Puncturing Device For Viscous Food Container

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016279665-A1
Application number	US-201514671406-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 27, 2015
Priority date	Mar 27, 2015
Publication date	Sep 29, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A puncturing device and a system for dispensing viscous food include a puncturing device for cutting self-sealing orifices in flexible containers containing viscous food. The puncturing device includes a housing. A plunger is translatable within the housing between a retracted position and an extended position. At least one blade is secured to the plunger. The at least one blade is configured to cut a self-sealing orifice in a flexible container containing viscous food.

First claim

1 . A puncturing device for cutting self-sealing orifices in flexible containers containing viscous food, the puncturing device comprising:
a housing; a plunger translatable within the housing between a retracted position and an extended position; at least one blade secured to the plunger, the at least one blade configured to cut a self-sealing orifice in a flexible container containing viscous food.

2 . The puncturing device of claim 1 , further wherein the housing comprises a handle tube and a dispenser tube.

3 . The puncturing device of claim 2 , wherein the plunger is translatable within the handle tube to extend the at least one blade into the dispenser tube when the plunger is in the extended position and retract the blade into the handle tube when the plunger is in the retracted position.

4 . The puncturing device of claim 2 , wherein the plunger is translatable within the handle tube and the dispenser tube is configured to engage about a dispenser comprising the flexible container containing viscous food.

5 . The puncturing device of claim 4 , wherein the dispenser tube is configured to align the at least one blade with a predetermined location on the flexible container containing viscous food for a self-sealing orifice therein.

6 . The puncturing device of claim 5 wherein the at least one blade is a plurality of blades configured to cut the self-sealing orifice in the flexible container, the self-sealing orifice comprising a predetermined configuration and alignment of cuts.

7 . The puncturing device of claim 2 , wherein the handle tube further comprises a plurality of elongated openings therethrough.

8 . The puncturing device of claim 7 , wherein at least a portion of the plurality of elongated openings open into the dispenser tube.

9 . The puncturing device of claim 2 , wherein the housing further comprises a shoulder between the handle tube and the dispenser tube, the shoulder further comprising a blade hole extending through the shoulder between the handle tube and the dispenser tube and aligned with the at least one blade, wherein the blade hole is configured to permit translation of the at least one blade into and out of the dispensing tube.

10 . The puncturing device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one blade is four blades in the shape of a symmetrical cross.

11 . The puncturing device of claim 1 , further comprising a spring extending between the plunger and the handle tube, the spring configured to bias the plunger in the retracted position.

12 . The puncturing device of claim 1 , wherein the plunger comprises a plurality of alignment projections and the handle tube comprises a plurality of inwardly extending housing fingers, and at least one alignment projection engages each of the housing fingers to align translation of the plunger within the handle tube

13 . The puncturing device of claim 12 , wherein the plunger comprises a plurality of ribs and each rib comprises two alignment projections.

14 . A system for dispensing viscous food, the system comprising:
a viscous food dispenser comprising a dispensing gun, at least one piston actionable by a trigger of the dispensing gun, and a cylinder comprising an at least partially open end, at least a portion of the at least one piston received within an open interior of the cylinder; a flexible container containing viscous food product, located within the cylinder between the at least one piston and the at least partially open end wherein a portion of the flexible container is exposed through the at least partially open end; and a puncturing device comprising a housing, a plunger translatable within the housing between a retracted position and an extended position, and at least one blade secured to the plunger, wherein the housing is configured to engage the viscous food dispenser to align the at least one blade with the portion of the flexible container exposed through the at least one open end, and the blade is configured to cut a self-sealing orifice in the flexible container when the plunger is translated to the extended position.

15 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the housing comprises a handle tube and a dispenser tube and the plunger is translatable within the handle tube to extend the at least one blade into the dispenser tube when the plunger is in the extended position and retract the blade into the handle tube when the plunger is in the retracted position.

16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the cylinder further comprises a flange defining an opening in the at least partially open end, the puncturing device configured to align the self-sealing orifice in the flexible container relative to the opening in the cylinder.

17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the dispensing gun further comprises a cradle and a front end configured to engage the cylinder to retain the cylinder within the dispensing gun and the dispenser tube is further configured to engage the front end of the dispensing gun and a portion of the cylinder.

18 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the puncturing device further comprises a shoulder between the handle tube and the dispenser tube and at least a portion of the shoulder is configured to engage the front end of the dispensing gun.

19 . A puncturing device for cutting self-sealing orifices in flexible containers containing viscous food, the puncturing device comprising:
a housing comprising a handle tube and a dispenser tube, and a shoulder extending between the handle tube and the dispenser tube; at least one blade configured to cut a self-sealing orifice in a flexible container containing viscous food; a plunger secured to the at least one blade and translatable within the housing between a retracted position wherein the at least one blade is retracted into the handle tube and an extended position wherein the at least one blade extends into the dispenser tube; and a spring extending between the handle tube and the plunger, the spring configured to place a biasing force against the plunger to bias the plunger in the retracted position.

20 . The puncturing device of claim 19 , further comprising:
a plurality of housing fingers extending inwardly from an interior of the handle tube; and a plurality of alignment projections extending from the plunger; wherein at least one alignment projection engages each of the housing fingers to promote even translation of the plunger between the retracted and the extended position.

Assignees

• Prince Castle LLC

Inventors

• Veltrop Loren

Classifications

• B05C17/00583

  the container for the material to be dispensed being deformable · CPC title

• B05C17/00586 Primary

  Means, generally located near the nozzle, for piercing or perforating the front part of a cartridge · CPC title

• B26F1/32

  Hand-held perforating or punching apparatus, e.g. awls · CPC title

• B05C17/01

  with {manually} mechanically or electrically actuated piston or the like {(B05C17/00533 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B05C17/0052

  Accessories therefor · CPC title