FR3063978A1 - DISTRIBUTION DEVICE - Google Patents

Abstract

A condiment dispensing device comprising a housing and at least two parts containing condiments, wherein the condiment containing portions comprise individual dispensers with dispensing mechanisms; characterized in that the housing comprises an elongated housing defining at least one internal volume with a dispenser at a first end and a closed second end.

Description

© Publication number: 3,063,978 (to be used only for reproduction orders) (© National registration number: 17 00272 ® FRENCH REPUBLIC

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY

COURBEVOIE © Int Cl ⁸ : B 65 D 8/00 (2017.01), B 65 D 85/72, 25/38, 83/76

A1 PATENT APPLICATION

©) Date of filing: 16.03.17. © Applicant (s): LEFORT DAVID — FR. (30) Priority: @ Inventor (s): LEFORT DAVID. ©) Date of public availability of the request: 21.09.18 Bulletin 18/38. ©) List of documents cited in the report preliminary research: The latter was not established on the date of publication of the request. (© References to other national documents ® Holder (s): LEFORT DAVID. related: ©) Extension request (s): (© Agent (s): LEFORT DAVID.

(U4) DISTRIBUTION DEVICE.

A condiment dispensing device comprising a housing and at least two portions containing condiments, wherein the portions containing condiments include individual dispensers with dispensing mechanisms; characterized in that the housing comprises an elongated housing defining at least one internal volume with a distributor located at a first end and a second closed end.

FR 3 063 978 - A1

I

DISTRIBUTION DEVICE

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a dispensing device, in particular a device for dispensing several fluids; more particularly, but not exclusively, a device for distributing condiments.

Technological background

A growing interest in food is widespread in many societies.

In particular, many people may wish to eat standard foods according to their own style or range of taste. For example, many users may wish to add condiments to tailor-made food, even for ready meals such as burgers or hot dogs.

There are three standard condiments for such foods, and others, namely, tomato sauce, mayonnaise, and mustard. It can be problematic to keep all three condiments handy conveniently for use as required by individual users seeking their own combinations.

State of the art

US 8,616,390 (KOUNTOTSIS) discloses a bottle comprising: a body portion having a plurality of partition walls extending from a base portion to a plurality of connecting regions; a first chamber for containing a first liquid; a second chamber for containing a second liquid; a third chamber for containing a third liquid; and a removable cap; wherein a height of the plurality of partition walls is less than an overall height of the body portion and the plurality of connecting regions are configured to be a maximum height of the plurality of partition walls.

US 5,882,574 (GEISINGER) discloses a multi-compartment plastic container which includes an injection molded finish having a circumferential wall and at least one diametrical wall dividing the finish into at least two passages and an extruded and blow molded body attached to said finish and providing at least two compartments communicating with said passages. The container is produced by injection molding of a plastic finish having a circumferential wall and at least one diametrical wall dividing the finish into two or more passages, the extrusion of a plastic tube with the wall of the tube integral from the circumferential wall of the finish and the diametrical wall, the closing of a blow mold around the tube and the blowing of air into the tube through the finish up to the limits of the blow mold.

US 5,804,227 (DEARDURFF et al.) Discloses multi-chamber containers with a dispenser / metering portion which are blow molded as a single piece. Each chamber can then be fitted with dip tubes with a dip tube fitting forming a seal in the transition from the container body to the dispenser / dispenser part. The separating strips in the container which form the multi-chamber container continue in and through the dispenser / dispenser part. The container body strips are so thick that they flex when a compressive force is applied to the walls of the container. This compression force circulates the liquid in each chamber of the container body upwards through the dip tubes and in the dispenser / doser part.

The need to overcome the problems encountered on existing devices has led to the present invention.

Summary of the invention

According to the present invention, a condiment dispensing device is provided, comprising a housing and at least two parts containing condiments, in which the parts containing condiments include individual dispensers with dispensing mechanisms; characterized in that the housing comprises an elongated housing defining at least one internal volume with a distributor located at a first end and a second closed end.

In some embodiments, the containing parts are separate containers. Such containers may include individual containers comprising an internal reservoir fluidly connected to the distributors.

