The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 23, 2000
Filed:
Aug. 24, 1998
Thomas Tedeschi, Jr, Brewster, NY (US);
Stephen P Belko, Blackwood, NJ (US);
Kraft Foods, Inc., Northfield, IL (US);
Abstract
A closable dispenser and an apparatus for dispensing a flowable product therewith are provided. The apparatus for dispensing includes a collapsible product container. The closable dispenser includes an outlet member having a base and a 3-D tip having a 3-D opening therein. The dispenser also includes a spout member having a hollow main body fixed to the container, a stopper extending from the main body and having a 3-D shape complementary to the 3-D opening of the tip, and a passage between the main body and the stopper. A mounting mechanism movably mounts the base of the outlet member about the main body of the spout member for a relative movement of the outlet member and spout member between (a) an open position allowing flow of the product where the stopper is spaced interiorly from the 3-D opening and dispensing of the product through the passage to the 3-D opening is permitted and (b) a closed position preventing flow of the product where the stopper is complementarily engaged with the 3-D opening of the tip so that most residual product is expelled from said tip and a 3-D surface which is easily cleaned of remaining residual product is provided. Preferably, the 3-D tip of the outlet member has an outer convex shape and an inner concave shape, and the 3-D shape of the stopper is convex. In addition, the 3-D opening of the tip is a plurality of slots radiating away from a central aperture at an apex of the tip.