Condiment dispenser

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12522425-B2
Application number	US-202118017565-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 23, 2021
Priority date	Jul 24, 2020
Publication date	Jan 13, 2026
Grant date	Jan 13, 2026

Abstract

In one aspect, a condiment dispenser for discharging condiment from a condiment container is disclosed. The condiment dispenser includes a housing configured to surround at least a portion of the condiment container when installed in the housing. A spout extends from the condiment dispenser for discharging the condiment from the dispenser. A pump is positioned within the housing to force condiment to the spout and out of the condiment dispenser. The condiment dispenser further includes a substantially continuous flow path having an inlet configured to couple to the condiment container and an outlet in the spout for discharging the condiment, the substantially continuous flow path installed as a single unit from the inlet to the outlet and extending through the pump.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A condiment dispenser for discharging condiment from a condiment container, the condiment dispenser comprising:
a housing configured to surround at least a portion of the condiment container when installed in the housing; a spout extending from the condiment dispenser for discharging the condiment from the condiment container; a pump positioned within the housing to force the condiment to the spout and out of the condiment dispenser; a flow path having an inlet configured to couple to the condiment container and an outlet in the spout for discharging the condiment, the flow path installed as a single unit from the inlet to the outlet and extending through the pump; and a controller responsive to a sensor for activating the pump, the controller configured to operate the pump in a forward direction for discharging the condiment and a reverse direction to draw the condiment from the outlet.

2 . The condiment dispenser of claim 1 wherein the sensor detects a user and activates the pump without the user contacting the dispenser.

3 . The condiment dispenser of claim 1 wherein the flow path includes a portion positioned at the pump, the portion having an internal diameter in the range of about four to six millimeters and a shore A hardness in the range of about 55-65.

4 . The condiment dispenser of claim 1 further comprising a pouch piercer having a piercing end configured to be inserted into the condiment container and a connecting end configured to be coupled to the inlet of the flow path.

5 . The condiment dispenser of claim 1 wherein the flow path includes only two ports for contacting the condiment, the inlet and the outlet.

6 . The condiment dispenser of claim 1 wherein the outlet extends through an opening in the spout.

7 . A condiment dispenser for discharging condiment from a condiment container, the condiment dispenser comprising:
a housing configured to surround at least a portion of the condiment container when installed in the housing; a spout extending from the condiment dispenser for discharging the condiment from the condiment container; a pump positioned within the housing to force the condiment to the spout and out of the condiment dispenser; a flow path having an inlet configured to couple to the condiment container and an outlet in the spout for discharging the condiment, the flow path installed as a single unit from the inlet to the outlet and extending through the pump; and a subframe for supporting the pump, whereby the condiment container is installed in the subframe such that the subframe, condiment container, and pump can be installed as a single unit into the housing.

8 . A condiment dispenser comprising:
a housing; a flow path having an inlet and an outlet, the flow path extending from the housing to the outlet for discharging condiment; a spout extending from the condiment dispenser; and a flow path support positioned on the spout, the flow path support having a first portion and a second portion hingedly coupled to the first portion, the second portion having an opening therein to receive the outlet of the flow path and an arc shaped portion positioned on an interior side of the flow path support to brace a portion of the flow path support adjacent the outlet in an arc shape, the first portion coupled to the spout and the second portion releasably coupled to the spout to permit the second portion to pivot between a dispensing position and an installation position, the installation position providing access to the interior side of the flow path support and permitting installation of the outlet at the opening.

9 . The condiment dispenser of claim 8 wherein the second portion includes at least one retainer for holding the flow path relative to the spout when in the dispensing position.

10 . The condiment dispenser of claim 9 wherein the at least one retainer, the arc shaped portion, and the opening cooperate to position the outlet in a generally perpendicular orientation relative to a portion of the flow path located at the at least one retainer.

11 . The condiment dispenser of claim 8 further comprising a sensor for detecting a user and wherein the first portion defines an opening to retain the sensor.

12 . A condiment dispenser for discharging condiment from a condiment container, the condiment dispenser comprising:
a housing having an opening; a subframe having an interior chamber for receiving the condiment container, the subframe positioned in the housing during operation and removable from the housing via the opening; and a lid covering the opening; a spout extending from at least one of the lid and the housing; and
a flow path extending from the subframe and through the spout to dispense condiment,
wherein the subframe includes a base member and at least two sidewalls, the base member supporting the condiment container when installed.

13 . The condiment dispenser of claim 12 further comprising a pump, the pump positioned on the subframe such that the pump is removable from the housing with the subframe via the opening.

14 . The condiment dispenser of claim 12 wherein the lid is coupled to the subframe such that the lid and subframe are removable from the housing together.

15 . The condiment dispenser of claim 14 wherein the flow path is coupled to the subframe and the lid such that the lid, flow path, and subframe are removable from the housing together.

16 . The condiment dispenser of claim 15 wherein the spout is coupled to the lid such that the lid, flow path, subframe, and spout are removable from the housing together.

17 . The condiment dispenser of claim 12 wherein the at least two sidewalls are coupled to the lid such that the lid defines a further interior chamber for receiving at least a portion of the condiment container.

18 . A condiment dispenser for discharging condiment from a condiment container, the condiment dispenser comprising:
a housing having an opening; a subframe having an interior chamber for receiving the condiment container, the subframe positioned in the housing during operation and removable from the housing via the opening; and a lid covering the opening; a spout extending from at least one of the lid and the housing; and
a flow path extending from the subframe and through the spout to dispense condiment,
wherein the housing includes a guide track and the subframe includes a track engagement portion to cooperate with the guide track when inserting the subframe in the housing.

Assignees

• Heinz Co Brands H J Llc

Inventors

• Leech Gregg
• Duxbury Robin
• Bertens-Vlems Kim
• Kalyvioti Ivi

Classifications

• B67B7/28

  and associated with receptacle hodlers · CPC title

• A47G19/183 Primary

  by applying external pressure, i.e. by pumping or squeezing · CPC title

• B65D77/067

  combined with a valve, a tap or a piercer · CPC title

• B65D83/771 Primary

  for dispensing fluent contents by means of a flexible bag or a deformable membrane or diaphragm · CPC title