Dispensing device for solid sweetener

Abstract

Devices for dispensing unit portions of solid sweeteners. The devices incorporate structure for accurately and precisely dispensing known volumes of sweeteners in solid form. The devices are of compact size and, therefore, are conveniently portable by a consumer. Methods for dispensing liquid sweeteners are also disclosed.

1 . A device for dispensing a unit portion of an elongate solid sweetener composition, comprising 
 a hollow container having openings at a distal end and proximal end, wherein the elongate solid sweetener is in the hollow container and    means for expelling a portion of the elongate solid sweetener composition from the opening in the distal end of the hollow container.    
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the solid sweetener is in a form selected from the group consisting of a elongate form, a powder form, and a pellet form.  
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the solid sweetener is in an elongate form having a cross-sectional shape selected from the group consisting of circular, square, regular polygon, rectangular, and oval.  
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the elongate form is a rod or a column.  
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the solid sweetener is selected from the group consisting of sucrose, dextrose, fructose, fructans, sugar alcohols, sucralose, saccharin, acesulfame-K, stevia, neotame, alitame, aspartame, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein solid sweetener further comprises a binding-agent, a diluant, a flavor, a nutrient, or combinations thereof.  
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the solid sweetener is a column of discrete pellets.  
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the pellets have a shape selected from the group consisting of cylindrical, oblong, and spherical.  
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the solid sweetener is selected from the group consisting of sucrose, dextrose, fructose, fructans, sugar alcohols, sucralose, saccharin, acesulfame-K, stevia, neotame, alitame, aspartame, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the solid sweetener further comprises a binding agent, a diluant, a flavor, a nutrient, or combinations thereof.  
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the solid sweetener is selected from the group consisting of a single crystal a portion of a single crystal, an amorphous solid, a compressed powder, or combinations thereof.  
   
   
       12 . A device for dispensing a unit portion of a solid sweetener, 
 a housing having a proximal end, a distal end, an opening in the proximal end, and an outlet in the distal end;    a hollow body container in the housing having a proximal end, an opening at the proximal end, a distal end, and an friction inducing restriction at the distal end, wherein the distal end of the container faces the distal end of the housing and the solid sweetener is held the hollow body of the container,    a movable plunger in the housing having a proximal end extending beyond the opening of the housing and a distal end facing the distal end of the housing;    a piston having a distal end within the hollow body of the container for expelling the solid sweetener through the friction inducing restriction of the container and out through the outlet and a proximal end facing the proximal end of the housing when the piston is moved towards the distal end; and    means for engaging the plunger and the piston to expel the unit portion of the solid sweetener through the friction inducing restriction.    
   
   
       13 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the means for engaging the plunger and the piston comprise a ratchet mechanism for engaging the plunger and the piston when the proximal end of the plunger is depressed to move the piston towards the distal end and  
   
   
       14 . The device of  claim 12  further comprising a spring located on the plunger for disengaging the plunger and the piston when the proximal end of the plunger is released and moving the piston towards the proximal end.  
   
   
       15 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein the solid sweetener is in a form selected from the group consisting of a elongate form, a powder form, and a pellet form.  
   
   
       16 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the solid sweetener is in an elongate form having a cross-sectional shape selected from the group consisting of circular, square, regular polygon, rectangular, and oval.  
   
   
       17 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the elongate form is a rod or a column.  
   
   
       18 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the solid sweetener is selected from the group consisting of sucrose, dextrose, fructose, fructans, sugar alcohols, sucralose, saccharin, acesulfame-K, stevia, neotame, alitame, aspartame, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       19 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein solid sweetener further comprises a binding agent, a diluant, a flavor, a nutrient, or combinations thereof.  
   
   
       20 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the solid sweetener is a column of discrete pellets.  
   
   
       21 . The device of  claim 20 , wherein the pellets have a shape selected from the group consisting of cylindrical, oblong, and spherical.  
   
   
       22 . The device of  claim 20 , wherein the solid sweetener is selected from the group consisting of sucrose, dextrose, fructose, fructans, sugar alcohols, sucralose, saccharin, acesulfame-K, stevia, neotame, alitame, aspartame, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       23 . The device of  claim 22 , wherein the solid sweetener further comprises a binding agent, a diluant, a flavor, a nutrient, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       24 . The device of  claim 22 , wherein the solid sweetener is selected from the group consisting of a single crystal a portion of a single crystal, an amorphous solid, a compressed powder, or combinations thereof.  
   
   
       25 . A solid sweetener rod for sweetening a consumable, the solid sweetener rod comprising a length and a width, an effective amount of a solid sweetener at identical intervals along the length to sweeten a single beverage, wherein the solid sweetener rod is configured to fit a device for dispensing the solid sweetener rod.  
   
   
       26 . The solid sweetener rod of  claim 25 , wherein the solid sweetener is selected from the group consisting of sucrose, dextrose, fructose, fructans, sugar alcohols, sucralose, saccharin, acesulfame-K, stevia, neotame, alitame, aspartame, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       27 . The solid sweetener rod of  claim 27 , wherein the solid sweetener further comprises a binding agent, a diluent, a flavor, a nutrient, or combinations thereof.  
   
