Dispensing device

• US 3,881,641 A
• Filed: 10/31/1973
• Issued: 05/06/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ernest William Jr. Reinwall, Frank Victor Jr. Pliml
• Original Assignee: Ernest William Jr. Reinwall, Frank Victor Jr. Pliml
• Inventors: Reinwall, Ernest William Jr., Pliml, Frank Victor Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Reeves, Robert R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rolla, Joseph J.
• Application Number:
  US05/411,231
• Time in Patent Office: 552 Days
• Field of Search: 222/207,213,214,287,344,354,355,359,361,425,444,448,450,505,491,508,494,495,496 417/474,476,478 137/525 251/6,7
• US Class Current: 222/207
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 19/18 Containers for delivering jam, mustard, or the like soap deliverers A47K5/06
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/1215 applied by a peristaltic action
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/108 of the peristaltic type
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/1246 the roller being placed at the outside of the tubular flexible member

Abstract

The embodiment of the invention disclosed herein is directed to a dispensing device for selectively discharging a quantity of flowable material such as condiments, i.e., tartar sauce, catsup, mustard, etc., and more particularly to a dispensing device which allows for discharging a desired quantity of such flowable material without obtaining excessive amounts thereof.

Claims

1. A dispensing device for selectively discharging a quantity of flowable material from a container having a fitment to receive a discharge nozzle, including a block member having an arcuatelyshaped convex surface positioned beneath said container and extending outwardly therefrom, said arcuately shaped convex surface leading into a support surface which is positioned beneath said container, and the juncture between said support surface and said arcuately shaped convex surface provides a fluid flow control area for directing a quantity of the flowable material within said nozzle toward a dispensing end thereof while substantially preventing the flowable material from being urged upwardly back into said container, said nozzle being formed of a flexible tube communicating with and extending from said container and in contact with said arcuately shaped convex surface to conform substantially to the contour thereof, said flexible tube being resilient to permit collapse thereof and squeeze a quantity of flowable material therefrom, an arm member positioned above said flexible tube and providing spaced-apart flange portions positioned on opposite sides of said flexible tube, said arm member being mounted for in a direction beginning at and along said support surface for progressively squeezing said flexible tube arcuately and downwardly to urge the quanity of flowable material therein through the dispensing end of said nozzle, wherein said block member includes an arcuately shaped slot formed therein, said arcuately-shaped slot being projected from a pivot point which also corresponds to the center of the radius of curvature of said arcuately-shaped surface and wherein said arm member includes a guide extending into said arcuatelyshaped slot for travel within said slot through a predetermined distance, and further including means extending from said block member to provide an adjustable stop against which said arm member engages at the end of travel thereof of the flowable material to control volume dispensed.

2. The dispensing device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said container is formed of a collapsible, disposable plastic bag.

3. The dispensing device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said flexible tube is readily detachable from said dispensing device and disposed of and replaced when replacing said collapsible, disposable plastic bag.

4. The dispensing device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said dispensing end of said nozzle is provided with a duck-bill closure to restrain flow of the material therethrough until such time said flexible tube is collapsed.

5. The dispensing device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said arcuately-shaped convex surface and said support surface are inclined, said surfaces being formed as the upper surface of a block member, said inclined surface providing a partial support beneath said container, and said block member providing means for pivotally connecting said arm member for cooperation therewith to effect a dispensing action of the flowable material through said flexible tube.

6. A dispensing device for selectively dispensing a quantity of flowable material, comprising in combination:

a housing, a container of flowable material to be dispensed secured within said housing, a collapsible, flexible tube extending from said container and downwardly within said housing, a support surface immediately adjacent said flexible, collapsible tube, pinch-off means associated with said collapsible, flexible tube to prevent flow of material therethrough, an actuating lever, a support arm secured within said housing and pivotally receiving said actuating lever, a first intermediate lever secured to said support arm and engaging a slot formed in said actuating lever, and a second intermediate lever secured to said first intermediate lever and engageable with said slot, said second intermediate lever having a squeeze roller secured to the free end thereof for engagement with said flexible, collapsible tube for urging flowable material therethrough as a result of pivotal actuation of said lever.

7. A dispensing device as claimed in claim 6 wherein said device comprises a support means for said roller, and said pinch-off means is a roller disposed on one side of said feed tube, said dispensing device comprises a frame having a wall member that is disposed adjacent the opposite side of said feed tube, said support means comprises an elongated rod which is secured to said frame on said opposite side of said feed tube and said resilient means is a coiled spring which is disposed around said rod intermediate said frame and said wall member to bias said roller toward said first position.

8. A dispensing device for selectively discharging a quantity of viscous material from a container having a fitment to receive a discharge nozzle, said device including an arcuately-shaped convex support surface positioned beneath said container and extending outwardly therefrom, said arcuately-shaped support surface leading into a support surface which is positioned beneath said container with said arcuatelyshaped surface providing a fluid control area for directing a quantity of the viscous flowable material within said nozzle toward a dispensing end thereof, said nozzle being formed of a flexible tube communicating with and extending from said container and in contact with said arcuately-shaped surface to conform substantially to the contour thereof, said flexible tube being resilient to permit collapse thereof and squeeZing a quantity of flowable material therefrom, an arm member having a pair of spaced apart flange portions positioned on opposite sides of said flexible tube and a transverse pressure means carried by said flange portions positioned transverse to and above said flexible tube, said flange portions each including two separate sections pivotally joined adjacent to common ends thereof to permit limited arcuate movement relative to each other, the first lower section pivotally secured to a block member forming said arcuate-shaped surface and said support surface, said block member including arcuately disposed guide means, said guide means being projected from said pivot point which also corresponds to the center of the radius of curvature of said arcuately shaped surface, said arm member having a guide cooperating with said guide means for travel through a predetermined distance, said second section capable of actuating said first section after the limited arcuate movement about their edge pivot point has been accomplished, whereby said arm member with its transverse pressure means is adapted to be moved under application of a force thereon in a direction along said arcuately shaped support surface for progressively squeezing said flexible tube arcuately and downwardly to urge the quantity of viscous flowable material therein through the dispensing end of the nozzle, the release of the force on said second section causing it to break away from its cooperating position relative to said first section whereby pressure by the transverse roller against the flexible tube is relieved, and means for returning the arm member to its initial position remote from the discharge end of said nozzle.

9. A dispensing device for selectively discharging a quantity of flowable material from a container having a fitment to receive a discharge nozzle, including an arcuately shaped convex surface positioned beneath said container and extending outwardly therefrom, said arcuatelyshaped convex surface leading into a support surface which is positioned beneath said container, and the juncture between said support surface and said arcuately shaped convex surface provides a fluid flow control area for directing a quantity of the flowable material within said nozzle toward a dispensing end thereof while substantially preventing the flowable material from being urged upwardly back into said container, said nozzle being formed of a flexible tube communicating with and extending from said container and in contact with said arcuately shaped convex surface to conform substantially to the contour thereof, said flexible tube being resilient to permit collapse thereof and squeeze a quantity of flowable material therefrom, an arm member positioned above said flexible tube and providing spaced apart flange portions positioned on opposite sides of said flexible tube, said arm member being mounted for movement in a direction beginning at and along said support surface for progressively squeezing said flexible tube arcuately and downwardly to urge the quantity of flowable material therein through the dispensing end of said nozzle, wherein said arm member is formed of two sections, a first lower section pivotally secured to said block member and a second section pivotally connected to said first section for limited arcuate movement relative thereto and for effecting movement of said first section after said limited arcuate movement has been accomplished.