Patent US4084017A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4084017A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fibrous protein materials
Assignee: General Foods Corp
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Filing: 1976-06-16
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Granted: 1978-04-11
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Expires: 1996-06-16
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is a method for producing fibrous protein materials useful for fish analogs. According to this method, an aqueous mixture of a heat coagulable protein is frozen by cooling the mixture in a manner and at a rate effective to produce elongated ice crystals generally aligned perpendicular to the surface of cooling, then subjected to a temperature substantially different from that of the frozen mass, and the protein in the frozen mass is then stabilized effectively to preserve its structural integrity during subsequent heating to set the protein.
Inventors
- 👤 Myung Ki Kim
- 👤 Joaquin Castro Lugay
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 09:11
CPC Classifications
A; A23; A23J; A23J3/00; A23J3/22; A23J3/24; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S426/00; Y10S426/802
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
110 words
A method for preparing a texturized protein material comprising: (a) preparing a mixture comprising heat coagulable protein and water; (b) cooling the mixture to freeze the water into elongated ice crystals and to separate the protein into well-defined, well-ordered, substantially independent zones; (c) subjecting the frozen mass to a temperature at least 50° C different from that of the frozen mass to cause shock fracturing of the material at lines of weakness in the frozen mass perpendicular to the elongated ice crystals; (d) stabilizing the protein in the frozen mass effectively to prevent loss of fibrous structure upon subsequent heating; and (e) heating the stabilized material to coagulate the protein.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
110 words
A method for preparing a texturized protein material comprising: (a) preparing a mixture comprising heat coagulable protein and water; (b) cooling the mixture to freeze the water into elongated ice crystals and to separate the protein into well-defined, well-ordered, substantially independent zones; (c) subjecting the frozen mass to a temperature at least 50° C different from that of the frozen mass to cause shock fracturing of the material at lines of weakness in the frozen mass perpendicular to the elongated ice crystals; (d) stabilizing the protein in the frozen mass effectively to prevent loss of fibrous structure upon subsequent heating; and (e) heating the stabilized material to coagulate the protein.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the protein is stabilized by freeze drying.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the protein in the frozen mass is stabilized by immersing the frozen mass into an aqueous solution, comprising an edible, water-soluble material capable of lowering the freezing point of water and stabilizing the protein, for a time effective to stabilize the protein in the frozen mass.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim 3 wherein the edible water soluble material capable of lowering the freezing point of water and stabilizing the protein comprises a member selected from the group consisting of ethanol and propanol.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 4 wherein the edible water soluble material capable of lowering the freezing point of water and stabilizing the protein comprises ethanol.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim 5 wherein the ethanol is employed in the aqueous solution at a concentration of greater than 20% based on the weight of solution prior to immersion of the frozen mass therein.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 6 wherein the stabilized protein is treated to remove residual ethanol.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 7 wherein the residual ethanol is removed by subjecting the stabilized protein to a vacuum.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the pH of the mixture comprising protein and water is adjusted to increase the solubility of the protein.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the temperature of step (c) is at least 50° C below that of the frozen mass.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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Cited
US3870808A
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US3920853A
Cited
US3925903A
Cited
US3881032A
Cited
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Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-04-10 | 1981-10-10 | 1982-04-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-04-10 | 1985-10-10 | 1986-04-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-04-10 | 1989-10-10 | 1990-04-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |