Abstract:
The present invention relates to a cap for a dispenser and a dispenser for a food product that can flow at room temperature such as syrup, honey, chocolate sauce, butterscotch sauce, cream and the like. The dispenser features a dispenser cap removably connected to a container. The dispenser cap has a first piece and a second piece. The first piece compliments to the second piece so that the two pieces fit together but may also be easily separated for cleaning. The present invention includes methods of assembling and disassembling the cap.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a dispenser for a food product that can flow at room temperature such as syrup, honey, chocolate sauce, butterscotch sauce, cream and the like, wherein the dispenser includes a pivotal cap that is easily cleanable by removing the cap and separating its parts. The present invention further includes methods for assembling and disassembling the same. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0004]    Dispensers for syrup and the like are used in homes, restaurants and food service facilities to store and easily pour food products such as syrup, honey, sauces, cream and the like. Known dispensers, often referred to as “syrup” dispensers, generally include a glass or plastic container for syrup or the like and a removable cap that is relatively easy to hold and simultaneously actuate to dispense syrup. The cap is often a metal cap that typically has a handle for the user to grasp and a lid operatively connected to the cap such that it is blocking the opening. In the most common known syrup dispenser, the lid generally further includes a hinge and a lever. In use of this known dispenser, the lever is depressed such that the hinge flexes allowing the lever to move downwardly, thereby pulling the lid back toward the handle and exposing a portion of the opening. The syrup dispenser may then be tipped down such that the syrup within the container flows out of the exposed portion of the opening through the cap. 
         [0005]    Known syrup dispensers have many drawbacks. First, as syrup is very sticky, syrup builds up between the joint of the lid and the opening edges making it difficult to move the lid and unattractive to view. Known syrup dispensers may only be disassembled up to the point of removing the lid from the container. It is very difficult to clean known syrup dispensers because the syrup gets trapped between the interlocking parts. Once syrup residue builds up it is often impossible to adequately remove with a rinse of soapy water. Often the residue needs to be further scrubbed, which is often difficult or impossible based on the residue location and the dispenser. Further, the common use of glass containers and metal caps in many known syrup dispensers increases the price of the dispenser. 
         [0006]    Therefore, it will be appreciated that there is a need for a dispenser for syrup and the like that is inexpensive and attractive. It will be further appreciated that there is also a need for such a dispenser that is easy to disassemble and clean. The present invention provides improvements which address these and other limitations associated with the prior art. 
       SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0007]    The present invention provides a dispenser and methods of assembling and disassembling the same. The dispenser includes a cap having pivotally connectable first and second pieces and a biasing mechanism. The first piece has a top portion, at least one catch protruding downwardly from the top portion and a stopper extending outwardly from the top portion and a lever. The lever actuates pivotal movement of the stopper between first and second positions when the first piece is pivotally connected to the second piece and force is applied to the lever. The second piece preferably includes a plate, a side wall extending upwardly around the plate, a product aperture in the plate and a spout channel. When the stopper is in a first position, the stopper blocks the spout channel. When the stopper is in a second position, the spout channel is generally unobstructed by the stopper such that product can flow out of the spout channel. In preferred embodiments, the biasing mechanism is positioned such that it creates a force biasing the stopper toward the second position; and wherein the first piece is disengagably or removably securable to the second piece. In preferred embodiments the present invention includes a dispenser including the dispenser cap of the present invention and a container operatively connectable to the cap. 
         [0008]    One object of the present invention is to provide a dispenser that is inexpensive and attractive. It is another object of the present invention to provide a syrup dispenser that has a separable two-piece cap that is easily cleanable. The present invention achieves these and other objectives by providing a syrup dispenser cap having a first piece and a second piece. The first piece corresponds to the second piece so that the two pieces fit together but may also be separated for cleaning. 
