Patent Abstract:
The present invention discloses a container having a cavity for dispensing a paste and a cavity for another material. In one aspect, a first cavity for a comestible paste resides in an area between a hollow piston and a top section having a dispenser. The top section and piston optionally have corresponding male and female threads in their respective cylindrical sections. The paste can be dispensed by slidably advancing the piston towards the dispenser. In an optional embodiment, the threads can then be engaged to rotatably advance the piston towards the dispenser to dispense additional paste. A comestible seasoning or other material can be disposed in the hollow piston.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This patent application is a national stage patent application filed under 35 U.S.C. §371, claiming priority to International Serial No. PCT/MX2007/000077, filed on Jun. 22, 2007, which claims the benefit of U.S. Ser. No. 11/669,335, filed on Jan. 31, 2007, entitled “Method and Apparatus for Dispensing Paste-Like Substances,” the technical disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
         [0002]    This application is also being filed as a continuation-in-part of co-pending U.S. Ser. No. 11/669,335, filed on Jan. 31, 2007, entitled “Method and Apparatus for Dispensing Paste-Like Substances,” the technical disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0003]    Not Applicable 
       THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
       [0004]    Not Applicable 
       INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC 
       [0005]    Not Applicable 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    1. Technical Field 
         [0007]    The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for dispensing a paste-like substance from a first cavity and can optionally dispense another substance from a second cavity. 
         [0008]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0009]    Piston-based dispensing containers are known in the art. For example, Kaplan (U.S. Pat. No. 3,472,423) discloses a compartmentalized dispensing container capable of dispensing a plurality of independently stored substances in such a manner so as to homogenously administer the substances. Nielsen (U.S. Pat. No. 4,323,177) discloses a tube-shaped container with an inner piston. An axial force is provided by a piston rod. Otto, Sr. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,074,833) discloses a tube-shaped container having a conical-shaped end and a conically-shaped piston. A threaded rod is coaxially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the container and through the center of the piston. One end of the threaded rod is secured to a knob, which when turned creates a rotationally-generated axial force that causes a circular member to advance thereby dispensing the contents. 
         [0010]    While the prior art discloses a piston for ejecting a paste-like material from a container, the prior art fails to disclose a container that can be used to store another non-paste like material such as a powdered or granular food topping that can be dispensed separately from the paste material. The prior art also fails to disclose a container that permits a paste to be first dispensed by direct application of an axial force to the piston followed by an axial force generated by rotation. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    In one aspect, the proposed invention is a container having a first cavity for ejecting a food-based paste and a second cavity for a seasoning. The container comprises a hollow piston having a cone-shaped end and a cylindrical end-cap receiving end. A larger, similarly shaped top section having a cone-shaped section with a dispenser is adapted to encapsulate the cone-shaped portion of the hollow piston. A region of the piston encapsulated between the top section and the cone-shaped portion of the hollow piston defines a first cavity for a paste. 
