EP2720581A1

EP2720581A1 - Condiment dispenser

Info

Publication number: EP2720581A1
Application number: EP12800591.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Bader Abdullah AL KALOOTI; Alain Adel HONEIN
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-06-14
Filing date: 2012-06-01
Publication date: 2014-04-23
Also published as: US20140299629A1; WO2012172412A1; CN103732107A; CA2839401A1; EP2720581A4

Abstract

A condiment dispenser (100) is provided that includes a body (102) having an internal space divided into compartments, and a plurality of condiment cartridges (110) that can be inserted into the compartments of the condiment dispenser (100). The condiment dispenser (100) further includes a removable bottom (106) and a top (104) containing circular openings (128). Condiments can be dispensed by opening one or more dispensing nozzles (108) and applying manual force to compress the body of the condiment dispenser (100) to dispense a condiment from each open nozzle (108).

Description

CONDIMENT DISPENSER

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0601] The present technology relates to dispensers for condiments, and more specifically to refiiiab!e dispensers for storing and dispensing a plurality of condiments.

BACKGROUND

[0002] There are many types of foods on which people put condiments, including tor example hamburgers, hot dogs, and other meat products served on buns, Normally, both in restaurant and domestic settings, such condiments tend to be stored and served in separate containers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION j¾003| The present technology relates to refiilabie dispensers for storing and. dispensing a plurality of condiments,

[0004] In one aspect, a condiment dispenser is provided that includes a body having a plurality of segmented hollow internal compartment, a top connected to the body that is configured to dispense a plurality of condiments therethrough, and a bottom connected to the body. In at least one example, the condiment dispenser also includes A plurality of disposable condiment cartridges, where each disposable- condiment cartridge is configured to be inserted into one of the segmented hollow internal compartments of the refilSable compressible body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] Specific examples have been chosen for purposes of illustration and description, and are shown in the accompanying drawings, Forming a part of the specification. [0006] Figure 1 illustrates one example of a condiment dispenser of the present technology.

[0007] Figure 2 an exploded view of the condiment dispenser of Figure 1 .

[0008] Figure 3 Hlastrates a bottom perspective view of one example of a body for a condiment dispenser of Figure 1.

[0009] Figure 4 illustrates a top perspective view of the body for a condiment dispenser of Figure 2.

[0010] Figure 5 Illustrates one example of a bottom for a condiment dispenser of Figure 1 ,

[001 1] Figure 6 illustrates one example of a dispensing nozzle for a condiment di spenser of Figure 1.

[0012] Figure 7 illustrates one example of a disposable condiment cartridge for a condiment dispenser of Figure i .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0013] Condiment dispensers of the present technology provide a single container that can dispense a plurality of condiments. The condiment dispensers dispense each condiment separately, and selectively dispense any one or more of the condiments. One example of a condiment dispenser of the present technology is illustrated in Figures I through 7, In accordance with the illustrated example, a refUlable compressible bottle can be provided that has three segmented hollow compartments where disposable condiment cartridges can be inserted and removed. The top of the bottle can be composed of three independent color coded nozzles designed to squeeze condiments individually or simultaneously.

[0014] As shown in Figures I and 2, condiment dispenser 100 includes a body 102, a top 104. a bottom 1.06, .a plurality of dispensing nozzles 108. and. a plurality of condiment cartridges 1 1.0 that are inserted into the body j 0.2.

[0015] Figures 3 and 4 illustrate one example of a body 102 for a condiment dispenser 100 of the present technology. The body .102 can be made of any suitable material, and is preferably a plastic, material. The body cm be formed in any suitable manner, such as by molding or extrusion. The body 102 is compressible, such that a force applied by a person squeezing the body 102 can be used to cause condiments stored within the body 102 to be dispensed from the condiment dispenser 100,

[0016 ] In the illustrated example, the body 102 includes a wall having an outer side 1 12 and an inner side 1 14 that defines a space. The space defined by the inner side 3 14 of the body 102 can be any suitable shape, and is illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 as being cylindrical. The body 102 also includes a dividing wall Π 6 connected to internal, wall 1.14, which divides the space into a plurality of segmented hollow internal compartments 1 18. in the illustrated example, the dividing wall 1 16 divides the space within the body 1Q2 into three equally sized segmented hollow internal, compartments 1 18.

[0017] The body 102 is refi liable, in that each condiment cartridge 1 10 can be inserted into and removed from the body 102. in order to facilitate insertion and removal of condiment, cartridges Π 0, at least one of the top 104 and the bottom 106 of the condiment dispenser 100 can be removably connected to the body 102. In the illustrated example, the bottom 104 is removably connected to the body 102 using a threaded connection, such that the bottom 106 screws onto the body _.102. in this example, the inner side 1 14 of the body 102 comprises threads 120 to which the bottom 106 can be connected.