In some of these embodiments, the housing may include means for connecting the containers. Such means may include means purely for the connection of a container, or a separate housing.

Such means may include an elastic means, an elastically deformable means, a rigid attachment means or any other means designed to connect the containers, or at least keep the dispenser sections of the containers in a close arrangement.

In other embodiments, the containing parts are subdivisions of the housing.

In such embodiments, the housing includes separate compartments, formed by subdivision of the internal volume of the housing. Such a subdivision can be accommodated by walls, which walls can be envisaged to extend from the second closed end to the first end of the dispenser or adjacent to it.

The walls can be solid, perforated or intermittent.

In still other embodiments, the container parts include fully movable containers, which may be for single use.

The containing parts can comprise walls to separate compartments for the reception of said containers, which can be solid or flexible.

In some embodiments, the housing includes an outer enclosure. Said enclosure can be solid, flexible, intermittent or perforated.

In some embodiments, the device includes a cover. The cover can be arranged to fix the distributors and / or the first end of the housing. In this way, the containing parts can be held in a position inside the internal volume of the housing.

In some embodiments, the device includes a cap. Said cap can be arranged to cover the dispensers and / or the first end of the housing and keep the contents of the containing parts protected from manipulation and / or dehydration. In some embodiments, the cap may include a sealing mechanism.

In this way, the cap can be removed for the use of the dispensers and / or the device. The cap may include an attachment mechanism.

The attachment mechanism may include attaching the cap to the housing.

The attachment mechanism may include an attachment to the housing. In this way, the cap can be kept closed during use, so as to optimize the device for commercial or similar use.

The fixing mechanism may include a screw thread placed between the cap and the housing, for example a quarter turn in certain embodiments.

The attachment mechanism may include an elastically deformable connection between the cap and the housing, for example a clip or a ratchet connection.

In certain embodiments, the reservoirs can be refillable, in which, for example, the containing parts can allow the entry of condiment into the reservoirs. Such an entry may be made by a one-way valve or the like, or may require the removal of a seal.

In some embodiments, the container parts and the dispensers may include more than two, for example when three dispensers share a small first end of the housing, which housing may be elongated or otherwise enlarged to provide greater internal storage inside the tanks.

The device of the present invention provides, among other things, a convenient storage and distribution solution which can maintain a large volume of several liquids, with a minimum footprint for storage and transport.

In certain embodiments, the device, the housing and / or the parts containing condiments can be formed in a transparent or translucent material, at least in part, to allow the user to see which condiment is in which containing part.

Each part containing a condiment can be considered to contain a minimum of 120 ml of condiment.

In a certain embodiment, the dispensers include manual dispensing mechanisms, for example comprising suction pump dispensers. In certain embodiments, the distributors can include electric or automatic distributors.

In some embodiments, the device may include screw delivery mechanisms.

For example, it may include knobs to force a chosen condiment from the part containing the condiment with a screw-driven piston, in which a non-return valve prevents leaks and in use the piston moves downward following a rod, increasing pressure on the condiment, forcibly expelling it from the unidirectional valve in the housing, and an end cap which is pushed in place prevents excess sauce from dripping after use.

Locking clips around the edge of the housing allow the user to remove part of the housing to refill the tanks.

Separate knobs allow each piston to be driven independently.

In other embodiments, spring-actuated pump mechanisms are fixed in the housing and are arranged inside individual compartments separated by walls. In still other embodiments, the mechanisms can be electrically driven.

The walls may consist of inserts which slide into the housing inside grooves in the housing.

In other embodiments, the portions containing the condiments may be flexible to allow the user to press the condiment through a check valve.

In certain embodiments, several containers can be arranged to fit together in a separate housing so as to rotate for use inside the housing, in which for example in the housing a position may be relative to the distribution, for example example in which a slot cut in the housing allows the user to press only one containing part at a time.

