Lunchtime patent tricks

Whether it was the Earl of Sandwich or the Duke of Shrewsbury who first invented the staple of American luncheon dining, it is those purveyors of fine Scottish cuisine, McDonald's, who are seeking a patent on the manufacture of same.
From McDonald's filing with the World Intellectual Property Organiztion (WIPO): (WO/2006/068863) METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING A SANDWICH

The present invention relates to methods of making a sandwich. In one aspect, the invention relates to pre-assembly of sandwich components and simultaneous preparation of different parts of the same sandwich. In one aspect, the invention relates to one or more of the following: pre-assembly of meat and cheese; simultaneous toasting of a bread component and heating a pre-assembled meat and/or cheese filling; and assembly of sandwich garnishes and condiments on a sandwich assembly tool. In another aspect, the present invention relates to a sandwich assembly tool useful in the foregoing methods for preparation of a sandwich, including, for example, a made-to-order sandwich.

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