AU2005202605B2 - A disposable sealed canister adapted for holding a solution for injection - Google Patents

Description

55199 JOM:MN P/00/009 Regulation 3.2 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 ORIGINAL COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR AN INVENTION ENTITLED Invention Title: A DISPOSABLE SEALED CANISTER ADAPTED FOR HOLDING A SOLUTION FOR INJECTION Name of Applicant: ANTHONY BRIAN COPPINS Address for Service: COLLISON & CO. 117 King William Street, Adelaide, S.A. 5000 The invention is described in the following statement: 2 The present invention relates in general to canisters, capsules, sachets, pouches and the like for the storage of fluid or semi-fluid materials such as sauce and the like, which are to be injected or squirted onto or into 5 various kinds of food products. In particular, the present invention relates to an improved disposable canister sealed to hold a solution which is adapted to be hygienically injected into a food item or thereon through the use of a single hand of a user. 10 It has been known to provide containers for material having both low and high viscosity, such as semi-solid or semi-prepared liquid foodstuffs, with a dispensing feature. Traditionally, these particular containers, for example, plastic bottles and the like, contain a variety of sauces or similar such liquid or semi-fluid 15 material, which are injected into, or placed along certain food items to enhance or alter the tasting characteristics of such food products. Such containers are particularly prevalent in the field of sauce and other materials for use in fast food outlets and the like. Generally, these plastic like bottles are an elongated container body 20 having a dispensing opening or spout at the first end and a collapsible external wall at the other, which when pressed by a user causes the sauce or the like product to be squirted or sprayed from the bottle. Such containers or canisters are generally made of fairly rigid plastic and designed to be used for prolonged periods of time by a variety of 25 users. One concern with such containers is the seal provided between the spouts or openings and the main part of the container of which is holding the sauce or the like material to be extruded there from, often remains open for contact with the outside environment and such a poor 30 seal will allow moisture and air to pass into the container, causing contamination or spoilage of the material to be dispensed.

3 Additionally, this ineffective seal against the interior contents of the canister will ensure that the maximum amount of material to be dispensed will be less than the quantity placed into the container, as the 5 material will tend to dry up or become stuck to the container preventing it from exiting the spout when required. Often to provide for a more effective seal against the interior of such canisters and containers, is to place a separate cover or cap over the opening or spout. 10 While the sealing characteristics of such containers are adequate the two part construction raises the cost of the container. Additional factors which raise the cost of such containers, and make them less attractive, is also the requirement that it needs to be made of durable resilient material of large dimensions for consecutive repetitive use. 15 In order to overcome such problems more recently pouches or sachets have been prepared to act as kinds of capsules for holding the fluid that needs to be placed onto the food item. The problem with such pouches is that as they are made of soft collapsible material, they are unable to be placed into the food item to 20 which the fluid or the like needs to be dispensed or injected there into. What tends to happen is that the sauce or the like fluid rests on top of the food item rather than being injected into and form part of the food item. Hence, the desired tasting characteristics of the fluid with the contents of 25 the food item are not realised as the sauce or the like remains on the surface of the food rather than interacting and altering the taste sensation of the food item within. A further concern of such conventional soft plastic pouches is that in order for an effective seal the entire pocket or pouch needs to be 30 securely sealed by a retaining hem around its edges.

4 The only way in which this hem or pressed seal can be broken is to tear a portion of the periphery of the pouch or to peal of the covering to expose the contents. The problem with such an arrangement is that a pouch is not inherently 5 adapted to be gripped in one hand so that the fluid in which it has been held within the canister can be injected there from through the use of the one hand of a user. For such conventional sachets one hand is required to hold the pouch while the other hand or at least the users mouth is required to grab a 10 portion of the periphery of the article and tear it open to allow the contents to be dispensed therefrom. A problem with having to use two hands or a hand and mouth of a user in order to dispense the fluid held within the sachets is that the food item needs to be placed in a location while this task of dispensing the fluid is 15 taking place. Such a procedure can be particularly inconvenient especially at certain fast food outlets where there is a long queue with a very small and crowded retail outlet from which the food items are being sold. Hence, precious time is lost and the queues to the counter of such food 20 outlets dramatically increase, as users are forced to place the food item on the counter or the like to commence the ritual of using both hands to provide access for the contents of the sachet to be spread the sauce or the like over the food item. In some instances to overcome this problem sachets or pouches have 25 been provided made of slightly more rigid material which can be collapsed together and through the use of force provide for a means to which the held liquid can be forced out by deforming the structure of the sachet and creating an opening therein said sachet. Nonetheless, once again by the deformation of the structure the 30 container is not able to penetrate the food item, and hence the sauce or the other like material simply is placed along the food item rather than there into.

5 Hence, there are a variety of problems within the related art to the field of this invention for the dispensing of fluid or semi-fluid materials into 5 various food items. It is consequently an object of this invention, to provide a disposable dispensing container that is adapted to dispense its held contents through the use of a single hand of a user, such that any dispensing can also be injected into the food item when required. 10 A further object of the invention is to at least provide the public with an improved disposable dispensing container which minimises the use of two hands of a user and provides for better injectability of the held fluid or semi-fluid material of the container into a food item. A further object is to overcome or at least ameliorate some of the 15 disadvantaged and shortcomings of fluid or semi-fluid dispensing containers referred to above. Still further secondary objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a complete reading of this document. Accordingly there is a disposable dispensing container, adapted to hold 20 a fluid or semi-fluid material for the injection of said fluid or semi-fluid material into a food item, said container including: a resilient deformable body portion; a nozzle located at a first end of said body portion; an inherent sealing means integral with said nozzle; 25 such that when the container is in use, the body portion is deformed by pressure provided by the fingers and thumbs of a user, to force the held fluid or semi-fluid material within the container through the nozzle to 6 break the inherent seal integral with the nozzle, to allow the extrusion thereof of said fluid or semi-fluid material into a food item. An advantage of such an arrangement is that the fluid and/or semi-fluid material held within the container can be dispensed into the food item 5 through the use of a single hand. Advantageously, if a person is disabled or alternatively has to hold the food item to receive the fluid and/or semi-fluid material in the one hand, they can then use the other hand to apply pressure to the container so that the force created can break the inherent seal incorporated into the 10 nozzle to flow out therefrom not only onto the surface of the food but into the food item. As the sealing means in the nozzle is inherently incorporated therein, there is no need for separate parts to be withdrawn, broken, torn off, pulled, or screwed off from the container to allow the fluid material to 15 pass out the nozzle. Advantageously, the dispensing container is disposable and hence can be made of relatively cheap flexible deformable plastic or the like. In preference, the nozzle located at the first end of the body portion is characterized with a rigidity to allow said nozzle to penetrate the surface 20 of a baked food item or the like without collapsing. An advantage of such an arrangement is that at least the nozzle portion of the dispensing container is of such rigidity so that it can pierce or cut through basic food items, such as meat pies, found at fast food outlets, so as to move within the main central portion of the food. 25 By being able to penetrate the surface of the baked flour or the like, the sauce moves into the central area, for example, the meat portion of the pie allowing the required taste sensation. The whole concept of the fluid is to enhance the characteristics of the food item and this is not normally possible if it sits along the surface. By 30 being able to penetrate the surface of the food item the fluid is delivered 7 to that portion of the food item that requires to be in homogenous, or at least close thereto contact to get the required taste sensation. In preference, the inherent seal means involves a series of integral slots or slits which are located along a tip of the nozzle. 5 An advantage of this arrangement is that as the slots are integral with the tip of the nozzle as the force of the fluid or semi-fluid material pushes up from the main body portion of the container, these integral slits then peel open to allow the fluid and/or semi-fluid material to be dispensed. 10 In preference, the body portion is divided into discrete segments such that the pressurizing of a certain segment provides for a varying quantity of fluid and/or semi-fluid material to be dispensed or ejected from the disposable container. An advantage of such an arrangement is that the body portion of the 15 dispensing container can be designed so that the user pressurizes a certain portion so that only a certain amount of fluid or semi-fluid material can be dispensed onto the food item. Advantageously, as every individual will have different taste requirements, they are then able to individually decide on the quantity of 20 fluid or semi-fluid material to be delivered onto or into the food item from the disposable dispensing container. For example, if only a small quantity of fluid or semi-fluid material is required to be placed along or inserted into the food item, a certain upper defined portion could be pressurized so as to force the smaller 25 quantity or volume of fluid or semi-fluid up into the nozzle to force open the inherent sealing means. In other situations if the user requires a much larger quantity they may then decide to pressurize a lower portion of the container so as to force upwards a greater volume of fluid or semi-fluid material out of the nozzle on to the food item. 30 Advantageously, as the sachet is a disposable item it is only used once and hence when traditional containers are used using the one hand the 8 problem of having part of the food item remaining on the nozzle of such conventional containers no longer exists. The disposable dispensing container means the one use of the product on the food item avoids the situation, for example, of inserting a nozzle 5 into a pie, obtaining a portion thereof and then subsequently inserting that same nozzle contaminated with meat into another food item such as a pasty. This cross contamination of food items detracts from the original flavour characteristics of the food item, and hence it is to be avoided. 10 In preference the body portion of the disposable container can take on a variety of shapes for aesthetic appearance. Advantageously, the shape of the body portion in combination with the nozzle could take the form of a cricket bat or the like in some instances but still maintain the same functionality. 15 Also preferred embodiments would include indicia and the like promotional signage placeable on the external surface of the disposable container to provide visual point of contact with the purchasing public. Advantageously, certain food outlets or companies associated with food items could compliment their outlets or food products with such 20 disposable containers by placing their representative get up on said containers. For example, a particularly well known pie company could enhance the promotion and development of their product by also supplementing their product, or providing at the same time, a disposable dispensing 25 container identified on the external surface with the same get up that appears on their pie products and the like. For a better understanding of this invention, it will now be described in relation to preferred embodiments, which shall be described with the assistance of drawings wherein: 30 9 Figure 1 is a perspective view of the disposable dispensing container according to one preferred embodiment of this invention; Figures 2a and 2b are a side view and front view of the dispensing container. 5 Figures 3a and 3b are top views of the nozzle of the container in separate open and sealed positions. Figures 4a and 4b are side views of figures 3a and 3b wherein figure 4b is showing a fluid and/or semi-fluid material being ejected from the container. 10 Figure 5 shows a preferred embodiment of the invention with respect to the inherent sealing means of the nozzle. Figure 6 shows a preferred embodiment of the use of the disposable dispensing container being inserted into a pie product. Figure 7 shows a preferred embodiment of the invention whereby the 15 body portion is designed so as to allow varying quantities of the contained fluid and/or semi-fluid material to be ejected. Figures 8a to 8g show a variety of further preferred forms of the body portion of the disposable dispensing container. Referring to the illustrations now in more detail where there is a 20 disposable dispensing container 10 having a main body portion 12 that at a first end 14 terminates into a nozzle 16. The main body portion 12 has a second end 18 characterized by a pressed seal 20 to close the disposable dispensing container 10 at the other end. 25 The nozzle 16 has a tip 22. The tip 22 is characterized by representing the terminating point of the series of slits 24 that define an inherent sealing means for an opening of the disposable dispensing container 10 to allow fluid and the like 26 to be ejected therefrom.

10 As best shown in figures 3 and 4 the tip 22 is surrounded by the slits 24 and as the fluid or semi-fluid material 26 contained within the dispensing container 10 is forced up through the nozzle 16 into the tip 22, the slits 24 are pried open so as to allow the fluid material 26, in a preferred 5 embodiment sauce or the like, to be ejected from the container 10. Figure 3a shows the slits 24 in the closed position while figures 3b and 4b show the slits being forced apart into the open position generally shown at 28, so as to allow the sauce 26 to be ejected from the container 10. 10 Figure 5 shows an alternative embodiment of this feature of the inherent sealing means defined and integral to the nozzle 60 by a simple hem 30 that runs longitudinally along opposing sides of the nozzle 60. The hem 30, much like the beak of a bird, can be pried open by the force of the fluid, in this embodiment shown as 32 forcing its way 15 through the tip 34. Figure 6 shows the disposable dispensing container in use whereby a single hand of a user 36 by way of his or hers fingers and thumb 38 provides general pressure to the resilient deformable body portion 12. The tip 22 of the dispensing container 10 is able to penetrate the surface 20 40 of the food item, in this preferred embodiment shown representingly as a meat pie 42. With the tip 22 of the dispensing container 10 under the top surface 40 of the pie 42 and now contained within the meat portion 44 of the pie 42, pressure can be applied by the fingers and thumbs 38 of the user 36 to 25 the resilient deformable body portion 12, of the container 10 such that the sauce 26 forces its way up the nozzle 16 to split open slits 24 and to be ejected therefrom the opening 28 into the meat contents 44 of the pie 42. 30 Figure 7 shows a further preferred form of the invention whereby in this 11 instance disposable container 50 has the bottom body portion generally shown at 52 divided into segments 54 and 56. When in use the portion 54 is pressurized and the fluid within the container 50 forces its way out through the nozzle 58 through the tip 60. 5 In this embodiment as the body portion 52 is only deformed at the region 54 only a certain small quantity of the fluid or semi-fluid material held in the container 50 is ejected from the tip 60. When portion 56 is pressurized the force at this end of the body portion 52 will allow for a greater quantity of the fluid material to be forced up 10 into the nozzle 58 out through tip 60 into or along the food item to which the sauce or the like is being applied. Figures 8a through to 8g provide for a variety of different configurations and forms that the disposable dispensing container 70,72,74,76,78 and 80 can take. 15 Nonetheless, all of these preferred forms remain faithful to the functionality of the dispensing container 10 described above. What is central is that the main body portion has a terminating section which includes a nozzle that has a tip that includes an inherent seal means which is prized open, once force is applied to the resilient 20 deformable body portion of the dispensing container 10. Each nozzle appearing in the described forms presented in 8a through to 8g are characterized by having a rigidity to enable penetration of the respective nozzles in through the surface of various baked food items so that when the fluid or semi-fluid material held within the container is to 25 be dispensed, it can be injected below the surface level of the food item that is being treated with the fluid and/or semi-fluid material. It is to be appreciated by a person skilled in the art, that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the preferred embodiments described above, without departing from 30 the spirit or scope of the invention as described.

