REFILLABLE CONDIMENT DISPENSING APPARATUS

A condiment dispenser assembly having a main body integrating a plurality of pedestal legs adapted for supporting said body upon a horizontal surface and so that a dispensing orifice of the body is downwardly directed. A refillable interior reservoir of the body accessible through an upwardly arranged open top. A plunger assembly including a stem is inserted through the open top and displaceable within the body for dispensing a fluidic product through the lower orifice location.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention teaches a refillable condiment dispensing apparatus. As described, the condiment apparatus includes an inverted body with integrated pedestal supports for downwardly arraying a neck and dispensing nozzle orifice. The body can be squeezable includes an upper removable lid for iteratively receiving a push/pull plunger in order to both refill and advance a fluidic condiment for dispensing through the downwardly arrayed nozzle. The pedestal supports can be arrayed in a tripod configuration for supporting the neck and nozzle in a downward direction. Either of a twist head or valve can also be provided for facilitating dispensing of the condiment, either separately or in conjunction with the removable plunger or the bottle squeeze construction.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The prior art teaches a variety of condiment dispensing apparatuses. UK 696,310 reference teaches a plunger (FIG. 1) in a cylindrical dispensing vessel. A bottom dispenser apparatus is further shown in the Rusillo, U.S. Pat. No. 5,437,396, with a related valve dispensing construction shown. The two Lee U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,524,975 and 5,601,212, both issued to Lee, each teach a separate dispensing unit attached to a threaded neck bottle.

Other references include the Illuzzi, U.S. Pat. No. 7,000,804, which teaches a dispenser assembly with a separator tube and separate mixing rib for assisting in mixing and dispensing. Another design of note is the cartridge style viscous condiment dispenser of Robertson, U.S. Pat. No. 8,650,736. Finally, the hand-holdable (closed) disposable dispensing container WO 92/21569 depicts a bottom dispensing valve and orifice.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention discloses a refillable condiment dispensing apparatus including an inverted body with integrated pedestal supports for downwardly arraying a neck and dispensing nozzle orifice. A resistant fitting or threaded cap can be provided for attaching over the nozzle orifice when not in use. The body can be squeezable includes an upper removable end lid for iteratively receiving a push/pull plunger in order to both refill and advance a fluidic condiment for dispensing through the downwardly arrayed nozzle. The pedestal supports can be arrayed in a tripod configuration for supporting the neck and nozzle orifice in a downward direction. Either of a twist head or valve can also be provided for facilitating dispensing of the condiment, either separately or in conjunction with the removable plunger or the bottle squeeze construction.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference now toFIGS. 1-3, the present invention discloses a refillable condiment dispensing apparatus, generally depicted at10according to one embodiment. The condiment apparatus includes a main elongated body or chamber12which is of a generally elongated shape and which includes a plurality of pedestal supports or legs, such as a tripod arrangement as depicted by downward legs14,16and18integrated into the apparatus main body which facilitates downward arraying of the nozzle orifice when arranged upon a horizontal support surface.

A lower end of the body is configured as a funneling or narrowing neck area20, this terminating in a narrowed bottom most and downwardly directed dispensing nozzle orifice location22of the main body. The dispensing location constitutes an orifice or opening for distributing the interior supported fluidic product such as a condiment (see reservoir2inFIG. 2). An orifice covering or cap24is depicted which can be removably attached to the orifice location when it is desired to dispense product. The covering or cap24can further include, as best shown in cutaway inFIG. 2, inner and opposing dimple profiles, see at25associated with an interior of the removable bottom cap or covering24, these opposed by dimples at27configured about the exterior annular profile of the bottom orifice dispensing location22for providing a resistant fit arrangement when attaching the covering to the orifice.

The bottom covering24can also include an interior plug29or the like (againFIG. 2) which functions to further seal against the annular inner surface of the orifice location22by biasing against the interior perimeter of the orifice proximate its downward facing opening, thus preventing inadvertent dispensing of product when not in use. The covering24can also include be configured as a threaded twist cap portion or other configuration without limitation.

A top end disposed lid26is provided and, as best shown inFIG. 2, can be engaged to the open upper arrayed end of the upward supported body12via interior annular threads28which inter-engage with opposing exterior threads30configured at the top end of the main body12. Additional variants contemplate substituting the threaded attachable lid with any of a hinged lid or the like.

Referring toFIG. 3, a further cutaway view of the present assembly is shown which, upon removal of the lid26, receives a self sealing plunger assembly further including a stem32, an upper grasping end34, and a lower piston and annular sealing end having a supporting disk body36and an outwardly annular protruding gasket or seal38adapted to bias against an inner annular or circumferential extending surface40of the main body12. Without limitation, the cross sectional profile of the plunger body36and opposing inner profile surface40of the body can also both be varied to include other polygonal shapes not limited to circular and to include any of oval, elliptical, triangular, square, pentagon, heptagon, hexagon, octagon or other polygonal profile.

Upon prefilling the interior of the container with a condiment reservoir (again at2and not limited to any fluidic dispensing composition) and upon removing the lid26, the plunger assembly can be inserted through the open top (at42) so and pressed downwardly (see arrows44) so that the lower plunger subassembly is progressively descended (see from position46to further lower position at48) corresponding to gradual dispensing of the condiment2. The lid24is depicted attached inFIG. 2to the dispensing orifice location however it is understood that it is typically removed prior to inserting and descending the plunger assembly and dispensing the condiment as shown inFIG. 3.

Additional variants contemplate the use of a flexible squeeze body without the need for the plunger assembly and for which the inverted arraying of the body when not in use provides for adequate dispensing. It is also understood that the lid (see as depicted in phantom at26′ inFIG. 3) can be reconfigured to include a central aperture27for seating the plunger stem32therethrough. In this fashion, the lid as reconfigured at26′ can remain sealed over the open top of the main body and be utilized in combination with the plunger assembly, this providing a more sanitary arrangement as well as supporting the plunger stem32at the top end of the body12, and in order maintain the canister in a closed position once an initial filling of the condiment reservoir is accomplished. In this manner, the dispenser can be conveniently stored in a refrigerated location between uses and prior to refilling.

In additional variants, a twist head or valve can also be incorporated into the orifice location22for facilitating dispensing of the condiment, either separately or in conjunction with the (removable) plunger or the bottle squeeze construction. Apart from being provided as a rigid or semi-rigid canister (such as a metal or sanitary plastic), it is also envisioned that the main body can be further reconfigured as an inverted and squeeze-able thermoplastic bottle which, in combination with the removable bottom orifice covering24, iteratively receives the push/pull plunger in order to both refill and advance a fluidic condiment, such as which can again include but is not limited to any of ketchup, mustard, or other fluidic condiment.

The main canister or body can again further be provided having any polygonal or other non-circular cross sectional profile, with the sealing perimeter of the plunger matching the inner wall profile of the body to maintain the desired sealing and downward applied pressure to the condiment reservoir2. Yet additional variants contemplate reconfiguring the assembly to provide multiple individual condiment dispensing cylinders, such as which can be integrated into a single overall assembly or which can be supported in a rack or other supporting device (not shown) for containing for example individual canisters supporting each of mustard, ketchup, relish, etc.

Other variants contemplate substituting the bottom closure or cap24integrating the plug29in favor of a pressure valve and plug, such as which can be permanently integrated into the bottom orifice location22and which, upon application of a sufficient degree of downward dispensing pressure by the plunger assembly, results in dispensing of the condiment.

Having described my invention, other and additional preferred embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains, and without deviating from the scope of the appended claims. This can include other non-condiment applications for dispensing any other type of fluidic product.