Abstract:
A caddy for holding a generally conical pastry bag comprises a tapered receptacle sized to receive at least a dispensing end portion of the pastry bag, and a flange arranged externally about the tapered receptacle. The flange may be a circular flange located about an entrance end of the receptacle and having a peripheral lip for sealing the caddy on a correspondingly sized container in which ice water or some other heat transfer medium is placed. Alternatively, the flange may be hollow for improved buoyancy and stability in a liquid heat transfer medium. The tapered receptacle may include a closed tip portion at its narrow end for receiving a dispensing tip of the pastry bag such that the dispensing tip does not contact the walls of the tapered receptacle. The caddy provides a barrier between the pastry bag and the heat transfer medium, whereby the pastry bag and its contents may be kept clean and chilled during periods between dispensing applications.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The invention relates to the field of culinary tools, and more particularly to an apparatus for holding generally conical bags of whipped topping, icing, filling, or similar product (hereinafter such bags are referred to broadly as “pastry bags”). The apparatus of the present invention is useful for holding a pastry bag and keeping the product therein clean and chilled while the pastry bag is at hand for dispensing product during food preparation. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Under current practice, topping or icing for pastry is packaged in generally conical pastry bags for application to pastry or other food items through a dispensing tip extending through a bottom tip portion of the pastry bag. Such pastry bags are refrigerated while in storage to keep the contents fresh. In order to decorate a cake or otherwise apply pastry bag contents, a user will typically remove a pastry bag from refrigerated storage and place it on a nearby countertop or other work surface so that it is conveniently at hand. 
         [0003]    Handling of the pastry bag is a manual operation wherein a user must pick up the bag and squeeze it while guiding the dispensing tip so as to discharge product from the bag in a controlled and intended manner. It is not uncommon for the pastry bag to be handled and set down repeatedly by a user without being returned to a refrigerated environment. 
         [0004]    This situation has a number of shortcomings. If the pastry bag is set down on a flat surface, it may roll off if it is inadvertently bumped. There is also a risk that the dispensing tip and product in the dispensing tip will come into contact with other foods or an unclean food preparation environment, thereby contaminating the dispensing tip and possibly product inside the pastry bag. There is a further risk that the bag may inadvertently come into contact with a sharp tool, such as a knife, exposing the contents to contamination. 
         [0005]    Apart from the shortcomings mentioned above, repeated handling of the bag and storage of the bag at room temperature during use cause the contents to warm up quickly, thereby reducing product freshness and possibly leading to spoilage. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a “caddy” for holding a pastry bag close at hand to a chef or other user during decoration or preparation of desserts or other food items, wherein the caddy protects the pastry bag and its dispensing tip from damage or contamination. 
         [0007]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a caddy apparatus that keeps the contents of a pastry bag chilled during use. 
         [0008]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a caddy that may be used in combination with a cooler or other container holding ice water to hold a pastry bag and chill the pastry bag&#39;s contents. 
         [0009]    In furtherance of these and other objects, a caddy for holding a pastry bag in accordance with the present invention generally comprises a tapered receptacle sized to receive at least a dispensing end portion of the pastry bag, and a flange arranged externally about the tapered receptacle. The flange may be a circular flange located about an entrance end of the receptacle and having a peripheral lip for sealing the caddy on a correspondingly sized container in which ice water or some other heat transfer medium is placed. The tapered receptacle may include a closed tip portion at its narrow end for receiving a dispensing tip of a pastry bag without contact, an open cylindrical entranceway portion at its wide end, and a main frusto-conical portion extending between the tip portion and the entranceway portion. 
         [0010]    The invention is further embodied by a caddy as summarized above in combination with a container including a plurality of walls defining an interior space, wherein the tapered receptacle of the caddy is spaced from the container walls to define a volume in the interior of the container that surrounds the tapered receptacle, whereby a heat transfer medium may be received in the volume for achieving heat transfer to or from the pastry bag. The flange of the caddy may be configured for sealing attachment to the container, wherein an opening of the container is completely covered by the caddy. Alternatively, the caddy may be placed in a container, such as a cooler, having an ice water bath, wherein the caddy and container are not matchingly configured for sealed attachment to one another and the caddy provides buoyancy and stability when the caddy and pastry bag are placed in a liquid medium. In a particular embodiment, the flange may be in the form of a hollow ring for enhanced buoyancy and stability in a liquid medium. 