12 The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive of the invention. Particularly, it can be appreciated that a variety of forms of shape can be made available for the body portion. It is also to be appreciated that a variety of ways also 5 exist to provide the inherent sealing means to the nozzle to allow the fluid and/or semi-fluid material to be passed there through. It is the intention of this description to incorporate all such arrangements that effect the functioning of the disposable dispensing container described above.

Claims (7)

1. A disposable dispensing container, adapted to hold a fluid or 5 semi-fluid material for the injection of said fluid or semi-fluid material into a food item, said container including: a resilient deformable body portion; a nozzle located at a first end of said body portion; an inherent sealing means integral with said nozzle; 10 such that when the container is in use, the body portion is deformed by pressure provided by the fingers and/or thumbs of a user, to force the held fluid or semi-fluid material within the container through the nozzle to break the inherent seal integral with the nozzle, to allow the extrusion thereof of said fluid or semi-fluid material into a food item. 15

2. The disposable dispensing container of claim 1 wherein the nozzle located at the first end of the body portion is characterized with a rigidity to allow said nozzle to penetrate the surface of a baked food item without collapsing. 20

3. The disposable dispensing container of claim 1 or 2 wherein the inherent seal means involves a series of integral slots or slits which are located along a tip of the nozzle. 25

4. The disposable dispensing container as in anyone of the above claims wherein the body portion is divided into discrete segments such that the pressurizing of a certain segment provides for a varying quantity of fluid and/or semi-fluid material to be dispensed or ejected from the disposable container. 30

5. The disposable dispensing container as in anyone of the above claims wherein the body portion of the disposable container can take on a variety of shapes for aesthetic appearance.

6. The disposable dispensing container of claim 5 wherein the 35 shape of the body portion in combination with the nozzle could take the form of a cricket bat, baseball bat or any one of the representations shown in figure 8 in the accompanying description herein. 14

7. The disposable dispensing container as in anyone of the above claims wherein indicia and/or promotional signage is presented on the external surface of the disposable container to provide a visual media with the purchasing public. 5 Dated this 16th day of June 2005 ANTHONY BRIAN COPPINS By his Patent Attorneys COLLISON & CO