Patent Application
20240262572
The present disclosure relates to a nozzle and cap assembly and more particularly to a variable tip nozzle and cap assembly for a pouch for dispensing a confectionery used in the decoration of cakes and cookies, for example.
The application of a flowable confectionery to the top and sides of an iced cake or other pastry is well known in the art. Typically, the confectionery is sufficiently viscous to maintain a shape and is resistant to excessive flow or slumping after being extruded or dispensed from an associated bag or dispensing pouch. Some types of icing may tend to surface harden by reason of water evaporation after being dispensed from the pouch and, accordingly, it is desirable that the pouch and the dispensing system be substantially leak-proof to prevent evaporation of water and the resultant hardening of the contents prior to application. Typically, flexible and collapsible dispensing pouches of the type utilized for decorating cakes and cookies employ a dispensing nozzle, through which a flowable confection such as cake icing may be extruded. An example of a dispensing system is shown and described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,981,614 and 7,337,923, the entire contents of each of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
Prior art dispensing nozzles for a dispensing pouch are adapted to receive a decorating tip either alone or with a cooperating collar or compression ring. The collar threadingly engages a threaded portion of the dispensing nozzle to hold the decorating tip in place. The flowable confection is caused to be extruded through the decorating tip by collapsing the dispensing pouch by the application of pressure thereto. The shape of the free end of the decorating tip determines the final shape of the extruded confection.
In order to create extruded designs of a different type or size, use of a different decorating tip is required. Often, this requires that a different pouch and nozzle/tip assembly be used thereby exposing the confection stored in the dispensing pouch to air, resulting in drying and surface hardening.
It would be desirable to produce a nozzle and cap assembly for a dispensing pouch which accepts decorating tips of different sizes and shapes to maximize decorating efficiency.
In concordance and agreement with the present disclosure, a nozzle and cap assembly for a dispensing pouch which accepts decorating tips of different sizes and shapes to maximize decorating efficiency and minimize wasted confection, has surprisingly been designed.
In one embodiment, an assembly for a dispensing pouch, comprises: an adapter having a first end, a second end, and an opening formed therethrough extending from the first end to the second end thereof, wherein the opening of the adapter has a first cross-sectional shape, and wherein the adapter is configured to releaseably engage a tip having a first end, a second end, and an opening formed therein, and wherein the opening of the tip has a second cross-sectional shape.
In another embodiment, a nozzle and cap assembly for a container, comprises: a hollow nozzle having a first end and a second end, the first end configured to be disposed in a container; an adapter configured to be releasably engaged with the second end of the hollow nozzle; a hollow tip configured to be releaseably engaged with the adapter; and a cap configured to be releaseably engaged with the adapter.
In yet another embodiment, a nozzle and cap assembly for a container comprises: a hollow nozzle having a first end and a second end, the first end configured to be joined with a container, the second end having a first threaded portion formed thereon; a threaded adapter configured to be received on the first threaded portion, the threaded adapter having a central aperture formed therein, a second threaded portion, and a third threaded portion; a hollow tip configured to be received on the third threaded portion; and a cap configured to be received on the second threaded portion.
As aspects of some embodiments, the adapter is in threaded engagement with the hollow nozzle.
As aspects of some embodiments, the adapter is in threaded engagement with the hollow tip.
As aspects of some embodiments, the adapter is in threaded engagement with the cap when the assembly is in a storable state.
As aspects of some embodiments, the second end of the hollow nozzle includes a threaded portion.
As aspects of some embodiments, the second end of the hollow nozzle extends outwardly from the container.
As aspects of some embodiments, the assembly further comprises a sealing element configured to militate against a flow of material from the container.
As aspects of some embodiments, the sealing element is reusable.
As aspects of some embodiments, the sealing element is disposed between the hollow nozzle and the adapter.
As aspects of some embodiments, the adapter is entirely external to the container.
As aspects of some embodiments, the adapter includes a plurality of threaded portions.