[0018] One example of a bottom 106 that can be used in a condiment dispenser 100 of the present technology is illustrated in Figure 5, In the illustrated example, the bottom 106 includes a threaded upper connecting portion 122, which connects the bottom 106 to the body 102. and a lower portion 124. Preferably, the lower portion 124 includes a flat bottom 126. so that the condiment dispenser 100 can stand upright when placed on a generally horizontal surface, -such as a table top. The bottom 106 can be made of any suitable material, and is preferably made of a plastic material, which can be the same or different from the material from which the body 102 is made.

[0019] In an alternative example, the top 104 can be removably connected to the body 102, such as by a threaded connection of the type shown in the illustrated example. However, in the illustrated example, the top 104 is formed integrally with the body 102. The top 104 can be made of any suitable materiel, and is preferably made of a plastic material. In the i llustrated example, the top 104 is made of the same plastic materia! as the body 102. The top 104 top can include an opening into each of the internal compartments of the body. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the top 304 includes three circular openings 128.

[0020] As shown in Figures I and 6. a piurahiy of dispensing nozzles 108 can be connected to the top 104 of the condiment dispenser 100. In the illustrated example, each one of three dispensing nozzles 1.08 includes a- clip-on mechanism 130, which can be used to attach the dispensing nozzle 108 to the top 104 of the body 102. Each dispensing nozzle. 108 can also include a twist function, which enables the dispensing nozzle 108 to open and close by moving up and_. down, respectively, while remaining attached to the body 102, Each dispensing nozzle 108 can include an opening 1.32 at its tip 134. The opening of each nozzle 132 can differ in diameter to accommodate dispensing condiments of various viscosities, so that given the same squeeze pressure the flow of condiments can be balanced. Each dispensing nozzle 108 can fee made of any suitable- material,, and^' is preferably roade of a plastic material, which can be the same or different from the material from which the body 102 Is made,

[0021] As shown In Figure 7, the condiment cartridges 110 that can be inserted into and removed from the condiment dispenser 100 can each include a storage section 136 and a dispensing tip 138. Each condiment cartridge 110 can be filled with a condiment, such as, for example, mustard, mayonnaise, ketchup, relish, barbeque sauce, or hot sauce. The condiment can be stored in the storage section 136, and can be dispensed out of the condiment cartridge 1 10 through the dispensing tip 138. Each condiment cartridge in configured to be slidab!y inserted into one of the internal compartments of the body 102 of the condiment, dispenser 100, with the dispensing tip 138 protruding through an opening in the top 104 and into a nozzle 108. For example, when a condiment cartridge 1 10 is fully inserted into the body 102, the dispensing tip 138 ea.n penetrate the inside of the nozzle 108 to a point where the storage section 136 of the condiment cartridge 1 10 contacts the top 104 of the body 102 and the dispensing tip 138 contacts tip of the nozzle .108. As shown in Figures I and 2, when the plurality of condiment cartridges ί 10 are Inserted into their respective internal compartments, the bottom 106 can be connected to the body 102 to prevent the condiment cartridges 1 ] 0 from failing out of the condiment dispenser 100.

[9022] in at least one example, the condiment cartridges 1 10 and the internal compartments 1 18 can be color coded, to facilitate identification and matching each condiment cartridge 110 with the internal compartment having the nozzle 108 configured to dispense a particular condiment. Accordingly, each, internal compartment of the body 102 can have a different color, and each condiment cartridge 1 10 can have a color that corresponds to the color of the internal compartment 1 18 of the body 102 into which the condiment cartridge 1 10 is designed to be inserted. The nozzles 108 can also be color coded, to provide an indication to the user of the condiment that can be dispensed from each nozzle 108. in some examples, the color coding of the condiment cartridges 1 10, internal compartments 1 18_S and nozzles 108^' are coordinated. For example, a condiment cartridge 1 10 containing a condiment can have a selected color, which is a visual indicator of the condiment contained therein. The internal compartment 118 of the body 102 into which the condiment cartridge 1 10 is intended to be inserted can have the same selected color, and. the nozzle 108 associated with the internal compartment 118 of the body 102 into which the condiment, cartridge 1 10 is intended to be inserted can also have the same selected color. In some examples, the selected color to indicate ketchup can he red, the selected color to indicate mayonnaise can be white, the selected color to indicate mustard can be yellow, the selected color to indicate relish can be green, and the selected color to indicate barbeque sauce can be brown.

[9023] In practice, after condiment cartridges 1 10 containing condiments are inserted into the condiment dispenser 100, and the condiment dispenser 100 is assembled, squeeze pressure can be applied by manual force, and the pressure within the condiment dispenser can faeilitate the flow of a condiment from any condiment cartridge 1 10 that has its nozzle 108 open. All of the nozzles 108 can be twisted open for a simultaneous squeeze of ^'.all the condiments contained within the condiment dispenser. Alternatively, a user can choose which nozzle 108 or combination thereof to open depending on their preference, [0024] When a condiment cartridge 1 10 is depleted of its contents, the condiment, therein having been used up, a user can open the bottom 104, remove the depleted condiment cartridge 1 10, and insert a new condiment^' cartridge 1 10. in this manner, the condiment dispenser 100 is refiiiable, and each condiment can be refilled at the pace at which that particular condiment is depleted.

