Food Tube Attachment Device

Abstract

A food tube attachment device for locking an opened food tube onto an easy-to-use device including a structure with a nozzle that prevents leakage from and slippage of the food tube so that the contents may be enjoyed by a user.

Claims

1. A food tube attachment device including: a nozzle having a top and a bottom, a channel between the top and the bottom, a coupling means, and a gasket receiving area; a nozzle control handle having a complimentary coupling means to the nozzle's coupling means; the gasket secured in the gasket receiving area of the nozzle; wherein the coupling of the nozzle's coupling means and the nozzle control handle's complimentary coupling means may be manipulated from a disengaged position to an engaged position and secured in the engaged position; wherein, with the food tube attachment device beginning in the disengaged position, a seal is created when an opening of a food tube receives the bottom of the nozzle and the gasket before the nozzle control handle is manipulated from the disengaged position to the engaged position; wherein this manipulation deforms the gasket to create the seal with the food tube so that the contents of the food tube travel through the channel by entering from the bottom of the nozzle and egressing out the top of the nozzle; and wherein the food tube attachment device is made of food-safe materials.

2. The food tube attachment device of claim 1, further comprising a shell having a cavity for receiving the food tube, the cavity being formed between an interior wall and an exterior wall, and creating the seal between the exterior wall and the food tube when the gasket is deformed by the manipulating the nozzle control handle from the disengaged position to the engaged position.

3. The food tube attachment device of claim 2, further comprising the interior wall of the shell having a keyhole receiver and the nozzle having an indexing notch, wherein the alignment of the keyhole receiver and the indexing notch prevent the rotational movement of the nozzle when the nozzle control handle is manipulated between the disengaged position and the engaged position, and vice versa.

4. The food tube attachment device of claim 3, wherein the coupling means and complimentary coupling means includes screw threads on the nozzle and complimentary screw threads on the nozzle control handle.

5. The food tube attachment device of claim 4, wherein at least one of the shell and the nozzle control handle includes a handle locking structure to lock the nozzle control handle in the engaged position.

6. The food tube attachment device of claim 5, further comprising a nozzle cap that includes a nozzle receiver at one end of a tether and a loop at the other end of the tether for attaching the nozzle cap to the food tube attachment device, and wherein the nozzle includes a circumferential lip for retaining the nozzle receiver on the nozzle.

7. The food tube attachment device of claim 6, wherein the shell's exterior wall has a recessed area for connecting the loop of the nozzle cap to the shell.

8. The food tube attachment device of claim 7, further comprising the nozzle control handle being disc-shaped and having an outer circumference with knurled edges.

9. The food tube attachment device of claim 8, further comprising the gasket having an interfacing surface that is compressed by the bottom of the interior wall of the shell when the food tube attachment device is manipulated and locked into the engaged position.

10. The food tube attachment device of claim 6, further comprising a nozzle cap handle attached to the end of the tether nearest the nozzle receiver.

11. A method for assembling and using a food tube attachment device, the steps comprising: securing a gasket within a gasket receiving area around a bottom of a nozzle, the nozzle having a channel between the bottom and a top; inserting the top of the nozzle through a shell; aligning and securing an indexing notch of the nozzle with a keyhole receiver present on an interior wall of the shell to prevent undesired rotation of the shell and the nozzle; placing a nozzle control handle over the top of the nozzle; coupling a complimentary coupling means of the nozzle control handle to a coupling means of the nozzle in a disengaged position; inserting an opening of a food tube into a cavity between the interior wall and an exterior wall of the shell; manipulating the nozzle control handle from the disengaged position to an engaged position which deforms the gasket to create a seal with the food tube by compressing the food tube's opening between the deformed gasket and the exterior wall of the shell; and the user causing contents of the food tube to egress through the channel from the bottom of the nozzle through the top of the nozzle so that the user may consume the contents of the food tube.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising locking the nozzle control handle into the engaged position via a handle locking structure on the shell and a corresponding piece on the nozzle control handle.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising attaching a nozzle cap to the shell.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the nozzle cap may be placed on the top of the nozzle, retained by a circumferential lip on the nozzle, and removed from the top of the nozzle at the user's desire.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] The embodiments of the present invention disclosed herein are illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals may refer to similar elements.

