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US 9,204,664 B2Granted
Unique sausage shapes and devices and methods for processing sausages
OwnerEdward W. Horteliusinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
This document provides devices and methods for processing elongate generally cylindrical food products. For example, this document provides devices and methods for longitudinally cutting sausages, and the sausage designs as cut thereby.
Claims13
A sausage having a generally cylindrical shape and comprising:
- a food material that is shaped by an outer casing into (i) a generally cylindrical middle portion, (ii) a first generally hemispherical end portion, and (iii) a second generally hemispherical end portion, wherein the first and second generally hemispherical end portions are individually located at opposite ends of the generally cylindrical middle portion;
- a first separation within the food material,
- wherein the first separation within the food material is at least partially characterized by a first surface of food material and a second surface of food material, wherein the first and second surfaces of food material generally butt against each other,
- wherein the first separation within the food material but no other separation within the food material intersects an outer surface of the generally cylindrical middle portion;
- and
- a second separation within the food material,
- wherein the second separation within the food material is at least partially characterized by a third surface of food material and a fourth surface of food material, wherein the third and fourth surfaces of food material generally butt against each other,
- wherein the generally cylindrical shape of the sausage is not altered by the first or second separations,
- wherein the second separation within the food material intersects the first separation within the food material,
- wherein the second separation within the food material does not intersect the outer surface of the generally cylindrical middle portion,
- wherein the first separation within the food material intersects an outer surface of each of the first and second generally hemispherical end portions, and wherein the second separation within the food material intersects the outer surface of each of the first and second generally hemispherical end portions, and
- wherein the sausage is adapted to expand upon heating, from the generally cylindrical shape, such that the first surface of food material and the second surface of food material move apart from each other and no longer generally butt against each other.
9 more elements
A food article having a generally cylindrical shape and comprising:
- a sausage that is shaped by an outer casing to have:
- (i) a middle portion that defines a generally cylindrical outer surface and (ii) two end portions that each define generally hemispherical outer surfaces, wherein the two end portions are individually located on opposite ends of the middle portion,
- wherein the sausage has been processed to define a first incision and a second incision, wherein the first incision and the second incision intersect,
- wherein the generally cylindrical shape of the food article is not altered by the first incision and the second incision,
- wherein the first incision penetrates into the sausage through the generally cylindrical outer surface and through each of the generally hemispherical outer surfaces, wherein the first incision is at least partially characterized by a first surface of food material that generally butts against a second surface of food material,
- wherein the second incision penetrates into the sausage through each of the generally hemispherical outer surfaces and is located entirely within the generally cylindrical outer surface such that the second incision does not penetrate through the generally cylindrical outer surface, and
- wherein the sausage is adapted to expand upon heating, from the generally cylindrical shape, such that the first surface of food material and the second surface of food material move apart from each other upon heating to result in the first surface of food material no longer generally butting against the second surface of food material.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.