U.S. patent number 6,004,596 [Application Number 08/986,581] was granted by the patent office on 1999-12-21 for sealed crustless sandwich.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Menusaver, Inc.. Invention is credited to David Geske, Len C. Kretchman.
United States Patent |
6,004,596 |
Kretchman , et al. |
December 21, 1999 |
**Please see images for:
( Reexamination Certificate ) ** |
Sealed crustless sandwich
Abstract
A sealed crustless sandwich for providing a convenient sandwich
without an outer crust which can be stored for long periods of time
without a central filling from leaking outwardly. The sandwich
includes a lower bread portion, an upper bread portion, an upper
filling and a lower filling between the lower and upper bread
portions, a center filling sealed between the upper and lower
fillings, and a crimped edge along an outer perimeter of the bread
portions for sealing the fillings therebetween. The upper and lower
fillings are preferably comprised of peanut butter and the center
filling is comprised of at least jelly. The center filling is
prevented from radiating outwardly into and through the bread
portions from the surrounding peanut butter.
Inventors: |
Kretchman; Len C. (Fergus
Falls, MN), Geske; David (Fargo, ND) |
Assignee: |
Menusaver, Inc. (Orrville,
OH)
|
Family
ID: |
25532561 |
Appl.
No.: |
08/986,581 |
Filed: |
December 8, 1997 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
426/94; 426/274;
426/275; 426/297 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A21D
13/32 (20170101); A21C 15/02 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A21C
15/00 (20060101); A21C 15/02 (20060101); A21D
13/00 (20060101); A21D 013/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;426/94,274,275,297,138 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Other References
"50 Great Sandwiches", Carole Handslip, pp. 81-84,86,95,
1994..
|
Primary Examiner: Tran; Lien
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Vickers, Daniels & Young
Claims
We claim:
1. A sealed crustless sandwich, comprising:
a first bread layer having a first perimeter surface coplanar to a
contact surface;
at least one filling of an edible food juxtaposed to said contact
surface;
a second bread layer juxtaposed to said at least one filling
opposite of said first bread layer, wherein said second bread layer
includes a second perimeter surface similar to said first perimeter
surface;
a crimped edge directly between said first perimeter surface and
said second perimeter surface for sealing said at least one filling
between said first bread layer and said second bread layer;
wherein a crust portion of said first bread layer and said second
bread layer has been removed.
2. The sealed crustless sandwich of claim 1, wherein said crimped
edge includes a plurality of spaced apart depressions for
increasing a bond of said crimped edge.
3. The sealed crustless sandwich of claim 2, wherein said crimped
edge is a finite distance from said at least one filling for
increasing said bond.
4. The sealed crustless sandwich of claim 3, wherein said at least
one filling comprises:
a first filling;
a second filling;
a third filling; and
wherein said second filling is completely surrounded by said first
filling and said third filling for preventing said second filling
from engaging said first bread layer and said second bread
layer.
5. The sealed crustless sandwich of claim 4, wherein said first
filling and third filling have sealing characteristics.
6. The sealed crustless sandwich of claim 5, wherein:
said first filling is juxtaposed to said first bread layer;
said third filling is juxtaposed to said second bread layer;
and
an outer edge of said first filling and said third filling are
engaged to one another to form a reservoir for retaining said
second filling in between.
7. The sealed crustless sandwich of claim 6, wherein said first
filling and said third filling are comprised of peanut butter; and
said second filling is comprised of a jelly.
8. The sealed crustless sandwich of claim 7, wherein said crimped
edge is formed into a substantially circular shape.
9. A sealed crustless sandwich, comprising:
a first bread layer having a first perimeter surface, a first crust
portion and a first contact surface;
a first filling juxtaposed to said first contact surface;
a second bread layer having a second perimeter surface, a second
crust portion and a second contact surface;
a second filling juxtaposed to said second contact surface;
a third filling;
a crimped edge directly between said first and second perimeter
surfaces for sealing said first, second, and third fillings between
said first and second bread layers;
wherein said first and second crust portions have been removed and
said third filling is encapsulated by said first and second
fillings.