[0010] FIG. 1 depicts an exploded view of an exemplary food tube attachment device.

[0011] FIG. 2 provides an exemplary nozzle and gasket for the food tube attachment device.

[0012] FIG. 3 provides a more detailed view of an embodiment of a nozzle cap.

[0013] FIG. 4 depicts an assembled food tube attachment device having a removeable cap and coupled with a food tube.

[0014] FIG. 5 features a cross section of an embodiment of a shell.

[0015] FIG. 6 features a cross section of an embodiment of the assembled food tube attachment device in a disengaged position.

[0016] FIG. 7 features the cross section of the embodiment of the assembled food tube attachment device coupled with a food tube in an engaged position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0017] The innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein reference numerals are used to refer to elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It may be evident that the innovation can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram or other simplified form in order to facilitate a description thereof. Various embodiments are discussed hereinafter. It should be noted that the figures are described only to facilitate the description of the embodiments. They are not intended as an exhaustive description of the invention and do not limit the scope of the invention. Additionally, an illustrated embodiment need not have all the aspects or advantages shown. Thus, in other embodiments, any of the features described herein from different embodiments may be combined.

[0018] Food tubes provide convenient and engaging access to foods typically of a yogurt, puree, pudding, or other semi-solid/semi-liquid consistency. These types of foods are enjoyed by all but are particularly more commonly consumed by children or ill, injured, or infirmed individuals. All of these individuals may lack the motor skills necessary for easily opening and consuming the contents of a food tube in a clean manner. Additionally, the ability for someone else to prep a food tube with a food tube attachment device for later consumption is particularly helpful for those individuals. Therefore, there exists a need for a food tube attachment device which provides a tight seal around a food tube, a way to store the tube for later use, and easy access for children and other benefitted individuals.

[0019] FIG. 1 depicts an exploded view of an exemplary food tube attachment device. In some embodiments, a food tube attachment device includes a nozzle control handle 1, a shell 2, a nozzle cap 3, a gasket 4, and a nozzle 5. All components of the present invention should be made of food-safe materials not only because they may contact food and a user's mouth but further because the food tube attachment device is intended to be usable by children or the recovering or infirmed. Food-safe plastics, rubbers, silicone, wood, and metals, and the like are common materials used for such food-safe purposes. Regardless of material(s), the food tube attachment device should not chemically or otherwise interact with any type of puree, yogurt, sauce, or common food that could be held within a non-rigid plastic container (such as a pouch or food tube) and easily accessed. Further, some components, such as the nozzle cap 3 and the gasket 4, may require balance between the level of elasticity and rigidity to serve their purpose and retain enough durability for hundreds of uses.

[0020] The nozzle control handle 1 may be plate-shaped or disc-shaped and include a rigid exterior surface about its outer circumference to provide the user a better grip when engaging and disengaging the nozzle control handle 1 onto the food tube attachment device. In alternative embodiments, the nozzle control handle's 1 outer circumference may be further adapted to provide a better grip for the user to engage and/or disengage the nozzle control handle 1 onto/from the food tube attachment device. Examples of such adaptions include knurled edges, tabs, bars, or other suited structures to allow the user to generate more rotational force when turning the nozzle control handle in the screwing motion to engage the device.

[0021] The interior ring of the nozzle control handle 1 may include a complimentary coupling means (such as screw threads) that are complimentary to a coupling means (such as screw threads) of the nozzle 5. This allows the nozzle control handle 1 to screw onto the nozzle 5 and, preferably, reach a locking point so that the nozzle control handle 1 does not undesirably unscrew from the nozzle 5. However, the nozzle control handle 1 should be capable of being disengaged and/or unscrewed from the nozzle 5 so that the user may couple the food tube attachment device to another food tube after the contents of previous food tube has been depleted.

