Amanda L Thomas

US Patent:

20080032004, Feb 7, 2008

Filed:

Aug 4, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/462539

Inventors:

Deborah Auer - Dearborn MI, US
Hiba Kakish - Dearborn MI, US
Amanda B. Thomas - Livonia MI, US

Assignee:

Little Caesar Enterprises, Inc. - Detroit MI

International Classification:

A21D 13/00

US Classification:

426 94

Abstract:

A method of preparing pizza includes providing an at least partially baked crust with at least one topping. The crust and at least one topping are wrapped or covered with an impermeable cover and heated to a holding temperature above ambient temperature. The cover is then removed and additional heated and un-heated toppings may be added. The pizza is then baked in an oven to further heat and brown the crust, cheese and toppings of the pizza. With the method, the final bake time can be reduced to preferably less than 60 seconds.

US Patent:

20090071850, Mar 19, 2009

Filed:

Sep 17, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/212197

Inventors:

Amanda B. Thomas - Livonia MI, US
Jason E. Rebant - Holt MI, US
Hiba Kakish - Dearborn MI, US

Assignee:

LITTLE CAESAR ENTERPRISES, INC. - Detroit MI

International Classification:

B65D 81/26
B65D 30/08

US Classification:

206204, 383113

Abstract:

A package for a hot food item may include an enclosure adapted to receive the hot food item, and a barrier disposed within the enclosure. The barrier may include a moisture impermeable portion covering at least a first portion of the hot food item such that moisture from the first portion is at least partially retained therein. The package is adapted to retain moisture in the first portion of the hot food item, while reducing moisture accumulation in a second portion of the hot food item.

US Patent:

20100274633, Oct 28, 2010

Filed:

Apr 22, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/765067

Inventors:

David Scrivano - South Lyon MI, US
David Strother - Farmington Hills MI, US
Amanda B. Thomas - Livonia MI, US
Bryan Durren - Beverly Hills MI, US
Christopher P. Ilitch - Bloomfield Hills MI, US

Assignee:

LITTLE CAESAR ENTERPRISES, INC. - Detroit MI

International Classification:

G06Q 50/00
G06Q 10/00
G06Q 30/00

US Classification:

705 10, 705 1465, 705 15

Abstract:

A product management and sales system for managing product preparation and sales. The system includes a kitchen display and input device displaying a plurality of perishable food items to be produced and receiving a production indication signal indicating production of at least one of the plurality of perishable food items. The system further includes a digital menu board displaying the plurality of perishable food items available for sale, a sales counter terminal for completing a sale of at least one of the plurality of perishable food items and outputting a sold indication signal; and a controller receiving the sold indication signal. The controller compares the sold indication signal to a predetermined inventory level for the at least one perishable food item and outputs an item-to-be-produced signal to the kitchen display and input.

US Patent:

20110209661, Sep 1, 2011

Filed:

Feb 24, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/033650

Inventors:

David Scrivano - South Lyon MI, US
David Strother - Farmington Hills MI, US
Amanda B. Thomas - Livonia MI, US
Sean M. Heslip - Manchester MI, US
Kent A. Deemter - Hudsonville MI, US
Tyler W. McCoy - Grandville MI, US
Bret A. Hoeksema - Zeeland MI, US

Assignee:

LITTLE CAESAR ENTERPRISES, INC. - Detroit MI

International Classification:

A21C 14/00
B05B 1/00
B05C 11/00
B05C 13/00
B25J 18/04
B25J 15/00

US Classification:

118696, 118 16, 118 24, 118 13, 118712, 118 15, 901 14, 901 31, 901 43

Abstract:

An apparatus is provided for assembling a pizza, including a pizza sauce spreading station, a cheese spreading station and a pepperoni applying station. A robot including a stationary base and an articulating arm having a gripper attached to the end is operable to grip a pizza pan having pizza dough therein to allow said robot to move the pan throughout the pizza sauce spreading station, and to a rotary dial system including the cheese spreading station and the pepperoni applying station. The robot arm manipulates the pizza pan in the sauce spreading station and the rotary dial system manipulates the pizza pan in the cheese station and the pepperoni applying station to properly distribute the cheese and pepperoni on the pizza.

