Abstract:
A product dispenser is used for compelling a flowable product from a package. The package is positioned within a container that may be coupled to a base member that slides in and out of a housing so that the container may function as a drawer. An extruder member compresses the package against the bottom wall to compel product therefrom. A retention device secures an end of the package in the container and prevents the package from becoming bunched up within the container. By doing so, the retention device helps ensure that the maximum amount of product is compelled from the package by the time the extruder member reaches its terminal position.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates generally to product dispensers, and more particularly, to a product dispenser for compelling product from a container.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Product dispensers for compelling a flowable product from a container are used in a wide variety of applications, such as the dispensing of condiments, toothpaste, adhesives, lotions, lubricants, and so on. These types of product dispensers typically include a container having a screw or worm gear positioned along its length, a package of flowable product received within the container, and a extruder member received upon the screw. As the extruder member travels from a second end of the screw to a first end of the screw, the package is compressed and its contents are extruded out of a spout located at an end of the package. By the time the extruder member reaches the first end of the screw, the spout will have dispensed almost all of the package&#39;s contents. The empty packages may then be removed from the container and the product dispenser may be refilled with a new package. These types of product dispensers offer a convenient and safe means of product handling that reduces the cost otherwise associated with complex product packaging.  
         [0003]     The packages used in flowable product dispensers may be in the form of a tube, packet, or any other type of deformable bag suitable for storing viscous commercial or industrial materials. Typically the package will be formed from a flexible material having one end closed and the other end joined to the spout or a neck supporting the spout. Although the spout may be received in a dispensing hole or some other sort of aperture at one end of the container, the closed end of the package is often left unsecured. Such an arrangement may present challenges when dispensing the product from the package. For example, rather than being flattened as the extruder member travels towards the first end of the screw, the package may shift towards the first end as well. This may cause the package to become “bunched up” within the container and ultimately annoy a user by dispensing unpredictable amounts of product. The bunching up of the package may also create waste by causing more product to be left in the package by the time the extruder member reaches a terminal position proximate the first end of the screw.  
         [0004]     Another occasional challenge associated with flowable product dispensers is that the extruder member may require many rotations of the screw or worm gear to travel a relatively short distance. To avoid unproductive time and fatigue on the part of the user, some manufacturers have produced electrically operated product dispensers. However, electrically operated product dispensers may have many moving parts and are typically not economical to manufacture or easy to repair.  
         [0005]     Therefore, a need exists for an improved product dispenser that uniformly compresses a package of product material. A need also exists for an improved product dispenser that is manually operated and inexpensive to make.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     The present invention provides a product dispenser for compelling a flowable product from a package. The package is positioned within a container that has a bottom wall, opposed first and second end walls, and opposed first and second side walls. The container may be coupled to a base member that slides in and out of a housing so that the container may function as a drawer.  
         [0007]     In one embodiment, extruder member travels from the second end wall to the first end wall to compress the package against the bottom wall and compel product therefrom. The product then exits the container through a dispensing tab positioned in the first end wall. The extruder member is driven by a drive member, which is releasably engaged in first and second axially aligned sockets that are associated with the first and second end walls, respectively. Once the extruder member reaches a terminal position proximate the dispensing tab and first end wall, the user may remove the drive member from the container and replace the deformed package. The drive member may then be re-engaged with the sockets to that the extruder member is once again positioned proximate to the second end wall. Thus, reverse travel of the extruder member may not be necessary.  
         [0008]     As the extruder member travels towards the first end wall, a retention device is used to secure the end of the package. The retention device prevents the package from being forced towards the first end wall and becoming bunched up within the container. By doing so, the retention device helps ensure that the maximum amount of product is compelled from the package by the time the extruder member reaches its terminal position. The retention device also helps maintain a more uniform flow of product from the package throughout the extrusion process.  
         [0009]     The present invention also contemplates a product dispenser that uses a manually operated roller to compress the package in the container. In one embodiment, the roller includes first and second guide members extending through slots that are positioned in the first and second side walls. The roller may also include a plurality of tips extending outwardly from the roller in a radial direction. To compel product from the package, a user rotates a handle that is coupled to one of the guide members. As the roller travels from the second end wall towards the first end wall, the tips are received in notches that are located on the bottom wall. In addition to keeping the roller aligned, the cooperation between the tips and notches helps limit movement of the package within the container. Like the retention device discussed above, this aspect of the invention helps ensure that the maximum amount of product is compelled from the package.  
         [0010]     These and other objects and advantages of the present invention shall be made apparent from the accompanying drawings and the descriptions thereof. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]     The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with a general description of the invention given above, and the detailed description given below, serve to explain the invention.  
