BUTTER HOLDER AND APPLICATION DEVICE

Abstract

A butter holder for dispensing butter onto food having a base piece which includes at least one wall having inner and outer wall surfaces. The base piece has a floor positioned at a base of the wall, and the inner wall surface and the floor define a cavity for retaining a portion of a stick of butter. The base piece has an open end opposite the floor to permit a portion of the stick of butter to protrude out of the base piece. The inner wall surface has at least one protrusion which extends partially into the cavity. The protrusion extends upwardly on the inner wall surface from the floor toward the open end. The protrusion extends partially into a stick of butter placed within the cavity to help retain the stick of butter within the base piece. The base piece is formed from a flexible food-grade silicone material.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application 62/415,045, which was filed on Oct. 31, 2016, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention pertains to a device for holding and applying a stick of butter. More particularly, the present invention pertains to a butter holder device which has particular use with applying butter to food.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Various devices exist in the prior art for holding and dispensing a volume of butter from the end of a stick of butter. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,097,899 to Lester discloses an insulated butter dispenser for keeping the stick of butter from getting too warm while it is out of a refrigerator. Also, U.S. Design Pat. No. D315,083 discloses a butter dispenser for incrementally pushing a stick of butter out of a container so that the end of the butter can be applied and dispensed onto food. U.S. Pat. No. 3,920,156 discloses a device for dispensing butter onto food by incrementally moving the length of the stick of butter out of the end of the device so that the end can be applied to the food.

However, none of these devices have obtained commercial success due to a variety of reasons. For example, they may be overly complicated and have too many pieces, and as a result they are too messy and difficult to clean. In addition, the cumbersome nature of these devices may have made them insufficiently user-friendly.

The present invention, as is detailed hereinbelow, seeks to improve upon the existing butter holder and application devices by having minimal moving parts, by being ergonomically friendly and easy to use, by being easy to clean, and also by keeping the user from getting butter on his or her hands during use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a butter holder and application device for dispensing butter onto food which comprises: a base piece having at least one wall, the wall having an inner wall surface and an outer wall surface, and a floor positioned at a base of the wall, the inner wall surface and the floor defining a cavity for receiving and retaining a stick of butter (or a portion of a stick of butter), the base piece having an open end opposite the floor to permit a portion of the stick of butter to protrude out of the base piece, the inner wall surface being positioned adjacent the cavity for engaging against the stick of butter, and the inner wall surface including at least one protrusion which extends partially into the cavity, the protrusion being provided to extend partially into a stick of butter placed within the cavity to help retain the stick of butter within the base piece, and the base piece being formed from a flexible food-grade material.

The base piece can include four walls which are adjoined on the sides thereof to define a rectangular-shaped cavity. The inner wall surface of each wall preferably includes at least one protrusion extending partially into the cavity.

Optionally, the inner wall surface and/or the protrusions can have a textured, or contoured surface which increases the surface area thereof to help grip and retain the stick of butter placed within the cavity.

Optionally, the protrusions are tapered such that the protrusions extends further into the cavity adjacent to the floor, and the amount of protrusion into the cavity decreases along the length of the protrusion extending toward the open end.

Optionally, the protrusions extend only partially up the inner wall from the floor, whereby the protrusion does not extend to the open end. Alternatively, the protrusions can extend all the way from the floor to the open end.

Optionally, the base piece is formed from a food-grade flexible silicone material.

Optionally, the butter holder and application device can also include a separate rigidly-formed top piece having at least one wall, and a ceiling positioned at a top of the wall, whereby the at least one wall and the ceiling form a cavity for encapsulating and surrounding the portion of the stick of butter protruding out of the base piece. Preferably the walls of the base piece and the top piece can interconnect with each other to fully enclose the stick of butter.

Optionally, the floor of the base piece includes a flange which extends beyond the base of the wall, and there is also provided a rounded interior corner, or fillet, between the flange and the base of the wall. Preferably, the walls and the open end of the top piece are dimensioned to surround the wall of the base piece, and the top piece frictionally engages with the base piece when the top piece is pressed down onto the base piece to secure the top piece in place.

Optionally, the base of the walls on the base piece include a bead, or enlarged portion extending around the walls to frictionally engage with the walls from the top piece to retain the top piece over the base piece.

