CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e)(1) of a provisional patent application, Serial Number 61/552,487, filed October 28, 2011, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entity.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a food dispenser. In particular, the invention pertains to a disposable flexible package for dispensing fluid there from.

BACKGROUND

Businesses in the hospitality industry that provide accommodations generally also provide food services in addition to lodging. In many instances, the food service includes a self-catering breakfast facility stocked with generally known breakfast food items such as cereal, breads, coffee, milk, etc. In some instances, the self-catering breakfast facility includes means for preparing waffle and/or pancakes for which the batter is generally prepared in bulk in advance and stored until requested by a patron. Upon request, batter in an amount specifically sized for a single serving is provided in a package. Alternatively, a number of pre-filled single- serve packages may be set out. This process tends to be prone to spills, and messy because of drips from dispensing batter to and or from the package. Additionally, the unused batter generally cannot be stored for an extended period of time and therefore has to be thrown away leading to waste and an increase in operating costs for the business.

Accordingly, there exists a need for a sealed package enclosing therewithin a single serving of a food item, such as batter for waffle and/or pancakes. SUMMARY

An embodiment of a dispensing package includes an enclosed space defined at least in part by a flexible packaging film with sealed first and second ends and a longitudinal seal extending between the first and second sealed ends. In some embodiments of the package, the first and the second ends are transversely sealed. In a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the flexible packaging film includes a thermoplastic material. The surface of the package includes a pinch seal, wherein the pinch seal includes a nick configured for enabling at least a partial tear in at least a portion of the package's surface. The nick is offset from the longitudinal seal such that the propagation and the extent of the tear is arrested by the longitudinal seal. In some embodiments of the package, the nick and the longitudinal seal are in a transverse relationship relative to one another. The partial tearing of the surface defines adjacent first and second in the package. In some embodiments, the package includes a flowable content that is extrudable through at least a portion of the tear. In a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the flowable content is selected from the group consisting of liquids, viscous fluids, semi-solid mixtures, batter, gel, solid edible particles, semi-solid edible particles, and any combination thereof.

A method of dispensing the flowable content of an embodiment of the package includes grasping adjacent sides of the nick in the pinch seal and pulling them apart to, at least partially, tear at least a portion of the surface of the package. In some embodiments, the pinch seal is offset from a longitudinally extending seal. In certain embodiments, the propagation and the extent of the tear is arrested by the longitudinally extending seal. As such, the tear defines adjacent first and second openings for extruding the flowable content of the package. Accordingly, the method includes extruding the flowable content of the package through at least a portion of the tear. In a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, extruding the flowable content of the package includes pushing the flowable content towards the tear. In a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the flowable content is selected from the group consisting of liquids, viscous fluids, semi-solid mixtures, batter, gel, solid edible particles, semi-solid edible particles, and any combination thereof. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a side view of a package in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. IB illustrates an embodiment of the package when viewed from a side opposite that shown in FIG. 1 A;

FIG. 1C is an end view of the package illustrated in FIGS. 1 A and IB; and

FIG. 2 shows the package of FIGS. 1A-1C after a surface thereof has been torn open.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While multiple embodiments of the instant invention are disclosed, alternate embodiments may become apparent to those skilled in the art. The following detailed description describes only illustrative embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like elements are designated by like numerals. It should be clearly understood that there is no intent, implied or otherwise, to limit the invention in any form or manner to that described herein. As such, all alternatives are considered as falling within the spirit, scope and intent of the instant invention.

FIGS. 1A-1C show side views and an end view of package 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. While package 100 is illustrated in the figures as having an elongated shape, alternate shapes such as cuboid, conical, etc., are considered as being within the metes and bounds of the instant invention. Package 100 comprises transversely sealed first and second ends 102 and 104, respectively, and longitudinal seal 106 along surface 108 extending between first and second ends 102 and 104 of package 100. As such, these seals operate to enclose and seal a content within package 100. In an embodiment of the invention, longitudinal seal 106 is either a fin seal or a lap seal.

