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US 9,801,399 B2Granted
Methods and devices for forming flattened food products and food products thereby formed
AssigneePotato Flats Incubator Restaurant, LLC
InventorPhilip J. Romano
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus includes a press configured to compress at least a portion of a food item to deform the food item and form a flattened food product. The press includes a movable portion and a lift arm pivotally attached to the movable portion, where the lift arm is configured to raise or lower the movable portion. The movable portion includes a punch projecting from the movable portion. The punch is configured, when the movable portion is moved by the lift arm, to reshape the food item such that the flattened food product has at least a flattened central portion.
Claims20
An apparatus comprising:
- a press configured to compress at least a portion of a food item to deform the food item and form a flattened food product, wherein the press comprises:
- a movable upper press portion;
- a lower press portion;
- a lift arm pivotally attached to the movable upper press portion, the lift arm configured to raise and lower the movable upper press portion;
- at least one lever arm pivotally attached to the lift arm and pivotally attached to the lower press portion, each lever arm having a first end coupled to the lower press portion and an opposing second end, the second end being above the movable upper press portion when the movable upper press portion is in a lowered position, the second end being below at least part of the movable upper press portion when the movable upper press portion is in a raised position;
- a punch projecting from the movable upper press portion, the punch configured, when the movable upper press portion is lowered by the lift arm, to reshape the food item such that the flattened food product has at least a flattened central portion;
- and
- multiple guide rods coupled to the lower press portion and extending upward from the lower press portion to at least the moveable upper press portion, wherein the movable upper press portion comprises multiple annular guides configured to slide up and down along the guide rods in response to the lift arm raising and lowering the movable upper press portion.
5 more elements
A method comprising:
- placing a food item into a press, the press having a movable upper press portion, a lower press portion, and a lift arm pivotally attached to the movable upper press portion, the lift arm configured to raise and lower the movable upper press portion;
- and
- compressing at least a portion of the food item using the press to deform the food item and form a flattened food product;
- wherein at least one lever arm is pivotally attached to the lift arm and is pivotally attached to the lower press portion, each lever arm having a first end coupled to the lower press portion and an opposing second end, the second end being above the movable upper press portion when the movable upper press portion is in a lowered position, the second end being below at least part of the movable upper press portion when the movable upper press portion is in a raised position;
- wherein a punch projects from the movable upper press portion, the punch configured, when the movable upper press portion is lowered by the lift arm, to reshape the food item such that the flattened food product has at least a flattened central portion;
- wherein multiple guide rods are coupled to the lower press portion and extend upward from the lower press portion to at least the moveable upper press portion;
- and
- wherein the movable upper press portion comprises multiple annular guides configured to slide up and down along the guide rods in response to the lift arm raising and lowering the movable upper press portion.
5 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a press configured to compress at least a portion of a food item to deform the food item and form a flattened food product, wherein the press comprises:
- a movable upper press portion;
- a lower press portion;
- a lift arm pivotally attached to the movable upper press portion, the lift arm configured to raise and lower the movable upper press portion;
- a punch projecting from the movable upper press portion downward toward the lower press portion, the punch configured, when the movable upper press portion is lowered by the lift arm, to reshape the food item such that the flattened food product has at least a flattened central portion;
- multiple guide rods coupled to the lower press portion and extending upward from the lower press portion and above the moveable upper press portion, wherein the movable upper press portion comprises multiple annular guides configured to slide up and down along the guide rods in response to the lift arm raising and lowering the movable upper press portion;
- and
- a pair of lever arms pivotally attached to the lift arm and pivotally attached to the lower press portion, the lift arm pivotally attached to the movable upper press portion at or near a center of the lift arm, one end of the lift arm pivotally attached to the pair of lever arms, each lever arm having a first end coupled to the lower press portion and an opposing second end, the second end being above the movable upper press portion when the movable upper press portion is in a lowered position, the second end being below at least part of the movable upper press portion when the movable upper press portion is in a raised position.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.