Optionally, the top piece is formed from a food-grade polymer, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE), high density polyethylene (HDPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE), or polypropylene (PP).

For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the views in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention hereof, showing the base piece positioned on a side thereof to show the inner wall surfaces and protrusions within the base piece;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the butter holder and application device having a stick of butter positioned within the base piece and protruding out of the open end;

FIG. 3 is a side view of an alternate embodiment of the invention including a top piece, and showing the base piece and top piece interconnected with each other to envelope the stick of butter;

FIG. 4 is a front view of an alternate embodiment of the invention showing the base piece having a bead extending thereabout;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 showing the fitment between the top piece and the bead on the base piece, in which the top piece engages with the bead to secure the top piece onto the base piece;

FIG. 6 is a front view of an alternate embodiment of the invention showing the base piece having a fillet positioned between the flange and the wall and extending about the perimeter of the base of the wall;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 showing the fitment between the top piece and the fillet on the base piece, in which the top piece engages with the fillet to secure the top piece onto the base piece; and

FIG. 8 is an alternate embodiment of the present invention hereof similar to that shown in FIG. 1, except the protrusions within the base piece have a rounded surface rather than flat planar surfaces.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, and as shown generally in FIG. 1, there is provided a butter holder and application device 10 for dispensing butter B onto food which comprises a base piece 12 having at least one wall 14 including an inner wall surface 22 and an outer wall surface 36, and a floor 16 positioned at a base 18 of the wall 14. The inner wall surface 22 and the floor 16 define a cavity for receiving and retaining a portion of a stick of butter B. Preferably, there are four walls 14 which adjoin each other on the sides thereof to form a partial enclosure having a generally rectangular outer shape, as well as defining a rectangular interior cavity which is generally dimensioned to match the shape of a stick of butter.

The cavity can be dimensioned to perfectly fit the stick of butter. But preferably, and as described in greater detail below, the cavity is slightly larger than the cross-sectional area of the stick of butter.

The base piece 12, which includes the walls 14, floor 16, and protrusions 20 (described below), is preferably formed from a flexible food-grade material, such as a flexible silicone material. More preferably, the base piece 12 is formed from a food-grade silicone elastomer, such as one of the silicone elastomers sold by Smooth-On, Inc. under the trademark SORTA-Clear®. Preferably the entire base piece 12 and all of its components are integrally formed together from a single material, such as through an injection molding process, a pour molding process, or the like. Even more preferably, the base piece 12 is formed from a dishwasher-safe material.

The base piece 12 has an open end opposite the floor 16. In use, and as shown in FIG. 2, a stick of butter B is placed within the cavity adjacent to the walls 14 and the floor 16, and a portion of the stick of butter protrudes out of the base piece 12. The user can then grasp the stick of butter by the base piece 12 and apply the exposed end of butter to food, such as bagels, bread, corn on the cob, and so forth.

The wall 14 of the base piece 12 has an inner wall surface 22 positioned adjacent the cavity for engaging the stick of butter. The inner wall surface 22 includes at least one raised portion, or protrusion 20, which extends partially into the cavity. The protrusion 20 can have a uniform thickness, but it preferably is angled, or tapered, and increases in thickness toward the floor 16, as shown in FIG. 1, and having decreased thickness as the protrusion 20 extends upwardly toward the open end. Preferably, the inner wall surface 22 of each wall 14 includes at least one protrusion 20. Even more preferably, each inner wall surface 22 includes two protrusions 20. The protrusion 20 is provided to extend partially into the side of a stick of butter placed within the cavity, and to help retain the stick of butter within the base piece 12. The protrusions 20 preferably extend away from the floor 16 along the inner wall surface 22 along a substantially straight axis, or in a substantially straight direction.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 8, the protrusions 20 extend partially up the inner wall surface 22, in which the protrusions 20 begin at the floor 16 of the base piece 12 and extend partially up the inner wall surface 22 and terminating before reaching the open and opposite the floor 16. Although not shown in the drawings, the protrusions 20 can optionally extend upwardly along the entire inner wall surface 22 and reaching to the open and opposite the floor 16.

