# US 2019/0166855 A1 · Meat processing devices to control meat slab dimensions

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- Number: US 2019/0166855 A1
- Document ID: US20190166855A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/197,792
- Filed: 2018-11-21
- Published: 2019-06-06
- Earliest claimed: 2017-12-04
- Assignees: Gundlach & Rattmann Consulting, LLC
- Applicants: Gundlach & Rattmann Consulting, LLC
- Inventors: Larry Chester Gundlach; James Allen Rattmann
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190166855A1

## CPC

- A22C 15/007: {Racks for storing or smoking suspended meat or sausages (racks for pressing meat A22C7/0023)}
- A22C 15/005: {Hangers with more hooks penetrating the piece of meat}
- 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)

## Abstract

A meat processing device for defining a uniform shape of a pork belly, and including a frame, a shoulder defining a confinement space with the frame, and a tine for securing the meat in the confinement space. A cover may be joined to the frame to further define the confinement space, and may releasably engage the shoulder for a secure confinement of the pork belly.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A meat processing device comprising:
a frame having a first end portion and a second end portion;
a shoulder joined to the first end portion of the frame to at least partially define a confinement space with the frame; and
a frame tine joined to and extending outwardly from the frame and into the confinement space.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The meat processing device of claim 1, and further comprising:
a second frame tine joined to and extending outwardly from the frame and into the confinement space.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The meat processing device of claim 1, and further comprising:
a second shoulder joined to the second end portion of the frame to at least partially define the confinement space with the frame and the shoulder.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The meat processing device of claim 1, and further comprising:
a cover joined to the frame to at least partially define the confinement space.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The meat processing device of claim 1, and further comprising:
a cover joined to the frame to pivot between an open position and a closed position to at least partially define the confinement space.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The meat processing device of claim 1, and further comprising:
a cover joined to the frame to pivot between an open position and a closed position to at least partially define the confinement space with the frame; and
a cover tine joined to the cover and extending toward the frame.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The meat processing device of claim 1, and further comprising:
a cover joined to the frame for movement between an open position and a closed position and having:
a first portion; and
a second portion disposed at an angle to the first portion, and spaced apart from the frame in the closed position to at least partially define the confinement space.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The meat processing device of claim 1, and further comprising:
a cover joined to the frame for movement between an open position and a closed position and having:
a first portion;
a second portion disposed at an angle to the first portion, and spaced apart from the frame in the closed position to at least partially define the confinement space; and
a cover tine joined to and extending outwardly from the cover into the confinement space in opposition to the tine joined to the frame.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The meat processing device of claim 1, and further comprising:
a hanging hook joined to the frame.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The meat processing device of claim 1, and further comprising:
a cover joined to the frame to pivot between an open position and a closed position; and
a hanging hook joined to the frame.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The meat processing device of claim 1, and further comprising:
a cover joined to the frame for movement between an open position and a closed position and having:
a first portion;
a second portion disposed at an angle to the first portion, and spaced apart from the frame when in the closed position to at least partially define the confinement space; and
a cover tine joined to and extending outwardly from the cover in opposition to the tine joined to the frame; and
a plurality of additional frame tines joined to the frame and extending toward the cover when in the closed position.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The meat processing device of claim 1, wherein:
the frame comprises a central portion between the first portion and the second portion; and
at least a portion of the shoulder extends toward the central portion to define a tapered confinement space.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The meat processing device of claim 1, and further comprising:
a cover joined to the frame to pivot between an open position and a closed position, and the cover releasably engages the shoulder when in the closed position.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The meat processing device of claim 1, wherein the shoulder defines a shoulder lock component, and
the meat processing device further comprises:
a cover joined to the frame to move between an open position and a closed position to at least partially define the confinement space when in the closed position; and
the cover includes a cover lock component for releasably engaging the shoulder lock component in the closed position.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The meat processing device of claim 1, wherein the shoulder defines a plurality of shoulder lock components, and
the meat processing device further comprises:
a cover joined to the frame to at least partially define the confinement space when in a closed position; and
the cover includes a cover lock component for selectively and releasably engaging at least one of the shoulder lock components when the cover is in the closed position.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The meat processing device of claim 1, wherein the shoulder defines a shoulder lock component, and
the meat processing device further comprises:
a cover joined to the frame to at least partially define the confinement space; and
the cover includes a cover lock component for releasably engaging the shoulder lock component in the closed position.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The meat processing device of claim 1, wherein the shoulder defines a plurality of shoulder lock components, and
the meat processing device further comprises:
a cover joined to the frame to move between an open position and a closed position to at least partially define the confinement space; and
the cover includes a cover lock component for selectively and releasably engaging at least one of the shoulder lock components when the cover is in the closed position.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The meat processing device of claim 1, and further comprising:
a cover joined to the frame to pivot between an open position and a closed position to at least partially define the confinement space.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

The meat processing device of claim 1, wherein the shoulder defines a shoulder lock recess, and
the meat processing device further comprises:
a cover joined to the frame to pivot between an open position and a closed position to at least partially define the confinement space; and
the cover includes a cover lock tab for releasably engaging the shoulder lock recess in the closed position.

### Claim 20 (depends on 1)

The meat processing device of claim 1, wherein the shoulder defines a plurality of shoulder lock recesses, and
the meat processing device further comprises:
a cover joined to the frame to pivot between an open position and a closed position to at least partially define the confinement space; and
the cover includes a cover lock component to selectively and releasably engage at least one of the shoulder lock recesses when the cover is in the closed position.

### Claim 21 (depends on 1)

The meat processing device of claim 1, and further comprising a second meat processing device having:
a second frame having a first end portion and a second end portion;
a frame tine joined to and extending outwardly from the second frame between the first end portion and the second end portion; and
a shoulder joined to the first end portion of the second frame to at least partially define a second confinement space with the second frame.

### Claim 22 (depends on 1)

The meat processing device of claim 1, and further comprising:
a first cover joined to the frame to move between an open position and a closed position to at least partially define the confinement space; and
a second cover joined to the frame to move independently of the first cover and between an open position and a closed position to at least partially define the second confinement space.

### Claim 23 (depends on 1)

The meat processing device of claim 1, and further comprising:
a first cover joined to the frame to define a closed position to at least partially define the confinement space;
a second cover joined to the frame to define a closed position to at least partially define the second confinement space; and
a handle joined to the first cover.

### Claim 24 (depends on 1)

The meat processing device of claim 1, and further comprising:
a cover joined to the frame to define a closed position to at least partially define the confinement space; and
a stop to engage the cover at a predetermined position.

### Claim 25 (depends on 1)

The meat processing device of claim 1, and further comprising:
a support leg joined to the frame.

### Claim 26 (depends on 13)

The meat processing device of claim 13, wherein the shoulder includes a release tab extending away from the frame to disengage the cover and the shoulder.

### Claim 27 (depends on 1)

The meat processing device of claim 1, and further comprising:
a second tine spaced apart from the tine, and projecting into the confinement space.