Air pumping type fixed quantity dispensing container

Abstract

An air pumping type fixed quantity dispensing container for dispensing food stuff, the container having a dispensing opening, including a cap, formed at a lower end of the container for dispensing the food stuff; a lid portion disposed at an upper end of the container, the lid portion including an air pumping unit for injecting the air into an inner portion of the container by the predetermined amount of distribution; and an isolating plate arranged inside the container, the isolating plate isolating the food stuff stored in the container from the air input into the container by the air pumping unit, wherein the isolating plate floats on top of the food stuff due to viscosity of the food stuff and moves along inner sidewalls of the container.

Description

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

[0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to my application entitled “AMR PUMPING TYPE FIXED QUANTITY DISPENSING CONTAINER” filed in the Korean Industrial Property Office on Oct. 19, 2002 and assigned Serial No.2002-31233, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates generally to an air pumping type fixed quantity dispensing container, and more particularly to an air pumping type fixed quantity dispensing container comprising an air pumping unit mounted to a lid portion disposed at the upper end of the container for dispensing a predetermined amount of food additive through air injection caused by pumping.

[0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0005] Generally, a half-solid type food additive, such as bean paste, thick soy paste mixed with red pepper, mayonnaise, ketchup or the like, which is used frequently in cooking, is put in a metal or plastic container, and then it are taken out of the container if necessary.

[0006] When the food additive is taken out of the container as mentioned above, the additive contained in the container may be contaminated or deteriorated. On this account, the food additive is put in a flexible plastic container with a dispensing opening formed on a lid portion thereof, and a required amount of the food additive is dispensed through the dispensing opening by pressing down a dispensing spout of the container, or by squeezing the sides of the container, when dispensing of the food additive is desired.

[0007] With the conventional container, however, the amount of the food additive is adjusted only with the naked eyes of the user while the food additive is dispensed. As a result, it is not possible to adjust accurately the distributed amount of the food additive.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] In order to overcome the aforesaid drawback of the prior, it is an object of the present invention to provide an air pumping type fixed quantity dispensing container comprising an air pumping unit mounted to a lid portion disposed at the upper end of the container for dispensing a predetermined amount of food additive by one time action.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] A more complete appreciation of the present invention, and many of the attendant advantages thereof, will become readily apparent as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like reference symbols indicate the same or similar components, wherein:

[0010] FIG. 1 is a sectional side view of an air pumping type fixed quantity dispensing container according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0011] FIG. 2 is a sectional side view of an air pumping type fixed quantity dispensing container according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

[0012] FIG. 3 is a detail view in section of a return air hole according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] The present invention provides an air pumping type fixed quantity dispensing container that is capable of dispensing a predetermined amount of food additive by one time action, so that convenience of its use may be improved. The air pumping type fixed quantity dispensing container according to the present invention comprises a container 10 having a dispensing spout 111 and cap 11b thereof formed at the lower end of the container. Container 10 also has a lid portion 20 disposed at the upper end (the end opposite the end having the dispensing spout 11) of the container; and an air pumping unit mounted to the lid portion 20 of the container 10 for injecting the air into the 11 container 10 by the predetermined amount of distribution.

[0014] FIG. 1 illustrates a first preferred embodiment of the present invention. The air pumping unit comprises an air supplying plate 32 with an air supplying hole (outlet) 51 formed at the center thereof, and an air pressing plate 31 of an elastic spherical shape having a return air hole (inlet) 52 formed at the center thereof, the air pressing plate constituting the upper end of the lid portion 20, a pressurized air chamber 40 being formed between the air supplying plate 32 and the pressing plate 31.

[0015] FIG. 2 illustrates a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. The air pumping unit comprises a pressing cylinder 42 of cylindrical shape having an air supplying hole (outlet) 51 passing through the upper end of the lid portion 20 into the container, and an air pressing button 41 for injecting air into the container 10, the air pressing button having a return air hole (inlet) 52 formed at the center thereof, and a return spring 43 placed in a pressurized air chamber 40b being formed between the bottom of the pressing cylinder 42 and the air pressing button 41.

[0016] Furthermore, at the return air hole 52 formed through the air pressing plate 31 or the air pressing button 41 maybe provided a check valve 53, as shown in FIG. 3, for restricting the air flow when the air pressing plate or the air pressing button is pressed down and for allowing the air flow when the air pressing plate or the air pressing button returns to the original position.

[0017] In addition, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, inside the container 10 is arranged an isolating plate 60 which moves up and down along the inner wall of the container 10, and rests on the top surface of the food additive due to viscosity of the food additive to be consumed. The isolating plate 60 isolates the food additive stored in the container from the air flowing into the container. Also, beneath the container 10 is provided a supporting stand 12 for allowing the container to stand on a 11 horizontal surface.

[0018] The operation of the air pumping type fixed quantity dispensing container according to the present invention will now be described.

