The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 20, 2002
Filed:
Mar. 31, 1998
Nita M. Bentley, Champlin, MN (US);
Heidi A. Emanuel, Maple Grove, MN (US);
Ayron B. Glynn, Eagan, MN (US);
Sheri M. Schellhaass, Plymouth, MN (US);
Achilles Dimitri Speliotopoulos, Woodbury, MN (US);
General Mills, Inc., Minneapolis, MN (US);
Abstract
A set of tools provides the ability to generate computer-based representations of three-dimensional pieces and produce a representation of a combination of such pieces in a container such as a bowl. Tools such as the puff tool and flake tool change two-dimensional curves into three-dimensional pieces. Further tools are provided to bend, twist and shear three-dimensional pieces. A coating tool is used to create and modify a variety of coatings that are applied on top of cereal pieces to create frost, glaze and particulates. A container tool allows placement of pieces into a bowl. Pieces are randomized prior to dropping them into the bowl. Further tools continue to drop each piece and rotate them if necessary to avoid overlap. A computer rendered image is photorealistic but contains subtle differences that can be discerned upon close inspection.