Preferably the size of the cavity is slightly larger than the cross-sectional area of the stick of butter. This makes it easier to insert the butter into the base piece 12. But more importantly, the butter holder and application device 10 will actually function better after several uses because the butter is given several chances to soften while kept out of the refrigerator. This allows the softened butter to engage with, and form around the protrusions 20, thereby providing better grip between the butter and the base piece 12. The butter that is displaced to make room for the protrusions 20 is allowed to move, or flow, into the slight gap between the butter and the inner wall surface 22. The butter that is displaced to make room for the protrusions 20, and which flows into the gap, thereby substantially increases the contact area between the butter and the base piece 12 to help retain the butter within the cavity.

In addition, the inner wall surface 22 and/or the protrusions 20 can optionally have a textured surface 38, or contoured surface. The textured surface 38 also increases the surface area of the inner wall surface 22 and/or the protrusions 20 to help grip and retain the stick of butter placed within the cavity. For example, the textured surface 38 can include a pattern of lines that are engraved or cut into the inner wall surface 22 and/or the protrusions 20, such as knurling or any other suitable type of textured surface that is well-known in the art. Softened butter from a warmed stick of butter flows against the textured surface 38. Once the butter is cooled and re-hardened, then the butter that is tightly engaged against the textured surface 38 will help securely hold the stick of butter within the cavity.

Optionally, and as shown in FIG. 8, the protrusions 120 can have a curved surface. The protrusions 120 extends toward the open and opposite the floor 16 along a substantially straight line.

Optionally, the outer wall surface 36 can also have a textured surface 38 to provide the user with better grip for grasping the base piece 12.

Preferably the walls 14 of the base piece 12 have a substantially uniform thickness along the length thereof. Alternatively, the thickness of the walls 14 may be greater near the floor 16 than near the open end. In this regard, the walls 14 may optionally flare outwardly toward the floor 16 of the base piece 12.

Alternatively, and as shown in FIG. 4, the floor 16 of the base piece 12 can include a flange 24 which extends beyond the base 18 of the wall 14. There may also be provided a rounded interior corner, or fillet 26, between the flange 24 and the base 18 of the wall 14. As described in greater detail below, the fillet 26 can assist in retaining the top piece 28 over the base piece 12 to enclose the stick of butter for storage.

In yet another alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the base 18 of the walls 14 on the base piece 12 can include a bead 30, or enlarged portion extending around the walls 14. The bead 30 preferably has a curved outer surface, and has a cross-sectional shape that is generally a half round (or half oval). As discussed in greater detail below, the bead 30 is provided to frictionally engage with the walls 14 from the top piece 28 to retain the top piece 28 over the base piece 12.

As shown in FIG. 3, the butter holder and application device 10 can also include a rigidly-formed top piece 28 having at least one wall 34, and a ceiling 32 positioned at a top of the wall 34. The at least one wall 34 and the ceiling 32 define a cavity for encapsulating and surrounding the portion of the stick of butter protruding out of the base piece 12. Preferably the walls 14 of the base piece 12 and the top piece 28 can interconnect with each other to fully enclose the stick of butter. That is, preferably the walls 34 and open end of the top piece 28 are dimensioned to surround the wall 14 of the base piece 12, and the top piece 28 frictionally engages with the base piece 12 when the top piece 28 is pressed down onto the base piece 12.

The top piece 28 is preferably formed from a rigid food-grade polymer, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE), high density polyethylene (HDPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE), or polypropylene (PP).

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the top piece 28 is retained onto and over the wall 14 of the base piece 12 by the fillet 26, when the fillet 26 is provided. The top piece 28 and base piece 12 are shown in FIG. 6 with the top piece 28 partially over the base piece 12, but not secured thereto. The top piece 28 is then pressed down onto the base piece 12 to secure the top piece 28 in position, as shown in FIG. 7. The top piece 28, which is formed from a rigid material, is pressed down and onto the flexible fillet 26 of the base piece 12. The fillet 26 is elastically deformed against the rigid top piece 28, thereby temporarily securing the top piece 28 over the base piece 12.

Similarly, this same feature is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, only in which the base piece 12 includes a bead 30 near the floor 16, rather than a fillet 26. Similar to the fillet 26, the bead 30 is elastically deformed as the top piece 28 is pressed downwardly onto the base piece 12.

