Dispensing device and method of dispensing contents from a pouch

Abstract

A device for and method of using the device to dispense pourable material from one or more pouches is provided. The device comprises a pair of hinged plates between which one or more pouches can be positioned. The plates of the device are joined by a ratcheting element that secure the plates and any pouches positioned between them. When a squeezing force is applied to the plates, the plates exert pressure upon the one or more pouches to cause the contents of the pouch(es) to be expelled. The ratcheting element is adapted to adjust automatically in response to the force exerted upon the plates. A device adapted to heat and dispense the contents of the one or more pouches is also provided.

Claims

1. In combination, a device for dispensing the contents of one or more pouches, and one or more pouches containing pourable discrete solid particles, a liquid, or mixture thereof, the device comprising: two plates adapted to be partially hinged such that when the plates are hinged, there exists a gap between the plates and hinged regions thereof; a valve assembly comprising a clamping edge adapted to span the gap between the plates and hinged regions thereof, wherein the valve assembly is connected to or integral to either of the plates, or wherein the valve assembly is in part connected to or integral to one of the plates and in part connected to or integral to the other plate; a ratcheting element engaged with the plates such that when a force is exerted on the plates, the element adjusts to accommodate the force exerted and maintains its position and the position of the plates until an additional force, if any, is applied to the plates; and one or more heating elements positioned between the plates; the one or more pouches each comprising one or more acute or right-angled corners.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein the gap is adapted to allow a portion of the one or more pouches to protrude through said gap.

3. The combination of claim 1, wherein the clamping edge of the valve assembly is adapted to be reversibly engaged with one or both of the plates to impede or allow the dispensing of contents from one or more pouches.

4. The combination of claim 1, wherein the device further comprises one or more insulating elements positioned between the plates.

5. The combination of claim 4, wherein the gap is adapted to allow a portion of the one or more pouches to protrude through said gap.

6. The combination of claim 4, wherein the clamping edge of the valve assembly is adapted to be reversibly engaged with one or both of the plates to impede or allow the dispensing of contents from one or more pouches.

7. A method of dispensing contents from one or more pouches containing pourable discrete solid particles, a liquid, or mixture thereof, each pouch comprising one or more acute or right-angled corners, the method comprising: positioning one or more pouches adjacent to at least one of two plates of a dispensing device such that a portion comprising an acute or right-angled corner of each of the one or more pouches protrudes through, or will protrude through, a gap between the two plates and hinged regions thereof when the plates are hinged; wherein the dispensing device comprises: two plates adapted to be partially hinged such that when the plates are hinged, there exists a gap between the plates and hinged regions thereof; a valve assembly comprising a clamping edge adapted to span the gap between the plates and hinged regions thereof, wherein the valve assembly is connected to or integral to either of the plates, or wherein the valve assembly is in part connected to or integral to one of the plates and in part connected to or integral to the other plate; and a ratcheting element adapted to be engaged with the plates of the dispensing device; hinging the plates of the dispensing device; removing a portion of the corner of each of the one or more pouches that protrudes through the gap between the plates of the dispensing device and hinged regions thereof, thereby forming an opening in each such pouch; either positioning one or more heating elements between the plates of the device and using the one or more heating elements to heat the contents of the one or more pouches, or positioning one or more insulating elements between the plates of the device; positioning the clamping edge of the valve assembly in the desired position; and causing the contents of one or more pouches to be expelled by exerting a force on the plates of the dispensing device such that the force exerted on the plates is exerted on the one or more pouches.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising engaging the ratcheting element to contact the plates of the device such that when a force is exerted on the plates, the element will adjust to accommodate the force exerted and maintain its position and the position of the plates until an additional force, if any, is applied to the plates.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising positioning one or more heating elements between the plates of the device and using the one or more heating elements to heat the contents of the one or more pouches, and positioning one or more insulating elements between the plates of the device.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising engaging the ratcheting element to contact the plates of the device such that when a force is exerted on the plates, the element will adjust to accommodate the force exerted and maintain its position and the position of the plates until an additional force, if any, is applied to the plates.