[0022] In some embodiments, manipulating (i.e. screwing) the nozzle control handle 1 onto the nozzle 5 and locking it into a secured position is considered engaging the device as this action secures an opening of a food tube to the food tube attachment device and creates a desirable seal so that the contents of the food tube go through the nozzle to be easily consumed by the user.

[0023] The shell 2 is depicted already coupled with a loop of the nozzle cap 3. This loop may wrap around the shell 2 or the shell 2 may be adapted to compliment the loop to achieve a more secure coupling. The top side of the shell 2 may include a groove, dip, or slotted area for allowing the nozzle control handle 1 to be secured in a locked or engaged position. The shell may also include structures for preventing the rotational movements of the nozzle 5 and/or gasket 4.

[0024] The nozzle cap 3 may be designed so that it includes an easy-to-use piece, handle, or grip to uncap the nozzle cap 3 form the nozzle 5. This grip may be made of rubber, silicone, plastic, etc. but should allow users having simpler motor skills (such as children) to easily uncap the nozzle cap 3. In alternative embodiments, the nozzle cap 3 could be coupled by a tether to any of the nozzle 5, the nozzle control handle 1, or the shell 2.

[0025] The gasket 4 should be made of elastic and durable material because it will bear the brunt of the force created by the assembly and engagement of the food tube attachment device. This force is created by the compression of the device due to the screwing of the nozzle control handle 1 onto the nozzle 5. Further, the gasket 4 should have sufficient width or thickness so that it does not fold in an undesirable way during the compression generated by the engagement of the food tube attachment device. The disforming of the gasket 4 presses the food tube against another part of the food tube attachment device in order to create the seal which allows the contents of the food tube to only egress through the nozzle.

[0026] The nozzle 5 is depicted having a top (the tip of the nozzle 5 that is engaged by the user's mouth) and a bottom (the end of the nozzle 5 that is encompassed by the opening in the food tube), an indexing notch, a gasket recessed area for receiving the gasket 4 and preventing it from undesirably sliding up and down the nozzle 5, screw threads for coupling with the nozzle control handle 1, and a circumferential lip that provides a retaining means for the structure of the nozzle cap 3 to engage with to resist undesired removal of the nozzle cap 3. A channel exists between the bottom and the top of the nozzle to allow food to pass from the food tube through the nozzle 5.

[0027] In alternative embodiments, the nozzle 5 may have one part of a coupling mechanism and the nozzle control handle 1 may have the corresponding part of the coupling mechanism (aka a complimentary coupling mechanism). This coupling mechanism may simply create a tight coupling, or it may have adjustable tightness by fastening the nozzle control handle 1 onto the nozzle like a threaded nut on a bolt with corresponding threads. The capability to adjust the tightness of the seal on the opening of the food tube is beneficial because food tubes may have different thicknesses of plastic; therefore, the ability to adjust the tightness creates a pseudo one-size-fits-all version of the present invention. Further, in alternative embodiments, the lip may serve to create a flush seal with the nozzle control handle 1 to further prevent the contents of the food tube from undesirably escaping through an avenue that is not the channel of the nozzle 5.

[0028] FIG. 2 provides an exemplary nozzle and gasket for a food tube attachment device. The nozzle 5 may be coupled with a gasket 4. This coupling may be permanent due to construction or using adhesion, or the coupling may be temporary to allow for the gasket 4 or the nozzle 5 to be replaced should one or both of the parts become worn or damaged. The ability to be replaced is particularly useful for the gasket 4 which will bear the majority of the wear caused by use of the device due to the compression placed on the rubber, silicone, or other food-safe suitable material to maintain an adequate seal between the gasket 4 and the shell 2 with the food tube between them.