         [0009]    The first piece has a top, extending outwardly from the top is a stopper that mates with the spout in the second piece to form a seal. The first piece preferably further includes a ridge, the ridge is sized and configured to fit snuggly within a side wall of the second piece such that a seal is formed between the top of the first piece and the side wall when the first piece is interconnected with the second piece. The first piece further includes at least one securing member extending generally downward from the top. The securing members preferably each have a foot. When the first piece is interconnected to the second piece the securing mechanisms protrude through catch apertures in the plate of the second piece. 
         [0010]    In order to removably connect and assemble the cap of the present invention, each catch of the first piece are aligned with the catch apertures of the second piece. Then, the first piece is pressed down until the ridge of the first piece underneath the lever contacts a spring or biasing member connected to the second piece such that a biasing force is applied to the lever in the upward direction. The first piece is further pushed down until the biasing force of the spring is overcome and each foot snaps through the catch apertures, the stopper mates with the spout channel and the pivots mate with the grooves. When joined, the first piece and the second piece form a cap of the present invention. 
         [0011]    In operation, a user depresses the lever such that the ridge enters the recess of the handle. The biasing force of the spring may be easily overcome by the user&#39;s thumb such that the stopper end of the first piece is raised and the spout channel is no longer obstructed. To aid in this motion, the pivots rotate within the groove. Once the spout channel is unobstructed, syrup can flow from a product aperture in the plate of the second piece to the spout. Syrup is contained away from an air inlet and the spring by a dividing wall. The dividing wall further protects an air inlet from being clogged. Any syrup remaining in the cap will drain back into the container through the product or catch apertures. The first and second pieces of the cap of the present invention may be separated or disassembled by gently pulling the two pieces in opposite directions. Once the two pieces have been separated, the interior of the cap may be thoroughly cleaned with ease. 
         [0012]    The syrup dispenser cap of the present invention may be used in conjunction with a variety of containers known in the art for storing syrup or similar food products. In preferred embodiments, the second piece will further include a base having a screw-top interior. The container may be made of glass, plastic or the like and may be operatively connected to the dispenser cap in a screw-top fashion or the like. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    In the drawings, in which corresponding reference numerals and letters indicate corresponding parts of the various embodiments throughout the several views, and in which the various embodiments generally differ only in the manner described and/or shown, but otherwise include corresponding parts; 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is an elevated perspective view of one embodiment of the dispenser  10  of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the dispenser  10  of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a plan view of the back of the end of the cap  12  for the dispenser  1   0  of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the back end of cap  12  of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is a side view of the cap  12  of  FIGS. 3 and 4 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is a elevated perspective view of a second piece  16  of the cap  12  shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the bottom of a first piece  14  of the cap  12  shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 8  is a bottom plan view of the first piece  14  of the cap  12  shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 9  is a bottom plan view of the second piece  16  of the cap  12  shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 10  is a bottom plan view of the assembled cap  12  of  FIGS. 3-5  showing the second piece  16  of the cap  12  being held between the thumbs and the forefingers in a manner that allows the thumbs of the holder&#39;s left and right hands to force respective downwardly protruding catches  46  toward the spout  24  in order to disengage the first piece  14  of the cap  12  from the second piece  16 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 11   a  is a partially cutaway side view of the cap  12  of  FIGS. 3-5  as seen from the line  11 - 11  of  FIG. 6 , showing the cap in a first, closed position; 
           [0025]      FIG. 11   b  is a partially cutaway side view of the cap  12  of  FIGS. 3-5 , similar to that shown in  FIG. 11   a , but showing the cap in a second, open position; 
           [0026]      FIG. 12   a  is a partial, side view of the dispenser  10  of  FIG. 1 , showing the dispenser  10  in a pouring orientation and the cap  12  in a first, closed position; and 
           [0027]      FIG. 12   b  is a partial, side view of the dispenser  10  of  FIG. 1 , showing the dispenser  10  in a pouring orientation and the cap  12  in a second, open position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0028]      FIGS. 1-2  illustrate a dispenser  10  of the present invention. The dispenser  10  includes a cap  12  having a pivotally connected first and second pieces  14 ,  16 . The first piece is biased toward a first closed position, when engaged with the second piece  16 , preferably by a compression spring  62 , however, it will be appreciated that other biasing mechanisms could be used. The second piece  16  has a base  52  that is removably connected to a container  18 . In preferred embodiments, the base  52  and container  18  have corresponding spiral ridges  20 ,  20 ′ such that they may be removably secured (see also  FIGS. 2 and 9 ). It is within the container  18  that a food product such as syrup, honey, sauces, cream, half and half and the like are stored. Preferably, the container  18  is made out of a plastic material suitable for food contact. More preferably, the container is made out of thermoplastic material such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene, and the like or most preferably, polycarbonate. The shape and size of the container may be any of a variety of numerous shapes and sizes as desired. In preferred embodiments, the cap  12  further includes a name plate  28  to identify the contents of the dispenser  1   0 . 