         [0011]    In another embodiment of the invention, an apparatus for holding a pastry bag comprises a housing defining a body portion and a tapered receptacle surrounded by the body portion, the tapered receptacle being sized to receive at least a dispensing end portion of the pastry bag, and a freezable medium enclosed in the body portion of the housing. The freezable medium may be a freezable gel, water, or other freezable medium, and the housing may be configured such that the apparatus is freestanding. Such an apparatus could be stored as a unit in a freezer until it is needed, and then placed on a countertop or other surface for easy access. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    The nature and mode of operation of the present invention will now be more fully described in the following detailed description of the invention taken with the accompanying drawing figures, in which: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a topping caddy formed in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a side view of a holder apparatus of the present invention formed by combining the topping caddy of  FIG. 1  with a fitted container, wherein a pastry bag held by the topping caddy is indicated in phantom line; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a side view showing the topping caddy of  FIG. 1  used in combination with an ice water bath; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4A  is a sectional side view showing a topping caddy formed in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention in combination with a container of a first configuration; 
           [0017]      FIG. 4B  is a view similar to that of  FIG. 4A , however the topping caddy is shown in combination with a container of a second configuration; 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is a sectional view of a topping caddy formed in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is a sectional view of a topping caddy formed in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0020]    Reference is made initially to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , wherein a topping caddy formed in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention is shown and broadly identified by reference numeral  10 . Topping caddy  10  is designed to hold a conical pastry bag  2 , indicated in phantom line in  FIG. 2 . Pastry bag  2  is not a part of the present invention. 
         [0021]    Topping caddy  10  generally comprises a tapered receptacle  12  sized to receive at least a dispensing end portion of the pastry bag, and a flange  14  arranged externally about the tapered receptacle  12 . As used herein, “tapered receptacle” refers to a receptacle wherein at least a portion of the receptacle is characterized by continuous reduction in cross-sectional area. In the present embodiment, the tapered receptacle includes a frusto-conical portion  12 A having a linearly decreasing cross-sectional area, however a curved (non-linear) taper may be used without straying from the invention. Tapered receptacle  12  may include a non-tapered tip portion  12 B and a non-tapered entranceway portion  12 C, which in  FIGS. 1 and 2  are formed as cylindrical portions. Tapered receptacle  12  has an open wide end  16  at the mouth of entranceway portion  12 C, and a closed narrow end  18  at the distal end of tip portion  12 B. As may be understood from  FIG. 2 , tip portion  12 B accommodates a dispensing tip  4  of pastry bag  2  such that the dispensing tip does not contact the receptacle. This feature is advantageous because it helps keep the dispensing tip clean, and it allows some air to remain in tapered receptacle  12  to make it easier to withdraw the pastry bag from the receptacle. 
         [0022]    In the first embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , flange  14  includes an inner portion  14 A extending radially outward from wide end  16  of tapered receptacle  12 , a sloped portion  14 B extending both radially outward from inner portion  14 A and axially toward narrow end  18  of tapered receptacle  12 , a rim portion  14 C extending radially outward from sloped portion  14 B, and an annular lip portion  14 D extending axially from rim portion  14 C toward narrow end  18 . Flange  14  may surround cylindrical entranceway portion  12 C of tapered receptacle  12 , as demonstrated by the depicted embodiment. 
         [0023]    With particular reference to  FIG. 2 , it is noted that the configuration of flange  14  allows topping caddy  10  to be sealed overtop a container  40  for holding a heat transfer medium  60 , for example an ice water bath. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , container  40  takes the form of a cylindrical container having a bottom wall  42  cooperating with a cylindrical side wall  44  to define an interior space  50  that is accessible through a top opening  46  of the container. Flange  14  may be sized for frictional fit onto a peripheral rim  48  about top opening  46 , such that opening  46  is completely covered by topping caddy  10 . 
         [0024]    An alternative arrangement is shown in  FIG. 3 , wherein a rectangular container  140  having a bottom wall  142  and a plurality of straight side walls  144  is used in combination with topping caddy  10 . The walls of container  140  define an interior space  150  which may receive a suitable heat transfer medium  60 , such as an ice water bath. In this arrangement, topping caddy  10  may be placed through container opening  146  onto a top surface of heat transfer medium  60 , wherein the caddy allows the pastry bag to be immersed in the heat transfer medium without directly contacting the heat transfer medium. For example, container  140  may be a cooler filled with an ice water bath used to cool other items in addition to the pastry bag.  FIG. 3  is schematic in nature, and it is understood that a portion of flange  14  of topping caddy  10  may become submerged when pastry bag  2  is inserted into the tapered receptacle of the topping caddy. 
