Bean-nut popping beans

• US 6,419,976 B1
• Filed: 09/23/1999
• Issued: 07/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Inland Empire Foods Inc.
• Original Assignee: Inland Empire Foods Inc.
• Inventors: Sterner, Mark H., Ehlers, Jeffrey D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Weier, Anthony J.
• Application Number:
  US09/405,279
• Time in Patent Office: 1,027 Days
• Field of Search: 426/634, 426/629, 426/632, 426/633, 426/93
• US Class Current: 426/634
• CPC Class Codes: A01H 1/04 Processes of selection involving genotypic or phenotypic markers; Methods of using phenotypic markers for selection
• CPC Class Codes: A01H 5/10 Seeds
• CPC Class Codes: A01H 6/545 Phaseolus, e.g. kidney beans, scarlet runners or spotted beans

Abstract

Novel snack foods, foodstuffs, and methods of producing the same from popping beans are claimed.

Claims

1. A snack food consisting essentially of the skins of beans that have been popped, said beans of the plant species phaseolus vulgaris.

2. A snack food comprising popped beans of a phaseolus vulgaris bean plant, said plant exhibiting the phenotypic characteristics of early maturity, bush type growth habit, synchronous fruiting, and photoperiod insensitivity.

3. The snack food of claim 2 wherein said beans have skins and wherein said snack food consists essentially of said skins.

4. The snack food of claim 2 wherein said beans are substantially devoid of bean skins.

5. The snack food of claim 2 wherein said popped beans are popped at a moisture content of between about 5 and 12%.

6. The snack food of claim 2 wherein said phaseolus vulgaris bean plant is a hybrid bean plant.

7. The snack food of any one of claims 2, 4, 5, or 6 formulated as a blended spread.