         [0029]      FIGS. 3-5  illustrate the preferred cap  12  of the present invention. As previously mentioned, the cap  12  has a first piece  14  and a second piece  16 . The second piece  16  has a spout  24  from which syrup  26  or the like will flow under the force of gravity (see also  FIG. 12   b ), when the dispenser  10  is in a pouring orientation and the first piece  14  and the stopper  36  are in the second, open position. The two pieces  14 ,  16  removably interlock such that the first piece  14  may swivel on pivots  30  retained within grooves  50  on either side of the second piece  16 . The pivots  30  are retained in the grooves  50  by catch feet  46  within the cap  12 , which will be described in detail below. The first piece  14  further includes a handle  22  for grasping and a lever  42  that actuates movement from a first closed position and a second closed position of the first piece  14  of the cap  12  (see a), which will be discussed in detail below. Preferably, the cap  12 , with the exception of the spring  62 , is made of a thermoplastic material suitable for food contact, more preferably the cap is made out of polypropylene, nylon, acetal copolymers, polyethylene and the like or, most preferably, polypropylene. 
         [0030]    Referring now to  FIG. 6 ,  FIG. 6  shows a preferred embodiment of the second piece  16  or bottom  16  of the cap  12  of  FIGS. 3-5 . The second piece  16  has a base  52  having a generally hollow interior  53  except for a plate  69 , a notched ridge  71  having a support structure  73  and a spiral ridge  20  sized and configured to mate with the spiral ridge  20 ′ of the desired container (see  FIG. 2 ).  FIG. 6  also shows a product aperture  68  in the plate  69  of the second piece  16 . Syrup within the container (not shown) may flow between the container  18  (see  FIGS. 1-2 ) and the spout  24 . Preferably, the cap  12  of the present invention further also includes an air inlet  56  which provides for the movement of air (not shown) between the cap  12  and the container  18  (see also  FIG. 12   b ) when the product aperture  68  is blocked by flowing syrup (not shown). 
         [0031]      FIGS. 7 and 8  depict a preferred embodiment of the first piece  14  of the present invention and  FIGS. 6 and 9  depict a preferred second piece  16  of the present invention. The preferred first piece  14  has a top  34 , extending outwardly from the top  34  is a stopper  36  that mates with a spout channel  58  of the second piece  16  to generally form a seal. The first piece  14  further includes an inner wall  38  sized and configured to fit snuggly within a side wall  60  of the second piece  16  such that generally a seal is formed between the top of the first piece  34  and the side wall  60  when the first piece  14  is interconnected with the second piece  16 . The first piece  14  has a dividing wall  40 . The dividing wall  40  generally prevents syrup from passing to the back of the cap  12  keeping the air inlet  56  and biasing mechanism or spring  62  clean. Any syrup remaining in the cap  12  will drain back into the container  18  (see also  FIG. 12   b ) through the product or catch apertures  68 ,  70 , respectively. When the first piece  14  is interconnected to the second piece  16 , the dividing wall  40  rests against or at least proximate to seats  72  of securing members  74  that extend from the top of the first piece  34 . 
