Dispensing – Collapsible wall-type container – With wall-collapsing means
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-09
2001-03-06
Shaver, Kevin (Department: 3754)
Dispensing
Collapsible wall-type container
With wall-collapsing means
Reexamination Certificate
active
06196420
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a dispenser of a type adapted for dispensing food products, more particularly viscous fluids. The dispenser belongs to the category of pumpless dispensers comprising a supple bag forming a removable and exchangeable part of the dispenser.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the food service industry, it is desirable to serve a wide variety of viscous fluids such as sauce, mustard, ketchup, condiments, and the like in hygienic conditions and as conveniently as possible. For that, there are several known types of dispensing devices which utilize both the gravity and the mechanical force to dispense viscous fluids throughout a tube connected to a bag. Such dispensing apparatuses generally do not require any additional pumps.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,833,120 to Evans, Sr. et al. discloses a cheese server being adapted to maintain inverted bags in a steam chamber while gravity influenced squeeze bars ride down the bag sides to express cheese toward the bag outlet fitment. Such an arrangement remains rather complicated and inconvenient when the bag has to be changed by a new one. In particular, the pair of rollers has to be detached from the empty bag, then fitted to a new bag while taking care the rollers are not biased with respect to the bag which would cause blocking problems. In addition, when the bag is loaded with fluid product, it may be difficult to properly engage the pair of rollers through the upper portion of the bag.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,490,613 to Taylor et al. relates to a dispenser for viscous fluid having a hanging assembly for suspending a collapsible bag with a dispenser outlet extending from an opening at the bottom of a housing, and a pair of rollers riding in parallel pairs of slots vertically extending in opposite sides of the housing. In this arrangement, the device also comprises a pair of rollers which can be separated when the housing is opened for engaging a new bag. However, the device is cumbersome as place for the two rollers must be saved accordingly. The rollers have to be joined by an elastic yoke provided on each external side of the housing making the arrangement complicated. Blocking problems are likely to occur, as the two rollers might not ride in a perfect parallel travel all along the length of the bag.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,297,699 to Barchus also relates to an internally-coupled dual roller tube squeezing device for fluid materials such as toothpaste, shampoo, adhesive, or similar.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,639,251 to Kirland relates to a flexible collapsible container containing medical liquids, a pair of rollers being arranged as a level indicator.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,578,001 to Sha is an infusion apparatus for IV bags comprising a squeezing arrangement of two parallel rollers.
None of the devices discussed above provides a satisfactory solution that can be applied as a recognized efficient standard in the food service industry. Accordingly, there remains a need for improved dispensing devices in this area.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a pumpless dispenser especially intended for dispensing viscous fluid food products. The dispenser includes a supple pouch having first and second ends, a sidewall that can be arranged to form first and second opposed surfaces, and an outlet. The pouch contains a viscous fluid food product therein. The dispenser also includes a housing configured and dimensioned for receiving the pouch; and a compression assembly for pressing the pouch so as to urge the viscous fluid food product content toward the outlet. This assembly includes a roller having a pressing surface disposed adjacent the first surface of the pouch and a planar surface disposed adjacent the second surface of the pouch. The dispenser further includes a closure member engaged with the outlet for closing the outlet. This member is capable of opening the outlet so as to cause the roller to move along the pouch surface toward the outlet by gravity for expelling the viscous fluid food product through the outlet.
The present invention provides a new pumpless dispensing unit which is low cost, more convenient to maintain than previous state-of-the-art dispensers and easy to use by the consumer. In particular, empty bags can be replaced by new ones with less manipulation and more reliability. The time for changing the bag is reduced and this is very valuable during peak hours in food service establishments. The risks of blocking problems of the device are also reduced.
The types of viscous fluid food products that can be dispensed from this dispenser include cheese sauce, tomato sauce, gravy, salad dressing, mustard, mayonnaise, ketchup, cream, Mexican sauce or salsa, condiment, nutritional supplement and concentrate, ice cream, or even partly frozen beverages. The invention also dispenses the product at a relatively high efficiency with less loss of food products in the bag and a higher controlled level of extrusion of the food product. Furthermore, the device can accommodate a wide range of pouch thicknesses while still exerting an effective squeezing pressure thereon.
Additional advantages are provided when the food product to be dispensed is to be heated or cooled. The dispensing device provides a rapid and economic warm-up of the food products for those which require to be served warm and, similarly, a rapid and economic cooling of the food products which are required to be served as chilled or partly frozen products.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1556437 (1925-10-01), Granger
patent: 2543667 (1951-02-01), Palmer
patent: 2570755 (1951-10-01), Booth
patent: 2837243 (1958-06-01), Zebink
patent: 2936006 (1960-05-01), Henley
patent: 4223809 (1980-09-01), Martin
patent: 4921139 (1990-05-01), Fisher et al.
patent: 5292031 (1994-03-01), Dagan
patent: 5634343 (1980-09-01), Baker, III
Chrisman Randall
Gutierrez Antonio
Bonderer David A.
Nestec S.A.
Pennie & Edmonds LLP
Shaver Kevin
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