In use, the user grasps the base piece 12 and uses it to manipulate the stick of butter over an item of food. The base piece 12 keeps the user's hand from getting butter on it, and the base piece 12 is very easy to use and clean. And once the user is done with the butter, then he or she can place the optional top piece 28 over the base piece 12 to entirely encapsulate the stick of butter for storage until the next use.

According to the invention described above, a butter holder and application device is provided which has minimal moving parts, is ergonomically friendly and easy to use, is easy to clean, and also keeps the user from getting butter on his or her hands during use.

Claims

1. A butter holder and application device for dispensing butter onto food comprising:

a base piece having at least one wall, the wall having an inner wall surface and an outer wall surface, and the base piece having a floor positioned at a base of the wall, the inner wall surface and the floor defining a cavity for receiving and retaining a portion of a stick of butter, the base piece having an open end opposite the floor to permit the portion of the stick of butter to protrude out of the base piece, the inner wall surface being positioned adjacent the cavity for engaging against the stick of butter, and the inner wall surface including at least one protrusion which extends partially into the cavity, the protrusion extending on the inner wall surface from the floor of the base piece toward the open end, the protrusion being provided to extend partially into a stick of butter placed within the cavity to help retain the stick of butter within the base piece, and the base piece being formed from a flexible food-grade material.

2. The butter holder and application device of claim 1 wherein the protrusion is tapered such that the protrusion extends further into the cavity adjacent to the floor, and the amount of protrusion into the cavity decreases along the length of the protrusion extending toward the open end.

3. The butter holder and application device of claim 2 the base piece is formed from a food-grade flexible silicone material.

4. The butter holder and application device of claim 2 wherein the protrusion extends only partially up the inner wall from the floor, whereby the protrusion does not extend to the open end.

5. The butter holder and application device of claim 4 the base piece is formed from a food-grade flexible silicone material.

6. The butter holder and application device of claim 1 wherein the protrusion extends only partially up the inner wall from the floor, whereby the protrusion does not extend to the open end.

7. The butter holder and application device of claim 6 the base piece is formed from a food-grade flexible silicone material.

8. The butter holder and application device of claim 1 wherein the protrusion extends up the entire height of the inner wall from the floor to the open end.

9. The butter holder and application device of claim 8 wherein the protrusion is tapered such that the protrusion extends further into the cavity adjacent to the floor, and the amount of protrusion into the cavity decreases along the length of the protrusion extending toward the open end.

10. The butter holder and application device of claim 9 wherein the base piece has four walls which are adjoined on the sides thereof to define a rectangular-shaped cavity, and the inner wall surface of each wall includes at least one protrusion extending partially into the cavity.

11. The butter holder and application device of claim 1 wherein the base piece has four walls which are adjoined on the sides thereof to define a rectangular-shaped cavity, and the inner wall surface of each wall includes at least one protrusion extending partially into the cavity.

12. The butter holder and application device of claim 11 the base piece is formed from a food-grade flexible silicone material.

13. The butter holder and application device of claim 1 wherein the protrusion has a textured surface to increase the surface area thereof to help grip and retain the stick of butter placed within the cavity.

14. The butter holder and application device of claim 1 wherein the protrusion extends toward the open end along a straight line, and the protrusion has a curved surface.

15. The butter holder and application device of claim 14 wherein the protrusion is tapered such that the protrusion extends further into the cavity adjacent to the floor, and the amount of protrusion into the cavity decreases along the length of the protrusion extending toward the open end.

16. The butter holder and application device of claim 15 wherein the protrusion extends only partially up the inner wall from the floor, whereby the protrusion does not extend to the open end.

17. The butter holder and application device of claim 16 the base piece is formed from a food-grade flexible silicone material.

18. The butter holder and application device of claim 1 the base piece is formed from a food-grade flexible silicone material.

19. The butter holder and application device of claim 1 including a separate rigidly-formed top piece having at least one wall, and a ceiling positioned at a top of the wall, whereby the at least one wall and the ceiling form a cavity for encapsulating and surrounding the portion of the stick of butter protruding out of the base piece; and whereby the walls of the base piece and the top piece are conFIG.d to be interconnectable with each other to fully enclose the stick of butter.

20. The butter holder and application device of claim 19 wherein the top piece is formed from a food-grade polymer selected from the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate, high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, and polypropylene.