Patenting an Invention for Baking Products

Patenting an invention is one of several ways for inventors to protect their intellectual property.  A patent is legal protection of a design, process or other patentable property that is novel. The protection lasts for a specified period, at the end of which the invention becomes part of the public domain. A patent gives the owner the right to exclude others from making, using, selling, trading or importing the invention or process that the patent holder has devised.

Patents can be acquired for a wide variety of inventions, and today there are many ideas and innovations that make baking easier or more efficient.  If you are in the process of inventing a new product for baking, take a look at some of these unique patents.

The Solar Energy Baking Oven (U.S. Patent No. 5950618) uses solar energy to create heat as well as to power a mechanism for controlling the heat in the baking environment. The application points out that conventional apparatuses include electric or coal heating elements, which use costly energy and contribute to pollution, as well as using up natural resources. Where there are solar ovens, the mechanism is mostly to use movement of the baking containers to ensure uniform heating and temperature control; however, the application points out, the existing technology has no way to control the heat in terms of solar energy variation. The invention being patented uses a reflective material to capture solar energy as well as to control the temperature, avoiding issues of burning with the goal of removing moisture, for example from tea. The reflectors are located below the baking containers, increasing the efficiency of the heating process. In addition to collecting heat from a solar source, the product includes a photoelectric element to supply power to a motor, which maintains the temperature at a constant level by changing the position of the reflectors. When the temperature decreases to below a preset value, the controller will drive the reflectors so that they will move back into position to collect heat, to increase the temperature. When the temperature gets too high, the reflectors are moved into a different position and the cooling system is engaged to ensure that burning does not occur. The invention’s goal is to create an ideal baking environment with appropriate controls to insure that the optimum temperature is held for the correct period of time.

The Continuous Electric Oven (U.S. Patent No. 4276465) is another invention with the aim of improving the baking process. In the case of this invention, the improvement comes from a conveyor belt within the oven that moves, like a treadmill, constantly while the oven is operational. By this means, pizzas can be continuously loaded into the oven, be baked to the correct standards, and automatically come out of the oven.  The invention is an improvement on previous commercial ovens, which were manually operated or, in the case of other conveyor-driven ovens, did not adequately control for all variables. The previous conveyor-driven ovens, the applicant explains, were essentially heated tunnels with a conveyor belt, which did not provide for good control of temperature; the conveyor belts did not have adequate capability for the user to alter the speed. The inventor here explains that the endless conveyor, as opposed to the previous models, allows for more constant speed, and better control of the cooking time. The oven itself has two compact chambers, which allows for the heat to be kept at an optimum, by offering a smaller and more contained space. Another issue that this invention sought to resolve was the issue of size and economy presented by previous models; this invention, the application states, is more compact, and being more efficient in nature it is more economical than previous units. The oven is also designed to provide for easy loading of the baking tin onto the conveyor, by providing a specific access point on the outside of the oven. The pizzas would move through in one direction along the conveyor belt, and then move back towards the user through the chambers again.

Another improvement for ease of use, The Commercial Baking Pan (U.S. Patent No. 4941585) was designed to help achieve the greatest number of baked product units within the constraints of the environment. The invention explains that the existing pans, due to the inefficiencies of production, do not allow for variations in capacity; as a result, the space of proofing facilities and ovens within commercial bakeries is not used to its maximum efficiency. The previously available baking pans were typically constructed as one piece, as in the process known as drawing; or they are fabricated by means of making individual units and seaming them together. In the case of “drawn” pans, because they are made from a single sheet of material, the baking units must be kept to a shallow depth. In the case of seaming, the units can be deeper, but the overall product is still one large piece. The proposed solution is a new product which is constructed differently, with several units being fabricated separately and then brought together with a “grommet-like interconnection between the units.” In this sense, the units are able to function to produce multiple units at one time, while also being detachable so as to produce one singular unit. By allowing for odd amounts of baked goods (such as rolls or loaves), the baker can maximize the use of space available.

There are many aspiring inventors out there.  In order to spend their time and money wisely, it is crucial for them to understand when and how to patent, or whether you even need one at all.  Many people believe that patenting their idea right away is what they need to do and this is not always the best idea.  Smart inventors and reputable inventing companies know that it is best to leave the patenting towards the end of the inventing process, after the idea has been improved and perfected as much as possible.  Remember that you can also team up with an inventing company.    The experienced employees of these companies have a better understanding of what it takes to make your product successful and can be extremely helpful.