US5049401A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Glucomannan product and a method to coagulate it
Assignee: UNI FOOD SYSTEMS Inc
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Filing: 1990-03-19
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Granted: 1991-09-17
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Expires: 2010-03-19
Abstract
Abstract The present invention provides a product containing glucomannan mixed with encapsulated acidic material having a wall made of hydrophobic substance which melts at a temperature higher than the coagulating temperature of the glucomannan. Because this acidic material is covered with a wall, when alkali is added to the mixture which is then heated, the glucomannan is coagulated. Then, the wall of the encapsulated material is melted by heating to liberate acid, neutralizing the alkaline substance, and producing a slightly alkaline, neutral or acidic glucomannan coagulated product. Further, although the glucomannan coagulated product has a water- releasing property, this can be reduced by adding other natural polysaccharides. Also, a decrease of elasticity caused by neutralization can be eliminated by adding food cellulose.
Inventors
- 👤 Seiki Harada
- 👤 Masatsugu Ito
- 👤 Koichi Iwanami
- 👤 Kenichi Hashimoto
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 12:30
CPC Classifications
A; A23; A23L; A23L19/00; C; C08; C08B; C08B37/00; C08B37/006; C08B37/0087; C08B37/009; A23L13/00; A23L13/40; A23L13/42; A23L13/422; A23L17/00; A23L17/70; A23L19/10; A23L19/115; C08L; C08L5/00; C08L5/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
77 words
A glucomannan product, which comprises (1) glucomannan as principal component, (2) an encapsulated acidic material which comprises an acidic substance covered with a wall of a hydrophobic substance, and (3) an encapsulated alkaline material which comprises an alkaline substance covered with a wall of a hydrophobic substance, wherein the melting point of the wall of the encapsulated alkaline material is at least 5° C. lower than the melting point of the wall of the encapsulated acidic material.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
77 words
A glucomannan product, which comprises (1) glucomannan as principal component, (2) an encapsulated acidic material which comprises an acidic substance covered with a wall of a hydrophobic substance, and (3) an encapsulated alkaline material which comprises an alkaline substance covered with a wall of a hydrophobic substance, wherein the melting point of the wall of the encapsulated alkaline material is at least 5° C. lower than the melting point of the wall of the encapsulated acidic material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
A glucomannan product as set forth in claim 1, wherein said acidic substance is selected from the group consisting of acetic acid, citric acid, fumaric acid, adipic acid, tartaric acid, malic acid, ascorbic acid, gluconic acid, succinic acid, lactic acid and mixtures thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
A glucomannan product as set forth in claim 1, wherein said acidic substance is selected from the group consisting of calcium hydroxide, calcium oxide, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, potassium carbonate, sodium carbonate, trisodium phosphate, disodium hydrogenphosphate and mixtures thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
A glucomannan product, which comprises (1) glucomannan as principal component, (2) an encapsulated acidic material which comprises an acidic substance covered with a wall of a hydrophobic substance, and (3) cellulose.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
A glucomannan product, which comprises (1) glucomannan as principal component, (2) an encapsulated acidic material which comprises an acidic substance covered with a wall of a hydrophobic substance, and (3) cellulose.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
A glucomannan product as set forth in claim 4, wherein said acidic substance is selected from the group consisting of acetic acid, citric acid, fumaric acid, adipic acid, tartaric acid, malic acid, ascorbic acid, gluconic acid, succinic acid, lactic acid and mixtures thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
A glucomannan product, which comprises (1) glucomannan as principal component, (2) an encapsulated acidic material which comprises an acidic substance covered with a wall of a hydrophobic substance, and (3) cellulose and (4) a natural polysaccharide.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
A glucomannan product, which comprises (1) glucomannan as principal component, (2) an encapsulated acidic material which comprises an acidic substance covered with a wall of a hydrophobic substance, and (3) cellulose and (4) a natural polysaccharide.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
A glucomannan product as set forth in claim 6, wherein said natural polysaccharide is selected from the group consisting of carrageenin, locust bean gum, guar gum, alginic acid, sodium alginate, xanthan gum, cyclodextrin, tamarind seed polysaccharide, agar, pullulan, pectin and mixtures thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
A glucomannan product as set forth in claim 6, wherein said acidic substance is selected from the group consisting of acetic acid, citric acid, fumaric acid, adipic acid, tartaric acid, malic acid, ascorbic acid, gluconic acid, succinic acid, lactic acid and mixtures thereof.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
79 words
A glucomannan product, which comprises (1) glucomannan as principal component, (2) an encapsulated acidic material which comprises an acidic substance covered with a wall of a hydrophobic substance, (3) an encapsulated alkaline material which comprises an alkaline substance covered with a wall of a hydrophobic substance, (4) a natural polysaccharide and (5) cellulose, wherein the melting point of the wall of the encapsulated alkaline material is lower than the melting point of the wall of the encapsulated acidic material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