[0025] In some examples, condiment, cartridges 1 10 can be sold individually, or in packages of multiple condiment cartridges 1 1.0, Each condiment cartridge 1 10 cart include, any labeling required for distribution and sale, such as an ingredient list and nutritional information. In one example, condiment cartridges 1 10 can contain condiments made by various suppliers, which can be purchased separately and according to the personal consumption habits and tastes of a user. In such an example, after the initial purchase of the condiment dispenser 100* the user can avoid having to pay higher prices for the packaging associated with conventional condiment containers, and can instead pay lower prices for condiment cartridges 110, which use. less packaging.

[0026] in some examples, the fact that the bottle is composed of a plurality of independent condiment cartridges 1 10 can allow a manufacturer to utilize their existing operational set up to fill and package the respective condiments into condiment cartridges 1 10 without the need for significant process alteration or costly and complex logistical solutions. In such examples, the Various condiments can be filled in cartridges that are designed to meet the respecti ve filling processing requirements, such as temperature, while using existing machines. Once a condiment cartridge 1 10 is filled, if can be sealed, packaged and labeled at the designated condiment facility, in some examples, filled condiment cartridges 1 10 can be shipped from their respective facilities to a central location where they can be combined into the condiment dispenser.

Example

[0027] A body including a wall having an outer side and an inner side that defined cylindrical space, a dividing wall connected to internal wall that divided the cylindrical space into three equally sized segmented hollow internal compartments, and a top having a circuiar opening into each of the internal compartments, was made having the following specifications; Diameter: 7.7 cm

Height; 153 cm

Diameter of top openings: 2,3 cm each

Diameter of bottom opening: 5.7

Material: polypropylene

[9028] A screw-on bottom was made having that following specifications:

Diameter: 6.6 em

Height: 2.5 era

Material: plastic

[9029] Three cone shaped clip-on dispensing nozzles were made having the following specif] cations;

Base Diameter: 2.1 cm

Tip Diameter: 0.8 em

Height: 2.9 cm

Material: hard plastic

[9030] Three disposable condiment cartridges were made having the following specifications;

Total Height of cartridge: 18.4 cm

Height of .Dispensing Tip: 2.7cm

Diameter of opening at the top of Dispensing Tip: 0.6 cm

Material : polypropylene

[003] J The shape of each disposable condiment cartridge was generally triangular with the largest angle being about 120 degrees, and the other two angles being about equal to each other. The side opposite the 120 degree angle (hypotenuse) was curved to form an arc equivalent to about one third of a circle. The edges of the two smaller angles were slightly curved and had a specific- design so that once all three cartridges were -placed. adjacent to one another, they came together to form a cylindrical fit (all th irds of a circle combined).

[9031] Each of the disposable condiment cartridges was placed in one of the -segmented hollow internal compartments - of the body, with the dispensing tip of each disposable condiment cartridge extending through a circular opening in the top of the body. The screw-on bottom was then attached to the body, arid a clip-on nozzle was attached to the di spensing tip of each disposable condiment cartridge.

[9032] From, the foregoing, It will be appreciated that although specific examples have been described -herein for purposes of illustration various modifications may be made -without deviating from the spirit or scope of this disclosure. It is therefore intended that the foregoing detailed description be regarded as illustrative, rather than limiting,, and that it be understood that it is the following claims, including all equivalents, that are intended to particularly point out and distinctly claim the claimed subject matter.

Claims

What is claimed is;

1 , A condiment dispenser comprising: a body that includes a wall having an outer side and an inner side that defines a space, a dividing wall connected to internal wall that divides the space into a plurality of segmented ^'hollow Internal compartments, a top connected to the body, the top having an opening into each of the interna] compartments; and a bottom connected to the body,

2, The condiment dispenser of claim I , wherein at least, one of the top or the bottom is removably connected to the body,

3, The condiment dispenser of claim 1, further comprising a condiment cartridge msertahiy received by an internal compartment of the body, the condiment cartridge comprising a storage section, and a dispensing tip.

4, The condiment dispenser of claim % wherein each condiment, cartridge contains a condiment in the storage section of the condiment cartridge,

5, The condiment ^' dispenser of claim 3, wherein each condiment cartridge further comprises a removable cover attached to an inlet, through which a condiment can be placed in the storage section of the condiment cartridge .

6, The condiment dispenser of claim 3, further comprising a dispensing nozzle connected to the dispensing tip of the condiment cartridge.

7, The condiment dispenser of claim 1 , wherein each internal compartment comprises a different color.

8. The condiment dispenser of claim 5, further comprising one condiment cartridge insertabiy received into each internal compartment of the body, wherein each condiment cartridge comprises a color that corresponds to the color of the internal compartment of the body Into which the condiment cartridge is inserted.

9. The condiment dispenser of claim L wherein the dividing wall connected to internal wall divides the Space into three segmented hollow interna! compartments.