11. In combination, a device for dispensing the contents of one or more pouches, and one or more pouches containing pourable discrete solid particles, a liquid, or mixture thereof, the device comprising: two plates adapted to be partially hinged such that when the plates are hinged, there exists a gap between the plates and hinged regions thereof; a valve assembly comprising a clamping edge adapted to span the gap between the plates and hinged regions thereof, wherein the valve assembly is connected to or integral to either of the plates, or wherein the valve assembly is in part connected to or integral to one of the plates and in part connected to or integral to the other plate; a ratcheting element engaged with the plates such that when a force is exerted on the plates, the element adjusts to accommodate the force exerted and maintains its position and the position of the plates until an additional force, if any, is applied to the plates; and one or more insulating elements positioned between the plates; the one or more pouches each comprising one or more acute or right-angled corners.

12. The combination of claim 11, wherein the gap is adapted to allow a portion of the one or more pouches to protrude through said gap.

13. The combination of claim 11, wherein the clamping edge of the valve assembly is adapted to be reversibly engaged with one or both of the plates to impede or allow the dispensing of contents from one or more pouches.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the dispensing device in combination with one flat pack pouch.

(2) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the dispensing device in combination with two flat pack pouches, a heating element, and two insulating elements.

(3) FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view of the bent sections of the plates of the dispensing device.

(4) FIG. 2B is a view of the surface of the ratcheting element as it is engaged with the plates of the dispensing device.

(5) FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the dispensing device in combination with one flat pack pouch. The combination is mounted against a flat surface as a spacer positions the dispensing device away from the surface and holds a spare pouch.

(6) FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the dispensing device in combination with one flat pack pouch, as the device is hung from a table-top stand.

(7) FIG. 5 is a perspective view of plate 1, showing features of the valve assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(8) Particular terminology is used in the description below for convenience and to help guide the reader. The terminology is not limiting and includes the words actually used and any synonyms, derivatives, and terms of similar import. Likewise, the embodiments of the invention illustrated and described below are provided as examples only and are not intended to restrict the true spirit and scope of this invention as expressed in the claims. Terms that refer to orientation, such as top or bottom, refer to the orientation of the features of the invention as they appear on the drawing page. When used to refer to a surface of a plate, the term outer refers to the surface that will not be in contact with a pouch, heating element, insulating element, or combination thereof. The term inner refers to the surface of the plate that is adapted to contact a pouch, heating element, or insulating element.

(9) In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the top edge of a rectangular plate 1 and top edge of a second rectangular plate 2 are partially hinged at regions 3A and 3B. Plates 1 and 2 hold one pouch 4 diagonally between them. Preferably, the pouch 4 is a flat pack pouch. The top corner 4A of the pouch 4 protrudes through a gap 6 that is between the plates and regions 3A and 3B. The protruding corner 4A of a pouch becomes a spout 5 when the corner 4A is removed. A semi-rigid ratcheting element 7 with its free end 7A spans between the plates 1 and 2. The ratcheting element 7 holds up the folded lower corner (not shown) of the pouch 4.

(10) The free end 7A of the ratcheting element 7 slides through the opening 1C to protrude from the outer surface of the plate 1. The ratcheting element 7 is anchored at 2C near the bottom edge of the plate 2. The opening 1C and the surface of the ratcheting element 7 are notched (as shown) or otherwise adapted such that the ratcheting element 7 can reversibly and repeatedly engage and disengage with the plate 1. The free end 7A of the ratcheting element 7 is loosened from and releases the plate 1 when the user lifts the free end 7A up toward of the top edges of the plates 1 and 2. The user can control the rate of dispensing by squeezing together the plates 1 and 2 until they, in turn, exert the desired force on the pouch 4.

(11) The spout 5 is normally closed off tight with a valve assembly, preferably a pinch valve assembly. The pinch valve assembly shown comprises a tapered handle 8A that can also be used to hang the dispenser. The valve assembly further comprises a clamping edge 8B that spans the gap 6 and a pivoting pin 8C. The user controls the position of the clamping edge by pressing or releasing the handle 8A. Additional details of the valve assembly are provided in FIG. 5. To prevent damage to the spout 5 from repeated clamping, a protective elastic piece of split tubing 8E covers the clamping edge 8B. A pair of mounting holes 17 may be added to one or both of the plates.

