IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,419,322
Granted Patent B2
US 12,419,322 · App. 17/389,050 · Granted Sep 23, 2025

Multi-texture confection

Inventor: Sean Oomens (Huntley, IL)
Assignee: FERRARA CANDY COMPANY
A23G3/54
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,419,322
App. No.
17/389,050
Granted
Sep 23, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention is directed to non-chewing gum confections and in particular to a confection having at least two textures (dual-textured confectionery). A dual-textured confectionery having a chewy center and a crunchy coating is disclosed. The chewy center may be a gummy candy and the crunchy coating may be a discontinuous coating that comprises small irregular pieces of candy. A method for making the dual-textured confectionery is also disclosed.

Claims (35)

1. A dual-textured confectionery consisting of two layers,

the first layer comprising a chewy center comprising a gummy candy, and

the second layer comprising a singular layer of crunchy coating comprising irregular pieces of candy, wherein

each irregular piece of candy comprises a sugar crystal nucleus and at least a successive layer,

wherein the sugar crystal nucleus has a size of about 0.4 mm to about 0.85 mm,

wherein the successive layer surrounds the sugar crystal nucleus,

wherein the successive layer comprises sugar and at least one moisture barrier selected from the group consisting of gum arabic, xanthan gum, guar gum, locust bean gum, gum tragacanth, and carrageenan,

and each irregular piece of candy has a diameter of between about 1.001 mm to about 3.36 mm;

and said crunchy coating is adhered directly to the outside of the chewy center to form a discontinuous coating.

2. The dual-textured confectionery of claim 1 , wherein said crunchy coating comprises at least about 21% by weight of said dual-textured confectionery.

3. The dual-textured confectionery of claim 1 , wherein said crunchy coating comprises at least about 30% by weight of said dual-textured confectionery.

4. The dual-textured confectionery of claim 1 , wherein said crunchy coating comprises at least about 40% by weight of said dual-textured confectionery.

5. The dual-textured confectionery of claim 1 , wherein said crunchy coating comprises from about 40% to about 70% by weight of said dual-textured confectionery.

6. The dual-textured confectionery of claim 1 , wherein the ratio by weight of said chewy center and said crunchy coating is about 50:50.

7. The dual-textured confectionery of claim 1 , wherein the ratio by weight of said chewy center and said crunchy coating is about 45:55.

8. The dual-textured confectionery of claim 1 , wherein the ratio by weight of said chewy center and said crunchy coating is about 55:45.

9. The dual-textured confectionery of claim 1 , wherein said crunchy coating is applied to the chewy center via a single application.

10. The dual-textured confectionery of claim 1 , wherein the successive layer further comprises flavoring and coloring.

11. A method of manufacturing a dual-textured confectionery consisting of two layers, comprising:

providing a first layer comprising a chewy gummy candy center;

providing a second layer comprising a single layer of crunchy coating comprising irregular pieces of candy, wherein

each irregular piece of candy comprises a sugar crystal nucleus and at least a successive layer,

wherein the sugar crystal nucleus has a size of about 0.4 mm to about 0.85 mm,

wherein the successive layer surrounds the sugar crystal nucleus,

wherein the successive layer comprises sugar and at least one moisture barrier selected from the group consisting of gum arabic, xanthan gum, guar gum, locust bean gum, gum tragacanth, and carrageenan,

and each irregular piece of candy has a diameter of between about 1.001 mm to about 3.36 mm;

treating said chewy gummy candy center to add tackiness, and

delivering the crunchy coating via mechanical means so that it forms a discontinuous coating adhered directly to the outside of the chewy center.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein said crunchy coating comprises at least about 21% by weight of said dual-textured confectionery.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein said crunchy coating comprises at least about 30% by weight of said dual-textured confectionery.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein said crunchy coating comprises at least about 40% by weight of said dual-textured confectionery.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein said crunchy coating comprises from about 40% to about 70% by weight of said dual-textured confectionery.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the ratio by weight of the chewy gummy candy center and the crunchy coating in said dual-textured confectionery is about 50:50.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the ratio by weight of the chewy gummy candy center and the crunchy coating in said dual-textured confectionery is about 45:55.

