Dispenser system with elongated selectively activatable dispensing pusher

• US 5,035,320 A
• Filed: 05/07/1990
• Issued: 07/30/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CreathAthon Co.
• Original Assignee: Clifford Plone
• Inventors: Plone, Clifford
• Primary Examiner(s): Gehman, Bryon P.
• Application Number:
  US07/520,276
• Time in Patent Office: 449 Days
• Field of Search: 206/219, 206/221, 206/222, 220/521, 220/90.4, 222/80, 222/83, 229/103.1, 426/112, 426/115, 426/120, 426/124, 215/DIG 8
• US Class Current: 206/219
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 21/004 Table-ware comprising food additives to be used with foodstuff spoon-like infusers A47G19/16; drinking straws A47G21/183
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2231/02 Precut holes or weakened zones
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2401/15 Tearable part of the closure B65D2401/60 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00046 Drinking-through lids
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00092 circular
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00296 Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00351 Dome-like
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00509 Cup
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00527 NO contact
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00537 on the outside, or a part turned to the outside of the mouth of the container
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00555 on both the inside and the outside
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00629 Massive bead
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00685 Totality
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00731 Groove or hollow bead
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00796 Totality
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 43/0212 only on the outside, or a part turned to the outside, of the mouth B65D43/0206 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 43/0222 only on the outside, or a part turned to the outside, of the mouth of the container B65D43/0216 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 43/0249 on both the inside and the outside of the mouth of the container B65D43/0239 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/103 Membranes with a tearing element
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/2814 the additional article or materials being released by piercing, cutting or tearing an element enclosing it

Abstract

A dispenser for dispensing dispensable substance or substances comprising carrier structure; elongated pusher structure on the carrier structure; elongated receptacle structure beneath the pusher structure and on the carrier structure, there being an elongated zone or zones between the pusher structure and receptacle structure to receive the dispensable substance or substances; the pusher structure being selectively manually deflectable toward the receptacle structure, at selected locations along the length of the pusher structure length; the receptacle structure being frangible at selected lengthwise locations corresponding to the selected locations along the length of the pusher structure, and in response to deflection of the pusher structure; whereby dispensing of the dispensable substance or substances occurs at related lengthwise locations of the receptacle structure; the pusher structure, including at least one pusher having length which is at least about three times its width, and having arching extent over its width so as to project upwardly from the carrier structure, and including a deflector integral with such arching extent to project downwardly in the arching extend toward the receptacle structure, along the elongated length of the pusher, whereby a user can progressively run his finger lengthwise along the pusher to deflect the pusher to an extent corresponding to the amount of dispensable substnce to be dispensed from the receptacle structure in response to deflector engagement with and opening of the receptacle structure.

Claims

1. In a dispenser for dispensing dispensable substance or substances, the combination comprising

a) carrier structure,

b) elongated pusher structure on the carrier structure,

c) elongated receptacle structure beneath the pusher structure and on the carrier structure, there being an elongated zone or zones between the pusher structure and receptacle structure to receive the dispensable substance or substances,

d) the pusher structure being selectively manually deflectable toward the receptacle structure, at selected locations along the length of the pusher structure length,

e) the receptacle structure being frangible at selected lengthwise locations corresponding to said selected locations along the length of the pusher structure, and in response to deflection of the pusher structure,

f) whereby dispensing of the dispensable substance or substances occurs at said selected lengthwise locations of the receptacle structure,

g) the pusher structure including at least one elongated pusher having a length which is at least about three times its width, and having arching extent over its width so as to project upwardly from the carrier structure, and including a deflector integral with said arching extent to project downwardly in said arching extent toward the receptacle structure, along the elongated length of the pusher, whereby a user can progressively run his finger lengthwise along the pusher to deflect the pusher variably along its length and to an extent corresponding to the amount of dispensable substance to be dispensed from the receptacle structure in response to deflector engagement with and opening of the receptacle structure.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said carrier structure comprises a lid for a container.

3. The combination of claim 2 including a zone on the lid adapted to be opened to define a drinking access means, for passing liquid through the lid on the container.

4. The combination of claim 3 including a peripheral bead on the lid to interfit a rim on the container, the pusher structure extending lengthwise generally parallel to the head.

5. The combination of claim 3 including a flap integral with the lid, and which is liftable to define said access means.

6. The combination of claim 3 wherein said zone on the lid forms a local dome spaced from said pusher structure.

7. The combination of claim 2 including said container, and further means whereby a mixing stick may be inserted through the lid and into liquid in the container, and whereby the stick may be oscillated to mix liquid in the container.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein said further means includes a central portion of said lid forming a flexible receptacle having a central opening to pass said mixing stick.

9. The combination of claim 7 including said mixing stick which is tubular and contains a substance to be dispensed into liquid in the container.

10. The combination of claim 2 wherein said pusher structure and receptacle structure are on a dome portion of the carrier structure that projects upwardly from a plane defined by the lid, said dome portion being hollow to pass the dispensable substance or substances downwardly from the selected portions of the receptacle structure.

11. The combination of claim 10 including said container and wherein said carrier structure includes additional upper and lower carrier sheets extending horizontally in adjacent relation to form the lid, one additional carrier sheet carrying said dome portion of the carrier, and the other additional carrier sheet connectible to the container, the sheets having registrable openings therein, and the upper additional sheet rotatable relative to the lower additional sheet to selectively register the openings.

12. The combination of claim 10 wherein said portion also forms a drinking access zone.

13. The combination of claim 2 wherein said pusher structure extends lengthwise arcuately on the lid.

14. The combination of claim 13 wherein said pusher structure comprises a group of elongated pushers as defined, and said receptacle structure comprises a group of elongated receptacles, each receptacle extending lengthwise beneath a pusher.

15. The combination of claim 14 wherein there are multiple deflectors as defined integral with the pushers and projecting downwardly toward the receptacles to deflect and open the receptacles in response to downward displacement of the pushers, at locations immediately below the extents of the elongated pushers that are displaced downwardly said deflectors being elongated in the length directions of the pushers.

16. The combination of claim 14 including said dispensable substances, one of which is cream associated with one or more first receptacles, and another of which is sugar associated with one or more second receptacles.

17. The combination of claim 14 including said dispensable substance, which consists of salad dressing.

18. The combination of claim 17 including a container which is a tray and said pusher and receptacle extend linearly and in rows on said lid for the tray.

19. The combination of claim 18 wherein said lid is peripherally supported on the container.

20. The combination of claim 14 including said dispensable substances, one of which is mustard associated with a first receptacle or receptacles, and another of which is catsup associated with a second receptacle or receptacles, said lid adapted to be carried by a hot dog container.

21. The container of claim 20 including said hot dog container on which said lid is mounted.

22. The combination of claim 21 including a support cord attached to said container.

23. The combination of claim 14 including said dispensable substance which comprises ice cream or yogurt topping, the lid adapted to be carried by an ice cream or yogurt container.

24. The combination of claim 1 wherein the carrier structure includes

x₁) a first carrier for the pusher structure

x₂) a second carrier for the receptacle structure

said first and second carriers interconnected to define a lid for a container.