Container with outlet

Abstract

A container is arranged to be particlularly suite to food products which are discharged from the container by extrusion through an outlet ( 14 ). The outlet shapes the product as it is extruded and is made up of moveable portions ( 25 ) whose extent of movement is limited by limiting means ( 28, 29 ) so that the portions ( 25 ) still lie across the path of product extruding through the opening ( 14 ).

1 . A container having an outlet and being arranged so that the internal volume of the container is reduced to extrude product through the outlet, the outlet being arranged to shape the produce as it is discharged through the outlet, the outlet being defined by portions of the container being moveable under pressure of product in the container to be displaced outwardly of the container to define an opening between said displaced portions, the extent of movement of said portions being limited by movement limiting means associated with displaced portions.  
     
     
         2 . A container according to  claim 1  wherein the displaced portions are formed as segments of a circle.  
     
     
         3 . A container according to  claim 2  wherein successive segments are interconnected prior to displacement by interconnection means which is frangible when pressure of product in the container is applied to said portions.  
     
     
         4 . A container according to  claim 1  wherein there are between three and six of said displaceable portions whereby product issuing through the opening is shaped through a generally star-shaped cross-section.  
     
     
         5 . A container according to  claim 1  wherein the displaceable portions are separated from one another whereby radial lines of weakness extending from a central position of the outlet.  
     
     
         6 . A container according to  claim 1  wherein the outlet is formed in a region of the container which is concavely shaped so that as the internal pressure in the container is increased, the concave is deformed outwardly.  
     
     
         7 . A container according to  claim 1  wherein said displaceable portions carry projecting means which during displacement are arranged to engage with means adjacent said portions whereby to limit the movement of said displaced portions.  
     
     
         8 . A container according to  claim 7  wherein said limiting means lie generally radially in relation to the central part of the outlet and each displaceable portion has an outwardly directed part which engages with an upstanding abutment adjacent the outlet when fully displaced.  
     
     
         9 . A container according to  claim 8  wherein the inter-engaging surfaces on the projecting means and the abutments are inclined to one another before displacement to achieve the desired displacement before inter-engagement of said surfaces.  
     
     
         10 . A container according to  claim 6  wherein the outlet is of elongate shape having displaceable portions in two groups, the portions in one group extending along one side of the opening and the portions in the other group extending along the other side of the opening.  
     
     
         11 . A container according to  claim 10  wherein the outlet is on generally rectangular shape, the portions extending along each of the longer sides of the rectangle.  
     
     
         12 . A container according to  claim 10  wherein the displaceable portions are integral with the container and move out of the plane of the outlet by a hinging movement about one side.  
     
     
         13 . A container according to  claim 12  wherein the portions are each hinged to the container about a hinge line.  
     
     
         14 . A container according to  claim 12  wherein the positions are adjacent to but separate from adjacent portions.