[0029] The gasket 4 may further include an interfacing surface 4A which is designed to create a more desirable seal with the shell 2 when the seal is created with the food tube in the device. The interfacing surface 4A also may provide a bit more durability and longevity to the gasket 4 as it may resist long-term deformation due to its structure or material (which may be a different material than that of the gasket, making it somewhat of a cap). Further, the interfacing surface 4A may be adapted to better engage the interior of the shell 2 with the gasket 4 when the nozzle control handle 1 is screwed onto/engaged with the nozzle 5. The interfacing surface 4A may be made of a small layer of plastic or other hard material which is attached to the gasket and is rigid enough to keep its shape and orientation as the shell 2 is pressed down onto the interfacing surface. This prevents the gasket from undesirably deforming in a way which would not create a proper seal.

[0030] The top of the nozzle 5 has an opening for the contents of the food tube to egress. The top portion of the nozzle 5 should be relatively uniform and smooth for the user's comfort. Below the top portion of the nozzle 5, which engages the user's mouth, there may be the circumferential lip 5A which may further serve as a tactile notice to the user that the user has inserted enough of the nozzle 5 into the user's mouth. Obviously, this is only possible after the nozzle cap 3 has been removed from the nozzle 5, freeing up the circumferential lip 5A for this additional purpose. In alternative embodiments, the circumferential lip 5A may be designed to be flush and/or to create a seal with the nozzle control handle 1 when the nozzle control handle 1 is in the engaged position.

[0031] Below the circumferential lip 5A are the screw threads that couple with complimentary threads on the interior ring of the nozzle control handle 1 to lock the nozzle control handle 1 in the engaged position on the nozzle 5. Below the screw threads are another lip and the indexing notch 8 which couples with the shell 2 to prevent undesired rotation of the shell 2 and/or nozzle 5 when assembling the food tube attachment device on the food tube and during use. Below the indexing notch 8 is the gasket recessed area which is already coupled with the gasket 4 and having a bottom lip at the bottom end of the nozzle 5 which does not let the gasket slip beyond it. Further, the bottom lip is made of durable and rigid enough material and structure so that it supports the force generated by the downward compression created by the nozzle control handle 1 being manipulated and locked into the engaged position by fully screwing the nozzle control handle 1 onto the screw threads of the nozzle 5 until they reach the engaged position. Even further, the bottom lip may be further adapted to better retain the gasket 4 as it deforms during the compression generated by manipulating and locking the nozzle control handle 1 into the engaged position.

[0032] FIG. 3 provides a more detailed view of an embodiment of a nozzle cap. The depicted embodiment labels the nozzle cap 3 or nozzle receiver being attached to one end of a tether 3A, on the other end of the tether 3A is a (previously mentioned) loop 3B that couples to the shell 2. The nozzle cap 3 or nozzle receiver should be configured to compliment the shape of the nozzle 5 so that it is retained in place with sufficient resistance to being undesirably removed. Further, the nozzle cap 3 may have a slightly smaller opening than the immediately following portion of inner space of the nozzle cap 3. This slightly smaller opening may be a small lip which is made of elastic material and designed to fit over the circumferential lip 5A of the nozzle 5 with a small amount of force, locking the cap on the nozzle with that small amount of pressure followed by the retaining force of trying to move the small lip back over the circumferential lip 5A. The amount of force necessary to move the small lip of the nozzle cap 3 over and back over the circumferential lip 5A of the nozzle 5 is small enough that the action should be easily performed by a child but still require enough force that actions like brushing the nozzle cap 3 around in a bag or lunchbox does not dislodge the nozzle cap 3 from the nozzle 5.

[0033] In some embodiments, the present invention may include a nozzle cap handle 3C (aka grip) on the end of the tether 3A with the nozzle cap 3. The nozzle cap handle 3C may be a circular ring that allows the user to grip and easily remove the nozzle cap 3 from the nozzle 5. The nozzle cap handle 3C may be rigid or elastic, comprised of materials including silicone, rubber, and/or hand plastics. In alternative embodiments, the nozzle cap handle 3C may be a small stem, lever, bar, or other easily grabbable structure that allows the user to easily remove and/or re-fit the nozzle cap 3 onto the nozzle 5. The tether 3A also could have varying widths, lengths, and levels of rigidity so long as it allows the nozzle cap 3 to easily reach and cover the nozzle 5 and also be removed.

