Container configured for controllably dispensing flowable materials having a relatively thick consistency

Abstract

An apparatus configured for dispensing flowable materials comprises a canister, a straining member, a lid, means for pressurizing a cavity of the canister and a dispensing tube assembly. The canister has a fill port and means for pressurizing the canister. The straining member is removably mounted within the fill port. The lid is removably mounted on the fill port. The lid and the fill port are jointly configured for providing a substantially air-tight seal therebetween when the lid is mounted on the fill port. The dispensing tube assembly is communicatively attached to the canister. The dispensing tube is configured for enabling flowable material within the cavity of the canister to be selectively dispensed through the dispensing tube assembly.

1 . An apparatus configured for dispensing flowable materials, comprising: 
 a canister having a fill port,    means attached to the canister for pressurizing a cavity of the canister;    a straining member removably mounted within the fill port;    a lid removably mounted on the fill port, wherein the lid and the fill port are jointly configured for providing a substantially air-tight seal therebetween when the lid is mounted on the fill port; and    a dispensing tube assembly communicatively attached to the canister, wherein the dispensing tube is configured for enabling flowable material within the cavity of the canister to be selectively dispensed through the dispensing tube assembly.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said means for pressurizing includes at least one of an air hose coupling including a one-way check valve, a water hose coupling including a one-way check valve and a manual pump device including a one way check valve.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein: 
 the dispensing tube assembly is attached to the canister adjacent to a bottom portion of the canister;    said means for pressurizing is attached to the canister adjacent to a top portion of the canister; and    the fill port is attached to the canister adjacent the top portion of the canister.    
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a removable dispensing tip attached to the dispensing tube assembly, wherein the removable dispensing tip has an outlet cross-sectional area of from about 0.01 square inches to about 0.2 square inches.    
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein: 
 a minimum cross-sectional area of a flow path defined by the dispensing tube assembly is about 0.05 square inches.    
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the dispensing tube assembly includes a control valve for enabling selective-flow control of said flowable material.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising: 
 a removable dispensing tip attached to the dispensing tube assembly, wherein the removable dispensing tip has an outlet cross-sectional area of from about 0.01 square inches to about 0.2 square inches and wherein the minimum cross-sectional area of the flow path is at least the same as the outlet cross-sectional area of the removable dispensing tip.    
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the dispensing tube assembly includes a control valve for enabling selective flow control of said flowable material.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a removable dispensing tip attached to the dispensing tube assembly, wherein: 
 said means for pressurizing includes at least one of an air hose coupling including a one-way check valve, a water hose coupling including a one-way check valve and a manual pump device including a one way check valve;  
 the dispensing tube assembly includes a control valve for enabling selective flow control of said flowable material;  
 a minimum cross-sectional area of a flow path defined by the dispensing tube assembly is about 0.05 square inches;  
 the dispensing tube assembly includes a control valve for enabling selective flow control of said flowable material;  
 the removable dispensing tip has an outlet cross-sectional area of from about 0.01 square inches to about 0.2 square inches; and  
 the minimum cross-sectional area of the flow path is at least the same as the outlet cross-sectional area of the removable dispensing tip.  
   
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein: 
 the dispensing tube assembly is attached to the canister adjacent to a bottom portion of the canister;    said means for pressurizing is attached to the canister adjacent to a top portion of the canister; and    the fill port is attached to the canister adjacent the top portion of the canister.    
   
   
       11 . A packaged product including components configured for facilitating dispensing of flowable materials, said components comprising: 
 a canister having a fill port;    means for pressurizing a cavity of the canister;    a straining member configured for being removably mountable within the fill port;    a lid configured for being removably mountable on the fill port, wherein the lid and the fill port are jointly configured for providing a substantially air-tight seal therebetween when the lid is mounted on the fill port;    a dispensing tube assembly configured for being communicatively attachable to the canister and for enabling flowable material within the cavity of the canister to be selectively dispensed through the dispensing tube assembly; and    a plurality of removable dispensing tips configured for being individually attachable to the dispensing tube assembly, wherein a first one of said tips has a different outlet cross-sectional area than a second one of said tips.    
   
   
       12 . The packaged product of  claim 11  wherein said means for pressurizing includes at least one of an air hose coupling including a one-way check valve, a water hose coupling including a one-way check valve and a manual pump device including a one way check valve.  
   
   
       13 . The packaged product of  claim 11  each one of said removable dispensing tips has an outlet cross-sectional area of from about 0.01 square inches to about 0.2 square inches.  
   
   
       14 . The packaged product of  claim 11  wherein a minimum cross-sectional area of a flow path defined by the dispensing tube assembly is about 0.05 square inches.  
   
   
       15 . The packaged product of  claim 14  wherein the dispensing tube assembly includes a control valve for enabling selective flow control of said flowable material.  
   
   
       16 . The packaged product of  claim 15  wherein: 
 each one of said removable dispensing tips has an outlet cross-sectional area of from about 0.01 square inches to about 0.2 square inches; and    the minimum cross-sectional area of the flow path is at least the same as the outlet cross-sectional area of the removable dispensing tip.    
   
   
       17 . The packaged product of  claim 11  wherein the dispensing tube assembly includes a control valve for enabling selective flow control of said flowable material.  
   
   
       18 . The packaged product of  claim 11  wherein: 
 said means for pressurizing includes at least one of an air hose coupling including a one-way check valve, a water hose coupling including a one-way check valve and a manual pump device including a one way check valve;    each one of said removable dispensing tips has an outlet cross-sectional area of from about 0.01 square inches to about 0.2 square inches;    a minimum cross-sectional area of a flow path defined by the dispensing tube assembly is about 0.05 square inches;    the dispensing tube assembly includes a control valve for enabling selective flow control of said flowable material;    the minimum cross-sectional area of the flow path is at least the same as the outlet cross-sectional area of the removable dispensing tip.    
   
   
       19 . A packaged product configured for dispensing a flowable material, comprising: 
 an enclosed canister having a fill port, wherein a cavity of the canister is at least partially filled with a flowable masonry material;    means for pressurizing the cavity of the canister;    a dispensing tube assembly communicatively attached to the canister for enabling flowable material within the cavity of the canister to be selectively dispensed through the dispensing tube assembly; and    a plurality of removable dispensing tips configured for being individually attachable to the dispensing tube assembly, wherein a first one of said tips has a different outlet cross-sectional area than a second one of said tips.    
   
   
       20 . The packaged product of  claim 19  wherein: 
 said means for pressurizing includes at least one of an air hose coupling including a one-way check valve, a water hose coupling including a one-way check valve and a manual pump device including a one way check valve;    each one of said removable dispensing tips has an outlet cross-sectional area of from about 0.01 square inches to about 0.2 square inches;    a minimum cross-sectional area of a flow path defined by the dispensing tube assembly is about 0.05 square inches;    the dispensing tube assembly includes a control valve for enabling selective flow control of said flowable material;    the minimum cross-sectional area of the flow path is at least the same as the outlet cross-sectional area of the removable dispensing tip.