McDonalds wants to patent sandwiches

by Nicole Weston, Posted Nov 25th 2006 @ 6:02PM

No one else puts a burger together quite like McDonald's - or, at least, that's what McDonald's thinks. The company has put in a patent application (WO2006068865) in Europe and the US that tries to stake the company's exclusive claim to their sandwich preparation methods.

If you have ever gone behind the scenes at McDonald's you will immediately notice the posters that visually describe the components of each sandwich to the cooks, but the process is more complicated that just a photo - especially if you follow the instructions in the patent application. Apparently, it involves the "pre-assembly of sandwich components and simultaneous preparation of different parts of the same sandwich." Bread (a.k.a. the "bread component") is toasted while a filling is heated. Condiments and garnishes, from ketchup to tomatoes and bacon - are put into an "assembly tool" and added, together, to the sandwich. And it is the making of sandwiches, not the making of "McDonald's burgers" that the 55-page application tries to claim in the name of the company, noting "often the sandwich filling is the source of the name of the sandwich, for example - ham sandwich."

A spokesman for the UK patent office said that, while they may be able to claim their "assembly tool" as unique, neither they nor anyone else can gain the exclusive rights to making a sandwich.

Source

Filed Under: Business, Did you know?, Chefs & Restaurants, Fast Food, Restaurants
Tags: america, burger, business, did you know, europe, fast food, hamburger, mcdonald's, mcdonalds, patent, patent application, process, restaurants, sandwich, sandwiches

Chew on This

Royal Wedding Cake Details Revealed! - YumSugar

Make Your Own Pop Tarts - CHOW
Denny's Introduces a Maple Bacon Sundae - Eater
Whole Foods Opening Bars in Stores - USA Today
Rules Of Bar Etiquette -- For The Bartender - HuffPost Food

Reader comments (Page 5 of 5)

11-29-2006 @7:45PM candy said... McDonalds food at least seems safe to eat. Most fast food places (KFC, Taco Bell,Wendys)have hispanic (Puerto Rican)workers who are not the cleanest people in the world (far from it!). They are so illiterate to cleanliness and health standards/laws, that they take trash out or handle money with their gloves on (if they wear gloves at all!) then go back to sprinkling cheese etc. on the food! Filthy people. They don't wash their hands after the bathroom either. Demand gloves to be worn!
Reply

Vote upVote downReport

11-29-2006 @7:56PM jan said... the last time I had a sandwich there, it was a mess. The burgers were so small they didn't even fit the bun. and it fell apart because it was so full of sauce. I hate that place and will never eat there again. why would they want to patent that mess. they should check the quality of their franchises. YUCK
Reply

Vote upVote downReport

11-29-2006 @8:04PM john mass said... Who do I pay my royalty check too!
Reply

Vote upVote downReport

11-29-2006 @8:05PM Ruben said... They have good kids toys and they also have good... kids toys. My kids have yet to find any other source of happiness out of the "happy meal". Sometimes the chocolate milk makes them smile,but then again they don't make either of them. Less effort on patents and more effort on quality McD's.
Reply

Vote upVote downReport

11-29-2006 @8:08PM Matt said... Seriously, while it may have been a bad idea, I like how everyone is just blasting away at this corporation. Maybe you all should read how McDonald's started. One small little drive-up and order restaraunt and that was it. One salesman comes along and changes all of it into a massive corporation within 60 years. For such a young corporation, it's done excellently dealing with the amount of people that seem to complain about a whopping 1.00 they spend on a burger served up on average in 1-2 minutes. Got a problem with it, go spend the money on raw products and cook your own food. It's your time, right?

They may not be the most wonderful company in the world, but they've changed quite a lot. I'm suprised that you guys aren't blasting all of the "secret recipe" patents that are thrown out there, seeing as those are about a dime a dozen and constantly approved. Why don't you guys read correctly, it is NOT the sandwich being patented, but the method to making it. McDonald's put tons of research into how to run an assembly line properly, they're just making sure that other franchises don't casually walk back and copy that technology bit for bit. The spoken method of "dispensing" certain condiments doesn't exist yet, doesn't that make you think they're coming out with something new that they MIGHT just not want other people taking? Business and competition are much more complex than "they want to patent a sandwich".

So I'll finish off with a "please shut up".
Reply

Vote upVote downReport

11-29-2006 @8:09PM El Ron H. said... They are McOut of their minds, they have an over-McFlated opinion of their place in the world and they are out of touch with McReality. Special sauce on the brain is the medical reason for this condition.
Reply

Vote upVote downReport

11-29-2006 @8:16PM Dave Wood said... Mcdonalds is the best of all the fast food because they do try harder. Their breakfast is crap because of the toaster potatoes rather than the little round crispy ones of Carls Jr. , Burger King which are so good but Mcdonalds other meals are the best by far with fresher tasting buns and less messy everything and the fries are still the best . McDonalds is moslty spanish speaking but other than that I do love them the most and I eat their Asian Salad about 3 days a week----------------Fix breakfast McDonalds get rid of the specials on the fat fat fat sausage and give us some Egg McMuffin specials please!!!!
Reply

Vote upVote downReport

11-29-2006 @8:22PM sharon said... So what! they're trying to put a patent on something that taste like cardboard with lots of super sweet ketchup. Let them have they're moment.

There's nothing better than a wonderful juicy, sloppy, grandma burger. Now that'd be something to patent.
Reply

Vote upVote downReport

11-30-2006 @12:50AM steve said... the mcpatent is parallel to patenting a 30 day death wish for someone being a so called heavy user of thier food; why not patent the mc stomach ache along with the sandwich making process and be on a roll afterall they go together; next thing you know I am stealing the sandwich making process and the right to feel greasy after a meal although I agree with education of the workers of which maybe mc'donalds can help with...oops forgot rich Ronald did not do that already with the billions served
Reply

Vote upVote downReport

12-02-2006 @2:48PM Kiwi Carlisle said... Oy. Talk about NOT reading. The patent's on the assembly tool, not on "making a sandwich". Sigh. Y'all are lame.
Reply

Vote upVote downReport

12-07-2006 @5:29PM Dr. Octagon said... Personally, I think it's a good idea.
Reply

Vote upVote downReport

12-22-2006 @5:50AM Chris Andra said... #88 wrote:

"Oy. Talk about NOT reading. The patent's on the assembly tool, not on "making a sandwich". Sigh. Y'all are lame. "

Oy, yourself! McDonald's tried to patent MORE than the tool - the patent office said the only thing they could patent was the tool.

McDonald's has gone way downhill lately. They used to only serve fresh french fries, but now they are often reheated and taste gross (and they cool off really fast, too). I used to go there sometimes, but not anymore.

I also would get a cheeseburger with no meat (basically a cheese sandwich with condiments), but after a couple of times where even THAT tasted bad, I had to give up on it.

And the Coke has tasted rotten, too. I'd rather be home and pour some canned Coke over ice and it's way better than McDonald's Coke.

Reply

Vote upVote downReport

1-22-2007 @7:04AM Timothy McCorkell said... I can't imagine how this could be enforced, even if it were granted. So, I have to think that Mickey D's is doing this just to get some free publicity. Anyway, if Mickey D's really wanted to do something creative, they would figure out a way to spin off the real estate assets to share holders.

Its a well guareded secret, but Mickey D's makes more income renting their property than they do for franchise fees. So, the money isn't really in the sandwich, but rather its in the real estate. That's what they should be working on.
Reply