[0034] FIG. 4 depicts an assembled food tube attachment device having a removeable cap and coupled with a food tube. The depicted embodiment shows a fully assembled food tube attachment device on a food tube 6 and in the engaged position. Note that the food tube 6 should be inserted from below the device (the side with the bottom of the nozzle 5) into the gap between the shell 2 and the nozzle 5/gasket 4 prior to the nozzle control handle 1 being manipulated (i.e. screwed down) into the engaged position.

[0035] As shown, the shell 2 is almost completely covered by the nozzle cap's 3 wide loop. The shell 2 entirely covers the gasket 4 and the area of the nozzle 5 that has the gasket recessed area. In this engaged position, the gasket 4 is pressing the food tube 6 into the interior of the shell 2 so that the layers of the seal are (1) shell, (2) food tube, and (3) gasket.

[0036] Further, the nozzle control handle 1 is fully threaded down the screw threads of the nozzle 5 and in the engaged position (aka locked position). At least the nozzle control handle 1 and the nozzle 5 are designed to have a self-locking screw mechanism wherein after the nozzle control handle 1 is fully screwed on the nozzle 5, the position locks so that the nozzle control handle 1 does not undesirably unscrew from the nozzle 5. In fact, the user would need to apply some amount of force to manipulate or unscrew the nozzle control handle 1 once it reaches this engaged position. Additionally, use of the food tube attachment device should not accidentally cause the nozzle control handle 1 to unscrew from the nozzle 5.

[0037] In further embodiments, the nozzle control handle 1 and the nozzle 5 include a clip, locking mechanism, or other retainer member(s) to prevent the nozzle control handle from undesirably unscrewing from the nozzle 5.

[0038] In further embodiments, it may be desired that the shell 2 also includes a structure such as a groove, dip, or slotted area with a complimentary piece (such as a notch or peg) on the under or bottom side of the nozzle control handle 1 to lock the food tube attachment device in the engaged position. These further embodiments likely result in increased stability in the engaged position and requiring increased force to disengage the nozzle control handle 1 from that engaged position.

[0039] FIG. 5 features a cross section of an embodiment of a shell. The shell 2 may include structures to allow the nozzle cap's 3 coupling to the shell 2. The nozzle cap's 3 loop 3B may encircle a recessed area 2B in the shell 2 designed to snuggly fit the loop of the nozzle cap 3 to prevent the nozzle cap 3 from undesirably detaching from the shell 2. In alternative embodiments, the shell 2 may include other structures such as a peg that couples with a hole or slot on the nozzle cap's 3 tether 3A so that the nozzle cap 3 may be moved and placed in a capped position on top of the nozzle 5.

[0040] In some embodiments, the shell 2 may also include a handle locking structure 2A on its top portion that engages with a corresponding piece on the nozzle control handle 1 to lock the nozzle control handle 1 into an engaged position (aka a locked position) after the nozzle control handle 1 has been fully engaged (i.e. screwed down the screw threads) with the nozzle 5. This may be accomplished by having a small notch, bump, peg, or similarly purposed structure on the underside of the nozzle control handle 1 that engages with the handle locking structure 2A which may be in the form of a groove, dip, or slotted area which compliments a coupling with the corresponding piece of the nozzle control handle 1.

[0041] The depicted embodiment shows the shell 2 having an interior wall 2C and an exterior wall 2D. Further, the shell 2 may have a cavity for receiving the opening of the food tube 6 created between the interior wall 2C and the exterior wall 2D. The exterior wall 2D may include a structure or means for receiving the loop 3B of the nozzle cap 3 in the form of a recessed area 2B about an exterior circumference/wall of the shell 2. The recessed area 2B may include edges that are about as wide as the thickness of the loop of the nozzle cap 3. These edges allow for the nozzle cap's 3 loop to be detached from the shell 2 with some measure of force, primarily depending on the elasticity or rigidity of the loop of the nozzle cap 3.