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a product dispenser in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is a side view, partially in cross-section, of the product dispenser of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0014]      FIGS. 3A through 3C  are side views similar to  FIG. 2 , showing how the product dispenser of  FIG. 1  includes a removable container that slides in and out of a housing;  
         [0015]      FIG. 4A  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  4 A- 4 A of  FIG. 3B ;  
         [0016]      FIG. 4B  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  4 B- 4 B of  FIG. 3C ;  
         [0017]      FIG. 5  is a top view, partially in cross-section, of the product dispenser of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0018]      FIGS. 6A through 6E  are side sequential views illustrating the operation of a product dispenser having a retention device in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0019]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the retention device of  FIGS. 6A through 6E ;  
         [0020]      FIG. 8  is a side view, partially in cross-section, of a product dispenser in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0021]      FIG. 9  is a top view, partially in cross-section, of the product dispenser of  FIG. 8 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0022]     With reference to  FIG. 1 , a product dispenser  10  in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention is shown. Although the product dispenser  10  may be used to dispense condiments  12  from a plastic package  14 , those having ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the present invention may be used to dispense any other type of flowable product from a deformable package.  
         [0023]     The product dispenser  10  includes a container  16  that may be positioned within a housing  18 . Multiple dispensers  10  may be arranged in the housing  18 , but only one of the dispensers  10  will be described and shown in detail herein for simplicity. The container has a bottom wall  20 , opposed first and second end walls  22 ,  24 , and opposed first and second side walls  26 ,  28 . The end walls  22 ,  24  and side walls  26 ,  28  are preferably perpendicular to the bottom wall  20  and define a cavity in which the package  14  is held. The first end wall  22  may include a dispensing tab  30  in which an end of the package  14  is positioned to dispense condiments  12  on an item of food, such as a hot dog  32 .  
         [0024]     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the first end wall  22  includes a first socket  36  that has a biasing member, such as a spring  38 , positioned therein, while the second end wall  24  includes an aperture  44  that receives a second socket  46 . The first and second sockets  36 ,  46  are axially aligned in order to receive one of the first and second ends  50 ,  52  of an elongated drive member  54 , which is preferably a screw or worm-type gear having threads. An extruder member  56  coupled to the drive member  54  generally extends across the width of the container  16  and is used to compress the package  14  against the bottom wall  20 , as will be discussed in more detail below. Although the extruder member  56  shown in  FIG. 2  is configured as a block  58  that tapers to a rounded edge  60  slightly above the bottom wall  20 , it is appreciated that the present invention may equally apply to other types of extruder members.  
         [0025]     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , the second end wall  24  is configured to provide an aperture  64  slightly above the bottom wall  20 . More specifically, the second end wall  24  is preferably integral with the first and second side walls  26 ,  28  such that the second end wall  24  need not be supported by the bottom wall  20  and the aperture  64  may extend across a substantial portion of the second end wall  24 . When the package  14  is placed in the container  16 , a closed end  66  of the package  14  is received in the aperture  64  and wrapped below a portion of the bottom wall  20 .  
         [0026]     As shown in  FIGS. 3A through 3C , the container  16  may be removably supported by a base member  70  that slides in and out of the housing  18 . The base member  70  is typically a flat sheet of material having at least one lip  72  to prevent the container  16  from sliding off the base member  70  whenever the container  16  is pulled out of the housing  18 . Thus, the lip  72  may be flush with the first end wall  22  when the container  16  is properly positioned. In order to prevent the container  16  from sliding too far into the housing  18 , a retention device  76  may be coupled to the base member  70  closely adjacent to the second end wall  24 . The retention device  76  shown in  FIGS. 3A through 3C  is a curved piece of metal having an end portion  78  that is configured to pass through the aperture  64  and contact the bottom wall  20 . A motor  80  that drives the second socket  46  is also coupled to the base member  70 . More specifically, the motor  80  is supported by a motor mount  82  that is directly connected to the base member  72 .  FIG. 5  helps illustrate the arrangement of the elements within the housing  18 .  
         [0027]     In use, the package  14  is placed into the container  16  so that the closed end  66  extends through the aperture  64  in the second end wall  24  and wraps around a portion of the bottom wall  20 . When the container  16  is positioned on the base member  70 , the retention device  76  may serve a dual purpose. First, the retention device  76  may be used to prevent the second end wall  24  from sliding relative to the base member  70 . Second, the end portion  78  of the retention device  76  may be received in the aperture  64  to press the closed end  66  of the package  14  against the bottom wall  20  and thereby secure the package  14  in the container  16 .  
         [0028]     Meanwhile, the positioning of the container  16  also entails the second end  52  of the drive member  54  coming into contact with the second socket  46 . If the geometries of the second end  52  and second socket  46  are not aligned ( FIG. 4A ), the first end  50  of the drive member  54  compresses the spring  38  in the first socket  36  to permit the proper positioning of the container  16  regardless of the mismatch in geometries, as best shown in  FIGS. 3B &amp; 4A . When a user places an item of food below the dispensing tab  30  and presses a switch  84 , the motor  80  is activated via wires  86  to rotate the second socket  46  within the aperture  44  of the second end wall  24 . Because of the force exerted on the drive member  54  by the spring  38 , the second end  52  will be forced into the second socket  46  as soon as their geometries become aligned with one another. Such an arrangement rotatably couples the drive member  54  to the second socket  46 , as shown in  FIGS. 3C &amp; 4B .  