The preferred embodiments of this invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the following figures:

Brief description of the figures

FIG. 1 represents an exploded isometric view of a first embodiment of the device according to the present invention;

Figure 2 shows an inverted isometric view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 shows a side view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 shows an isometric view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1;

Figure 5 shows an inverted isometric view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1;

Figure 6 shows a sectional view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1;

FIG. 7 represents an exploded isometric view of a second embodiment of the device according to the present invention;

Figure 8 shows a side view of the embodiment shown in Figure 7; Figure 9 shows an isometric view of the embodiment shown in Figure 7;

Figure 10 shows an inverted isometric view of the embodiment shown in Figure 7; and FIG. 11 represents a sectional view of the embodiment represented in FIG. 7.

Detailed description of the Figures

Referring to Figures 1 to 6, an embodiment of the device is shown comprising a housing 3 and three parts containing condiments 1, in which the parts containing condiments 1 comprise individual dispensers -2 with dispensing mechanisms 4; characterized in that the housing 3 comprises an elongated housing with an internal volume comprising distributors 2 located at a first end of the housing and a second end closed with a cover 40.

The dispensing mechanisms include elongated plastic tubes 41 which extend along the length of the parts 1. The tubes 41 are connected to dispensing nozzles 42 through an elastically deformable rubber bellows 44 installed on a nozzle body 46 and are connected by a nozzle rod 53 moving a ball valve 52 against an internal compression spring 47.

In this way, liquid can be pumped from the volumes by suction.

The nozzle body 46 moves relative to the perforated caps 45, which caps 45 are screwed on a first end with a cover 43, which cover comprises three spaced collars 51 spaced vertically above the three parts 1.

The cover 43 fits with tolerance in the parts and includes longitudinally dependent sides and rubber bellows 39 to limit the leakage of the parts 1.

The three parts 1 are defined by longitudinal walls 49 extending radially which extend from a central boss 50 to join an external circumferential wall 48 to provide three volumes sealed with a cover 40 at the second end s 'extending inside the walls 48, 49 and having cut out channels therefor.

Referring to Figures 7 to 11, an embodiment of the device is shown comprising a housing 3 and three parts containing condiment 1, in which the parts containing condiments 1 include distributors 24 movable each with distributors 2 individual with mechanisms distribution 4; characterized in that the housing 3 comprises an elongated housing with an internal volume comprising in use the distributors 2 located at a first end of the housing and a second end closed by a cover 14.

The housing includes an outer circumferential wall 48 subdivided with longitudinal walls extending radially 49, as in the first embodiment. The second end of the housing includes a cover 14 similar to the cover 40 of the first embodiment.

The first end of the housing, again similar to the first embodiment, comprises a movable cover 38 fixed by screw.

In the second illustrated embodiment, the first end further comprises a perforated cover 26, having three perforations 28, corresponding to the parts 1, and a dependent stud projection 27, which stud projection 27 is inserted in the boss 50.

The distributors 2 and the distribution mechanisms 4 are inserted in movable containers 15, formed from thermoplastics.

The housing and the cover are formed from an alloy.

The invention has been described by way of example only, the embodiments mentioned above may vary without being excluded from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims, in particular, but not only, a combination of characteristics of the modes of realization described.

Claims (11)

Claims 1. Condiment dispensing device comprising a housing (3) and at least two parts (1) containing condiments, in which the parts (1) containing condiments comprise individual dispensers (2) with dispensing mechanisms (4) ; characterized in that the housing (3) comprises an elongated housing defining at least one internal volume with a distributor (2) located at a first end and a second closed end (40). 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises three internal volumes each containing a part (1) containing condiments. 3. Device according to claim 2, in which the volumes are closed by a cover (43) perforated on the first end. 4. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the volumes comprise displaceable containers (24). 5. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the dispensing mechanisms (4) comprise a mechanism for the action of a pump. 6. Condiment dispensing device comprising a housing (3) and three parts (1) containing condiments, in which the parts (1) containing condiments comprise individual containers (24) with distributors (2) and mechanisms for distribution (4); characterized in that the housing (3) comprises an elongated housing with three internal volumes in use having distributors (2) located at a first end of the housing and a second closed end (40). 1/11 2/11 3/11 fig. 3 4/11 fig. 4 6/11 7/11 fig. 7 8/11! Ï4 l fig. 8 9/11 fig. 9 10 / 11/11