As aspects of some embodiments, an outer diameter of one of the threaded portions is larger than an outer diameter of another one of the threaded portions.
As aspects of some embodiments, an opening formed in the adapter has a first cross-sectional shape.
As aspects of some embodiments, an opening formed in the tip has a second cross-sectional shape.
As aspects of some embodiments, the first cross-sectional shape is different from the second cross-sectional shape.
As aspects of some embodiments, the opening formed in the adapter has a star-shaped cross-section.
As aspects of some embodiments, the opening formed in the tip has a circular cross-sectional shape.
The above, as well as other objects, features, and advantages of the present disclosure will be understood from the detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present disclosure with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
The following description of technology is merely exemplary in nature of the subject matter, manufacture and use of one or more embodiments, and is not intended to limit the scope, application, or uses of any specific embodiment claimed in this application or in such other applications as may be filed claiming priority to this application, or patents issuing therefrom. Regarding methods disclosed, the order of the steps presented is exemplary in nature, and thus, the order of the steps can be different in various embodiments. “A” and “an” as used herein indicate “at least one” of the item is present; a plurality of such items may be present, when possible. Except where otherwise expressly indicated, all numerical quantities in this description are to be understood as modified by the word “about” and all geometric and spatial descriptors are to be understood as modified by the word “substantially” in describing the broadest scope of the technology. “About” when applied to numerical values indicates that the calculation or the measurement allows some slight imprecision in the value (with some approach to exactness in the value; approximately or reasonably close to the value; nearly). If, for some reason, the imprecision provided by “about” and/or “substantially” is not otherwise understood in the art with this ordinary meaning, then “about” and/or “substantially” as used herein indicates at least variations that may arise from ordinary methods of measuring or using such parameters.
All documents, including patents, patent applications, and scientific literature cited in this detailed description are incorporated herein by reference, unless otherwise expressly indicated. Where any conflict or ambiguity may exist between a document incorporated by reference and this detailed description, the present detailed description controls.
Although the open-ended term “comprising,” as a synonym of non-restrictive terms such as including, containing, or having, is used herein to describe and claim embodiments of the present technology, embodiments may alternatively be described using more limiting terms such as “consisting of” or “consisting essentially of.” Thus, for any given embodiment reciting materials, components, or process steps, the present technology also specifically includes embodiments consisting of, or consisting essentially of, such materials, components, or process steps excluding additional materials, components or processes (for consisting of) and excluding additional materials, components or processes affecting the significant properties of the embodiment (for consisting essentially of), even though such additional materials, components or processes are not explicitly recited in this application. For example, recitation of a composition or process reciting elements A, B and C specifically envisions embodiments consisting of, and consisting essentially of, A, B and C, excluding an element D that may be recited in the art, even though element D is not explicitly described as being excluded herein.
As referred to herein, disclosures of ranges are, unless specified otherwise, inclusive of endpoints and include all distinct values and further divided ranges within the entire range. Thus, for example, a range of “from A to B” or “from about A to about B” is inclusive of A and of B. Disclosure of values and ranges of values for specific parameters (such as amounts, weight percentages, etc.) are not exclusive of other values and ranges of values useful herein. It is envisioned that two or more specific exemplified values for a given parameter may define endpoints for a range of values that may be claimed for the parameter. For example, if Parameter X is exemplified herein to have value A and also exemplified to have value Z, it is envisioned that Parameter X may have a range of values from about A to about Z. Similarly, it is envisioned that disclosure of two or more ranges of values for a parameter (whether such ranges are nested, overlapping or distinct) subsume all possible combination of ranges for the value that might be claimed using endpoints of the disclosed ranges. For example, if Parameter X is exemplified herein to have values in the range of 1-10, or 2-9, or 3-8, it is also envisioned that Parameter X may have other ranges of values including 1-9, 1-8, 1-3, 1-2, 2-10, 2-8, 2-3, 3-10, 3-9, and so on.