79 words
A glucomannan product, which comprises (1) glucomannan as principal component, (2) an encapsulated acidic material which comprises an acidic substance covered with a wall of a hydrophobic substance, (3) an encapsulated alkaline material which comprises an alkaline substance covered with a wall of a hydrophobic substance, (4) a natural polysaccharide and (5) cellulose, wherein the melting point of the wall of the encapsulated alkaline material is lower than the melting point of the wall of the encapsulated acidic material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
A glucomannan product as set forth in claim 9, wherein said natural polysaccharide is selected from the group consisting of carrageenin, locust bean gum, guar gum, alginic acid, sodium alginate, xanthan gum, cyclodextrin, tamarind seed polysaccharide, agar, pullulan, pectin and mixtures thereof.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
43 words
A glucomannan product as set forth in claim 9, wherein said acidic substance is selected from the group consisting of acetic acid, citric acid, fumaric acid, adipic acid, tartaric acid, malic acid, ascorbic acid, gluconic acid, succinic acid, lactic acid and mixtures thereof.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
98 words
A method of coagulating glucomannan, which comprises providing a mixture which comprises (1) glucomannan as principal component and (2) an encapsulated acidic material which comprises an acidic substance covered with a wall of a hydrophobic substance. suspending the mixture in water, coagulating the glucomannan at a temperature lower than the melting point of the wall in the presence of an alkaline substance, heating the coagulated product to a higher temperature than the melting point of the wall, and neutralizing alkaline substance remaining in the coagulated product by means of the acidic substance released from the encapsulated acidic material.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
98 words
A method of coagulating glucomannan, which comprises providing a mixture which comprises (1) glucomannan as principal component and (2) an encapsulated acidic material which comprises an acidic substance covered with a wall of a hydrophobic substance. suspending the mixture in water, coagulating the glucomannan at a temperature lower than the melting point of the wall in the presence of an alkaline substance, heating the coagulated product to a higher temperature than the melting point of the wall, and neutralizing alkaline substance remaining in the coagulated product by means of the acidic substance released from the encapsulated acidic material.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method as set forth in claim 12, wherein said acidic substance is selected from the group consisting of acetic acid, citric acid, fumaric acid, adipic acid, tartaric acid, malic acid, ascorbic acid, gluconic acid, succinic acid, lactic acid and mixtures thereof.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
104 words
A method of coagulating glucomannan, which comprises providing a mixture which comprises (1) glucomannan as principal component, (2) an encapsulated acidic material which comprises an acidic substance covered with a wall of a hydrophobic substance, (3) a natural polysaccharide and (4) cellulose, suspending the mixture in water, coagulating the glucomannan at a temperature lower than the melting point of the wall in the presence of an alkaline substance, heating the coagulated product to a higher temperature than the melting point of the wall, and neutralizing alkaline substance remaining in the coagulated product by means of the acidic substance released from the encapsulated acidic material.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
104 words
A method of coagulating glucomannan, which comprises providing a mixture which comprises (1) glucomannan as principal component, (2) an encapsulated acidic material which comprises an acidic substance covered with a wall of a hydrophobic substance, (3) a natural polysaccharide and (4) cellulose, suspending the mixture in water, coagulating the glucomannan at a temperature lower than the melting point of the wall in the presence of an alkaline substance, heating the coagulated product to a higher temperature than the melting point of the wall, and neutralizing alkaline substance remaining in the coagulated product by means of the acidic substance released from the encapsulated acidic material.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method as set forth in claim 14, wherein said natural polysaccharide is selected from the group consisting of carrageenin, locust bean gum, guar gum, alginic acid, sodium alginate, xanthan gum, cyclodextrin, tamarind seed polysaccharide, agar, pullulan, pectin and mixtures thereof.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method as set forth in claim 14, wherein said acidic substance is selected from the group consisting of acetic acid, citric acid, fumaric acid, adipic acid, tartaric acid, malic acid, ascorbic acid, gluconic acid, succinic acid, lactic acid and mixtures thereof.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as set forth in claim 14, wherein said alkaline substance is selected from the group consisting of calcium hydroxide, calcium oxide, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, potassium carbonate, sodium carbonate, trisodium phosphate, disodium hydrogenphosphate and mixtures thereof.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-09-16 | 1995-03-18 | 1995-09-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-09-16 | 1999-03-18 | 1999-09-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-09-16 | 2003-03-18 | 2003-09-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |