Patent Publication Number: US-8978918-B2

Title: Topping caddy

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/965,122 filed Dec. 10, 2010, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/950,438 filed Dec. 5, 2007. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     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, desserts, 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 
     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. 
     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. 
     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. There is also the risk that the contents of the pastry bag may warm, resulting in reduced quality or spoilage of the contents. 
     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 
     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. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a caddy apparatus that keeps the contents of a pastry bag chilled during use. 
     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. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a caddy apparatus that can sit vertically or horizontally. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a caddy kit having a vessel and a cone. 
     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. 
     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. 
     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. 
     In another embodiment of the invention, an apparatus for holding a pastry bag comprises a caddy including a tapered receptacle and a flange arranged externally about the tapered receptacle. The tapered receptacle is sized to receive at least a dispensing end portion of the pastry bag and includes a longitudinal axis. The apparatus may also comprise a container including a plurality of walls defining an interior of the container, wherein the plurality of walls includes a first wall having a generally planar external surface, a second wall adjacent the first wall, the second wall having a generally planar external surface, and a third wall adjacent the second wall. The third wall includes an external surface and an opening, the opening being configured to allow insertion of the tapered receptacle into the interior of the container. The flange may be configured to engage a lip portion or a flat portion of the external surface of the third wall to limit insertion of the tapered receptacle into the interior of the container. The flange or the external surface of the third wall, or both the flange and the external surface of the third wall, may be configured to cause the longitudinal axis of the tapered receptacle to extend in a direction non-orthogonal to the planar external surface of the first wall. By arranging the flange or external surface of the third wall, or both the flange or external surface of the third wall, non-orthogonal to the first wall allows for the tapered receptacle to be inclined relative to a support surface (e.g. a tabletop) whether the container is placed on its bottom (the first wall) or on its side (the second wall). 
     The planar external surface of the second wall may be orthogonal to the external surface of the first wall. Further, the tapered receptacle may be conically shaped and include a tip portion arranged to receive a dispensing tip of the pastry bag, the tip portion having a non-tapered configuration and a closed end, such that the dispensing tip of the pastry bag does not contact the receptacle. The container may further comprise a plurality of feet protruding from the external surface of each of the first wall and the second wall to inhibit sliding when the container is placed on a support surface with either the first wall or the second wall facing the support surface. 
     The flange may be configured to hermetically seal the tapered receptacle to the container so that freezable medium placed within the container does not spill or leak. The tapered receptacle may be sized to receive at least a majority of the pastry bag as measured along the longitudinal axis. 
     In another embodiment of the invention, a caddy for holding a pastry bag comprises a receptacle having an open top, a closed bottom, an internal surface connecting the top and the bottom, and a central longitudinal axis. A plurality of fins project from the internal surface of the receptacle toward the central longitudinal axis. Each of the plurality of fins has a length in a direction of the central longitudinal axis, a height in a direction perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis, and a thickness in a direction substantially orthogonal to the height and the length. A flange is arranged externally about the receptacle. A container removably receives the receptacle. The plurality of fins are sized to define a tapered framework of contact ridges for contacting the pastry bag to reduce the surface area of contact between the pastry bag and the internal surface of the receptacle. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       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: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a topping caddy formed in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         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; 
         FIG. 3  is a side view showing the topping caddy of  FIG. 1  used in combination with an ice water bath; 
         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; 
         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; 
         FIG. 5  is a sectional view of a topping caddy formed in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a sectional view of a topping caddy formed in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a sectional side view showing an apparatus formed in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus comprising a topping caddy in combination with a container; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the topping caddy of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 9A  is a perspective view of the apparatus of  FIG. 7  wherein the container is placed on its bottom; 
         FIG. 9B  is a view similar to that of  FIG. 9A , however the container is placed on its side; 
         FIG. 10  is a sectional side view showing an apparatus formed in accordance with a sixth embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus comprising a topping caddy in combination with a container; 
         FIG. 11  is an exploded view of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view showing an apparatus formed in accordance with a seventh embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus comprising a topping caddy having fins in combination with a container; 
         FIG. 13  is an end view of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 12 ; 
         FIG. 14  is a side view of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 12 ; 
         FIG. 15  is a sectional view taken generally along the line I-I in  FIG. 14 ; 
         FIG. 16  is a top view of the topping caddy component of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 12 ; 
         FIG. 17  is a sectional view of the topping caddy taken generally along the line II-II in  FIG. 16 ; 
         FIG. 18  is a detail view of a portion of the topping caddy shown in  FIG. 17 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     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. 
     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. 
     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. 
     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 . 
     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. 
       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  114 B with a peripheral rim  248  of the container. 
     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. 
     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). 
       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. 
       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. 
     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. 
       FIG. 7  shows an apparatus  400  formed in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the present invention. Apparatus  400  generally comprises a topping caddy  410  and a container  340  for holding an ice water bath. The topping caddy  410 , shown in greater detail in  FIG. 8 , comprises a tapered receptacle  412  and a flange  414  arranged externally about the tapered receptacle  412 . As in previous embodiments, the tapered receptacle  412  is sized to receive at least a dispensing end portion of a pastry bag, and may include a frusto-conical portion  412 A, a cylindrical tip portion  412 B adjacent a closed narrow end  418 , and an open wide end  416 . Tapered receptacle  412  also has a longitudinal axis A. 
     Container  340  includes a plurality of walls that define an interior  345  of the container. The plurality of walls includes a first wall  341  having a generally planar external surface, a second wall  342  adjacent the first wall  341 , the second wall  342  having a generally planar external surface, and a third wall  343  adjacent the second wall  342 . The planar external surface of the second wall  342  may be orthogonal to the external surface of the first wall  341 . The third wall  343  has an opening  344  surrounded by a lip  347  on an external surface of the third wall. The opening  344  is configured to allow insertion of the tapered receptacle  412  into the interior  345  of the container. Flange  414  is configured to engage lip  347  of third wall  343  to limit insertion of the tapered receptacle  412  into the interior  345  of container  340 . Flange  414  may also be configured to engage a flat portion of third wall  343  near lip  347  to limit insertion. As may be understood, container  340  includes one or more additional walls  346  to enclose interior  345  such that interior  345  is accessible only through opening  344 . 
     The external surface of third wall  343  supporting lip  347 , or the flange  414 , or both, may be configured to cause the longitudinal axis A of tapered receptacle  412  to extend in a direction non-orthogonal (neither normal nor parallel) to the planar external surfaces of first wall  341  and second wall  342 . For example, as depicted in  FIG. 7 , the external surface of third wall  343  may be non-orthogonal to the external surface of first wall  341 , and lip  347  may assume the tilted orientation of third wall  343 . By engaging flange  414  on lip  347 , which is non-orthogonal to the planar external surfaces of first wall  341  and second wall  342 , tapered receptacle  412  may be inclined relative to a support surface (e.g. a tabletop) whether container  340  is placed on its bottom (first wall  341 ) as depicted in  FIGS. 7 and 9A  or on its side (second wall  342 ) as depicted in  FIG. 9B . As another example, not depicted, an axis of flange  414  may be angularly offset from the axis A of tapered receptacle  412 , i.e. the axis of flange  414  may be non-coaxial and nonparallel with axis A of tapered receptacle  412 . In this example, third wall  343  and lip  347  could be parallel to first wall  341 , but tapered receptacle  412  would nevertheless be tilted or inclined relative to the external surfaces of first wall  341  and second wall  342 . 
     The embodiment of  FIG. 7  is characterized by the fact that flange  414  is smaller than previous embodiments and includes threads  414 A to threadably attach caddy  410  to container  340  via mating threads  347 A provided on lip  347 . Alternatively, the flange  414  may be configured to hermetically seal with the lip  347  without the use of threads, for example be a mating press-on configuration involving resilient members. Flange  414  may also includes ribs  414 B for improved gripping to make caddy  410  easier to screw onto and off of container  340 . 
     Container  440  may further comprise a plurality of feet  348  protruding from the external surface of each of the first wall  341  and the second wall  342  to allow the caddy to be placed on its first wall  341  (as shown in  FIG. 9A ) or on its second wall  342  (as shown in  FIG. 9B ) to inhibit sliding of the container  340  on a support surface  490  (e.g. a tabletop, countertop, or shelf). The feet  348  may be placed only on first wall  341  and second wall  342 , and not on any of the other walls of the container, to signify to the user the intended resting positions of apparatus  400 . 
     The flange may be configured to hermetically seal caddy  410  to container  340  so that a freezable medium (not shown) placed within the container does not spill or leak. The tapered receptacle  412  may be sized to receive at least a majority of a pastry bag as measured along longitudinal axis A. 
     Caddy  410 , and container  340 , may each be molded as respective integral units from plastic, for example high-density polyethylene (HDPE). 
       FIGS. 10 and 11  show an apparatus  500  formed in accordance with a sixth embodiment of the present invention. Apparatus  500  generally comprises a topping caddy  510  and a container  440  for holding an ice water bath. Topping caddy  510  includes a tapered receptacle  512  and a flange  514  arranged externally about tapered receptacle  512 . As in previous embodiments, the tapered receptacle  512  is sized to receive at least a dispensing end portion of a pastry bag. However, receptacle  512  has a rectangular shape and includes a frusto-pyramidal portion  512 A, a rectangular tip portion  512 B adjacent a closed narrow end  518 , and a rectangular entranceway portion  512 C adjacent an open wide end  516 . As may be seen, the frusto-pyramidal portion  512 A connects rectangular entranceway portion  512 C with rectangular tip portion  512 B, and flange  514  may be arranged externally about rectangular entranceway portion  512 C adjacent open end  516 . 
