Disposable condiment shaker and decorative sleeve
First Claim
1. A sleeve for use with a disposable, tamper-resistant condiment shaker, the condiment shaker including a top, a wall portion, and an end portion, the wall portion having a first end and a second end, the top being operatively connected to and enclosing the first end, the end portion being operatively connected to and enclosing the second end, the end portion including a ledge proximate the wall portion, the wall portion interconnecting and being integral with the top and the end portion thereby preventing the condiment shaker from being opened, comprising:
- a) a top portion including a first opening, said first opening being configured and arranged to provide access to at least a portion of the top of the condiment shaker;
b) a bottom portion including a second opening through which the condiment shaker may be inserted;
c) an intermediate portion interconnecting said top portion and said bottom portion, said intermediate portion including an inner surface, said inner surface including a raised member proximate said bottom portion, said intermediate portion being configured and arranged to house the condiment shaker; and
d) a cavity formed by said top portion, said bottom portion, and said intermediate portion, said first opening and said second opening providing access to said cavity, said cavity being configured and arranged to receive the condiment shaker, wherein the top of the condiment shaker is inserted into said second opening, the condiment shaker is pushed through said second opening into said cavity, the ledge is slid past said raised member thereby providing a snap-fit between the condiment shaker and the sleeve, said first opening providing access to at least a portion of the top of the condiment shaker.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A disposable, tamper-resistant condiment shaker (10) containing a condiment (37) is supported within a cavity (24) of a decorative sleeve (20) to provide a more aesthetically pleasing condiment dispensing assembly (100). The sleeve (20) includes a securing member (29, 42, 44) to support the shaker (10) within the cavity (24). When the condiment supply within the shaker (10) has become depleted, the shaker (10) may be removed from the sleeve (20), discarded, and replaced with a new shaker (10). This cartridge type loading and refilling of the condiment (37) eliminates the need to pour condiment (37) into a dispenser.
14 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A sleeve for use with a disposable, tamper-resistant condiment shaker, the condiment shaker including a top, a wall portion, and an end portion, the wall portion having a first end and a second end, the top being operatively connected to and enclosing the first end, the end portion being operatively connected to and enclosing the second end, the end portion including a ledge proximate the wall portion, the wall portion interconnecting and being integral with the top and the end portion thereby preventing the condiment shaker from being opened, comprising:
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a) a top portion including a first opening, said first opening being configured and arranged to provide access to at least a portion of the top of the condiment shaker; b) a bottom portion including a second opening through which the condiment shaker may be inserted; c) an intermediate portion interconnecting said top portion and said bottom portion, said intermediate portion including an inner surface, said inner surface including a raised member proximate said bottom portion, said intermediate portion being configured and arranged to house the condiment shaker; and d) a cavity formed by said top portion, said bottom portion, and said intermediate portion, said first opening and said second opening providing access to said cavity, said cavity being configured and arranged to receive the condiment shaker, wherein the top of the condiment shaker is inserted into said second opening, the condiment shaker is pushed through said second opening into said cavity, the ledge is slid past said raised member thereby providing a snap-fit between the condiment shaker and the sleeve, said first opening providing access to at least a portion of the top of the condiment shaker. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A condiment dispensing assembly, comprising:
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a) a shaker including a top, a wall portion, and an end portion, said wall portion having a first end and a second end, said top being operatively connected to and enclosing said first end, said end portion being operatively connected to and enclosing said second end, said wall portion interconnecting and being integral with said top and said end portion thereby preventing said shaker from being opened and being tamper-resistant; and b) a sleeve including a top portion, a bottom portion, an intermediate portion, a cavity, and a securing member, said top portion including a first opening, said first opening being configured and arranged to provide access to at least a portion of said top of said condiment shaker, said bottom portion including a second opening through which said condiment shaker is inserted, said intermediate portion interconnecting said top portion and said bottom portion and being configured and arranged to house said shaker, said cavity formed by said top portion, said bottom portion, and said intermediate portion, said first opening and said second opening providing access to said cavity, said cavity being configured and arranged to receive said shaker, said securing member being operatively connected to said intermediate portion, wherein said top of said shaker is inserted into said second opening, said shaker is pushed through said second opening into said cavity, said securing member supports said shaker within said cavity of said sleeve, said first opening providing access to said at least a portion of said top of said condiment shaker. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of using a sleeve to decorate a condiment shaker, comprising:
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a) obtaining a disposable, tamper-resistant condiment shaker containing a condiment, the condiment shaker including a top, a wall portion, and an end portion forming a first cavity, the condiment being contained within the first cavity, the wall portion having a first end and a second end, the top being operatively connected to and enclosing the first end, the end portion being operatively connected to and enclosing the second end, the end portion including a ledge proximate the wall portion, the wall portion interconnecting and being integral with the top and the end portion thereby preventing the condiment shaker from being opened; b) obtaining a sleeve including a top portion, a bottom portion, an intermediate portion, and a second cavity, the top portion including a first opening, the first opening being configured and arranged to provide access to at least a portion of the top of the condiment shaker, the bottom portion including a second opening through which the condiment shaker may be inserted, the intermediate portion interconnecting the top portion and the bottom portion and including an inner surface, the inner surface including a raised member proximate the bottom portion, the intermediate portion being configured and arranged to house the condiment shaker, the second cavity formed by the top portion, the bottom portion, and the intermediate portion, the first opening and the second opening providing access to the second cavity, the second cavity being configured and arranged to receive the condiment shaker; c) inserting the top of the condiment shaker into the second opening; and d) pushing the condiment shaker through the second opening into the second cavity, wherein the ledge is slid past the raised member thereby providing a snap-fit between the condiment shaker and the sleeve, the first opening providing access to the at least a portion of the top of the condiment shaker. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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Specification