Abstract:
A dispensing system for spreadable foodstuffs and spreadable non-food substances allowing for dispensing of metered amounts of foodstuffs or non-food substances and spreading without the need for additional utensils not part of the packaging is disclosed. The system is composed of a disposable cartridge containing a spreadable product and a reusable dispenser that acts to dispense product from the disposable cartridge. The dispenser may rapidly switch between different disposable cartridges.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The subject invention generally relates to a device for dispensing spreadable food products or other spreadable non-food substances. In particular, the subject invention relates to metering and dispensing spreadable products evenly from a container without the use of a knife or other utensils not part of the food packaging. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The vast majority of packaging of spreadable foodstuffs lack any functionality to allow contents to be used directly from the packaging. The packaging for spreadable foodstuffs such as ketchup, mustard, cream cheese, peanut putter, jelly, etc. typically require a knife or other utensil not part of the food packaging to remove the foodstuff from a container and/or achieve spreading the foodstuff as desired. Even containers that allow for squeezing the foodstuff contained therein directly out of the packaging often still require a utensil not part of the food packaging to evenly spread the foodstuff. Such containers also often do not dispense foodstuffs easily as the void space of the container increases as foodstuff is consumed. Often the contents may splatter or take a significant amount of time to flow due to a large volume of air in the container. Air being introduced to the container during the products use also negatively affects product freshness. 
         [0003]    Additionally, spreadable foodstuffs are often difficult if not impossible to measure via traditional means such as measuring cups. Very viscous foodstuffs such as peanut butter and cream cheese are difficult to measure with measuring cups since an accurate measurement may only be achieved by packing the product to remove any air left in the measuring cup. Even after an accurate measure is taken, it is extremely difficult to quantitatively transfer the measured product out from the measuring cup. 
         [0004]    The invention is also designed for use with a variety of non-food semi-solid or gelatinous substances. These substances include but are not limited to toothpaste, shoe polish, paints, cosmetics, thick oils, topical medications, and emollients. The typical containers for these substances are often the same and have the same limitations as those used for foodstuffs. These main limitations being the need for an additional utensils to remove and use the substance from the container, air being introduced to the containers over time as the substance is used, difficulty of use for children or individuals with physical limitations, and difficulty in measuring with measuring cups. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    The following presents a simplified summary of the invention in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is intended to neither identify key or critical elements of the invention nor delineate the scope of the invention. Rather, the sole purpose of this summary is to present some concepts of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented hereinafter. 
         [0006]    The subject invention provides for spreadable foodstuffs and non-food substances to be packaged in a container that has a means for metering foodstuffs or substance and spreading in a knife-like manner without the use of any additional utensils as well as providing for a packaging of adjustable volume such that product is kept away from air during use. A solution to accurate measurement and use of spreadable foodstuffs is provided which is especially in restaurant settings where consistency is important. An accurate way to dispense spreadable foodstuffs is also provided for in home-settings for portion control and dieters. There are also many applications for the invention with non-food substances such as accurately applying a predetermined amount of polish or topical medication. 
         [0007]    One aspect of the invention relates to providing a convenient means of use of spreadable foodstuffs and non-food substances in residences without the need for utensils. An additional aspect of the invention relates to providing a convenient and easy to use means for spreading foodstuffs and substances for elderly, disabled, children, and physically challenged persons. Another aspect of the invention relates to providing a convenient means of use of spreadable foodstuffs or non-food substances for those traveling, picnics or other outdoor activities, or other times when traditional home amenities are not available. 
         [0008]    Yet another aspect of the invention relates to providing a means for restaurants and caterers to dispense and use spreadable foodstuffs with greater speed. 
         [0009]    Still yet another aspect of the invention relates to providing a packaging for spreadable foodstuffs and non-food substances that keeps contents fresher once seal on package has been broken. Another aspect of the invention relates to minimizing food waste compared to traditional food packaging. 
         [0010]    An additional aspect of the invention is to provide a packaging that is less disposable than traditional packaging and therefore suitable for targeted and affinity marketing in a more affective manner. An additional aspect of the invention is to make measuring spreadable foodstuffs and non-food substances more convenient. 
         [0011]    Still yet another aspect of the invention is to provide for an automated means of dispensing foodstuffs and non-food substances that may easily and rapidly switch between dispensing different foodstuffs. An additional aspect of the invention is to provide an automated means of dispensing foodstuffs and non-food substances that is ergonomical. 
         [0012]    To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims. The following description and the annexed drawings set forth in detail certain illustrative aspects and implementations of the invention. These are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed. Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a view of the first embodiment of the invention comprising a disposable cartridge and dispensing handle drawn detached from each other. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a view of the knife-like applicator. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]    The food packaging is comprised of a substantially cylindrically shaped dispenser which is ergonomically designed to fit comfortably in the human hand. The dispenser has an extended useful lifetime and can be used to dispense several different kinds of substances and products. The products are supplied as a replacement cartridge product (RCP). The RCP is a cylindrical tube composed of rigid or semi-rigid food-grade or chemical resistant plastic as required by the application. One end of the RCP has a coupling mechanism allowing the RCP to reversibly attach to the dispenser. The other end of the RCP has an applicator portion that has a knife-like shape and is permanently molded to the rest of the RCP. The knife-like applicator has a triangular shape. One edge of the applicator has a series of holes or openings through which foodstuffs pass upon dispensing. In this manner, products may be dispensed directly to the location of their desired use and immediately spread without the use of any other utensils besides the dispenser and the RCP, which form one complete unit during use. In an alternate fashion, dispensing of product may load the knife-like applicator with a desired amount of product which may then be spread where desired. 