When an element or layer is referred to as being “on,” “engaged to,” “connected to,” or “coupled to” another element or layer, it may be directly on, engaged, connected or coupled to the other element or layer, or intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly engaged to,” “directly connected to” or “directly coupled to” another element or layer, there may be no intervening elements or layers present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between” versus “directly between,” “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.). As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.
Although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Terms such as “first,” “second,” and other numerical terms when used herein do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the example embodiments.
Spatially relative terms, such as “inner,” “outer,” “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper,” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. Spatially relative terms may be intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the example term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.
The nozzle and cap assembly 10 includes a hollow nozzle 12, a cap 14, a hollow tip 16, and an adapter 18. A sealing element 20 may be disposed between the hollow nozzle 12 and the adapter 18. The sealing element 20 may be configured to militate against a flow of the material 104 from the internal cavity 102 of the container 100. In some embodiments, the sealing element 20 may be a single-use sealing element, wherein once broken the sealing element 20 may no longer be used. For example, the sealing element 20 may be a thin layer of material, foil, or film made from a metal, a plastic, or a combination thereof or a sealing element commonly referred to as a “peel seal”. In other embodiments, the sealing element 20 may be reusable and/or replaceable. As a non-limiting example, the sealing element 20 may be generally disk-shaped having substantially planar opposing surfaces 22 to permit the sealing element 20 to seat between the hollow nozzle 12 and the adapter 18. It is understood, however, that the sealing element 20 may have any suitable shape, size, and configuration and made from any material(s) as desired.
Referring now to
In the embodiment shown in
As illustrated in
Referring back to
Turning now to
A radially outwardly extending collar 60 may be formed at the first end 54 of the tip 16. It is understood that the collar 60 may have any shape, size, and configuration as desired. In some embodiments, the collar 60 includes an annular array of grip elements 62 formed on an outer circumferential surface. As shown, the grip elements 62 may be formed in a saw tooth configuration, although it is understood that other configurations can be used as desired.
As illustrated in
Turning now to
As illustrated in
As assembled, the nozzle and cap assembly 10 is typically provided with the collar 24 of the nozzle 12 suitably joined with the container 100 at an open end thereof, as shown in
When the nozzle and cap assembly 10 is in an operational state, the sealing element 20 has been removed, the adapter 18 is engaged with the nozzle 12, and the tip 16 is engaged with the adapter 18. On the contrary, when the nozzle and cap assembly 10 is in the storage state, the sealing element 20 may be replaced and the cap 14 may be engaged with the adapter 18.
In use, the cap 14 is removed to facilitate a dispensing of the material 104 from the container 100 through the nozzle 12. Pressure is applied to an outside of the container 100 by a user. The material 104 is then caused to be extruded through the opening 36 of the nozzle 12 and the opening 50 of the adapter 18. In certain instances, the material 104 may only be dispensed through the openings 36, 50 if a star-shaped cross-section of the material 104 is desired for the confectionary. In other instances, the material 104 may be dispensed through the opening 36, 50 and the opening 58 of the tip 16 if it is desired to create an extruded ribbon of material having a specific cross-sectional shape, for example, when writing on a cake. It is understood that various other tips 16 having differently designed openings 58 can be used to create confectionary having other specific designs.
One benefit of this over the known art is the prevention of leaks by installing the sealing element 20 at the second end 30 of the nozzle 12. The nozzle and cap assembly 10 also facilitates an all-in-one versatile assembly which can include the hollow nozzle 12, the cap 14, the hollow tip 16, and the adapter 18 in a single assembly attached to the container 100 containing the material 104. Thus, multiple components, tips, and the like are not required (but can be used), thereby minimizing a complexity and cost of the decorating tool.
From the foregoing description, one ordinarily skilled in the art can easily ascertain the essential characteristics of these embodiments and, without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, can make various changes and modifications to the embodiments to adapt to various usages and conditions.
This patent application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/482,894, filed on Feb. 2, 2023, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63482894 | Feb 2023 | US |
