RUTTEN LOUISE JANE (GB)
SAUNDERS MARK JOHN (NZ)
RUTTEN GISCARD HUBERTUS THEODO (GB)
RUTTEN LOUISE JANE (GB)
SAUNDERS MARK JOHN (NZ)
| WO1986004292A1 | 1986-07-31 |
| CA2525674A1 | 2004-12-09 | |||
| DE4135231A1 | 1993-04-29 | |||
| US20030221535A1 | 2003-12-04 |
DATABASE WPI Week 199723, Derwent World Patents Index; Class D14, AN 1997-245433, XP003010247
DATABASE WPI Week 199110, Derwent World Patents Index; Class D13, AN 1991-072877, XP003010248
CLAIMS:
1. A food slice having a periphery that simulates the silhouette of something or someone (e.g. a character, an animal, a creature, a form, etc).
2. A food slice of claim 1 when the periphery itself is surrounded by a food slice with an inner periphery and an outer periphery, the inner periphery complementing said periphery.
3. A food slice of claim 2 produced by slicing after a plug of said periphery has been formed or located in the complementary surround.
4. A food slice of any one of the preceding claims when of or including cheese.
5. A food slice having two flat faces and a periphery and having within that periphery an already fully or substantially fully defined pop-out area, the periphery of which pop-out area, after being popped out, simulates a silhouette of something or someone (e.g. a character, an animal, a creature, a form, etc).
6. An edible slice consisting of at least two conjugate pieces.
7. An edible slice of claim 6 wherein it is one of multiple slices of least two conjugate pieces, together forming an edible block.
8. An edible slice of claim 6 or 7 wherein the conjugation is by tessellation.
9. An edible slice of any one of claims 6 to 8 wherein the conjugation provides a pop-our form.
10. A cheese slice having a pop out zone of possible interest to a child. 11. A cheese slice of claim 10 wherein the slice has been fabricated.
12. A cheese slice of claim 10 wherein the slice has not been fabricated.
13. A food slice where the silhouette of something or someone has been defined by a pressing of a tool into a mass of the food prior to the creation of the slice, the pressing being to define a pop-out periphery of an inner zone of the resultant slice. 14. An edible block having a peripheried formation whether as a separate plug or as an integral part of the block, the block being adapted for slicing whereupon the formation presents a pop out peripheried inner region of the slice.
15. An edible block of claim 14 wherein it has been made from a larger block by cutting formations into said larger block to a prescribed distance at least once as a core for each edible block and cutting said larger block into said edible blocks each with said core.
16. An edible block of claim 15 wherein the core region remains cantilevered from an end prior to slicing.
17. As a pack, a plurality of slices of any of one of claims 1 to 13.
18. A pack of claim 17 wherein said slices are of or include cheese.
19. A pack of claim 17 or 18 wherein said slices are separated by a separation film, sheet or the like.
20. A pack of any one of claims 17 to 19 held as an integral mass by appropriate packaging.
21. A mass of a cheese of a meat product having formed therein by a tool penetrating from a direction normal to planes in which the mass ideally is to be sliced, that provides a separation of a core region from a peripheral region thereby to enable upon slicing the creation of a cheese, meat or the like slice of any of the kinds previously described.
22. A mass of a food (e.g. cheese, meat or the like) preferably in the form of a block having at least two core regions formed therein each of which has been defined by a press-in tool (whether the same or different) thereby to allow the cores to be retained as an integral part of the mass yet to enable over at least a substantial region of the mass slicing to define cheese, meat or the like slices as previously defined.
23. A process of forming a food mass of claim 21 or 22 which involves the pressing into the matrix of a tool with a plug (not necessarily conforming to the tool's knife like profile) thereby to provide a separation of a core region of the food (e.g. cheese, meat or the like) from its periphery and to leave that core region in place reliant upon the plug acting against that core of cheese, meat or the like as the tool without the plug is withdrawn therefrom.
24. A process of claim 23 wherein the tool includes a tubular knife where the tubular form is the silhouette of the core and/or pop-out wanted. 25. A cheese slice substantially as herein described with reference to any one or more of the accompanying drawings.
26. A meat slice substantially as herein described with reference to any one or more of die accompanying drawings. |
FOOD PRODUCTS AND PROCESSES
The present invention relates to food products and related products, processes and uses. Cheese of various types is considered a worthwhile component of the diet and particularly the diet of children who have bones to grow and still a need for protein. Likewise reconstituted meat products such as a luncheon sausage, salami, meat loaf, fish, etc.