Surface 108 of package 100 includes pinch seal 110 with nick 1 12 in pinch seal 1 10. In an embodiment of the invention, pinch seal 110 and nick 1 12 are configured such that grasping and pulling apart adjacent sides 114 and 116 of nick 1 12 in pinch seal 110 causes a tear in at least a portion of surface 108 starting from nick 112. As shown in FIGS. 1A and IB, the tear in surface 108 will propagate on both (or opposite) sides of pinch seal 1 10 and is generally represented by the dashed lines indicated by numerals 118 and 120. Also as shown in FIG. 1 A, when the tear, represented by dashed line 118 reaches location 122 proximate longitudinal seal 106, further propagation of the tear will be arrested (e.g., limited, stopped, inhibited) by longitudinal seal 106. Accordingly, the tear represented by dashed line 120 will also stop. As such, the tear extending along surface 108 on both (or opposite) sides of pinch seal 110, for example generally along dashed lines 118 and 120, will essentially be of equal length. In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the tear in surface 108 will generally be in a transverse direction and essentially orthogonal to longitudinal seal 106.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of package 100 after surface 108 has been torn by grasping and pulling apart adjacent sides 114 and 116 of nick 112 in pinch seal 110. As shown, pinch seal 110 is torn into sections 11 OA and HOB and the tear, generally along dashed lines 118 and 120, creates adjacent first and second openings 202 and 204 in package 100. The contents of package 100 are extruded, or emptied out, through first and second openings 202 and 204. In an embodiment of the invention, such as that illustrated in FIG. 2, package 100 is folded at the tear before the contents thereof are extruded. In an alternate embodiment, the contents are extruded after package 100 is completely folded onto itself such that surfaces 108 on both sides of the tear are in contact.

The oval shapes of first and second openings 202 and 204 should not be construed as implying that package 100 is of a particular geometrical shape. On the contrary, package 100 is of any geometric shape. In an embodiment of the invention, package 100 is generally cylindrical in shape with a generally circular or oval cross-section.

In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the content of package 100 is flowable including one or more of a liquid, a viscous fluid, a semi-solid mixture, batter, gel, or any combinations and/or mixtures thereof. In another embodiment, package 100 contains a single serving of a food item such as batter for a waffle or a pancake. In alternate embodiments, the flowable content of package 100 includes solid or semi-solid food particles or pieces, such as, nuts, fruit, chocolate, etc.

In an embodiment of the invention, the contents of package 100 extrude naturally through first and second openings 202 and 204. In an alternate embodiment, the contents extrude or pour out under the influence of gravity, particularly when first and second openings 202 and 204 do not face up. In another embodiment, the contents extrude through first and second openings 202 and 204 under the influence of pressure (or force) applied at and extending from sealed first and second ends 102 and 104 to first and second openings 202 and 204, respectively. In yet another embodiment of the invention, the pressure for extruding the contents of package 100 is applied after package 100 is folded at the tear. In accordance with one such embodiment, package 100 is first completely folded onto itself such that surfaces 108 on both sides of the tear are in contact and the contents are then extruded by applying the pressure.

In an embodiment of the invention, pinch seal 1 10 and longitudinal seal 106 on surface 108 of package 100 are angularly offset from each other such that first and second openings 202 and 204 created by the tear in surface 108 are of sufficient size to ease, and not hinder, the extrusion or flow of the content from package 100. By way of example, the embodiments in FIGS. 1A-2 are shown having a generally circular or oval cross-section and the figures illustrate pinch seal 110 and longitudinal seal 106 having an angular offset of approximately 90° relative to each other. Accordingly, the tear in surface 108 may be seen as an arc of approximately 180° with the tear extending a distance of approximately one-half the perimeter of surface 108. In an alternate embodiment, pinch seal 110 and longitudinal seal 106 have an angular offset greater than or less than 90° relative to each other. Accordingly, the size of first and second openings 202 and 204 is dependent on the angular offset between pinch seal 1 10 and longitudinal seal 106. As will be apparent, the size of first and second openings 202 and 204 increases with an increase in the angular offset between pinch seal 1 10 and longitudinal seal 106.

In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, package 100 and surface 108 thereof is flexible. As such, package 100 is manufactured using a flexible packaging film. In some embodiments of the invention, various types of thermoplastic materials are used in sheet form as the flexible packaging film. Such material include thermoplastic film known to those skilled in the art to be suitable for packaging consumables, e.g., polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), low density polyethylene (LDPE), polypropylene, polyester, polylactic acid, and layered combinations thereof providing a multi-layered laminate. Whether provided as a single film or as a multi-layered laminate, the flexible packaging film in some embodiments may further be provided with a protective or oxygen barrier layer, such as a metallic or metal oxide barrier layer to help preserve the quality of food products in packages or to prevent or reduce corrosive interaction between the packaging film layer and the food product over the shelf-life of the product.

Various modifications and additions may be made to the exemplary embodiments described hereinabove without departing from the scope, intent and spirit of the instant invention. For example, while the disclosed embodiments refer to particular features, the scope of the instant invention is considered to also include embodiments having various combinations of features different from and/or in addition to those described hereinabove. Accordingly, the present invention embraces all such alternatives, modifications, and variations as within the scope, intent and spirit of the appended claims, including all equivalents thereof.