Dispensing canister

Abstract

A dispensing canister for viscous fluids, such as sauces at a fast food outlet. The container includes a peripheral side wall formed of cardboard or other inexpensive material. The side walls are maintained in their proper configuration, and made more rigid, by the use of rigid rings applied to the longitudinal ends thereof. A first end of the container is closed by a plunger which is mounted within the interior of the container side walls and forms the bottom of the container. A trailing edge of the plunger is received within the ring at this first end, to be securely maintained in position. The plunger is formed as a monolithic unit and includes projecting ridges which scrape against the interior of the side walls as the plunger is moved towards a second end of the container. A lid is applied to close the second end of the container. The lid includes a downwardly depending skirt having a catch portion which engages with the rolled ring at this second end. This allows the lid to be applied by a simple downward motion with no ancillary steps required. A dispensing nozzle is formed in the lid and includes a punchout which initially closes the nozzle. A reduced thickness line allows the punchout to be easily removed for dispensing. The lid may be formed as a monolithic unit, such as by injection molding.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.