We believe there is a market for cheese and meat novelty products which will appeal to children and it is to that that the present invention is directed with a product, a process, a product of a process or an assembly.
In one aspect the present invention consists in a food (e.g. cheese, meat of the like) slice having a periphery that simulates the silhouette of something or someone e.g. a character, an animal, a creature, a form, etc (preferably likely to appeal, as a novelty, to a child).
In another aspect the invention is a food (e.g. cheese, meat or the like) slice having two flat faces and a periphery and having within that periphery an already fully or substantially fully defined pop-out area, the periphery of which pop-out area, after being popped out, simulates a silhouette of something or someone (e.g. a character, an animal, a creature, a form, etc).
Preferably the periphery itself is surrounded by a food slice with an inner periphery and an outer periphery, the inner periphery complementing said periphery.
Preferably produced by slicing after a plug of said periphery has been formed or located in the complementary surround.
Preferably of or including cheese.
In yet another aspect the present invention is an edible slice (e.g. of cheese, meat, etc.) consisting of at least two conjugate pieces.
Preferably said edible slice is one of multiple slices of least two conjugate pieces, together forming an edible block.
The conjugation can be by tessellation or by providing a pop-out form. In a further aspect the present invention is a cheese slice having a pop out zone of possible interest to a child.
Optionally the slice has been fabricated. Optionally the slice has not been fabricated.
The invention is also an edible block.
Preferably said edible block is one of multiple edible blocks made from a larger block by cutting into said larger block to a prescribed distance at least once (preferably twice) for each edible block and cutting said larger block into said edible blocks.
An edible block having a peripheried formation whether as a separate plug or as an integral part of the block, the block being adapted for slicing whereupon the formation presents a pop out peripheried inner region of the slice.
In still a further aspect the present invention consists in, as a pack, a plurality of food (e.g. cheese, meat or the like) slices of any of the preceding forms.
Preferably said cheese, meat or like slices are separated by a separation film, sheet or the Mice.
In a further aspect the pack is held as an integral mass by appropriate packaging.
In yet another aspect the present invention consists in a cheese, meat of like slice or cheese meat, or like product of a kind previously described where the silhouette of something or someone has been defined by a pressing of a tool into a cheese, meat or the like mass prior to the creation of the slice, the pressing being to define the pop-out periphery.
Preferably the core region remains cantilevered from an end prior to slicing.
In yet a further aspect the present invention consists in a mass of a cheese or a meat product having formed therein by a tool penetrating from a direction normal to planes in which the mass ideally is to be sliced, that provides a separation of a core region from a peripheral region thereby to enable upon slicing the creation of a cheese, meat or the like slice of any of the kinds previously described.
In yet a further aspect the present invention consists in a process of forming a food (e.g. cheese, meat or like) mass as aforesaid which involves the pressing into the matrix of a tool with a plug (not necessarily conforming to the tool's knife like profile) thereby to provide a separation of a core region of the food (e.g. cheese, meat or the like) from its periphery and to leave that core region in place reliant upon the plug acting against that core of cheese, meat or the like as the tool without the plug is withdrawn therefrom. Preferably the tool includes a tubular knife where the tubular form is the silhouette of the core and/ or pop-out wanted.
In yet a further aspect the present invention consists in a mass of a food (e.g. cheese, meat or the like) preferably in the form of a block having at least two core regions formed therein each of which has been defined by a press-in tool (whether the same or different) thereby to allow die cores to be retained as an integral part of the mass yet to enable over at least a substantial region of the mass slicing to define cheese, meat or the like slices as previously defined.
As used herein "meat" or "meat or the like" includes meat, fish and/or blood including foods irrespective of any other inclusions.
As used herein "cheese" includes any suitable shape retaining cheese such as, but not restricted to, cheddar, colby, edam, gouda and gruyere (this list should not be considered exhaustive) and could come in blocks of any suitable shape or size and/ or with inclusions.
As used herein, the term "pop-out" covers any separable form whether loose (as is preferred) or pardy held in the cheese, meat or the like surround. It merely relates to the prospect of dislocation normal to the slice's planes.
As used herein "tubular" used with reference to a knife, blade or similar cutting mechanism includes shapes that are closed and elongate yet not necessarily round, for example a dinosaur shaped blade required to make the cut cheese of Figure 2. As used herein "plug" need only be a flat surface that fits inside the tubular blade, yet stays stationary during cutting. Such a plug could be a standard size and shape around which a number of different tubular blades could operate. Such a plug would, however, need to retain its functionality.
As used herein "periphery" may refer to an outer edge of a slice or part thereof or a part of a slice that includes the outermost edge. .