         [0029]     As the drive member  54  rotates, the extruder member  56  travels along the drive member  54  towards the first end wall  22 . Because there is little space between the extruder member  56  and bottom wall  20 , the package  14  is deformed and condiments  12  are compelled through a dispensing outlet  88  in the container via the dispensing tab  30 . Once the extruder member  56  reaches a terminal position proximate the first end wall  22 , the user may slide the container  16  out of the housing  18 , disengage the drive member  54  from the first socket  36 , and remove the empty package  14 . A second package may then be positioned within the container  16  to compel more condiment, and the drive member  54  may be re-engaged so that the second end  52  is received in the first socket  36 . Thus, the extruder member  56  is advantageously repositioned from its location upon the drive member  54  proximate the first end wall  22  to a position proximate the second end wall  24  without any reverse motion of the motor  80  to move the extruder member  56  in a reverse direction. Another example of the drive member  54  and its operation is shown in the present inventor&#39;s U.S. Pat. No. 6,318,596, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.  
         [0030]     With reference to  FIG. 6A , a product dispenser  110  in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention is shown. Like reference numbers are used to indicate like elements from the first embodiment discussed above. Thus, the product dispenser  110  is substantially identical to the product dispenser  10 , except for the retention device  114 . The retention device  114  is coupled to the base member  70  and positioned within the container  16 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , the retention device  114  has a plurality of teeth  118  disposed about openings  132 ,  134 . More specifically, the retention device  114  includes first and second flexible tabs  122 ,  124 , each having a plurality of teeth  118  disposed about respective openings  132 ,  134 . Although the first and second tabs  122 ,  124  are spaced apart from each other at the bottom wall  20 , the second tab  124  is angled towards the first tab  122  so that it extends through the opening  132 . The opening  134  of the second tab  124  is generally positioned so that the closed end  66  of the package  14  may be easily received in both openings  132 ,  134 . Furthermore, the second tab  124  includes a flap  136  beneath the opening  134  that is angled towards the second end wall  24 . The retention device  114  is particularly suited for use with a standard tube of toothpaste  14  or the like, although a wide variety of packages  14  are compatible with this invention.  
         [0031]     The operation of the retention device  114  is sequentially illustrated in  FIGS. 6A through 6E . As the extruder member  56  travels towards the first end wall  22 , it contacts the flap  136  and causes the first and second tabs  122 ,  124  to shift so that the closed end  66  of the package  14  is “crimped” between the openings  132 ,  134 . This crimping action, along with the teeth  118  in the openings  132 ,  134 , secures the closed end  66  of the package  14  as the extruder member  56  continues to travel towards the first end wall  22 . Thus, the crimp is maintained as the first and second tabs  122 ,  124  are pushed towards the bottom wall  20  by the extruder member  56 . By using the retention device  114  to retain the closed end  66  of the package  14 , the product dispenser  110  prevents the package  14  from being forced towards the first end wall  22  by the extruder member  56  and helps provide a more uniform compression of the package  14 .  
         [0032]     With reference to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , a product dispenser  210  in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention is shown. Like reference numbers are used to indicate like elements from the first embodiment discussed above. Like the other embodiments discussed above, the product dispenser  210  includes a container  216  that has a bottom wall  220 , opposed first and second end walls  222 ,  224 , and opposed first and second side walls  226 ,  228 . The first end wall  222  may include a dispensing tab  230  in which an end of a package  236  is positioned to dispense product therefrom. Moreover, the product dispenser  210  may even include a base member  240 , housing  242 , and retention device  246  that operate under the same general principles that were discussed in connection with the other embodiments.  
         [0033]     However, instead of using a drive member and extruder member to compress the package  236  against the bottom wall  220 , the product dispenser  210  further includes a cylindrical roller  250  that has a plurality of tips  252  projecting outwardly in a radial direction. In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the tips  252  extend outwardly from the roller  250  at two locations along its length. The bottom wall  220  is configured to provide two rows of notches  256  to accommodate the tips as the roller  250  travels towards the first end wall  222 . Also, the first and second side walls  226 ,  228  are configured to provide respective first and second slots  260 ,  262  to receive guide members  266 ,  268  that extend outwardly from the ends of the roller  250 .  
         [0034]     To compel product from the package  236 , a handle  270  connected to the guide member  266  is manually rotated. As the rotation of the handle  270  causes the roller  250  to travel towards the first end wall  222 , the tips  252  are received within the notches  256  to keep the roller  250  properly aligned within the container  216  and to secure portions of the package  236  within the container  216 . Because the guide members  266 ,  268  and slots  260 ,  262  maintain the roller  250  only slightly above the bottom wall  220 , the package  236  is compressed and its contents are forced out of the dispensing tab  230  as the roller  250  travels. Once the roller  250  reaches a terminal position proximate the first end wall  222 , the user may slide the container  216  out of the housing  242 , manually retract the roller  250  and remove it from the container  216 , and replace the empty package  236  with a second package. The guide members  266 ,  268  are then re-engaged with the first and second slots  260 ,  262  to reposition the roller  250  in the container  216 .  
         [0035]     While the present invention has been illustrated by the description of one or more embodiments thereof, and while the embodiments have been described in considerable detail, they are not intended to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is therefore not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and method and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the scope or spirit of the general inventive concept.