[0019] When a half-solid type food additive, such as bean paste, thick soy paste mixed with red pepper, mayonnaise, ketchup or the like, is to be distributed using the air pumping type fixed quantity dispensing container comprising a container 10 having a dispensing spout 11 formed at the lower end of the container and a lid portion 20 disposed at the upper end of the container, and an air pumping unit mounted to the lid portion 20 of the container 10 for injecting the air into the container 10 by the predetermined amount of distribution, as fully described above, the food additive is put into the container after the lid portion 20 and isolating plate 60 are first removed from the container. And then the removed isolating plate 60 and lid portion 20 are returned to their respective positions.

[0020] Then the cap 11b is moved to open dispensing spout 11, and once the air pumping unit mounted to the lid portion 20 is pressed while the food additive is in the container as mentioned above, the air is supplied into the container by the air pumping unit to press down the isolating plate 60, which in turn presses down on the food additive in the container. Consequently, the food additive is dispensed through the dispensing spout 11.

[0021] At this time, the food additive is dispensed by a predetermined amount.

[0022] Since the air pumping type fixed quantity dispensing container according to the present invention has the air pumping unit mounted to the lid portion disposed at the upper end of the container, a predetermined amount of food additive can be distributed by one time action. Consequently, the use of the container is very convenient and simple.

[0023] Although the invention has been described in its preferred embodiment form with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been changed in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing the spirit and the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

Claims

1. An air pumping type fixed quantity dispensing container for dispensing food stuff, said container comprising:

a dispensing opening formed at a lower end of the container for dispensing the food stuff; and

a lid portion disposed at an upper end of the container; said lid portion including:

an air pumping unit for injecting the air into an inner portion of the container by the predetermined amount of distribution.

2. The air pumping type fixed quantity dispensing container as claimed in claim 1, said air pumping unit comprising:

an air supplying plate with an air supplying outlet formed at a central area of the air supplying plate;

an air pressing plate of an elastic spherical shape having a return air inlet formed at central portion of the air pressing plate, the air pressing plate constituting an upper end of the lid portion; and

an air chamber being formed between the air supplying plate and the pressing plate.

3. The air pumping type fixed quantity dispensing container as claimed in claim 1, said air pumping unit comprising:

a pressing cylinder of cylindrical shape having an air supplying outlet passing through a central portion of a lower end of the pressing cylinder;

an air pressing button for injecting air into the container through the air supplying outlet, the air pressing button having a return air inlet formed through a central portion of the air pressing button;

a return spring placed between the lower end of the pressing cylinder and the air pressing button; and

an air chamber being formed between the lower end of the pressing cylinder and the air pressing button.

4. The air pumping type fixed quantity dispensing container as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

an isolating plate arranged inside the container, said isolating plate isolating the food stuff stored in the container from the air input into the container by said air pumping unit, wherein said isolating plate floats on top of said food stuff due to viscosity of said food stuff and moves along inner sidewalls of said container.

5. The air pumping type fixed quantity dispensing container as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a supporting stand disposed at said lower end of the container, said supporting stand allowing the container to stand on a horizontal surface.

6. An air pumping type fixed quantity dispensing container for dispensing food stuff, said container comprising:

a dispensing opening, including a cap, formed at a lower end of the container for dispensing the food stuff; and

a lid portion disposed at an upper end of the container, said lid portion including:

an air pumping unit for injecting the air into an inner portion of the container by the predetermined amount of distribution; and

an isolating plate arranged inside the container, said isolating plate isolating the food stuff stored in the container from the air input into the container by said air pumping unit, wherein said isolating plate floats on top of said food stuff due to viscosity of said food stuff and moves along inner sidewalls of said container.

7. The air pumping type fixed quantity dispensing container as claimed in claim 6, said air pumping unit comprising:

an air supplying plate with an air supplying outlet formed at a central area of the air supplying plate;

an air pressing plate of an elastic spherical shape having a return air inlet formed at central portion of the air pressing plate, the air pressing plate constituting an upper end of the lid portion; and

an air chamber being formed between the air supplying plate and the pressing plate.

8. The air pumping type fixed quantity dispensing container as claimed in claim 6, said air pumping unit comprising:

a pressing cylinder having an air supplying outlet passing through a central portion of a lower end of the pressing cylinder;

a cylindrical air pressing button for injecting air into the container through the air supplying outlet, the cylindrical air pressing button having a return air inlet formed through a central portion of the air pressing button;

a return spring placed between the lower end of the pressing cylinder and the cylindrical air pressing button; and

an air chamber being formed between the lower end of the pressing cylinder and the cylindrical air pressing button.

9. The air pumping type fixed quantity dispensing container as claimed in claim 6, further comprising: a supporting stand disposed at said lower end of the container, said supporting stand allowing the container to stand on a horizontal surface.

10. The air pumping type fixed quantity dispensing container as claimed in claim 7, further comprising: a supporting stand disposed at said lower end of the container, said supporting stand allowing the container to stand on a horizontal surface.

11. The air pumping type fixed quantity dispensing container as claimed in claim 8, further comprising: a supporting stand fixed at said lower end of the container, said supporting stand enabling the container to stand on a horizontal surface.

12. The air pumping type fixed quantity dispensing container as claimed in claim 6, said lid portion and said isolating plate being removable from said container to allow said food stuff to be deposited into said container.