Method and apparatus for storing and dispensing fluid foodstuff
AssigneeKardon Industries, Inc.
InventorRobert Y. Kamin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A container for storing and dispensing fluid foodstuffs, such as sauces and the like. The container includes a spiral wound tube having a circular retaining disc mounted at one end. The retaining disc has an aperture therein, through which is mounted a pressure responsive dispensing nozzle having a flexible disc with cross-cross slits therein that open under pressure to allow the discharge of the stored foodstuff. The other end of the tube contains a piston disposed within the tube. The piston is initially retained adjacent the end of the tube by a retaining ring. The piston contains a dimpled portion configured for mating engagement with the dispensing nozzle. A sheet of metallic material is attached to the dispensing nozzle, providing a temporary seal.
Claims28
A disposable container for storing and dispensing fluid foodstuffs, such as sauces and the like, said container comprising:
- (a) an open ended spiral wound tubular enclosure having a substantially uninterrupted interior surface and an exterior surface defining said tubular enclosure;
- (b) first closure means mounted at one end of said tubular enclosure, said first closure means including a retaining member having a first circumference dimensioned for sealing engagement with said tubular enclosure and a second circumference defining an aperture therein, and a normally closed pressure responsive dispensing nozzle disposed through said aperture;
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- (c) second closure means mounted at the opposite end of said tubular enclosure from said first closure means, said second closure means including piston means having a rearwardly disposed flange dimensioned to slideably engage said interior surface of said tubular enclosure and a retaining ring, generally U-shaped in cross-section and having a first portion dimensioned for permanent crimped engagement with said exterior surface of said tubular enclosure and a second portion dimensioned to engage said flange so that said flange and said opposite end of said tubular enclosure are situated between said first and second portion of said retaining ring and so that said flange is maintained in a releasable mechanical engagement between said second portion and said tubular enclosure.
A method of storing and dispensing fluid foodstuffs, such as sauces and the like, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing an open ended spiral wound tubular enclosure having first closure means mounted in sealing engagement with a first end thereof, said first closure means having a normally closed pressure responsive dispensing means associated therewith;
- (b) filling said open ended spiral wound tubular enclosure with said fluid foodstuff through an opening in a second end thereof opposite said first end;
- (c) sealing said opening in said second end with second closure means, said second closure means comprising piston means having a rearwardly disposed flange dimensioned to slideably engage said tubular enclosure and a retaining ring, generally U-shaped in cross-section and having a first portion for forming a permanent crimped engagement with said spiral wound tubular enclosure and a second portion for engaging said flange so that said flange and said second end of said tubular enclosure are situated between said first and second portion of said retaining ring and for maintaining said flange in a releasable mechanical engagement between said second portion and said second end of said tubular enclosure;
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- (d) dispensing said foodstuff through said normally closed pressure responsive dispensing means by moving said piston means from an initial position between said second portion of said flange and said second end of said tubular enclosure to a final position adjacent said first end of said spiral wound tubular enclosure.
In a disposable container for storing and dispensing fluids, said container comprising an open ended tubular enclosure having an interior and an exterior surface and adapted for closure at one end by a dispensing means and at the other end by a closure means which comprises:
- (a) piston means having a rearwardly disposed flange dimensioned to slideably engage said interior surface of said tubular enclosure, and
- (b) a retaining ring, generally U-shaped in cross-section and having a first portion dimensioned for permanent crimped engagement with said exterior surface of said tubular enclosure and a second portion dimensioned to engage said flange so that said flange and said other end of said tubular enclosure are situated between said first and second portion of said retaining ring and so that said flange is maintained in a releasable mechanical engagement between said second portion and said tubular enclosure to thereby permit said piston means to be moved within said tubular enclosure toward said dispensing means.
A method of storing and dispensing fluids from a container, said method comprising:
- (a) providing a spiral wound tubular enclosure having a dispensing means at one end and another end which is open;
- (b) providing fluid material within said tubular enclosure;
- (c) enclosing the open end of said tubular enclosure with a piston means having a rearwardly disposed flange dimensioned to slideably engage said tubular enclosure;
- (d) sealing said open end of said tubular enclosure with a retaining ring which is generally U-shaped in cross-section and having a first portion for forming a permanent crimped engagement with said tubular enclosure and a second portion for engaging said flange so that said flange and said open end of said tubular enclosure are situated between said first and second portion of said retaining ring and for maintaining said flange in a releasable mechanical engagement between said second portion and said open end of said tubular enclosure;
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- (e) moving said piston means within said tubular enclosure toward said dispensing means, thereby dispensing said fluid material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.