         [0012]    In one aspect, a recessed endcap having one or more removable sections engages the cylindrical end of the hollow piston defining a second cavity therein. A rotatable piston spinner having one or more openings can be attached to the endcap. Upon removing the removable sections of the endcap, the piston spinner can be rotated to permit or prevent the release of contents from the second cavity. The outer perimeter of the top section can comprise a pair of flange members to facilitate dispensing of the paste that occurs by slidably advancing the piston towards the dispenser. To maximize the amount of paste dispensed from the container, the hollow piston can optionally comprise a set of threads about the outer periphery that are adapted to receive a corresponding set of threads disposed on the inner periphery of the top section once the piston has slidably advanced a pre-determined distance into the top section. The remaining paste is then forced through the dispenser by twisting the engaged threaded sections to rotatably advance the piston. The above as well as additional features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following written detailed description. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is an exploded view of the dual-compartment paste dispensing container in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional side view of the dual-compartment paste dispensing container depicted in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a top perspective view of the dual-compartment paste dispensing container in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a bottom perspective view of the dual-compartment paste dispensing container depicted in  FIG. 3 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0018]      FIG. 1  is an exploded view of the dual-compartment paste dispensing container in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. As used herein, like numerals indicate like elements throughout the specification. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the container comprises a hollow piston  110  comprising a cone-shaped portion  112  that terminates as a plane  119  at the narrow end and a cylindrical section  114  that terminates at a piston flange  111 . In one embodiment, the plane  119  is parallel to the dispenser  128 . In the embodiment shown, the piston  110  comprises male outer threads  115  about the outer periphery of the piston  110 . Similarly, the top section  120  comprises female inner threads  125  designed to threadably engage the male threads  115 . The outer male threads  115  and inner female threads  125  are optional and, in one embodiment, the piston  110  comprises a cylindrical section  114  having no male or female threads. Similarly, in one embodiment, the top section  120  comprises a cylindrical section  124  having no male or female threads. The piston  110  is sized such that the piston  110  can slidably engage the top section  120  and slidably advance the piston  110  towards the dispenser  128 . In the embodiment shown, once the piston  110  has advanced towards the dispenser  128  a pre-determined distance, the piston  110  and top section  120  can threadably engage via the external threads  115  on the piston  110  and the inner threads  125  on the top section  120 . The piston  110  and/or top section  120  can then be twisted to rotatably advance the piston  110  towards the dispenser  128 . As used herein, the term “pre-determined distance” is the length of the cylindrical section  114  from the top external thread  115  to the largest diameter of the cone-shaped portion  112 . 
         [0019]    Similar to the hollow piston  110 , the top section  120  comprises a cone-shaped section  122  and a cylindrical section  124 . In one embodiment, the top section  120  comprises an outwardly extending flange  126  about the circumference near the terminal end of the cylindrical section  124 . The outwardly extending flange  126  can reside anywhere on the cylindrical section  124  of the top section  120 . For example, in the embodiment shown, the outwardly extending flange  126  is located below the inner threads  125  at the terminal end of the cylindrical section  124 . In an alternative embodiment (not shown), the outwardly extending flange is located between the inner threads  125  and the cone-shaped section  122 . 
         [0020]    The cone-shaped section  122  comprises a dispenser  128  at the narrow, terminal end of the top section  120 . In one embodiment, the dispenser  128  comprises one or more spokes  127 . Spokes  127  can be used provide additional rigidity to the dispenser  128 . A snap-fit or threaded removable cap  150  can be used to cover the dispenser  128 . In the embodiment shown, the removable cap  150  is decorative in nature and resembles a lava flow from a volcano. Other decorative or non-decorative caps can be used in other embodiments. 
         [0021]    The endcap  130  comprises one or more scored, removable openings  132   a    132   b . In one embodiment, the endcap  130  comprises an endcap flange  136  about its circumferential periphery, which helps to facilitate the endcap  130  being press-fit into the hollow piston  110 . Consequently, when then endcap  130  is disposed in the hollow piston  110 , the endcap flange  136  mates with the piston flange  111 . A rotatable piston spinner  140  having one or more openings  142   a    142   b  can be attached to the endcap  130 . In one embodiment, the piston spinner  140  is snap-fit to the endcap  130 . 
         [0022]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional side view of the dual-compartment paste dispensing container depicted in  FIG. 1 . The top section  120  slidably engages about the outer periphery  116  of the piston  110  to form a first cavity  210 . The first cavity  210  is defined by the area between the cone-shaped portion  112  of the hollow piston  110  and the top section  120 . The first cavity  210  can be used for storing a paste-like substance. As used herein the terms “paste” and “paste-like substance” are synonymous and are used interchangeably. As used herein, a paste-like substance is used to define materials which have viscosity and flow characteristics which are comparable with those of a non-Newtonian fluid. Examples of paste-like substances include, but not limited to cheese spread, cream cheese, peanut butter, fruit paste, frostings, glazes, and doughs. 
