GB2241022A

GB2241022A - Dispenser for edible food spreads

Info

Publication number: GB2241022A
Application number: GB9003168A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Colin Fitzpatrick
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-02-13
Filing date: 1990-02-13
Publication date: 1991-08-21
Anticipated expiration: 2010-02-13
Also published as: GB9003168D0; GB2241022B

Abstract

A dispenser for soft butter, and similar food spreads, comprises a pedestal 10 forming a piston and a disposable cylinder 12 containing butter. An outlet device 14 is secured on to an open top end of the cylinder and forms an opening 18 through which butter becomes discharged upon pressing the cylinder down against the pedestal 10. The outlet device projects to opposite sides of the opening 18 to form lands 20 and 22 which form a continuous scraping surface extending across the opening. A knife blade can be slid from one land to the other to collect a portion of butter discharged through the opening. <IMAGE>

Description

DISPENSING EDIBLE FOOD SPREADS Soft butter, margarine, peanut butter and other such soft food products intended to be spread on ' to bread or toast for eating (referred to hereinafter for convenience as "spreads") are most commonly supplied in containers in the form of jars or tubs. A knife or spoon is usually used to take a portion of the spread from its container before the spread is applied by means of a knife.

It is an object of the present invention to enable edible food spreads to be dispensed in a more convenient and hygienic manner than has been usual hitherto.

The invention provides a dispensing container for an edible food product in the form of a spread, the container comprising means forming lands on opposite sides of an opening through which the spread can be discharged from the container, the lands being arranged for a knife blade to be slid from one land to the other across the opening to collect a portion of spread discharged through the opening.

The container may be in the form of a piston and cylinder arrangement for dispensing the spread. For example, the piston may form a pedestal on which the container can stand on a table, the cylinder containing the spread being arranged to be gripped and pressed down against the pedestal to cause spread to be dispensed upwards through the nozzle opening.

It is envisaged that for such an arrangement the spread-containing cylinder might be supplied as a disposable carton for use in conjunction with a reusable pedestal and nozzle-forming means providing also the lands.

There now follows a description, to be read with reference to the accompanying drawings, of a dispensing container which illustrates the invention by- way of example.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of the dispenser, showing a cylinder about to be mounted on a pedestal; and Figure 2 is a top plan view of the dispenser.

A dispensing container for soft butter comprises a pedestal 10, a butter-containing cylinder 12, a nozzle-forming outlet device 14 and a detachable lid 16.

The pedestal 10 is arranged to act as a piston within the cylinder 12, so that as the cylinder 12 is pressed downwards against the pedestal on a table the soft butter becomes discharged upwardly from the cylinder through an opening 18 in the outlet device 14.

The outlet device 14 forms lands 20 and 22 on opposite sides of the opening 18 in order that a knife blade can be slid from one land to the other, across the opening, to collect a portion of butter discharged through the opening; the lands are interconnected around the opening to present a smooth scraping surface extending continuously from one land to the other. The scraping surface may be made slightly concave in both longitudinal and transverse directions, to suit both the scraping action and an expected knife blade shape.

The outlet device may provide any suitable form of outlet, and may for example be arranged to form curls of dispensed butter.

The outlet device 14 may be movable (e.g.

rotatable), or comprise a movable component, in some suitable way to seal the cylinder 12 after use.

The pedestal 10, the outlet device 14 and the lid 16 may be reusable items, butter being purchased in cylinders 12 in the form of disposable carton. Each carton is sealed at its lower end by a platform 26, on which the pedestal 10 works, and at its top end by a readily removable foil web (not shown). The carton is attached to the outlet device 14 by an internal groove (not shown) formed at the top edge of the carton, in which an outwardly projecting lip (not shown) on the lower edge of the outlet 14 engages.

Claims

1. A dispensing container for an edible food product in the form of a spread, the container comprising means forming lands on opposite sides of an opening through which the spread can be discharged from the container, the lands being arranged for a knife blade to be slid from one land to the other across the opening to collect a portion of spread discharged through the opening.

2. A dispensing container according to claim 1 in the form of a piston and cylinder arrangement for dispensing the spread.

3. A dispensing container according to claim 2 in which means providing the piston forms a pedestal on which the container can stand on a table.

4. A dispensing container according to either of claims 2 and 3 in which the cylinder comprises a disposable spread-containing carton.

5. A dispensing container according to claim 4 comprising a re-usable nozzle-forming outlet device forming the opening through which the spread can be discharged and being movable, or comprising a movable component, to seal the cylinder after use.

6. A dispensing container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.