Package opener, dispenser, and related methods

Abstract

A tool for opening and dispensing soft package contents which has two arms, a hinge connecting the arms, and a hollow prick. A soft package is placed between the two arms so the soft package contents can be opened and dispensed in an easy and sanitary manner through the hollow prick, after which the arms can be opened, and the soft package easily disposed.

Claims

1. A tool for opening and dispensing soft, condiment packages comprising: at least two arms, namely a first arm with a tubular prick that is fixedly connected to and passed through the first arm such that a first lip with a cutting edge of the tubular prick continuously protrudes from a first face of the first arm to define a condiment intake while a flat, second lip of the tubular prick continuously protrudes from a second face of the first arm to define a condiment exhaust a second arm with a clearance hole in a face of the second arm such that said cutting edge is provided into said clearance hole without contacting the second arm whenever the first face of the first arm interfaces with the face of the second arm; a hinge connecting the two arms such that closing the hinge results in an interface of the first face of the first arm and the face of the second arm; a spring embedded in the hinge and maintaining the two arms in an approximately forty-five degree relationship between the first face of the first arm and the face of the second arm whenever a force for closing the hinge is absent; a condiment package disposed between the first face of the first arm and the face of the second arm such that the condiment intake is provided within the condiment package, wherein a condiment is intook and exhausted respectively through the condiment intake and condiment exhaust when the force is present and the first face of the first arm and the face of the second arm are pressed against the condiment package; and, wherein a length of the first arm and a length of the second arm are both larger than a length or width of the condiment package.

2. A tool for opening and dispensing soft condiment packages comprising: at least two arms; a fixed hollow prick passing through one arm; a spring loaded hinge connecting the two arms and maintaining the two arms in an approximately forty-five degree relationship relative to one another whenever a force for closing the hinge is absent; and, a spring embedded within the hinge that, whenever the force is present, is compressed such that the two arms are both interfaced with a surface of the soft condiment package.

3. The tool of claim 2 wherein the hollow prick features a pointed edge.

4. The tool of claim 3 further comprising a clearance hole.

5. The tool of claim 4 wherein the clearance hole passes through one arm.

6. The tool of claim 5 wherein the clearance hole and the hollow prick are on opposite arms in correspondent positions.

7. A method of opening and dispensing a soft goods package comprising: acquiring a tool comprised of a hollow prick, two arms connected by a spring loaded hinge, and the hollow prick that passes through one of the arms; cleaning the tool; using a spring force of the spring loaded hinge to open the tool to an angle of approximately forty-five degrees between the two arms; loading a condiment package onto one of the arms that features the hollow prick; ensuring that a face of the condiment package is in contact with the hollow prick; closing the tool by rotating one of the arms about the hinge until the condiment package is compressed between the two arms and the hollow prick has punctured the face of the condiment package; ensuring the hollow prick has punctured the face of the condiment package; orienting an exhaust portion of the hollow prick towards a plate of food; further closing the tool by rotating one of the arms about the hinge such that pressure is applied to a midsection of the condiment package until a portion of the condiment is exhausted from the exhaust portion of the hollow prick onto the food; and, removing the condiment package from between the two arms and disposing the package.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Other objectives of the disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art once the invention has been shown and described. The manner in which these objectives and other desirable characteristics can be obtained is explained in the following description and attached figures in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the tool;

(3) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the tool;

(4) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the tool;

(5) FIG. 4 is a side view of the tool;

(6) FIG. 5 is a side view of the tool;

(7) FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of the tool;

(8) FIG. 7 is a flow chart describing the steps involved with using the tool;

(9) FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the tool;

(10) FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the tool; and,

(11) FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the tool.

(12) It is to be noted, however, that the appended figures illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments that will be appreciated by those reasonably skilled in the relevant arts. Also, figures are not necessarily made to scale but are representative.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(13) Disclosed is a tool that can be used by children to puncture and dispense a condiment from a soft package. The tool features a tubular prick that is disposed through one arm and between two arms that are connected via a hinge. The tool allows a condiment to be dispensed via the tubular prick without tearing the package with one's hands and seeks to address problems associated with sanitation and food handling. The more specific details of the disclosed tool are described in connection with the figures.