As used herein "and/or" means "and" or "or" or both.
As used herein "(s)" following a noun includes as might be appropriate the plural and singular forms of that noun.
Preferred forms of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which with reference to cheese as the food (but it could be meat or the like)
Figure 1 shows a block of cheese,
Figure 2 shows a block of cheese with a silhouette shape or form defined preferably from an end thereof, Figure 3 shows a block of cheese with an alternative silhouette shape or form defined,
Figure 4a shows a block of cheese from above with silhouette shape or form defined with a first silhouette shape or form defined,
Figure 4b shows a block of cheese with a first and a second silhouette shape or form defined, Figure 4c shows a block of cheese with two silhouette shapes or forms defined and sectioned to provide a block with silhouette shape or form defined throughout each block of cheese,
Figure 5 shows a block of cheese with silhouette shape or form defined and cut into multiple slices, Figure 6 shows a single slice of cheese of Figure 5,
Figure 7 shows a single slice of cheese of Figure 5 on a piece of paper,
Figute 8 shows a single slice of cheese of Figure 5 with pop-out area removed,
Figure 9 shows a pop-out piece of a single slice of cheese of Figure 5,
Figure 10 shows a mechanism for the definition of silhouette shape of form in the pressed position,
Figure U shows an apparatus for the definition of a silhouette shape or form into a block of cheese in the unpressed position,
Figure 12a shows a large block of cheese,
Figure 12b shows a large block of cheese with silhouettes shapes or forms depressed substantially along the length of the large block of cheese,
Figure 12c shows individual blocks of cheese, each with its own silhouette shape of form as could be cut from the large block of cheese of Figure 11a,
Figure 13 shows the tubular knife of an apparatus of Figures 10 and 11 (but of different silhouette) fully retracted (level with the plug), Figure 14 shows the tubular knife of an apparatus of Figure 13 partially extended (past the plug), and
Figure 15 shows diagrammatically a preferred apparatus for performing the process of the present invention.
Cheese is often produced in blocks (for example the block of cheese 1 of Figure 1). The size of the blocks produced is relevant to the efficiency of the production of cheese. This relationship is not easily discerned. It is therefore advantageous, when designing methods of producing cheese novelty products, to take into account an unspecified size of cheese blocks used to create such novelties.
It is well known in the industry that cheese may be supplied in either blocks or slices. By providing a more interactive or entertaining food, a product may be provided that is favoured by consumers, in particular children.
A slice of cheese is usually defined by two faces and a periphery. Often this periphery is rectangular. A block of cheese is also usually defined by two faces of a periphery. The difference between a block and a slice is often characterised by the distance between said two faces and is generally greater in the case of a block.
A piece (block or slice) of cheese supplied in a pre-cut manner to define some silhouette, shape or form (herein "shape"), for example, in the case of children being the target market, a dinosaur shaped cheese slice may seem more interesting to the consumer. By providing both the shaped piece 5 and the conjugate piece 4, there may be even further advantages, at least over the shaped cheese alone:
- There is less wastage as the entire block is supplied to the consumer, not just the shaped piece.
- Wrapping or packaging is generally simplified. It is likely that a block of cheese (round, rectangular or similar) is less complicated and hence has a smaller surface area to weight ratio.
- Both the shaped piece and the conjugate piece may be said to be entertaining as said conjugate piece will also show the shape, in this case by lack of, as opposed to presence of, cheese.
- The consumer may be unaware of the particular shape of the shaped piece in the presence of the conjugate piece, and the identification of the particular shape, for example by removal of the conjugate piece, may be especially entertaining.
In its simplest form the present invention is a shaped slice (or block) of cheese. The periphery or shape of the cheese defines a recognisable form (for example as though a silhouette). The shape is (at least in its initial form of development) a simple, single, non-crossing line (i.e. the butterfly 3 of figure 2). Suitable shapes are of course dependent on the target consumer and in the case of a novelty item for children any of the mentioned character, animal, creature or any recognisable shape or form may be appropriate. A block of cheese of the present invention, as found, by way of example, in Figure 2, over at least part of its length, if not its whole length consists of at least two pieces. There is at least one periphery piece 2 and at least one pop-out piece 3. The periphery of die pop-out area, after being popped out, simulates or defines a silhouette. There may be more of either piece, for example there may be one pop-out piece and four periphery pieces. This might facilitate the separation of the periphery area from the pop-out area. The pieces need not necessarily be fully defined. Only substantially defined regions may permit die same functionality as described and may provide an increased integrity to the slice or block as a whole.