         [0025]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  illustrate a topping caddy  110  formed in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. Topping caddy  110  is generally similar to topping caddy  10  of the first embodiment in that it comprises a tapered receptacle  112  and a flange  114  arranged externally about the tapered receptacle  112 . As in the first embodiment, the tapered receptacle  112  is sized to receive at least a dispensing end portion of a pastry bag, and may include a frusto-conical portion  112 A, a cylindrical tip portion  112 B adjacent a closed narrow end  118 , and a cylindrical entranceway portion  112 C adjacent an open wide end  116 . Cylindrical entranceway portion  112 C is shorter than its counterpart  12 C of the first embodiment, and flange  114  is generally flatter than flange  14  of the first embodiment. In particular, flange  114  includes an inner portion  114 A extending radially outward from wide end  116 , a step portion  114 B extending both radially outward from inner portion  114 A and axially away from narrow end  118 , a rim portion  114 C extending radially outward from step portion  114 B, and an annular lip portion  114 D extending axially from rim portion  114 C toward narrow end  118 . As may be seen in  FIG. 4A , the configuration of flange  114  allows topping caddy  110  to be sealed overtop container  40  by frictional fit onto peripheral rim  48 . In the arrangement shown in  FIG. 4B , topping caddy  110  rests atop container  240  by engagement of flange step portion  1114 B with a peripheral rim  248  of the container. 
         [0026]    Topping caddy  10  of the first embodiment and topping caddy  110  of the second embodiment may be manufactured by forming the caddy as an integral unit from plastic. A translucent plastic may be used and is advantageous because it allows the pastry bag to be generally visible in the caddy, it allows the caddy to be generally visible in an ice water bath, and it allows the interior of tapered receptacle  112  to be visible to make it easier to clean. For example, translucent polypropylene may be used. 
         [0027]    The present invention encompasses not only a topping caddy itself, but also a combination of a container with a topping caddy. The container may be partially filled with cold water, ice water, or another heat transfer medium  60  to help maintain the contents of pastry bag  2  at a suitably cool temperature. In this regard, the container may be sized so that the tapered receptacle is spaced from the walls of the container to define a volume in the interior  50  of the container that surrounds the tapered receptacle. It will be realized that some of the interior space  50  will be occupied by the tapered receptacle, and that the container need only be filled partially in order to completely surround the tapered receptacle with heat transfer medium  60  (partial filling avoids overflow spillage when the tapered receptacle is inserted into the container). 
         [0028]      FIG. 5  illustrates a topping caddy  210  formed in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention. Topping caddy  210  comprises a tapered receptacle  212  and a flange  214  arranged externally about the tapered receptacle  212 . The tapered receptacle  212  includes an open wide end  216  and a closed narrow end  218 , and is sized to receive at least a dispensing end portion of a pastry bag through the wide end  216  which serves as an entrance end. Tapered receptacle  212  differs from counterpart structures of the previous embodiments in that it is frusto-conical in shape all the way up to wide entrance end  216 , without a cylindrical end portion at such end. Tapered receptacle  212  may include a frusto-conical portion  212 A and a cylindrical tip portion  212 B adjacent the closed narrow end  218 . The embodiment of  FIG. 5  is characterized by the fact that flange  214  is in the form of a hollow ring arranged peripherally about tapered receptacle  212  adjacent wide end  216 , whereby flange  214  enhances stability and buoyancy of the caddy and pastry bag combination when such combination is placed directly in a liquid heat transfer medium. 
         [0029]      FIG. 6  shows a topping caddy  300  formed in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention. Topping caddy  300  comprises a housing  302  defining a body portion  304  and a tapered receptacle  312  surrounded by the body portion. As in the previous embodiments, the tapered receptacle  312  is sized to receive at least a dispensing end portion of a pastry bag, and may include a frusto-conical portion  312 A, a cylindrical tip portion  312 B adjacent a closed narrow end  318 , and a cylindrical entranceway portion  312 C adjacent an open wide end  316 . Enclosed within body portion  304  is a freezable medium  306 , which may be delivered into the interior of housing  302  through a port  308  during manufacture. Port  308  may be sealed by a plug  310 . Housing  302  may be made of molded plastic or other suitable material. Freezable medium  306  may be a freezable gel, water, or other freezable medium. If medium  306  expands during freezing, care should be taken to allow space for expansion so that housing  302  is not damaged or cracked during freezing. Topping caddy  300  may be placed as a unit into a freezer prior to use. Once the freezable medium in caddy  300  is frozen, the caddy may be removed from the freezer and placed on a countertop or other food preparation surface for holding a pastry bag and keeping the pastry bag cool and clean during use. As will be appreciated from  FIG. 5 , body portion  304  of housing  302  may be configured such that topping caddy  300  is a stable freestanding unit when placed on a surface. 
         [0030]    In all embodiments, the depth and taper of the tapered receptacle may be selected with common pastry bag sizes in mind so that the dispensing tip is received within tip portion  12 B,  112 B,  212 B,  312 B with room to spare, and the sides of the pastry bag contact the walls of the tapered receptacle. In the first and second embodiments, the flange may be formed to a diameter that provides sufficient stability if the caddy and a pastry bag held thereby are placed in liquid. A flange diameter of at least twenty centimeters has been found suitable with respect to commercially available sixteen ounce pastry bags. 
         [0031]    While the invention has been described in connection with various exemplary embodiments, the detailed description is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular forms set forth. The invention is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents of the described embodiment as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention.