US 11490647

Here is a concise summary of US patent 11490647:

US Patent 11490647

• Title: Sandwich maker for making crustless sealed sandwich
• Assignee: Jetteo LLC [cite: The provided patent text] (Originally assigned to Individual [cite: The provided patent text])
• Inventors: Kei Tawara [cite: The provided patent text]
• Filing Date: January 17, 2020 [cite: The provided patent text]
• Issue Date: November 8, 2022 [cite: The provided patent text]
• Abstract: The patent describes a sandwich maker designed to cut and seal sandwiches into various shapes. It is made from semi-transparent or transparent material, allowing users to monitor the process. The apparatus consists of multiple pieces that can mutually exclusively cut crusts, cut filling materials, or seal the sandwich. A key feature is the sealing piece, which has a curved/oblique inner surface that compacts the sandwich without creating cracks or spillage, and imparts a slight dome shape to the top surface of the sandwich. This results in a perfectly sealed, spill-proof, and aesthetically pleasing sandwich. [cite: The provided patent text]

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

• Claim 1: This claim describes a sandwich maker composed of two main parts: a primary cutting die and at least one sealing press. The primary cutting die has a top rim, a side wall, and a blade for cutting. The sealing press includes a top rim, a side wall, a sealing edge, and a unique slanted (oblique) inner surface. This oblique surface has a lower edge connected to the sealing edge and an upper edge positioned between the sealing edge and the top rim, gradually narrowing from the lower edge to the upper edge. This specific design of the oblique surface is intended to compress the sandwich evenly and create a slight dome shape without causing cracks or spills. [cite: The provided patent text]

Uncertainty Note:
The search of the USPTO database and CAFC 2026 dockets did not provide new specific details regarding the current legal status or active litigation beyond what is already listed in the provided Google Patents document for US11490647B2. The Google Patents information indicates the patent is "Active, expires 2041-07-01" and notes that the "Family has litigation," specifically mentioning two US cases filed in the Illinois Northern District Court (1:24-cv-08606 and 1:25-cv-01380). [cite: The provided patent text]