(14) As shown by the perspective view in FIG. 1 the tool 1 may consist of two chamfered rectangular arms 2 connected to a spring-loaded hinge 3. In some embodiments the tool 1 may feature a thin plastic hinge. A hollow prick 4 may preferably pass through one of the arms 2. In one embodiment the spring-loaded hinge 3 may be comprised of a cabinet hinge with a spring embedded in the hinge. The hinge 3 may be attached to the arms by rivet or adhesive or other means of attaching. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the hinge 3 is attached by adhesive. The spring-loaded hinge may keep both arms 2 open at about a 45-degree angle. At this point, which is shown in FIG. 1, the tool would be described as open. When the tool is open, it is ready to be loaded with a condiment package or soft package.

(15) The perspective view shown in FIG. 2 shows the tool 1 open and loaded. At this point one has taken a condiment package 5 and placed it on the lower arm 2 of the tool 1. The hollow prick 4 is in contact with, and perhaps protruding through, the face of the package 5. As shown the hollow prick 4 may go through the lower arm 2 from the top face to the bottom face of the lower arm 2. Portions of the prick 4 may protrude from each face of the lower arm 2. The portion that protrudes the upper face may serve as a condiment intake 4a while the portion that protrudes the lower face may serve as a condiment exhaust 4b. The lip of the intake portion may feature a cutting edge. The lip of the exhaust portion may be flat. Another feature of the tool 1 may be a clearance hole 6 on the upper arm 2 near the hinge 3. The hole 6 may provide clearance from the hollow prick 4 when the tool 1 is closed. The clearance prevents the hollow prick 3 from crashing into the upper arm 2 when the tool 1 is closed.

(16) As shown in FIG. 3 the tool 1 has been closed and the condiment package 5 is being dispensed. The intake 4a of the hollow prick 4 may have entered the clearance hole 6. To dispense the contents of the package 5 the two arms 2 must be pushed together in order to compress the package 5. When the tool 1 is compressed the hollow prick 4 punctures the package 5, and fluid 5a from the package 5 is compressed. The compression creates pressure in the package 5 which pushes fluid 5a out of the package through the hollow prick 4. The exhaust 4b of the hollow prick 4 may be oriented toward some food or a plate and fluid 5a may be dispensed therein.

(17) FIG. 4 shows a side view of the opened tool 1. One feature that is shown is the hollow prick 4. The hollow prick 4 may feature a cutting edge to puncture soft packages 5. Clearly shown are the intake 4a and exhaust 4b portions of the hollow prick 4.

(18) For purposes of this document, when both arms 2 are touching or nearly touching as shown in FIG. 5, the tool 1 is described as closed. FIG. 5 shows the tool 1 closed. If the tool 1 is closed when loaded a condiment 5 may be dispensed. When closed the intake 4a portion of the hollow prick 4 may be inside or nearly inside the clearance hole 6.

(19) The tool 1 may also incorporate another thin, flexible, plastic hinge that is bent to a 45-degree angle when the tool 1 is open. The plastic hinge may attach, either by rivet or adhesive, to the arm and the spring-loaded hinge 3. The flexibility of the thin plastic hinge may allow for both arms 2 to touch, making a 0-degree angle between the arms allow the tool 1 to be closed.

(20) FIG. 6 shows a cross sectional view of the tool 1 in use. As shown, a condiment package 5 has been loaded onto the lower arm 2 and the hollow prick 4 has punctured the face of the condiment package 5. The arms 2 are being compressed together creating internal pressure in the package. Due to this internal pressure, fluids 5a are flowing into the intake 4a and out of the exhaust 4b of the tubular prick 4. In whatever direction the exhaust 4b is pointed in, fluids 5a are dispensed. Also shown is the clearance hole 6 which is correspondent to the hollow prick 4. As the upper arm 2 gets closer and closer to the lower arm 2 the hollow prick 4 will eventually enter the clearance hole 6.