[0042] In alternative embodiments, the interior wall 2C and the exterior wall 2D may be the same piece, not creating the cavity for receiving the open end of the food tube. In this embodiment, the seal is still created by the gasket 4 pressing the food tube into the wall of the shell (whether interior or exterior does not matter if they do not create a cavity). This alternative embodiment is less ideal because the cavity serves to allow the opening of the food tube to be inserted deeper into the shell 2 and usually creates a better seal as to not allow the contents of the food tube to escape through any direction other than through the channel of the nozzle 5.

[0043] FIG. 6 features a cross section of an embodiment of the assembled food tube attachment device in a disengaged position. This depiction shows the assembled food tube attachment device including the attached but disengaged nozzle control handle 1 at the top of the screw threads of the nozzle 5, the shell 2 around the body of the nozzle 5 and including a keyhole receiver for an indexing notch 8 that is part of the structure of the nozzle 5, and the gasket 4 lodged between the bottom of the nozzle 5 and the shell 2. A food tube 6 is also shown in the figure but it is not yet inserted to be sealed by the food tube attachment device.

[0044] In some embodiments, the interior wall 2C of the shell 2 may be constructed with the keyhole receiver for the corresponding indexing notch 8 of the nozzle 5 to prevent the nozzle 5 and gasket 4 from rotating when the nozzle control handle 1 is manipulated or screwed from the disengaged position to an engaged position on the nozzle 5. The keyhole receiver and the indexing notch 8 are important for ideal embodiments of the present invention because it is generally much more difficult to seal the food tube attachment device onto the food tube 6 without this keyhole receiver and this indexing notch 8 preventing undesired rotation of the nozzle 5, gasket 4, and/or shell 2.

[0045] The embodiment depicts the top of the shell 2 shows the handle locking structure 2A (shown as a circular groove or railway about the top circumference of the shell 2) which engages with a peg or protrusion on the bottom of the nozzle control handle 1 to better secure the nozzle control handle 1 in the engaged position. Similar but alternative structures may be used to aid in locking the nozzle control handle 1 in the engaged position, but all such structures should be able to be disengaged many times without damage to the structures on the shell 2 or the nozzle control handle 1. Therefore, these structures are likely to be made materials such as rubbers or plastics which are somewhat elastic but return to their original form. Further embodiments of this may include manually operated hole-and-peg locks, retaining clips and receivers, and pen-click locks.

[0046] Alternative embodiments which do not include the shell 2 may have the handle locking structure as part of the coupling mechanism of the nozzle 5 and the nozzle control handle 1.

[0047] The gasket 4 is shown having somewhat of a C-shape which encourages the gasket 4 to deform in a desired manner. The depicted gasket 4 should deform outward from the center (aka from the nozzle) until the gasket 4 meets the shell 2.

[0048] FIG. 7 features the cross section of the embodiment of the assembled food tube attachment device coupled with a food tube in an engaged position. In this engaged position, the food tube 6 was inserted into the cavity between the interior wall 2C and the exterior wall 2D of the shell 2. Further, in this embodiment, the seal between the food tube 6 and the food tube attachment device is created by the compression of the rotational/screwing motion of the nozzle control handle 1 onto the threads of the nozzle 5. The food tube attachment device may be maintained in the engaged position by a locking mechanism that at least includes the nozzle 5 and the nozzle control handle 1 but may further include the shell 2.

[0049] The nozzle 5, the gasket 4, and the shell 2 may be used to create a seal due to the force applied by manipulating and securing the nozzle control handle 1 onto the nozzle 5 into the engaged position via the coupling means present on the nozzle 5 with its complimentary coupling means on the nozzle control handle 1. The depicted coupling means (the screw threads) on the nozzle 5 allows the nozzle control handle 1 to screw onto the nozzle 5, tightening the shell's 2 pressure onto the nozzle 5 and the gasket 4 while preventing the nozzle control handle 1 from undesirably disengaging after reaching the locking point in the nozzle control handle's 1 rotation about the screw threads of the nozzle 5. In some embodiments, the nozzle control handle 1 and the nozzle 5 may pair to form a self-locking screw mechanism.