(12) To remove an empty pouch, the user lifts up the free end 7A of the ratcheting element 7 toward the hinged ends of the plates 1 and 2 such that the ratcheting element 7 disengages from the notched opening 1C. The user then pulls the ratcheting element 7 backward through the opening 1C until the ratcheting element 7 is no longer contacts the plate 1. The user can then separate the plate 1 from the plate 2 by swinging the bottom edge of the plate 1 away from the plate 2 and upward until the plate 1 is at least perpendicular to the ground. Once the empty pouch is removed, the user holds the new pouch by one corner, places a different corner through the gap 6, opens the clamping edge 8B of the valve assembly by pressing down the handle 8A, then hinges the plates back together. Lastly, the user feeds the free end 7A of ratcheting element 7 through the opening 1C.

(13) In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the dispensing device of FIG. 1 is shown in combination with two pouches 4 and 11, a heating element 12, and two insulating elements 13 and 14. The pouch 11 is being heated by a rectangular heating element 12. One insulating element 13 is adjacent to the plate 2 while a second insulating element 14 insulates pouch 11 to help prevent heat from being transferred from pouch 11 to pouch 4. A section of the plate 2D could be bent to form a feature that could be used for hanging the device.

(14) During prototyping, the pouch 4 was constructed from a bi-axially blown thermoplastic tube whose two open ends were bonded together with heat-sealed seams. Sealing the pouch in such a manner creates two acute or four right-angled corners. A pouch featuring one or more re-sealable sides can also be used. For example, a re-sealable sandwich or snack bag can be used. The dispensing device can accommodate a pouch of any polygonal shape; however, a rectangular pouch with an aspect ratio of close to one (a square) is preferred because it will provide the longest spout and hold the most volume. For the initial prototyping and tests with paint, a three mil square pouch with a capacity of sixteen to twenty fluid ounces was selected.

(15) For multi-pouch applications, it is preferred that the pouches be substantially the same size and constructed of substantially the same material. The user might find it desirable to use pouches that are partially-filled, have lower capacities than a pouch that would be used for single-pouch dispensing, or some combination thereof.

(16) As best shown in FIG. 2, the plates 1 and 2 are hinged at the regions 3A and 3B. The regions 3A and 3B are separated by the gap 6. Preferably, the plates 1 and 2 are reversibly hinged, preferably by hinging together bent sections of the plate 1 to bent sections of the plate 2. At region 3A, bent section 1A of plate 1 is hinged to bent section 2A of plate 2. Sections of plates 1 and 2 that are configured identically to 1A and 2A are hinged to form region 3B. Sections 1A and 2A are shown in detail in FIG. 2A. The bends are designed to stiffen the upper parts of the plates directionally and structurally and to provide more reliable hinging and clamping of the clamping edge 8B of a valve assembly. Although the plates were made of aluminum during prototyping, a person of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that they may be made of a different metal, a synthetic or semi-synthetic moldable polymer, or other material according to application for which the device is being used.

(17) In the embodiment of FIG. 3, a combination of the dispensing device and a single pouch 4 is mounted on a wall for stationary, gravity-assisted dispensing. A spacer 15 keeps the spout away from the wall and holds a spare pouch 16. The spacer may assume any number of configurations. For example, the spacer could comprise an L-shaped plate mountable to a flat surface, e.g. wall, with mounting holes adapted to be secured by the same fastener that penetrates the mounting holes 17 to secure the back plate 2 to the wall. A spare pouch might rest on the portion of the spacer 15 that protrudes from the wall and contacts the back plate 2.

(18) As shown in FIG. 4, a table-top wire stand 18 is used to hang a combination of the dispensing device and a single pouch 4 by the mounting holes 17.

(19) As shown in FIG. 5, the pivoting pin 8C of the valve assembly supports a double torsion spring 8D. The valve handle 8A and the spring 8C are movably mounted to the plate 1 by the pin 8C through two pairs of identical pivoting holes 9 and 10. The outside pair of holes 9 are bored through the valve assembly handle 8A. The inside pair of holes 10 are bored through plate 1. The pivoting pin 8C and spring 8D were made of stainless steel during prototyping. A person of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the components of the valve assembly may be constructed of other materials according to the application for which the device is being used.

SEQUENCE LISTING

(20) Not Applicable