US 6,082,596 AGranted

Dispenser for stick form solid edible foods, components therefor and methods of making the same

OwnerDrake L. Koch, Vijay S. Malikinventors

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Abstract

A solid-foods dispenser adapted to receive a stick of solid edible material and dispense the material in at least one ribbon of desired thickness is disclosed. The solid-foods dispenser comprises an elongate housing having structural walls defining a chamber bounded by terminal ends, the chamber having an internal configuration generally corresponding to the configuration of the stick of material to be dispensed. A first closure adapted to be removingly engaged to one end of the elongate housing has an advance associated therewith and a second closure adapted to be fitted to the other end of the elongate housing has an interchangeable die associated therewith. The advance has a plunger for dispensing the stick wherein the advance moves the plunger. The plunger has a forward end surface configured to mate with the interior surface of the second closure and is positioned within the housing and movable therewithin. The chamber is convergingly tapered from the one end to the other end throughout the length thereof.

Claims20

Dependent claims

In a solid-foods dispenser adapted to receive a stick of solid edible material and dispense the material in at least one ribbon of desired thickness, said solid-foods dispenser comprising an elongate housing having structural walls defining a chamber bounded by terminal ends, said chamber having an internal configuration generally corresponding to the configuration of the stick of material to be dispensed, a first closure means associated with a loading end of said solid-foods dispenser and adapted to be removingly engaged from open terminal end of said housing, a second closure means carried by said housing, said second closure means having an internal face facing toward said chamber, a plunger means positioned in said housing and movable from a position spaced from said second closure means along the longitudinal axis of said dispenser to a position adjacent said second closure means, said plunger means having a mating face configured to mate with said internal face, advancing means associated with said first closure means, said housing and said plunger means operable to move said plunger means through said housing in the direction of said second closure means, the improvement wherein said second closure means is positioned substantially adjacent the discharge end of said dispenser, has a portion thereof fixed to said housing adapted to receive removable die means, said portion fixed to an inside surface of said housing providing a buttress to support said structural walls of said discharge end, said die means defining a clearance between a discharge edge thereon and a bottom wall of said chamber and wherein said plunger means comprises a piston, a shaft and a retaining means, said piston being integral with one end of said shaft and said retaining means comprising a head being integral with the other end of said shaft.

In a solid-foods dispenser adapted to receive a stick of solid edible material and dispense the material in at least one ribbon of desired thickness, said solid-foods dispenser comprising an elongate housing having structural walls defining a chamber bounded by terminal ends, said chamber having an internal configuration generally corresponding to the configuration of the stick of material to be dispensed, a first closure means associated with a loading end of said solid-foods dispenser and adapted to be removingly engaged from an open terminal end of said housing, a second closure means carried by said housing, said second closure means having an internal face facing toward said chamber, a plunger means positioned in said housing and movable from a position spaced from said second closure means along the longitudinal axis of said dispenser to a position adjacent said second closure means, said plunger means having a mating face configured to mate with said internal face, advancing means associated with said first closure means, said housing and said plunger means operable to move said plunger through said housing in the direction of said second closure means, the improvement wherein said second closure means is positioned substantially adjacent the discharge end of said dispenser, has a portion thereof fixed to said housing adapted to receive removable die means, said die means defining a clearance between a discharge edge thereon and a bottom wall of said chamber and wherein said plunger means is made from a flexible elastomeric material and comprises a piston, a shaft and a retaining means, said piston being integral with one end of said shaft and said retaining means comprising a head being integral with the other end of said shaft.

In a solid-foods dispenser adapted to receive a stick of solid edible material and dispense the material in a solid stream onto a substrate, said dispenser comprising an elongate housing having rectilinear structural walls bounded by terminal ends, one of said terminal ends defining a loading end of said dispenser, said one terminal end having removable closure means associated therewith, the other of said terminal ends defining a discharge end of said dispenser, said other terminal end having a portion of said closure means fixed to and integral with said housing, the improvement wherein said portion defines a pressure plate within said housing for removably receiving and retaining removable die means thereupon, said pressure plate fixed to an inside surface of said housing providing a buttress to support said structural walls of said discharge end and wherein said removable closure means has advancing means carried thereby, said advancing means having a plunger means on one end thereof for moving through said elongate housing, said plunger means comprising a piston, a shaft and a retaining means, said piston being integral with one end of said shaft and said retaining means comprising a head being integral with the other end of said shaft.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.