         [0023]    In one embodiment, a second cavity  220  exists in the hollow piston  110  and is defined by the area within the inner periphery  118  of the hollow piston  110  and the endcap  130 . A powdery or granular-like substance including, but not limited to, sugar, ground nuts, decorative sprinkles, herbs, spices, and salt can be placed into the second cavity  220 . Alternatively, a non-granular material can be stored in the second cavity  220  and a user can use the thumb hole  137  to easily remove the endcap  130  and access the material. The material in the second cavity  220  can be any material and is preferably a material that complements the material in the first cavity  210 . For example, peanut butter can be the paste-like material in the first cavity and jelly can be placed in the second cavity  220 . Although many embodiments of the present invention utilize a piston  110  that is hollow, such embodiment is only necessary if a second cavity  220  is desired. 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , to dispense paste in the first cavity  210  shown in  FIG. 2 , a user&#39;s thumbs can be placed opposite one another on the endcap flange  136  while the user&#39;s index fingers are placed on the top section  120  outwardly extending flange  126 . In this configuration, the operator can then slidably advance the piston  110  towards the dispenser  128  to dispense the paste. As the thumbs and index fingers approach one another as the piston  110  is slidably advanced towards the dispenser  128 , the angle between the index fingers and the thumbs decreases, and it becomes more difficult for the user to provide the requisite force to slidably advance the piston  110 . Consequently, in one embodiment, once the piston  110  has slidably advanced a pre-determined distance, the inner threads  125  can engage the outer threads  115  and the piston can be twisted to rotatably advance the piston  110  towards the dispenser until the cone shaped section  112  of the piston  110  approaches the cone-shaped section  122  of the top section  120 . Such design advantageously dispenses more of the paste-like substance from the first cavity  210  than could be otherwise dispensed without the threads  115 ,  125 . In one embodiment, the piston  110  and top section  120  do not have threads. 
         [0025]      FIG. 3  is a top perspective view of the dual-compartment paste dispensing container in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 4  is a bottom perspective view of the dual-compartment paste dispensing container depicted in  FIG. 3 . Referring to  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , in one embodiment, the piston flange  111  comprises an arch  117  to create a thumb hole  137  that allows the consumer to press down on and remove the endcap flange  136 . Such embodiment can facilitate re-fill of the second cavity. In one embodiment, as best depicted by  FIG. 4 , the piston spinner  140  can freely rotate in the clockwise or counterclockwise position as shown by the arrows to reveal a removable opening (not visible) on the endcap  130  below. Thus, the piston spinner  140  can be rotated as desired to permit or prevent the release of contents from the second cavity. 
         [0026]    In one embodiment, the present invention comprises a method for dispensing a paste-like substance. To dispense the paste, the dispenser  128  is slidably advanced a pre-determined distance down the cylindrical section  114  of the hollow piston  110  in the direction indicated by the arrows depicted in  FIG. 3 . In one embodiment, the internal threads  125  and the external threads  115  are threadably engaged, and the piston  110  and top section  120  are twisted to rotatably advance the piston and dispense additional paste. 
         [0027]    There are several advantages provided by the present invention. One advantage is that the pre-determined distance can be varied as desired. For example, if a relatively high viscosity paste (e.g. a paste that is not easily dispensed) is used in the first cavity, it may only be possible for a person to slidably advance the piston for a short distance. The present invention, however, permits the pre-determined distance that the piston is slidably advanced to be shortened to compensate for this scenario. Thus, in one embodiment, the pre-determined distance can be relatively short and a majority of the piston movement can occur by twisting the top section and piston after the threaded sections have been engaged. Consequently, the present invention can be used to permit people to dispense high viscosity pastes that are resistant to flow. Further, in one embodiment, the pre-determined distance can be adjusted to permit the elderly or young children to better dispense a paste-like substance from a container. 
         [0028]    Another advantage of the present invention is that because there is no axial member within the hollow piston, the hollow piston can be used to as a second cavity to store a granular food topping that can be dispensed separately from the paste material. In one embodiment, the present invention, the first cavity can be used to store a fruit paste and the second cavity can be used to store a colored or uncolored sugar-based topping. 
         [0029]    While this invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1