US Patent:

20120024170, Feb 2, 2012

Filed:

Aug 31, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/222319

Inventors:

David Scrivano - South Lyon MI, US
David Strother - Farmington Hills MI, US
Amanda B. Thomas - Livonia MI, US
Sean M. Heslip - Manchester MI, US
Kent A. Deemter - Hudsonville MI, US
Tyler W. McCoy - Holland MI, US
Bret A. Hoeksema - Zeeland MI, US

International Classification:

A23P 1/00

US Classification:

994501

Abstract:

An apparatus is provided for assembling a pizza, including a pizza sauce spreading station, a cheese spreading station and a pepperoni applying station. A robot including a stationary base and an articulating arm having a gripper attached to the end is operable to grip a pizza pan having pizza dough therein to allow said robot to move the pan throughout the pizza sauce spreading station, and to a rotary dial system including the cheese spreading station and the pepperoni applying station. The robot arm manipulates the pizza pan in the sauce spreading station and the rotary dial system manipulates the pizza pan in the cheese station and the pepperoni applying station to properly distribute the cheese and pepperoni on the pizza.

US Patent:

20220297306, Sep 22, 2022

Filed:

Jun 10, 2022

Appl. No.:

17/806370

Inventors:

- Detroit MI, US
David Scrivano - South Lyon MI, US
David Strother - Farmington Hills MI, US
Amanda B. Thomas - Livonia MI, US
Kent A. Deemter - Hudsonville MI, US
Tyler W. Mccoy - Holland MI, US
Bret A. Hoeksema - Zeeland MI, US

Assignee:

Little Caesar Enterprises, Inc. - Detroit MI

International Classification:

B25J 11/00
A21C 9/04

Abstract:

An apparatus is provided for assembling a pizza, including a pizza sauce spreading station, a cheese spreading station and a pepperoni applying station. A robot including a stationary base and an articulating arm having a gripper attached to the end is operable to grip a pizza pan having pizza dough therein to allow said robot to move the pan throughout the pizza sauce spreading station, and to a rotary dial system including the cheese spreading station and the pepperoni applying station. The robot arm manipulates the pizza pan in the sauce spreading station and the rotary dial system manipulates the pizza pan in the cheese station and the pepperoni applying station to properly distribute the cheese and pepperoni on the pizza.

US Patent:

20210008725, Jan 14, 2021

Filed:

Sep 24, 2020

Appl. No.:

17/031838

Inventors:

- Detroit MI, US
David Scrivano - South Lyon MI, US
David Strother - Farmington Hills MI, US
Amanda B. Thomas - Livonia MI, US
Sean M. Heslip - Manchester MI, US
Kent A. Deemter - Hudsonville MI, US
Tyler W. McCoy - Holland MI, US
Bret A. Hoeksema - Zeeland MI, US

International Classification:

B25J 11/00
A21C 9/04

Abstract:

An apparatus is provided for assembling a pizza, including a pizza sauce spreading station, a cheese spreading station and a pepperoni applying station. A robot including a stationary base and an articulating arm having a gripper attached to the end is operable to grip a pizza pan having pizza dough therein to allow said robot to move the pan throughout the pizza sauce spreading station, and to a rotary dial system including the cheese spreading station and the pepperoni applying station. The robot arm manipulates the pizza pan in the sauce spreading station and the rotary dial system manipulates the pizza pan in the cheese station and the pepperoni applying station to properly distribute the cheese and pepperoni on the pizza.

US Patent:

20190325537, Oct 24, 2019

Filed:

Jul 3, 2019

Appl. No.:

16/502510

Inventors:

- Detroit MI, US
David Strother - Farmington Hills MI, US
Amanda B. Thomas - Livonia MI, US
Bryan Durren - Beverly Hills MI, US
Christopher P. Ilitch - Bloomfield Hills MI, US

International Classification:

G06Q 50/12
G06Q 30/06
G06Q 10/06
G06Q 10/08
G06Q 30/02

Abstract:

A product management and sales system for managing product preparation and sales. The system includes a kitchen display and input device displaying a plurality of perishable food items to be produced and receiving a production indication signal indicating production of at least one of the plurality of perishable food items. The system further includes a digital menu board displaying the plurality of perishable food items available for sale, a sales counter terminal for completing a sale of at least one of the plurality of perishable food items and outputting a sold indication signal; and a controller receiving the sold indication signal. The controller compares the sold indication signal to a predetermined inventory level for the at least one perishable food item and outputs an item-to-be-produced signal to the kitchen display and input.