Device For Use With Pastry Bags

Abstract

A device with a body and a central opening through which the pastry bag may be inserted. The opening has at least one projection extending from a perimeter of the opening arranged to engage the bag. The device may include a sidewall, and may further include a flange extending from the sidewall. The device may also have slits separating a plurality of projections which extend from the perimeter of the opening. In further embodiments, the flange may be tilted or the sidewall may include support ribbing to increase peripheral rigidity of the device. A method of using the device with a pastry bag.

1 . A device for controlling extrusion of a product from a bag having a filling end and a dispensing end, the device comprising: 
 a body having first and second opposite sides and an opening therethrough for receiving the filling end of the bag; and    at least one projection extending from the body into the opening, the projection frictionally engaging the bag;    wherein the body and at least one projection close the filling end of the bag to prevent backflow and escape of product from the filling end, and are slidable along the bag in a direction toward the dispensing end to progressively reduce available volume of the bag.    
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one projection is resiliently deflectable between a relaxed position wherein the projection is flush with the first and second sides of the body and an extended position wherein the projection is not flush with the first and second sides of the body.  
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the body has a circular disc shape.  
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the body and at least one projection are integrally formed of plastic.  
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one projection is a plurality of projections arranged about the opening.  
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein each of the plurality of projections converges to a point.  
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of projections close the opening when each of the plurality of projections is in the relaxed position.  
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of projections do not close the opening when each of the plurality of projections is in the relaxed position.  
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the device further comprises a peripheral wall about the body.  
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the peripheral wall has a support ribbing.  
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 9 , further comprising a circumferential flange extending from the peripheral wall.  
   
   
       12 . A combination comprising: 
 a conical pastry bag including a filling end and a dispensing end, the pastry bag containing product to be dispensed from the dispensing end; and    a device including (i) a body having first and second opposite sides and an opening therethrough for receiving the filling end of the bag, and (ii) a plurality of resiliently deflectable projections extending from the body into the opening, the projections being deflected to an extended position by insertion of the filling end of the bag through the opening, wherein the plurality of projections exert a spring force on the bag to close the filling end and prevent backflow and escape of product from the filling end.    
   
   
       13 . The combination of  claim 12 , wherein each of the plurality of projections converges toward a point, and the pointed projections engage the bag to inhibit motion of the device toward the filling end of the bag.  
   
   
       14 . The combination of  claim 12 , wherein at least a portion of the body is formed of an insulating material for reducing heat transfer to the pastry bag and product therein.  
   
   
       15 . A method of controlling the extrusion of product from a bag having a filling end and a dispensing end, the method comprising the steps of: 
 a) providing a device comprising (i) a body having first and second opposite sides and an opening therethrough, and (ii) a plurality of resiliently deflectable projections extending from the body into the opening;    b) inserting the filling end of the bag through the opening of the device, whereby the plurality of projections are deflected toward the filling end of the bag and exert a spring force on the bag to close the filling end and prevent backflow and escape of product from the filling end;    c) sliding the device along the bag toward the dispensing end to pressurize the product within the bag; and    d) applying pressure to the bag to extrude product through the dispensing end of the bag.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the step of applying pressure to the bag is performed manually.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the step of applying pressure to the bag is performed by only one hand of a user.