second end of the at least one sidewall is adapted to contact a substantially planar surface such that when the entire perimeter of the at least one sidewall contacts the substantially planar surface the substantially flat portion and the substantially planar surface are positioned in parallel planes; a handle portion in force-transmitting communication with the substantially flat portion; the handle portion comprising an elongate member having a length of at least about 4.00 inches, a width of at least about 1.00 inches, a thickness of at least about 0.25 inches and a cross-sectional shape; wherein a void space is provided within the at least one sidewall and defined on at least one side by the substantially flat portion. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein a perimeter of the body portion is circular. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein a perimeter of the body portion comprises a curvilinear shape with multiple points of inflection and which is asymmetric about at least one axis. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the at least one sidewall portion extends along the entirety of a perimeter of the substantially flat portion. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein at least two support members extend from the upper surface of the substantially flat portion and the handle portion comprises a beam member disposed substantially perpendicular to the at least two support members. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the void space comprises a volume between approximately 6.5 cubic inches and approximately 14 cubic inches. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the cross-sectional shape comprises is a semi-circular shape. ### Claim 16 A method of preparing a food product, the method comprising: forming a plurality of food product units from a source, each of said plurality of food product units comprising at least one of a predetermined volume and a predetermined weight; based on an input request, selecting at least one of the plurality of food product units; applying at least one of a flavoring and a lubricating substance on an area of a heated surface; placing said at least one of the plurality of food product units on the area; providing an apparatus for handling food product, the apparatus comprising a body portion comprising a substantially planar member having a predetermined outer shape, at least one sidewall portion extending from a lower surface of the substantially planar member and provided substantially perpendicular to the substantially planar member, a handle portion comprising at least one support member extending from an upper surface of the substantially planar member and provided substantially perpendicular to the substantially planar member, the handle portion comprising a user-interface portion interconnected to the at least one support member, the user-interface portion having a length, a width, a thickness and a cross-sectional shape; placing the apparatus in contact with the at least one of the plurality of food product units; applying a force to the handle portion and deforming the at least one of the plurality of food product units until the food product unit contacts substantially the entirety of the planar member and the at least one sidewall portion; allowing a first amount of time to lapse; rotating the at least one of the plurality of food product units approximately 180 degrees; allowing a second amount of time to elapse; and removing the at least one of the plurality of food product units from the area. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising providing a layer of parchment paper on the at least one of the plurality of food product units prior to placing the apparatus in contact with the at least one of the plurality of food product units. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the first amount of time not more than two minutes. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the first amount of time not more than two minutes. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the plurality of food product units comprises a plurality of ground beef portions of single-serving size.