         [0016]    The mechanical operation of the dispensing system is as follows. The RCP contains a screw-spindle running along the longitudinal axis of the RCP. The end of the RCP that attaches to the dispenser is formed of a plunger member that is attached to said screw spindle. The plunger member forms a tight seal with the body of the RCP but still capable of sliding along the body of the RCP. When the RCP is attached to the dispenser, the screw spindle fits into a receptacle on the coupling end of the dispenser. A mechanism inside the dispenser turns the screw-spindle which in turn moves the plunger member along the body of the RCP. Movement of the plunger member expels foodstuff or non-food substance through the opening on the applicator. The mechanism inside the dispenser may either be powered manually by the user or by an electric motor. The RCP is designed to be disposable upon use of most or all the foodstuff or non-food substance contained inside. 
         [0017]    In one embodiment of the invention, the RCP is made out of transparent or semitransparent material such that the plunger member is visible through the body of the RCP. Units of weight or volume or weight are marked on the body of the RCP. Upon dispensing of the foodstuff or non-food substance, the movement of the plunger member is observed by the user such that the amount of foodstuff dispensed is known. In a second embodiment of the invention, the dispenser is manufactured such that activation of the dispensing mechanism inside the dispenser causes a known rotation of the screw-spindle in the RCP, and therefore, a know volume of foodstuff is dispensed. In a third embodiment of the invention, a CPU and ROM are coupled with an electric motor inside the dispenser. The amount of foodstuff desired to be dispensed is entered through an LCD located on the body of the dispenser. The CPU and ROM are preprogrammed with the turn of screw axis/product dispensed ratio such that an exact amount of product is accurately dispensed. 
         [0018]    One embodiment of the dispenser of the invention is depicted in  FIG. 1 . The body of the dispenser  101  is composed of rigid food grade or chemical resistant material depending on the application. Similarly, the body of the RCP  102  is composed of rigid or semi-rigid food grade or chemical resistant material. The RCP comprises mostly a hollow space  103  which contains the spreadable foodstuffs on non-food substance. The contents are kept fresh by a lid  104  before the RCP is placed in use. The lid  104  can be replaced such that the RCP can be detached from the dispenser before the contents are completely consumed. Optionally, the body of the RCP  102  is made from transparent or semi-transparent material and graduations are placed on the RCP  105 . There is a screw-spindle  106  running along the longitudinal axis of the RCP. There is a plunger member  107  located at one end of the RCP and a lip  108  surrounding that end of the RCP. The plunger member  107  and lip  108  are designed in a manner that a part of the dispenser may extent past the lip and engage the screw-spindle  106 . A tube may optionally be placed along the longitudinal axis of the RCP such that the screw-spindle  106  is kept out of contact with the product contained in the hollow space  103 . If need be, the foodstuffs or non-food substances can be manually squeezed out of the RCP when the RCP is constructed out of semi-rigid material. The RCP can be designed to attach to the dispenser through a latch and spring mechanism or a twist and lock mechanism, which are both extremely common in the art. 
         [0019]    The dispensing end of the RCP  109  is in one piece with the RCP  102  and is shaped in a triangular knife-like shape. Several views of the applicator region are shown in  FIG. 2 . The number and diameter of the openings is selected based on the consistency or viscosity of the product. For example, a larger number of smaller holes  201  are useful for less viscose products such as jelly, ketchup or emollients. One or two large holes  202  are appropriate for very viscose products such as peanut butter, cream cheese or shoe polish. The flat surface of the applicator is used in a knife-like fashion to spread the products as desired. Also, depending of the viscosity of the foodstuffs or nonfood substances, the foodstuffs may be dispensed completely onto a surface and then spread. For some high viscosity foodstuffs or non-food substances, dispensing of such foodstuff may preload the knife-like applicator with product that may then be spread onto a desired location. 
         [0020]    The dispenser may optionally have one or more rubber grips  110  on the body of the dispenser  101 . In one embodiment of the dispenser of the invention, the screw-spindle  106  is rotated manually upon depressing a button  110  located on the surface of the RCP. Alternatively, the button  110  may be replaced with a rotating wheel to allow for more rapid dispensing of foodstuff depending on the application desired. Methods for coupling the mechanical depression of a button/rotating wheel to rotation of a gear and/or screw spindle are well known in the art. Each depression of the button  110  results in a known rotation of the screw-spindle  106  and therefore a known amount of foodstuff is dispensed. When a rotating wheel is employed, such wheel is demarked with graduations giving the user the ability to know how much foodstuff is to being dispensed. In a second embodiment of the dispenser of the invention, the screw-spindle  106  is rotated via an electric motor and battery located within the dispenser. The motor is activated upon depression of button  110 . The electric motor is coupled with a CPU and ROM programmed with the volume turn of screw-spindle/volume dispensed ratio. A specific volume to be dispensed is entered using an LCD screen  111  located on the dispenser to program the CPU and ROM. The battery may be rechargeable from a DC power source for high use applications such as restaurants. In every embodiment, the dispenser has a manual override consisting of a rotating wheel  112  located on the end of the dispenser. One or more rubber grips may optionally be placed on the dispenser  113 . Additionally, certain applications, such as shoe polish or paints, may benefit from built-in bristles or brushes on the container. Such bristles or brushes may be built into the dispensing unit  114 , the knife-like applicator or the RCP  203 , or any other convenient location on the packaging. 
         [0021]    While the invention has been explained in relation to certain embodiments, it is to be understood that various modifications thereof will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the specification. Therefore, it is to be understood that the invention disclosed herein is intended to cover such modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.