18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the ratio by weight of the chewy gummy candy center and the crunchy coating in said dual-textured confectionery is about 55:45.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 22, 2025
From: FERRARA CANDY COMPANY
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 072642/0090 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 5, 2021
From: OOMENS, SEAN
To: FERRARA CANDY COMPANY
Reel/Frame 057092/0356 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63059591 · Jul 31, 2020
Related Publication 20220030905A1 · Feb 3, 2022
References Cited (62)
US 5532004A · Bell et al. · 1996 [cited by applicant]
US 5545417A · Richey et al. · 1996 [cited by applicant]
US 6238690B1 · Kiefer et al. · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6303159B2 · Barkalow et al. · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6375981B1 · Gilleland et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6403140B1 · Tiainen et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6528088B1 · Gilleland et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 6623784B2 · Zerby et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 6723358B1 · van Lengerich · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6790453B2 · Porzio et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6887493B2 · Shefer et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 7147885B2 · Asano et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 9126198B2 · Yoshikawa et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20090130269A1 · McCausland · 2009 [cited by examiner]
US 20120015071A1 · Ortega · 2012 [cited by examiner]
US 20140120208A1 · Mateus · 2014 [cited by examiner]
US 20190373912A1 · Plociak · 2019 [cited by examiner]
EP 561735B1 · 1996 [cited by applicant]
EP 702520B1 · 1997 [cited by applicant]
EP 790777B1 · 1999 [cited by applicant]
EP 777422B1 · 2001 [cited by applicant]
EP 1075193B1 · 2004 [cited by applicant]
EP 1124442B1 · 2005 [cited by applicant]
EP 1076067B1 · 2006 [cited by applicant]
EP 1023841B1 · 2006 [cited by applicant]
EP 1565065B1 · 2006 [cited by applicant]
EP 1713349B9 · 2006 [cited by applicant]
EP 1524915B1 · 2007 [cited by applicant]
EP 1645196B1 · 2008 [cited by applicant]
EP 1505078B1 · 2009 [cited by applicant]
EP 1804591B1 · 2010 [cited by applicant]
EP 1447082B1 · 2010 [cited by applicant]
EP 1945041B1 · 2011 [cited by applicant]
EP 1539114B1 · 2011 [cited by applicant]
EP 1260218B1 · 2011 [cited by applicant]
EP 2168439B1 · 2011 [cited by applicant]
EP 2249658B1 · 2011 [cited by applicant]
EP 1830802B1 · 2012 [cited by applicant]
EP 1699298B1 · 2012 [cited by applicant]
EP 2003983B1 · 2013 [cited by applicant]
EP 2364599B1 · 2014 [cited by applicant]
EP 2241579B1 · 2014 [cited by applicant]
EP 2675292B1 · 2015 [cited by applicant]
EP 2773225B1 · 2016 [cited by applicant]
EP 2666368B1 · 2017 [cited by applicant]
EP 2967109B1 · 2017 [cited by applicant]
EP 2117336B1 · 2017 [cited by applicant]
EP 2945492B1 · 2018 [cited by applicant]
EP 2515669B1 · 2018 [cited by applicant]
EP 2779837B1 · 2019 [cited by applicant]
EP 2724623B1 · 2019 [cited by applicant]
EP 1845799B2 · 2019 [cited by applicant]
EP 2919589B1 · 2019 [cited by applicant]
PCT, International Search Report, mailed Nov. 16, 2021, 9 pages. [cited by applicant]
International Preliminary Report on Patentability, PCT/US2021/043824, dated Feb. 9, 2023, 8 pages. [cited by applicant]
European Supplemental Search Report, Application No. 21849043.1, dated Jun. 4, 2024, 10 pages. [cited by applicant]
Mintel, Fruit Flavoured Gummies, XP093160683, Database accession No. 7510057, dated Apr. 7, 2020, 2 pages. [cited by applicant]
Ferrara, Fun and Innovative Nerds Candy Debuts First-of-its-Kind Treat: Nerds Gummy Clusters, URL:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fun-and-innovative-nerds-candy-debuts-first-of-its-kind-treat-nerds-gummy-cluste… [cited by applicant]
Anonymous, The New Nerds Gummy Clusters Combine Crunchy and Gummy Bites, So Check the Candy Aisle, URL:https://www.bestproducts.com/lifestyle/a32770176/ferrara-candy-company-nerds-gummy-clusters, dated Jul. 16, 2020, 6 … [cited by applicant]
Good Eats 420, The Easiest Way to Make Nerd Ropes, GoodEats420.com, URL:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DoRyjd2zKwy, dated Jul. 24, 2020, 2 pages. [cited by applicant]
Jake Tuckner, Nerds on Food Networks Unwrapped, URL:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHjFXeUbVEM, dated Apr. 3, 2013, 2 pages. [cited by applicant]
Wayup Goodies & NUBIA420, We Made Canna Nerd Hearts with Store Gummies & Tincture, URL:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZ5AS2mBK-w, dated Mar. 23, 2020, 2 pages. [cited by applicant]