Topping Caddy

Abstract

A caddy for holding a generally conical pastry bag comprises a tapered receptacle sized to receive at least a dispensing end portion of the pastry bag, and a flange arranged externally about the tapered receptacle. The flange may be a circular flange located about an entrance end of the receptacle and having a peripheral lip for sealing the caddy on a correspondingly sized container in which ice water or some other heat transfer medium is placed. Alternatively, the flange may be hollow for improved buoyancy and stability in a liquid heat transfer medium. The tapered receptacle may include a closed tip portion at its narrow end for receiving a dispensing tip of the pastry bag such that the dispensing tip does not contact the walls of the tapered receptacle. The caddy provides a barrier between the pastry bag and the heat transfer medium, whereby the pastry bag and its contents may be kept clean and chilled during periods between dispensing applications.

1 . A caddy for holding a pastry bag, the caddy comprising:
 a tapered receptacle sized to receive at least a dispensing end portion of the pastry bag; and   a flange arranged externally about the tapered receptacle.   
   
   
       2 . The caddy according to  claim 1 , wherein the flange is located about an entrance end of the receptacle. 
   
   
       3 . The caddy according to  claim 1 , wherein the flange is a circular flange at least twenty centimeters in diameter. 
   
   
       4 . The caddy according to  claim 1 , wherein the flange has a peripheral lip for sealing the caddy on a correspondingly sized container. 
   
   
       5 . The caddy according to  claim 1 , wherein the flange is hollow. 
   
   
       6 . The caddy according to  claim 1 , wherein the tapered receptacle includes a tip portion having a non-tapered configuration, such that a dispensing tip of the pastry bag does not contact the receptacle. 
   
   
       7 . The caddy according to  claim 6 , wherein the tip portion of the caddy is cylindrical. 
   
   
       8 . The caddy according to  claim 1 , wherein the tapered receptacle includes an open wide end and a cylindrical entranceway portion adjacent the wide end. 
   
   
       9 . The caddy according to  8 , wherein the flange surrounds the cylindrical entranceway portion of the tapered receptacle. 
   
   
       10 . The caddy according to  claim 1 , wherein the caddy is formed as an integral unit from plastic. 
   
   
       11 . The caddy according to  10 , wherein the plastic is translucent. 
   
   
       12 . The caddy according to  claim 11 , wherein the plastic is translucent polypropylene. 
   
   
       13 . An apparatus for holding a pastry bag comprising:
 a container including a plurality of walls defining an interior of the container and an opening providing access to the interior; and   a caddy located adjacent the opening of the container, the caddy including a tapered receptacle extending into the interior of the container, the tapered receptacle being spaced from the plurality of walls to define a volume in the interior of the container that surrounds the tapered receptacle, and the tapered receptacle being sized to receive at least a dispensing end portion of the pastry bag;   whereby a heat transfer medium may be received in the volume for achieving heat transfer to or from the pastry bag.   
   
   
       14 . The apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein the caddy further includes a flange about the tapered receptacle. 
   
   
       15 . The apparatus according to  claim 14 , where in the flange is configured for sealing attachment to the container, wherein the opening of the container is completely covered by the caddy. 
   
   
       16 . The apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the opening of the container is not completely covered by the caddy. 
   
   
       17 . An apparatus for holding a pastry bag comprising:
 a housing defining a body portion and a tapered receptacle surrounded by the body portion, the tapered receptacle being sized to receive at least a dispensing end portion of the pastry bag; and   a freezable medium enclosed in the body portion.   
   
   
       18 . The apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein the apparatus is freestanding. 
   
   
       19 . The apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein the freezable medium includes a freezable gel. 
   
   
       20 . The apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein the freezable medium includes water.