     Container  440  also has a rectangular shape defined by walls  442  and an opening  444  providing access to an interior  445  of the container. Container  440  further includes a lip  447  about opening  444 . As best seen in  FIG. 10 , tapered receptacle is receivable through opening  444  into container interior  445 , and flange  514  is configured to slidably engage and mate with lip  447  to seal caddy  510  onto container  440 . 
     Caddy  510 , and container  440 , may each be molded as respective integral units from plastic, for example high-density polyethylene (HDPE). 
       FIGS. 12-18  show an apparatus  600  formed in accordance with a seventh embodiment of the present invention, wherein apparatus  600  generally comprises a topping caddy  610  and a container  540  configured to hold an ice water bath or other substantially liquid cooling medium. Topping caddy  610  comprises a receptacle  612  and a flange  614  arranged externally about the receptacle  612 . As in previous embodiments, receptacle  612  may be tapered. Receptacle  612  is shown as having an open wide end  616  and a closed narrow end  618 , and is sized to receive at least a dispensing end portion of a pasty bag. Open end  616  and closed end  618  are connected by an internal surface  617 .  FIGS. 15 ,  17  and  18  show that flange  614  may be integrally formed with receptacle  612  adjacent open end  616 , and may be threadably coupled to container  540  in the same manner described in a connection with the fifth embodiment shown in  FIGS. 7-9B . Receptacle  612  may be characterized by multiple external taper angles. As depicted in  FIG. 17 , receptacle  612  may have a first taper angle θ 1  adjacent open end  616 , a second taper angle θ 2  as the receptacle transitions toward closed end  618 , and a third taper angle θ 3  adjacent closed end  618 . By way of non-limiting example, first taper angle θ 1  may be 6°, second taper angle θ 2  may be 50°, and third taper angle θ 3  may be 8°. The provision of multiple taper angles gives receptacle  612  a “stepped” configuration allowing more space for heat transfer medium within container  540 . The closed end  618  of receptacle  612  may be rounded. 
     The present embodiment is similar to the fifth embodiment shown in  FIGS. 7-9B , however in the present embodiment, the receptacle  612  has a plurality of fins  615  projecting from internal surface  617  of the receptacle toward a central longitudinal axis A of the receptacle. Each of the fins  615  has a length in a direction of central longitudinal axis A, a height in a direction perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis, and a thickness in a direction substantially orthogonal to the height and the length directions. In the present embodiment, the length and height are each greater than the thickness, and the length is greater than the height. 
     Fins  615  form a tapered framework of contact ridges  619  for contacting a pastry bag. Fins  615  reduce the surface area of internal surface  617  in contact with the pastry bag. Consequently, the pastry bag is easier to remove from topping caddy  610  and insert back into the topping caddy during use because there is less frictional resistance or “sticking”. This helps the user maintain a clean working area and minimize cross-contamination between the pastry bag and the receptacle. Additionally, the plurality of fins  615  may be configured to help prevent a dispensing end of the pastry bag from contacting the closed end  618  of receptacle  612 . 
     As best seen in  FIGS. 15 and 17 , the plurality of fins  615  may have a height profile that varies along the length of tapered receptacle  612 . For example, fins  615  may define first fin portion  651  wherein the respective contact ridges  619  emerge from internal surface  617  and converge toward one another at a first linear rate defined by fin angle θ 4  as the plurality of fins  615  extend longitudinally toward closed end  618  of receptacle  612 . Fins  615  may further define a second fin portion  652  adjacent first fin portion  651  wherein the respective contact ridges  619  converge toward one another at a second linear rate defined by fin angle θ 5  as the plurality of fins continue to extend longitudinally toward closed end  618  of the receptacle  612 . In the embodiment shown, the ridges of first fin portions  651  converge at a greater linear rate than the ridges of second fin portions  652 . For example, fin angle θ 4  may be 35° and fin angle θ 5  may be 8°. In the present embodiment, fins  615  extend to meet with closed end  618  of the receptacle, however the fins do not necessarily have to meet the closed end of the receptacle. The respective contact ridges  619  emerge from internal surface  617  at a location spaced longitudinally from open end  616 . Fins  615  may be integrally formed with receptacle  612  by plastic molding techniques. 
       FIG. 18  is an enlarged detail view of a portion of the receptacle generally within circled area B in  FIG. 17 .  FIG. 18  shows the detail of threads on the flange, which are used to attach the receptacle to mating threads on the container. In this regard, the present embodiment is similar to the fifth embodiment shown in  FIGS. 7-9B . 
       FIG. 16  is a view looking into open end  616  of receptacle  612 . This view shows the plurality of fins  615  being angularly spaced about the central longitudinal axis A at regular intervals. Of course, fins  615  may be irregularly spaced about the central longitudinal axis A. At least three fins  615  should be provided to reduce problematic sticking mentioned above. Applicant has found that using exactly four fins  615  gives sufficient benefit without adding too much cost and complexity to the product and the mold. 
     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.