Handheld confectionary dispenser

Abstract

A handheld confectionary dispenser includes a flexible pouch that presents an interior chamber and is configured to contain confectionary within the chamber. The pouch defines a reservoir portion, a dispensing portion, and a funnel portion located between the reservoir and dispensing portions. The funnel portion is configured to be grasped within a hand of the user to force confectionary through the dispensing portion when the funnel portion is squeezed. The pouch defines a transition along which the cross-sectional area of the chamber abruptly decreases, with the transition being defined at or adjacent the junction between the reservoir and funnel portions to facilitate bending of the pouch at the transition.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A handheld confectionary dispenser comprising:
 a flexible hollow pouch presenting an interior chamber, with the pouch being configured to contain confectionary within the chamber,   said pouch extending longitudinally to present a dispensing end and an opposite reservoir end,   said pouch defining a reservoir portion adjacent the reservoir end, a dispensing portion adjacent the dispensing end, and a funnel portion located between the reservoir and dispensing portions, with the chamber extending continuously between the portions,   said chamber having a cross-sectional area that is greatest at the reservoir portion and smallest at the dispensing portion,   said funnel portion being configured to be grasped within a hand of the user so that confectionary is forced through the dispensing portion when the funnel portion is squeezed,   said reservoir portion being configured to replenish the funnel portion with confectionary when the reservoir portion is selectively compressed,   said pouch defining a sharp cross-sectional transition along which the cross-sectional area of the chamber abruptly decreases, with the transition being defined at or adjacent the junction between the reservoir and funnel portions to facilitate bending of the pouch at the transition.   
     
     
         2 . The handheld confectionary dispenser as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 said transition being defined within the reservoir portion immediately adjacent the funnel portion.   
     
     
         3 . The handheld confectionary dispenser as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 said pouch tapering along the transition to a greater degree than elsewhere along the reservoir portion and the funnel portion.   
     
     
         4 . The handheld confectionary dispenser as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 said pouch including inner and outer surfaces, with the inner surface defining the chamber,   said outer surface presenting an upstream recess adjacent the transition.   
     
     
         5 . The handheld confectionary dispenser as claimed in  claim 4 ,
 said outer surface defining a downstream recess facing a generally opposite direction from the upstream recess,   said recesses being spaced longitudinally along the pouch.   
     
     
         6 . The handheld confectionary dispenser as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 said pouch including inner and outer surfaces, with the inner surface defining the chamber,   said outer surface presenting a recess within the funnel portion.   
     
     
         7 . The handheld confectionary dispenser as claimed in  claim 6 ,
 said funnel portion including upstream and downstream sections that cooperatively define the recess,   said pouch tapering along the upstream section of the funnel portion at a greater rate than the downstream section of the funnel portion.   
     
     
         8 . The handheld confectionary dispenser as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 said reservoir portion including a section thereof along which the cross-sectional area of the chamber is generally constant.   
     
     
         9 . The handheld confectionary dispenser as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 said cross-sectional area of the chamber progressively decreasing along the dispensing portion toward the dispensing end.   
     
     
         10 . The handheld confectionary dispenser as claimed in  claim 9 ,
 said pouch tapering along the dispensing portion at a substantially even rate.   
     
     
         11 . The handheld confectionary dispenser as claimed in  claim 10 ,
 said pouch being defined by a pair of superimposed panels sealingly interconnected along side margins thereof,   said side margins each being generally straight and extending along a substantially constant angle along the dispensing portion.   
     
     
         12 . The handheld confectionary dispenser as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 said dispensing portion presenting a maximum length of about two inches.   
     
     
         13 . The handheld confectionary dispenser as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 said reservoir portion of the pouch having a greater interior chamber volume than the funnel portion,   said funnel portion of the pouch having a greater interior chamber volume than the dispensing portion.   
     
     
         14 . The handheld confectionary dispenser as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 said reservoir end being closed,   said pouch being prefilled with confectionary.   
     
     
         15 . The handheld confectionary dispenser as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 said pouch being defined by a pair of superimposed panels that are sealingly interconnected along side margins,   said transition being defined by an angled segment along at least one of the side margins.   
     
     
         16 . The handheld confectionary dispenser as claimed in  claim 15 ,
 said pouch including inner and outer surfaces, with the inner surface defining the chamber,   said angled segment cooperating with an adjacent segment of the at least one of the side margins to define an upstream recess in the outer surface.   
     
     
         17 . The handheld confectionary dispenser as claimed in  claim 16 ,
 said outer surface defining a downstream recess facing a generally opposite direction from the upstream recess,   said recesses being spaced longitudinally along the pouch.   
     
     
         18 . The handheld confectionary dispenser as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 said dispensing end of the pouch being open; and   a dispensing fitment sealingly coupled to the dispensing end.   
     
     
         19 . The handheld confectionary dispenser as claimed in  claim 18 ,
 said dispensing fitment including a universal threaded connection for use with a variety of dispensing nozzles.