         [0032]    The first piece  14  further includes catches  44  extending generally downward from the top  34  and the separating wall  45 . Each catch  44  has a foot  46 . When the first piece  14  is interconnected to the second piece  16  the catches  44  protrude through catch apertures  70  in the plate of the second piece  69 . The feet  46  frictionally grasp the plate  69  to detachably secure the first piece  14  to the second piece  16 . 
         [0033]    In order to removably connect the first piece  14  to the second piece  16 , the catches  44  are aligned with the catch apertures  70 . Then the first piece  14  is pressed towards the second piece  16  until the inner wall  38  of the first piece underneath the lever  42  contacts the spring  62  connected to the second piece  16  such that a biasing force is applied to the lever  42  in the upward direction. In preferred embodiments, the spring  62  is connected to the second piece  16  on a post  64  and further reinforced with a support  66  to keep the spring in place. The first piece  14  is then further pushed until the biasing force of the spring  62  is overcome and the feet  46  of the catch  44  snap through the catch apertures  70 , the stopper  36  mates with the spout channel  58  and the pivots  30  mate with the grooves  50 . When joined, the first piece and the second piece  14 ,  16  form the cap  12  of the present invention. 
         [0034]      FIG. 10  illustrates a method of disassembling the cap  12 . First, the base  52  is gripped by the thumbs and forefingers on each hand and then the catch feet  46  are pushed toward the spout  24  and the unobstructed portion of the catch aperture  70  such that the feet  46  pop through the catch apertures  70 , thus disengaging the first piece  14  from the second piece  16 . While the cap  12  is assembled, the catch feet  46  grip the plate  69  to retain the pivots  30  within the groove  50  against the force of the biasing mechanism  62  (See also  FIG. 2 ). When the catch feet  70  are unsecured to the second piece  16 , there is nothing to hold the first piece  14  onto the second piece  16  and the two pieces  14 , 16  may be separated (see also  FIG. 2 ). Once the two pieces  14 ,  16  have been separated, the interior of the cap  12  may be thoroughly cleaned or inspected with ease. 
         [0035]    Now referring also to  FIGS. 11   a,    11   b,    12   a  and  12   b  showing the cap  12  of the present invention in a first, closed position in  FIGS. 11   a  and  12   a  and in a second closed position in  FIGS. 11   b  and  12   b.  While in the closed position, the biasing force of the spring  62  pushes the lever  42  upwards such that the stopper  36  is in a downward position blocking the spout channel  58  (see also  FIG. 2 ). The preferred biasing mechanism or spring  62  can be a spring wire compression spring and the like made of a material that will product the biasing force such as stainless steel, music wire, copper, elastomeric material and the like. 
         [0036]      11   b  and  12   b  show the cap  12  of the present invention in a second, open position. To open the cap  12  of the present invention, the biasing force of the spring  62  may be overcome by the depressing the lever  42  downwardly such that the spout  24  opens (see also  FIG. 2 ). To aid in this motion, the pivots  30  rotate within the groove  50  so that the first piece  14  tilts thereby opening the spout  24 . As the first piece  14  pivots with respect to the second piece  16 , the dividing wall  40 , provides a fulcrum against the seats  72  that support the first piece  14  as it pivots. Once the stopper  36  is raised and the syrup dispenser  10  is tilted down, syrup  26  located within the container  18  can flow form the product aperture  68 , through the spout  24  and out of the cap  12 . In this embodiment, the handle  22  has a recess  72  sized and configured to receive the lever  42  when the lever  42  is depressed. 
         [0037]    Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described herein, the above description is merely illustrative. Further modification of the invention herein disclosed will occur to those skilled in the respective arts and all such modifications are deemed to be within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.