Dispensing device for liquid sweetener

Abstract

Devices for dispensing well-controlled unit portions of liquid sweeteners. The devices incorporate structure for accurately and precisely dispensing small volumes of concentrated sweeteners in liquid 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 delivering a liquid 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 orifice at the distal end, wherein the distal end of the container faces the distal end of the housing and the liquid 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 liquid sweetener through the orifice 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;    means for expelling the liquid sweetener through the orifice.    
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the means for expelling the liquid sweetener 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  
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 1  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.  
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the container further comprises a check valve at the distal end for controlling the expelling of the liquid through the orifice.  
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the plunger has a means for controlling stroke depth to limit the depth that the plunger travels upon being depressed.  
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the liquid sweetener comprises a high intensity sweetener  
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the high intensity sweetener is selected from the group consisting of sucralose, aspartame, saccharin, ace-k, stevia, neotame, alitame, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid sweetener further comprises an effective amount of a member selected from the group consisting of a flavor, a colorant, a vitamin, a mineral, and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid sweetener is selected from the group consisting of a solution, a slurry, and a paste.  
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the hollow body container comprises means for refilling the container when needed.  
   
   
       11 . A liquid sweetener container comprising a hollow body having a proximal end, an opening at the proximal end, a distal end, and an orifice at the distal end, wherein the distal end of the container faces the distal end of the housing and the liquid sweetener is held the hollow body of the container, wherein the container is configured to fit a device for dispensing the liquid sweetener.  
   
   
       12 . The liquid sweetener container of  claim 11 , wherein the container further comprises a check valve at the distal end for controlling the expelling of the liquid sweetener through the orifice.  
   
   
       13 . The liquid sweetener container of  claim 11 , wherein the liquid sweetener comprises a high intensity sweetener  
   
   
       14 . The liquid sweetener container of  claim 13 , wherein the high intensity sweetener is selected from the group consisting of sucralose, aspartame, saccharin, ace-k, stevia, neotame, alitame, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       15 . The liquid sweetener container of  claim 13 , wherein the liquid sweetener further comprises an effective amount of a member selected from the group consisting of a flavor, a colorant, a vitamin, a mineral, and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       16 . The liquid sweetener container of  claim 13 , wherein the liquid sweetener is selected from the group consisting of a solution, a slurry, and a paste.  
   
   
       17 . A method of sweetening a comestible comprising 
 providing a device for delivering a liquid 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 orifice at the distal end, wherein the distal end of the container faces the distal end of the housing and the liquid 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 liquid sweetener through the orifice 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;  
 means for expelling the liquid sweetener through the orifice.  
   depressing the proximal end of the plunger to dispense the liquid sweetener into the comestible.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the means for expelling the liquid sweetener 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  
   
   
       19 . The device of  claim 17  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.  
   
   
       20 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein the container further comprises a check valve at the distal end for controlling the expelling of the liquid through the orifice.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the plunger has a means for controlling stroke depth to limit the depth that the plunger travels upon being depressed.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the liquid sweetener comprises a high intensity sweetener  
   
   
       23  The device of  claim 11 , wherein the high intensity sweetener is selected from the group consisting of sucralose, aspartame, saccharin, ace-k, stevia, neotame, alitame, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the liquid sweetener further comprises an effective amount of a member selected from the group consisting of a flavor, a colorant, a vitamin, or a mineral.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the liquid sweetener is selected from the group consisting of a solution, a slurry, and a paste.