Patent ID: 8123045

Claim:
An apparatus for separating popped corn from un-popped kernels, the apparatus comprising: a popped corn container that holds popped corn and a kernel separator located on a side of the popped corn container, the kernel separator comprising: a kernel separator screen comprising a plurality of holes, wherein a hole in the plurality of holes is larger than an un-popped kernel and smaller than a fully popped corn; and a reentry impedance means for impeding an un-popped kernel from entering the popped corn container through the kernel separator, the reentry impedance means comprising lateral cross members that bound each hole in the plurality of holes in the kernel separator screen, wherein the lateral cross members have a triangular cross section, a base of the triangular cross section on a kernel face of the kernel separator, the kernel face facing exterior to the popped corn container, and a vertex of the triangular cross section on a popped corn face of the kernel separator, the popped corn face facing interior to the popped corn container; and a kernel container positioned outside the popped corn container and adjacent to the kernel separator such that the kernel container stores the un-popped kernel after the un-popped kernel has passed through the kernel separator.