General Mills, Inc.

General Mills Marketing, Inc.

John J Fenske

Carina Claudia Cammarota

Chad M Kubat

Ralph A Stenvik

Zac Harder

Sean Igo

David Morrison Russell

Shivakumar Elayedath

Mark Anthony Zentile

Samuel Whitmore

Andrew David King

Christine M Nowakowski

Christine M Dosch

James David Nelson

Todd A Rasmussen

Jason Herzog

Christopher Crosby

Xabier Murgui

Diane M Phillips

Lindsey Golinski

Jose Daniel Estrada Andino

Jennifer S Barta

A taco shell is produced by applying a plasticizing agent to a targeted region including a base or spine portion of a hard taco shell and lower sections of taco shell sidewalls, thereby softening the targeted region, preferably across a strip width between 16 mm-20 mm, and enabling the sidewalls of the hard taco shell to engage each other without cracking or otherwise breaking the taco shell. As a further result, when the taco shell is bitten, the softened targeted region has some hinging flexibility or pliability which reduces the potential for any crack propagation. Therefore, the structural integrity of the hard taco shell can be better maintained during packaging and while be eaten, resulting in retention of the fillings and less mess. If desired, an anti-migration agent can also be applied to assure containment of the plasticizing agent in the targeted region.

Hard taco shell and method for producing the hard taco shell

Cutter roller

A taco shell is produced by applying a plasticizing agent to a base or spine portion of a hard taco shell, such as by targeted spraying, rolling, brushing or dipping of the taco shells, thereby softening the base or spine portion, preferably across a strip width between 4 mm-20 mm. As a result, when the taco shell is bitten, the softened base portion has some hinging flexibility or pliability which reduces the potential for any crack propagation. Therefore, the structural integrity of the hard taco shell can be better maintained while be eaten, resulting in retention of the fillings and less mess. If desired, an anti-migration agent can also be applied to assure containment of the plasticizing agent in the targeted region.

A taco shell is produced using a rotary cutter including a shaft, an outer blade extending radially outward from the shaft and a first inner blade extending radially outward from the shaft. The outer blade defines an interior area, enclosed by the outer blade, and an exterior area. The first inner blade is located in the interior area and includes a plurality of teeth. A dough piece is cut from a dough sheet with the outer blade, and a first arcuate line of depressions is created in the dough piece with the plurality of teeth. The dough piece is folded to form a shaped dough piece, and the shaped dough piece is baked to produce a hard taco shell.

Hard taco shell and method and apparatus for producing the hard taco shell

Molded tortilla pocket

Folded tortilla pocket

Growing community of inventors

Shoreview, MN, United States of America

John J Fenske