A block of cheese may be sold as a whole (i.e. Figure 3) or as a number of slices 5 in a pack (Le. Figure 5) (see pop out 5A and its complement 4A). This pack would likely be wrapped or appropriately packaged as a whole or single integral mass to provide the plurality of cheese slices as a unit. In the case of a pre-sliced block of cheese being provided it may be desired to provide these slices of cheese individually wrapped or at least substantially separated by some separation film, sheet or the like (e.g. at 6). This slicing, and likewise the separation or wrapping, makes serving, for example into a child's lunchbox, easier. The definition of the silhouette, by a pressing of a tool into a cheese mass prior to the creation of the slice, is the pressing being to define the pop-out periphery. From a direction normal to the cheese slicing direction a separation is performed, providing substantially distinct a core region and a periphery region. Resultantly, upon slicing, the creation of a cheese slice of any of the kinds previously described is possible.
The apparatus of Figures 10 and 11 shows a form of apparatus able to define a core towards one end of a cheese block. If desired after that core partway through the block has been formed the block can be removed and reversed for a second core to be defined from the other end. In Figures 10 and 11 it can be seen that there is a tubular knife with a knife 8 with a knife edge 10.
The tubular form is that to be defined in the block and to provide the pop-out form of any slices to be cut from the block.
As a guide for the knife is a closely fitting fixed plug 9 which serves a second function, namely to hold the defined core of the block in place as the tubular knife is withdrawn. The movement of the tubular knife is of course reciprocal on its tubular axis. The tool of Figure 10 and 11 with cheese block locating walls 6 and 7 (as well as surfaces 9 and 11) locates cheese for the knife.
By "tubular" cores is meant any form as previously defined. The conjugate surface of said apparatus 11 has similar functionality as the plug 9 but in relation to the conjugate part 2 of the cheese block 1. See Figures 13 and 14, also albeit with a different silhouette and tubular knife/plug form.
It is envisaged in other forms of the present invention an extruded or otherwise formed cheese block can be fed intermittently transversely of the tubular axis of an opposed pair of tubular knives so that cores can be defined in from the transverse edges of that extruded or otherwise formed cheese and thereafter individual blocks cut with appropriate indexing to result in a block form substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings.
It is highly desirable that any block form be such that the core remains fixed at least some zone to the remainder so as to provide stability unless the block is to be immediately wrapped in which case there is stability. For the purpose of slicing however in the home such a non-cored region is desirable and of course offers the opportunity of different core forms from either end.
To provide a separation of a core region of the cheese from its periphery and to leave that core region in place is a requirement of the invention. Due to the surface area of the pressing blade surrounding the cheese core, such a core is want to stay within the pressing blade. The pressing into the matrix of a tool with a plug provides pressure on the cheese core during retraction or withdrawing of the pressing blade to facilitate or enforce by acting against the cheese core to remain part of the block as a whole.
When a block of cheese has its core defined by a press-in tool (i.e. as in Figures 4a, 4b and 4c) it is advantageous to only define such a core (i.e. cut by some press-in tool) to a fixed depth that (even when such a block is pressed from two opposed directions) is not defined entirely throughout the cheese block. This improves the ability of the cheese to retain its integrity, that is, the cores remain part of the block as a whole. At least some connection remains between the core and the periphery (connection is not severed entirely). This means the cores remain part of the cheese block as a whole. This should not be overdone as a substantial amount of the cheese should be able to be sliced to produce cheese slices as previously defined.
Figures 12A to 12C show steps in one mediod of producing the cheese blocks prior to slicing. A large block is pressed to define multiple core regions prior to division into the cheese blocks.
Figure 15 shows apparatus to modify cheese masses. Here a top frame 12 under the action of servos 17 on guides 21 can force the blades 13 through openings of a biased clamp plate 18 into the blocks of cheese 19. The blades 13 equate to those 8 previously referred to. Equivalents to plugs 9 (not shown in Figure 15) are carried by members 23 of the top frame 12.
The blocks of cheese 19 are supported on the conveyor 14 over a support plate 20.
The servos 17 act preferably against plate 20 guided by members 21 through plate 22 of top frame plate 12. Springs 14 act between plates 18 and 20.
Preferably provision is made for adjusting the spacing between (i) the clamp plate 18 and (ϋ) the top frame 12 and its lower plate 22. It is the spring 15 supported plate 20 preferably which bears down on the blades 13 to force them into the blocks.
It can be seen the conveyor is able to advance for indexed formation cutting a plurality of cheese blocks 19 and these then advance under the action of the conveyor when the blades are retreated in the direction of movement of the conveyor.