10. The sealed crustless sandwich of claim 9 wherein said first
filling and said second filling have sealing characteristics.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to sandwiches and more
specifically it relates to a sealed crustless sandwich for
providing a convenient sandwich without an outer crust which can be
stored for long periods of time without a central filling from
leaking outwardly.
Many individuals enjoy sandwiches with meat or jelly like fillings
between two conventional slices of bread. However, some individuals
do not enjoy the outer crust associated with the conventional
slices of bread and therefore take the time to tear away the outer
crust from the desired soft inner portions of the bread. This outer
crust portion is then thrown away and wasted. There is currently no
method or device for baking bread without having an outer crust.
Hence, there is a need for a convenient sandwich which does not
have an outer crust and which is not prone to waste of the edible
outer crust portions. The present invention provides a method of
making a sealed crustless sandwich which can be stored for extended
periods of time without an inner filling from seeping into the
bread portion.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There are numerous sandwich devices. For example, U.S. Pat. No.
3,690,898 to Partyka; U.S. Design Pat. No. 252,536 to Goglanian;
U.S. Design Pat. No. 293,040 to Gagliardi; U.S. Design Pat. No.
317,672 to Presl; U.S. Design Pat. No. 318,360 to Sam; and U.S.
Pat. No. 5,500,234 to Russo all of which are illustrative of such
prior art.
While these sandwiches may be suitable for the particular purpose
to which they address, they are not as suitable for providing a
convenient sandwich without an outer crust which can be stored for
long periods of time without a central filling from leaking
outwardly. The prior art does not teach a sandwich without an outer
crust which sealably retains an inner filling for extended periods
of time.
In these respects, the sealed crustless sandwich according to the
present invention substantially departs from the conventional
concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides a
sandwich primarily developed for the purpose of providing a
convenient sandwich without an outer crust which can be stored for
long periods of time without a central filling from leaking
outwardly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A primary object of the present invention is to provide a sealed
crustless sandwich that will overcome the shortcomings of the prior
art devices.
Another object is to provide a sealed crustless sandwich that does
not have any crust.
An additional object is to provide a sealed crustless sandwich that
retains an inner filling from seeping into the bread portion.
A further object is to provide a sealed crustless sandwich that can
be stored for extended periods of time for use in lunch box type of
situations.
Another object is to provide a sealed crustless sandwich that
reduces the amount of wasted bread because of thrown away crust
portions.
Another object is to provide a method of producing a sealed
crustless sandwich.
Further objects of the invention will appear as the description
proceeds.
To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this
invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the
accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however,
that the drawings are illustrative only, and that changes may be
made in the specific construction illustrated and described within
the scope of the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the
present invention will become fully appreciated as the same becomes
better understood when considered in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate
the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and
wherein:
FIG. 1 is a side view of cutting cylinder above the upper and lower
bread with the fillings in between.
FIG. 2 is a side view of the cutting cylinder penetrating and
crimping the upper and lower bread with the fillings in
between.
FIG. 3 is an upper perspective view of the sealed crustless
sandwich within an airtight packaging.
FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view from FIG. 3 disclosing the peanut
butter sealing the jelly in between.
FIG. 5 is a lower perspective view of the cutting cylinder.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar
reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several
view, FIGS. 1 through 5 illustrate a sealed crustless sandwich 10,
which generally comprises lower bread portion 20, an upper bread
portion 22, an upper filling 30b and a lower filing 30a between the
lower bread portion 20 and upper bread portion 22, a center fillng
32 sealed between the upper filling 30b and the lower filling 30a,
and a crimped edge 26 along an outer perimeter of the bread
portions 20, 22 for sealing the fillings 30a-b, 32 therebetween.
The upper filing 30b and the lower filling 30a are preferably
comprised of peanut butter but may consist of any other edible
substance such as but not limited to meat, vegetable oil, jelly,
cheese, honey, or fruit. The center filling 32 is preferably
comprised of jelly but may consist of any other edible substance
such as but not limited to meat, vegetable oil, jelly, cheese,
honey, or fruit. The center filling 32 is prevented from leaking
outwardly into and through the bread portions 20, 22 from the
surrounding upper filling 30b and lower filling 30a. The sealed
crustless sandwich is preferably packaged within a resilient
packaging 14 to extend its useful life and for providing
convenience for the user.