(21) To use the tool on may follow the steps outlined in the flow chart shown in FIG. 7. One may start by cleaning the tool 1 if it is not already clean. The tool 1 may be cleaned like any other utensil or cooking tool. Then one may open the tool 1 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4. Then a condiment package 5 may be loaded onto the lower arm 2 of the tool 1 as shown in FIG. 2. One may puncture the face of the condiment 5 with the hollow prick 4 or at least ensure the hollow prick 4 is in contact with the face of the condiment package 5. Now the tool 1 must be closed and compressed. The tool 1 may be closed by rotating the upper arm 2 around the spring-loaded hinge 3 so that the upper arm 2 is in contact with the face of the condiment package 5. At this point both faces of the condiment package 5 are in contact with both arms 2 and the hollow prick 4. Then the arms 2 may be pushed together or compressed. This compression may ensure that the prick 4 protrudes the face of the condiment package 5 and create internal pressure inside the condiment package 5. The internal pressure should push fluids 5a through the package 5, intake 4a, and exhaust 4b. Fluid 5a may be dispensed in the direction that the exhaust 4b is oriented, ideally towards a plate or food.

(22) The size and shape of tool 1 components may be varied to increase the functionality of the tool 1. FIG. 8 shows a tool 1 of variable arm 2 sizes. The arms 2 may vary in size and shape to make the tool 1 easier for children to handle. Varied tool 1 component sizes may be used to make the tool 1 mirror the size of dimensionally diverse condiment packages 5. Varied arm 2 dimensions, and hollow prick 4 placement may be configured to optimize the mechanical advantage of the tool 1. The thickness of the arms 2 may be adjusted to better attach the prick 4 to the arm 2 or to prevent the hollow prick 4 from puncturing both faces of the condiment package 5. Also worth noting is that the geometry of the arms 2 is not limited to rectangles. The arms 2 may feature chamfered or filleted edges for manufacturing purposes or to the increase accessibility and visibility of the condiment package 5 when it is sandwiched between the arms 2.

(23) FIGS. 9 and 10 speak to alternative embodiments of the tool 1. FIG. 9 shows an alternate embodiment in which the spring-loaded hinge 3 is incorporated into the arms 2 seamlessly. FIG. 10 an embodiment in which a plastic hinge 7 has replaced the spring-loaded hinge 3. The plastic hinge 7 may be comprised of a piece of embedded memory plastic pre-bent to an acute angle and configured to reach the angle zero when adequate pressure is applied to the arms 2.

(24) Although the method and apparatus is described above in terms of various exemplary embodiments and implementations, it should be understood that the various features, aspects and functionality described in one or more of the individual embodiments are not limited in their applicability to the particular embodiment with which they are described, but instead might be applied, alone or in various combinations, to one or more of the other embodiments of the disclosed method and apparatus, whether or not such embodiments are described and whether or not such features are presented as being a part of a described embodiment. Thus, the breadth and scope of the claimed invention should not be limited by any of the above-described embodiments.

(25) Terms and phrases used in this document, and variations thereof, unless otherwise expressly stated, should be construed as open-ended as opposed to limiting. As examples of the foregoing: the term “including” should be read as meaning “including, without limitation” or the like, the term “example” is used to provide exemplary instances of the item in discussion, not an exhaustive or limiting list thereof, the terms “a” or “an” should be read as meaning “at least one,” “one or more,” or the like, and adjectives such as “conventional,” “traditional,” “normal,” “standard,” “known” and terms of similar meaning should not be construed as limiting the item described to a given time period or to an item available as of a given time, but instead should be read to encompass conventional, traditional, normal, or standard technologies that might be available or known now or at any time in the future. Likewise, where this document refers to technologies that would be apparent or known to one of ordinary skill in the art, such technologies encompass those apparent or known to the skilled artisan now or at any time in the future.

(26) The presence of broadening words and phrases such as “one or more,” “at least,” “but not limited to” or other like phrases in some instances shall not be read to mean that the narrower case is intended or required in instances where such broadening phrases might be absent. The use of the term “assembly” does not imply that the components or functionality described or claimed as part of the module are all configured in a common package. Indeed, any or all of the various components of a module, whether control logic or other components, might be combined in a single package or separately maintained and might further be distributed across multiple locations.

(27) Additionally, the various embodiments set forth herein are described in terms of exemplary block diagrams, flow charts and other illustrations. As will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art after reading this document, the illustrated embodiments and their various alternatives might be implemented without confinement to the illustrated examples. For example, block diagrams and their accompanying description should not be construed as mandating a particular architecture or configuration.

(28) All original claims submitted with this specification are incorporated by reference in their entirety as if fully set forth herein.

PAPER “SEQUENCE LISTING”

(29) Not applicable.