   
       28 . The solid sweetener rod of  claim 26 , wherein the solid sweetener is selected from the group consisting of a single crystal a portion of a single crystal, an amorphous solid, a compressed powder, or combinations thereof.  
   
   
       29 . A solid sweetener pellet for sweetening a consumable, the solid sweetener pellet comprising an effective amount of a solid sweetener, wherein the solid sweetener pellet is configured to fit a device for dispensing the solid sweetener pellet.  
   
   
       30 . A solid sweetener pellet of  claim 29 , wherein the solid sweetener is selected from the group consisting of sucrose, dextrose, fructose, fructans, sugar alcohols, sucralose, saccharin, acesulfame-K, stevia, neotame, alitame, aspartame, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       31 . The solid sweetener pellet of  claim 30 , wherein the solid sweetener further comprises a binding agent, a diluent, a flavor, a nutrient, or combinations thereof.  
   
   
       32 . The solid sweetener pellet of  claim 30 , wherein the solid sweetener is selected from the group consisting of a single crystal a portion of a single crystal, an amorphous solid, a compressed powder, or combinations thereof.  
   
   
       33 . A solid sweetener powder for sweetening a consumable, the solid sweetener powder comprising an effective amount of a solid sweetener, wherein the solid sweetener pellet is configured to fit a device for dispensing the solid sweetener powder.  
   
   
       34 . A solid sweetener powder of  claim 33 , wherein the solid sweetener is selected from the group consisting of sucrose, dextrose, fructose, fructans, sugar alcohols, sucralose, saccharin, acesulfame-K, stevia, neotame, alitame, aspartame, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       35 . The solid sweetener powder of  claim 34 , wherein the solid sweetener further comprises a binding agent, a diluent, a flavor, a nutrient, or combinations thereof.  
   
   
       36 . The solid sweetener powder of  claim 34 , wherein the solid sweetener is selected from the group consisting of a single crystal a portion of a single crystal, an amorphous solid, a compressed powder, or combinations thereof.  
   
   
       37 . A method of sweetening a consumable comprising 
 providing a device for dispensing a unit portion of an elongate solid sweetener composition, comprising    a hollow container having openings at a distal end and proximal end, wherein the elongate solid sweetener is in the hollow container and    means for expelling a portion of the elongate solid sweetener composition from the opening in the distal end of the hollow container, and    expelling a portion of the elongate solid sweetener into the consumable.    
   
   
       38 . A method of sweetening a consumable comprising 
 providing a device for dispensing a unit portion of a solid sweetener comprising    a housing having a proximal end, a distal end, an opening in the proximal end, and an outlet in the distal end;    a hollow body container in the housing having a proximal end, an opening at the proximal end, a distal end, and an friction inducing restriction at the distal end, wherein the distal end of the container faces the distal end of the housing and the solid sweetener is held the hollow body of the container,    a movable plunger in the housing having a proximal end extending beyond the opening of the housing and a distal end facing the distal end of the housing;    a piston having a distal end within the hollow body of the container for expelling the solid sweetener through the friction inducing restriction of the container and out through the outlet and a proximal end facing the proximal end of the housing when the piston is moved towards the distal end; and    means for engaging the plunger and the piston to expel the unit portion of the solid sweetener through the friction inducing restriction and    expelling a portion of the elongate solid sweetener into the consumable.    
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the means for engaging the plunger and the piston comprise a ratchet mechanism for engaging the plunger and the piston when the proximal end of the plunger is depressed to move the piston towards the distal end and  
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 38  further comprising a spring located on the plunger for disengaging the plunger and the piston when the proximal end of the plunger is released and moving the piston towards the proximal end.  
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the solid sweetener is in a form selected from the group consisting of a elongate form, a powder form, and a pellet form.  
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 41  wherein the solid sweetener is in an elongate form having a cross-sectional shape selected from the group consisting of circular, square, rectangular, regular polygon, and oval.  
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the elongate form is a rod or a column.  
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the solid sweetener is selected from the group consisting of sucrose, dextrose, fructose, fructans, sugar alcohols, sucralose, saccharin, acesulfame-K, stevia, neotame, alitame, aspartame, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein solid sweetener further comprises a binding agent, a diluant, a flavor, a nutrient, or combinations thereof.  
   
   
       46 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the solid sweetener is a column of discrete pellets.  
   
   
       47 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the pellets have a shape selected from the group consisting of cylindrical, oblong, and spherical.  
   
   
       48 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the solid sweetener is selected from the group consisting of sucrose, dextrose, fructose, fructans, sugar alcohols, sucralose, saccharin, acesulfame-K, stevia, neotame, alitame, aspartame, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       49 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the solid sweetener further comprises a binding agent, a diluant, a flavor, a nutrient, or combinations thereof.  
   
   
       50 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the solid sweetener is selected from the group consisting of a single crystal a portion of a single crystal, an amorphous solid, a compressed powder, or combinations thereof.