[0050] To assemble the depicted food tube attachment device, first, the gasket 4, having an opening, is coupled over the exterior of the nozzle 5 and positioned onto the gasket recessed area. Next, the nozzle 5 coupled with the gasket 4 are inserted into the shell 2. The indexing notch 8 of the nozzle 5 should be rotationally aligned with the keyhole receiver of the shell 2. Then, the nozzle control handle 1 is placed over the top of the nozzle 5 and aligned with the screw threads of the nozzle 5. The food tube 6 is inserted into the cavity between the interior wall 2C and the exterior wall 2D of the shell 2. Finally, the nozzle control handle 1 is tightened onto the nozzle 5, gasket 4, shell 2, and food tube 6. This creates the depicted deformation of the C-shaped gasket 4 which is now pressing the walls of the food tube 6 against the exterior wall of the shell 2, creating a tight seal which does not let food escape nor allows the food tube 6 to dislodge from the cavity of the shell 2 without the nozzle control handle 1 first being unlocked and/or disengaged.

[0051] In alternative embodiments, instead of the coupling means including screw threads and the locking mechanism to lock the food tube attachment device in the engaged position, a different structure, such as a sealable cam lever may be used to create the flexible seal between the food tube attachment device and the food tube 6. The cam lever, may have a pivot attachment on the nozzle 5 (such as a pin joint). When rotating about the pin-joint the cam lever may assert force against the top of the shell 2, which translates into linear motion of the nozzle 5. Just as the screw threads of the nozzle 5 and complimentary screw threads of the nozzle control handle 1 convert rotational motion into linear motion to deform the gasket 4, the cam lever may achieve this same linear motion to deform the gasket 4.

[0052] In further alternative embodiments, the food tube attachment device may include a spring-structure instead of the nozzle control handle 1 so that the spring-structure may engage or disengage the food tube attachment device in the engaged position and the disengaged position. This engagement and disengagement should still operate by deforming the gasket 4 to exert pressure on the food tube 6 against one of the walls of the shell 2. Even further, this spring-structure may include rotational locking structures similar to those found in a click-action pen for writing.

[0053] In alternative embodiments, the shell 2 may not include an exterior wall and the food tube is retained in the engaged position merely by the outward pressure created by the deformation of the gasket 4 as the food tube attachment device is manipulated and/or locked into the engaged position.

[0054] It should be understood that any of the examples described herein may include various other features in addition to or in lieu of those described above. By way of example only, any of the examples described herein may also include one or more of the various features disclosed in any of the various references that are incorporated by reference herein.

[0055] It should be understood that any one or more of the teachings, expressions, embodiments, examples, etc. described herein may be combined with any one or more of the other teachings, expressions, embodiments, examples, etc. that are described herein. The above-described teachings, expressions, embodiments, examples, etc. should therefore not be viewed in isolation relative to each other. Various suitable ways in which the teachings herein may be combined will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in view of the teachings herein. Such modifications and variations are intended to be included within the scope of the claims.

[0056] It should be appreciated that any patent, publication, or other disclosure material, in whole or in part, that is said to be incorporated by reference herein is incorporated herein only to the extent that the incorporated material does not conflict with existing definitions, statements, or other disclosure material set forth in this disclosure. As such, and to the extent necessary, the disclosure as explicitly set forth herein supersedes any conflicting material incorporated herein by reference. Any material, or portion thereof, that is said to be incorporated by reference herein, but which conflicts with existing definitions, statements, or other disclosure material set forth herein will only be incorporated to the extent that no conflict arises between that incorporated material and the existing disclosure material.

[0057] Having shown and described various versions of the present invention, further adaptations of the methods, systems, and apparatus described herein may be accomplished by appropriate modifications by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention. Several such potential modifications have been mentioned, and others will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For instance, the examples, versions, geometrics, materials, dimensions, ratios, steps, and the like discussed above are illustrative and are not required. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention should be considered in terms of the following claims and is understood not to be limited to the details of structure and operation shown and described in the specification and drawings. Furthermore, to the extent that the term includes is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term comprising as comprising is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.