Condiment pump

• US 5,381,932 A
• Filed: 11/24/1993
• Issued: 01/17/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: American Wyott Corporation
• Original Assignee: American Wyott Corporation
• Inventors: Humphrey, James E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kashnikow, Andres
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bomberg, Kenneth
• Application Number:
  US08/156,970
• Time in Patent Office: 419 Days
• Field of Search: 222/385, 222/321, 239/333
• US Class Current: 222/321.9
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 19/183 by applying external pressure, i.e. by pumping or squeezing
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1001 Piston pumps B05B11/1087, B05B11/1088, B05B11/109 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1015 actuated without substantial movement of the nozzle in the direction of the pressure stroke B05B11/1011 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 11/025 with manually operated pistons G01F19/005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 11/028 the dosing device being provided with a dip tube and fitted to a container, e.g. to a bottleneck

Abstract

An improved condiment pump has a container and a lid. A cylinder extends downwardly into the container and contains a piston and a piston rod. A lower ball valve is located near the bottom of the cylinder, and a side arm tube extends upwardly from the upper ball valve. An upper ball valve is located at the top of the side arm tube, and a spout extends upwardly from the upper ball valve. A plug covers the upper end of the upper ball valve. A spout extension extends downwardly into the upper ball valve to maintain the ball a predetermined distance from a hole in the plug, permitting passage of condiment chunks through the spout.

Claims

1. In a condiment pump comprising a container;

a cylinder extending downwardly into the container;

a piston, within the cylinder;

a piston rod connected to the piston, and extending above a top of the container;

bias means for biasing the piston upward;

a lower ball valve disposed at a bottom of the cylinder including a lower ball valve chamber and a lower ball moveable therein;

a side arm tube, extending from the lower ball vane chamber to the top of the container;

an upper ball valve disposed at an upper end of the side arm tube including an upper ball valve chamber and an upper ball moveable therein; and

a removable spout, extending upwardly from the upper ball valve chamber of the side arm tube, the improvement comprising;

the upper ball valve chamber including a plug positioned substantially eqaal inside and outside the container and defining an aperture therein for permitting passage of condiment chunks therethrough from the upper ball valve chamber; and

means connected to the spout and extending downwardly therefrom through the aperture in the plug into the upper ball valve chamber for maintaining said upper ball a predetermined distance from the aperture in said plug to permit passage of condiment chunks through said spout.

2. A condiment pump, as recited in claim 1, wherein said means connected to the spout for maintaining said upper ball valve ball a predetermined distance from said aperture tapers downwardly from top to bottom on two sides.

3. A condiment pump, as recited in claim. 1, wherein said means connected to the spout for maintaining said upper ball valve ball a predetermined distance from said aperture is hook-shaped.

4. A condiment pump, comprising:

a container;

a cylinder, extending downwardly into the container;

a piston, within the cylinder;

a piston rod, connected to the piston and extending above a top of the container;

bias means for biasing the piston upward;

a lower ball valve. near a bottom of the cylinder, having a lower ball moveable in a lower ball valve chamber;

a side arm tube, extending upwardly from the lower ball valve chamber;

an upper ball valve, at an upper end of the side arm tube, having an upper ball moveable in an upper valve chamber;

a removable spout, extending upwardly from the upper ball valve;

the upper ball valve. chamber including a plug, positioned substantially equally inside and outside the container, and defining an aperture concentric in the plug to permit passage of condiment chunks therethrough; and

a spout extension, connected to and extending downwardly from the spout into the upper ball valve chamber to maintain said upper ball a predetermined distance from the aperture in the plug to permit passage of condiment chunks therethrough.

5. A condiment pump, as recited in claim 4, wherein the spout extension tapers from top to bottom on two sides.

6. A condiment pump, as recited in claim 4, wherein the spout extension is hook-shaped.

7. A condiment. pump, as recited in claim 4, further comprising a lid on the container.

8. A condiment pump, comprising:

a container;

a cylinder, extending downwardly into the container;

a piston, within the cylinder;

a hollow piston rod, connected to the piston and extending above a top of the container;

bias means for biasing the piston upward;

a lower ball valve. near a bottom of the cylinder, having a lower ball moveable in a lower ball valve chamber;

an upper ball valve, at the upper end of the piston rod, having an upper ball moveable in an upper ball valve chamber;

a spout, connected at one end to the upper ball valve chamber and extending outwardly therefrom;

a plug, disposed internally in the upper ball valve chamber in an upper end; and

a plug extension, extending downwardly from the plug into the upper ball valve chamber to maintain said upper ball a predetermined distance from the end of the spout, to permit passage of condiment chunks through the end of the spout.

9. A condiment pump, as recited in claim 8, wherein the plug extension tapers from top to bottom on two sides.

10. A condiment pump, as recited in claim 8, wherein the plug extension is hook-shaped.

11. A condiment pump, as recited in claim 8, further comprising a lid on the container.