Beverage or Foodstuff Dispenser

Abstract

A beverage or foodstuff dispenser comprises a generally cylindrical body part having at one end a dispensing channel for dispensing a jelly, gel or paste to a user and at the other end an opening for receiving a dispensing member. The dispensing member and the generally cylindrical body part are provided with one or more protuberances and one or more corresponding guide channels for guiding the protuberances so as to cause movement of the dispensing member along and within the body part towards the one end as the dispensing member is rotated first in one rotational direction and then in the opposite rotational direction relative to the body part, thereby to provide the dispensing of the jelly, gel or paste through the channel.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A beverage or foodstuff dispenser comprising:
 a generally cylindrical body part having at one end a dispensing channel for dispensing a jelly, gel or paste to a user and at the other end an opening for receiving a dispensing member;   wherein the dispensing member and the generally cylindrical body part are provided with one or more protuberances and one or more guide channels for guiding the protuberances so as to cause movement of the dispensing member along and within the body part towards the one end as the dispensing member is rotated first in one rotational direction and then in the opposite rotational direction relative to the body part, thereby to provide the dispensing of the jelly, gel or paste through the dispensing channel.   
     
     
         2 . The dispenser as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the one or more protuberances are provided on the dispensing member and the one or more guide channels are provided on the generally cylindrical body part. 
     
     
         3 . The dispenser as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the number of protuberances is one or more of: same as a number of guide channels, greater than the number of guide channels, and an integer multiple of the number of guide channels. 
     
     
         4 . The dispenser as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the one or more guide channels have a generally sinusoidal form. 
     
     
         5 . The dispenser as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the distance between successive peaks of the one or more channels is one or more of: equal to the length of the channels, variable along a length of the channels, 
     
     
         6 . The dispenser as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of protuberances spaced at different longitudinal positions along the dispenser. 
     
     
         7 . The dispenser as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the dispensing channel is tapered. 
     
     
         8 . The dispenser as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the dispensing member has a face that extends across the longitudinal axis of the body part in use and is configured to exert an expelling force against the jelly, gel or paste as the dispensing member moves helically within the body part. 
     
     
         9 . The dispenser as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the face of the dispensing member is one of: substantially planar or non-planar. 
     
     
         10 . The dispenser as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the face of the dispensing member has a valley shaped, e.g. V- or U-shaped, cross section. 
     
     
         11 . The dispenser as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the dispensing member includes a grip for allowing a user to rotate the dispensing member relative to the body part. 
     
     
         12 . The dispenser as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the generally cylindrical body part comprises an outer body and a lid, and wherein the dispensing channel is formed at least in part in the lid. 
     
     
         13 . The dispenser as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the outer body includes an end member at one end, the end member including an aperture that forms at least part of the dispensing channel. 
     
     
         14 . The dispenser as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the outer body includes an end member at one end, the end member including an aperture;   the generally cylindrical body part comprises an outer body and a lid, and the dispensing channel is formed in part in the lid and in part by the aperture.   
     
     
         15 . The dispenser as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the aperture included in the end member aligns with an opening of the dispensing channel when the lid is fitted to the outer body. 
     
     
         16 . The dispenser as claimed in  claim 1 , containing a jelly, gel or paste. 
     
     
         17 . The dispenser as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the dispensing channel includes one or more bends. 
     
     
         18 . A dispenser comprising:
 a generally cylindrical body part with a dispensing channel for dispensing a consumable to a user at a first end, and an opening for receiving a dispensing member at a second end;   one or more protuberances and one or more guide channels for guiding the protuberances, to cause movement of the dispensing member along the body part towards the first end as the dispensing member is rotated first in one rotational direction and then in the opposite rotational direction relative to the body part, thereby to provide the dispensing of the consumable through the dispensing channel.   
     
     
         19 . The dispenser of  claim 18 , wherein the number of protuberances is one or more of: same as a number of guide channels, greater than the number of guide channels, and an integer multiple of the number of guide channels. 
     
     
         20 . The dispenser of  claim 18 , formed of a disposable plastic material.