Abstract: A spout for containers of pourable materials is provided having side panels that are flexibly secured to a central panel and positioned on a cap surface, adjacent a pour opening. The side panels are structured to extend outwardly from the central panel when the spout is in its closed position and to lie substantially parallel to the end cap. The side walls are flexibly secured to the central portion of the spout to permit the spout to move inwardly along the pour opening to define a projecting spout extending from the end cap.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tray plug that includes a base portion; a plurality of towers extending upwardly away from the base portion; a secondary base portion contiguous with the underside of the base portion; and a means for securing the plug to a display structure, whereby the tray plug can be quickly secured and subsequently removed from a display such as a point-of-purchase display.

Abstract: A scoop is provided having a bowl. The bowl includes a closed end and an opposing open end. An axial handle extends from the closed end of the bowl, along the longitudinal axis of the bowl, away from the bowl. The scoop may include an inclined internal ridge extends along at least a portion of an inner surface of the bowl.

Abstract: A rack is provided in combination with a tray for handling food products inside of an oven. The tray has a bottom panel and walls extending upwardly from a perimeter of the bottom panel. The rack comprises a generally planar plate and a plurality of aperture clusters extending therethrough. The aperture clusters are sized and shaped to correspond to the food products to be held on the rack. Generally, one aperture cluster corresponds to one food product and is sized to define a surface area that is smaller than that of the food product whereby, when the food product is placed on the top surface of the plate adjacent the aperture cluster, the food product covers the aperture cluster. The rack may also have legs extending away from the bottom surface of the plate.

Abstract: A tray for handling food in a warming oven comprises a dish portion a rim portion and a gasket portion. The dish portion is constructed from a first material and has a base portion adapted for handling of food products. The dish also has a wall portion surrounding the entirety of the base portion and extending therefrom. The wall portion has a closed end connected to the base portion and an open end disposed away from the base portion. The rim portion is constructed from a second material and extends generally parallel to the wall portion, around the perimeter of the dish portion. The rim portion has an attached end adapted for compressive engagement with the open end of the wall and a free end adapted to facilitate handling of the tray. The gasket is compressively disposed between the dish and the rim and adapted to restrict the movement of the dish away from the rim.

Abstract: A dispenser top for loose materials has a flap attached to the dispenser top by a hinge along one edge of the flap. The hinged flap in a closed position overlies the dispenser top and closes one or more openings in the dispenser top and in an open position projects outward from the dispenser top. The one or more openings closed by the flap may be confined to a part of the top asymmetrically positioned on the dispenser top with a center of the part between the hinge and a center of the dispenser top.

Abstract: A removable safety cap (10) for use with an ink cartridge or other fluid holding container having a nozzle (34) extending from the dispensing end. The safety cap (10) prevents the flow of ink out of the cartridge or, if ink escapes past the dispensing nozzle seal, prevents the flow of ink outside the cap (10). The cap (10) also enables the ink cartridge to be set upright with the dispensing end down without the need for a nest or fixture to help support the cartridge.

Abstract: An embodiment of a plug for insertion into an opening of a container has a handle attached to a wall of the plug and at least one line of weakness in the wall. When a force is exerted on the handle to remove the plug from the opening, the wall tends to fail along said at least one line of weakness, thus showing tamper evidence and releasing the plug for removal.

Abstract: A container for storing and dispensing a liquid media. The container includes an end cap that is attached to a container body. The end cap includes at least one valve orifice disposed through the end cap. The at least one valve orifice includes a cut-out in the end cap and a flap attached to the end cap. The flap includes a preloaded hinge attached to the end cap. When the flap is in a first position, it is in contact with an edge adjacent the respective orifice cut-out. When pressure is exerted on the liquid media, the flap is displaced to a second position enabling flow of the liquid media through the cut-out.

Abstract: A dispenser is provided for delivering a controlled quantity of a granular material. The dispenser includes a container assembly, a diffuser and a metering cup. The container includes a reservoir which supports a disposable cartridge of granular material. The cartridge is supported in the reservoir so as to define a passageway therebetween. A nozzle is defined for the outflow of material from the cartridge. The diffuser is disposed on one end of the container and includes a plurality of apertures. The metering cup is disposed on the opposite end of the container and has an open end adapted to receive granular material. Adjustment of the axial spacing between the nozzle and metering cup varies the quantity of granular material collected in the cup. The granular material is dispensed by inverting the container to a second orientation, such that material flows out of the metering cup, through the passageway and out of the diffuser.

Abstract: A container/package for dispensing a liquid media which is environmentally advantageous for recycling and waste disposal purposes. The liquid media package having a tubular body, an end cap on the tubular body for containing the liquid media, and a mechanism for inducing stress, such a score line in the tubular body, responsive to pressure developed by a pressure generating device to cause failure and separation of at least a portion of tubular body. More specifically, a first pressure is developed to dispense liquid media through the orifices in the end cap. A second pressure, higher than the first pressure, is subsequently developed for effecting failure of the tubular body at the point of induced stress. The package may be fabricated from two materials, where at least one of which is recyclable.

Abstract: A shearing device is adapted for use in combination with a cutting assembly. The shearing device is, furthermore, adapted for traversing within a cutting assembly guide which functions to facilitate sliding motion therein in a desired cutting direction, while delimiting motion/displacement in directions orthogonal to the cutting direction. The shearing device includes at least one pair of cutting blades wherein each of the cutting blades defines a least one edge inclined relative to the cutting direction. Furthermore, the blades are juxtaposed such that the inclined edges spatially converge to define a throat region and a convergence point. To maintain the spatial position of the cutting blades, a connecting means between the cutting blades. Further, a bearing support structure is disposed in combination with at least one of the cutting blades and engages the guide of the cutting assembly.

Abstract: A cutting assembly is provided that is adapted for use in combination with a container for dispensing a web of material. The dispensing container includes a plurality of adjoining sidewalls which define an external geometric profile. The cutting assembly includes a guide disposed in combination with a sidewall of the container and a cutter adapted for traversing within the elongate guide in a desired cutting direction. Furthermore, guide and bearing surfaces, formed on the guide and cutter, respectively, cooperate to permit sliding motion therebetween in the cutting direction and interlock to delimit displacement of the cutter relative to the guide in directions orthogonal to the cutting direction. A portion of the guide and cutter is disposed proximal to a corner of the container and recessed relative to its external geometric profile to facilitate container storage and display while additionally producing an aesthetically pleasing appearance.

Abstract: A removable safety cap (10) for use with an ink cartridge or other fluid holding container having a nozzle (34) extending from the dispensing end. The safety cap (10) prevents the flow of ink out of the cartridge or, if ink escapes past the dispensing nozzle seal, prevents the flow of ink outside the cap (10). The cap (10) also enables the ink cartridge to be set upright with the dispensing end down without the need for a nest or fixture to help support the cartridge.

Abstract: A container for refrigerated dough or other expandable products and a condiment cup therein for containing icing and the like includes the following construction. The container has an elongate cylindrical body with an interior wall of a predetermined diameter and end closures. The condiment cup is of a flexible plastic generally cup-shaped construction having a generally cylindrical side wall closed at one end by a dome-shaped convex end and open at the other end. The cylindrical side wall has an outside diameter only slightly less than the diameter of the container interior wall so as to provide a loose friction fit when the condiment cup is positioned within the container cylindrical body portion. The condiment cup is filled with condiment and positioned within the container at one end of the cylindrical body portion with the open end of the cup facing the end closure at the one end.