IP Verse

Sandwich Maker For Making Crustless Sealed Sandwich

Patent No. US11490647 (titled "Sandwich Maker For Making Crustless Sealed Sandwich") was filed by Jetteo Llc on Jan 17, 2020.

What is this patent about?

’647 is related to the field of food preparation, specifically devices for making sealed crustless sandwiches. The background acknowledges that many existing sandwich makers fail to create a good seal, leading to filling spillage and aesthetically unappealing results. There is a need for a device that can reliably seal sandwiches, cut them into various shapes, and optionally prepare the fillings.

The underlying idea behind ’647 is to provide a multi-part sandwich maker that not only cuts the crusts off bread but also seals the sandwich with a domed, spill-proof edge . This is achieved through a combination of a cutting die for shaping the bread and a sealing press with a specifically shaped oblique inner surface. The oblique surface is key to compressing the sandwich layers without causing cracks or spillage.

The claims of ’647 focus on a sandwich maker comprising a primary cutting die and at least one sealing press. The primary cutting die has a rim, sidewall, and blade for cutting the bread. The sealing press also has a rim and sidewall, along with a sealing edge and a key feature: an oblique surface that tapers inward. This surface is what creates the seal and domed shape.

In practice, the user first employs the cutting die to remove the crusts from two bread slices. The filling is then placed between the slices, and the sealing press is applied. The oblique surface of the sealing press compresses the bread layers, creating a tight seal and preventing filling from escaping. The protrusions on the sealing edge further enhance the seal and leave a decorative imprint. The transparency of the components allows the user to monitor the process.

The invention differentiates itself from prior sandwich makers by offering a more reliable sealing mechanism and the ability to create a domed sandwich shape. The oblique surface on the sealing press is crucial for achieving this, as it distributes pressure evenly and prevents cracks. Furthermore, the optional secondary cutting die allows for precise preparation of fillings, ensuring they fit perfectly within the sealed sandwich. The nesting design of the components also provides for compact storage .

How does this patent fit in bigger picture?

Technical landscape at the time

In the late 2010s when ’647 was filed, at a time when sandwich-making devices were typically implemented using relatively simple mechanical designs, when systems commonly relied on basic heating and pressing elements rather than complex shaping and sealing mechanisms, and when hardware constraints made achieving a perfectly sealed and aesthetically pleasing crustless sandwich non-trivial.

Novelty and Inventive Step

The examiner approved the application because the prior art, specifically Ekberg, fails to teach a first lateral sidewall being positioned coextensive to the at least one primary blade; the second lateral sidewall being connected in between the second rim and the sealing edge; the second lateral sidewall being positioned coextensive to the sealing edge; a first edge of the oblique surface being perimetrically connected to the sealing edge; a second edge of the oblique surface being positioned in between the sealing edge and the second rim; and the oblique surface tapering from the first edge to the second edge as set forth in claim 1.

Claims

This patent contains 10 claims, with claim 1 being the only independent claim. Independent claim 1 is directed to a sandwich maker comprising a primary cutting die and at least one sealing press. The dependent claims elaborate on the features of the sandwich maker described in the independent claim, such as the inclusion of protrusions, nesting of the sealing press within the cutting die, transparency and shape of the die and press, and the addition of secondary cutting dies and partition blades.

Key Claim Terms New

Definitions of key terms used in the patent claims.

Term (Source)Support for SpecificationInterpretation
At least one primary blade
(Claim 1)		“The present invention comprises multiple pieces and shapes that serve specific purposes. More specifically, the present invention gives users the option to just cut the crusts off of the bread, or cut materials for the filling (such as cheese, meat, vegetables etc.), or just seal the sandwich, mutually exclusively with the different pieces of the present invention.”A blade of the primary cutting die used for cutting.
At least one sealing press
(Claim 1)		“Furthermore, the sealing piece of the present invention has a specific curved inner surface, that compresses the upper piece of the sandwich compactly, without creating any cracks or spillage of the filling. This curved inner surface also gives a slightly bulged shape for the upper piece of the sandwich. Thus, the present invention enables users to have a perfectly sealed, spill proof, and aesthetically appealing sandwich with a slight dome shape.”A component of the sandwich maker that includes a rim, a lateral sidewall, a sealing edge, and an oblique surface for sealing the sandwich.
First lateral sidewall
(Claim 1)		“The present invention comprises multiple pieces and shapes that serve specific purposes. More specifically, the present invention gives users the option to just cut the crusts off of the bread, or cut materials for the filling (such as cheese, meat, vegetables etc.), or just seal the sandwich, mutually exclusively with the different pieces of the present invention.”A sidewall of the primary cutting die that connects the rim and the blade.
Oblique surface
(Claim 1)		“Furthermore, the sealing piece of the present invention has a specific curved inner surface, that compresses the upper piece of the sandwich compactly, without creating any cracks or spillage of the filling. This curved inner surface also gives a slightly bulged shape for the upper piece of the sandwich. Thus, the present invention enables users to have a perfectly sealed, spill proof, and aesthetically appealing sandwich with a slight dome shape.”A surface of the sealing press that tapers from the sealing edge to the rim.
Primary cutting die
(Claim 1)		“The present invention comprises multiple pieces and shapes that serve specific purposes. More specifically, the present invention gives users the option to just cut the crusts off of the bread, or cut materials for the filling (such as cheese, meat, vegetables etc.), or just seal the sandwich, mutually exclusively with the different pieces of the present invention.”A component of the sandwich maker that includes a rim, a lateral sidewall, and at least one blade for cutting.

Litigation Cases New

US Latest litigation cases involving this patent.

Case NumberFiling DateTitle
1:25-cv-01380Feb 10, 2025Jetteo, LLC v. The Entity Identified On Schedule A
1:24-cv-08606Sep 18, 2024Jetteo, Llc V. The Partnerships And Unincorporated Associations Identified On Schedule A
1:24-cv-08575Sep 18, 2024Jetteo, LLC v. The Partnerships and Unincorporated Associations Identified on Schedule A

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US11490647

JETTEO LLC
Application Number
US16746689
Filing Date
Jan 17, 2020
Status
Granted
Expiry Date
Jul 1, 2041
External Links
Slate, USPTO, Google Patents