As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5 of the drawings, a cutting cylinder 40
has a sleeve 42 positioned within. The sleeve 42 preferably is
sidably positioned within a lumen of the cutting cylinder 40, but
may be secured within the cutting cylinder 40. The bottom edge of
the sleeve 42 has a notched end 44 with the notches spaced
approximately every 1/8 inch. The plurality of extensions created
from the plurality of notches forms a corresponding plurality of
depressions 28 in the crimped edge 26 which represent the pressure
points where extensions have projected into the bread portions 20,
22. A cutting edge 48 of the cutting cylinder 40 is utilized to
penetrate through the bread portions 20, 22 as shown in FIG. 2 of
the drawings. The cutting edge 48 may be formed into various shapes
to form a unique design for the sealed crustless sandwich 10. The
notched edge of the sleeve 42 compresses the upper bread portion 22
into the lower bread portion 20 to form a seal which retains itself
for extended periods of time. A support member 46 or similar
structure is attached to the cutting cylinder 40 and the sleeve 42
as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5, wherein the support member 46 is
attached to an elevating/descending means for operating the cutting
cylinder 40.
As best shown in FIG. 4, the upper filling 30b is juxtaposed to a
lower surface of the upper bread portion 22. The lower filling 30a
is juxtaposed to an upper surface of the lower bread portion 20.
Preferably, the upper filling 30b and the lower filling 30a do not
extend into the crimped edge 26 since any foreign substance within
the crimped edge 26 weakens the seal between the lower and upper
bread portions 20, 22. The center filling 32 is positioned and
sealed between the upper filling 30b and the lower filling 30a as
shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings. The crimped edge 26 preferably has
a plurality of depressions 28 formed into from the pressure points
caused by the notched end 44 of the sleeve 42. The depressions 28
prevent the crimped edge 26 from separating thereby retaining the
fillings 30a-b, 32 within.
In use, the upper surface of the lower bread portion 20 is
partially covered with the lower filling 30a over a defined area.
The defined area is preferably inside of an inner perimeter of the
sleeve 42 so as to eliminate or reduce the amount of lower filling
30a within the crimped edge 26. The center filling 32 is positioned
centrally onto the lower filling 30a as shown in FIG. 1 of the
drawings. The lower surface of the upper bread portion 22 is
partially covered with the upper filling 30b over an area
substantially equal to the defined area of the lower filling 30a.
The upper bread portion 22 is positioned above the lower bread
portion 20 with the upper filling 30b juxtaposed to the center
filling 32 and the lower filling 30a. The cutting cylinder 40 is
descended onto the upper bread portion 22 as shown in FIG. 1 of the
drawings. The cutting cylinder 40 penetrates the bread portions 20,
22 so cut out circular portion surrounding the fillings 30a-b, 32.
The sleeve 42 is simultaneously descended onto the upper bread
portion 22 whereby the notched end 44 engages the upper bread
portion 22. The notched end 44 forces the circular portion of the
upper bread portion 22 onto the corresponding circular portion of
the lower bread portion 20 thereafter crimping the bread portions
20, 22 between the notched end 44 and a plate 12 supporting the
lower bread portion 20 as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings.
Simultaneously during the crimping, the upper filling 30b is forced
into the lower filling 30a surrounding the center filling 32,
thereby sealing the center filling 32 therebetween. The cutting
cylinder 40 and the sleeve 42 are elevated away from the sealed
crustless sandwich 10 while pressurized air is released into the
cutting cylinder 40 to help force the sealed crustless sandwich 10
out from within. The crust 24 portion of the upper and lower bread
portions 20, 22 is hence removed from the sealed crustless sandwich
10 as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings. After the sealed crustless
sandwich 10 is removed from the cutting cylinder 40 and sleeve 42,
the air tight resilient packaging 14 is applied around it for
preserving the sealed crustless sandwich.
As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of
the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above
description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the
manner of usage and operation will be provided.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized
that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the
invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form,
function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed
readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all
equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and
described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by
the present invention.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the
principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications
and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is
not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and
operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable
modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within
the scope of the invention.
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